All Chapters of When Love Strikes Hard: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Gerrard Southerford is the most confusing man I've ever met. Ever. Like, even the guys at school weren't so hot and cold. This man, though, surpasses all of those idiots.As I make my way out of his room with absolutely no idea where to go, because I don't have a room of my own and he just kicked me out of his, his words play in my mind like a loop on repeat. 'Do you have a boyfriend, Gard?'The fuck?I swear this man has been trespassing the invisible boundary of our employer-employee relationship since day one, and then when just a bit of hope blossoms in my chest because of the shit he pulls on me, he goes ahead and douses even the last flame of that flimsy hope that I dare to feel. Like, why did he have to ask me why I laughed when I asked him about Bru and Keith in his car? Because if he hadn't, I never would have had to answer and tell him that I didn't like seeing him with his PA

I’ve only been dancing with Ruben for like five minutes-- but when I look ahead, over his shoulder, I see none other than Gerrard Southerford dancing with a woman in a tight as fuck red latex dress, his hands trailing so low on her waist that they’re pretty much grazing her ass. Shock grips me, to the point where I almost stop dancing.  She has her arms around Gerrard's neck, her body pressed flushed against his, grinding her pelvis on his thigh as they sway raunchily. I watch them, transfixed, unable to get my eyes off of Gerrard's when he leans in, close to the slut's ear and whispers something. I swear my heart feels like someone's broken past my ribs to squeeze the shit out of it at this point, because that's how much it hurts to watch him with some other woman like this.  I don't realise when it is exactly that I stop dancing-- all I know is that I break Gerrard's cruel gaze to stare at my feet instead, only

"Actually, Ms. Southerford,” Ruben says out of the blue, making every person swivel their heads his way. He pushes that hoe forward by a step. "This is Gerrard's guest. Priscilla is with me."I know Ruben said the wrong thing when Gerrard’s eyes practically glow with fury. “They both are with me, Ma. That’s Hannah. You see, the person she came to the office party with left her for someone else, so I decided to tag her along.”Ms. Southerford beams. “That was so sweet of you, honey. Now, come bring your date insid-”“Actually, my sweet,” Smith interrupts, wrapping an arm around his girlfriend’s shoulder. “Ruben’s quite right. I, myself, took it upon me to invite Priscilla to our family dinner, as Ruben’s date, no less. You know how lonely he gets on family nights.”I don’t know if my eyes are weak or the dark’

It almost feels like I’m dreaming; this is so good to be true.Gerrard Southerford likes me back?I want to pinch myself awake right now, because if he keeps kissing me like this and I wake up later only to realise this is all just a dream, my heart’s not going to be able to handle it. I pull back from him a little, parting our lips. We’re both breathing heavily, but I swear it feels like in this moment, we couldn’t have been happier.Resting my forehead on his as he leans his face closer to mine, I whisper, “Are you going to take me to your house wearing that?”His brow furrows for a second, but when he understands that I’m talking about him wearing only an underwear and shirt, he laughs softly, pecking me on the lips again.And although we’ve just kissed, his soft peck still gives me butterflies all over my body.”If that’s what you want,” he grins

It’s that black SUV.I just know it’s that same one that’s always parked around the curb of my apartment building whenever I get in or out of the building.At first, I’d only thought it a coincidence for it to be around at the same time as me, but as the days progressed, that car began giving me an uncomfortable feeling. Almost as if it were watching me.And now? I don’t know how long that car’s been here, watching me, watching us, rather, because as soon as it sees that I’ve spotted it, it drives away. Before Gerrard can see it.I’m afraid I sound like an idiot to him right now, but what I’m saying is the truth. I really do think that someone’s following me. There’s only so many times that can be counted as a coincidence.But now is not one of those times, because how the fuck could that car know that I’m with