Victoria slowed in her tracks, really thinking things through for the first time since she had started this torturous march across the room. James hated her. He hated seeing her, hated being reminded of what they had once shared. During her company's anniversary party, he had never looked for her, never met her eyes, had left without so much as acknowledging her presence. Even now, at this conference, he seemed completely oblivious to her existence. It was as if she had become invisible to him, a non-entity in his carefully reconstructed world.
It seemed James was truly over her.
"No," Victoria whispered as the thought hit her like an unwelcome revelation, like a splash of ice-cold water to her face, waking her up to a reality she had been desperately avoiding.
The word escaped her lips before she could stop it, raw and broken and filled with a desperation that made her chest ache. Victoria clenched her fists so hard her nails drew blood from her palms. She couldn't accept this. She wouldn't give up on him, whatever it took. She was still as selfish as ever, still unable to let go even when holding on was causing them both nothing but pain.
Victoria resumed her march with renewed determination, ready to let James know exactly how she still felt, consequences be damned. "James..."
She called his name softly, but just as she got close enough to touch him, a person blocked her path. Looking up, she saw Chad's face, and the determined expression she had worn twisted immediately into a grimace of disgust. She sighed heavily and folded her arms, every line of her body language screaming irritation.
"Victoria," Chad said with his trademark charming smile.
"Ugh, Chad, what is it?" She didn't bother to hide her irritation, her voice flat and unwelcoming.
Chad continued smiling, looking his usual composed and charming self, which only sickened Victoria further. There was something about his practiced perfection that had always rubbed her the wrong way, but now it made her skin crawl. "It's been a while. I thought I should greet you."
Victoria's brow furrowed with barely contained annoyance. "Well, you have done so. Goodbye."
She moved to step past him, but by the time she had cleared his shadow, James was long gone. The spot where he had been standing was empty, his group of admirers having dispersed, and there was no sign of him or his secretary anywhere in the venue.
Victoria felt fury build in her chest, hot and vicious and directed entirely at Chad for his incredibly convenient timing. His stalling had cost her what might have been her only chance to speak with James, and the knowledge made her want to scream.
Chad's annoying voice came from behind her, casual and knowing in a way that made her teeth clench. "If you're looking for James, he's gone."
"I can see that, thanks for the obvious observation," she snapped, not bothering to turn around.
Chad tucked his hands into his pants pockets, his stance relaxed and confident. "Are you still mad at me? It's all in the past now. Look, he's made it big time in the industry. I want you to know my feelings remain the same..."
"Fuck you and your feelings," Victoria interrupted, whirling around to face him with blazing eyes.
Chad's composed expression faltered slightly at her vehemence, but Victoria was just getting started.
"Chad, do you know how disgusting you make me feel?" She paused, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Your clean act disgusts me so much I feel sick and want to throw up. I say this, but it seems you do take me for a fool, huh? Setting me up together with Daniel Harris and Elena."
She paused for dramatic effect, watching as Chad's face went pale. "Oh, you thought I wouldn't find out? Chad, are you this stupid? Like, I knew you were capable of a lot of things, but this?" She dragged out the word, her voice dripping with contempt. "Just because of your wounded pride, you decided to be petty?"
The revelation still sounded amusing to her in its pathetic simplicity. She scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief. "That's low, really low. And to think you have the guts to block my way and confess your one-sided love again. Congratulations, you've finally lost it and gone completely insane."
She gave a mock clap, slow and sarcastic, then stopped abruptly. The smile on her face died down to a hard line, her eyes turning ice-cold as she stared at Chad with undisguised hatred.
"You orchestrated that whole mess because you were jealous, didn't you? Because I won the Anderson bid against you, because James won my love while yours was unrequited and pathetic. You couldn't stand that he succeeded where you failed, so you decided to destroy him. How does it feel, Chad? How does it feel to know that even after all your scheming and manipulation, he's still more successful than you'll ever be? He's still the man I love, while you're just a sad, bitter little boy playing games."
Victoria's voice rose with each word, years of suppressed anger and disgust finally finding their target. "You tried to drag me down to ruins just because you couldn't handle losing, and in the process, you nearly destroyed yourself all for the act of revenge. I warned you that the next time you act up you won't like what I do in retaliation. I will get you back for it, this I promise. And stay the fuck away from me Chad."
With that final declaration, she turned and strode out of the venue, her mood completely ruined and rage coursing through her veins like poison. Her parting threat to Chad hung in the air like a promise of retribution. The confrontation with Chad had dredged up all the pain and guilt she had been trying so hard to process, reminding her of just how many people had played a role in the destruction of her relationship with James.
But most of all, it had reminded her that she was running out of time. If she didn't act soon, if she didn't find a way to reach James before Gaia's influence became too strong, she might lose him forever to someone who had never betrayed him, never broken his trust, never caused him a moment's pain.
The thought was unbearable.