Chapter 11

Erin’s POV

Gavin was eyeing me carefully; I could feel my face warming. I couldn’t believe he would show up at my place of work like this. He requested me to be his waitress; I was never going to hear the end of it from the others.

He briefly glanced at the gentleman that sat across from him at the table; the gentleman was looking between the two of us warily. I recognized him from the news; he often stood beside Gavin during his speeches.

Beta Seth.

“Seth, leave us for a few moments,” Gavin ordered, keeping his eyes locked on mine.

Seth looked uncertain for a moment; hesitant to leave. That is until Gavin turned his glares in his direction.

“I’ll be outside,” Seth muttered, standing to his feet. He gave me a sheepish grin before leaving the restaurant.

I turned my attention back to Gavin.

“I mean it, Gavin. If you don’t leave, I’ll—”

“You’ll what? Have me arrested,” he said, a mocking grin on his face. “Nobody has the right to tell me where I can and cannot eat.”

“Lucky for me, I’m a nobody,” I said, trying to keep my voice casual. “I don’t want to see you again. Ever.”

I turned to walk away, but his voice stopped me.

“Why do you hate me so much? Even if the world hates me, should I really believe that you hate me as well? What have I done that was so wrong?”

“I’ve always hated you,” I said coldly. “Back in high school, I hated you for being poor. So, I REJECTED you. And I still hate you now…”

Those words tightened the knot that was already tied in my stomach; I kept my face turned from him so he couldn’t see the pain in my eyes. My heart ached and Emily was growing tired. Being here with him was just too painful.

I couldn’t dare look into his eyes, I knew what I would see once I did. I knew how much Gavin loved me. I knew he wanted to marry me and be with me forever. We had an incredible and everlasting relationship back in high school. Despite how many women wanted him, he always only had eyes for me.

I only had eyes for him too.

I thought that was the kind of love that would never end.

“Erin…” he breathed; he was standing now.

I dared to take a look at him and as predicted, I saw the utter pain lingering in his dark gaze. His brows furrowed together as he processed what I had just said.

“Please, have some self-respect. Just leave, Gavin,” I said in a hoarse whisper.

“I have no self-respect in front of you,” he said, his tone turned from hurt to mocking as he reached his hand out and grabbed onto my arm. “I am a puppy and I only wag my tail for you.”

My heart was beating against my chest rapidly; he was the only one who could ever make me feel this way. I hadn’t felt this way in a long time, not even with Henry.

My hand remained naked where his wedding ring once sat; Henry wasn’t going to stop questioning me until I told him the truth. It was clear that Gavin had no intentions of ever returning my wedding ring to me.

I pulled my arm away from him, trying to disconnect the feeling he had made me feel from his single touch alone.

“I mean it, Gavin. Do not touch me. I’m going to sue you for sexual harassment,” I hissed, feeling a wave of fury and resentment.

He looked amused by my words as he rose his brows, folding his arms across his chest.

“Then sue me,” he insisted. “I dare you.”

“I’m not joking.”

“I didn’t say you were, my dear, Erin,” he said with a smirk. “In fact, how about you call your husband, Henry, right now and get the lawsuit started? He’s a very good lawyer, is he not?”

My entire body froze as he spoke my husbands’ name. He investigated my husband. Emily was right when she said that he’s Gavin Pierce and he can find this information out quickly. I just didn’t realize how right she was.

I didn’t want him to see just how flustered he made me though.

I cleared my throat.

“You aren’t so clever—”

“I beg to differ,” Gavin laughed; he took his seat and motioned or me to sit with him.

Warmth spread across my features; I glanced behind me at the rest of the restaurant. Nobody seemed to be paying attention to us; it also helped that Gavin chose a very secluded place in the restaurant to sit. I knew he had done this on purpose.

“Gavin, please…” I begged, keeping my tone low. “I don’t want there to be any trouble…”

“I don’t see any trouble… do you?”

“You know what I mean.”

“All I really wanted was to enjoy a nice meal with my former lover and my one-night stand—”

I rushed toward him, covering his mouth with my hands. My heart was racing quickly; he had said that so loudly that I thought for sure he caught the attention of others. But when I glanced behind me once again, they were all engrossed in their own conversations. Not even my coworkers seemed interested in what was happening at Gavin’s table.

When I glanced back at Gavin, I saw the playfulness in his eyes. He was taunting me. He enjoyed seeing me squirm in discomfort.

“Why do you resist me?” Gavin asked, this time keeping his voice low. He kept his eyes locked on mine, keeping me in his trance. I couldn’t answer him; the words wouldn’t come out of my mouth.

Without realizing what was happening, his hand closed around my wrist once again and he was pulling me onto his lap. I nearly screamed at the forcefulness of my body hitting his. His arms were closed around my waist as he kept me in place.

“Gavin—” I said, trying to wiggle my way out of his embrace. But it only made him tighten his hold. Wiggling on him also caused his member to grow in his pants, which caused my entire body to grow warm.

He moved his hand to brush a strand of hair that had fallen over my face, brushing it gently behind my ear. He allowed his fingers to linger for a moment; his breathing grew deep to match mine. I stared down at his lips which were parted only slightly; then his teeth bit onto them as hunger surfaced in his eyes.

Then, he spoke in a low and husky voice.

“How about we have a little bit of fun?”

His hand moved to my bare legs, riding them up to under my skirt. My breath got caught in my throat as he moved his fingers playfully over the fabrics of my underpants.

“I’m married, Gavin…” I whispered, my voice coming out hoarsely. “I can’t—”

“Where did Erin go?” I heard my boss Kelsey from around the corner.

Pure panic crossed my face as I looked around, seeing her shadow growing as she neared. I looked at Gavin who was still staring up at me. He didn’t look the least bit worried. I went to pull myself away from him, but he tightened his embrace again.

Soon, his eyes darkened until they were nearly black and everyone in the restaurant had gone silent.

There wasn’t a sound; a pin could drop, and it would be heard loudly for miles. I glanced behind me at everyone who occupied the restaurant and saw that they were unmoving entirely. Kelsey, who was walking in our direction, stood frozen in place.

I glanced at the clock and saw that it was no longer ticking; the hands on the clock remained unmoved.

I looked at Gavin whose eyes were back to their normal color, and he smirked.

He just froze time.