Episode two

Ethan was seriously in love with Maya and was not happy she kept putting him off. "She just wanted to be friends." He fumed inwardly. 

"I make good grades, am tall, handsome, and dress well." He thought as he admired himself in the large mirror screwed into his room wall. He was becoming obsessed with her, he wanted her for himself. 

Maya had been accepted by the three colleges she applied to and had chosen the one that had the best library and welfare. She was admitted on a partial scholarship and had to work hard so she doesn't lose it. 

Her roommates Mia and Deborah made things easier for her, their room was nice and spacious. Maya had already applied for a job waiting tables. She needed to earn some money so she could help pay her own part of the rent and expenses.

They were all good students and didn't party or live recklessly. Saturdays were spent mostly at the library but today was different, she had a date with Ethan. 

They hadn't seen each other for almost two years now but spoke on the phone frequently. He had called to ask her out on a date, he hadn't hesitated to add "as just friends." and she had gladly accepted. "I really look forward to seeing Ethan, we were best friends growing up." She told her friends.

Mia and Deborah, both giggled, and teased her "Just friends you say, and you have changed your dress for the umpteenth time, so unlike you." They laughed again as Maya blushed. "Do you have a picture of him." She went to her drawer and brought out a picture they both took together years back.

"He is so cute, I wonder how he looks now since you said you took this picture three years ago," Deborah said. "I want him, in case you still just want to be just friends with him."

Maya wondered too, she suddenly developed cold feet. She glanced at herself in the mirror and decided to apply some color to her face. 

"You look beautiful," Ethan said immediately when he saw her. She had insisted on meeting him at the restaurant. He loved what he saw, she had grown taller and added pounds in the right places. Her red hair was curly and loose, framing her pretty face and flowing over her shoulders and down her back. To him, she was the most charming girl he had ever met.

He stood and went over to draw out her seat for her. Maya noticed his taller frame and how his blond hair matched his blue eyes, he had developed some muscles and his jaw was perfectly shaved. She suddenly found herself attracted to him when his hands brushed her arm; she felt butterflies at the pit of her stomach. 

They both reminisced about the past, both found it easy to talk to one another. The date went perfectly well, they both had spaghetti with meatballs. After which they took a stroll. Maya enjoyed his company as she had always done in the past. 

Ethan was pleased about the date, he had seen her staring at him when she thought he wasn't watching her. It excited him to think that she found him attractive. He drove her back to her apartment and was disappointed when she didn't invite him in. They both agreed on a date in two weeks' time and he couldn't ask for more.

Back at her apartment,  her friends wanted all the details about her date. As she talked about it, she realized that she was actually excited about their next date not just as a friend but maybe more.

She was actually attracted to him. She looked over at her friends who were now sound asleep, they had grown inseparable over time. They were not among the popular kids in school, which was fine with them. All they wanted was to make good grades and get a good job. The circle of friends they kept was just enough for them, they didn't want the extra baggage that came with popularity. 

Deborah came from a broken home, her parents divorced when she was just five and she was sent to live with her grandmother. Her mother had since remarried a rich man who didn't want to have anything to do with her. Her father had died two years ago from cancer, the disease had eaten him up till he went into a coma and never woke up.

She missed her dad, at least he always checked up on her and sent money for her upkeep. Deborah wanted to be a Lawyer, "I want to use the platform to encourage families to think of divorce as the last option after trying everything else, Children are usually the victim of divorce." She told whoever cared to listen, whenever they asked her about her career choice.

Deborah had also started her own foundation for children from divorced homes. She wanted a platform that those kids can reach out to whenever they feel overwhelmed.

Mia, on the other hand, was an immigrant from China. Her great grandfather had left home for the American dream. They owned a Chinese restaurant which was very popular in New York, the business was started by their great grandfather and had been thriving ever since. 

Mia's Family expected her to help run the business but she had dreams of her own, she wanted to be a photographer to the annoyance of her family.

That's why she worked hard to get a scholarship and continued studying hard so she won't lose it. Over the years her family had seen her determination and also become aware that her skill can also help the restaurant. Mia was now given the opportunity to take good pictures of the restaurant and the food and post on their website. The business had taken a good leap ever since and her parents couldn't be more proud of her. 

It was dark when Ethan got home, he was over the moon on how his date with Maya went. He knew she was developing a soft spot for him and he intended to make her fall deeply in love with him. "Maya, you will be mine someday. I have loved you ever since I first laid my eyes on you." He said out loud, to his empty room. He laid on his bed and thought of her and how delicate and beautiful she had looked when she arrived at the restaurant. Sleep eluded him, he couldn't wait anymore, "stop this before you spoil everything, you have worked hard for." He thought.

He closed his eyes and envisioned her lips on his, he felt his manhood rise. He rose from his bed and went for his car keys, then dropped it back. Picking his phone, he called her because she had always known how to meet his needs. 

Char was over at his place in less than five minutes. He had already brought out the handcuffs and leather belt. He drew her to him and kissed her roughly drawing blood, then he knelt down backing her  "Hit me harder ma'am, I have sinned." The first stroke landed immediately giving him an abrupt election.

Char knew he liked it rough and the way he kissed her she knew she would go home with bruises when it was all over. But she needed the money to meet her growing needs, and Ethan paid her more than enough.