Page 51 of King of Deception

Ella Rose

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” I strained from between my breaths as I continued to pull Jude by the arm.

Hurrying toward my car, I pushed him in front of me and kept my hands on his back. He turned to me from over his shoulder, hissing, “You left me no choice.”

“No choice?” I unlocked the car with the remote, angrily making my way around to the passenger’s door and opening it. “You know exactly what you’re doing.” Pushing him further, I watched him chuckle with spite as he slid into the seat. Practically running, I made it to the other side and quickly got behind the wheel, closing the door. “You’re trying to fuck my career up.”

“No, honey,” he continued to chortle as he shook his head. “I just want us to go back to fucking.”

Turning the key, I felt the engine rage as I stepped on the gas, hastily getting away from the street where my office building was. “You keep acting like a child, and you think that’s sexy? Huh?”

He rolled down the window and placed a cigarette between his lips, lighting it. “Right, I forgot.” He took a deep drag and puffed out the smoke. “What you find sexy these days are blue collars, yeah?”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” We stopped at a red light, so I turned to him, glowering.

“Your new boyfriend? A waiter, really?”

“Have you been watching me?”

He shrugged, “It’s not that hard. You’re seen all over the place with him.”

“Excuse me? And who exactly are your spies?”

“I don’t have spies, honey. I have eyes… everywhere.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Right. Only minimum wage workers get that privilege,” he snorted.

We were a few minutes away from my apartment, so I tried not to let his provocations get to me and aimed to focus on the road. “Jude, we’re over. We’ve been over for months, and I really don’t know what else you want me to say.”

“How about you call it what it is?” He placed his hand over my thigh, and I shuddered. “A phase? You’re just amused. I bet it’s your first time hanging out with a waiter, right hon?”

I couldn’t take it anymore, so I shoved his hand away. “Don’t. Call me that,” I repeated.

“What’s his name? Abel?”

Speeding into the parking spot a few feet away from my building, I let the tires screech as I pulled the brakes. “Can you leave him out of this already? Get out.”

“Oh, are you inviting me upstairs for real?” he chuckled, opening the door.

The blood boiled in my veins, and I felt my cheeks burn up. If I didn’t end this today, once and for all, I wasn’t sure how Abel and I would ever have a chance together. Marching out, I pulled him by the hand and stepped into the building.

“Hey, Mike, how you doin’ man?” Jude breezily greeted the vendor by the gate. Inside the elevator, he inched closer, and I recoiled. “C’mon, Ella Bella,” he whispered, enunciating my nickname. “There was a time when this elevator witnessed the hottest—”

“Stop.” I pushed him away. “I mean it.”

The doors parted open, and I couldn’t have gotten out of there any quicker. Following me, his hand reached for mine, and I yanked it away, pulling the keys out of my purse. I opened the door, and he pushed me inside, slamming the door behind us.

“What are you, high? Drunk? What’s gotten into you?” I turned to him with flames shooting out of my stare.

“I love you,” he shouted, tossing his phone onto my couch. “And there was also a time when I’d say those words, and you’d fall at my feet. Or did you forget?”

“Oh, I didn’t forget,” I yelled back, waving my hand in the air, throwing away my purse. “I also vividly remember how much I regretted it.”

“Why? Because I didn’t bend over and let you walk all over me like I’m sure Abel does? I’m a man, Ella. A man, and I won’t take any disrespect from you or anyone else!”

“Well, if you’re so great, and I’m so subpar, then why don’t you let us go our separate ways, huh?” I raised both hands, frustrated. “Just let me go, Jude. Find a real woman who’ll give you everything I couldn’t.”

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