I remained rooted to the spot, caught in a web of bewilderment. I had no idea what was going on."Come on, handsome. We're all adults here—no need to pretend," Michelle teased, leaning her back against the shoe cabinet. Her ample curves grazed my fingers, which remained tightly clasped around the waistband of my pants. I swallowed hard, feeling the sudden rush of warmth shooting through me, pooling low and unrelenting. Yet, in the midst of that primal urge to spring into action, a thin thread of rationality ensnared me, anchoring my feet firmly to the ground. I stammered, "I-I'm here to feed the dog. Its name is Mimi…"Michelle closed the gap between us, her fingers curling around my collar as she tugged me closer. Her sly smile deepened as she murmured, "I'm Mimi. Feeding Mimi means feeding me..."Her words lingered in the air as she subtly adjusted her slip, revealing an impossibly perfect bottom. She pressed against me, her movements igniting a fire within that had already
As the adrenaline rush subsided, a shard of lucidity pierced the haze of my thoughts. Before me stood a lavish abode, a realm far removed from the grasp of the ordinary man, and I couldn't help but notice the array of men's athletic shoes in the entryway. It was evident that a woman as alluring and adept as Michelle could hardly be unattached; there was no way she would ever be interested in a broke guy like me. Deep within, a voice clamored insistently, warning me that all was not as it appeared. I thought of recent news stories about scam victims, and reason reasserted its grip on my thoughts. I quickly stepped away from Michelle, putting some distance between us. "Don't go just yet," she said, her soft fingers grazing my cheek as her teasing smile widened. "Help me open this package first."Her perfume lingered in the air, weaving itself around us as she enveloped me in her embrace. Her body pressed against mine, rendering my thoughts a muddled haze. She possessed an exqu
As the tension in the air thickened, an incessant buzzing from my phone shattered the moment. I attempted to dismiss it, but the caller's relentless persistence was unwavering, refusing to hang up. I muttered a string of expletives, my reluctance palpable as I fished my phone from my pocket. When I realized it was multiple missed calls, voice notes, and messages from Amelia, my stomach churned. Panic seized me. I pushed Michelle aside, hastily pulled up my pants, and answered the call."Xavier, where are you?" Amelia's sharp voice pierced the air as soon as I answered the call. "I'm out having dinner with friends," I lied, trying to sound casual. Amelia sneered and asked sarcastically, "Aren't you having dinner with your other girlfriend at the hotel?"My heart plummeted, and a chill of perspiration beaded upon my brow. It required all the cunning I could muster to weave a tapestry of words that might persuade her to overlook the transgression. With the atmosphere utterly
Upon my arrival at work that fateful day, an unsettling air enveloped me. My coworkers huddled in muted discussion, casting furtive, critical glances in my direction as fragments of their discourse reached my ears like dissonant notes in a symphony. One commented, "I can't believe he's that kind of guy...""He has a girlfriend, yet he still goes around and...""People are not what they seem.""He's a scumbag," another added.Feeling uneasy, I forced a smile and asked, "Who are you guys talking about? Who is this scumbag?"However, they exchanged awkward glances before quickly laughing it off and burying their heads in their work, refusing to answer. Even the coworker who had covered for me earlier just smiled knowingly and said, "Way to go, Xavier!"Before I could figure out what was going on, Daniel called me into his office. He asked with what seemed like genuine concern, "How have you been feeling lately, Xavier?""I'm at my best, Mr. Woods. In fact, I have three proposals
The weight of my foolish decisions crushed me as I reflected on how my life had fallen apart. Since I was on forced leave with nothing else to lose, I decided to take matters into my own hands.I disguised myself and ventured once more into the opulent enclave, determined to get answers. Yet, my aspirations were swiftly thwarted by a security guard, citing the absence of an access card. Mason had given me an access card prior to my last assignment, but I had returned it. Still, I had my excuse ready. "I've been here—I'm the guy she hired online to walk and feed her dog."The security guard, Tim Landry, narrowed his eyes at me with obvious suspicion. "Dogs? I've never seen or heard of a dog in Unit 609."That confirmed what I had suspected. The last time I was there, not a single trace of canine presence had graced my senses—no barking echoed in the air, no leashes clinked, and no food bowls adorned the floor. "She does have a dog. Why would I lie about that?" I said, pulling out
However, something still felt off about the whole situation as I pieced everything together. The more I thought about it, the more questions arose.Firstly, Michelle was cheating on Reynold with her so-called boyfriend, Mason, and even rented a hotel room to do it. Given the shadows in which they operated, one would presume that they would exercise a heightened vigilance, particularly when it involved a third party. Nevertheless, they invited me to partake in their little game without a flicker of hesitation. I found myself pondering the curious absence of concern that I might later wield the knowledge I gleaned as a weapon of blackmail against them. Secondly, had they deemed it necessary to enlist someone, any unknown individual would have posed a far lesser threat. The decision to involve me—a mere cog laboring on a project for Reynold—was perplexing in its audacity. Thirdly, the photographs from the villa and the hotel were strikingly vivid, as if an unseen observer had been
After thinking it over, I decided Tim was my best shot at getting answers. Tim was reliable at work and took his security duties seriously. Yet, beneath this veneer of reliability lay a vulnerability—his penchant for drinking. Once Tim had a few beers, he would begin spilling everything he knew. During one drunken confession, he had mentioned how tight money was at home and rattled off more than a few stories about the clandestine lives of the residents in the gated community.After a few drinks at a local bar, Tim, his face flushed, agreed to help me. He saw my situation as a chance for both of us to gain something from it. If Michelle and Mason could cost me my job and my fiancée, getting a hundred grand in hush money did not seem unreasonable. After all, their money came easy enough, and I was not about to feel guilty taking it. I could tell that Mason could not last more than three seconds. While I was still hard, he was already limp, watching me and Michelle. So, Tim
The truth finally came out in its entirety. Michelle and Mason had been running their scheme for over a year, extorting hundreds of thousands of dollars from Reynold. While the money meant little to someone of Reynold's wealth, he had grown suspicious when Michelle's behavior changed dramatically in the bedroom. He could accept her asking for money, but the thought of her using his money to fund another man's lifestyle was unacceptable. It was an insult too great to ignore. When Michelle sensed Reynold's suspicions, she and Mason devised a plan to find a scapegoat. After all, she mused, where else could she secure a six-figure income by charming a wealthy older man?When I responded to that pet-sitting advertisement, I became their target. They figured I was presentable enough to be convincingly masquerade as Michelle's lover. After finding Amelia's social media account, they discovered our upcoming wedding plans and financial struggles. Their logic was simple—a man burdened
The truth finally came out in its entirety. Michelle and Mason had been running their scheme for over a year, extorting hundreds of thousands of dollars from Reynold. While the money meant little to someone of Reynold's wealth, he had grown suspicious when Michelle's behavior changed dramatically in the bedroom. He could accept her asking for money, but the thought of her using his money to fund another man's lifestyle was unacceptable. It was an insult too great to ignore. When Michelle sensed Reynold's suspicions, she and Mason devised a plan to find a scapegoat. After all, she mused, where else could she secure a six-figure income by charming a wealthy older man?When I responded to that pet-sitting advertisement, I became their target. They figured I was presentable enough to be convincingly masquerade as Michelle's lover. After finding Amelia's social media account, they discovered our upcoming wedding plans and financial struggles. Their logic was simple—a man burdened
After thinking it over, I decided Tim was my best shot at getting answers. Tim was reliable at work and took his security duties seriously. Yet, beneath this veneer of reliability lay a vulnerability—his penchant for drinking. Once Tim had a few beers, he would begin spilling everything he knew. During one drunken confession, he had mentioned how tight money was at home and rattled off more than a few stories about the clandestine lives of the residents in the gated community.After a few drinks at a local bar, Tim, his face flushed, agreed to help me. He saw my situation as a chance for both of us to gain something from it. If Michelle and Mason could cost me my job and my fiancée, getting a hundred grand in hush money did not seem unreasonable. After all, their money came easy enough, and I was not about to feel guilty taking it. I could tell that Mason could not last more than three seconds. While I was still hard, he was already limp, watching me and Michelle. So, Tim
However, something still felt off about the whole situation as I pieced everything together. The more I thought about it, the more questions arose.Firstly, Michelle was cheating on Reynold with her so-called boyfriend, Mason, and even rented a hotel room to do it. Given the shadows in which they operated, one would presume that they would exercise a heightened vigilance, particularly when it involved a third party. Nevertheless, they invited me to partake in their little game without a flicker of hesitation. I found myself pondering the curious absence of concern that I might later wield the knowledge I gleaned as a weapon of blackmail against them. Secondly, had they deemed it necessary to enlist someone, any unknown individual would have posed a far lesser threat. The decision to involve me—a mere cog laboring on a project for Reynold—was perplexing in its audacity. Thirdly, the photographs from the villa and the hotel were strikingly vivid, as if an unseen observer had been
The weight of my foolish decisions crushed me as I reflected on how my life had fallen apart. Since I was on forced leave with nothing else to lose, I decided to take matters into my own hands.I disguised myself and ventured once more into the opulent enclave, determined to get answers. Yet, my aspirations were swiftly thwarted by a security guard, citing the absence of an access card. Mason had given me an access card prior to my last assignment, but I had returned it. Still, I had my excuse ready. "I've been here—I'm the guy she hired online to walk and feed her dog."The security guard, Tim Landry, narrowed his eyes at me with obvious suspicion. "Dogs? I've never seen or heard of a dog in Unit 609."That confirmed what I had suspected. The last time I was there, not a single trace of canine presence had graced my senses—no barking echoed in the air, no leashes clinked, and no food bowls adorned the floor. "She does have a dog. Why would I lie about that?" I said, pulling out
Upon my arrival at work that fateful day, an unsettling air enveloped me. My coworkers huddled in muted discussion, casting furtive, critical glances in my direction as fragments of their discourse reached my ears like dissonant notes in a symphony. One commented, "I can't believe he's that kind of guy...""He has a girlfriend, yet he still goes around and...""People are not what they seem.""He's a scumbag," another added.Feeling uneasy, I forced a smile and asked, "Who are you guys talking about? Who is this scumbag?"However, they exchanged awkward glances before quickly laughing it off and burying their heads in their work, refusing to answer. Even the coworker who had covered for me earlier just smiled knowingly and said, "Way to go, Xavier!"Before I could figure out what was going on, Daniel called me into his office. He asked with what seemed like genuine concern, "How have you been feeling lately, Xavier?""I'm at my best, Mr. Woods. In fact, I have three proposals
As the tension in the air thickened, an incessant buzzing from my phone shattered the moment. I attempted to dismiss it, but the caller's relentless persistence was unwavering, refusing to hang up. I muttered a string of expletives, my reluctance palpable as I fished my phone from my pocket. When I realized it was multiple missed calls, voice notes, and messages from Amelia, my stomach churned. Panic seized me. I pushed Michelle aside, hastily pulled up my pants, and answered the call."Xavier, where are you?" Amelia's sharp voice pierced the air as soon as I answered the call. "I'm out having dinner with friends," I lied, trying to sound casual. Amelia sneered and asked sarcastically, "Aren't you having dinner with your other girlfriend at the hotel?"My heart plummeted, and a chill of perspiration beaded upon my brow. It required all the cunning I could muster to weave a tapestry of words that might persuade her to overlook the transgression. With the atmosphere utterly
As the adrenaline rush subsided, a shard of lucidity pierced the haze of my thoughts. Before me stood a lavish abode, a realm far removed from the grasp of the ordinary man, and I couldn't help but notice the array of men's athletic shoes in the entryway. It was evident that a woman as alluring and adept as Michelle could hardly be unattached; there was no way she would ever be interested in a broke guy like me. Deep within, a voice clamored insistently, warning me that all was not as it appeared. I thought of recent news stories about scam victims, and reason reasserted its grip on my thoughts. I quickly stepped away from Michelle, putting some distance between us. "Don't go just yet," she said, her soft fingers grazing my cheek as her teasing smile widened. "Help me open this package first."Her perfume lingered in the air, weaving itself around us as she enveloped me in her embrace. Her body pressed against mine, rendering my thoughts a muddled haze. She possessed an exqu
I remained rooted to the spot, caught in a web of bewilderment. I had no idea what was going on."Come on, handsome. We're all adults here—no need to pretend," Michelle teased, leaning her back against the shoe cabinet. Her ample curves grazed my fingers, which remained tightly clasped around the waistband of my pants. I swallowed hard, feeling the sudden rush of warmth shooting through me, pooling low and unrelenting. Yet, in the midst of that primal urge to spring into action, a thin thread of rationality ensnared me, anchoring my feet firmly to the ground. I stammered, "I-I'm here to feed the dog. Its name is Mimi…"Michelle closed the gap between us, her fingers curling around my collar as she tugged me closer. Her sly smile deepened as she murmured, "I'm Mimi. Feeding Mimi means feeding me..."Her words lingered in the air as she subtly adjusted her slip, revealing an impossibly perfect bottom. She pressed against me, her movements igniting a fire within that had already
My name was Xavier Zeller, and I worked as a freelance errand runner. My favorite gigs were pet-sitting, where I visited people's homes to feed their cats and dogs. That day, I accepted a job in the city's most prestigious neighborhood. The houses there were worth millions—the kind I could only dream of affording. Every car passing through the gates was either driven by a sleek, stunning woman or a high-powered executive.Using the key provided by the client, I unlocked the front door of the luxurious home. However, the moment I stepped inside, I was stunned by the scene before me.A stunning woman lay sprawled across the luxurious couch in the grand living room. She was positioned on her side, wearing nothing but a silk slip dress that clung to her curves—full where it needed to be and contoured in all the right places. She seemed like the very definition of perfection. The woman, Michelle Santos, appeared entirely oblivious to my existence. With her legs splayed and her head t