(Warning 18+ ONLY!)
Samira woke to the soft morning light streaming through the curtains, the warmth of Ray’s body pressed against her back. For a moment, she allowed herself the luxury of simply lying there, savoring the peaceful quiet, the rise and fall of Ray’s chest against her, and the gentle rhythm of his breathing. It was a fragile, fleeting moment that felt almost like a dream—a brief respite from the constant push and pull of their lives. But even as she lay there, reality began to creep back in her, bringing with it the memory of the previous night. She turned slightly, her gaze drifting over Ray’s sleeping form. His face was relaxed in sleep, free of the calculated charm and deceptive confidence that usually defined him. Samira watched him for a while, her mind torn between the intense feelings that had burned between them and the stubborn walls she had built to protect herself from his games. Ray stirred, his eyes fluttering open as if he couHe turned, offering her a small, rueful smile. "I have to get ready," he said, his voice tinged with reluctance. "I’ve got a meeting this morning."He'd skipped work the entire day yesterday; he had urgent matters to settle that couldn't wait till Monday.Samira nodded, her own emotions a tangled mess. She watched as Ray stood and made his way to the bathroom, her mind replaying the morning’s events in an endless loop. She wanted to say something, anything to bridge the gap that had widened between them in the space of a few short minutes, but the words wouldn’t come.Ray paused in the doorway, glancing back at her. "We’ll talk later, okay?" he said, his tone gentle, but Samira could sense the unspoken weight behind his words."Yeah," she replied, her voice barely audible. "Later."Ray disappeared into the bathroom, the sound of running water in the bathroom started filling the silence that followed. Samira lay back on the bed, stari
As Ray turned his back to take the call, Samira felt a rush of cold air hit her skin, a sharp contrast to the warmth of their stolen heat moment. The door pressed hard against her back feeling like the hardest contact she'd ever got into, and she stood there rooted to the ground, her breath still catching in her throat, her body humming with the remnants of Ray's touch. Yet, the room felt suddenly too small for her liking, the walls had started closing in as the weight of reality settled heavily on her shoulders. Samira wrapped her arms around herself, hugging the emptiness where Ray’s touch had been. The bed sheet lay forgotten at her feet, and she couldn’t bring herself to move, couldn’t bring herself to gather the fabric that had been her only shield moments before. Instead, she watched Ray—his posture tense, his voice low and serious—completely immersed in the conversation that was worlds away from the two of them. His brows furrowed, lips pressed into a thin line as
Ray hurried down the hallway of the luxury hotel, his footsteps echoing against the polished marble floors. The call had been urgent—Lila had insisted on meeting face-to-face, and though Ray had tried to explain that he had plans,, Lila’s persistence left him with little choice, the deal he was about to close was something he'd been after for long.When approached the grand entrance of the hotel’s exclusive lounge, Ray adjusted his tie, his expression turning serious to his monotone bossy like, that he was. He stepped through the double doors, greeted by the subtle hum of conversation and the scent of fresh flowers that filled the air. Lila was already there, seated at a table in the corner, her perfectly styled hair catching the light from the chandelier above. “Mr Ray,” she greeted him with a warm smile, standing to give him a brief, professional hug. Her perfume, a mix of jasmine and something citrusy, lingered in the air between them. “Thanks for coming o
Samira walked slowly down the dimly lit street, the chill of the evening air biting at her cheeks. The day had stretched longer than she’d planned, her thoughts wrapped tightly around the image of Ray and Lila in the hotel lounge. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw them leaning in close, their conversation just out of earshot but so full of unspoken familiarity. It wasn’t the first time Ray’s work had come between them, but this felt different. Lila wasn’t just business; she was poised, confident, and everything Samira feared she wasn’t. Even with the excitement of being chosen as a finalist in the Global Perfume Creation Competition, Samira couldn’t shake the feeling that Ray’s world was moving on without her. She fumbled with her keys as she approached the front door of their home, her hands shaking with a mix of anger and exhaustion. The lock clicked, and she stepped inside, her footsteps echoing in the silence. The apartment was dark, save for
Samira woke up early Sunday morning, the first rays of dawn barely creeping through the blinds. The quiet of the apartment felt stifling, like the walls were closing in around her. She couldn’t remember the last time she had slept peacefully, without the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her like a heavy blanket. She knew she couldn’t stay, not today. She needed air, space—anything but the four walls that held the echoes of last night’s conversation with Ray.Samira dressed quickly, grabbing her coat, purse, and slipping on her shoes with quiet efficiency. She avoided looking at Ray’s door, not wanting to risk waking him. She glanced at her phone but decided against leaving a note. What could she even say? She wasn’t running away; she just needed time to think, to breathe without the constant pressure of everything that had gone extremely hot and sweet but at the same time wrong between them.She stepped out into the crisp morning air, pulling her coat tighter around her as she
Samira stood at the edge of the Seine, her fingers brushing against the delicate fabric of her gown as she gazed at the glittering lights of Paris. It was the night she had dreamed of, the culmination of months of hard work, late nights, and restless mornings. The final round of the perfume competition was tomorrow, and she was here, standing in the city of lights, her future hanging in the balance. Yet, for some reason, she couldn’t shake the weight on her chest—the remnants of everything unresolved between her and Ray. She inhaled deeply, trying to draw in the calmness of the evening, but it felt forced, like she was pushing away the storm brewing inside her. Samira had spent so long chasing this dream, fighting for her place in a world that often felt like it had no room for her. And now that she was here, the silence was deafening. The soft hum of her phone pulled her back to the moment. Mike had texted her, asking how things were going. She smiled faintly at his concern. He had
Early that afternoon, rain pattered softly against the window, the rhythm echoing the pounding of Samira Wiley’s heart. She stood by the counter of the boutique in Brookside City, rearranging an already perfect display of silk scarves. The routine was a welcome distraction from her thoughts. Her reflection in the glass revealed a young woman of twenty-two, with tired eyes but a determined spirit. Life had not been kind, but she had persevered.Samira’s thoughts were interrupted by the familiar sound of the door chime. She turned to see her childhood friend, Delly Thompson, striding in with her usual flair. Delly, the embodiment of charisma and confidence, drew eyes wherever she went. Her glossy, auburn hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her emerald green dress clung to her figure like a second skin. Delly had been adopted from the orphanage at sixteen, thrust into a life of luxury and socialite events, while Samira remained behind, working to support the orphanage that had been the
New Jersey City Clothed in one of Delly's expensive dresses, Samira walked out of the airport. She still couldn't believe that she was in this kind of situation, acting like a winning actress of the year, taking on the role of Delly. Just yesterday, she was in the boutique attending to customers, and now here she was, in another city, far from home. The whole thing began to feel scary, and she was deciding whether to leave or stay when a man dressed in black approached her. "You must be Miss Delly?" the man asked. She nodded. "I am Mike, head of the security team to Mr. Rays, your fiancé. I have been ordered to accompany you to the hotel," Mike said, showing her a card to verify his statement. She followed him and got into the Mercedes he had driven to the airport. In the car, she took off her glasses and stared at the city of Brookside. All her life, she had lived in one place. She never had the time or money to travel, but now here she was, doing just that. She smiled to