Between Pride and Desire

ch

dinner as an excuse only to meet, as there was no actual dinner. Anyway, I tried to stay focused on his long and tedious conversation about a

xcept that he was extremely rich, but I already knew th

n my face and nodded when needed to make him think I

ed question arrived: "A

I confess

ernal communication device. He picked up a menu from the side table and, after a brief read

ial meal. Although I controlled my diet to keep

despite the sophistication of the dish, all I received was a leafy salad and a

to notice my dissatisfaction with his rude and uncourteous att

ared to comment when he saw that I had finished t

rre, and I began to question if he reall

salon and didn't have time to eat prope

lon today?" he aske

uncertain about the excuse I had used a

ce they didn't do a good job on you," h

ked, shocked by the offen

ible today. Very dry and full of frizz," he continued with the criticisms

tely unexpected and unfair. I had done a good job, and I knew it. After all, I spent mon

nt a lot of money on such services, all to create an im

tried to ease the uncomfortable situation and

enied it with a

he said with an unpleasan

Orion?" I questioned, incredulous,

disdain. "Your appearance is what made me give up on going to the hotel's re

d to the point where I couldn't react, not even get up

ss," he pointed to my

" I finally managed to protest. "I don't ha

mall table where I was still sitti

" he asked, also getting up when he saw m

aring at him with just my eyes. "I

y bag, surprisi

anywhere before a

I'm going to sleep with you af

" he said, a cynical smile on his face. "You'll only leave this a

n!" I can't let him pressure me that

e the opposite. Orion bursts into a loud laugh

tion... While you, Rachel... have nothing," he laughs again, in a sinister manne

talking about..." I try

lled with hardness and aggression. "Shirley told me every

gain! It

other side of the room, leaving me certain that m

Orion ordered, and my heart raced with fear in my chest, s