Vice

59: Reunion With Jace

**Trigger Warning: Forced sexual advances and discussion of non-consent in this chapter.**

Even after a heart to heart with her mother and tons of comfort from Macey, dread fills Natara's stomach as she bikes toward the Vicetech Corporation.

This is one of the biggest things she has ever had to do. And it's painful to have to face this company again, after everything. Being hired at Vicecorp wasn't a blessing or pure luck, after all. It was a terrible curse.

As she pedals down the sidewalk, a familiar vehicle slows to a stop beside her. A company vehicle. It parks up ahead. 

Natara assumes it is someone from another department sent to run an errand but the window rolls down and a voice calls out to her.

"Hi, Ara." Natara stops mid-pedal. She doesn't want to see or hear from this man ever again. 

Why has he stopped to talk to her anyway? She hadn't heard from him since their last date. He hadn't shown his face, hadn't tried to get her company phone number and text or call her, or even stayed with her the night after they had sex.

"Jace." The word flops lifelessly from her mouth. She parks her bike and reluctantly turns to look at him.

As her eyes cross over his face and body, she can't pinpoint what she ever found handsome about him. His eyes are too blue, his hair so short it's personality-less, his bones are too sharp - almost gaunt - and the stubble on his face makes him look less like a budding grown-up and more like he crawled out of a back alley.

"Do you want a ride?" He gestures toward the company car. Just seeing Jace puts Natara on an emotional edge. Her fingers clench her hands into fists, her muscles tense, and her lungs tighten. Some part of her wants to hurt this man just as much as he hurt her.

"No, I don't want a ride. I don't want you to say a word to me. I don't like you." Natara's voice stays low as she glares up at him. Jace steps toward her and she steps back. 

"I heard you sleep around the office. Congrats on sleeping with everyone and taking my virginity with the worst sex anyone could ever have. I wonder how many women have said you're the one who is horrible in bed!" Natara feels her voice rising. Jace stays quiet, raising an eyebrow at her.

"You're a sack of garbage, Jace, and if I was a worse person I would hope someone hurts you like you've hurt me! You have no idea what it feels like to trust someone, to believe someone is going to be different, to give them a part of you that is so special..." The words tumble from her lips too fast for Natara to stop them. "To have them abuse that, to have them throw it away like it was useless, and then make fun of you giving it to them to everyone else around!"

"I want you to... I want... I hate..." Narara is so distraught she's almost hyperventilating. She takes a moment to calm herself.

"Ara, I..." Jace holds his hands up in the air like he's perfectly innocent and looks at her like she's grown three heads.