Chapter 4 (Payback time)

Jaxson Grayson Pierce

"Hey, man. I got your message," Brian said, coming to a stop in front of where I was sitting.

"You sounded so urgent," Julian added, pulling out a chair and sitting by my left side.

I huffed softly, swirling the alcohol in my glass, my jaw tensed. I had fucking left the office early, needing to clear my damn head. Brian slid onto the other vacant stool by my right, their curious faces turned toward me.

"What's going on, bro?" Julian asked.

"She's back," I mumbled, a crease forming on their faces.

And Julian frowned. "Who?"

My mind drifted to those amber eyes, and anger surged through my veins. Not just the anger of seeing her but the anger of her returning and acting like nothing had happened. Like she hadn't left me miserable for years for a rich asshole.

She even changed her surname thinking that I couldn't recognize her.

Not when I could still remember her words, even now. They taunted me in sleep, during the day, and every moment since she walked away.

"Sorry, Jax, but we can't continue this. You deserve someone better, and I deserve someone who can take care of me, provide for me, and give me the life I want. You can't do any of that, Jax. Let's call it short here; I'm done."

I thought she was joking, only to go to Russell's house and find out she'd left the country with a rich asshole. Her parents told me how she'd toyed with my feelings, using me before leaving with another guy.

The pain was unbearable. What I went through was beyond what anyone could imagine. I wore the shoe; I knew how it hurt. Although Helena and my two friends stayed by my side and watched me go crazy. And after like two weeks, I bumped into Leonardo Pierce.

A world that I thought had no meaning, he gave me another reason to live. I wasn't an orphan after all; he was my grandfather. It happens that he has been restlessly looking for me for years after the tragic death of my parents in a car accident.

I shut my eyes and silently huffed out a sigh. Now, she was back in my face after five years, as if nothing had happened.

"Aurora Avery Russell," I spat the name with so much resentment and shock flung onto their faces.

"WHAT?!" Brian was the first to gasp. "You saw her?"

I smiled, reopening my gaze. "She came to look for a job at Pierce Group LTD."

"Really? I thought she left the country years ago with her rich boyfriend?" Julian asked, disbelieving. Brian nodded, both confused.

Just like I was confused. But she didn't look like someone enjoying luxury; instead, she looked like a shadow of herself. She looked broke, like she'd been suffering. She looked the opposite, not what I expected from someone that left with a man that she clearly assumed could take good care of her.

That wasn't good caring but worse. She looked broke, like she had been suffering and could hardly eat.

Actually, the truth was that there were never any vacancies in my company, but when I saw her picture among the applicants, I knew I had to pick her. Her CV was good but not as strong as the other two applicants. Still, she was what I needed so I made a space for her in my marketing team.

What a better way to get back at her.

It would be so much fun.

"Well, she is back and_" I said, pausing and letting out a soft snort. My fingers rotated in a circle around the tip of the glass tumbler. I shot my head up, gazing into their curious eyes. "...she looks the opposite."

Brian's eyes widened in surprise before he grimaced. "And why would she show up now that you're starting to move on? I'm sure she has a plan." Something seemed to click in his head, and he paused, narrowing his gaze at me. "...don't tell me you offered her that job?"

I gave him a small smile, and his face fell.

"That girl left you when you had nothing, bro. She trashed you, broke your heart, and fucking flew out with a new man. Now, she's back, and you're offering her a job? A spot in your company, Jax!" Brian barked out, and Julian gave me a confused look, studying me.

"Let it not be that you still feel something for her," Brian spat, downing his drink in one go.

I frowned, irritation evident at his last sentence. I felt nothing for that bitch but disgust and resentment. Not after what she'd done to me.

"This is crazy," Julian sighed, taking a sip from his drink.

Not like I expected more from him. Even after she left, Julian never ridiculed her. He believed something might have been wrong.

But what could be wrong? The reality was there; she'd left me for a shithole because of money. She used me. I was a fool to think what we had was forever when she fucking has a man behind me. Helena and her family told me everything. She was a cheat.

I dragged my tongue frustratedly, grazing it along my teeth. "She left me, but she's back."

Immediately the words fled from my lips, Brian shot me a look as if I'd lost it. But I smirked darkly at him, confusing him.

"What a better way to have revenge if not having her under me, under my authority, and having her have a taste of what she made me go through," I growled, my voice cracking with rage as the words tumbled out in a venomous rush.

Brian and Julian shot me with concerned looks.

"Are you sure you can do this? I don't think this is a good idea." He said, starting to speak, but I cut him off with a raise of my glass in the air.

My smile was cold, like the winter wind. "...I just started and trust me, it's the greatest idea."