My VIP Ticket Turned Into Their Date

It would take Sylvie at least two hours to get here—in the middle of the desert—from the city. So, I declined her offer and forced myself to get up.

My legs were trembling, and my stomach was churning with acid.

It was also starting to get dark outside the medical tent.

A deafening roar of cheers erupted from the stage in the distance. My brother's band, Max and the Swans, was the last artist to perform at the festival, and they had just finished their last song.

The crowd soon surged toward the exits like a tidal wave.

I dragged my weak body over to the VIP exit. Every step was slow and excruciating. I'd only just stood at the exit for a while before seeing Cornell carrying Ellie out on his back.

She was holding a black tote bag in her hands, which was part of the official merchandise. It seemed as though Cornell had gotten it for her after all.

She was lying sprawled out on his back and smiling very happily. They were very close and intimate with each other.

"This bag is so nice, Corey. Thanks for buying it for me," she said coquettishly.

"There's no need to be shy with me," he replied affectionately.

I inhaled deeply and got in their way, stopping them.

The smile on Cornell's face fell as soon as he saw me. Instead, he began to frown.

"Marie Swanson! What do you think you're doing, blocking us like this! Are you trying to embarrass us? Can't you see that Ellie is hurt? Even a dog would know to get out of the way!"

I ignored his insults and just reached my hand out.

"The money for my VIP ticket. Don't you think it's time to pay up?" I asked coldly.

Ellie immediately stuck her head out from behind him and looked at me timidly.

"I'm sorry, Marie. I'll transfer the money to you at once. But I'm just an intern, and I only make 2,500 dollars a month. You're the one carrying a luxury bag. Surely you wouldn't want to take more money from me, would you?"

It sounded like she was apologizing, but she was actually subtly accusing me of being heartless and abusing my power.

I stared at her innocent face.

"I paid for these bags with the money I earned myself through countless overtime hours at the office. I did not just get it for free.

"The VIP ticket costs 2,000 collars. So, cash or bank transfer? I don't take IOUs."

Cornell immediately set Ellie down and blocked her from me.

"That's enough, Marie Swanson! How could you be so obsessed with money! What does 2,000 dollars even mean to you? Will driving an innocent woman to her wits' end make you happy?"

I stared at Cornell, the person whom I'd loved for three years, and suddenly realized that I didn't know anything about him at all. He was just like a stranger to me.

"She watched the performance. Why should I be the one paying for it? Did you think I was her Mommy or her Daddy?"

Cornell's face turned purple with anger.

"I'll pay you back on her behalf, then! Happy now? Ellie's foot is twisted, and she can't walk anymore, so I'm going to hail a cab to send her back! I don't have the time to be arguing with you here now!"

I sneered.

"You? Send her back? Then, what about me? My car keys are still inside your bag. Were you planning to make me fly back home or something?"

I was the one who drove us here today, and my car keys were zipped up in his backpack the entire time.

Cornell stiffened as if he'd only just recalled that.

He felt for the keys in his bag irritably and tossed them in my face.

"Drive home yourself, then! What's the big deal about this?"

I was still weak from the heatstroke, and I didn't manage to catch the keys. The car keys did a perfect arch in the air before landing in a patch of tall, messy grass.

"I just got heatstroke. I can't drive," I said calmly while looking at him.

However, Cornell just sneered disbelievingly at me.

"Sure, go ahead and continue with your act. Weren't you perfectly fine when you were demanding money from her just now?

"Let's go, Ellie. Ignore that crazy bitch."

He then flagged down a cab and carefully helped Ellie into the back seat. Ellie then stuck her head out of the back window and winked at me.

"If you really can't drive, Marie, I don't mind lending you my bus pass."