Chosen By My Mate's Father-in-law novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Stay Away

The moment Gareth’s cold gray eyes landed on us, Elliot let go of my arm as if burned. His spine straightened, shoulders back, and that smug, arrogant expression he always wore melted into something more polished, controlled, and respectful.

“Chairman Laken,” he greeted with forced calm, his voice just loud enough to sound confident but not draw attention.

Gareth didn’t respond.

His gaze remained locked on me, then flicked briefly to where Elliot’s hand had been gripping me just seconds before. His jaw tensed ever so slightly. Not a word came from his mouth, but the message was loud and clear.

He didn’t like what he saw.

Elliot shifted beside me, waiting, expecting a reply or even a nod. But Gareth didn’t even glance his way.

Instead, he raised one hand in a slow, deliberate motion and gestured for me to follow him.

One silent command and my legs moved before I could think twice. I followed him, my every step echoing through the stunned silence of the club. His scent wrapped around my body like a second skin.

Behind me, the crowd murmured in disbelief.

“Wait, is she—?”

“No way... is she with him?”

“Did she really get Gareth Laken’s attention?”

Elliot’s friends were whispering among themselves, confused and intrigued. But Elliot was silent. His jaw was clenched tight, his eyes never leaving my figure as I walked behind Gareth. I glimpsed at his face and spotted his barely concealed jealousy.

The thought that I might be wanted by someone more powerful than him was visibly eating him alive. Good. I held my head up high.

Gareth didn’t speak until we were clear of the crowd and halfway down the hallway away from the private suites. The door shut behind us with a soft click, muffling the noise.

Then he turned to me. His expression was blank but I could feel the tension rolling off him in waves.

“Are you hurt?” he asked, voice low.

I shook my head slowly. “No. Not really.”

His gaze dropped briefly to the hickey on my collarbone, still visible just above the edge of my collar. Something flickered in his eyes, but he didn’t comment on it.

“Let’s go,” he said, walking toward the entrance.

“Where?”

He didn’t answer but I followed him anyway.

The car ride was way too quiet. I sat in the back seat beside Gareth, trying not to squirm. My outfit, the tight, short club uniform, still clung to me, and I felt very exposed.

I kept my hands in my lap, fidgeting with the hem of my skirt. I didn’t know where to look. Sitting this close to him in silence made my skin crawl.

I cleared my throat, forcing myself to speak. “Thanks... for stepping in earlier.”

Gareth didn’t look at me. He sat back, one arm resting along the top of the seat, the other on his knee, eyes focused on the window.

“I didn’t step in for you,” he said flatly. “You were disturbing my evening.”

The words hit harder than they should have. “Oh,” I said quietly.

I looked out the window, trying to mask the sting. Of course, he hadn’t come for me. Why would he? He had been in the VIP section, tucked away from the chaos, probably surrounded by beautiful women, the kind who didn’t have to work in clubs for money. The kind he was used to. I wasn’t stupid. A man like him didn’t spend his time rescuing girls like me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I didn’t mean to mess up your night. I’m sorry.”

He finally looked at me. “Apology accepted. But don’t think that means I approve of what you did.”

I frowned, heart beating faster. “What do you mean?”

“You knew Elliot would be there,” he said, voice cool. “You knew his friends would be there too. And still, you walked in, dressed like that, knowing exactly what it would provoke.”

“I needed the job,” I snapped, turning toward him. “I didn’t go there to get Elliot’s attention. I went to make money.”

“But you still got his attention, didn’t you?” Gareth said, his voice low and sharp. “You stirred up trouble, made a scene, and now half the club thinks you’ve climbed into my bed.”

I sucked in a breath, anger and shame mixing in my chest. “I didn’t ask for any of that.”

“You didn’t have to,” he replied. “Intentions don’t matter when the consequences are this loud.”

Then his tone shifted and became colder. “I don’t care who you argue with, Jasmine. But don’t cause problems for Elliot. And don’t drag my daughter into this mess. Isabella has nothing to do with what happened between you two, and I won’t let her get caught in the fallout.”

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