Page 119 of Pink Ink

“Miss Sinaga.” He scowls.

My pulse ratchets up a notch. This isn’t the warm reception I thought I’d receive.

Nodding toward the hand he’s keeping firmly on the door, I ask, “Can I come in?”

“Did you make an appointment?” he says flatly.

My hackles rise. “What?” I blink several times. “No?”

“Then I’m afraid I’m busy.” There’s no humor in his tone.

My brow spears up to my hairline.

Right.No. Whatever game he’s playing ends now. It’s not cute. Nor is it funny. I barge right in, shoving his hand aside when he tries to stop me.

“What are you doing here?”

Is he serious right now? “I wanted to talk with you.”

He strides past me to his desk without sparing me a glance. “We have nothing to talk about.”

I pale. “Excuse me?” No, I must have heard wrong.

“Like you, I’ve had a couple of days to think about it, and I’ve decided you’re just a student. We couldn’t possibly have anything to talk about.” His voice is distracted. Detached. Bored.

My heart cracks in two. There must be something I’m missing. I probably misunderstood him. There’s a perfectly reasonable explanation for his reaction.

This must be a joke. Ithasto be. I can’t—I choke. I amnotbeing put last again.

Clearing my throat, I raise my chin. “I don’t under—”

Maddox sighs like this is a complete waste of his time, and he’s at the very end of his patience. “Perhaps I need to say it more plainly; nothing will ever happen between us because you’reyou, and I’mme.”

My stomach sinks. It’s like I’m being skinned alive. He… No, he doesn’t mean that. Hecan’tmean that.

I quickly blink away the tears pricking my eyes. “What the hell does that mean?”

Maddox doesn’t look at me when he says, “That it was fun while it lasted.”

Oh.

It’s happening again.

I was right. This was all a game to him. Some fun to pass the time. I was never going to be the one he chose.

For a minute there, I believed that I was worthy of being put first. He really had me fooled. He—I rake my fingers through my hair. I don’t… Just the other day he was saying—

Thiscan’tbe happening. The pain is visceral.

He… He was playing me. Heplayedme. And I believed all the stupid words he said. I fell for it. I fell forhim. I can’t believe I was so blind. Sostupid.

“You’re a fucking piece of shit,” I hiss. My body is vibrating. Why does this keep happening to me? Was Abi in on this too? Is that why she approached me?

He’s the worst person I’ve ever met. As bad as every other monster out there. I was wrong before. Hewouldhurt me. Only he doesn’t need to lay a hand on me to do it.

He stares blankly at me as if this is the most inconsequential conversation he’s ever had. As if he hasn’t ripped my fucking heart out. “You’ve never been very creative with your insults. I suppose that’s why you’ve always had to work off of someone else’s idea.”

I rear back like I’ve been slapped. “No.No. You don’t get to lead me on like that then throw me aside like I’m nothing.”Not after you got inside my head. Made me think that you cared about me, and that I was special, and the only girl in the world that you wanted.