Filed to story: Watch Out, I’m The Lady Boss (Eleanor & Sebastian) Book PDF Free
“…Or maybe let’s move tables? The vibe here’s weird.” Her smile was tight, and her voice cracked like a pair of worn-out heels.
Weird vibe? We’d only been sitting for ten minutes, and we just ordered drinks. By Ivanna’s standards, we hadn’t even made it past the opening credits.
Then I followed her gaze.
A half-private booth.
Daniel.
He had his arm draped around a woman. Her head rested on his shoulder, makeup flawless, smile polished and effortless.
I didn’t need more details.
That face-I would never forget it.
Four years ago, a girl vanished under mysterious circumstances. I, in all my naive glory, believed she had simply “stepped aside,” choosing to selflessly walk away from a future with Daniel.
And now, here was Katherine-perched on my ex-fianc?’s lap, locked in a pose so intimate it looked less like a casual bar date and more like a budget version of Fifty Shades of Grey.
I had told myself I was over it. Over him. We’d broken up. It was done. Time to move on.
Until I heard what came next.
“Honestly, I didn’t think she’d fall apart over a coffee mug.”
Katherine’s voice was soft, full of false pity-the kind that sounded like she’d just killed someone and was now gently tucking a blanket over the body.
She gently swirled the wine in her glass, her lips curling into a near-perfect smile.
“Of course I put that mug somewhere obvious. I wanted her to notice. After all, she still doesn’t know you’ve been seeing me behind her back. It was time she caught a little hint, wasn’t it?”
She looked up at Daniel, eyes glowing with admiration.
“Honestly though, darling, your performance was spot-on. Even I almost believed you were worried she’d find out about us, instead of just helping me pull off the scene. She’s so stupid-of course she thought you were upset about the mug, not terrified of exposing your affair.”
Daniel chuckled softly, smug and relaxed.
“I had to act like I cared. She spends every day trying to be the perfect girlfriend. If she found out all her effort still couldn’t compete with you, she’d lose it.”
Katherine laughed under her breath and patted his chest.
“Don’t worry. Knowing Elean, she’s probably still scrambling to fix things. She’s the type who always believes that if she just tries hard enough, people will finally see her worth.”
Her laugh turned soft, laced with pity so sharp it felt like a blade.
“But the harder she tries, the more pathetic she looks. And me? I just “happened” to return home. Her parents don’t know a thing. They didn’t even get the chance to stop me. Tomorrow, I’ll be seeing them in broad daylight-because she gave up the engagement herself, and you, dear, are blameless.”
Katherine leaned back with a triumphant sigh.
“Isn’t this the best ending? I never gave up on you. I was just waiting for her to step aside.”
Daniel nodded slowly, a small smirk on his lips.
“You’re right. You always are.”
A loud roar filled my ears, and my heartbeat pounded against my skull like a war drum.
Ivanna must’ve been saying something-pleading with me to stay calm, not to do anything stupid-but I didn’t hear a word.
I wasn’t the same Elean who swallowed her pride for praise anymore.
I slipped free from Ivanna’s grip and turned to the bartender.
“Your best red. Put it on Daniel Granger’s tab.”
The bartender-bless his beautiful, rule-breaking soul-didn’t even flinch. He handed me the bottle like I’d just ordered mineral water.
With the bottle in hand, I had a mission. A singular, burning purpose.
The bouncer moved to stop me, but one look at my face-like a vengeful goddess straight from hell-made him wisely back off, hands raised in surrender.
I marched straight toward Daniel and Katherine. They were lip-locked in some dramatic, second-rate soap opera make-out scene.
I raised the bottle-and smashed it, with all my strength.
Glass shattered with a sharp crack, spraying across the table. Daniel’s forehead split instantly, a trail of blood beginning to drip down between his brows.
Katherine screamed and leapt off his lap.
“Eleanor?! Are you insane?! What are you doing here?!”
She scrambled to find a lie, panic rising in her voice.
“You’re misunderstanding, it’s not what you think-“
Daniel cut her off, his hand gripping her arm, his gaze dark and frigid.
“Don’t bother explaining, Katherine. It doesn’t matter. My parents will take your side, no matter what. We’re just correcting an old mistake.”
Katherine’s panic twisted into smugness in an instant. She curled into his side with sickening sweetness and cooed, “Oh, honey, your head’s bleeding. We have to get to the hospital.”
Before I could say anything, Ivanna rushed to my side, fury radiating from every pore. She raised her hand, ready to slap Katherine straight back to whatever pit she’d crawled out of.
“You disgusting, two-faced bitch-!”
I grabbed her wrist, steady and cold.
“Ivanna, let them go. If they stay here one more second, I might lose my appetite permanently.”
I locked eyes with Katherine’s smug little face and raised my voice deliberately.
“After all, the theme of this place is premium taste, not some clearance aisle for secondhand trash.”
Katherine’s smile froze on her lips. Daniel’s face darkened, but they had no chance to respond.
Ivanna, emboldened, lifted her chin and sneered at the bouncers.
“Well? What are you waiting for? Kindly escort these two walking health code violations off the premises.”
As soon as they were gone, Ivanna dragged me out of the club.
Damn it. I hated that Katherine had predicted every single thought running through my mind.
Yes, I had still been considering salvaging my relationship with Daniel.
But now? The truth was right there, unmistakable and raw-they’d been sleeping together behind my back all along. And me? I was just the foolish, unnecessary third wheel in their twisted little story.
What I couldn’t wrap my head around was-why had Katherine faked her disappearance four years ago? What exactly had she been hiding? And why come back now?
My eyes stung. I tilted my head toward the sky, forcing the tears back.
Fine. Katherine’s back. Perfect. Now they could all reunite like a happy little four-piece family?? and I… I was finally free.
“Elean… I’m so sorry. I had no idea they’d be there tonight. I didn’t even know Katherine was back.” Ivanna’s eyes were full of regret.
I gave a bitter laugh and shook my head.
“Neither did I. But I heard it loud and clear-they’ve been screwing around for a while. To them, I was just in the way.”
“Those goddamn assholes!” Ivanna hissed through clenched teeth.
“You should tell your parents. Let them know Katherine’s not the perfect angel they think she is. What about Daniel’s parents? No way they’ll tolerate a scandal like this.”
I was quiet for a moment. Ivanna had a point-Daniel’s parents were the only people who had supported me. But he was their son. They wouldn’t choose me over him. Not in the end.
And my parents? I let out a breath, heavy and tired.
“You know better than anyone-they only care about Katherine. No matter what I do, I’ll never replace her.”
Ivanna grabbed my shoulders, worry darkening her gaze.
“So what now? You’re just going to let them humiliate you?”
“Maybe.” My voice dropped to a whisper, a weariness weighing it down.
“Maybe if I accept it, it’ll finally be over.”
Suddenly, Ivanna’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, brows knitting in frustration.
“Elean, my agent just called. There’s a last-minute ad shoot-I have to go now. Can you get home on your own?”
I nodded, managing a faint smile.
“Go. Don’t worry about me. I’ll call when I get back.”
After she left, I hailed a cab. Instinctively, I gave the driver my home address. But barely two minutes into the ride, a wave of suffocating pressure settled over me.
“No, wait,” I said quickly.
“Take me to a bar. Any bar. Just… far away from Roxanne.”
The driver didn’t blink-clearly used to the erratic demands of Sky City’s broken-hearted.
We eventually pulled up outside some unfamiliar nightclub. Velvet ropes. A crowd of influencer-types wielding selfie sticks. I didn’t bother checking the name. I handed the bouncer some bills and strode inside.
Straight to the bar.
“Whiskey sour. Large. Keep them coming.”
“Ma’am, maybe you should slow down,” the bartender said gently, with concern.
I slammed my empty glass on the counter and shoved my card across.
“Did I stutter? Top me off.”