Chapter 2

Need

I couldn’t take his eyes off of my mind. The way he looked at me with such intense glare made me shiver even by just imagining it.

It has been five long years since I last saw him and it wasn’t the best moment in my life. That last time was one of the most painful memories I am carrying with me today. It was one of the hardest parts of my whole existence.

But then, his eyes tonight…they are different.

Those eyes…I’ve never seen them before. I’ve never thought I would see them like that.

Clarkson Peters’s eyes were always expressive and warm. Even when he didn’t want to do anything with me, he was still kind and accommodating.

So the Clarkson last night is a stranger to me. He’s changed…differently but I cannot really say if it’s in the worse way. After all, I just saw him now. I can’t judge him now just because those eyes were not the ones I was used to seeing.

“Are you okay?” Heather asked me.

We’re already eating dinner and preparing for another night at work but there I was, zoning out just because my mind can’t stop thinking about Clarkson Peters.

I smiled and nodded. “Yup, I’m good,” I told her as I continued eating.

Heather frowned and narrowed his eyes at me. I know that she knows that I am not what I just told her that I am. She knows that I have something bothering me.

“What’s it?” she probed.

I sighed. I wanted to lie but I know I couldn’t lie to this girl in front of me. Heather is my best friend and she knows it when I am lying.

I really couldn’t keep anything from her.

I took a deep breath and brought my chopsticks down. “I saw Clarkson in the club last night.”

Heather’s eyes widened. “What? How come? Does he know now?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know. I don’t think so. He seemed so cold and distant.”

Heather sighed in relief. “That’s good to know,” she said as she held onto her chest.

I pursed my lips in a thin line. Heather knew who Clarkson is in my life. She knew where he stood and where he still stands.

“What does he want then? Did he talk to you?”

I nodded and began telling her all about my encounter with Clarkson Peters. Reminiscing it gives me goosebumps. I hate that he still has that effect on me even after all those years.

I heard he assumed the highest position in their group of companies now. He also started his own advertising company that’s already making waves in the current market—making him one of the youngest billionaires in United Kingdom.

“Holy shit. He did not just say that!”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “He did,” I chimed before eating some cold noodles.

Heather started enumerating some pointless things and reasons as to why and how Clarkson Peters told me those exact words.

I don’t want to dwell on that again. In fact, if I saw him there again today, I will confront him about what he told me last night.

What right did he have to tell me that he can buy me?

And he hopes I’m available?

Fuck him to the depths of hell!

What a damn asshole!

I was still sighing and breathing hard the moment I woke up at exactly six in the evening. I couldn’t shake the thought that Clarkson might be there again tonight and I’ll have to endure his presence once more.

It’s going to be another antagonizing night.

And yes, I’m right.

Because the moment the bar opened, a tall man came inside with a huge smirk on his face. His eyes immediately found me while I arranged the glasses on the counter.

My breathing hitched when I saw him walking towards me. I rolled my eyes and pretended to not care at all. Besides, I shouldn’t care. Why do I even think I care?

I don’t care.

Ah! This is frustrating!

“Are you working again tonight?” His deep voice immediately sent shivers to my spine.

I pursed my lips. I don’t want to answer so I just nodded. Well, obviously, I am working. What does he think I am doing now, then?

I rolled my eyes inwardly once more.

“When do you have your day-off?”

I sighed and stopped what I am doing. I stared at him intently. “Why are you here?” I asked.

Usually, I can endure more because I have a wide range of patience but now I think that when it comes to him, I feel like I lose my cool so easily. It’s frustrating and I hate it.

Clarkson leaned on the counter and looked at me with his head slightly tilted to the side. “What do you think?” he asked me, with a voice exuding mockery. “I came here to have fun, of course.”

I badly want to erase that smirk on his face with a punch.

It’s been five years since we last saw each other and this is how he will greet me? Is he kidding?! I’d rather not see him for a lifetime!

“Then go and have fun. Leave me alone…” I uttered on gritted teeth.

He raised his brows and licked his lower lips. “Baby, this is my fun.”

I clenched my fists hanging on my side. Baby? How dare he call me that?!

“I’m not interested,” I said in a lazy drawl.

I’m not interested in his games. Hell, there’s no way I am still interested in him after seeing what an asshole he’s already become. There’s no way in hell that I would want to associate myself with him.

Clarkson chuckled wickedly. “Oh, come on, Janice. We both know what you’re interested in and what you’re not.”

“You don’t,” I deadpanned. “It’s been years. I have changed. My preferences have changed.”

He stood there, quiet with narrowed eyes on me.

I smirked at him before leaning closer. “It’s been five long years, baby. You think you can still catch up with me? Not anymore. I changed preferences because I realized how low class my tastes were before,” I said in a taunting voice before leaving him in the counter.

He better stop trailing me after this! That was my last straw!

***

“There’s someone who keeps on glancing this way,” Brixon told me while I was preparing drinks.

I glanced at him quickly with narrowed eyes. “What?” I asked, confused because I didn’t really understand what he said.

He nodded at the direction of the customers. “There’s some guy who kept looking this way.”

I shrugged. I somehow know what he’s talking about. It’s Clarkson.

It’s been a week since our last talk but he’s here every single night. He doesn’t ask me to serve him, though. He chooses someone else but it’s not like it matters to me.

I am actually happy that he’s not asking for me. I hope he realized that I am serious with what I told him that night.

I’ve changed preferences. I will definitely not going to fall for him again.

“Seems lonely,” Brixon chimed as he mixed drinks.

I rolled my eyes. “Just do your job.”

I heard him chuckling before I left to serve my customers.

A middle-aged man called me. Even from afar, I can already see that he is stupid drunk because he’s so red and he’s laughing even when he’s not with anyone.

I sighed, pursed my lips and braced myself for this man. “What do you want, sir?” I asked politely but with caution.

The man grinned at me disgustingly. I almost rolled my eyes at the sight of his perfect set of yellow teeth. “How much are you?” he asked.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “If you’re not going to order our products, then I suggest you stay here and sober up, Sir. I’ll get back with a glass of service water,” I said politely but I know that it is already a bit rude.

I was about to turn away when he suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me to him. I began to retaliate but he was strong even when he’s already smashed.

“Let me go,” I said in gritted teeth but I know that I am already in a state of panic.

I hate men how lose their minds and manners when they’re already drunk. I seriously think that men like them don’t have the right to drink outside their homes. And this is definitely one of those men.

He laughed and then pulled me so I could sit on his lap. But before he could do, I was already pulled away by a strong force.

I looked at the person who pulled me away and my eyes widened when I realized who he is.

“Clarkson…” I said on parted lips.

His eyes are full of fury while he stared darkly at the drunk man. His jaw clenched his jaw before turning to me. “Stay away from here,” he ordered me.

“What are you going to do?” I asked, afraid that he might cause a scene.

A few customers are already looking our way, expecting a commotion to happen.

“Janice Lawson, go away from here!” Clarkson’s voice thundered.

I jumped in surprise and instinctively stepped back. Clarkson clenched his fists before facing the pervert once again. He pulled him by the collar and made him stand up.

He whispered something to the guy before letting him fall onto the ground. “Go home,” he ordered like it was also a warning that if he doesn’t, he will have to deal with something harder.

Clarkson looked at me before pulling me out of the club towards the dark alley in the back. I yanked his hand away from my wrist when he stopped.

His eyes are still the same. They’re still angry and he’s looking at me like I did something this time.

“What’s your problem?!” I yelled at him.

His jaw ticked while he stared at me. “Why are you even working in a club?! There are a lot of jobs out there for you!”

“Why do you care?!”

His eyes were sharper. “Why won’t I care?! That pervert almost groped you—”

“So?”

“So? So?!” His voice was rising. “That’s your dignity in danger over there! How do you expect me to turn a blind eye on that?!”

I shut my eyes, already frustrated. But then he’s not wrong. “Thank you,” I said, totally a hundred-eighty degree change in my tone.

He narrowed his eyes at me but I didn’t care about it anymore. I started to turn my back on him and was prepared to walk back to the club when I felt him grab my wrist.

I looked at him, confused. “What?”

He pursed his lips in a thin line. “Why are you doing this?” he asked in a low voice.

I smiled weakly. “I need money,” I replied simply.

He inhaled a sharp breath before clenching his jaw. “How much?” he asked like he’s willing to give me anything I want.

I raised my brow. “Are you giving me money?” I asked back, almost laughing at his question.

“Yes,” he replied directly. “How much do you need?”

I frowned at him. “I don’t need anything from you,” I told him before yanking my hand off of his grip.

I heard him sigh hard before I left him alone in that alley.

His money isn’t going to change anything.