ROCHELLE Just friends or…?I was sleeping when I began to hear voices of people laughing from the living room. At first, the sound dripped in and out of my dreams like a distant melody. The rich, lively laughter was warm and inviting, wrapping around me like a soft blanket, even though I felt a flutter of annoyance at being stirred from my much-needed rest.Slowly, I opened my eyes, the sleepy haze clouding my thoughts. I recognized the first voice immediately: it was Adrien. He had a way of making any conversation feel light and fun, his laughter infectious. But the second voice was unfamiliar. Curiosity piqued; I decided to step outside and see what they were up to. I threw on a robe and quietly made my way to the door, my heart fluttering a bit at the anticipation of discovering who might be visiting.As I turned the knob and opened the door, I heard the second speaker clearly. When I realized who it was, I froze. “I just want to make sure Rochelle is alright. I’ve been wor
ARIES My way is the only way!I was under intense pressure already to ensure that Clucas did not blow our cover and tell the sheriff about our gun business. My mind spun with every possible outcome, each more disastrous than the last. I couldn't let this crumble, not after everything I had built. The town depended on my discretion, even if they didn’t know it. And Sheriff Reynolds—well, he wasn’t about to let me walk away from this unscathed.Clucas was a liability now. He wasn’t supposed to be. He was supposed to be a trusted ally, a cog in the well-oiled machine. But greed or fear—maybe both—had turned him into a weak link. He got picked up on some big charge, and suddenly he was singing like a canary, ready to take me and my entire operation down with him.I had exhausted all options I could think of. I even went back to the sheriff to see if there was any way he’d change his mind. Sheriff Reynolds wasn’t known for compromise, especially not with someone like me. He hated ev
ROCHELLE A Dangerous Game!Lately, Aries and Adrien had become so engrossed in their business that they barely noticed me, even when I wore the clothes I thought would be enough to seduce them. I wasn’t asking for much—a lingering glance, a subtle smirk, anything that showed they still saw me. But nothing. Their eyes were glued to their laptops, their conversations laced with deals and deadlines, and their focus on everything except me.I wasn’t just their assistant; I was Rochelle—bold, beautiful, and tired of being ignored. My job was supposed to be simple: manage their schedules, keep things running smoothly, and follow their rules.But now, following their rules didn’t seem so important.Determined to get back their attention, I started going out. Not just out, but out late. Really late. It was a clear violation of the one rule they drilled into my head from day one: Do not come home late without letting us know. They claimed it was for my safety, but I knew it was mo
ROCHELLE At last!Aries walked closer to me, his deep blue eyes piercing into mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. He bent over and placed his hands on the bed. His voice was calm, almost too calm, as he said, “Be careful what you ask for, Rochelle. You’ve pushed Adrien and me too far. When we break, we will not be fixed”I held my ground, refusing to back down. I wasn’t about to let either of them intimidate me. “Real men aren’t scared of proving their worth to a woman, especially in a bed that can take the three of us. Prove to me that what's hidden under your pants are not just for display,” I dared them, my voice steady despite the rapid pounding of my heart.Aries’s jaw clenched, and I caught a flicker of something in his eyes—anger? Desire? I couldn’t tell, but I knew I was getting to him. I glanced at Adrien, who stood a few feet away, his arms crossed over his chest, watching the exchange with a stony expression. His silence was unne
ARIES I took care of him!The sheriff had sent for me. My heart skipped a beat when the message arrived, the urgency in his tone clear through the scribbled note. I’d never been one for unfounded panic, but something about this felt different. Adrien sensed it too.“Do you know why he sent for you?” Adrien asked, leaning against the kitchen counter with a concerned expression.“No idea,” I replied, trying to downplay the tension knotting in my stomach. “But I’ve got a bad feeling.” It wasn’t just the urgency of Sheriff Reynolds’ message; it was the weight of our business—the world of guns we operated in, shadowy but lucrative, fraught with danger at every turn.Adrien’s brow furrowed deeper. “I suspect it’s about our gun business. Just… be careful, Aries.”I rolled my eyes but didn’t dismiss his worries outright. “I don’t need a reminder on how to play my cards, Adrien. I’ve dealt with Reynolds before. If he tries anything that threatens our business, he won’t have to worry abou
ROCHELLE A sinking ship!I was just scrolling through F******k on my phone, mindlessly tapping the screen, expecting the usual mix of memes, vacation photos, and celebrity gossip. But then, I stumbled upon something that made my heart sink. There were pictures of my ex-boyfriend, Fred, and Amber, my ex-best friend. My stomach twisted in knots as I looked at their smiling faces on my screen.The photos showed Fred and Amber looking like the perfect couple, wrapped up in each other. In one snapshot, they were holding hands at a park, both of them beaming with happiness. Fred had that charming smile, the one he always used to flash at me when he thought he was being particularly funny. In another picture, they were sitting at a restaurant, leaning in closely, whispering secrets and laughing like there was no one else in the world. It felt like a punch to my gut. They were making the rest of the world envious, and honestly, looking at them made me feel sick.I couldn’t he
FRED Not for love!Gina was talking and laughing with her friend, Ashley, when I walked in. I saw them from the entrance of the office, their heads close together, sharing some inside joke. The sound of Gina’s laughter echoed in the high-ceilinged room, and for a moment, it made me smile. Even though she was a flirt, she had a light that could brighten even the dullest office day. But as I moved closer, the smile on my face faded.I needed to talk to her. I needed to apologize for how I tried to pay her back for cheating on me with that guy. Flirting with Amber was my stupid way of getting back at her, but all it did was push her further away. After she found out, everything changed. She had cut me off from access to her properties, including her expensive cars. It was as if I was no longer a partner in her life but just another staff member in her big company. We couldn’t even share the same bedroom anymore, and that felt like the sharpest twist of the knife.“Hey
A Frustrating DayI was already on my way for another one of those fruitless job hunts when my phone buzzed in my pocket. At that moment, I was trudging along the busy street, swallowing my disappointment as I thought of all the rejections I had already received. I paused and pulled my phone out reluctantly, and my heart sank as I saw Adrien’s name flashing on the screen.I didn’t want to pick up. I knew exactly why he was calling. He had asked me to write a presentation for a meeting with some new partners, but I had let it slide. I felt bad about it, but I had bigger things to focus on—like finding a job. I was tired of working for Aries and Adrien, and wanted to at least have a chance at something else, especially after hearing about new openings at a startup downtown.As Adrien kept calling, I rolled my eyes, a mix of annoyance and guilt swirling inside me. Here I was, trying to turn my life around, and he was making it harder. I took a deep breath and ended the call, quickly texti
FRED What if she did?I was really worried about Gina. The clock on the wall ticked away the seconds, each one echoing louder than the last, while my fingers tapped nervously on the glass surface of the table. It was getting really late, and she still had not returned from work. My heart sank a little as I thought about it. I had missed her call earlier, and that made my worry deepen. What could be taking her so long?Gina was dedicated to her job, but she was not the type to stay after hours unless something was seriously wrong. I picked up my phone, staring at it like it was going to magically give me answers. Nothing happened. I cursed myself for missing her call. What if she needed me? What if something had gone wrong? I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of worry inside me.“Just call her,” I whispered to myself. I retrieved my phone from the table, my thumb hovered over her name in my contacts list, but then an idea knotted my
ARIES Fantasy night!“You’re probably going to think I’m ridiculous,” she said with a charming smile, “but I really like him. We had this amazing conversation, and he kind of gets me.” “Kind of?” I echoed, my voice lighting with skepticism. She rolled her eyes. “Okay, fine. A lot! He’s really brilliant, and he can talk about everything from finance to art. I’ve never met anyone like him before.” I tried to mask my irritation. “And that’s why you like him?” “That’s just part of it! Plus, he’s funny!” she added, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Rochelle, I just really want you to be careful,” I said, my tone shifting almost protective again. “Yes, mama bear!” she shot back, folding her arms in mock seriousness, but I could see her playfulness was waning. “Okay, okay. I’ll ease up,” I relented, feeling a little defeated. “But please keep us in the loop, alright?” “Sure!” she grinned, but deep down, her smile felt like someone pulling away. I could see the
ARIES Jealousy or…?Rochelle had returned from work less than two hours after she left, looking very excited. It wasn’t exactly like her to rush home, especially when her duties at the office always seemed to stretch longer than expected. But today, she walked through the door with a bright smile on her face, the kind of smile that lit up any room. Her hair bounced lightly with each step she took, and the sway of her hips was almost hypnotic.I had been sitting on the couch, scrolling through my phone absentmindedly, but that smile pulled me away from the screen. It looked so out of place in our apartment, which was usually quiet and fairly serious. I couldn’t help b
ROCHELLE That kiss…..As we made our way down to his sleek black car, he opened the door for me, an effortless gesture that made me feel special. I slid into the leather seat, and he closed the door behind me before striding around to the driver’s side. Every little thing he did made me feel like a queen, a feeling I was not used to.The drive to the restaurant was accompanied by light chatter, which gradually eased my nerves. We talked about everything and nothing, laughing at silly anecdotes and sharing bits about our lives. I discovered that he had a secret passion for cooking, which surprised me. A man like him, a billionaire business mogul, cooking? It didn’t fit the profile I had imagined.“Maybe you’ll have to cook for me sometime,” I te
ROCHELLE A Day Off with Mr. BenMr. Ben had surprisingly given me the day off from work. "But on one condition," he said, while I was still trying to wrap my head around it. It was such a sudden turn of events. I had not done anything special to deserve this kind of treatment. In fact, my mind was racing with thoughts about the projects I had to finish and the clients I needed to call on his behalf. I looked at him with a mix of confusion and curiosity.“What condition, sir?” I asked, tilting my head slightly to the side. Ben, with his usual confident demeanor, suddenly had a twinkle in his eye that made me even more intrigued. He reached into his sleek designer bag and pulled out something wrapped in black silk. He placed it gently on the table between us.“Open it,” he said, his smile widening as he leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying this moment.“I should open it?” I asked, feeling the excitement bubbling inside me. This was all so unexpected. I
FRED She's a tsunami!I fell right into Ashley's trap. The moment I did, I knew there was no getting out of it, no matter how much I tried to. The situation was a complete mess, one I created with my own hands. Or rather, with my own careless thumbs. I’ve never been more frustrated with myself.It all started with what should have been a romantic evening. Gina, my girlfriend, was everything I wanted in a woman—kind, smart, funny, and absolutely stunning. I wanted to surprise her with a special night to celebrate our anniversary. I had planned everything down to the last detail. The bed was made with fresh sheets, soft music was ready to play, and I had scattered petals across the floor. It was cheesy, sure, but Gina loved that kind of thing.To add a little spice to the night, I decided to text her something bold. I wasn’t the type to send daring messages, but this time, I wanted to push the boundaries. So, I took a deep breath, snapped a pic
GINA Love has left me heartbroken!My heart raced as I picked up the telecom and dialed my secretary's number. “Viola, please come to my office at once,” I instructed, my tone leaving no room for debate.When she arrived, I wasted no time. “What other meetings do I have scheduled for the rest of the day?” I asked, trying to maintain a calm demeanor.She looked confused, flipping through her notes. “Well, you have the brainstorming session with the marketing team, the budget review with finance, and then a dinner meeting with potential investors.”“Cancel all of them,” I ordered, my voice rising unexpectedly.Her eyes widened in shock. “But, ma'am, those meetings are extremely important! We could lose important partners because…”“Cancel or consider yourself sacked!” I nearly yelled, cutting her off. The urgency of the situation pushed my impatience over the edge. The look on her face was a mix of confusion and concern, but I didn’t care.“I’m leaving and won’t return until t
GINA Driving into darknessI was looking over some files in my office, the quiet hum of the air conditioning mingling with my thoughts. My desk was strewn with documents, proposals for the upcoming quarter, and reports that needed my immediate attention. For a moment, the chaos of corporate life felt manageable as I focused on the numbers and projections. Everything felt routine until the door creaked open, and in walked Fred.“Hey,” he just said.Something wasn’t right. He looked like he was about to give up the ghost. His face was pale, and he wore an expression that screamed discomfort. It caught me off guard. Just that morning, we had left for work together, both of us full of energy. We laughed and joked during the drive, our favorite music playing softly in the background, the kind
GINA Something is off!I had noticed a change in Ashley especially towards Fred. At first, it was subtle, almost unnoticeable, but once I began paying attention, the signs were unmistakable. Ashley, or Ash as I fondly called her, had always been a vivacious and outspoken part of my life. She was the kind of person who could walk into a room and instantly light it up with her energy. So when I returned from my business trip to Minnesota and told her I was making up with Fred, her reaction was... odd.She had been seated on the plush white couch in my living room, sipping on her favorite iced latte, when I broke the news. “Ash, guess what? Fred and I are getting back together,” I announced, unable to keep the excitement from my voice. Her eyebrows shot up so high that for a moment, I thought they might disappear into her hairline.“What?” she exclaimed, the latte momentarily forgotten in her hand. “You’re getting back with Fred? After everything that happened?”“Yes,” I