Chapter three

THE NEW BOYFRIEND

~LAUREN~

I slipped into my sleek black dress—the one I’d worn to my best friend’s wedding. As I straightened my hair and stepped into matching silver heels, I caught my reflection in the mirror.

My glasses framed my face, and though I’d never thought of myself as glamorous, tonight I felt just a little confident.

Dressing up wasn’t the problem; it was the judgment that came with it. And tonight, with everything that had happened, I wasn’t sure I could stomach it.

Grabbing my silver purse, I took a deep breath and left my room. The resort's hallway stretched before me, leading toward the sound of chatter in the garden.

Each step felt heavier, a reminder of the betrayal I was trying so hard to ignore. Rosette and Patrick’s faces flashed in my mind, and I silently prayed I wouldn’t run into them tonight.

The garden was filled with elegantly dressed guests, their polished appearances marking them as anything but ordinary.

My coworkers—Lilac, Fatimah, and Malcolm—stood in a small group, deep in conversation. I considered retreating, but Malcolm’s enthusiastic wave caught me off guard.

“Lauren! You made it!” he called out.

I hesitated, noticing Lilac’s subtle attempt to stop him, but it was too late. My feet carried me forward before I could think of an excuse.

“You came! I thought your invitation must have gotten lost,” Malcolm teased with a warm smile.

“Oh, right,” I muttered, adjusting my glasses. Compliments weren’t my forte, and I wasn’t sure how to respond.

“Nice dress,” Lilac said, her gaze unnervingly sharp. “Where did you get it?”

“Uh, a shop,” I stammered, already regretting my honesty.

“What shop and brand?” she pressed, her voice slicing through my already fragile confidence.

I hesitated. The dress wasn’t designer—it was a last-minute purchase from a roadside shop in San Diego. “I bought it at a roadside shop,” I admitted.

Their laughter cut me off before I could explain further. My chest tightened as Fatimah joined in.

“Roadside?” she repeated, smirking.

“Is that a problem?” I snapped, my frustration bubbling over.

Malcolm raised his hands in mock surrender. “Geez, Lauren, we’re just messing with you!”

But I wasn’t amused. Their laughter stung, a cruel reminder of how I’d become the office punchline. Ever since Patrick’s betrayal, everyone seemed to take sides—Rosette’s side.

“Well, I don’t like being messed with,” I shot back, louder than intended. Heads turned, and I caught the annoyed stares Lilac and Fatimah sent my way.

“Cut it out, drama queen,” Lilac hissed. “No wonder your boyfriend was taken right under your nose.”

Her words struck like a slap. My breath hitched, but I refused to let her see the hurt. They all knew. Of course, they knew.

“You knew,” I said, my gaze fixed on Malcolm. He looked away, his silence confirming everything. How naïve I’d been to think anyone here was different.

Before I could respond, my stomach sank. Rosette and Patrick were walking toward me, his hand casually resting on her waist. They looked picture-perfect, their polished smiles masking the chaos they’d caused in my life.

“Lauren,” Rosette called out, her voice sweet but dripping with something unplaceable.

“Hello, Rosette,” I replied, keeping my voice even, though my fists clenched at my sides.

She smiled, the kind of smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Nice dress. You look great,” she said, her tone saccharine.

“What do you want?” I asked, stepping to the side, but she blocked my path.

Patrick shifted uncomfortably. “Hey, babe, what are you doing?”

“I’m talking to a friend,” she snapped, her voice icy. Even Patrick looked caught off guard.

“What do you want, Rosette?” I repeated, folding my arms.

“Oh, nothing. I just wanted to apologize,” she said, her words catching me off guard.

“Babe!” Patrick hissed, but Rosette ignored him.

“Apologize?” I echoed, trying to process her sudden shift.

“I know you must hate me,” she said, her expression almost convincing. “But I didn’t steal Patrick from you. I just… fell in love. I’m sorry if you felt betrayed.”

I stared at her, unsure whether to laugh or cry. Her apology felt hollow, but what was the point of arguing?

“Forget it,” I said finally, though the words tasted bitter.

Rosette’s smile brightened as if she’d just won some invisible game. “I’m so happy you’ve forgiven me.”

Patrick’s jaw tightened. He wasn’t buying her act, and for once, I agreed with him.

“Did you come to the party alone?” Rosette asked, her tone too casual.

“No,” I blurted before I could stop myself.

Patrick frowned. “You didn’t?”

“You heard me. I came with my boyfriend,” I lied, the words tumbling out before I could think.

Rosette’s eyes lit up with amusement. “Your boyfriend? Where is he?”

Panic set in as I scanned the room. My gaze landed on a man near the corner of the garden. He stood apart from the crowd, his piercing green eyes locking onto mine.

“That’s him,” I said, pointing before I could second-guess myself.

The man didn’t move, but his presence was impossible to ignore—tall, confident, and completely out of place.

My heart pounded as I realized what I’d just done.