DelilahI decided to meet with my friend Ellis so I could share all the juicy details with her. Well, not all of the details. I decided to hide the fact that I slept with Jason on our first date.It isn't like Ellis was super judgmental or a prude, but some things are best kept as secrets. And this was my dirty little secret."So? How was your date?" Ellis inquired. "Tell me everything.""He is extremely handsome and charming. But also very cheap. He took me on a date to the drive-in theater, for Christ's sake. And his car, oh my god," I laughed. "It was so run down and gross. And guess what! It broke down right after the date was over, and we had to walk in the rain. Can you believe that? To think I wore my nicest dress to this disaster of a date.""Oh, stop being snooty and give him a chance. I know I told you to date a rich guy and all, but let's face it. You need someone in your life. Like badly. Ever since your loser boyfriend cheated on you, you've been depressed," Ellis comment
Delilah I look at myself in the mirror and do a little spin. I wore a black bodycon dress with spaghetti straps. It wasn't a fancy party, but Ellis wanted me to dress up. She said I should dress to catch people's eyes in case things don't work out with Jason. I rolled my eyes at that but ended up dressing up anyway. My heart almost leaped out of my chest when I heard the doorbell. Jason is here. I pictured him wearing something simple again because I was under the impression that Jason didn't care too much about dressing up. I opened the door and was surprised to see him. He actually bothered to dress up this time! He is wearing a black button-up shirt with jeans. His shirt was neatly ironed, and he even put on black dress shoes to match. Not like the mismatched clothes he threw on together for our first date. His dark hair is slicked back. His green eyes twinkled under the moonlight as he smiled at me. He is unrealistically handsome, I thought. "You look gorgeous, Delilah," hi
SebastianThe next day, my phone rings in the morning, waking me up.I immediately pick up after I realize it was Simon calling. I told him not to call me on my new number unless it was a dire emergency, so if Simon was calling, something must be wrong."What's the matter?" I asked immediately after picking up the phone."We have a problem," Simon said. He sounds grim."What is it?" I asked impatiently."It appears we have a spy among us," Simon said."A spy?" I crease my forehead. I have been gone for less than a week, and people are already trying to betray me?"Yes. We are guessing it's a corporate spy. A lot of the confidential information regarding our company was leaked. The ad we were about to put out for the hotels was stolen, and now I see one of our rivals has an ad that looks eerily similar to ours. We can't prove it was our idea since we never went public with it," Simon said irritably.Fuck...this isn't good, I thought. I should be there keeping an eye out for things."An
Delilah"I hate you for this," I said. I have been pouting all day because we almost got caught having sex."You seemed like you enjoyed it earlier," Jason chuckled."Do you have any idea what would've happened if Mrs. Steinbeck saw us? If her friend didn't show up right then and started a conversation, she would've seen us, and we would've been in so much trouble," I scolded him. It seems that he isn't taking this seriously at all!Jason picks up a lock of my hair and runs his finger through it. "But we didn't get caught, and you can't deny it. You enjoy having wild sex with me," he grinned.I couldn't protest. He isn't wrong. I have never done this before and never felt like this with anyone else. Before I met Jason, I couldn't imagine having sex in my bookstore with people coming and going. He brought out the wild side of me. A side I didn't know I had."Well...I'm still mad at you. You shouldn't have provoked me," I said."I apologize. Will you forgive me this once?" Jason smirked
Sebastian"A grand opening party?"I questioned Simon, who called me again to talk about what uncle told him at the family meeting I was able to dodge."Yes, the new hotel we opened in the city never had an official grand opening party, so uncle wants us to throw one. One of those exclusive, hush-hush parties for the elite crowd," Simon said.Typical."I am not sure if it's necessary," I cough nervously. I don't want to make a public appearance yet."Try telling that to our uncle. He said it's necessary," Simon said."This might blow my cover if someone at the hotel recognizes me," I grumble."Don't worry. There's a way around this. I suggested that we do a masquerade party. This way, you can wear a mask the whole time at the party. No one will see your face.""You are a genius, Simon!" I exclaim.Simon chuckled. "Yeah, I know. So, you changed your mind about going to the party?""I don't see why not. Just make sure it is definitely a masquerade party So I can wear a mask. No one must
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!
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