YOU ARE WHAT I NEED [COMPLETED]

8

Mark's grip on my arm was tight as he led me back to the table, his expression carefully controlled but the disgust in his eyes barely hidden. He had forced a strained smile in Selene's direction, but she wasn't fooled. I could feel her gaze burning into the back of my head as Mark whispered harshly in my ear.

"You think it's acceptable to be friendly with her after she humiliated me like that? You're disrespectful, Claire, and I'm going to handle this when we get home."

I opened my mouth to defend myself, but Mark's grip tightened, silencing me before I could speak. The cold anger in his voice sent a shiver down my spine, and I knew better than to push him any further.

As we reached our table, Augustus stood up, the room quieting in anticipation of his speech. Mark finally released me, but not without one final, threatening squeeze of my arm.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Augustus began, his voice strong and commanding, "I have dedicated my life to building this company, and it has been my pride and joy. But the time has come for me to step down and pass the torch to the next generation."

He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle over the crowd. Mark straightened beside me, a barely concealed eagerness in his posture. I could feel the tension radiating off him as he anticipated the announcement.

"I am proud to say that the person I have chosen to take over is someone who has shown exceptional promise, integrity, and leadership." Augustus smiled warmly, his gaze sweeping across the room. "And that person is my daughter, Selene."

The room erupted into applause, but it was impossible to miss the outrage brewing on Mark's face. His fists clenched at his sides, and I could see the muscle in his jaw working furiously as he struggled to maintain his composure.

Selene, standing gracefully beside her father, smiled—a slow, satisfied curve of her lips as she noticed Mark's fury. The applause seemed to mock him, and the humiliation he felt was palpable. I glanced nervously at him, my heart sinking as I realized just how much this had wounded his pride.

After the party, the tension between us was thick enough to cut with a knife. The drive home was silent, the air in the car stifling. Mark didn't look at me once, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel. The moment we stepped through the door, his anger exploded.

"How dare you," he seethed, his voice low and dangerous. "How dare you be friendly with someone who just stole my job, my future! Do you have any idea what you've done?"

I tried to speak, to explain that I had nothing to do with Selene's promotion, but Mark cut me off before I could get a word out.

"You're the worst mistake I've ever made, Claire. Marrying you has ruined my life."

The venom in his words stung, but a strange numbness began to take hold of me. I'd heard these kinds of accusations before, but tonight, something inside me snapped. I didn't chase after him when he grabbed his jacket and stormed out the door.

Instead, I just stood there, relieved to have him gone, if only for a little while. The quiet of the house felt different—less oppressive, almost peaceful.

I decided to take a shower, hoping to wash away the tension of the evening. The hot water beat down on my shoulders, soothing my frayed nerves. For once, I allowed myself to relax, letting the steam and heat envelop me like a protective cocoon.

But my peace was short-lived. The doorbell rang, its chime echoing through the house. I quickly wrapped a towel around myself and rushed downstairs, my heart pounding with a mix of fear and curiosity. Who could it be at this hour?

I hesitated for a moment before opening the door, but when I did, my breath caught in my throat. Standing in the doorway, bathed in the soft glow of the porch light, was Selene. Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her eyes glowed with an intensity that made my knees weak.

She was breathtaking, her beauty amplified by the night, and the way she looked at me made my heart skip a beat. I could only stand there, gaping at her, too stunned to speak.

"Claire," Selene said softly, her voice like velvet in the darkness. "I couldn't leave without checking up on you. Can I come in?"

I nodded, too mesmerized to refuse, and stepped aside to let her in. The door closed behind her with a soft click, and the air between us crackled with an unspoken tension. As she moved past me, the scent of her perfume lingered in the air, intoxicating and familiar.

The night had taken an unexpected turn.