Chapter 5
“You were right,” one of his friends said. “She does work here. This is going to be good.”
“Hey, call girl, can we get a table, or are you just going to stare at us?”
Call girl?
I placed the menus on their table and waited for them to take their seats.
“I’m not a call girl. Please, sit down.”
As I leaned over to place the beers in front of them, one of them grabbed my rear. My entire body froze.
“I like this little uniform on you. How about you take it off so we can see what’s underneath?”
Heat rushed through me as I stepped back, forcing his hand to drop.
“Do not touch me,” I said loudly, making sure each of them heard me.
“Oh, come on, Judy. Aren’t you here to satisfy men?” another sneered. “So come here and satisfy us. Sit on my lap.”
I pressed my lips together.
“I’m not a call girl,” I repeated firmly. “I’m a waitress.”
“You got this job because you’re hot,” one of them chuckled. “The manager didn’t care about your skills—just whether you could flirt with customers and make him money. I’ll give you a good tip if you let me see what’s under that uniform and sit on my lap.”
His words made my blood run cold.
“Come here, baby girl,” he said, patting his lap with a wink.
I just stared at him in disbelief.
I glanced at Ethan, expecting him to intervene. He simply watched, waiting to see what I’d do. At one time, he would have never allowed this. He would have punched anyone who looked at me with lust in their eyes.
Now, he acted as if he didn’t care.
“I’ll give you ten thousand dollars if you drink this entire beer,” one of his friends challenged.
My mouth nearly dropped.
“What?”
“You heard me,” he smirked. “Finish it, and you get ten grand.”
“We’ll all chip in. Drink all of our beers, and you’ll walk away with a fortune,” another added.
I looked at the beers, then back at the men. My eyes found Ethan again—his brow raised, waiting for my answer.
Swallowing my pride, I stepped forward and grabbed a glass.
I hated beer, but money was money. Ethan’s friends were rich; they could afford it. And I needed cash—to get my father out of prison and pay off his debt.
Bringing the cup to my lips, I forced the bitter liquid down my throat, wincing at the taste. Cheers and chants filled the air as I drank.
I slammed the empty cup down. Another beer slid toward me.
I chugged that one too.
Halfway through the third, a firm grip yanked me away.
Ethan.
His friends booed, calling him a party pooper. He ignored them, dragging me outside. Only when we were alone did he spin around, eyes blazing.
“Accept my offer and stop this foolishness,” he demanded.
“I won’t be your mistress, Ethan,” I shot back, my head fuzzy from the beer. “Forget it.”
“You’d rather act like a little slut instead?” he hissed. “You looked ridiculous in there!”
“Why do you care? You have a fiancée. My life is no longer your business.”
“You are still mine, Judy. You will always be mine,” he growled.
I wanted to laugh at his absurdity. I also wanted to cry. I had spent over two years loving this man. Now, as he stood before me, I realized he was a stranger.
“I am not yours,” I said, my voice stronger than I felt.
He let out a bitter laugh.
“Fine. Be a whore for all I care. Spread your legs for money—that’s all you’re good for—”
My hand flew before I could stop it. A loud slap echoed in the night.
He didn’t flinch. But his rage grew as he reached for my throat—then froze. His eyes darkened as he stared at my neck.
“What the fuck,” he hissed, grabbing my chin and yanking my head to the side. “Is that a hickey?”
My stomach clenched. I’d noticed it this morning—the mark Gavin left on me. It was fading, but still visible.
“So what if it is?” I challenged.
He let go, his glare turning icy.
“Who the hell have you been with?”
“Not your concern,” I snapped.
I turned to leave, but he gripped my arm, yanking me back.
“Answer me, Judy! Who have you been with?!”
Teeth clenched, I spat, “Gavin. Your future father-in-law. Happy now?”
He released me, then barked out a laugh.
“Are you kidding me? You don’t have to make up a ridiculous story.”
Laughter erupted from behind us. I turned to see Ethan’s friends gathering around.
“Is she talking about Gavin Landry? He has standards. He’d never go for a girl like Judy.”
“Yeah, Judy’s a slut, and Gavin is a Lycan chairman. No way,” another mocked.
“I’m serious,” I said, folding my arms.
Ethan’s expression darkened. This time, he did grab my throat, his grip almost deadly.
“Stop playing me for a fool,” he snarled. “Gavin would never want someone like you. You are nobody. You don’t belong in his world.”
I couldn’t breathe as his fingers tightened.
“Now, do as I say and move into the house I bought. Once I’m married, I’ll visit you at night. You’ll spread your pretty little legs for me and only me—”
A loud honk cut through the night.
Ethan’s grip loosened. I coughed, rubbing my sore neck as he turned toward the interruption.
A sleek black Bentley idled nearby.
The door opened.
I gasped.
Gavin sat inside, his piercing gaze locked onto me.
“Get in,” he ordered.
I stared, stunned.
“I won’t ask again, Judy,” he warned.
Ethan’s shocked eyes burned into me as I hurried toward the car and climbed inside, shutting the door.
“Drive,” Gavin commanded.
“Yes, sir.”
As the car pulled away, Ethan stood frozen on the curb, his mouth hanging open. His friends gawked in equal disbelief.
I felt Gavin’s eyes on me.
“Using me to make your ex-fiancé jealous, are you?”
