34. Really, Ricky?

Chapter 34

Really, Ricky?

MEGAN

" H ere, hun', these are two tickets that you can give to your parents to attend the gallery."

I stare at the elegant writing on the thin slips of paper.

"Thank you."

The woman looking at me smiles. "You have a lot of potential, Megan. If you don't mind, I would love to introduce you to some people at the exhibit."

Something warm flares in my chest, and I hold the two tickets close to my chest. "Really?"

"Yes." Miss Maverick beams at me. "I know you don't place a lot of focus on digital art, but I have a few connections who are always looking for brilliant students to offer internships. I invited a few of them to the showing. They usually offer internships for students who work on digital platforms, but your work has so much depth that they might give you an opportunity."

I press my lips together to hold it in the excitement.

"This is why I personally wanted to meet you to give you the tickets," she explains, smiling at me kindly. "You have to make a good first impression with these folks, so make sure you dress appropriately for the event. I would recommend classy attire and muted tones. Let your art be the only thing that stands out."

I look down at the tickets, trying to contain my happiness, and before leaving the room, I'm careful to tuck them deep into my bag. Classes are already over for the day, and the hallways are empty. I hurry to my art supply locker only to see a familiar face waiting for me there.

"What do you want?" I ask coldly, stopping in my tracks.

Ricky, the asshole, smiles at me as if we're simply old pals.

"Megan, I wanted to say congrats."

The biggest mistake of my life, Ricky, is majoring in digital photography and specializing in film. While his work is not subpar, he didn't make it as a gallery finalist.

Neither did Ashley.

I don't smile, my hand tightening on the strap of my bag. "Thanks."

When I stare at him, he shifts in his spot, clearly uncomfortable.

"So, did you get the tickets?" he asks me.

I don't respond. His toothy smile, which months ago used to make my heart skip a beat, makes me feel sick to my stomach now.

"Do you want something, Ricky?" I ask, my tone is frigid.

He takes a step forward.

"Look, I know you don't have a plus one, and it's not like you have any parents to attend the exhibition." Asshole. "Plus, I've been thinking for a few weeks now; I know I messed up, but I want to give us a second chance. So, I wanted to ask you out to the exhibition."

I purse my lips, suddenly finding the humor in the whole thing, even as a sliver of anger cuts through it.

"If you're asking me out, shouldn't you be the one providing the tickets?"

He gives me a boyish smile, taking yet another step forward.

"Well, you already have them, so what's the point of me buying them?"

I offer him back an insincere smile of my own. What an ass.

"It shows commitment. The showing is a fundraiser; each ticket is at least a thousand dollars. If you're suddenly so desperate to give us a chance, the least you could do is pay for the privilege."

I can see his expression falter, and his smile slips.

"Don't be like this, Megan. You know that having a plus one will help with nerves at an event like this, and aside from me, you have no one."

"Really?" I drawl, my anger curling around me. "You don't know shit about what I've got."

The next step he takes puts him directly in my face and he looks down at me, his eyes glinting, his cheese puff breath hot on my face.

"I know you still have feelings for me. If you didn't, you wouldn't have done all the things you have for me." He grins.

My eyes tighten in fury as I fully understand what he's insinuating.

"You son of a bitch."

I thrust my hands at his chest, and he grabs them, slamming me into the locker. All the breath leaves my body at his rough handling of me, and I feel enraged, more than scared.

"Be grateful I'm giving you another chance." He spits defiantly. "Considering the reputation you have at this place, you don't have much chance of ever landing a plus one. Nobody wants to date a slut."

I push at him again with all the force I can muster.

"You mean the false reputation that I got because of you and Ashley? You have some fucking balls coming to me and asking me for a date just because you want to attend the exhibition. In fact, you have some nerve talking to me at all."

"Nobody forced you to get down on your knees in front of me." He slams his hand on the locker right next to my head, making me flinch. "You're lucky that wasn't a full-blown sex tape. Everyone would have seen that birthmark on your ass."

Even as my body starts to shake in a combination of anger and fear, I refuse to give him the satisfaction. "You must be on crack if you think you can just stroll up to me and get me to take you to that exhibition. Why don't you spend the evening with Ashley or buy your way into the event like you always do?"

Ricky's eyes turn into slits once he realizes that he's not going to get his way, and his voice lowers a decibel. "You don't know how easy it would be for me to ruin your life, Megan. You don't understand the kinds of connections I have. I still have the video. All I have to do is edit it and circulate it online. In a matter of hours, your reputation, your scholarship, this exhibition, and anything else that matters to you will disappear."

My face pales at his threat. I've never seen Ricky so venomous.

"So, you had better do what I'm fucking saying or?—"

"Or what?" Comes a dark, familiar voice I wasn't expecting.

My eyes widen in recognition just as Ricky is tossed a few feet away from me with such casual ease that I'm left staring blankly at the man in front of me.

"Mr. Middleton?"

My boss steps in front of me, studying my shocked expression. As always, his is like a cold, impregnable fortress.

But his eyes.

His eyes are blazing hot.

I've never seen him look crueler.

"Are you hurt?" he asks, his hand reaching out to caress my cheek, and I shake my head, feeling both frightened and so completely safe.

"Then what's my name?"

"Hunter," I answer softly, and he seems pleased by my response.

Ricky is groaning on the floor as he tries to stand up, and suddenly, Hunter's attention goes toward him. It's as if I'm no longer there.

"Why don't you repeat what you just said to her?" Hunter asks, using a voice he typically reserves for people he's angry with.

Ricky stumbles to his feet, and his face has a twisted expression on it. He glares at my protector.

"What the fuck is your problem, dude?"

Hunter tucks his hands in his pockets, and I can't see his expression because his back is towards me.

"What exactly do you think a boy like you can do to Megan?"

I shudder at the undertones of cold fury in his voice, even as it remains affable.

"Listen, asshole," Ricky snarls. "This has got nothing to do with you, so why don't you go take a walk?"

Hunter just studies him. "You didn't answer my question." He takes a step forward. "An insignificant boy like you should know his place, so why don't you repeat what you were saying to her to me?"

"Who the fuck are you?" Ricky scowls, and I see his eyes dart toward me before turning back to Hunter as he sneers. "Oh, shit. I remember you now. You were the dude in the suit who showed up that day to pick her up. So is that what you're doing now, Megan? Fucking old guys? Is he like your sugar daddy or something?"

"Hey!" I snap before I can stop myself. "Watch what you say about him."

"Why?" Ricky just snorts. "What're you going to do? Do a mediocre job of sucking my dick again?"

As the last word falls out of his disgusting mouth, Hunter punches him fiercely in the mouth, making Ricky fall to the ground with a groan.

"Oh, shit!" I gasp in shock as I rush towards the man breathing fire standing before me.

"Hunter, you can't do that. Not here."

I look over my shoulder, terrified that security is on its way. There are cameras all over the campus. It might just be a matter of time before the arrive.

"You can't assault a student on school property, especially because you don't know who his family is," I say, keeping my voice low.

Hunter's gaze lowers to mine, and the fury clouding them is thick.

"Go to the car, Megan. Parker is waiting."

I'm shaking right now at the power radiating from him, but I force myself to stand my ground for his sake and mine.

"You don't understand what I'm saying. If you do anything more to him, it'll come back to me. I have to go to school here."

"No, you don't."

"I want to finish school. I've come so far."

"He insulted you." Hunter looks at me, his voice tight. "I heard him threaten you."

"So?" I respond, trying to keep my voice even but failing.

"How much more of this shit are you going to take from him and that girl? I won't stand for it."

"I'm not saying he isn't an asshole. He is. But this is not your turf, Hunter. If you attack a college student, there will be consequences, no matter who you are. His family is very well- connected. I don't want you to have to deal with any unnecessary drama just because of me. I'm not worth it."

"Say that shit again," he threatens in a deadly voice. He looks so angry that my voice gets stuck in my throat. "I don't think it's up to you to decide whether you're worth it or not," he says coldly now. His words are phrased like an insult, although I know they're clearly not meant that way.

"Please," I grab his wrist, which feels hot to the touch. "Even if you think you can face the consequences, I can't. I didn't put up with all this hell from them to lose my scholarship because you got angry. Don't do this, not when things are finally going well for me."

He hesitates at the last part of what I say, and I can see his jaw move before he finally says, "Fine, I just want a word with him."

Before I can protest him having a final anything with Ricky, he's already walking past me and crouches next to a terrified Ricky.

"You don't know me, but trust me when I tell you that it would only take me a day to find out who you are, where you live, and who your parents are. It will take me less time than that to slit their throats while you watch. I'm not the kind of man you want to fuck around with, little boy."

I swallow thickly at his threat, and if I'm this terrified, I cannot even imagine what Ricky is feeling.

I hope it's sheer terror.

He deserves nothing less.

"Go near her again, and I will methodically strip you of every bit of happiness that you have, starting from your life here in college to your money and ending with your family. Don't touch her. Don't look at her. Don't think about her. Megan Taylor doesn't exist for you or the little whore who you run with. Am I clear?"

Ricky's face is as white as a sheet, and I can see a large bruise forming on his left cheek. He's quaking when Hunter bends down, grabs his jaw, and says, "This is a good look on you. Remember who gave it to you."

Then Hunter stands up and shoots a mocking look at Ricky. "One last thing. It doesn't matter who touches her: you or one of your other little art friends. If word gets back to me, I'll come for you. It would be smart to ensure that nobody tries to treat her the way you just did."

When he turns and walks towards me, my heart is lodged in my throat as I stand there frozen in a mixture of shock and awe.

"Come, Megan."