Page 49 of More Than a Match

“He does. But he doesn’t know where you live. You’re still safe.”

“But you aren’t, and I don’t like that.”

“Hey, I’ll be fine.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

I walk into the lounge at work, holding my head high and hoping my racing heart doesn’t betray itself. I quickly scan the room, praying Jason isn’t there. He’s not. I exhale and head to my locker. As I’m putting my things away, a loud slam right next to my face makes me jump.Shit. It’s him.

He grabs my wrist and thrusts me backwards against the lockers, leering in my face. “So, you thought you could pull a fast one on me, eh Mina?”

“What are you talking about, Jason?”

His grip tightens. “I know you trashed your place on purpose, to turn me off. Seems like you’re a lying little snake,” he hisses. “All you do is lie.”

“You’re hurting me,” I protest, trying to free myself from his grip. “Let me go.”

“No. I’ll never let you go.”

“I’m not yours to hold onto.”

“Wanna know how I found out? It’s fascinating, really.”

I don’t reply, hoping he’ll just keep talking, because the longer this lasts, the greater chance someone will come and intervene. To my annoyance and relief, he does.

“I was driving away from your place when it struck me. An ephemeral goddess like you, living in a pigsty like that? In filth? It doesn’t make any sense. You’re too put together.”

He drops his free hand to my waist, then grabs my crotch. I can’t help but gasp at this sudden, brazen violation.What the fuck is he thinking?

He continues, “then it occurred to me that there were a lot of fast food wrappers lying around.” He got closer, pressing his lips against my ear. “You don’t eat fast food. I’ve heard you say that yourself. You were telling that little blonde bitch how it upsets your gut health, so you limit your intake. Based on the trash in your apartment, either you lied to your best friend, or that trash wasn’t yours.”

He leaned back and released his grip on my crotch but kept his vice grip on my wrist. “So, I turned around and came back. And what do I see when I get there? That filthy janitor and his degenerate friends all helping you take out the trash and tidy the place up. Why, if it wasn’t staged purely for my displeasure?”

I still didn’t answer, desperately hoping for salvation. None came.

“You’re a sneaky one, that’s for sure. But not sneaky enough.” He chuckles wryly, finally releasing his grip on my wrist. “But I’ve decided that if I can’t have you, no one can.”

Fear shoots through me like a lightning bolt, and I clutch my bruised wrist to my chest. “What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what I said. I’ve already filed a formal complaint with the hospital about your filthy janitor lover, and I expect they’ll take action soon enough. I plan to do the same about you, unless you agree to be mine.”

I feel my blood run cold. “That’s cruel, he needs this job!”

“He should have thought about that before getting in my way. You both should have.”

Tears well in my eyes as he turns to leave. He stops in the doorway and casts one last look in my direction and delivers the final dagger.

“Oh, I also reached out to your parents. I sent them his full employee profile and made sure to tell them he’s nothing more than a street rat, and that you’ve both been lying. Amazing what information can be found when you look in someone’s personnel records.” And with that, he leaves, his laughter echoing down the hall.

I feel my knees buckle beneath me, and I can’t stop the tears from falling. The seconds tick by, feeling like eternity, before a realization occurs.I have to warn Alex.

CHAPTER 34: ALEX

I feel my phone vibrate, but I can’t answer it. I fidget in the chair, my supervisor scowling at me from across the desk while some lady from HR named Sharon takes notes in the corner.

“Alex, what do you have to say for yourself? These are some pretty serious allegations.”

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