Chapter 4

Still, hearing it now from Gabe, the doubt tried to creep in, eating at the edges of his confidence.He clenched his fists, refusing to let Gabe’s taunts take root. He wasn’t going to give in to rumors, especially not ones spread by someone like Gabe, who seemed to take joy in his misery. Julian kept telling himself that Claire had chosen him for a reason. She wasn’t interested in wealth or status or so he hoped.

Julian's fingers tightened around the small, neatly wrapped gift in his hands, as he continued to think about Gabe's words about his girlfriend. Although he was very sure there wasn't any truth to them, Claire would never cheat on him, he couldn't help wondering, what if it was true? Plus she did seem to spend a lot of time with the boss, however Julian didn't see anything wrong with that, she had assured him that there was nothing between them, they were just friends.

As Julian was lost in thought, Gabe's voice snapped him back to reality. “What's the matter, finally realized that she’s too good for you?” Gabe's voice was sharp, his smirk widening as if he sensed Julian’s internal struggle. He could tell by the way Julian was lost in thought, that his words made him think.

Julian’s fingers tightened further around the small, neatly wrapped gift in his hands, his knuckles turning white. Though he was very sure there wasn’t any truth to Gabe's words, Claire would never cheat on him, he couldn’t stop the nagging thought from creeping in: What if it was true? What if Claire was indeed in a secret relationship with his boss?

‘No, she would never do something like that.’He thought. Gabe had always been envious of the fact that Claire was dating someone's like Julian, so that's why he started that lie in the first place. The thought that Gabe has started that rumour because of his jealousy, made Julian angry. Julian wanted to lash out at Gabe for his words, to tell him to shut up and stop spreading rumours, but he held himself back. Gabe wasn’t just some guy at the party he was his superior. And that fact alone made Julian keep his anger in check, knowing the cost of speaking out of line.

Still, the smug grin etched across Gabe’s face was unbearable, his eyes glinting with satisfaction, daring Julian to snap. He wanted a reaction, wanted Julian to crack under the pressure.

But Julian bit his tongue, refusing to give Gabe what he wanted. They weren’t equals. Gabe held all the power, and offending him would be more than a mistake, it could cost Julian everything. The man’s tailored suit alone probably cost more than Julian made in a year. Gabe’s status and wealth loomed large, and tonight, surrounded by opulence, Julian felt the weight of it more than ever. The realization ate at him, a painful reminder of just how small he truly was in this world

At that moment, as if on cue, someone else approached Julian and Gabe. A young woman, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders. She wore a tight, short skirt that hugged her curves, paired with a sleek, low-cut top that emphasized her figure. Her skin glowed under the soft lighting, and her heels clicked confidently against the floor as she walked. With a flawless complexion and perfectly lined lips, she looked every bit the part of someone who belonged in this world of luxury. But as her eyes fell on Julian, they narrowed, and her lips curled into a sneer of disdain as she took in his worn-out clothes.

The way she scowled in disgust at his sight was as if, just looking at him offended her. Not only were his clothes worn out, but he seemed to have soaked himself with water. What a loser he was!

Her gaze lingering on his soaked shirt and the frayed edges of his pants she said . “Seriously?” she sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. “What a joke. Did you swim here, or are you just that pathetic?”It seemed like Julian was practically begging to be humiliated, judging by his appearance. He hadn’t even tried to fit in.

Julian could feel her judgmental eyes, and it hurt his feelings more than he’d care to admit. It wasn’t just about the clothes, though his faded jeans and worn-out sneakers were all he had. He hadn’t even tried to fit in because he couldn’t afford to. Buying new clothes was a luxury, with every cent going toward rent, bills, and most of all, his girlfriend Claire.

He’d barely scraped together enough money for her birthday gift, let alone something decent to wear tonight. She had expensive tastes, and he’d done what he could to keep up, even if it meant standing here, looking like he didn’t belong.