DareI snuck out of the house at 6 a.m., moving quietly so I don’t wake her. Inside, she’s sleeping peacefully, her breathing slow and steady. She looks so serene when she’s asleep, like all the worries she carries during the day melt away in her dreams. I could stand there all morning, watching her, memorizing the way the early light touches her skin, the way her hair falls across the pillow. But I don’t want to waste this opportunity.Today, I want to do something special for her. Something meaningful. The thought makes my chest tighten a little. I’ve never done anything like this for anyone before. It feels foreign, yet natural when it comes to her. If I did nothing, if I didn’t make an effort, I’d hate myself for it later.As I step outside, the sound of tires crunching on the gravel draws my attention. Theo’s car pulls in through the gate, right on time, as I knew he would be. He’s dependable like that. He steps out of the car in his usual black suit, every detail of his appearan
SkyI stood frozen, staring at him as he stood in the doorway, holding a bouquet of flowers and a box in his hands. I felt more confused than ever because it was not a look I have seen on him before. Just then I thought maybe he hasn’t left me but how long will it take until he decides that I was no longer useful. The thought alone haunted me.“I thought you left me,” I said, my voice trembling as I held the table for strength after breaking down into a sobbing mess.“Where would I go?” Dare replied, his tone soft yet steady. “This is my home.”He stepped closer, reading my face with his eyes, and gently wiped the tears that had been streaming down my face. The warmth of his touch only made my chest ache more.“Did you really think I’d leave you like that?” he asked, his gaze locking onto mine.“Yes,” I admitted with a slight nod, my voice barely above a whisper. “I thought you didn’t care… that what happened yesterday meant nothing to you.”To my surprise, he laughed—a sound I’d nev
SkyThe sound of the doorbell echoed through the house, and my heart leapt with excitement. Without thinking, I rushed down the stairs, barely slowing as I reached the door. Dare stood there, holding two elegant boxes in his hands. I could already tell what they were—my dress and shoes.Before he could say a word, I darted forward, grabbed the boxes, and sped back up the stairs to my room.Placing the boxes on my bed, I opened the first one, revealing the most stunning dress I’d ever seen. It was a deep blue dress, adorned with delicate feathers at the hem that gave it a unique, whimsical elegance. A soft fur shawl rested beneath the dress, adding an extra touch of sophistication. My fingers grazed the material—it felt luxurious, smooth, and impossibly soft.The second box contained a pair of sleek black heels with striking red soles. They were the kind of shoes that made a statement without even trying. Everything about the outfit screamed elegance and perfection.Dare really had imp
SkyI gasped as we stepped inside the Hotel. The grandeur of the interior was overwhelming—the glittering chandeliers, the soft, warm glow of the lights, the perfectly set tables, and the slow, elegant music playing in the background. Even the paintings on the walls felt alive, telling stories I couldn’t quite grasp but couldn’t look away from.“Did you book the whole place?” I asked him, my voice hushed, still trying to take everything in. The hotel was empty except for a few staff members moving discreetly in the background.He nodded, a deep smile on his lips.I followed as he led me to a beautifully set table in the center of the room. He pulled out a chair for me, and I sat down, watching as he took the seat across from me. My fingers brushed against the smooth tablecloth, and I couldn’t help but admire how perfect everything was.A waiter approached with a tray. He placed two delicate wine glasses on the table, then poured red wine into them. With a slight bow, he retreated, lea
DareSky looked at me, her gaze flickering with hesitation, then back down at her plate. I could tell she was building up the courage to ask something, the way her fingers played nervously with the edge of her napkin, her fork tapping softly against her plate.She finally spoke, her voice softer than usual. “How about your parents?”The question lingered in the air, her fork tapping three times before she added quickly, “You don’t have to answer that. I’m sorry for asking.” She dropped her gaze back to her food, a faint flush coloring her cheeks.For a moment, I stayed quiet, watching her fidget with her food, waiting for her to look up at me again. Most people knew better than to ask me personal questions, and even fewer dared to dig into my past. But with Sky, it didn’t feel invasive. It felt… different.I leaned back slightly, resting my elbow on the table, and decided to give her something I rarely shared—pieces of my truth. “My mom died when I was young,” I said, my tone steady b
DareFour days had passed, and everything had been going so smoothly that it felt almost unnatural. These days with Sky had been some of the happiest of my life. We hadn’t yet put our feelings into words, but it was clear there was something between us. I could see it in her eyes, feel it in the way she lingered near me.But for now, work was calling.I sat at my desk, the brown surface spotless except for my laptop. On the screen were six faces, my board of directors, each one waiting for my input. The conversation was already in progress.“Our next issue is the drop in sales for the M61 pocket camera,” Sylvia said, her voice sharp. She was a no-nonsense woman with neatly styled blonde hair. “A bad review went viral, claiming it’s trash. Since then, sales have plummeted.”“What review are you talking about?” I asked, leaning back in my chair, fingers steepled as I listened.“One of our influencers,” Alphonse chimed in, his tone laced with irritation. “She has over 22 million follower
DareMark’s silence had been gnawing at me for days. He wasn’t one to go this long without stirring up trouble or barking orders. When he went quiet, it usually meant something worse—planning, scheming. The kind of silence that wasn’t peaceful but full of malice. It bugged me, but I kept my cool. If he was waiting for the right moment to strike, I’d make sure I was ready first.I pulled out an old burner phone from my desk drawer, the one I’d used for years to communicate. The phone was practically a relic, but it still worked. When I powered it on, it buzzed almost immediately. A call came through from a restricted number as if it had been waiting for me.I picked up and waited, listening to the silence on the other end. Ten seconds passed, and I was about to hang up when I spoke his name.“Mark.”His voice came through. “Hello, Dare. Quite a game of hide and seek you’ve been playing. Did you miss me?”I leaned back against the wall, keeping my voice steady. “Things have been peacefu
SkyI woke up early, feeling a rare burst of energy. I stretched, letting out a small yawn, and decided today was the perfect day to do something nice for Dare.He had been taking care of me in so many ways—protecting me, making me feel safe. I wanted to give back in the simplest way I could. Breakfast.The kitchen had been stocked the night before, so I had everything I needed. Padding down the stairs, I tied my hair back and rolled up the sleeves of Dare’s oversized hoodie I had stolen to wear. It smelled like him—clean and comforting.As I entered the kitchen, I scanned the counters and began gathering the ingredients for Eggs Benedict, fluffy pancakes, and crispy bacon. I even grabbed a bottle of grape wine for something a little fancy.First, I started with the hollandaise sauce. I melted butter over low heat, whisking it gently until it became golden and smooth. Then, in a small bowl, I whisked together egg yolks, lemon juice, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Slowly, I added the m
DareBright orange and red licked the night sky, the acrid stench of smoke filling the air. The sound of the ambulance was far behind, might take them a couple of minutes before they get here.I parked my car a safe distance away and surveyed the scene. The front was an inferno, so I circled to the back, where the flames were weaker. The heat still radiated fiercely, but I had no intention of turning back. Kicking down the back door, I stepped inside, coughing as smoke filled my lungs.I covered my mouty with a wet handkerchief.The warehouse was barely recognizable. Shelves were crumbling, goods reduced to ashes, and the crackling of the fire echoed in the space. Wonderimg how the fire had begun in the first place.There was no sign of Theo anywhere not even his car was parked outside.Then I saw him. At first, I thought it was debris, a pile of burned material caught in the fire. But as I moved closer, my stomach sank. A man was tied to a metal pole, his body charred beyond recogni
SkyI woke up early, feeling a rare burst of energy. I stretched, letting out a small yawn, and decided today was the perfect day to do something nice for Dare.He had been taking care of me in so many ways—protecting me, making me feel safe. I wanted to give back in the simplest way I could. Breakfast.The kitchen had been stocked the night before, so I had everything I needed. Padding down the stairs, I tied my hair back and rolled up the sleeves of Dare’s oversized hoodie I had stolen to wear. It smelled like him—clean and comforting.As I entered the kitchen, I scanned the counters and began gathering the ingredients for Eggs Benedict, fluffy pancakes, and crispy bacon. I even grabbed a bottle of grape wine for something a little fancy.First, I started with the hollandaise sauce. I melted butter over low heat, whisking it gently until it became golden and smooth. Then, in a small bowl, I whisked together egg yolks, lemon juice, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Slowly, I added the m
DareMark’s silence had been gnawing at me for days. He wasn’t one to go this long without stirring up trouble or barking orders. When he went quiet, it usually meant something worse—planning, scheming. The kind of silence that wasn’t peaceful but full of malice. It bugged me, but I kept my cool. If he was waiting for the right moment to strike, I’d make sure I was ready first.I pulled out an old burner phone from my desk drawer, the one I’d used for years to communicate. The phone was practically a relic, but it still worked. When I powered it on, it buzzed almost immediately. A call came through from a restricted number as if it had been waiting for me.I picked up and waited, listening to the silence on the other end. Ten seconds passed, and I was about to hang up when I spoke his name.“Mark.”His voice came through. “Hello, Dare. Quite a game of hide and seek you’ve been playing. Did you miss me?”I leaned back against the wall, keeping my voice steady. “Things have been peacefu
DareFour days had passed, and everything had been going so smoothly that it felt almost unnatural. These days with Sky had been some of the happiest of my life. We hadn’t yet put our feelings into words, but it was clear there was something between us. I could see it in her eyes, feel it in the way she lingered near me.But for now, work was calling.I sat at my desk, the brown surface spotless except for my laptop. On the screen were six faces, my board of directors, each one waiting for my input. The conversation was already in progress.“Our next issue is the drop in sales for the M61 pocket camera,” Sylvia said, her voice sharp. She was a no-nonsense woman with neatly styled blonde hair. “A bad review went viral, claiming it’s trash. Since then, sales have plummeted.”“What review are you talking about?” I asked, leaning back in my chair, fingers steepled as I listened.“One of our influencers,” Alphonse chimed in, his tone laced with irritation. “She has over 22 million follower
DareSky looked at me, her gaze flickering with hesitation, then back down at her plate. I could tell she was building up the courage to ask something, the way her fingers played nervously with the edge of her napkin, her fork tapping softly against her plate.She finally spoke, her voice softer than usual. “How about your parents?”The question lingered in the air, her fork tapping three times before she added quickly, “You don’t have to answer that. I’m sorry for asking.” She dropped her gaze back to her food, a faint flush coloring her cheeks.For a moment, I stayed quiet, watching her fidget with her food, waiting for her to look up at me again. Most people knew better than to ask me personal questions, and even fewer dared to dig into my past. But with Sky, it didn’t feel invasive. It felt… different.I leaned back slightly, resting my elbow on the table, and decided to give her something I rarely shared—pieces of my truth. “My mom died when I was young,” I said, my tone steady b
SkyI gasped as we stepped inside the Hotel. The grandeur of the interior was overwhelming—the glittering chandeliers, the soft, warm glow of the lights, the perfectly set tables, and the slow, elegant music playing in the background. Even the paintings on the walls felt alive, telling stories I couldn’t quite grasp but couldn’t look away from.“Did you book the whole place?” I asked him, my voice hushed, still trying to take everything in. The hotel was empty except for a few staff members moving discreetly in the background.He nodded, a deep smile on his lips.I followed as he led me to a beautifully set table in the center of the room. He pulled out a chair for me, and I sat down, watching as he took the seat across from me. My fingers brushed against the smooth tablecloth, and I couldn’t help but admire how perfect everything was.A waiter approached with a tray. He placed two delicate wine glasses on the table, then poured red wine into them. With a slight bow, he retreated, lea
SkyThe sound of the doorbell echoed through the house, and my heart leapt with excitement. Without thinking, I rushed down the stairs, barely slowing as I reached the door. Dare stood there, holding two elegant boxes in his hands. I could already tell what they were—my dress and shoes.Before he could say a word, I darted forward, grabbed the boxes, and sped back up the stairs to my room.Placing the boxes on my bed, I opened the first one, revealing the most stunning dress I’d ever seen. It was a deep blue dress, adorned with delicate feathers at the hem that gave it a unique, whimsical elegance. A soft fur shawl rested beneath the dress, adding an extra touch of sophistication. My fingers grazed the material—it felt luxurious, smooth, and impossibly soft.The second box contained a pair of sleek black heels with striking red soles. They were the kind of shoes that made a statement without even trying. Everything about the outfit screamed elegance and perfection.Dare really had imp
SkyI stood frozen, staring at him as he stood in the doorway, holding a bouquet of flowers and a box in his hands. I felt more confused than ever because it was not a look I have seen on him before. Just then I thought maybe he hasn’t left me but how long will it take until he decides that I was no longer useful. The thought alone haunted me.“I thought you left me,” I said, my voice trembling as I held the table for strength after breaking down into a sobbing mess.“Where would I go?” Dare replied, his tone soft yet steady. “This is my home.”He stepped closer, reading my face with his eyes, and gently wiped the tears that had been streaming down my face. The warmth of his touch only made my chest ache more.“Did you really think I’d leave you like that?” he asked, his gaze locking onto mine.“Yes,” I admitted with a slight nod, my voice barely above a whisper. “I thought you didn’t care… that what happened yesterday meant nothing to you.”To my surprise, he laughed—a sound I’d nev
DareI snuck out of the house at 6 a.m., moving quietly so I don’t wake her. Inside, she’s sleeping peacefully, her breathing slow and steady. She looks so serene when she’s asleep, like all the worries she carries during the day melt away in her dreams. I could stand there all morning, watching her, memorizing the way the early light touches her skin, the way her hair falls across the pillow. But I don’t want to waste this opportunity.Today, I want to do something special for her. Something meaningful. The thought makes my chest tighten a little. I’ve never done anything like this for anyone before. It feels foreign, yet natural when it comes to her. If I did nothing, if I didn’t make an effort, I’d hate myself for it later.As I step outside, the sound of tires crunching on the gravel draws my attention. Theo’s car pulls in through the gate, right on time, as I knew he would be. He’s dependable like that. He steps out of the car in his usual black suit, every detail of his appearan