The Bully's Hated Mate
The Bully’s Hated Mate – Chapter 7

CASSIA’S POV:

The day of the pack banquet was finally here. The day I complete my community service.

I’d never seen a party quite like this and I admit, I haven’t been to so many.

Who was I kidding?

I’d never ever been to a party as tough as this. The place was fizzling with life, bursting with energy and sizzling with the kind of power only alcohol and money could bring.

Honestly, it was overwhelming.

With my tray balanced on my palm, my uniform stretched across my skin and digging uncomfortably into my armpits, I whisked past tables like an autumn breeze.

Either that, or like a dork because I so wanted this party to end, so I could go home and sleep.

A lady dressed in expensive silk, hair rolled up in an impressive hairdo asked for more wine, and I gave a plastic smile, filling her glass again.

Without acknowledging my presence at her table, she continued to chat with the loud, gruff man next to her.

Realizing I was done and her glass was filled, I was dismissed with a brusque wave of her hand.

Having walked only two steps, another table called for me. And another. And another. It went on and on and on. More orders for different drinks, and more dismissal.

My hands were starting to ache, and so were my cheekbones from holding the plastic smile for too long. I hated being here so much. It hurt just as much as the plastic smile.

I was only doing this because the school had willed it, and I needed the school to do better when the time came.

Like the proverbial snail, the evening dragged on and soon enough, even the lilt of the music started to hurt my eardrums and make my head ache.

Even though they ranged from orchestra to orchestra to orchestra to violin, and basically a full musical concert, it still hurt.

Annoyance had already reached it’s peak, and I was so sure I would snap at the next guest that asked me to fill their wine glass when the wine bottle was right next to them.

Lazy people, all of these rich people.

How hard was it to pick up the wine bottle right next to you?

They had the odd sense that they needed everything being done for them, not the other way around.

Bloody rich people.

Just when I thought the party couldn’t get any worse than it had been going, the unthinkable happened and like always, my luck just had to make me the bringer of the unthinkable.

I’d been attending to a table of three. Three very needy and whiny women who all wanted their requests carried out at the same time.

In short, it was a mad house at their table.

I multitasked between pouring a new glass of water from the glass pitcher and refilling wine glasses, then I tripped.

I walked over my own right leg, and my tray slid out of my hand as I held the corner of the table to secure my balance.

As if it’d happened in slow motion, I watched the tray tip out of my hand and the glass of champagne in my hand flew out of it, splashing it’s contents over an immaculately dressed lady.

I rushed over immediately I got my balance, only for me to see the mop of red hair and know who exactly it was.

Ariadne.

If I weren’t so embarrassed and shell shocked, I might have laughed at the irony of the situation.

But even a croak didn’t escape my throat.

“What the actual f**k?” Came the startled voice of a now angry looking Ariadne.

My hands moved on their own accord towards her. For what purpose? I wasn’t sure.

Angrily, she slapped my hands away, pawing at her now ruined dress.

“What’s wrong with you? Are you disabled or something?” She asked in a high pitched tone that drew the attention of oblivious guests, making the hall fall silent.

Every eye was pinned on us now.

“I’m sorry! I’m terribly sorry,” I squeaked, staring at the stained bodice of her gown like I had the super power to make it clean again.

I had hated the whole event and now, I had spilled wine on a guest, and no other than the girl who f****d Lucius with finnesse.

Maybe it was karma.

“Shove your sorry where the sun doesn’t shine! You stupid peasant! Who the hell do you think you are?” Ariadne almost screamed in my face, visibly shaking with anger.

I kept my mouth shut, staring at her coolly. Hoping to the heavens that whatever happened tonight, that I stayed quiet for her sake — more than mine.

“This dress could buy your miserable existence off this planet, but you have that audacity to ruin it like you can replace it! How dare you?” She barked.

I would’ve rolled my eyes at that moment if it wouldn’t have gotten my face slapped.

“I’m really sorry. It was an accident. I would never do that on purpose,” I tried explaining.

Why the hell would I want to ruin her dress and her evening? I’d gain nothing from it and plus, I wanted to leave this stupid excuse for a party in the first place.

“A lowlife like you would do that accidentally? I wasn’t born yesterday,” she scoffed in my face, still holding the stained bodice of her gown.

How the hell had I gotten into this mess? I just wanted to go home but no, the universe had to ensure I went home duly insulted and embarrassed. How lucky I was.

“I’m sure you have something against rich people,” Ariadne said.

I almost scoffed at that.

“I assure you, your ruined dress was a mistake. If you’d just let me help you wash the stain off, I’m sure we could…” I proffered a solution, analysing the extent of damage the champagne had caused.

“Do you people hear this talking trash bag? Did you hear what she just said?” Ariadne hollered, ensuring those who hadn’t heard would hear now.

I gave a mental facepalm.

Of course, she was an a*****e. Just like Lucius.

Both were a waste of beauty.

“She just offered to ‘help me wash the stain off’ as if breathing the same air as her isn’t as insulting as it is.” Ariadne sneered in my face.

I hadn’t expected her to stoop that low, but her words were starting to annoy me.

“I wouldn’t let your filthy hands touch the hemline of my dress. Not now, not ever,” she said.

I felt Myla rumble angrily, urging me to give a comeback of my own.

“Well, if you won’t let me wash it or apologize, then why are you still here, making a scene out of nothing? Wouldn’t it do you good and spare everyone the trouble of hearing your nasal voice and watching you humiliate yourself to just walk away?” I coolly said, watching shock register on her face first.

I really hoped that my mouth would stay shut, but some things were better left said.

“And you said breathing the same air as I am is insulting. Watching you make a clown of yourself is more insulting than you can ever imagine.” I retorted hotly, regretting my words the moment I uttered them.

With her eyes full of murderous light, Ariadne charged towards me, hands outstretched probably to squeeze every ounce of oxygen out of my body, or the slap I had been delicately trying to avoid by shutting my mouth before she pushed it.

I took a step back, getting ready to bolt.

I’d rather run like a coward than fight a rich brat who could have my head on a diamond platter if she so requested it.

Swifter than wind and as sturdy as a rock, Lucius stood infront of me in a sort of defensive manner, pushing Ariadne who had been fast approaching out of my way.

A collective amount of gasps rose in the hall as Ariadne went flailing sideways, crashing into a table on her way to the ground.

Even I was mortified.

First, I spill drinks on her, then tongue lash her, make her feel stupid. And now, Lucius just had to intervene and humiliate her further by defending…me.

Wait!

Had Lucius just defended me against the same girl he’d slept with? It made no sense.

I swear, I’m confused.

I could see the same confusion playing on his face as he stared at both of us, shocked and torn between yelling at me, or helping the same girl he’d pushed to the ground.

While I battled for a sense of clarity at what the actual f**k just happened, Myla was howling in excitement as she hungily drank in every scent he possessed.

Especially since he looked so enticing in that suit. It was something that I hated to admit, but damn, was it true?

His hair was perfectly gelled back, giving him a sleek look like a gentleman. His gorgeous face looked even more ravishing under the twinkling chandelier, and that dark look in his ever blue eyes pulled at something within in.

I gulped.

A tense silence passed as Ariadne got to her feet, hurt, humiliation, anger, repulsiveness and plain jealousy written on her features as she glared at me.

“What the actual f**k, Lucius?”