Cheating By The Rules | Harry Styles AU (ongoing)

chapter 38

I took a bite of my cereal, enjoying the crunchy granola with dried fruits. With the newspaper spread out before me, I tried to focus on the big, bold headlines. Of course, memories of last night's event played over and over in my head.

The pages rustled as I turned them, my eyes skimming the stories without absorbing them. I knew I had to get out of the house today because staying home felt wrong after all my thoughts about Harry and the conversation we had. For that reason, I had to go to my office today. Going there on January first wasn't exactly invigorating, but it would be better to sit there and overthink than stay at home.

Unfortunately, I couldn't be alone in the kitchen right now. Jace walked in, looking like nothing had happened. His hair was nicely pushed back, he was freshly shaved, and the unmistakable smell of alcohol had been swapped with his favorite cologne. Seeing him like this, as if nothing had happened, made my blood boil.

My grip tightened on the spoon, the metal clinking against the porcelain bowl, which was decorated with blue and white details. Maybe I betrayed my irritation by eating my breakfast like this.

"Good morning," his voice was chirpy. He wasn't allowed to feel like this. Not when I had been the one who suffered the most last night. But of course, he didn't see it that way, nonchalantly reaching for the coffee pot and filling a mug. "I really had a very good night's sleep. How about you?" he questioned me.

I didn't bother to look up from my paper. "Wonderful," I responded with sarcasm.

He put the pot down and shortly faced me. "Look, Ivy, I know that you're upset," he said before starting on his breakfast. He pronounced those words in a way that made me feel like I was overreacting.

I glanced at him, removing my focus from the news stories. My eyes narrowed as I watched him toast some bread.

"Upset?" I reacted. That word didn't do my feelings justice.

Jace turned around once more. "Things got out of hand, Ivy," he said.

I set my spoon down with a little more force than necessary.

"Things got out of hand?" my words were sharp and cutting. I couldn't contain my feelings toward him.

"I'm sorry," Jace said.

Right now, his sorry meant absolutely nothing to me. His apology was the last thing that would ease my anger. He had humiliated me, and I couldn't forgive him for it. I couldn't shove this situation under the rug and act like everything was fine.

"Maybe I crossed a line," Jace mentioned carefully.

I scoffed. "Maybe? You definitely crossed one, Jace," I pointed out angrily.

"That wasn't meant to happen," Jace stated.

"But you did allow yourself to let it happen," I fired back.

"No, no, I...," he sighed. "Ivy, all I am trying to say is that I messed up and I shouldn't have drunk so much," he expressed.

I couldn't take him seriously. "Those words don't mean anything right now, Jace. What you did to me was downright embarrassing. I shouldn't have taken you with me to that gala because you can't control yourself."

"I'm sure it wasn't that bad," Jace interrupted me, which was the last thing he should do right now.

"Are you serious? Have you completely forgotten that one of my most important clients had to drive us home?! Do you know how horrible that is? Not just for me as a brand, but also for me as a human being?" saying these things directly to his face wasn't something I had seen coming. Then again, I knew I had every right to be mad at him right now. He didn't deserve my forgiveness for last night.