Cold-hearted, Ruthless, and Merciless Jerk

After the teasing subsided, Amethyst's heart swelled with hope as Dylan turned his attention towards her. She did not know what to do. What is it that she should do? However, her hopes were dashed as she met his gaze, finding his eyes cold and indifferent, devoid of the warmth she had longed for. It made her feel like she was showering in cold water. It was like a wake-up call for her. A sharp pang of hurt pierced through her chest, leaving her feeling as though a weight had settled in the pit of her stomach.

What is it? Why is he looking at her with his cold eyes? Was it wrong to fall in love with him? However, she refuses to give up.

She doesn't want to.

Not until he told her so.

"Thank you." Dylan's voice cut through the silence, the words devoid of any warmth or sincerity. It was as if he were merely going through the motions, his tone icy and detached.

Everyone was used to hearing Dylan with his voice void of emotion. However, they still felt a little shock since they knew that the person who gave him a gift was someone who had something for him.

They couldn't get him at all. He did not like her but did not bother to tell her to give up. Why has he always used indirect words to hurt her?

Amethyst is such a lovely woman; how could he do that to her?

Amethyst's heart sank as she processed his words, the weight of his indifference crushing her spirit. This is what she had been expecting, but she still couldn't help but feel hurt. She felt a lump form in her throat, the sting of tears threatening to spill over. But she refused to let her emotions get the best of her, swallowing back the tears and forcing a tight smile onto her lips.

She won't let them see her cry. After all, tears aren't that heavy for them. Especially for Dylan.

With a nod of her head, she managed to choke out a barely audible "You're welcome," her voice trembling with suppressed emotion. It took every ounce of strength she had to maintain her composure and hide the pain that threatened to consume her from within.

As Dylan turned away, returning his focus to the matter at hand, Amethyst felt a surge of doubt wash over her. Was there something inherently wrong with her? Did she somehow deserve this cold and indifferent treatment from the man she had devoted herself to for so long?

The thought gnawed at her insides, eating away at her self-confidence like cancer. She couldn't shake the feeling of being unwanted, of being the odd one out among her peers. While everyone else seemed to bask in Dylan's favor, she alone was left to suffer in the shadows, unnoticed and unloved.

The pain of rejection threatened to consume her, wrapping its icy tendrils around her heart and squeezing until she could barely breathe. But despite the overwhelming sense of despair that threatened to engulf her, Amethyst refused to give up hope.

With a cold resolve, she squared her shoulders and forced herself to push through the pain, to carry on as though nothing had happened. Deep down, she knew that she deserved better than to be treated with such indifference, but for now, she would have to settle for the hollow comfort of her own resilience.

As the meeting drew to a close and the others began to disperse, Amethyst plastered on a brave smile and bid her farewells, all the while struggling to suppress the ache in her heart. She knew that she couldn't continue to live in the shadow of Dylan's indifference forever, but for now, it was all she had.

As the heavy atmosphere settled over the room, the members of the La Xiena Mafia upper echelon exchanged worried glances, their hearts aching for Amethyst. Even though they witnessed this many times, they still couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Why did he fall in love with a man who does not know how to love? If they could just change her mind, they would tell her to stop loving him.

They could see the hurt and disappointment written plainly on her face, and they longed to lift her spirits in any way they could.

They wanted to scold him, but they didn't have the courage to do so as he was their boss and he's quite scary.

In an effort to lighten the mood, one of the members spoke up, a forced smile tugging at his lips. "Come on, Dylan," he said with a nervous chuckle, gesturing towards the pile of gifts on the table. "Why don't you open up Amethyst's gift? I'm sure it's something special."

A ripple of nervous laughter echoed through the room as the others joined in, their attempts to ease the tension palpable. Even Venna and Maureen chimed in, shooting Amethyst encouraging smiles in the hopes of cheering her up.

Alex has always been their atmosphere lifter, and he knows how to avoid awkward moments. However, this time, he failed to do so.

But instead of playing along with the joke, Dylan's expression darkened, his jaw clenching with barely concealed anger. He really did not know why his people had always done this. "Enough," he growled, his voice cutting through the room like a knife. "Amethyst, take your gift back. I don't want it, and I don't want you giving me gifts anymore."

Amethyst's heart shattered into a million pieces at his words, the pain of his rejection washing over her like a tidal wave. She felt as though the ground had been ripped out from beneath her feet, leaving her suspended in a void of emptiness and despair.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she struggled to find her voice, her hands trembling with the weight of her shattered confidence. She bit her lower lip before saying, "B-but Dylan." She stammered, her voice barely more than a whisper. "I just wanted to... I wanted to give you a birthday gift. It really does not matter. Just accept it."

But Dylan's expression remained implacable, his gaze cold and indifferent as he turned away from her. "I said no," he repeated, his tone final. "That's the end of it."

Amethyst felt as though she had been punched in the gut, the pain of his rejection cutting deeper than any physical blow. She wanted to scream and lash out at him for his callousness, but she knew that it would only make things worse.

With a heavy heart, she gathered up her gift and retreated into the shadows, the weight of Dylan's rejection bearing down on her like a heavy burden. And as she made her way out of the meeting room, she vowed to never again allow herself to be vulnerable to the whims of a man who couldn't—or wouldn't—see her worth.

The room buzzed with excitement, and laughter disappeared. Amethyst's radiant smile slowly began to fade, replaced by a look of hurt and disappointment that did not go unnoticed by her friends, Venna and Maureen. Concern etched their faces as they exchanged worried glances, their hearts breaking at the sight of their dear friend's pain.

They're women; of course, they could tell that Amethyst is hurt.

Venna stepped forward, her expression one of both sympathy and frustration. She glared at her boss and called his name. "Dylan," she began, her voice steady but tinged with emotion, "there was no need for that. It was just a gift. There's no reason to be hurtful with your words."

She couldn't take it anymore. They all knew that he didn't like her, so why is he still torturing her? Does it make him feel superior?

Bullshit.

Maureen nodded in agreement, her voice laced with a mix of anger and disappointment as well. "Yeah," she added, her tone sharp with condemnation. "Calling her out like that was uncalled for. You're acting like a real jerk, Dylan," she added as she crossed her arms and leaned back.

Dylan's expression remained impassive as he listened to their words, his eyes betraying no hint of remorse. However, his words even made Maureen and Venna more disappointed. "I never asked Amethyst to give me a gift," he replied coolly, his voice devoid of emotion. "She knew I wouldn't accept it, so why bother giving it to me in the first place?"

The room fell silent as Dylan's words hung in the air, casting a shadow over the previously joyful atmosphere. Venna and Maureen exchanged incredulous glances, struggling to comprehend the callousness of Dylan's response.

Maureen's eyes narrowed with anger as she stepped forward, her voice trembling with fury. "You're such a cold-hearted, ruthless, and merciless jerk," she spat, her words dripping with venom. She had been chasing him for years, and this is all he could say? "Even though you're the boss, that doesn't give you the right to treat people like this."

Dylan's expression remained stoic as he shrugged off her words, his indifference cutting deeper than any insult. "I do what I have to do to maintain order," he replied dismissively, his tone unwavering. "If that means hurting a few feelings along the way, so be it."

The room grew tense as Dylan's callousness hung in the air, a palpable reminder of the power dynamics at play within the organization. But while some members remained silent, unwilling to challenge their boss, others began to murmur amongst themselves, their discontent simmering just beneath the surface.

Maureen's eyes flashed with defiance as she stepped forward, her voice trembling with righteous anger. "You may be the boss, Dylan, but that doesn't give you the right to treat people like this," she declared, her words resonating with conviction. "You may have power, but you're nothing more than a cold-hearted, ruthless, and merciless jerk."

Dylan's facade wavered for a moment, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his features before he quickly regained his composure. "Enough," he snapped, his voice tinged with irritation. "This conversation is over."

But Maureen refused to back down, her determination unwavering as she continued to speak her mind. "No, it's not over," she retorted, her voice rising with each word. "You need to understand that your actions have consequences, Dylan. You can't just go around hurting people without expecting repercussions."

The tension in the room reached a boiling point as Dylan and Maureen stared each other down, their conflicting ideologies colliding in a battle of wills. And as the other members watched on in stunned silence, they couldn't help but wonder what the future held for their once-unshakeable organization.