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CHAPTER 163
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A deal with the playboy CHAPTER 164
ELLA'S POV I walked into the cafeteria, holding my tray of food and feeling like a million eyes were on me. Ugh, being famous was so not fun! Over the past few days, I'd become a total celebrity, both online and at school. But not the good kind of celebrity - more like the "everyone's gossiping about you" kind.They even gave me a new nickname: The Heartbreak Huntress. Okay, I'll admit it sounded kind of cool, like I was some fierce warrior princess. But still, it hurt that people thought I was out for revenge. If only they knew the truth!As I looked around for a place to sit, I saw people quickly turning away or covering empty seats with their bags. Meanies! It was like I had some gross, contagious disease or something.I sighed to myself. Why were they being so mean, even if I had sent that video (which I totally didn't!)? It's not like I'd committed some horrible crime. People can be so dramatic sometimes!Oh well, I thought. Who needs them anyway? I'd just go eat in my new spec
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER 165
TRENT'S POVAs I glanced at my phone, my eyes widened at the text from Mr. Matthews. "How about a meeting?" it read. My heart raced. I was excited and nervous at the same time.This was the first time he'd reached out since the day he'd forbidden me from meeting him.I sprinted to his office, my mind swirling with questions. When I entered, Mr. Matthews was standing there, a cup in his hand. He gestured for me to sit down, and I complied, perching on the edge of the seat.Mr. Matthews dropped the mug he was holding and immediately fixed his gaze on me. "I've been hearing some interesting things about your recent activities, Trent," he said, his voice low and measured.My throat went dry. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice coming out hoarser than I intended. A thousand possibilities raced through my mind."Your visit to Mr. Stewart in prison, for one. That was quite a bold move, wouldn't you say?"I felt a wave of relief wash over me. "Yes, it was," I admitted, meeting his eyes. "Bu
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER 166
TRENTS POVI took a deep breath as I stepped out of Mr. Matthews' car, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest. The moment my feet hit the pavement, it was like someone had flipped a switch.Suddenly, I was surrounded by a sea of reporters, their cameras flashing so brightly I could barely see straight. It felt like being caught in the middle of a lightning storm."Trent! Over here!" "Can you comment on the video?" "What's your relationship with your father now?"Their voices all blended together into a deafening roar. I tried to push through, keeping my head down and my mouth shut. No way was I giving them anything to twist into tomorrow's headlines.Just when I thought things couldn't get any more intense, I heard the unmistakable sound of tires screeching to a halt. My stomach dropped as I recognized my father's black car pulling up. I hadn't been home since that video hit the internet. The thought of facing my dad after everything that had come out... it made me want to turn
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER 167
TRENT'S POV "Thank you all for coming," I began, speaking slowly and clearly into the microphone. My voice echoed through the room, sounding far more confident than I felt. Go me! "I know there have been a lot of rumors flying around recently about me and my family. Well, today I'm here to set the record straight."I paused briefly, steeling myself for what came next. Come on, Trent. You can do this."It's true," I continued, the words feeling heavy on my tongue. "I was the one who leaked the medical records of my former teammate and friend, Jacksonville, a few months ago."The room erupted into chaos. Cameras flashed rapidly that made my head spin. Reporters began shouting questions over each other with their voices blending."I know that this was a breach of Jackson's privacy," I pressed on, raising my voice to be heard over the commotion. "And I'm deeply remorseful for my actions. However, I had my reasons, which I feel I must explain."The voices gradually died down,I could feel
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER 168
As Ella walked down the hallway, the now-familiar weight of dozens of stares pressed upon her. She kept her eyes focused straight ahead, refusing to acknowledge the whispers and pointed fingers that followed in her wake. Suddenly, a crumpled ball of paper sailed through the air, bouncing off her shoulder before clattering to the floor.Ella's fingers twitched at her sides, a fleeting urge to retaliate flashing through her mind. But she quashed it quickly, knowing that any reaction would only fuel the fire of gossip surrounding her. Instead, she continued walking as she formed an indifferent face.Out of nowhere, Amelia and Susan materialized at her side like guardian angels. Amelia's eyes flashed with anger as she scooped up the discarded paper. Without hesitation, she marched up to the culprit, a lanky girl with a shock of red hair."Hey, genius," Amelia growled. "If you're going to write nasty things, at least learn to spell 'heartbreaker' correctly. It's not 'hart braker,' you mo
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER 169
Susan and Amelia entered the cafeteria, trays laden with food. Their eyes immediately landed on Ella, sitting alone at their usual table. For a moment, they hesitated, a flicker of guilt passing over their faces. But they steeled themselves and looked away, heading towards Lucinda's table instead.Ella watched in disbelief as her friends passed by their table. Her fork clattered against her plate as she dropped it, mouth agape. What had she done to upset them this time? She wracked her brain, trying to recall any recent missteps.To Ella's surprise, Susan and Amelia made their way to the popular girls' table. Lucinda sat surrounded by her usual posse, including Valerie and Brittany. As Susan and Amelia approached, Lucinda's eyebrows shot up in surprise."Well, well, well," Lucinda drawled, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "What do we have here? Did you two get lost on your way to Loser Town?"The other girls at the table erupted into laughter. Valerie nearly choked on he
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER 170
Amelia and Susan huddled together in Amelia's bedroom, their eyes glued to the phone screen as they watched their plan unfold. Lucinda had taken the bait very easily."Look at her go," Susan whispered, her eyes wide with disbelief. "She's like a tornado tearing through our fake account."Amelia nodded, a mischievous glint in her eye. "I can't believe how well this is working."Lucinda's activity on the fake BTS fan account was nothing short of frenzied. She liked every single post with lightning speed, her comments appearing seconds after each new photo or video was uploaded. Her messages flooded the inbox, each one more desperate than the last, all proclaiming her undying devotion to the K-pop group.They had asked her once to post pictures of her room to prove her dedication. Within minutes, Lucinda had responded with a flurry of photos. Her room was a shrine to BTS, every inch covered in posters, albums, and merchandise. She had even rearranged her furniture to spell out "BTS" w
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER 171
ELLA'S POV I watched in shocked silence as the video played on the screen. My jaw dropped, mirroring the stunned expressions of the other students around me. Their eyes darted between the Lucinda on the screen and the real one sitting just a few tables away. So this explains everything - why Lucinda had Trent wrapped around her finger, and even Damien's involvement. It all made sense now, like puzzle pieces finally clicking into place.As the video ended, a hush fell over the cafeteria. You could've heard a pin drop in those few seconds of stunned silence. Then, like a dam breaking, voices erupted all around me."Oh my god, did you hear that?" a girl with bright blue hair gasped, nearly knocking over her lunch tray as she turned to her friend."I can't believe Lucinda would do something like that," another boy whispered, his eyes wide as saucers."So she's been the real bitch all along," someone else chimed in, their voice dripping with disgust.My heart squeezed as I heard a quiet
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A deal with the playboy EPILOGUE PART TWO - THE END
ELLA'S POV "Remember when Connor tried to ask out Jessica by serenading her in the cafeteria?" Liam grinned. "He sang so off-key, the lunch ladies thought a cat was dying in the kitchen!"We all burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the luxurious ballroom of the Grand Plaza Hotel. Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, casting a warm glow over our little group huddled around one of the many round tables. Large flat-screen TVs mounted on the walls played a slideshow of our high school memories.Connor's face turned beet red as he playfully shoved Liam. "Oh yeah? What about the time you accidentally set off the fire alarm trying to impress Dolly with your 'mad science skills'?"Dolly giggled, leaning into Liam's side. "I thought it was cute! Even if we did have to stand outside in the rain for an hour."I couldn't help but smile, taking a sip of my champagne. "God, we were such disasters back then. Remember the great cafeteria food fight of senior year?"Amelia snorted, nearl
A deal with the playboy EPILOGUE : PART ONE
FIVE YEARS LATERELLA'S POV The spotlight blazed down on me as I twirled across the stage, my body moving in perfect harmony with the music. As I neared the climax of my performance, I could feel the energy of the audience pulsing through the air.With one final leap, I landed in my ending pose, chest heaving and sweat on my skin. For a moment, there was silence. Then, like a dam bursting, the applause erupted. The sound washed over me that left me breathless.I straightened up, a wide smile spreading across my face as I took in the sea of faces before me. There, in the front row, sat some of the most respected names in dance. Critics, choreographers, fellow dancers - all on their feet, clapping and cheering.As I made my way off stage, I was immediately surrounded by a swarm of people. Hands reached out, voices called my name, all clamoring for a piece of my attention."Ella! Ella! Can I get your autograph?""Ms. Thompson, that performance was breathtaking!""Ella, when's your ne
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER 198
ELLA'S POV The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur. Before I knew it, we were all outside, the summer sun beating down on our black gowns. I stood apart from the crowd, watching as my classmates tossed their caps into the air, their laughter and cheers filling the courtyard.I looked down at my own cap, running my fingers over the tassel. Then, with a deep breath, I flung it skyward, watching as it spun through the air before disappearing into the sea of black and gold.As I searched the crowd for my cap, a familiar voice called out behind me. "Ella! We did it!"I turned to see Susan racing towards me, her gown billowing behind her like a superhero's cape. She crashed into me, wrapping me in a bone-crushing hug that nearly knocked us both over."Can you believe it? We're officially high school graduates!" Susan squealed, jumping up and down while still clinging to me.I couldn't help but laugh, her excitement infectious. "I know, it's crazy!"Amelia appeared at our side, her perfe
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER 197
ELLA'S POV The guest speaker's voice droned on, barely penetrating the fog of my thoughts. I shifted in my plastic chair, my graduation gown suddenly feeling too tight. My eyes wandered across the sea of black caps, finally landing on a familiar pair of figures.Ryan and Susan sat a few rows ahead, their heads tilted towards each other in quiet conversation. A small smile tugged at my lips as I watched Ryan's hand slip into Susan's, their fingers intertwining. Thank God they finally worked things out. As if sensing my gaze, Susan turned, her eyes meeting mine. Her face lit up with a warm smile, mouthing a silent "Thank you" in my direction.I nodded back, genuinely happy for them both. But as I turned away, a familiar discomfort bloomed in my stomach. It started as a dull ache, quickly escalating into a churning sensation that made me grip the edges of my seat. I swallowed hard, willing the nausea to subside.This wasn't the first time. For the past two weeks, these waves had becom
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER 196
ELLA'S POVThe summer sun beat down on us as we streamed out of the auditorium, a sea of black gowns and square caps. I squinted against the brightness, my hand instinctively reaching for Tom's. His fingers intertwined with mine, warm and comforting, yet not quite right.I forced a smile, trying to ignore the hollowness in my chest. "It's so awkward, right? Us being together like this."Tommy's eyes met mine. "We'll make it work, Ella. We have to."And we did, in a way. The past few months had been a whirlwind of pretending, of plastering on smiles and playing the part of the perfect couple. It was easier than facing the truth - that Trent was gone, possibly forever. The pity in people's eyes when they thought about 'poor Ella' was too much to bear. At least this way, I could pretend everything was normal.I'd thrown myself into the charade with a desperation that surprised even me. Late-night study sessions with Tommy, learning every detail of Trent's life. Practicing his mannerism
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER 195
ELLA'S POV I placed my trembling hand in his, still stunned by his sudden appearance. As he led me to the front, my mind raced with questions. The crowd parted like the Red Sea, their excited whispers creating a noise around us.We glided across the floor, and I couldn't help but stare at Trent. He moved with such grace, showing no signs of the injuries that had kept him hospitalized. Something felt off, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.As we stepped onto the stage, the spotlight bathed us in its warm glow. Trent's eyes sparkled with an intensity I'd never seen before. Just as we were about to begin our dance, he dropped his crutches. I gasped, instinctively reaching out to steady him.But he didn't falter. Instead, he swept me into his arms with a flourish, spinning me around as if he'd never been injured at all. The crowd erupted in cheers, but their excitement felt distant, muffled by the doubt growing in my mind.As we swayed to the music, I studied his face closely. T
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER 194
ELLA'S POVI stood before the mirror, my reflection staring back at me.The dress hugged my curves perfectly, its deep purple fabric shimmering in the light of my bedroom. My fingers traced the beadwork along the bodice, memories flooding back of the day Trent had bought it at the store."You're beautiful," I whispered to my reflection, trying to summon the confidence I once had. I smoothed out a non-existent wrinkle, remembering the day Lucinda had "accidentally" spilled punch on it at the couple's dance. It had taken three trips to the dry cleaner to remove the stain completely, but I didn't care. This dress was more than just fabric and thread; it was a symbol of everything Trent and I had been through.Let them stare, I thought defiantly. Let them whisper about how I'm wearing the same dress. This isn't about them. This is for Trent.As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I caught sight of Mr. Matthews in the living room. He was pacing back and forth, his fingers drumming nervo
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER 193
ELLA'S POV"Ella!" Susan's arms wrapped around me like a vice. "We've been worried sick about you!" Her voice cracked, and I felt her shoulders shake. "It's been like walking through a ghost town without you here."I hesitated for a moment before returning her embrace, burying my face in her shoulder. The warmth of human contact after so long in isolation nearly overwhelmed me.As Susan pulled back, I caught sight of Amelia hovering a few feet away. Our eyes met for a split second before she looked down, her fingers twisting the hem of her sweater. The pain across her face made my chest tighten.Susan followed my gaze, her voice dropping to a whisper. "She's been like that for days now, Ella. Ever since... well, you know." She bit her lip, clearly struggling to find the right words. "I think she blames herself for what her dad did. She won't talk about it, but I can see it eating her up inside."I took a deep breath, steeling myself. This wasn't going to be easy, but I couldn't bear t
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER 192
ELLA'S POVI opened my eyes to another gray morning, the sunlight struggling to penetrate the heavy curtains I'd drawn weeks ago. The silence in my room was deafening, broken only by the occasional ping of my phone - another message I'd ignore. Everything wasn't okay. It hadn't been for weeks.Trent was still in the hospital, and I was drowning in a sea of uncertainty. The worst part? I didn't even know how he was faring. Some ridiculous ban on visits had been imposed, cutting me off from the one person I desperately needed to see.I dragged myself out of bed, my feet hitting the cold floor. My reflection in the mirror was a stranger - hollow-eyed and pale. I barely recognized myself anymore.For the umpteenth time, I found myself outside the Donovan mansion, my fists pounding against the imposing iron gates. "Please!" I screamed, my voice hoarse from overuse. "I just need to know if he's okay!"My cries echoed in the empty driveway, met only by the rustling of leaves. As always, th
