RUE "Damn, I'm tired," I uttered, recovering from my fit of laughter, and rested my back on the couch. "You're tired of laughing, just say," Tysha commented, irritation still evident in her voice. I rose from leaning and smirked. "It's because I wasn't informed you're a little comedic!" I reasoned out. I then shifted my focus to the bottle of whiskey I was drinking before she arrived, picked up my glass, and sipped on my leftover whiskey. "You want some?" I offered to Tysha, noticing she was watching me. "What is that?" she asked. "Whiskey." "Yeah. I think I'm gonna need a glass of that." I chuckled at her response, and in the end, I poured her a glass of whiskey. A few moments passed between us, and I noticed she kept glancing at the balcony of my place. Unable to resist the temptation any longer, she finally asked, "We're taking a break, right? Can I take a look at your balcony?" There was no reason to forbid her, so I nodded. "Go ahead." She smiled, excitement evident in
RUE "That's sad. Childhood and teenage years aren't something you could buy with money," Tysha's words hit me hard. Her simple observation stirred up a bitter feeling inside me. It wasn't the taste of the liquor we were sipping; it was the bitterness of recognizing how many precious moments and joys of life I had missed out on. The realization weighed heavily on me, like an unspoken regret that no amount of wealth could undo. It was a poignant reminder that some things, once gone, couldn't be bought back, no matter how much success or material wealth one accumulated. "Anyways, about relationships, I only had one which was your jerk nephew," she shared. "Really?" I arched my eyebrows. "Yup," she confirmed shortly. "No wonder why," I teased, attempting to lighten the conversation. She shot me a glare, prompting me to backtrack. "Just kidding. What's the reason?" "Perhaps because I was the complete opposite of you," she answered, making me raise an eyebrow. "And what do you mean
TYSHA In bed, looking at the ceiling, my body felt tired from the whiskey and the unexpected things that happened that night. I kept thinking about what happened - the background check, the deep talks, and the surprising moments of opening up. It was a mix of moments I didn't expect. This job, which I started not knowing what to expect, turned out to be a strange journey of feelings and connections. As I lay there, thinking about the unexpected turns, I wondered: is tonight a glimpse into a new way of life, or just a strange twist in my unusual career? Sleep was hard to find as I thought about how unclear everything felt. You know, usually, I'm quick to be turned off by handsome guys who carry an air of arrogance and a bad attitude. It's a major "ick" for me, and once that switch flips, their good looks lose their charm. But tonight, something shifted with Rue. He managed to win back a bit of my respect. I just hope this newfound normalcy between us isn't short-lived, and he keeps t
RUE Tysha: Headed back to the hospital. Thanks for yesterday. Let me know about our next session. A smile involuntarily crept across my lips as Tysha's message popped up on my phone. However, as soon as I caught myself, I swiftly resumed my poker face, setting my phone aside. Honestly, if I claimed my perception of her hadn't shifted after yesterday, I'd be deceiving myself. The memories of the irrational animosity I harbored towards her in our initial week together still lingered vividly. It hit me like a ton of bricks – I was being downright petty. I remembered how, at that time, I resented her for not extending a helping hand when I needed it. And planted grudges for her when she kicked my balls when she was just trying to defend herself and run away. But looking back, I couldn't believe how trivial and small-minded I had been. It wasn't fair to judge someone based on two incidents, especially when I hadn't considered the broader context of her actions. It was a wake-up call, r
TYSHA "Where should we put this, Ma’am?" asked one of the helpers, lugging my newly purchased sofa. "Put it in the living room, please," I directed, offering a polite smile. After my father found the perfect house for the three of us, we decided to move in once Mama was out of the hospital. Now, I've been busy buying new appliances to spruce up our home, and the helpers were in the midst of transferring them. While overseeing the process, I focused on talking to Barra on the phone. She called, seeking updates about my first session with Rue, and I couldn't help but recall how she unintentionally embarrassed me by gifting such fancy lingerie. "Girl, continue your story. Why are you saying I embarrassed you?" Barra asked, her excitement evident in her voice. I took a deep breath, reliving the moment. "So, you remember that lingerie you insisted on choosing for me? Well, let's just say it had quite an impact," I started. "Impact? What happened?" "Rue burst into laughter the momen
TYSHA Rue and I strolled through the baby section of the mall, our eyes scanning the shelves filled with adorable onesies, soft blankets, and tiny shoes. The atmosphere was light and cheerful, with the sound of giggles from nearby kids' stores and the sweet scent of baby products lingering in the air. Rue, not entirely thrilled about being in a baby store, looked a bit out of place among the pastel-colored aisles. With him wearing maroon long sleeves and black slacks, he did not have that daddy figure vibes. I, on the other hand, was on a mission to find the perfect gift for Cindy's newborn child. “What’s your gift to your niece?” I asked him as I looked around. He followed me like a good dog. I saw his gifts at the backseat of his car a while ago which encouraged me even more to buy a gift as well. It would be unsettling for me if we would go to Miss Cindy's house and Rue was the only one who had a gift to give. “Baby clothes,” Rue answered briefly. I had a hint he was not the
RUE “What's with the outfit?” I furrowed my brow instinctively as I greeted Tysha at the door, noticing her dressed in scarcely anything. As we prepared for our next session following our visit to my sister's house last week, I couldn't help but wonder if Tysha had crafted a thoughtful plan for our lessons. Was this her idea? “This is our lesson for today,” Tysha reasoned out. I raised an eyebrow. Eventually, I allowed her into my penthouse, despite her attire—a red corset top that left little to the imagination, paired with a black leather super mini skirt. The only nod to decency was a coat she wore. Her hair was gathered in a messy bun, revealing her long neck and defined jaw structure. She's prepared this time, huh? Let’s see then. When we reached my living room, she eventually removed her coat, revealing more of her big booty with the mini skirt, emphasizing her hourglass shape. I noticed Tysha blushing when she caught me checking her out. I didn't mind, but she continued
TYSHA I should pat myself on the back for handling tonight's session like a pro. I got the notion of dressing sexier each time from Barra. But, of course, I picked outfits that wouldn't make me resemble a clown like in our initial session. It's not just about looking good; it's about getting into the mindset that'll make this session beneficial for Rue. Barra's unconventional advice might just be the key. With plenty of free time before tonight, I made sure I'd be prepared. The commitment to assist Rue stayed unwavering in my mind. I opened up the presentation I had prepared, sharing my laptop screen with Rue. Suddenly, my role seemed to shift more towards tutoring than counseling. "Do you have any celebrity crushes?" I asked, trying to break the ice and gather some insights. Rue just shook his head. "I don't think so." Well, this is going to be more challenging than I thought. Despite having it all, when it comes to personal preferences, it seems Rue is a bit of a puzzle. I t
TYSHAAm I really going to be the billionaire’s wife? Everything still felt surreal. When Rue finally got down on one knee and popped the question, I swear my heart skipped a beat. For a moment, I was frozen, not quite believing what was happening. It was like time stood still as I processed the moment.At first, I'll admit, I had my doubts. I mean, after I talked to his grandfather, that was when I realized that I answered his call and that he heard everything I said. Like gosh! What if he no longer proposed to me after I declined his grandfather’s offer to marry him? God knew how I barely had a sleep the night after that realization of mine. Although what I meant by my refusal was… I didn’t wanna marry Rue for money, I still felt scared that if ever he, indeed, heard our conversation, he would think I didn’t want to marry him in general. No. That was the complete opposite of what I was feeling. If I were to settle down, to build a life with someone, it would be with him.Marria
RUEI used to doubt love. I used to think that it was just a distraction, something that got in the way of real goals and messed with your head. Growing up, I saw too many relationships fall apart and people getting hurt, including my family. So, I promised myself I wouldn't let that happen to me. Focus on work, keep emotions in check—that was my rule.Then I met Tysha on that one special night in Eventide Cabaret.Everything changed. She wasn't like anyone else I'd ever known. There was something about her that drew me in. At first, I fought it. I told myself it was just a phase and that I'd get over it. But the more time I spent with her, the more I realized she wasn't a distraction. She was exactly what I needed—she set fire to my sleeping lust.“Every time I walk you to your room, it leads to lovemaking,” I whispered in between our kisses. Right after she accepted my not-so-spontaneous proposal, she pulled me into her room to continue our kissing session.“Next time, you won’t
RUE“I won’t marry Rue.”I couldn’t believe what I just heard. Tysha’s words echoed in my mind, bouncing around like they were trying to make sense but failing miserably.When she accidentally answered my call, I didn’t hang up, especially when I heard my grandfather’s voice talking to her. I was mad at Grandpa for offering Tysha money to marry me, but I stayed silent because I wanted to hear her answer. I never expected her answer would break me.“Our relationship is not a transaction, Mr. Colterzon. Just so you know. While I appreciate your concern for our future, marrying him should come from our hearts, not a financial incentive,” I heard Tysha continue. “So, no. I won’t marry him for money.”After that, I ended the call before she even noticed I was listening to her conversation with my grandfather.I felt a mix of emotions. I was angry at my grandfather for interfering, for thinking that money could solve everything. But Tysha’s words cut deeper. She didn’t want to marry me, eve
TYSHA“You wouldn’t be able to drive us home?” I asked Rue on the other line. I had just finished all my classes for the day when he called.“No. We just had an emergency meeting at the company. But I’ll send Fred,” he offered, but I immediately refused.“No need. I can drive us myself.”“Okay. Just tell the kids I’ll visit them later,” Rue said before ending the call.As I continued gathering my things to leave the faculty room, one of my co-teachers approached me with a curious look.Tysha, someone’s looking for you,” my co-teacher whispered, nodding toward the entrance. I glanced up from my stack of papers, my heart doing a little flip. Who could it be? A parent? Another teacher? “Huh? Really?” I tried to sound nonchalant, but my pulse quickened. The school day had been ordinary so far, and I wasn’t prepared for any surprises.“Yes. He’s waiting in the parking lot, with lots of convoys,” my co-teacher grinned, clearly enjoying my confusion. With my co-teacher's grin, the first
TYSHARue wanted to introduce our kids to his mother and grandfather and the thought of it made my stomach churn with anxiety. Like, gosh!I couldn't help but overthink the whole situation. His grandfather had always hated me, ever since I was with Bryse. He did everything in his power to separate us before. And now, after all this time, I was terrified that his hatred for me would extend to our children.What if Rue’s grandfather took one look at them and saw nothing but a reminder of my past mistakes? What if he couldn't see them for the wonderful kids they are and only saw my flaws? The idea of my kids being judged or rejected because of my history was unbearable.I kept imagining different scenarios, each worse than the last. Would his grandfather's anger flare up the moment he laid eyes on them? Would he blame them for the messy past I had with his family? I could almost see the disapproval in his eyes, and feel the tension in the room.Rue seemed confident that things would be f
TYSHA“This is their picture?” Rue asked as I handed him the photo album, filled with pictures of our kids. After they had fallen asleep, he had suddenly asked to see some photos of them. Luckily, I had been making albums of their milestones.“Yeah, right after they were born,” I said proudly, sitting beside him on the couch and joining him in looking at the pictures.Rue carefully stared at each photo, his eyes filled with a mix of wonder and regret, as if trying to relive the moments he had missed. Each image seemed to pull him deeper into a past he wasn't part of, yet desperately wished he had been.He traced a finger over a picture of their first birthday, his expression softening. “Who was with you?” Rue asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.“My parents,” I answered simply, trying to decipher what was going through his mind.“Just them?” He glanced at me, seeking confirmation.“Yes. Just them.”“How about Charles?” he asked.I thought he might be jealous, but when I l
RUEIn a short amount of time, I became super attached to the twins. Every day without them felt like a lost chance to be their real father. That's why I found myself constantly at Tysha's house, trying to make up for lost time.I longed to bond with them, to be a presence in their lives that they could rely on. It wasn't easy, knowing that I missed out on so much, but I was determined to do better.I held out the hairbrush when my daughter Addison came out of the bathroom. Her hair was damp and clinging to her small shoulders.As usual, I was in their house again, wanting to spend more time with my children."Can I brush your hair?" I asked, hoping she'd say yes.“Okay, Daddy.” Addison nodded, a shy smile on her face, and took a seat on the stool in front of me.I took a deep breath, aware of the importance of this gesture, and of the trust she was placing in me.As I began to brush, I was careful, mindful of every stroke."Am I doing this right?" I asked, watching her reaction in th
TYSHAOkay. If I was having fun earlier about how Rue shut Celeste’s bitchy mouth, I was no longer enjoying it now.“Is it true, Tysha? You’re dating Mr. Colterzon? The billionaire?!” asked one of my coworkers. “Err…” I stammered, unable to find the right words immediately.First of all, I didn’t feel the need to tell the truth to them. Second, to be honest, I didn’t really know the answer to that. Am I dating Rue again? We used to date but does co-parenting with him count as dating?“How about Charles, Ma’am Tysha? Did you two break up already?” Another question was thrown at me. It was Rupert who asked this time. The faculty room had turned into chaos the moment I walked in after finishing my classes.Even though Celeste kept her mouth shut after what Rue said to her, the news still spread like wildfire. Fortunately, before I had to say something, Madeline came into the faculty room. "Everyone," she addressed the room sternly, "what's all this commotion? Where is your professio
TYSHASince Rue had insisted on driving us to school, and I couldn’t help but feel a little bit nervous. I’m sure it would spark a new rumor about me and gosh! But yeah, I must comply. This would be nothing compared to the six years I’ve taken away from him.As I told my kids about what their father planned on doing, Aiden and Addison were already perched by the window, their noses pressed against the glass, waiting for their father.Then it arrived. Rue’s car glided to a stop in front of our house, sleek and attention-seeking because of its vibes that were screaming ‘wealth.’ It was the kind of luxury car you’d see in magazines. But what can I say? The father of my kids is a billionaire so…“It’s Daddy!” Aiden and Addison said in chorus as their eyes grew wide with wonder. They rushed out the door, their school bags forgotten for a moment, as they circled the car with open-mouthed awe.I watched them.“Good morning, buds! Ready for school?” Rue greeted them with the same enthusiasm a