Winning My Ex-Crush

Fenella’s POV

The conversation from three days ago still echoed in my mind. It seemed that Jessy and I still had a chance to save our company colleagues from losing their jobs. With the remaining money in my account that I had set aside to pay back Gene, we could potentially start a new talent agency.

The problem was, did I have the courage to do it?

Not to mention the various business risks we needed to consider and the task of pulling in connections from the fashion world to trust our agency. And who would be the director to manage the daily operations of the company?

Laird was already overwhelmed with his own game developer business. Jessy lacked confidence to be a director. Meanwhile, I was just a silly girl who could only rely on physical beauty, according to the comments on my social media lately.

Of course, I didn’t want to be what they labeled me. Besides, my mother said I could be smart if I put in the effort like I did when I started high school. Laird also said I should be able to do it as long as I had the same strong determination as I did back then.

Still, building a business from scratch was daunting. After all, I didn’t have a mentor like I did back in high school. Damn, even Laird and Clark were among my study mentors in high school. Should I trouble them again to be business mentors now that I am an adult?

Wouldn’t that seem like I hadn’t progressed at all?

I sighed deeply. My hand absently shifted the clothes hanging on the display rack, despite it being my favorite designer’s boutique.

“Have you found something you like, sugar boo?”

Alan approached me, his hand gently touching my elbow. He rubbed my elbow with his thumb. Although I felt uncomfortable with the touch, I endured it. Moreover, I had never been able to get used to the random name he used.

Today, he had taken me out to buy a new dress. He wanted me to buy a boutique dress for the charity gala that would be held in two days.

Amy and Peter, as the main donors, would host a big event in their house. Everyone, including Mallory and all her friends, would also come as donor guests. Of course, I couldn’t refuse, or he would get suspicious.

“Not yet.” I sighed lazily.

“How about this one? The color would contrast nicely with your blonde hair.” Alan pulled a purple minidress in front of my face.

“I think that color is too flashy for a charity event,” I said, quickly shaking my head.

“Well, how about this one?” Alan held up a white dress with a knee-length skirt. The white halterneck midi dress looked good, and I ran my hand over the dress.

“Pretty good. I’ll try it.”

I took the dress from Alan’s hands and walked to the fitting room. After entering the fitting room, I realized Alan was following me. I thought he would wait outside on the sofa, so I let him come in.

However, as I entered the fitting room and hung the dress on the wall hanger, Alan held the door with his hand. My eyes widened as I saw Alan pushing his way into the fitting room. Without a chance to resist, I instinctively stepped back to avoid him, but my back hit the mirror.

“Alan?”

My breath raced with my heart pounding in my chest. Alan closed the door. Then he turned around and smiled at me.

“What’s stopping you?”

“You’re in my fitting room.” My voice trembled, with an imaginative alarm ringing in the back of my head.

“Isn’t this normal for a couple who are engaged?”

“No, it’s not normal.”

I raised both my hands to hold Alan’s approaching body back. Alan’s hands wrapped tightly around my waist, and I pushed against him with all my strength.

“Why, darling? We agreed to make this relationship work, didn’t we?” Alan whispered in my ear, his warm breath on my neck.Belongs © to NôvelDrama.Org.

Of course, this was completely wrong! Laird and Matthew had heard all our conversation through the recording necklace, and I was still loyal to Laird.

“Listen, Alan,” my breath was heavy, and panic quickly enveloped me.

“I’m not ready!” I pleaded with him.

“Why?” Alan sucked on my neck, and my body instantly shivered as his lips claimed my neck.

“Please, I’m not ready! I don’t want to disappoint you and make you feel like I’m just using you as a rebound guy! I-” I pushed against Alan with all my might. I closed my eyes and scrunched up my face.

“I still love Laird!”

I blurted out spontaneously, my eyes growing hot. Hearing my rapid words, Alan stopped. He pulled back and looked at me coldly.

“You said you would try to love me. Shouldn’t you be forgetting him by now?” Alan’s voice turned cold, his jaw clenched. His eyes glared at me, and it seemed like he might explode at any moment.

“Sorry, Alan. I still need more time,” I said softly.

Alan tightened his grip on my waist as if it were his way of holding back his rising anger. My breath was ragged, and tears gathered at the corners of my eyes, threatening to fall. Alan remained silent, seemingly holding back his fury.

“You’d better get ready soon, Fenella. My patience is running out, and I want to make you mine as soon as possible.” Alan’s hand moved to my cheek. He gripped my cheek tightly with his fingers, causing pain.

“Sorry, Alan,” I said through tears slowly streaming down my cheek and his fingers.

My head tilted back until my neck hurt as Alan gripped my face tightly, as if he was going to strangle me until I floated in the air. He brought his face closer and whispered a threat between his gritted teeth.

“I’m starting to think you’re using me to settle some score with Amy. You think you’ll get revenge on Amy by hooking up with Peter, is that it?”

I shook my head as best I could. “No, Alan. I don’t have any such intention.”

“Good. Because I will claim you as soon as the gala dinner is over, and then I’ll take you far away from here.” His lips moved closer, and he whispered another threat in my ear.

“When that time comes, you will never be able to see or think about any other man besides me. Not Laird and not Peter. You will be entirely mine. Be prepared.”

Alan then pulled his body away. He straightened up and looked at me closely. I lowered my head and averted my gaze from him. Alan then opened the door and left the fitting room.

***

That night, we all gathered again in the Baxter family’s living room.

“That guy is insane!” Jessy wailed in frustration.

“I think he’s desperate and heartbroken because Fenella still doesn’t love him the way he wants.” Matthew shook his head with the newspaper open in front of his face.

“That was dangerous, Fenella. I don’t know whether to be grateful you rejected him or not.” Laird squeezed my hand.

“Yeah, I know. It all came out spontaneously. I couldn’t act any better. I’m sorry.” I squeezed Laird’s hand in return.

“Hey, it’s okay. No need to apologize. At least I’m flattered you still declared your love for me in such a critical moment.” Laird then gave me a quick kiss on the lips.

“I do love you. I can’t lie,” I said, returning the quick kiss.

“Hey, Prosecutor Golden has entered the meeting room!” Jessy exclaimed as the laptop screen, which he had been staring at, now showed Malcolm Golden’s name as a new participant in the online meeting room.

“Kids, here are your favorite chocolate cookies, just baked.” My mother came into the living room and placed a large plate full of warm, freshly baked chocolate cookies.

“Thanks, Mom.” Laird flashed a grin as he took a cookie.

“Oh, yeah! My favorite!” Matthew cheered with joy as he grabbed a warm cookie.

“Ugh, I don’t know how Fenella manages to stick to her diet and skip all of this.” Jessy sighed as he took a cookie.

“Wow. Are you going to leave me to enjoy those delicious cookies while I freeze outside?” Prosecutor Golden’s annoyed voice came through.

“Well, duh, you’re not here.” Jessy rolled his eyes before taking a bite of his cookie.

Suddenly, my doorbell rang loudly. “I’m outside. Please open the door,” he said firmly.