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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
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A deal with the playboy CHAPTER NINETEEN
ELLA'S POVI unloaded textbooks from my bag into my cluttered locker. As I placed a hefty calculus book on the top shelf, Trent's sports jacket that I had stuffed in the back tumbled out. I had forgotten it was still in there after he so rudely ditched me at tryouts.I shook out the wrinkled jacket and flung it over my shoulder . It had been almost a week and I haven't been able to get through to trent. His weird reaction after tryouts had left me completely confused. It was so unlike him. Trent was the one who asked me to wait for him, then he treated me like I was the most irritating pest afterwards!I had wasted my time going to his tryout when he clearly didn't even need me there at all.Slamming my locker door shut angrily, I suddenly heard a voice behind me. "Jeez, what's got you all riled up so early in the morning?"Whirling around, I saw Susan watching me with one eyebrow raised. "Oh uh, nothing! Nothing's wrong," I said quickly.Susan leaned in with a knowing look, loweri
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER TWENTY
ELLA'S POVThe fourth period bell rang loudly, jolting me from my distracted thoughts. Our plump biology teacher, Mrs. Lakin, gathered up her hefty textbooks with a huff. "Read chapter 7 and answer questions 1-15 for homework tonight!" she reminded everyone as the class sprang into motion.I eagerly shoved my notes into my backpack, more than ready for lunch period. I hadn't been able to concentrate at all with my stomach growling the whole lecture. Skipping breakfast this morning after also missing dinner last night while lost in a good book was catching up to me.By the time I looked up, Susan's seat was already vacant - no doubt she had hightailed it straight to the cafeteria. My stomach gave another loud gurgle and I pressed a hand to it with a wry smile. No way was I going to hunt Susan down right now just for company. Food had to come first before I passed out!But before I made it down the hall, none other than Amelia stepped into my path with her new friends."Oh hey Ella! Not
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER TWENTY - ONE
ELLA'S POVI felt my cheeks flush as all eyes turned to me. Trent's arm tightened around my waist, nearly knocking the wind out of me. I struggled not to wince."Fellas, meet my smoking hot princess," Trent announced, his arrogant grin plastered across his face.I resisted the strong urge to stomp on his foot, his usual cockiness tires me out. I gave a little wave to his friends, suddenly feeling self-conscious as they stared at me.Liam, Connor, and the other players broke into loud whoops and clapping. I looked down, heat creeping up my neck."To the newest couple in town!" Liam declared, raising a bottle of water. The rest of the guys clinked their bottles in a messy toast. Ugh, jocks. I plastered a coy smile across my face. "Oh stop it, you guys!" I giggled, doing my best to play the part of infatuated girlfriend. I gently removed Trent's arm from my waist and slid onto the bench across from him, smoothing my skirt underneath me."I see you're treating her well. In the place Dami
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER TWENTY- TWO
ELLA'S POVI grabbed her hand and pulled her from the office. We almost collided into a few lingering students in the hall. I didn't slow down until we were behind the gym, finally alone.I bent over, hands on my knees as I caught my breath. Once my heart rate returned to normal, I turned to Susan."Okay, you need to tell me everything," I said gently. "Who is blackmailing you? What exactly do they have over you? And what on earth did you do?"Susan wrapped her arms around herself, looking small. "I just can't, Ella! This is all too much. Please, it's better if you don't get involved. Just leave me alone to handle this."She turned to leave but I stepped forward, blocking her path. "Absolutely not! I'm not abandoning my best friend to meet up with some creepy blackmailer alone. Now talk to me, Susan!"Susan whirled around, eyes flashing. "Oh, so now I'm your best friend?" she scoffed bitterly. "Funny, I never felt like I still held that position lately."I jerked back as if I had been
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER TWENTY- THREE
TRENT'S POVDelete what? What did I just fucking see and hear. I decided to stay up late after school to get some extra practice in at the gym - hey, it beats having to go home and face the wrath of my dad, who just came home yesterday after another one of his "business trips."But why did I follow Ella when I spotted her ducking around corners like a wanna-be spy? Curiosity got the best of me I guess. Plus, it was kind of amusing seeing her attempt to sneak around all stealth-like. Girl needs some serious lessons in hiding though!Still, why didn't she immediately run over and help Susan after witnessing...whatever the hell that was with Mr. Blackmailer Dude? And what was with her filming the whole confrontation on her phone? Guess it's not really my business.Susan practically hates my guts ever and If given the chance I'm sure she would gladly feed me to a pack of hungry wolves without hesitation. Can't say I blame her after how I treated her best friend.Heading to my car in the p
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER TWENTY- FOUR
ELLA'S POVThe math test looms only four days away now. I've spent nearly every waking minute of the past weekend cramming formulas and equations - my college prospects are riding on this stupid test.Still, as worried as I am about quadratic functions or analytical geometry, prepping isn't even my biggest worry lately.I can't stop fretting over Susan going radio silent on me. She won't answer texts or calls ever since our blow-up argument. I know I majorly messed up, but the silent treatment is killing me.Even worse, I can't stop replaying Trent's bizarre panic attack on the road. The way he completely zoned out, yelling at invisible demons. Then next minute he seemed fine and brushed it off.It made zero sense...until Trent walked in this morning sporting fresh bruises and bandages on his arms that definitely hadn't been there last week. What was he hiding behind those green eyes? Why did he seem suddenly so...broken? And why the hell was I wasting brain space even worrying about
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER TWENTY- FIVE
ELLA'S POV"I'm afraid I didn't actually witness anything improper," I said evenly as all eyes turned to me. "Susan didn't seem to be doing anything concerning or strange from what I could see."Mrs comfort's mouth dropped wide open with shock, clearly she had been expecting something from me which I failed to say. But with all due respect ma, I can't spill what you want. Just forgive me."Well then Susan, what can you tell us about your appearance in the staff lounge that day."Principal Stevens turned his gaze to Susan who still couldn't meet anyone's eyes. "Why exactly were you present there?" he demanded sharply.Susan paled, clearly unsure how to respond. Thinking fast, I cut in."Actually sir, you didn't ask what I was doing in the staff lounge either. I was also present, remember?"Principal Stevens looked mildly surprised but nodded. "Very well, what was your purpose for being there, Miss Thompson?"I wracked my brain wildly. "Mrs. Lakin had asked me to drop off some stacks o
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER TWENTY- SIX
TRENT'S POV "Shit!" I shouted, kicking at the ground. The ball had bounced away from the hoop again - the fifth time I missed an easy shot.This damn thing wouldn't leave my head. Gnawing on my concentration and hijacking my mind at the worst possible times."Trent, my office now! Everyone else can head back," Coach called out.I trudged over as my teammates dispersed, seeing Damien flash me a sheepish half-smile before leaving. Coach waited with arms crossed as I entered his office. "What the hell was that out on the court?" "Sorry Coach, I was a bit distracted," I muttered, avoiding his fiery gaze."You really need to stop worrying about everything else if you want to continue being on my team," Coach said, his voice taking on an almost pleading tone now. "I know how talented you are, Trent. But how are you going to cope with these distractions?" "I'm sorry Coach.""Sorry isn't the issue - I need to see changes!" he barked.With a curt nod, I turned and left his office feeling l
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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
