Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Vega POV.

It's been a few days but I felt like shit the more I proceeded with trying to win the bet and break Zach's heart, hence why I'd been avoiding him like my life depended on it. Unloading all that stuff on me last weak about what he'd gone through made me feel like a fucking monster but it was also hard not to imagine that this was his strategy to win me over no matter how sincere it was he sounded. What if this was the card he used to get the girls and once he got what he wanted, he dumped them and laughed in their faces, but then again what if he was telling the truth?

I tugged at my hair because overthinking was a bitch and I felt tired of going around in circles. Whatever I just had to focus on winning the bet first, then I'll tell him everything and if he's truly In love with me then I hope he can look past it just the way he did when I confessed about lying about Markus. I turned the corner and gasped as something wet splashed into my face. I staggered back as I blinked the sticky slippery substance off my face and stared wide-eyed at Arielle, then at Jenny who was holding the bucket that contained whatever it was that they had thrown at me, her gaze petrified as she stood frozen beside Arielle. The stench of it suddenly registered and I almost barfed.

"Oops" Arielle dragged out, covering her mouth comically. "We didn't see you there. My, my, my, look at the mess you let us make" she said, not looking sorry at all and I felt my blood pressure rising, my heart rate increasing as anger bubbled in my chest.

"What the fuck is wrong with you!" I gasped out and she was suddenly in my face as her taunting smile left her face, replaced by something sinister.

"I'll watch my mouth if I were you or something worst might happen to you. Who do you think you are to try and take Zach's attention for yourself." She scoffed, then laughed. "Don't tell me you actually plan to win the bet".

I cursed with a hiss. "Yes, I plan to win it. What? Are you scared because you knew you never stood a chance".

Arielle's face reddened as she grabbed at my collar. "Don't dare talk down to me you filthy vermin".

"How long did it take you to learn that word in the dictionary" I mocked with a smirk and she shoved me and it was so unexpected that I tumbled to the floor, my hands getting bruised when I tried to stop my fall. I hated her so much, that sometimes I felt like committing murder whenever she came within my vicinity.

Arielle looked down at me with a smirk. "I won't exchange words with you because you're not worth my time. Stop moving around with Zach. Can you believe he told me to stay away from him because of you, it was the most horrible thing to ever happen to me, I still can't believe he even said that in the first place because it's just absurd".

That was news, Zach wasn't going around with anyone else but me, so did he feel something for me, was he really serious about me? I looked up at Arielle who was staring at me expectantly. The hate I felt for her was indescribable.

"You're getting it very wrong Arielle but I'm not the one following Zach around, it's him doing the following," I said just to rile her up, make her fucking head explode.

It works too, I could almost see the smoke hissing out her ears.

"Do not patronize me, Vega. I don't care about the stupid bet because I could get all that money at the snap of my fingers but my reputation is on the line right now. No one can have Zach Dante but me. So stay away from him".

"And you're warning me because I'm your only competition?" I asked incredulously. I wasn't the only one on the stupid bet, just the other day, while I was trying to avoid Zach, I had seen Nicole flirting with him as if her life depended on it but Zach had ignored her and even I had found it strange but I'd reasoned he just wasn't into her.

"You're not the only one I've warned ugly face, I've warned them all and even gave them a little incentive for their cooperation, it's just that you and Nicole think too highly of yourself, you both think you stand a chance of beating me but you can't".

Fuck sitting on the floor, this bitch was going too far and out of her damn mind. I pushed to my feet until I was matching her stare.

"Well, if you think you can buy me out then you're delusional and as for the bet, I'm going to do my very best to win it just so I can see the ugly face you make when you get defeated".

Arielle's lips curved. "Well, if that's how you're going to play it then I won't be there to help you when your mother loses her job and also all of a sudden she finds herself unable to get a new one".

My hands connected with her cheeks before I could stop myself and Arielle gasped in shock before she rushed at me but I don't wait for her to beat the shit out of me. She screamed for Jenny to help her and I suddenly had to fight the both of them off as they shoved me to the floor, their sharp nails scratching at my face. I struggled to get my hands free from Jenny and putting all my strength into swinging it, I punched Arielle hard and she fell off me with a pained groan.

"You're so fucking dead Vega. I'm going to fucking end you" she screamed as she stood up to attack me but her punch never connected as someone grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her back like she weighed nothing.

I heaved a sigh of relief as Jenny quickly let go of me.

"I didn't do anything" Jenny rushed out quickly.

Ray scoffed. "Of course, you didn't, you just helped hold Vega down while she was beaten up".

Arielle fought against his hold. "Let me go! Do you know who I am? I will fucking destroy you if you don't get the fuck out of here and mind your own freaking business" she screeched and I winced. God, the girl was such a handful it was irritating.

Ray ignored her screams as he yanked her closer, then whispered into her ear. Her eyes widened and then she clamped her mouth shut. Ray let go of her and she glanced at me with a glare.

"This is not over Vega. I'm going to get you back for this" she said and trudged away in furious outrage... Jenny ran after her and they were soon out of my sight.

Ray reached out a hand to help me up but I ignored it, choosing rather to get on my feet myself. Andrianna was already acting strange just because I had a normal polite conversation with him, I didn't want her to think that I was trying to steal her boyfriend even tho it was ludicrous that she would think so low of me.

"Are you alright, Your face has some scratches?" he said reaching toward me but I stepped back before he could touch me. He paused his eyes regarding me.

"Why do I get the feeling that I did something wrong and now you're wary of me".

Perceptive much, but he was wrong about doing something wrong. "Thanks for your help but I'm fine. I'll take care of myself".

"Let me help you," he said, reaching to take my hand but I stepped out of his reach.

"I said I'm fine. Just fucking leave me alone" I snapped in frustration then walked away from him. I didn't need more drama In my life. Everything was already freaking fucked up. I didn't need any more of the kind of trouble he could bring.