R for Romance

5. The Queen of Bitches

Emara Stone 

You got to be fucking kidding me!

I watch in absolute horror as Dakota stride up to stand beside Director on the stage, ready to hand out the degrees too.

Great! Just fucking great!

The man I least want to see today is the one person I have to face in front of the crowd. All while wearing his dress. Errrhhh!

It feels like universe just likes to fuck with me raw.

I stand in between Ethan and Hardick, biting my nails nervously as I do the mental maths for how much time each graduate is taking up on the stage.

Walking up - Grabing the degree - Shaking hands - Posing for a picture - Strolling away.

15 Seconds top. I got this!

I can face that barbaric king, who is dressed up like some tall, dark millionaire in his perfectly tailored black suit, expertly hiding his horns and psycho split personality.

"Ethan H Stone."

I breathe in, breathe out to calm my raging nerves which panics a little as my brother's name gets announced. Oh God! I am next.

15 tiny little seconds, and I am out of here!

Easy as pie. And I can eat a whole damn pie. Yeah, right!

"Emara S Stone."

A shiver runs down my spine and I close my eyes for a second, summoning my inner bitch. Like a wave, she takes over me and I open my eyes with a face as hard as my name.

Stone.

With my head held high and I-eat-men-for-breakfast attitude, I step onto the stage with my invisible crown.

I lock eyes with Dakota, remembering the time he ordered me to crawl for him and made me sit by his feet like a pet. I let all those memories fuel me and stride towards him like a bitch he tried to make me.

Except now, I am the Queen of bitches!

She is tough. She is confident. And she tolerates no bullshit from any bull!

Green eyes soften and he smiles, extending his palm towards me. With a cold heart, I take his hand and he gently squeezes mine.

It's warm. And very masculine!

And instantly, I am reminded of how hard and warm his body always felt, even though his room was as cold as the Arctic.

"Congratulations, Emara."

Nostalgia hits me with a belt as his smooth voice glides through me like ribbons, but my bitchy self cut those ties bluntly, and I reply in a dead voice, "Thanks."

I feel him pull me slightly closer to him as we pose for the picture and I feel a zap of electric shock running through me as he places his hand on my spine, a little lower.

I try not to move, or breathe. Just look in the camera.

Come on, camera guy! Snap the damn picture already!

"You look beautiful." Dakota whispers in a soft, hushed voice and I glance at him.

His eyes deeply penetrate into mine, like fucking my soul, but I stare back with a dead face and heart as I say, "I know. I looked in the mirror before coming here."

A humourous chuckle cracks his professional features, and he murmurs, "Well, glad the mirror didn't break."

"Excuse me?" I narrow my eyes. I can't believe how arrogant this fucker is!

"I mean, glad the mirror didn't break from jealousy, because you look more beautiful than I remember." He smiles sweetly, upgrading his attitude like a software.

You got to be fucking kidding me!

I roll my eyes, unrolling in his crappy lines.

"So, how have you been?" Dakota asks me, like we are catching up at a coffee shop and not standing on a stage in front of thousands of people.

"Uh, great! Graduating, moving on, and living my best life you know." I try to pull my hand free from this handshake, which feels like a hostageshake.

"That's good to hear." He says, taking no hint to leave my hand while continuing the conversation, "I feel so proud of you, Emara."

Ughh! I don't care buddy!

"Listen, can I get my degree? Coz there is a line behind me and you have got like a hundred handshakes awaiting." Desperation crawls my skin and I just speak out.

I want to get off this stage ASAP!

"Of course." He finally lets go of my hand, but keeps his other hand warmly against my back, as if he is afraid I'll run away.

I stand there, watching him squint at my degree like he found a fault. "You and Ethan both have different middle names?"

"Yeah, right Sherlock!" My hand really itching to snatch that degree out of his grasp.

"So what does S stands for in your name?" He asks me curiously, still wearing the soft smile on his face.

Errhh! Why is this taking forever?

"It's Spaghetti." I spit with ultra-pro-max sass.

A grin curve his untouchable lips and he smiles so wide that I swear I see a dimple denting his cheeks.

"Well then, you deserve it, Emara Spaghetti Stone." He smirks playfully and hands me my degree.

Finally! After an eternity.

We pose for the camera again, and I can practically feel every eye on me, eyeing us with their judgy-eyes.

God! These 15 seconds feel like a minute with 1500 seconds.

"By the way.." Once again, his sexy green eyes find me as he slips into his smooth sales executive voice, "Our company is organising a campus placement for fresh graduates, just like you."

"Yeah, I heard it and I am not interested." I tell him, tugging on my degree, which is still under his steel grip like he owns it.

Just give me my damn degree!

"Why not?" His black brows scrunch in confusion. "I think AI would be a perfect field for you, after all you are married to one, Eve." And reminds me with a smirk that makes me want to punch him.

This mother-AI-fucker!

"It was a drunk wedding!" I snap the degree out of his hands, and spat at him with all the attitude he deserves, "And tell her, I divorced her the day I left."

Then walk my-sexy-ass away with my invisible crown and visible degree.

🐈‍⬛ ྀི

I honestly loved all the suggestions especially.. Sapphire, Silver, Slaying, Scarlett ♥️ 

But when I read Spaghetti I laughed out so loud.. So the winner is blacktea_rainyday Let me know which chapter in Dakota's POV you want.. 

For other readers, don't worry.. there will be more quiz coming up ;)

Also, I have decided to update twice a week. Now go vote on this sexy chapterrr