Chapter 4
1048words
I couldn't take it anymore and told him I was breaking up with him.
A second later, Derrick exploded over the phone, cursing and yelling at me. "You slut! I haven't even slept with you yet! How dare you dump me!"
Finally, he had shown his true colors because of how furious he was.
But no matter how angry or threatening he got, I didn't care. I was determined to break up with him.
"Hmph! Did you really think I'd have spent so much on you if it wasn't because you looked like a goody-two-shoes? Just you wait! I'll have my revenge!"
And things were left unresolved like that.
The next day, everyone in the trainee team looked at me with judgment in their eyes. Rumors about me spread like wildfire.
They said I lived a double life, that I was a slut with a massive body count. They also said that I was a gold-digger who slept with rich men for money.
One day, I overheard Derrick talking about me to our colleagues in the restroom, and it hit me that the rumors had all stemmed from him.
"Ricky, is Nate really that kind of person?"
Derrick smirked and spoke dismissively of me like I wasn't even worth mentioning. "It's not just you. He even had me fooled!"
"Damn! Tell me what it was like to sleep with him! What's the difference between sleeping with a guy and a woman? Come on, tell me!"
"Don't say you heard it from me, but his ass is really soft and bouncy despite his thin frame. And he's super assertive and sensitive in bed too! He'd moan so loudly with just a few touches, and I barely had to move to get him screaming my name in pleasure.
"I mean, he might be a pain in the ass, but sleeping with him was quite a wonderful experience for me."
They cackled loudly as they left the restroom. Meanwhile, I stayed hidden in one of the cubicles, my eyes turning red as I flushed the toilet multiple times to drown out the sounds of my sniffling.
He had been my first-ever boyfriend. And I had rejected his sexual advances every time he came on to me during the three weeks we were together.
Yes, Derrick had spent money on me when he took me out for dinner and movies, but I had done my best to repay him in return with thoughtful gifts and presents.
Derrick was sly. When I combed through all of our messages, I couldn't find any compelling evidence of his true nature. The text messages only showed how kind, sweet, and gentlemanly he had been with me.
And since he held the voice and had credibility at work, people would be more inclined to believe his words than mine.
So, all I could do was work twice as hard. Eventually, I landed a permanent position at the company, which allowed me to move out of the trainee team, freeing myself from the rumors.
…
Derrick got up and walked toward me after the scoff.
I thought that he was coming for me. However, he just sent me a dirty look before his face turned warm and inviting once again as he circled around me.
"Winnie! You're here."
"Oh? Why is Ms. Rosewood here so early today?"
"Did your maids finally manage to wake you up in time?"
"Hey, don't make it sound like she's being lazy on purpose! It's normal for her to get a little grumpy in the mornings."
"My lady, please allow me the honor of holding your purse for you!"
Derrick hadn't been the only one heading toward the door. Literally everyone else swarmed there too.
A young woman with bleached blonde hair and sunglasses was standing confidently at the door. She hadn't even taken a step inside, but the entrance was already completely blocked by the mass of trainees swarming toward her.
Surprisingly, Derrick just went up to her and pulled her into his arms. They looked very intimate.
"Alright, back off. Winter's boyfriend is still right here," he said with a playful huff as he smacked away the other guys' hands.
He then took Winter Rosewood's ten-thousand-dollar Birkin bag and said, "Of course, I'm the only one who can carry her Birkin for her!"
Turning toward her, he asked, "Aren't you cold in that crop top, babe?"
Derrick's voice was gentle, tender, and very heartwarming. He then slipped off his blazer and draped it over her shoulders while the rest of the department giggled and teased him for it. Then, he slid his arm around her waist and led her through the crowd like a bodyguard.
His actions were so smooth and rehearsed that I suddenly wondered if he was the bossy protagonist of a story I wasn't aware of.
Winter seemed like she was enjoying his attention too. However, halfway through the office, she suddenly stopped in her tracks, and everyone was surprised.
Derrick, however, was particularly panicked.
Winter had stopped right in front of me.
"Isn't this guy your ex or something?" she asked Derrick, slowly taking off her sunglasses as she pursed her red lips.
Derrick immediately shot a frustrated glance at the rest of the department. He had warned them not to ever let Winter know about my past relationship with him. So, who was the one who had leaked it?
"I can explain, Winnie. I'm straight. I'm not g—"
"I know."
Meanwhile, I was so intimidated by Winter's piercing stare that I immediately got to my feet and offered her my hand. "H-Hello," I said awkwardly.
I felt at a loss when facing her. She was the chairman's daughter, after all, and I didn't even dare to meet her gaze.
Derrick stood next to her, glaring at me in resentment. If looks could kill, I'd have been dead a while ago.
Winter ignored my outstretched hand and lifted my chin with her manicured finger. Then, she gave me a blatant once-over before her lips curved into a slight smirk.
"Not bad."
