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CHAPTER THIRTY
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A deal with the playboy CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
ELLA'S POV "Ella, please tell me it wasn't you that told him!""Come on, you know I would never betray your trust like that!" I said earnestly. Shooting a glare at Trent, I added "If I wanted to tell anyone about this mess, the last person would be this arrogant jerk over here."Trent cleared his throat loudly. "Uh, said arrogant jerk is still standing right here, ladies."Susan and I both turned to him, exclaiming in unison "Shut up, Trent!"He held up his hands in mock surrender, a smirk still playing on his lips. "Sorry, but I gotta defend myself here too, did you really expect me to fork over a ton of cash without taking precautions to know what it's actually funding?"He gestured to himself arrogantly. "After all, it is my hard-earned money we're talking about."Susan sighed, a bitter edge to her voice. "This is exactly why I warned Ella not to get you involved! Now you know about my..." She trailed off, unable to bring herself to finish the sentence. "Look Susan, I know you're
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER THIRTY- TWO
ELLA'S POV"For the last time Trent, stop touching my things!"Trent was now sprawled across my bedroom floor, rummaging through my belongings. His mouth was smeared with the bright pink gloss I had carefully tried to manage while applying it this morning. God, what kind of stupid trouble had I gotten myself into? All because of the money I borrowed from him that ultimately changed nothing.He picked up another of my crop tops, stained fingers grasping at the fabric as he tried yet again to pull it on over his head. I grabbed it back before he could stretch the delicate material."You really need to stop pawing at my stuff, Trent!" I snapped, my voice going hoarse from yelling. He merely flashed an unapologetic grin my way. "And why the hell did you have to choose my bedroom out of all rooms to crash in. You couldn't stay with Liam or Connor instead? Or one of your new basketball buddies?"Trent flopped comfortably onto my pillows, head nestled cozily on Mr. Snuggles, my cherished ch
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER THIRTY- THREE
ELLA'S POVI quickly sprang towards my bedroom door as I heard the door creaking open, blocking it at the last second before she could enter. I wildly gestured behind my back for Trent to find somewhere - anywhere - to hide himself while I distracted her.Mom peered down at me, eyebrows raised. "Why are you looking so frazzled, Ella?" Her gaze traveled down, taking in my disheveled appearance. "And why can't I come in?"I plastered a smile on my face that probably looked more like a grimace. "Uh, no reason! I was just about to change and didn't want you walking in on me half naked!" I babbled, acutely aware of Trent scrambling to gather his scattered clothes behind me.Mom frowned. "You're acting very odd. Now move aside please." Before I could react, she gently pushed past me into the room. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for her shocked reaction at finding a shirtless guy in my bedroom.But surprisingly, there was no yell or gasp of outrage from my mom. I hesitantly cracked one eye
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER THIRTY- FOUR
ELLA'S POV"Mom, seriously? You must be joking," I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "You know how much I hate Trent.""Then who is the one who sent this?" she demanded, waving the letter in my face."No one you need to know about, mom. You've been questioning me all morning. Don't you think it's time for you to rest?"Mom sighed heavily. "Yes, I suppose I could use a rest now. Thanks to you." She glanced down at the toy in her hand and gave it a final caress before handing it back to me with a wink."Ew, mom!" I wrinkled my nose in disgust, quickly shoving the box away before ushering her out of my room. "Go sleep it off or something."Finally, some peace! I flopped onto my bed with a groan. That had been way too close of a call. I just hoped Trent was safely out of the house by now.But just as I was starting to relax, a sudden figure appeared at my front, making me jump with a shout."What the f--!"I turned to see none other than Trent himself standing there, still shirtless but one of my
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER THIRTY- FIVE
Ella's POVI couldn't focus at all during Mrs. Johnson's history lecture. My mind kept drifting back to last night - Trent's face so close to mine, his eyes locked on my lips, our bodies nearly pressed together as we almost...almost kissed. I stole sidelong glances at Trent sitting a few rows over. He was relaxed back in his chair, eyes half-lidded as usual like this history class bored him to tears. But as if sensing my gaze, the corner of his mouth twitched up in the faintest smirk.My cheeks flushed and I swiveled my head back to face the front with a jolt."Ella Thompson!"I startled at the sound of the teacher's sharp voice. Oops, busted for daydreaming again.Mrs. Johnson fixed me with a stern glare from the front of the room. "It seems you're more distracted during this lecture than usual, Miss Thompson. Perhaps you'd like to enlighten us all about Lord Nelson's victory at the Battle of Trafalgar?"Oh no. I felt all the eyes in the room shift to me. Nelson, Trafalgar...the nam
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER THIRTY- SIX
ELLA'S POVI forced a polite smile and pulled out myself out of Lucinda's embrace. "Uh, sure. No hard feelings," I managed, though my words rang hollow even to my own ears. "I wasn't really upset in the first place."Lucinda just grinned wider. Trent stepped forward, gently detaching Lucinda's clinging hands from around his waist. "Lucinda, I think you should head out now. Ella and I need to talk."I quickly held up a hand. "No, I should be the one leaving actually. Seems I'm the one who interrupted you two just now." I gestured at Lucinda's hands, who has now clung her hands again around Trent's waist.He stared at me intently and I met his gaze with a challenging glare, refusing to back down first. Why should I feel bothered by Trent getting cozy with his ex? It's not like he was actually my boyfriend.I spun sharply on my heel, not waiting for his response. Was this that awful green monster rearing its head that people talked about - jealousy? No, surely not. Trent was nothing more
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER THIRTY- SEVEN
TRENT'S POVI walked down the hall, mentally replaying that look on Ella's face when she saw Lucinda hugging me that day. There was definitely a spark of something in her eyes, maybe even a hint of...jealousy?I smirked to myself. That little firecracker had been giving me the cold shoulder ever since that day in the hallway. Was she really refusing to talk to me just because I made a few cheeky comments alluding to our near-kiss? As if that night hadn't been on both our minds.No, she was definitely steamed about seeing me with my ex. And who could blame her? I did make sure that little vixen knew every word I threw out in class was meant for her. Riling her up never failed to amuse me.I chuckled under my breath. If Ella had her way right now, she'd probably bury me ten feet underground. The thought only fueled my mischievous flames.As I entered the cafeteria, my gaze landed on the two girls immediately. Ella was sitting across from Susan, as usual attached at the hip with her best
A deal with the playboy CHAPTER THIRTY- EIGHT
ELLA'S POVI had just finished getting dressed for school when my phone beeped with an incoming message. I picked it up from the bed to see it was from Susan.Yay, I've gotten all the money together now!Shee was referring to the funds for paying off her blackmailer. He could try contacting Susan again any day now seeking his payment.I quickly typed back: That's great news! Though I still haven't been able to reach Trent...Susan's response came through: See, I knew we shouldn't trust him.I sighed, tapping back: Don't panic yet, let me try tracking him down today.I slipped the phone into my bag and headed downstairs. My mom was sitting at the dining table sipping coffee. I breezed past her without a word, still bothered by her lies."Ella?" She called out, making me pause. I reluctantly turned to face her."You've barely spoken two words to me since yesterday. Did I do something wrong?"I turned to leave, but she grasped my wrist, pulling me back around."Talk to me, Ella," she ple
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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
