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 forSamira 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
Together they walked into the restaurant, it was located at the far end of the city, near a lake, the atmosphere was cool, no wonder he'd chosen that place as there first date place, and as soon as he entered, two waiters quickly approached, guiding them to their table. "Let me take your coat, Miss," one of the waiters said. Knowing the daring dress she wore underneath, she hesitated to give it to him. She was about to refuse when she noticed a man at a nearby table staring at her. With an idea forming, she decided to take off the coat, challenging Chris with her gaze. From her periphery, she saw the man lustfully eyeing her body. Smiling to herself, she thought her third act would surely work. As she sat down, she noticed Ray's eyes fixated on her cleavage. Trying to act nonchalant, she picked up the menu and pretended to peruse it. Why is he staring at me like that? Does he really want to marry me? she wondered, finally choosing a dish. "Did you wear this dress for me?" he a
When they were about to arrive at the Grand Hotel, Samira was still lost in the kiss. It wasn’t until Ray announced their almost arrival that she snapped back to reality, immediately feeling a surge of panic and anger. She remembered she wasn't the real Delly and couldn't have kissed him back. "Didn't you do all of this to tease me?" he asked for the second time, and Samira stared at him in silence. Her mission to do things that men hate and make him dislike her hadn't worked. Instead, it only seemed to make him more determined to marry her. When she took too long to answer, he took hold of her hand, trying to pull her into his arms again. She pushed him away forcefully. "I'm not teasing you, nor am I trying to turn you on. I'm actually hoping for the opposite," she yelled at him. "Opposite being?" he prompted, clearly enjoying the confrontation. "That you cancel this whole marriage nonsense! I don't want to marry you," she retorted, her frustration boiling over. Instead
IN THE AFTERNOON~ Dressed in a modest black knee-length dress, Samira walked down the stairs. She hoped her conservative outfit would make Chris think twice about pursuing her. As she was about to leave, Mike stopped her. "You look lovely," he commented. "Lovely enough to make your boss lose interest in me," she replied, half-jokingly. "Why? Didn't you like going out with him last night?" he queried. "I didn't, and I want to put an end to this. I don't like your boss, Mike. He frightens me," Samira confessed, sharing her own feelings rather than what Delly would have said. Mike, looking at her seriously, she had spoken matter-of-fact. "You can't call it off with the boss. You've got to make it work with him." "Why? Why can't I call it off with him? Just what are you keeping from me?" Samira asked, her curiosity piqued. Mike was about to reply when Delly called her. Mike collected her things and took them to the car while she followed. She noticed the manager staring at her
After finishing her call with Delly, Samira returned to the kitchen, determined to focus on cooking and clear her mind. She was just reaching for the spices when Ray walked in, his presence filling the room with an unmistakable tension. His steps were light, but his intent was clear as he moved closer, trapping her between the island and his towering frame.For a moment, Samira thought he might kiss her, her heart racing at the mere thought. Instead, Ray planted his hands on either side of her, leaning in just enough to make her breath catch, but keeping a teasing distance. His eyes danced with mischief as he whispered, "Don’t worry, I won’t be kissing you just yet. I know you’re about to show me how wild you can really be."Samira could feel the heat creeping up her cheeks. She turned quickly back to her cooking, hoping to hide her embarrassment. “You deserve to find out, the sooner the better,” she shot back, trying to sound confident, though her heart was still pounding.Ray leaned