Page 31 of Haunt Me

Chapter 18

Starlet

Regret washes over methe moment I wake up. An intense headache formed between my eyes and I vow to never drink again. Accompanied by a headache, panic surges through me upon the realization of being naked.

What the hell happened?

Attempting to remember the events from last night, I’m overwhelmed with embarrassment.

Oh God.

Except for barely getting away from being raped and probably killed, I threw myself at Argent and he rejected me. I cover my head with the blanket as I flopback down and to make things worse, I also remember puking outside his car.

Fuck.

I throw the blanket off me and drag my legs out of bed and onto the cold tiled floor. Something catches my eye and when I focus my blurry eyes, I see on my nightstand a glass of water along with two painkillers and a note.

Frowning, I stretch my hand out and grab the note. A smile forms on my lips as I reread it over and over.

Shaking my head, I toss the note into my nightstand and gulp away the painkiller with water before dragging myself out of bed. I still have work and now that I don’t have class, I work day shifts as well. Today is gonna be one long ass day but I’m fine with that, I need the distraction.

I’m still deciding whether or not I have to tell Chloe about the incident of last night. I don’t want her to feel guilty for not leaving with me but I also don't want to keep something from her again.

The diner is ridiculously busy in the afternoon with the lunch rush and I finally get a few minutes to breathe,but I can’t help but wonder how strange it is that I haven’t heard from Zavier, especially with his brother’s body being found.

As I ponder this, the jingle of the doorbell interrupts my thoughts, and I turn to see a familiar face entering. Adrian walks in, and I greet him with a smile and a wave. However, my smile fades as I notice Argent following closely behind, having to stoop to fit through the door due to his towering height. He’s unbelievably tall and it won’t surprise me if he hits his head constantly on everything.

When our eyes meet, my breath catches in my throat, and a sly smirk plays across Argent’s face as he winks at me. I take a deep breath and approach them with menus in hand.

“Hey guys, anything I can get you?” I politely ask, directing my attention towards Adrian. However, I can feel Argent’s gaze lingering in the corner of my eye. Pushing aside my unease, they both order two cups of coffee, and I retreat to prepare their drinks.

I don’t miss the constant glances coming from Argent and it starting to make me nervous. As I place the cupsin front of them, my skin crawls when I hear a voice that I had hoped to avoid.

“Afternoon,” Zavier greets from behind me. I observe Argent physically tensing up, his jaw clenched so tightly it appears as though he might break his teeth. However, what shocks me the most is the presence of a girl standing next to Zavier—or should I say hanging on him. She has the same hair color as me, in fact, most of her features are similar to mine.

That’s… a coincidence.

Giving a tight smile I quickly brush past them, I do not have the energy to face him right now. I’m scared my panicked face will give something away if he starts talking about his dead brother.

For the next hour, I keep a watchful eye on Zavier and the girl, noticing the disdainful glances exchanged between Argent, Adrian, and Zavier. It almost brings a chuckle to my lips, reminiscent of the tensions between the popular kids and the jocks in high school cafeterias. Shaking my head, I approach the boys and retrieve their empty cups, only to have Argent slip a piece of paper into my hands. Maintaining my composure, I make my way back to the kitchen to see what’s inside the paper.

My brows furrow in confusion as I try to understand what he’s trying to say. All it says is ‘At 10’... what the hell does that mean? Folding the note, I tuck it into my apron. However, when I return to the dining area, they’re gone—all of them, even Zavier.

Good… I guess.

I’ve just managed to rid myself of a terrible headache, and I certainly don’t need another one and that is exactly what those men are gonna give me.

After closing time, I made sure all the counters were spotless, as well as the kitchen. Just as I finished wiping the last countertop, the lights in the diner flickered and went out, leaving me in pitch darkness except for the feeble glow of the streetlights seeping through the windows.

As I turn, my breath catches in my throat as Argent materializes from the shadows, clad in a sleek, all-black ensemble. He startled me, making my heart race, but the way the light illuminates him weakens my knees. He looks stunning in his black suit pants and button-down shirt, the sleeves casually rolled up.

I quickly glance at the clock and realize it’s 10 pm.

Oh, so that’s what he meant.

The silence hangs heavily between us as he moves closer, causing me to instinctively retreat until my ass meets the table. As he towers over me, I crane my neck and feel a sense of vulnerability, like a shadow looming, ready to engulf me in darkness. My heart begins to race as he lowers his head toward mine, adrenaline coursing through my veins.

”Turn around. Now.” He demands in a low, menacing voice that sends shivers through my body, all the way down to my core, and without hesitation, I do as he demands. Feeling the weight of his presence behind me, his lips brushed against my ear, his warm breath sending shock waves through my body.

---