You think you know what's going on, but trust me, you don't. Keep turning the pages to find out!😉😉
Selena’s POV "Hailey! Hails!" I yelled out her name as soon as I arrived at the apartment, the sound echoing off the walls. I couldn't keep all these new findings to myself; I had to share the news with her. The smell of rotten food filled my nostrils, but my mind wasn't on that – it was on Justin and Bella.She sprinted out of her bedroom, her hair tied in a messy bun, her eyes squinting slightly from the bright living room lights. "Hey, what's up? Are you okay?" she asked, looking a little worried, her brow furrowed."I'm not," I muttered, collapsing onto the couch, the worn-out cushions enveloping me. I ran my hands through my hair, feeling the tension in my scalp. "Bella's here – Justin's Bella," I clarified, the words tasting bitter on my tongue.Hailey's eyes widened, her gaze locked on mine. "Bella? As in, THE Bella? The same one who was all over the blogs with Justin for a significant period?" Her voice was filled with concern.I nodded, as a wave of frustration washed over m
Justin’s POVSelena stared at me for a few minutes before pulling away from my hold. “I don’t have time for this, not now Justin” she muttered. “I have to leave. Hailey’s waiting.” Then she sprinted towards the emergency exit, discarding the elevator and leaving me standing alone in front of my office. She was still mad from what had happened a while back. All I did was, pick Bella up from the airport like I promised my mom. Explaining that to her felt like a far stretch. I didn’t think there was any need for that. Especially as she was doing everything within her power to avoid me. I had no idea Bella was going to ask for us to get back together.The next morning, I sat at my desk, reflecting on the events from the previous day. My phone’s shrill ring cut through the silence of my office, making me wince. Dad. My stomach twisted into a knot as I hesitated. I almost let it go to voicemail, but the old man was relentless. He’d keep calling. A fact of life I’d learned to accept.“W
Selena’s POVThe stale office coffee smell was extra strong today, and Brenda, you know, the office gossip, leaned in, eyes wide. "Did you hear?" she whispered."Bella's trying to move in with Justin." My hand paused over the coffee machine, the heat emanating from it barely noticeable."Move in?" I asked, barely loud enough to hear myself. Brenda nodded, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Yeah, she's not just looking at apartments in one of his buildings. She's looking for one in the very building where he has his favorite penthouse. The one he stays mostly,” she said. Of course, I knew the penthouse she was referring to. It’s the very one I stayed in after my kidnapping. “People are saying they're going to get back together any minute now." She added, seeming excited about the news. I tried to smile like I didn't care, but my cheeks felt tight. "That's... something," I said, and then walked back to my seat.But that news? It was like a gross, sticky shadow that followed me
Selena’s POV"Move in?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Like, you want me to live with you? Not stay for a few days?"Justin's eyes were intense. "Yeah," he said, his voice low. "Look, I know it's kinda out of nowhere, but I need you close. I need to know you're safe, okay? I wasn’t really comfortable with the way you left,” he added.Safe. That word felt… distant. Like I was a responsibility, not a person. "And what about Bella?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. "What's going on with her?"He frowned. "Bella's… complicated," he admitted, which was a massive understatement. "We're not getting back together, though. If that's what you’re worried about." He declared."Well I’m not exactly worried about that," I said, looking away. That was a lie. I was completely worried, I hated how much this was affecting me. "You two have been inseparable nowadays, that’s all everyone talks about now. You are always having these private chats, and she’s practically a permanent fix
Selena's POVMy brain was doing that weird record-scratch thing. Bella's voice... It was the same. How? Why? I stumbled back to my desk, my hands shaking. I needed to tell someone, but I also needed to be very sure before doing that. I sat down in silence, replaying her voice over and over again. I couldn't wait to tell Hailey about my findings so we could do our little detective work.I texted her: "SOS. Don't run home after work. Wait for me at the parking lot. A lot to download."By the close of work, Hailey was already waiting for me in front of my car. The car Justin got me, rather. Her hands were akimbo."What's up?" she inquired. "You sounded urgent," she continued. "What's the drama about?""Bella," I whispered, my voice trembling. "Her voice... I've heard it before. But I'm not very certain."Hailey's eyes squinted. "Of course, you have, Selena. She's a socialite and she's popular. Everyone has heard her voice; there's nothing special about that.""That's not what I mean, th
Justin's POVMy hand closed around her arm, a reflex born of desperation. I wasn't entirely sure why I did it. Maybe it was a desperate need to talk or a desire to stop her from disappearing again. I hadn't managed to have a proper conversation with her all night. She was like a ghost, flitting around the edges of the room, always just out of reach."And where do you think you're going?" I asked, my voice a little rougher than I intended.Her eyes, those wide, expressive eyes, flashed with a mix of surprise and fear. That wasn't what I had intended. I didn't mean to scare her."Justin?" she breathed, her voice barely a whisper. "You scared me.""Sorry," I muttered, releasing her arm. "I didn't mean to. I just... we haven't talked all night."Hailey gave us a knowing look. "I'll wait in the car," she said, her voice tinged with a playful smirk. "Don't take too long, Selena. I'm not going to sit alone in that fancy car all night long."She disappeared through the double doors, leaving
Selena's POVAs I tucked the check into my purse, my fingers trembled. A hundred grand. Just like that. It felt surreal. Justin's words echoed in my ears: "You can pay me back whenever it's convenient." He was trying to be nice, I knew, but it just made the whole situation feel even more tangled.I didn't want his charity, his pity, or whatever this was. I needed this money, and I needed to keep my distance from him. The weight of my student loans and the unexpected bills piling up was suffocating me. I was exhausted; I just wanted to go home, lock the door, and disappear for a while.Hailey was waiting for me in the parking lot, her eyes filled with questions I wasn't ready to answer."Everything okay?" she asked, her voice laced with concern."Yeah, just tired," I mumbled, forcing a weak smile.The drive home was quiet, the tension between us palpable. Hailey didn't push, sensing my mood. When we finally reached our apartment, I collapsed onto the couch, my head spinning.Hailey sat
Selena’s POVMy phone buzzed a high-pitched ring that sliced through the quiet of the apartment. I glanced at the screen, and my stomach twisted into a knot. Mom. A name that usually brought a mix of guilt and a dull, familiar ache. Why was she calling?"Hello?" I answered, my voice strained."Selena, it's your mother. How are you doing?" the voice chirped a forced cheeriness that grated on my nerves."It's my birthday tomorrow, and... well, we're having a little celebration. I was hoping you could come." She never used to invite me to these things."You're inviting me? Seriously?" I asked, my skepticism evident."Don't act too surprised, Selena. It's a family thing," she said, the cheeriness faltering slightly. "With everything that's been going on with you, I thought you needed a breather."A breather? Really? Like she cared. I glanced at the cluttered papers on my desk. The gala was in a few days, and I had a lot to do. Going to a party where I wouldn't feel welcomed wasn't exactly
Selena's POVThe image of Justin, shirtless, Bella’s lipstick stains on his chest, burned behind my eyelids. He’d stormed into my apartment, a raging fire of accusations, only to be entangled with Bella moments later. Was his anger just a performance? A way to justify crawling back to her so easily? A bitter taste rose in my throat. Every time I let myself get close to him, my heart ended up shattered on the cold, hard floor. I had to stop this cycle.I ran each footfall in a desperate attempt to outpace the suffocating weight in my chest. As soon as I stumbled into the car, I choked out, "Drive. Now." But the need to escape wasn't just physical.Minutes into the ride, the city lights blurring into streaks of meaningless color, a wave of nausea washed over me. "Please stop the car," I mumbled, my voice barely a whisper. I was trying so hard to stop the tears from falling.Michael’s gaze flickered in the rearview mirror, his brow furrowed with concern. "Stop the car," I practically
Justin's POVI scrubbed at my eyes with the heel of my hand. Was I hallucinating? But the image was seared into my mind: Zayn had handed over a damn gift basket to be delivered to Selena and she had accepted. She wouldn’t even accept a penny from me. How long had this been going on? Had their connection never truly severed after that mess a while back? He’d practically vanished after locking eyes with me, like a guilty rat scurrying into the shadows. Every shade of red imaginable seemed to explode behind my eyelids. My instinct screamed to chase him, to ask why the heck he was delivering gifts to her. Instead, I fumbled for my phone, Jaden’s number a desperate lifeline. He was the only one who could possibly talk me down from doing something I’d regret.“Hey man,” Jaden’s voice, calm and steady, answered on the first ring.“You would not believe what I just saw,” I growled, my nostrils flaring with each ragged breath.“What happened, Justin?” Jaden asked, a note of wary curiosity
Selena’s POV"You're invited to my housewarming." I read the note aloud, the words dripping with a forced cheerfulness that sent a shiver down my spine."Who the heck sends a mystery basket with a housewarming invitation?" I asked, closing the door with a sharp click and turning to Hailey, the basket feeling heavy and ominous in my hands.She practically teleported from the dining table, her footsteps quick and sharp against the tile floor as she yanked the basket from my hands. "How did they even know your favorite cookies and chocolates?" she mumbled, her fingers digging through the basket's contents, the rustling of cellophane and the faint, overly sweet scent of vanilla filling the air."The other day it was flowers, today it's goodies. I had no idea someone had even moved into this neighborhood," I hissed, eyeing the basket with suspicion. The brightly colored candies and perfectly arranged cookies felt like a taunt, a silent, unsettling message."I guess our secret admirers ar
Justin’s POVThe darkness of my bedroom felt heavy, like a suffocating blanket. I lay there, eyes wide, the day's events replaying in my mind like a broken record, the same scene looping over and over. Helping Selena with the eviction… should have been a relief, a weight lifted. Instead, it stirred a restless energy within me, a burning need to make her life better, to smooth out the rough edges,… without getting too close. Too close meant danger, a constant, gnawing fear, but not forever. I'd deal with the looming issue, and then I'd ask her out. My feelings for her were a force, a driving need, and I was determined to make her life better, to give her the peace she deserved.Then, the idea struck me, a sharp, clear solution. An interior design competition. Prestigious, high-profile. A platform to showcase her undeniable talent, and a substantial financial reward – a prize she would win, I knew it. Selena was a rockstar in the event planning world, a force of nature when she set
Selena's POV"Why is Zayn texting me?" Hailey asked, her brows furrowed, her voice laced with a mix of confusion and annoyance.I was a bit shocked. I hadn't realized Zayn had Hailey's number, and after our last encounter a while back, I hadn't expected to hear from him again."What does the text say?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.Hailey held up her phone, the screen glowing with the message. "Something about us being 'neighbors soon.' What the heck does that even mean?" she muttered, her voice laced with a hint of disgust.“Let me see.” I snatched the phone from her, my eyes scanning the cryptic message. "Eww, that’s creepy?" I squinted at the screen, the words blurring slightly. "I don't have time for any Zayn drama, Hails. Justin already warned him to stay away from me. I'm going to bed.""What about me then?" Hailey mock-yelled behind me, her voice laced with a playful panic. "Is he going to come after me?" She squealed, trying to stifle a laugh. "I'm blocking his ass right no
Selena's POV"You don't have to move anymore," Justin said, his voice a low rumble that seemed to vibrate through the air, his gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that made my skin prickle. "This apartment... it's no longer up for eviction."My brain got stuck, like an engine trying to start on a cold morning. First, what was this man doing in my apartment, looking impossibly handsome and smelling faintly of that expensive cologne that always did weird things to my pulse? And with Hailey, no less! I shot her a look that screamed, ‘You better have a damn good explanation for this,’ my eyes narrowed with suspicion."What do you mean, 'not up for eviction' anymore?" I finally managed to ask, my voice a shaky mix of confusion and disbelief. After we'd received the notice; there hadn't been any follow-up, no counter-notice, nothing to suggest a sudden reversal.Justin shifted slightly, the leather of his expensive jacket creaking softly. An unsettling smile touched his lips, a smile
Justin's POV"Alright, gentlemen, let's cut to the chase," I snapped, my voice sharp and decisive, cutting through the static of the conference call. "We're not here to dance around figures. We're here to close this deal." The air in my study was thick with the tension of high stakes and negotiations. "I'm prepared to offer a premium, a significant one, but I need assurances. I need to know we can streamline the integration process, no delays." The stakeholders on the other end of the line shuffled papers, their voices a low hum of agreement. "Good. Then let's finalize the terms. My lawyers will send over the paperwork by EOD."The call ended with a collective sigh of relief, the tension dissipating like smoke. I was determined to acquire this tech company. It was a matter of principle, really. After I lost out on buying out Patel’s father's company because I had to be sure Selena was safe, I wasn't about to let another opportunity slip through my fingers. Especially not one Pat
Selena’s POV"Selena," Hailey practically shouted, her voice strained with a mix of disbelief and anger. "Want to take a wild guess what lovely 'gift' they plastered on our door?"I blinked slowly, my eyes still adjusting to the morning light. "Maybe... a flyer for a cat pageant?" I teased, trying for a light tone, but Hailey's face was a shade of crimson I'd only seen when she was about to explode."We've been served," she mumbled, her voice low and dangerous. "An eviction notice. We have a few days to get out.""Huh?" I choked out, my brain struggling to process the words. "But... how? We're not even late on rent."Hailey ran a hand through her hair. The movement is a bit frantic. "I really have to get to work," she mumbled, her eyes darting towards the clock."We'll talk about this later." And for the second time that morning, she was gone, slamming the door behind her with a force that rattled the walls.I walked to the door, my bare feet padding softly against the cold tile, and
Selena's POVHailey’s eyes widened, and she let out a sharp, almost panicked breath before yanking the phone away, her movements swift. “Nosy much,” she mumbled whilst trying to force an unconvincing smile.“Hails,” I whispered, trying to process what was going on, my eyes twitching slightly. “Is there something I should know that you’re not telling me?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.Hailey shifted her weight from one foot to another but still remained silent. “Hailey Claire Thompson,” I called out her full government name, my voice a bit louder this time. “Who texted you and what are you supposed to tell me that you haven’t?”“How are you sure you’re the one being referred to in the message?” she asked, her eyes scanning the entire room but my face."Don't play dumb," I said, my voice hardening. "You snatched the phone away like it was a live grenade. And you're acting weird. Really weird."She sighed a long, drawn-out sound that did nothing to ease the tension. "It's… it's a bit