Catching Avery

Chapter 18

Wrath: Because you should follow the chain of command when you're fucking your way to success.

Nicholas~

However, right now, their deserved apology took a back seat to my issues with Avery. "Care to explain what the fuck you were doing with that guy?" Now, before anyone started throwing stones, I was very aware of the definition of the word hypocrite, but right now, I didn't give a fuck.

Avery didn't answer me. Instead, she pointed at Chase and Julian. "You guys better see to this," she ordered. "Your dear friend is in obvious need of some serious mental health."

It was official; I had hit my max.

Between Donna always haunting me, Katrina's bullshit yesterday, fighting with Avery last night, causing issues between Julez and Isabella, and then walking in here to see some random guy have his hands on Avery...I. Was. Done.

"I'm fucking serious, Avery!" I roared, and I felt Julian and Chase tense behind me because they knew me well.

Avery's expression of utter shock was quickly replaced by anger. "You have a hell of a lot of nerve." She stalked towards me until she stood right before me. "You just had your hands on some bitch's tits yesterday and offered no explanation, but you're going to question me about some dancing?"

I zeroed in on her. "We already went over that bullshit." Then I cocked my head to the side when something occurred to me. "Oh, I see. Is this your idea of a little payback?"

Her spectacular silver eyes rounded. "Are you for real?"

"I didn't hear you put a stop to his suggestion about you being his goddamn plus-one, Avery," I pointed out. "What the fuck was that about?" I felt like my blood was trying to burst out of my body, it was boiling so badly.

She threw her hands up in the air in frustration. "He was making a suggestion, not asking me out on a date, for Pete's sakes."

"Well, you could have told him that your boyfriend might not like it," I snarled, and because I was so angry and needed more things to aim my fury at, I added, "Quinn, too. How is she going to let that tool put his arm around her while Chase is sitting right across from her?"

"You are unfuckingbelievable," she bit out. "He had his arm around her chair, you psycho." I was about to respond when she went in for the kill. "Besides, I don't have a boyfriend."

I felt every muscle in my body coil.

My blood went from running boiling hot to cold as ice.

"So, random guys are just free to dance with you and ask you out because of a nonexistent label?" I asked.

Avery laughed.

I was seconds away from tearing this entire building apart with my bare hands, and she was fucking laughing at me.

"Awe, Nicholas..." Her voice took on a sickeningly sweet tilt. "It doesn't matter. He doesn't matter. All that matters is that I was not fucking around with him. I haven't been with anyone else since I first met you at Xavier's. I haven't wanted to be with anyone else since I first met you." She took a step back. "Either you believe me about what happened today, or you don't."

I would never be able to explain what came over me when she threw my words back in my face, but Julian could see the madness as soon as it had descended because he tried to stop me from making the biggest mistake of my life.

"Nick, man-"

"I will not stand by while you play with whatever man happens to be nearby," I hissed as I ignored her stunned silence. "So, do whatever the fuck you want. But a word of advice? Next time, you're supposed to start at the bottom, and then fuck your way to the top, not the other way around."