Arrogant Billionaire: Love vs Hate

Chap. 8

"He was a prince. He was fickle. He was rude. He was arrogant. I knew better. I was lowborn. He was WRONG. I didn't even like him."

― Rachel E. Carter, First Year

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Mark's POV

"Dude, just chill already. You've been like this all day."

Chase's voice echoed across the gym as he stepped inside, tossing a towel over his shoulder. The punching bag in front of me swung violently from a brutal hit. My fists collided with it again, the dull thud echoing through the room. I had been here for hours now, throwing punch after punch, yet the anger burning inside me refused to cool down.

I barely glanced at him. "Don't bother me, dude," I said sharply, landing another hit. "Can't you see I'm trying to think?"

The bag swung wildly as I stepped back, breathing heavily. My knuckles ached, but the pain did nothing to calm the storm raging inside me.

Andy Davis.

Even thinking about her name made my jaw tighten.

"Andy Davis or whatever the hell her name is," I muttered bitterly, "I'm going to completely ruin her." My eyes hardened as the memory replayed in my mind—the coffee splashing across my face, the stunned silence of the cafeteria, and her fearless glare. "That feisty nerd is going to learn exactly what happens when someone crosses me."

Chase leaned against the wall, watching me with a look that suggested he was choosing his words carefully. "Dude... don't go too far," he said cautiously. "She's just a poor girl who lost her temper. Whatever you're planning, maybe go a little easy on her."

I stopped.

Slowly, I turned toward him, disbelief flashing across my face.

"Have you lost your mind?" I asked coldly. "How can you possibly feel concerned for a nerd who humiliated your best friend?"

Chase raised his hands defensively. "That's not what I—"

"Mark baby, where are you?"

The shrill voice cut him off instantly.

I closed my eyes in irritation.

Stephenie.

Her voice echoed from the corridor outside the gym.

She was the daughter of one of my father's business partners. We had met at some useless corporate event months ago, and since then she had been hovering around me like an annoying shadow. At first she flirted constantly, but when I showed no interest she switched strategies—sweet-talking my grandmother and sister until she started appearing at our house whenever they invited her. Eventually she simply assumed the role of my girlfriend without my permission. I had warned her clearly not to bother me with such nonsense, and though she backed off slightly after that, she still showed up from time to time. I tolerated it only because she had stopped pestering me directly.

Chase smirked and patted my shoulder. "Have fun handling your girlfriend."

"That idiot is going to get himself killed one day," I muttered under my breath.

A moment later Stephenie walked in, her heels clicking across the floor.

"Hey Chase!" she chirped.

"Hey Stephenie," he replied casually. "He's inside waiting for you."

Traitor.

Stephenie turned her attention to me, her expression softening into a flirtatious smile. "Baby, don't be so angry," she said sweetly as she approached. "I heard about what happened today. Don't worry—I'll teach that bitch a proper lesson. If you want, I can even help you cool off."

I stared at her with pure irritation.

"I'm not in the mood to listen to your nonsense," I said coldly. "Just leave."

Her smile faltered for a second before she forced a laugh and raised her hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. I won't bother you today."

Finally, she turned and walked away.

Later that night I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. Hours had passed, yet my mind refused to rest. Every time I closed my eyes, the same image replayed in my head—Andy Davis standing there, fearless and furious, coffee dripping down my face while the entire cafeteria watched.

No one had dared to humiliated me like that before. People usually knew better than to stand against me.

But that girl...

She didn't just reject me.

She humiliated me.

And that was something I didn't forgive.

Andy Davis...

You'll regret the day you crossed me.