DelilahI called Mandy to tell her I was up for the job. She was beyond ecstatic. Her eyes shone at the prospect of having me on her team, but this isn't something I plan on doing forever. I am just desperate for money at the moment.I wish I had shared the same enthusiasm, but it was already stressing me out.This is no ordinary party. It is a masquerade party thrown by one of the richest men in the city! I couldn't show up all willy-nelly wearing an ordinary dress. The last time I checked, exotic dancers had to show a lot more than just a little skin.What if I get some sleazy old men groping me? I won't be able to protest too much because I need the money. My father would probably prefer early death if he found out I was doing this."Stop worrying. Everything will be fine. You will look and feel like you belong there in no time," Mandy chirped."How do you know? What if I mess up? What if they don't think I'm sexy enough?" I countered."Girl, you worry too much. You are gorgeous wi
SebastianI have everything arranged according to my plans. I chose a Volto mask to wear at the party. It is decorated with beautiful lace and jeweled gold accents expertly placed on a white canvas. This mask is guaranteed to cover my entire face. I needed to take extra precautions as I couldn't risk someone recognizing me.I decided to complete my outfit with a black Tom Ford Tuxedo and a pair of lace-up Lou Vuitton dress shoes.I call Simon and make sure everything is in order for the party. Then I carefully chose each guest so the list would be exclusive and the party won't be overcrowded.I planned on revealing myself to Delilah right after the party so I decided to ask her out on a date. So she can see the poor version of me one last time before I reveal my true self to her.I called her and arranged a date with her. This time, I invited her to a semi-decent restaurant and dressed nicer than my usual outfit. I wanted to show her that even poor Jason or Sebastian is capable of tre
DelilahIt is the day of the Masquerade party, and I'm nervous. I have my outfit and my decorative mask ready to go. I chose a dark blue lacy half mask that matched my outfit. My long brown hair is curled and resting on my side."You look amazing!" Mandy gushed.I smiled."Well, since we are both singles, do you think we have a chance with the Stanley brothers?" Katie asked Mandy."Sure, why not? It doesn't hurt to try," Mandy laughed."Is that all you two think about?" I shake my head, but I secretly wish to meet one of the brothers too. Besides the fact, they were rich. They seemed like a mystery. The more I hear about them, the more intrigued I become.We finished getting ready and looked in the mirror. We all looked fabulous and ready to go. I had a weird feeling that something was going to go wrong for some reason, but I decided to ignore it.It's probably my nerves since I have never been to a party like this. And on top of that, I had to dance half-naked in front of strangers!
Sebastian I was frozen in shock at first when I saw Delilah on the stage. I watched her dance, so graceful and sensual. Beautiful. I didn't know she was capable of this, and it pleased me, so I decided to approach her after. I expected her to be friendly with me and she was, so I decided to test her a little and pulled my 'rich man gets what he wants' act. What I didn't expect was for her to say yes to meeting me. I watch her standing inside the gazebo, looking at the sky. The moonlight made her hair look shiny and made her skin glow. She is a vision in blue lace. I am mesmerized but, at the same time, disappointed. I had hoped she would change her mind at the last minute and not show up. I gave her the benefit of the doubt, thinking it was a temporary fluke. Delilah didn't mean to say yes to my proposal. She cared about the other version of me more. I told myself. Would she feel guilty? I wondered. I won't find out until I approach her, I realize. I take a deep breath and wal
SebastianI pause for Delilah's reaction after revealing my true self. No more disguise, no more lies. This is the real me in the flesh. Chicago's most eligible bachelor. Delilah's dream man, or should I say, her nightmare?Delilah looks like she has seen a ghost. She does not speak for a moment and just stares at me.I take a seat in front of her and wait for her to talk."Nothing to say, Delilah?" I asked. I am smiling mockingly as she caught me in a lie.Delilah finally snaps out of it, and her face twists into a frown. "Jason," she croaks out. "What is the meaning of this?""As you can see, I am not who you thought I was," I smirked."I don't understand," she said.I could tell she was struggling to stay calm."Why don't I re-introduce myself? I am Sebastian Stanley. Owner of the Silver Crest Hotels and resorts. Not the handyman Jason you were so embarrassed to be seen with," I announced.Delilah winced. "So everything you told me was a lie? You were never poor, and this was some
DelilahI storm out of the restaurant and hail a cab. I am fuming. I can't believe what just happened.Jason or Sebastian, whatever his name is, turned out to be the most twisted human being I have ever met. He is worse than my ex-boyfriend, who broke my heart. But at least he had the decency not to lie to me the whole time.Did Sebastian do all that just to sleep with me? But it didn't make any sense. Why would a rich, handsome man like Sebastian Stanley stoop this low to sleep with an average woman in the city? None of it makes sense.I didn't recognize the man back at the restaurant. He was so cold, arrogant, and cruel and nothing like the warm, funny, and kind Jason I have been spending time with.It is as if they are two different people. Sebastian Stanley is not the man I enjoyed spending my time with.I admit that I am no saint either. I lied too, and I did try to trap Sebastian for easy financial gain. But I was desperate, and at the time, it made sense to me.How could I know
SebastianI had a busy day. First, I went back to my office and took all the responsibilities off of Simon's hands. Simoon was eager to hand over the business as he was stressed about everything happening within the company."God, I am so glad you're done with your little experiment. I didn't know how much more I could take in this office," Simon exhaled."You do realize you have part ownership of this company, and if something happened to me, you are expected to take all the responsibilities," I grinned."I'd much rather not," Simon shakes his head. "And how was your experiment? Did you find your true love yet? What's happening with the woman you met?" He starts to laugh but stops as my face turns gloomy all of a sudden. "What's the matter?" Simon asked.I clear my throat. "It turned out she is just another shallow broad who is after my money. She betrayed my trust. Go figure," I said bitterly."So you told her the truth," Simon said. "Told you not to trust her." He shook his head."
DelilahI sigh in frustration.Everything is finalized. All the documents are signed. I am now officially under Sebastian's mercy.I feel like I made a huge mistake, as I can feel his hostility toward me. What if he made me do things that are meant to humiliate me? Would I be able to handle it? Only time will tell.I went to work in the bookstore as usual. I haven't heard from him since I signed the contract a couple of weeks ago, so that was a relief. Maybe Sebastian just wanted to scare her. Even though he seemed like a different person now, I couldn't imagine him doing things to make me miserable.On a Monday morning, I went to the store as usual but paused by the door as I saw an unfamiliar face behind the cash register."Hi, I'm Charlie," the young man in his twenties with light blond hair and blue eyes said."Um...hi, can I help you?" I was confused."Sorry. We haven't met yet. I was hired to work at the register by the owner. Today is my first day."I had no idea. But Sebastian
Emma It's my wedding day. I feel like I'm in a daze, floating in the cloud. I can't believe this is happening to me and I'm about to marry this amazing, gorgeous man of my dreams. Things can't get any better. I look at Sam, who is running around and giggling with some of the other kids in his house. He is wearing a tiny tuxedo and looks absolutely adorable. My heart swells with love and pride. I can't believe how fast he's grown up and how lucky I am to have him in my life. As I take a deep breath, I can feel the excitement and anticipation building up inside of me. I can't wait to walk down the aisle and see my husband-to-be waiting for me. "Sam, be careful! You will trip over the decorations!" Delilah scolded him, but he only giggled louder. Delilah couldn't help but crack a smile and look at me. "Ready for your big day?" she smirks. "I don't know," I giggle nervously. She raises an eyebrow. "You don't know? You're not getting cold feet, are you?" I shake my head frantically
Jonathan I go back to the building to check on Alaric. I made sure to have Ray send someone to kill the wasps ahead of time and give Alaric medical attention if needed before my arrival. Alaric is sitting on the chair with his face and body swollen, but he appears to be breathing. "I see you survived the wasps," I comment. "Fuck you," Alaric mumbles. "I came here to give you good news and bad news," I say. He looks at me with confusion. "What?" "The good news is that Emma and I are getting married, and Sam will officially become my son," I say. "Samuel is my son," Alaric barks. "Not anymore, he isn't. You will be waiving all rights as his biological dad," I say, putting the adoption paper on his lap. Alaric glares at me as he looks at the adoption paper. He doesn't say anything for a few moments. I watch as his expression turns angrier. "I don't want to give up my rights," he says. "It's not up to you anymore," I reply. "I've already talked to my lawyer, and everything is
JonathanHere I am at the abandoned building again, three days later. I kept my promise to Alaric and didn't show up until now, leaving him in the dark. I'm sure he is covered in his own piss and starving. The thought gives me comfort. "How was life in darkness, Alaric? It's not fun, is it?" I ask after taking the tape off of his mouth. There is no window down there, so Alaric wouldn't have known the difference between day and night. "Fuck you, asshole! What the fuck is wrong with you, man?" Alaric barks. "I couldn't begin to tell you. Are you ready to confess yet?" I laugh. "Confess what? I didn't do anything!" Alaric shouts. "Ah, so we are still playing the game. Say, Alaric, are you hungry?" I ask and shake the Mcdonald's bag in my hand. "I am fucking starving, man. You left me here tied up for three days!" he says as if I don't know what I did already. I take the burger out and take a big bite. "Mmm...you know I have all the money in the world, and I can afford expensive f
Jonathan "Emma doesn't want the police involved," Sebastian says. "I see..." I say grimly, but I'm not surprised. "I don't blame her. They will ask her a lot of questions in court. It'll keep reminding her of her painful past." Sebastian nods. "There must be an alternative. I want that bastard Alaric to suffer, even if it's in an unconventional way." "Leave that to me. I'll take care of Alaric," I say with gritted teeth. Sebastian narrows his eyes. "Emma is my sister. I shouldn't put this all on you." I shake my head. "You don't understand, Sebastian. I'm taking this personally because I love Emma. She broke down in front of me and told me everything. I could see the pain in her eyes, and it broke me. I'll do anything for her, and I personally want to cause that piece of shit pain." "Alright. Just keep me updated. I have your back," Sebastian says. I nod, then head over to my meeting with someone really special who can help me with my plan. I know it's risky, but I'm willing t
Emma "Mommy! Where were you?" I smile as Sam runs toward me with his arms wide open. I pick him up in my arms, laughing. "Did you miss me?" I ask, giving him a kiss on the cheek. Sam nods his head enthusiastically, burying his face in my shoulder. "Yes, mommy! I missed you so much!" he says, his voice muffled by my shirt. I hold him tight, feeling a surge of love for my little boy. "I missed you too, baby," I say, stroking his hair. "What did you do while I was gone?" "We played cars and watched cartoons!" he exclaims, his face lighting up. "That sounds like fun," I say, smiling. "Did you eat your lunch?" "Yes, I did!" Sam replies, grinning up at me. "Good job!" I say, giving him another kiss. "I'm so proud of you." Sam giggles, squirming in my arms. "Mommy put me down! I want to go get a snack. I'm hungry!" "Okay, okay," I say, lowering him to the ground. "Go get something to eat." I say, feeling my eyes well up with tears. I hope his happiness lasts forever. Sam looks be
Jonathan I feel anger surging through me, but I keep calm for Emma's sake. I need to keep my head clear so I can think of a plan to find that bastard Alaric. And when I do, I will rip both of his arms off. "What happened to him?" I had asked her, and she shook her head. "I don't know. He broke up with my mom after I got pregnant. Maybe he got scared," Emma told me. "And your mom? Did you ever tell her any of this?" I ask. Emma looks down at her hand. "I tried once, but she got mad and beat me. She said I was just making up lies to hide the fact that I got pregnant by some loser." I take a deep breath and try to push down the rage that's boiling inside me. Emma has been through enough already, and I need to stay focused on helping her. I gently put my hand on her shoulder and give her a reassuring squeeze. "Listen, Emma. You did nothing wrong. Alaric is the one who should be ashamed of himself for what he did to you. And your mom... well, she clearly didn't handle the situati
Emma I wake up in his arms in the middle of the night, engulfed by his warmth. I feel his steady breath against my neck as I snuggle closer to him, appreciating the way his arms feel wrapped around me. It is as if I am cocooned in a bubble of safety. I trace my fingers over his chest, feeling the rise and fall of his breathing under my touch. It is a comforting rhythm. Why am I like this? Everything was perfect last night, he did everything right. He didn't push me into anything and showered me with warmth. And yet, I had my stupid panic attack and messed everything up. I touch his lips softly, careful not to wake him up. I can't believe I let my past get the best of me. I ruined the moment even though I wanted him to make love to me. I have to make things right, I think to myself, then climb on top of him to kiss him all over his body. And now he is awake, staring at me with those blue eyes, making me feel even more guilty about rejecting him last night. "Emma. You don't ha
Jonathan Fuck...maybe I am going too fast. The last thing I want is to scare her again by acting like a horny teenager. But she is not pushing me away. Instead, she took my hand in hers, still staring into my eyes. I take a deep breath, trying to calm the racing thoughts in my head. I don't want to mess this up. I don't want to push her away or make her feel uncomfortable. The cool breeze hit us both, and I felt her shudder against my arms. "Shit, you're cold. Let's get you inside," I say. "Maybe you can give me a tour of your house." She smiles. "Sure," I say, smiling at her. "I'd be happy to show you around." I start with the living room, then the kitchen. Then we move upstairs. "The upstairs has three bedrooms and a small terrace," I tell her. Emma looks around in amazement. "It's such a beautiful house." she pauses before speaking again. "Where do you sleep?" "Usually in the master bedroom," I say, gesturing towards the door at the end of the hallway. "Can I see it?" sh
Emma I run my fingers over the delicate silk of the dress. I've never seen any dress so beautiful, let alone wearing it. "Go ahead and try it on," Delilah says and smiles encouragingly. But as I hold it in front of me in front of the mirror, I feel weird. "I don't know if this will suit me," I say. "Of course, it will. Put it on immediately," Delilah orders. I laugh at her enthusiasm and then go inside the bathroom to change. I slip into the dress, and I can feel the smooth, silky fabric slide against my skin. It's like nothing I've ever worn before, and I can't help but feel a bit nervous. Will I be able to pull it off? I take a deep breath and step out of the bathroom and into the dressing room. Delilah's eyes light up when she sees me. "Oh my goodness, you look stunning!" she exclaims. "That dress was made for you." I turn to the mirror and can hardly believe what I see. The dress fits me perfectly, hugging my curves in all the right places. The color brings out the warm