Page 20 of Forget Me Not

“No,” I tell him honestly. “This jerk spilled my drink.” I wave my hands in front of my dress, showing him the proof. “It might be hard to see, but I can certainly feel it soaking into my bra.”

“You,” Jerkface emphasizes as his gaze slowly turns to face me again, “bumped into me.”

Tyler’s eyebrows rise, lips pursed as he draws in a deep breath. “I’ll just get you a new one, Rhea. It’s fine.”

“It’s not fine. He spilled my drink and now he’s pretending like nothing even happened.” I’m not the least bit surprised Tyler is trying to solve the problem without confrontation. It’s obvious he's a good guy, while this prick is an egotistical stuck-up jerk.

Tyler leans in closely and says quietly, “You work here, Rhea. Might be best to just let this go since there’s a good chance he’ll be your customer one day.”

Opting not to embarrass myself, or Tyler, I eat my pride. “Fine.” My shoulders drop in defeat. “Fine. Thank you, Tyler. You’re a stand-up guy.” My eyes roll to my new enemy. “Unlike some of the assholes in this place. I’m good on the drink, though.”

“Cute,” Jerkface mumbles before his attention shifts to Tyler. “Now, could you return your attention to the paying customers in this establishment?”

I sneer in disbelief while Tyler forces a smile on his face. I hate that I put him in this situation.Sorry, I mouth the word.

It seems two drinks is my limit. My emotions are getting the best of me right now, and that’s not something that happens often. Not that they aren’t warranted with this guy, but regardless, I’m not a fan of making a scene or doing anything that gets people to notice me unless I want them to.

Cutting myself off for the night is wise. I need a clear head if I’m going to show this man how much he underestimated me.

ChapterEight

RHEA

“It seemswe’ve got off on the wrong foot, Mr.…” After I ate my pride, I went to the bathroom and cleaned up a little bit. When I came back out, I saw Jerkface sitting in the same spot at the bar and decided to move forward with my mission to ‘take him down a peg.’

His eyebrows pinch together as he glances at me sideways, taking care not to give me any more attention than necessary.

“Banks,” he says point-blank, fingers tapping softly against his glass. “Alaric Banks.”

“Banks, huh? That’s a…rich last name.” My words are meant to be humorous, but the bleak expression on Alaric’s face tells me he probably doesn’t have a humorous bone in his body. Not to be confused with the humerus bone.

I laugh out loud at myself and when I’m warranted a scoff of annoyance, my smile drops instantly.

“Nothing?” I ask, and his response is more silence. “Okay.” I sigh heavily. “Well, I’m Rhea.” I extend my hand to him as he remains seated on the stool.

With his arms resting casually on the surface of the bar, Alaric picks up his drink and brings it to his mouth, staring off as if I’m not even standing here.

Is this guy fucking serious right now?

“You do know you can be a complete asshole, without ruining other people’s nights, in the comfort of your own home, right?”

His scathing glare turns to me and he lowers his glass to the bar with gentle ease, as if he’s setting down an egg he doesn’t want to crack. “Is this your idea of an apology?”

I begin a slow clap, picking up in intensity as a sardonic grin spreads across my face. “And he speaks.”

“If so,” he continues, “you’re doing a terrible job.”

A bout of sarcastic laughter spews from my mouth. “The only apologies being given out in this room should be coming from you.”

“You called me an asshole.”

“Because you are one, obviously.” I gesture to his expensive suit and smug attitude.

“Okay.” He turns to face me, his shoes resting on the footrails of his stool. I can’t help but notice his shoes—brushed leather Prada. I know expensive things when I see them and this man is a walking dollar sign. “If I’m an asshole, what does that make you?”

“It makes me someone who doesn’t tolerate cruel behavior. That’s what.”

Alaric glances left, then right, using slow and subtle motions before he leans close and whispers, “I might be an asshole, but at least I’m not a thief.”

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