SWNOVELS Chapter Men 180
10 36 Fri Nov 29
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My possessive Mafia Men
Chapter 180: I Was Terrified
Chapter 180: I Was Terrified Angelia
It took time to get myself ready, while the change into the hideous uniform for my work was quick, steeling myself to walk back out of the building was what took time. I had to get my emotions in check and get out of my head enough to be aware of my surroundings while outside. It was no small feat that I managed to do it, especially when the princess dress had messed me up so badly.
With the itchy underskirt of the uniform and self-defense tools in my hand, I got to the cafe forty minutes later than I should have been. Still, I was proud I even showed up at all. I stiffened at the entrance of the cafe, already regretting my choice to come here. Today, I had been expecting to work with Clara, who I had shared a shift with a few times before but instead I was faced with the one person I had hoped to avoid. Ben was standing behind the counter, his heavily disproportionate lips pressed in a hard line, making the upper lip practically non-existent in his anger.
Watching his eyes narrow as he looked at me, I was thrown back to the last time I had worked with him. That time, Riccardo had been the one to drop me off at the cafe, and that in itself had made him seem a bit unhinged. But it was the imagery of Ben watching from the window as Marshall picked me up that had burned itself inside my mind. I would never forget how angry he had looked at them, how his eyes had seared into mine before we drove off. It was the same look he was giving me now. I shivered. Ben has asked me out on multiple occasions in the past, each time I had politely said no. While he had never stopped asking, he didn't push too much to make me uncomfortable. Now, though he probably thought that me not satin had been an excuse, even though it hadn't been at the time. Before my men, I hadn't planned on dating anyone. What happened with me and them were never planned, it just sort of happened, but I didn't think Ben would look at it that way.
"It was about damn time." He said when I got closer, he was quiet enough for the customer not to overhear.
"Sorry, I had something important to do that couldn't wait." I lied.
"Or you just wanted to get paid without doing your damn job." He muttered under his breath.
I wanted to tell him that it was rich coming from him, but I figured it was best not to poke him while he was already angry. Instead, I left for the break room to drop off my things. The only tactic that worked when being around Ben was ignoring him and going about my day, unless he demanded attention. Then I had to tread carefully. The first part of the shift went okay, I could still feel his eyes on me, but the customers distracted me enough for me to be able to ignore his attention. But no matter how distracted I was, I tensed each time I returned to the counter to pick up food and drinks, my skin crawled being so close to him. It was exhausting being constantly on guard with a colleague, Ben had always been the type that I was careful around but the tension between us had only skyrocketed the day he had seen me with my men. Before, when I shared a shift with him, it wasn't this bad. Sure, I did all the work, but at least he gave me some space then, he didn't hover or stare like he does now. It didn't help that I had a stalker and a part of me couldn't help but wonder if it might be him.
The last part of the shift was what I dreaded the most, I let the last customer pay his bill and watched him walk out the door, leaving Ben and me alone. My shoulders tensed ij the silence that pursued, knowing it wouldn't be long until he opened his mouth and spewed out- some nastiness.
"I didn't see one of your boyfriends drop you off this time." He commented in a tone that was anything but friendly and pleasant.
I opened my mouth to respond that we weren't in a relationship but I stopped myself, not knowing if it was wise to admit that I wasn't with them anymore. With how strange he was acting, what would he do if he knew the guys weren't in the picture? "They were busy." I replied, walking with quick steps to collect the cleaning supplies and he followed me.
"I bet they were," he hummed in a suggestive tone.
"You know, you can never hold their attention for long? They will be on to the next best thing as soon as they are tired of you." He said, Intent on making me hear his hurtful shit.
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- Fri Nov 2!
Chapter 180: I Was Terrified
Insecurities were a funny thing, while I felt secure that they wanted to be with me, some old insecurities still were tricked in. Thoughts I often tried to suppress forced their way into my mind. Was I really good enough for them? I had never managed to hold one giry's interest enough to start a relationship. Was I enough to keep the interest of three? Trying not to show how much his comment hurt me, I forced a shrug. But my hands shook as 1 grasped the bucket and started filling it with hot water.
"Funny you say that, I vividly remember asking me out, not once but several times."
1 shouldn't have antagonized him, but it was too late. I could see in my peripheral vision that his face was already turning a dangerous tint of red. Be laughed darkly as his gaze swept over me.
"I just wanted to know what all the talk is about fat girls in bed. Are you guys really as wild as people say?"
My forced pretense of an attitude wavered under the hurt of his words. Fat was a word drenched in negativity. It was used as an insult instead of a natural description, it stung. I wasn't thick-skinned, and I didn't handle mean words as well as I probably should have. Although, I couldn't let him see me reacting to it. I wouldn't give him what he wanted.
"Well, it is too bad I am not interested in finding out what bony men are like in bed. Otherwise, you might have gotten your answer."
In an attempt to shut him up, I might have taken it a tiny bit too far. He wasn't one to handle being served what he dishes out.
"You fucking bitch," he cursed in a tone that was far too quite for my liking.
It sounded much more sinister than his usual loudness. He stepped inside the small supply closet, effectively barring the only way out.
"You think you are so damn funny, don't you? You are nothing but a whore spreading your legs to anyone with money." He spat as he spoke, and I could feel droplets of it hitting my cheek.
My hand tightened around the handle of the bucket, which was now steaming from the hot water inside. He stepped even closer, forcing me to back away. This wasn't like when Kingston pushed me up against the wall, this was abusive and meant to create fear. "You are nothing. The only reason they are fucking you is because they view you as easy. They are with you because you are too ugly to deter women from approaching them, knowing they can get them if they want. So they have a bitch on the side for emergencies. You are the bitch."
Lies, they were all lies, but my eyes stung as I was forced to listen to all the hate.
"Why don't you quit while you are ahead? Save your pride while you still can." He continued as if he was on a damn roll and had more than enough hate to spew.
The water from the bucket splashed as I moved, a few drops landed on my thigh, burning my skin. My hands tightened their hold on the
bucket.
"Ben, you don't want to do this." I warned, but my voice sounded weak and small and not much of a warning.
"What do you mean? I am not doing anything." The smile he gave me was one of mockery, slick and arrogant and cruel.
He had been angry and made me uncomfortable before but this? This was different, I was terrified. I grabbed the bottom of the bucket, getting ready as he drew closer. I bit my teeth as his eyes dropped to my breasts before taking in my shaking legs. My hand twitched as he opened his mouth to say something else, but before either of us could make our move, the bell attached to the front door chimed. We were no longer alone. I was safe, I hoped.