Chapter 2 Fired


    MEGAN


    Suckstastic!


    IT HAD been eight days since I lost my job. Eight days of wallowing in self-pity at the four corners of my


    apartment—alone. And every time I closed my eyes, all I saw was the image flickering of my evil boss


    as he tried to vite me. He was a shameless piece of shit and thought I would just wee his loser


    dick because he had one.


    Since I kneed him on his balls and punched his wrinkled ugly face, I hadn’t seen or heard from him


    again. I was immensely grateful and scared at the same time that cops would just knock on my door


    informing me that someone sued me for assault.


    I’d never been violent in my entire life, in fact, I was always a victim. Then I saw red when he tried to do


    that thing that I was scared of. My instinct kicked in, and I did what I thought was right to save a little


    morality I had left.


    It was passed six when I got out of my bed. I tried hard to ignore my urge to call Cam and Bianca


    because I knew they were both busy with their husbands. And at this time, ine was busy ying


    with Ben and Sammy—who wouldn’t? those kids were adorable. Lucky for them, they met men who


    respected, loved and treasured them like true gems. But luck was not on my side though, and I


    doubted if I could trust my heart to any man over again.


    I checked my phone, of course, no calls, no messages—no one cared. Naught.


    My life sucks!


    ***


    The Night Stalker Club was crowded. The noises always made me feel alive, reminding me that I still


    had a reason to live despite my life had been turned upside down a couple of times, reeled and grief-


    stricken—I still managed to pull myself together. Yay to me!


    I passed through the crowd and approached the bar. Thankfully, I found an empty barstool and rested


    my elbows on the dark counter, tapping my blood red-colored nails as if I wasn’t drowning with self-pity


    earlier.


    My heart was speeding up in a second of anticipation as I scanned around, but I couldn’t find him. Was


    he off work today?


    “Caipirinha, please?”


    Dice, a bartender with Afro head nodded. The staff knew me through Cam and Pyke. I hummed to


    the pop song yed by the DJ at his booth.


    A few momentster, Dice ced down my drink and ced another order from the man beside me


    who wore a strong perfume. I turned my head slightly to check him out. He was wearing a sophisticated


    tailored suit with shiny personalized cuff links. He was rich, probably had his own office in Manhattan


    business district.


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    He raised his Jack on the rocks to acknowledge me and sipped it, then slightly turned to face me.


    I smiled timidly and sipped my Brazilian drink, and let the grassy herbaceous taste of cacha?a washed


    over my loneliness. Wash, huh? Ridiculous!


    “Hi,” he prompted, smiling confidently. You’re rich but not attractive. I don’t feel all tingly.


    I must say though, this man was tall and physically fit, but I didn’te here tonight to flirt and getid


    just to get rid of this sorrow churning inside me. I still couldn’t forget what that dipshit did to me. I


    guessed I was born jinx after all.


    “I’m waiting for someone.” I crossed my legs to avoid touching his knees.


    “He should be here by now. Shouldn’t let a beautiful woman wait.” He raised an eyebrow, testing. Oh,


    god! Stop flirting already.


    I wanted to roll my eyes, instead, I smiled. “What made you think I am waiting for a... man?”


    His eyes glinted wickedly. “As gorgeous as you.” He strolled his gaze from my face to my chest, to my


    exposed thighs. “It would be a waste.”


    “You’re maybe right, but I am really waiting for someone.”


    “At least let me entertain you while you’re waiting for his grand entrance.” Back off, already! Your


    cufflinks are too shiny for my taste. He extended his hand. “Asher.” Oh,e on! Aren’t you a little


    persistent?


    I reluctantly raised my hand to shake his.


    “Megan.”


    Startled, I choked on my heart and my pulse pounded in my ears. My head snapped to the strong and


    deep voice behind the bar.


    Forrest had his dark eyes narrowed at me so intense that made me gulp, with dark thick brows


    squished together. His straight nose was ring, his jaw was locked tight that made his jawline sharper.


    “Il est tellement chaud.” I thought it was my voice.


    His gaze made my knees tremble. This man always carried the pain, mystery, and broody character,


    but he was damn beautiful with his imperfection. His powerful presence caught me hyper-aware that


    had my body tense and my vagina shamelessly reacted. Oops! I shouldn’t have thought of that. Too


    late, Megan.


    “Forrest.” I coughed his name.


    He took a few moments to somewhat assess me before he talked again. “You okay?”


    I nodded. Suddenly, it came to my senses that I’d been staring at him for a couple of seconds and not


    saying anything. It was always this way.


    “Yeah.” My word came unsure.


    “Can I get you another drink?” He looked down at my almost empty ss.


    My hand turned shaky as I pushed the ss toward him. “Yes, please.”


    A man on my left side cleared his throat. Ipletely forgot I was about to shake his hand. “So, you’re


    Megan.”


    I nced at him. “He’s here.”


    “Wait a sec. You’re dating that bartender?” Did I say anything about dating? He gestured his head to


    the magnificent back of Forrest who was wearing a ck shirt, sleeves were rolled up his elbows,


    showing off his mes tattooed that I found it intriguing and sexy.


    I preferred a clean guy, but it just looked damn good on him. Sometimes I wondered if he had a few


    more tattoos underneath the dark shirt he was wearing. Did his abs or deep V covered with tattoos as


    well or did he have a piercing on his gpole? Bad bad girl, Meggie.


    I leisurely watched his biceps bulged as he busied himself mixing. “Nope.”


    “Your brother then?”


    I snapped my head and stared at the man for good seconds. I opened my mouth, but before I could


    speak, Forrest ced the drink in front of me.


    “Back off, dude. You’re not her type.” Forrest’s voice was deep and harsh, but I could feel that was


    intentional.


    “You’re one to talk.”


    “What do you think?”


    My mouth cked open and parched because Forrest didn’t even open his mouth if he didn’t have to.


    He was a man of a few words. He used to brood than to spend his time talking to someone like this


    pompous dumbass beside me.


    Forrest always intrigued us. I just didn’t have the gut to even talk to him if I didn’t have a choice. He


    intimidated me like a predator, but something deep inside me triggered every time we locked our gazes


    —it was like rolling of thunder with warmth and desire, but I had to keep it to myself because he was a


    friend in my circles. But boy, that’s a damn shame because he looks so good.


    “You’re a bartender, dude. Don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong. I am just asking a beautiful


    lady over here—”


    “Just like you asked another beautifuldy yesterday?”


    “What is your problem?”


    “My problem? Didn’t she tell you she was waiting for someone?” Oh, he heard me?


    My eyes ping-ponged between them while I was trying to process that they were arguing because of


    me, yet, I couldn’t tell them to stop.


    Clearly, Forrest pissed off Asher. The dude’s face was ming red and stoned hard. “I can make a


    comint against your rudeness behavior and make sure you can’t find another job even sweeping


    dog shits in the street.”


    “And I am so shaking,” Forrest answered confidently.


    “Asshole!” Asher barked harshly.


    “You’re not the first time to call me that.” He grabbed the empty ss on my left and a few dor bills.


    “Forrest, what are you doing?” I asked him, finally finding my voice to speak.


    “I don’t know,” he mumbled under his breath, then pinned his gaze at me.


    “You could be in trouble.”


    “Who gives a damn? What are you doing here? Alone.”


    “I’m a customer.” I shrugged.


    Forrest shifted his gaze to my back, and I noticed Asher left his stool.


    “This is for you, asshole.” He threw the bills toward the counter then walked away.


    Forrest picked them up from the floor, then Asher’s empty ss.


    I waited until he would talk to me again, but he kept himself busy with the other customers and never


    came back to me as if I didn’t exist anymore, and it pissed me off. He passed by me when he had to


    take orders. The rest of the evening remained uneventful.


    Feeling insignificant, I drained my drink empty. After a few deep breaths, I pulled myself together, took


    a few bills from my clutch and ced it on the counter.


    What happened to me? I wasn’t this attention seeker. I could get attention from any man I wanted. I


    had a fair share, but I knew that they only wanted one thing from me, and that was what I hated myself


    for. Or perhaps, I wanted something more. Something else. Or more so, someone. I shook the images


    of my past life as they passed by in a slow blur and walked out of the club, hoping not to return.


    I stayed inside my car for a while, resting my head against the headrest. I couldn’t let my failures


    consumed me. I needed to find a job, moved on, and forgot those damages happened in my past.


    I couldn’t depend on my friends every time I had a problem—we weren’t like before anymore. They had


    priorities than to listen to my sad life stories that no one could fix it other than me.


    People thought I had a perfect life because what they saw in me was the flirty and funny Megan, and


    not the damaged woman behind these walls I built years ago.


    I started my car when my eyes started to blur. So much for an emotionally unavable bitch! A knock


    had my head snapped to my window.


    “Megan?”


    Crap!