208The next day, Darius dressed in simple attire—a plain white shirt and dark jeans. He wasn't one for flashy clothes, preferring comfort over style. As he climbed into his Eclipse, he couldn't shake the tension that had built up from the previous night. The argument with Leslie still lingered in h
209Darius’s jaw clenched at the question, his fists tightening at his sides as he tried to keep his composure. He could feel the heat rising in his face, a mix of embarrassment and anger bubbling beneath the surface. The woman’s tone was enough to make his blood boil, but he bit back the retort tha
210The brunette leaned in again, her voice dripping with condescension. “Maybe you’d be more comfortable somewhere else? Perhaps a nice barber shop down the street? I’m sure they could give you a good trim.”Darius felt his fists clench even tighter, the tension in his muscles making his arms tremb
211Darius’s jaw tightened as he felt the sting of the man’s silent judgment. He could practically hear the unspoken words: 'You don’t belong here.' His anger flared, but he forced himself to remain still, his fists clenching tighter.“Who’s this?” the woman beside Mr. Blackwell asked, her voice dri
212The blonde woman sauntered over, her hips swaying with a practiced grace, as if she owned the room. Her manicured hand, nails gleaming with fresh polish, landed lightly on Mr. Blackwell’s arm. She kept her gaze fixed on Darius, her lips curling into a cold smile that didn’t reach her eyes.“Oh,
213“Is this how you treat everyone who walks through these doors?” Darius’s voice was low, strained, barely under control. He could feel the eyes of the receptionists on him, but he didn’t flinch. His gaze was locked on the one who had been leading the charge, the brunette who had first suggested h
214Darius could feel their words like a punch to the gut, each one stinging more than the last. He wanted to shout, to tell them that they didn’t know him, that they had no right to judge him. But the words caught in his throat, his frustration and anger choking him. His fists clenched tighter, his
215Darius's pulse quickened as he watched the redhead's fingers hover over the phone. His mind raced. 'If they call security, this whole situation will spiral out of control,' he thought. He was desperate for a way out, but he was done being pushed around.As the redhead began to dial, Darius took