Page 13 of Jerk

Excuse me? “Is that a threat?”

“Mac,” Ember finally calls to her boyfriend as he takes a step towards me, towering over me in his black silk robe. He’s built like his friends. Muscular and menacing. “Be nice.”

Fuck that. I’m not backing down. “What won’t I like, Malcolm?”

“Don’t fuck around, Hannah.” Gray leans in with a pretend whisper. “We’ll blacklist you.” Outcasted. Forgotten. Rejected. The ultimate punishment.

I almost laugh at his words. “It’sme. You can’t do that.”

Mac arches a brow like I’m testing him. Signalling the DJ, the music cuts and if people weren’t staring before, they sure as hell are now.

“Sorry to interrupt your evening,” Mac says, raising his voice as he addresses Rye’s guests. “But we, The Crown, have an important announcement to make.”

“Don’t.” I keep my voice low as I look around.

Mac continues, “As of today, Hannah Alfonso is?—”

“Stop!” I yell, my hand slapping over his mouth. Ember gives me a look before Mac shoves my hand away. “This is pathetic. You don't deserve my presence.” I give my posse one last chance. “Ladies?” Marisol whispers something to Krystal, but no one moves. And when I glance at Ember, someone who knows what it feels like to be on the outside, she gives me an apologetic shrug. My eyes move back to Krystal. “Enjoy the spotlight. It won’t last.”

The music resumes as my cheeks burn, but I’m not about to show weakness. Not now. So I turn towards the exit and shovemy hand in my clutch for my bedazzled lighter. I made a promise to quit smoking, but tonight changes that.

Who the hell does Krystal think she is? Who doesRyungthink he is?

After everything, this is all it takes for my friends to abandon me?

Moving through the curtain into the foyer, my shaking body stills, my grip tight on my lighter.

A tall, broad figure moves toward the other side of the foyer, those dark eyes catching the candlelight.

Rye.

Hands in his pockets, he moves into a nearby room like he hasn’t a care in the world. Like he didn’t just have his crew threaten me.

Looking over my shoulder, I make sure the Crowns don’t see me as I move towards the room he entered. The heat in my chest rises to the surface of my skin, my dress sticking to my body as I get closer.

“Leave Ryung alone.”

Not when he’s going for my crown.

My hand lands on the golden doorknob, a large thump in my chest.

I haven’t spoken to him since the gallery, and I still haven’t texted him back. I know what I did, but he deserved it.

I don’t deserve this.

Without another second to think, I slip into the room, ready to face the devil behind the door.

FIVE

HANNAH

Am I in heaven?

My feet slow, the door closing behind me as the music from the party muffles.

My eyes dart around the space for Rye, but he’s nowhere in sight. What I see is much better.

Fabric hangs from gold rods around the spacious room, another chandelier making the colours dazzle. Cashmere, velvet, silk, chiffon. My fingers graze a sheet of leather, my eyes on the half-finished outfits on mannequins.