Chapter 3 The New Boyfriend

• ~LAUREN~
• I slipped into my sleek black dress—the one I’d worn to my best friend’s wedding. As I straightened my hair and stepped into matching silver heels, I caught my reflection in the mirror.
• My glasses framed my face, and though I’d never thought of myself as glamorous, tonight I felt just a little confident.
• Dressing up wasn’t the problem; it was the judgment that came with it. And tonight, with everything that had happened, I wasn’t sure I could stomach it.
• Grabbing my silver purse, I took a deep breath and left my room. The resort's hallway stretched before me, leading toward the sound of chatter in the garden.
• Each step felt heavier, a reminder of the betrayal I was trying so hard to ignore. Rosette and Patrick’s faces flashed in my mind, and I silently prayed I wouldn’t run into them tonight.
• The garden was filled with elegantly dressed guests, their polished appearances marking them as anything but ordinary.
• My coworkers—Lilac, Fatimah, and Malcolm—stood in a small group, deep in conversation. I considered retreating, but Malcolm’s enthusiastic wave caught me off guard.
• “Lauren! You made it!” he called out.
• I hesitated, noticing Lilac’s subtle attempt to stop him, but it was too late. My feet carried me forward before I could think of an excuse.
• “You came! I thought your invitation must have gotten lost,” Malcolm teased with a warm smile.
• “Oh, right,” I muttered, adjusting my glasses. Compliments weren’t my forte, and I wasn’t sure how to respond.
• “Nice dress,” Lilac said, her gaze unnervingly sharp. “Where did you get it?”
• “Uh, a shop,” I stammered, already regretting my honesty.
• “What shop and brand?” she pressed, her voice slicing through my already fragile confidence.
• I hesitated. The dress wasn’t designer—it was a last-minute purchase from a roadside shop in San Diego. “I bought it at a roadside shop,” I admitted.
• Their laughter cut me off before I could explain further. My chest tightened as Fatimah joined in.
• “Roadside?” she repeated, smirking.
• “Is that a problem?” I snapped, my frustration bubbling over.
• Malcolm raised his hands in mock surrender. “Geez, Lauren, we’re just messing with you!”
• But I wasn’t amused. Their laughter stung, a cruel reminder of how I’d become the office punchline. Ever since Patrick’s betrayal, everyone seemed to take sides—Rosette’s side.
• “Well, I don’t like being messed with,” I shot back, louder than intended. Heads turned, and I caught the annoyed stares Lilac and Fatimah sent my way.
• “Cut it out, drama queen,” Lilac hissed. “No wonder your boyfriend was taken right under your nose.”
• Her words struck like a slap. My breath hitched, but I refused to let her see the hurt. They all knew. Of course, they knew.
• “You knew,” I said, my gaze fixed on Malcolm. He looked away, his silence confirming everything. How naïve I’d been to think anyone here was different.
• Before I could respond, my stomach sank. Rosette and Patrick were walking toward me, his hand casually resting on her waist. They looked picture-perfect, their polished smiles masking the chaos they’d caused in my life.
• “Lauren,” Rosette called out, her voice sweet but dripping with something unplaceable.
• “Hello, Rosette,” I replied, keeping my voice even, though my fists clenched at my sides.
• She smiled, the kind of smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Nice dress. You look great,” she said, her tone saccharine.
• “What do you want?” I asked, stepping to the side, but she blocked my path.
• Patrick shifted uncomfortably. “Hey, babe, what are you doing?”
• “I’m talking to a friend,” she snapped, her voice icy. Even Patrick looked caught off guard.
• “What do you want, Rosette?” I repeated, folding my arms.
• “Oh, nothing. I just wanted to apologize,” she said, her words catching me off guard.
• “Babe!” Patrick hissed, but Rosette ignored him.
• “Apologize?” I echoed, trying to process her sudden shift.
• “I know you must hate me,” she said, her expression almost convincing. “But I didn’t steal Patrick from you. I just… fell in love. I’m sorry if you felt betrayed.”
• I stared at her, unsure whether to laugh or cry. Her apology felt hollow, but what was the point of arguing?
• “Forget it,” I said finally, though the words tasted bitter.
• Rosette’s smile brightened as if she’d just won some invisible game. “I’m so happy you’ve forgiven me.”
• Patrick’s jaw tightened. He wasn’t buying her act, and for once, I agreed with him.
• “Did you come to the party alone?” Rosette asked, her tone too casual.
• “No,” I blurted before I could stop myself.
• Patrick frowned. “You didn’t?”
• “You heard me. I came with my boyfriend,” I lied, the words tumbling out before I could think.
• Rosette’s eyes lit up with amusement. “Your boyfriend? Where is he?”
• Panic set in as I scanned the room. My gaze landed on a man near the corner of the garden. He stood apart from the crowd, his piercing green eyes locking onto mine.
• “That’s him,” I said, pointing before I could second-guess myself.
• The man didn’t move, but his presence was impossible to ignore—tall, confident, and completely out of place.
• My heart pounded as I realized what I’d just done.