Chapter 5: Up and Down

I was taken aback when Daniel looked at me, and I felt a mixture of embarrassment and excitement. Slowly, I began to undress, standing there before him completely naked.

"Wow," he said softly, his eyes filled with admiration. "You are truly beautiful."

His touch against my skin sent shivers down my spine, and my heart raced with anticipation. I longed for his kiss, but instead, he just stood there, gazing at me.

"Talia," he finally spoke, his voice filled with tenderness, "Do what you feel comfortable with."

Despite the familiarity of this situation, there was a coldness in his demeanor that pained my heart. I pushed aside the inner turmoil, focusing solely on the task he had hired me for.

I knelt down slowly, removing the towel that covered Daniel's body. As his lower body was revealed before me, I couldn't help but gasp in awe. My eyes fixed on him, and I began to stroke him gently.

Daniel's physique was impressive, and my mouth watered with desire. I leaned in and placed delicate kisses, savoring the taste of his skin. With each touch, my own desires grew, and I could feel the dampness between my thighs. I continued to stroke him, building up a rhythm.

"Talia," he murmured, his voice filled with pleasure.

Gradually, Daniel's moans grew more pronounced, and I could sense his excitement mounting. I intensified my efforts, my strokes becoming more fervent. He started to move with an instinctive thrust, his body responding to the pleasure.

Suddenly, the sound of a ringing phone disrupted the moment. Daniel paid it no mind as he walked over to his desk and picked up the call.

"Hello!"

"..."

"Yes!"

"..."

His attention diverted, I knew what was expected of me. I quickly joined him, kneeling once again and resuming my gentle touch. As I fulfilled his desires, I could sense his satisfaction. Still, he remained engaged in his phone conversation.

"Oh, that sounds promising."

"..."

I couldn't catch every word, nor did I know who was on the other end of the line. It didn't concern me much until...

"Okay, Miranda! See you later!"

The name Miranda hung in the air, freezing me in place. I was fixated on that unknown point, detached from the man before me.

"Continue," Daniel instructed.

With his hand firmly in my hair, he guided my head closer to him.

The sudden force made me catch my breath, his size almost overwhelming. Tears welled in my eyes, a mix of pleasure and discomfort. But I obeyed, moving my head with increased intensity.

Eventually, he climaxed after what felt like an eternity, his warmth filling my mouth.

Once he finished, Daniel composed himself and dressed. He gazed at me before reaching out to touch my face gently.

That night, sleep evaded me. When I awoke in the middle of the night, I discovered Daniel standing on the balcony. Our eyes met, and he acknowledged my presence.

"Hey," he said softly. "Are you awake?"

"Yes," I replied.

Confusion clouded my mind. I wasn't sure how to interpret the situation, but I knew I couldn't dwell on it. I needed to focus on myself and the overwhelming debt hanging over me.

"Go back to sleep!"

With those words, Daniel returned to bed, pulling me close as we sought solace in each other's embrace.

The next morning, he surprised me with a diamond ring.

"Talia," he said, a hint of vulnerability in his voice, "This is for you."

The gesture left me speechless.

"I purchased it during my recent business trip. It suits you," he continued, his tone sincere.

"Thank you," I managed to say, touched by his thoughtfulness.

With this ring, I knew I would soon repay him in full. Only a fool would turn down such an opportunity.

Daniel remained enigmatic in his ways. However, one thing was certain - if I followed his lead, he would elevate me to a position of royalty.

Swiftly, I dressed and left the room, not looking back. I was determined to put an end to this cruel game.

As I arrived at school, something felt amiss. People stared at me with confused expressions. My best friend rushed over, concern etched on her face.

"Are you alright?" she asked, worried.

"What? Of course," I replied, feigning nonchalance.

"You've been acting differently lately, as if you're not yourself," she pointed out.

I denied her observations, though deep down, I knew she was right. The more time I spent with Daniel, the more I realized the danger I was in. His coldness and unapproachability made me fear his potential anger, both toward our relationship and my debt. And yet, thoughts of Marinda lingered in my mind.

"Did you hear the news?" my friend asked.

"What? No, I haven't. But something feels strange today. Why is everyone looking at me as if I'm an alien?"

"Oh, my goodness! It seems you're unaware of what's happening. Let's go to the garden and talk."

She pulled me towards the school garden, where she accessed the main university forum.

"Take a look at this link. It'll explain everything," she said.

I clicked on the link, and an article appeared, claiming to be the hottest topic of the day. It discussed the trend of wealthy individuals hiring companions known as sugar babies.

"A pure and beautiful girl reduced to a mere prostitute? What is this?" I frowned, my brows furrowing.

Upon examining the accompanying photos, I quickly realized the truth. Someone had captured us together when Daniel came to pick me up from school. While my face remained partially obscured, it was evident that people had mistaken me for a prostitute.

"Talia, only I know the truth about your relationship with Daniel. How did the writer find out?"

"Don't dwell on it. They likely do not know my relationship with Daniel. They simply saw me in his car and assumed the worst," I explained, dismissing the matter.

"What are you going to do?" my friend asked, her eyes filled with concern.

"I need to repay my debt and restore my reputation. I refuse to be looked down upon like this."

Determination settled within me. It was time to set things right.

"Damn it! I'll help you uncover who's behind this," my friend declared fiercely.

I smiled, grateful for her support. Engaging in a fight wasn't my forte, nor was it the path I desired.

"Don't worry, I have a plan of my own," I assured her, leaving her curious about my next move.