My Sweet Punishment by Amelia Brooks (best book club books of all time .TXT) 📕

And now we were sitting in a cozy cafe not far from our office.

“Argh, the last client nearly drove me crazy by asking for details. Well, indeed, who would have thought that such bores still exist?” the colleague complained, furiously cutting a piece of juicy chop. Only I was only half listening.

All my attention was focused on the interesting picture outside the window. Right across the street from the cafe, a solid, old man got out of a smart white jeep. But my eyes did not catch on him or his expensive foreign car, but on the girl standing next to him. And even though I’d only seen her in photos before, I’d bet my head that I was sure who she was. Collins’s fiancée.

The girl was really gorgeous. Her thick golden hair fell in wavy curls over her slender shoulders. A tan, pretty face. Full lips. Perfect body. It is these girls who make men on the street turn around, twisting their necks to a crunch.

At first, I thought she had come with her father. But when the hand of the supposed “relative” from the waist went down on her butt and slightly squeezed, it became clear how much I was mistaken.

Awful. To compare Henry with this balding stout old man, well, it’s even funny, to be honest. Well, the groom would be scary to run on the side, but then. Although Collins is no better. He courted me when he was almost ringed.

“Miaaaa, where are you?” my friend snapped her fingers in front of my face, drawing my attention back to her. “What are you dreaming about?”

“I’m sorry. I was just reminiscing...” I shrugged guiltily, finishing my already cold coffee and looking out the window again.

“Oh, and this one is here,” the girl suddenly snorted, following my gaze.

“Do you know her?” I asked as casually as I could, trying to hide my obvious interest.

“Yeah. The daughter of a respectable businessman – the owner of another large construction company in our country.”

“And Collins’s fiancée,” I added quietly. But Julia heard me anyway.

“Well, I don’t think so,” my friend explained to my surprised look. “I don’t know much about all the latest gossip in the company, but I know that he broke off his engagement a couple of months ago. They say there was such a scandal. Huh.”

“Are you kidding me now?” I just couldn’t believe my ears.

“Nope,” she answered seriously. “Her father flew here on the same day and rushed like an angry bull to the CEO’s office,” Julia smiled ominously and then continued. “But judging by Amanda’s story, our boss quickly put him in his place. Yeah, and put him so that the failed father-in-law was also sorry for his daughter. Can you believe it? Emotions ran high. I just wonder what she’s done. But it seems to me that there was another reason – he already has someone...” the girl uttered thoughtfully.

“Who has?” I asked automatically, digesting her previous words.

“What do you mean who? Collins, of course!”

The news that Henry had broken off his engagement stuck in my head. And this strange assumption of Julia. Does he really have someone... Damn it. Why can’t I just forget him?

You’re doing fine, Mia. In the family, everything is getting better. There is a good job, friends appeared. I also figured out everything with my studies, transferring for free to long-distance learning, which, by the way, was facilitated by my new place of work.

And now, for almost two whole months, I have been working on my new position. I had seen Henry a couple of times during that period. And I only took a peep at him. Apparently, the man might have forgotten about me. Unlike me... I still tried in vain to kill my feelings for Collins, but it turned out so badly.

“So, Ms. Brown, do not forget – at 7 p.m. I will wait for you on the spot,” Julia reminded me in the bossy tone and also threatened with a finger, making her words more convincing.

“Yeah, I remember,” I muttered and sighed in resignation.

The animated colleague just winked at me encouragingly and ran to the exit. Most likely, to dress up.

At work, a new year’s corporate party is planned, but my mood is generally far from being festive. I don’t want to go anywhere. Plus, considering that the place of the celebration is Collins’s club. The one where I used to work as a waitress. For sure...

However, my “kind” colleague explained to me that refusals are not accepted. Especially since I’m a beginner and need to join the team in all ways.

Going to the party, I, for once in a blue moon, wanted to look beautiful, at least for myself. I put on an elegant dress of dark green color. I decided to leave my hair loose, only slightly twisting the ends. A little makeup.

And here I am so beautiful, sitting at the table and watching our department and not only our, went all out, violently celebrating the successful completion of the year, but I do not feel the slightest desire to join them…

And I was sitting, by the way, all alone. Julia suddenly got a call. Most likely, it was someone from her family. The woman went out into the hallway away from the loud music to answer the call and still hasn’t returned.