Page 124 of Rules Of Our Own

I glance back at Gerard. “I appreciate you putting your neck out for me in the beginning and everything you did, but you should know there’s nothing wrong with my relationship. The Prosthetics For Kids campaign has been more successful than I ever could have dreamed. It’s gone viral nationally, quadrupling what you offered and it’s growing every day. It’s because of them. It’s because they believed in me while you doubted me every step of the way. You’re blowing the chance at being a part of something amazing.”

“Dr. Brooks, Mia. I never wanted you to fail.” Gerard says, looking less sure than he did a second ago.

“Don’t worry about me, I don’t need your funding anymore.”

I wink and shove through the doors and stride to the elevator, head held high. Pushing the button, I replay the last few minutes and sort through my emotions.

There’s a loud buzz in my veins, and my pulse beats in my ears, but there’s no hint of disappointment. I stood up to my asshole ex, and I’m going to do everything in my power to take him the hell down. I step on the elevator and smirk at the receptionist watching me with curiosity.

Just as the door is about to close, Jason dashes through the narrow opening, a smirk spreading over his lips. Rage bubbles in my chest as he blocks my exit.

He stands menacingly over me, his dark eyes narrow and piercing. He speaks slowly, deliberately, as if tasting each word carefully before he spits them out. “You think you’re so smart going to my dad. Like you have the upper hand.” His hand shoots out towards me, but I react quickly and slap it away; his face contorts into a sneer.

“What do you think your guys’ coach will think when he finds out they’re fucking you? Hmmm, do you think it’s good for their wholesome image?”

My heart drops and a band tightens in my stomach painfully.

“It would be so fucking easy to let these photos leak.” Jason grins maliciously at me, his sharp teeth glint in the light. “I bet they’d even pay me for them.”

Anger crackles beneath my skin. I fucking hate him. I want to scream and rail and spit in his face. This is all just a game to him, but Alex and River are my whole life.

Jason raises a brow, seemingly sure of himself with each move that brings me closer to the corner he backs me into. Tears prick at the back of my eyes in that moment; hatred coursing through my veins. I take a deep breath, swallowing down my rage knowing that if I don't give him what he wants then Alex will bear the brunt of it.

Humiliation flares inside me as the weight of my helplessness settles over my shoulders. I hate Jason, he makes me feel small, helpless. The polar opposite to how Alex and River make me feel. No matter how much I want to rage and scream, the only thing that really matters is them. I swallow down my ego clenching my fists and plead hoarsely, “Please don’t do this, I can tell your dad I lied about everything. That I was just jealous."

A smirk appears on Jason's face. “Too fucking late, Mia. I’m going to make you pay for everything you’ve done.”

The ever tightening band in my chest snaps, taking all reasoning with it, and I snarl through my teeth. “What I’ve done!? WHAT. YOU’VE. DONE. You egotistical asshole.” I growl out the words, blood flooding my veins and before I can stop myself I’m gripping his suit lapels for stability and driving my knee into his dick.

He grunts, folding in half wheezing, followed quickly by the satisfying sound of dry heaving.

“You’d think it wouldn’t hurt so bad with how small it is.” I scoff.

“Fucking bitch.” He hisses out, but doesn’t look up. He clearly has no idea what to do with me when I’m no longer afraid of him.

The bell chimes, and the door opens behind him. He barely glances at me as he escapes like the fucking coward he is.

I stand, back pressed against the wall, and just let the last few minutes settle over me. From the disappointment of losing the sponsorship… To how good it felt to threaten Jason in that office. To… My blood drains from my face remembering exactly what he said.

“What do you think your guys’ coach will think when he finds out they’re fucking you? Hmmm, do you think it’s good for their wholesome image?”

Guilt twists my stomach as my world crumbles. I know how important becoming captain is to Alex, how important their image is to their team. Now Jason is going to ruin all of that because of me. The realization washes over me like an icy wave, sapping away any courage I had. How could I ever tell them?

I don’t go home.Home.Like I have any right to call it that.

Instead, I find a small diner to sit in and let what Jason’s about to do bury me.

How am I going to tell them what I’ve done?

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I hesitate to check it, knowing who it is.

Alex: How’d it go, Kitten?

After five minutes of not responding, he texts me again.

Alex: You still in there? Text me when you get out.

I order a meal so I can stay and push the food around my plate, but my stomach is too twisted to eat.