Roommates... with my Ex Boyfriend (Roommates Series: Book #1)

Chapter 10

As Jace continues to talk with his parents, and a few others, I feel someone wrap their fingers around my arm, quickly tightening his grip to make sure that I don't escape. My head snaps in his direction as he tries to pull me away from Jace. My eyebrows furrow in confusion. "What are you doing?"

A slapping sound fills my ears, and a stinging sensation crosses my cheek. He hit me. A complete stranger hit me... Who does he think he is? Doesn't he know who I'm with? I guess not because they wouldn't have done that. No one wants to piss off the one, and only Jace Monroe. "Who gave you permission to speak, bītch?"

The last word catches Jace's attention, and sparks his anger. "Who gave you permission to speak to her that way?"

Fear flashes in the man's eyes, but makes it disappear quickly. "She is one of those whøres for sale, she has no right to speak."

I immediately look at Jace. He seems to be thinking exactly what I'm thinking. This isn't the gala that we thought it was, this is something that was founded years ago by disgusting, and pro inequality men. This is an event that neither of us wanted to be associated with. Looking around the room now, after knowing the truth, I can see it. There are several men with women in black clothes beside them, a leash around her neck connecting both of them. The dominance is being overused, and being rubbed in our, as well as the women's, faces more than I would like it to be.

The single men, and a few men with partners, have cards with a number on them. They're bidding cards. They're going to buy women against their will, steal their lives.

"She is mine, she is not for sale," Jace growls. The man releases me, looking slightly embarrassed, and I recoil as I see disappointment in his eyes. Jace places me behind him, hiding me from the man, clearly not finished his business with him quite yet. "Who sent you to come get her?"

He motions to someone at the other side of the room. I follow his gaze to see him looking at a pathetic excuse for a leader, and a lover --- Finn. I should have seen it coming, but I didn't really expect him to swing that low.

"We're leaving," Jace grumbles. We say our goodbyes to his parents --- who are leaving as well --- and quickly get into his car. He doesn't start the car, he just sits there in complete silence, and staring off into space. I leave him alone, knowing that if I ask him what's wrong, he'll snap. He remains like that for a couple of minutes until he sighs, and drives us home.  

Jace goes to leave as he turns off the engine, but I take his hand, and ask him a question that will give me less of an aggressive answer. "Are you alright?"

He nods, sending me a forced smile. I don't push him any further than that, and together, we walk into our home in silence. I stopped calling it his house quite recently, because things have changed  between us. Things have gotten better. He makes me feel comfortable, and safe, something that he didn't do very well a few years ago. He has changed, he has matured, he has made his home mine. He makes me want to stay with him for the rest of our lives. I can't though. I'm not going to ruin his, or my next relationship.

Jace looks back at me. "Are you joining me tonight?"

I replay my last thought in my head, over, and over again. I shake my head, and his hopeful smile drops slightly. "I don't think it's best."

He frowns. "Best? It's not best for us? What is that supposed to," he stops himself, and exhales, trying to calm himself down. "I'm sorry for getting angry, tonight hasn't been the best."