Page 129 of Last First Date

55

WAVERLY

The sting of Benjamin’s horribly embarrassing texts lingered, a fire fueling my determination to stand up for myself. His audacity in thinking his crude words were flattering left me seething with anger. It was time to show him that I couldn’t be bullied or made to feel small.

When I called back my prank caller, it had been Benjamin. The asshole had the audacity to invite me to his stupid party. I thought he was kidding. What kind of asshole did what he did and then turned around and asked me to attend his party?

More than an asshole, Benjamin was a coward. He saw me as a little pawn in his grand game, someone he could manipulate to suit his narrative. But he didn’t know what I was capable of and that realization spurred me on.

The dress was secondhand. I picked it up at the last minute. It was daring and bold, but when I tried it on, I felt confident. It was perfect. I wanted all eyes on me. I wanted to meet and talk with as many people as I could. I wanted them to get to know me and realize I wasn’t a total freak. They needed to see me as a regular person because when I dropped the hammer, I needed them to believe me.

I moved through the party, exchanging pleasantries with a determined smile. Benjamin’s attempts to corner me and make small talk were met with curt responses. I wasn’t here to play by his rules. I was here to change the narrative. Unfortunately, I had not counted on Knox’s persistence. He was the last person I wanted to see. I didn’t understand why he was even at the party.

But it quickly became clear. He was buddies with Benjamin. They had their little bets and bro code. When I saw Knox coming my way, I tried to avoid him. The last thing I wanted was to be the center of some male pissing contest. But as fate would have it, he found me. His eyes met mine with an intensity that took me aback. But then, just as quickly, he looked away, the sharp pain of rejection twisting in my gut.

I fought against the wave of hurt and forced myself to remember the bigger picture. This was not about Knox or Benjamin and their sick games. It was about me about reclaiming my dignity.

“Waverly,” Knox said behind me.

I tried to ignore him, but he reached for my arm. “What?” I snapped.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“It’s a party, Knox. I’m mingling.”

“You know what I mean,” he hissed. “Why are you here?”

“I’m sorry, but I see someone I need to talk to.”

He looked around. “Who?”

“Anyone but you.” I smiled and walked away.

Benjamin found me a short time later. His hand wrapped around my upper arm in a way that felt demanding and way too intimate. He leaned in, his lips nearly brushing my ear. I pulled my head back. I knew what he was doing. He wanted everyone to see him with me. He was acting like we were a couple.

“I’m about to announce you,” he whispered close to my ear. “I know you have your speech, but it wouldn’t hurt to add a few more adjectives. And if you’re a good girl, I will aptly reward you. You don’t have to admit it, but we both know you’ve been thinking about all those things I texted you. It’ll be our little secret.”

He pulled back and grinned. I wanted to slap him. It would have been so satisfying to slap that raunchy smile right off his face, but I couldn’t. That would ruin everything. I watched him walk on stage and do his little speech before it was time for me to get up there.

When the time came for me to address the crowd, a mix of anticipation and nerves coiled in my stomach. As I stood at the podium, I surveyed the faces in the room, each one a potential ally or adversary. Benjamin watched me with a smug expression, confident that I would adhere to the script he had imagined.

But I had other plans.

As I stepped forward to the applause and whistles, my eyes scanned the crowd. I saw Knox staring directly at me.

I took a deep breath and pulled up the speech I had written on my phone.

“Thank you for welcoming me,” I began. My voice rang loud and clear over the murmuring chatter and clinking glasses. “I’m sure many of you know Benjamin, which is why you’re all here. I only recently met him. When I think about my time with Benjamin, I’m reminded of the dedication and hard work that goes into building a successful business. Benjamin has certainly made a name for himself, showcasing an uncanny ability to navigate the challenges of the industry.”

I noticed Benjamin’s confident demeanor as he stood at the corner of the stage. He was all puffed up and looked like he was eating up every word I said. I hoped he enjoyed it because I had so much more to say.

“However, success is not solely measured by professional achievements. It’s also about the way we treat others, the respect and decency we extend to those around us. It’s a reminder that success without integrity is a hollow victory.”

The room fell into a hushed silence. People were actually listening to me. Benjamin’s expression morphed from smugness to discomfort, a realization dawning on him that I wasn’t playing by his rules. He had seen the speech I prepared. But it was the fake one. It was not the one I ever planned on delivering.

“In our pursuit of success, let’s not forget the importance of empathy, kindness, and understanding.”

There was a round of applause. Benjamin was still smiling. He had no idea what was coming. I loved that I was lulling him into complacency. It was going to make the deathblow all the sweeter.