008.“Turn around!” Amber screamed and Axel’s body moved of its own accord as he quickly turned, his heart beating fast.Amber shut her eyes tight in embarrassment as she rushed to carry her towel and back into the bathroom to calm herself down before coming out. She had no idea Axel would be back early. “Fuck!” she covered her face with her palms. She could literally feel her cheeks burning with embarrassment. How the heck was she going to face him now. What was she going to say? It was going to be so awkward talking to him after this.She groaned, feeling like the ground should open and swallow her whole. She paced around the bathroom as she thought of what to do. She slowly opened the door and peeked through it. He was still standing with his back turned. She guessed he might be scared to turn and see her again. Her eyes scanned her room before it landed on the tampons and chocolates he had bought. She looked away, stretched out her hand to her shorts on the bed and grabbed them
009.Damn her dirty mind! What in heaven's name was she thinking? She screamed into her pillow, her face heating from the first-hand embarrassment.After she uttered that insane sentence, it became awkward a little bit as Axel didn’t know the response to give her. She had to pretend it was just a harmless joke, blaming him for flirting with her, then quickly finished her food and rushed into her room.“Gosh!” she facepalmed, shaking her head. It was becoming more and more difficult to control herself around him. She might actually snap one day if he doesn’t see the green lights she’s been giving him.Axel was every lady’s guy. He knew how to have his way with girls, and he certainly knew how to keep them coming back for more. He also knew when a lady was into him, so why hadn’t he noticed that she had a thing for him?Was he mistaking her stares and flirting for admiration, or he probably thought she was joking? She tried to get the questions out of her head, but she couldn’t.During
010.Two days later…“Are you sure you want to go through with this, Amy? You still have a chance to change your mind.” Melissa said as she added the finishing touches to Amber’s hair.Amber smiled, her expression determined. “You’ve been asking me this for two days now, and I already told you I want to do it.”Melissa sighed. She understood her best friend’s plight, but she wouldn’t want Axel falling in love with her based on a mere seduction. Deep down, she knew Axel had a thing for Amber; I mean it’s damn obvious from the way he looked at her, and the way his expression softened whenever he listened to her.She wished Amber would let him make a move instead of pushing it down on him. She had been trying to convince Amber since that day at the cafeteria, but the lady was quite stubborn.“What about Cole?” she asked, reaching into Amber’s wardrobe and pulling out the signature red gown they had bought specifically for tonight.Amber smiled. “Let me worry about that. I’m finally eigh
011. After the party died down a bit and people began leaving, Axel took Amber to the rooftop of the house, decorated with twinkling fairy lights and a breathtaking view of the city skyline. Amber’s eyes widened. She felt like she had just walked into a fairy tale. “Wow, Axel, this is so beautiful,” Amber breathed, her eyes glinting with excitement. This had to be the best birthday ever. “I wanted to make tonight special for you,” Axel said, his voice low and husky, as he led her to the edge of the rooftop. The city lights stretched out before them, a dazzling canvas of color and light. Amber felt Axel’s hand brush against hers, sending shivers down her spine. “Thank you, Axel,” she whispered, her heart pounding as she turned to face him. Axel turned to face her, his eyes burning with intensity. When their gazes locked, he smiled and looked away while Amber looked around excitedly. “I guess this is one way to end the evening, don’t you think?” she beamed at him and quickly turne
012. “Girl, that is one cool iPad. It looks even better than the pictures you sent to us in the group chat.” Melissa took the iPad from Amber to get a better look at it. Amber smiled, her heart fluttering. “I know, right? Their gifts beat every gift people bought for me.” Melissa raised an eyebrow with a fake frown on her face. “What about my gift? Is it better than it? Just so you know, I had Jack take me around all the stores in the city just to get you something as special as that and make it perfect. Right, Jack?” Jack looked away, knowing fully well Melissa was overexaggerating. “Don’t ask me.” Amber laughed. “I loved the gift you gave me, babe. Who wouldn't love a personalized journal with our inside jokes and memories?” Amber said, hugging Melissa tightly. Even though they just became friends, she had no idea Melissa was this thoughtful. Melissa beamed. “I'm glad you liked it! I wanted something thoughtful, just between us besties.” Jack chuckled. “And I thought the gift
013.“King, you are not yourself today. You keep zoning out. Basketball demands focus and agility. What is going on?” Coach Rick asked Axel, who sighed and ruffled his hair.“I’m sorry, Coach,” Axel apologized, lowering his head. “I'll concentrate.” Coach Rick sighed and turned to face everyone. “Ten laps, let’s go!” he blew his whistle.Axel jogged alongside his teammates, his mind drifting back to Amber. The only person who had kept his mind occupied since yesterday. He had been zoning out because of her, and it was becoming even harder to focus or look at anything without thinking about her.What the heck was wrong with him? Trevor, noticing his mood, fell into step beside him.“Hey, man, you okay? You seem off,” Trevor asked.Axel nodded, forcing a smile. “Yeah, just distracted.”Trevor raised an eyebrow. “Long night?”Axel chuckled. “Something like that.”As they finished their laps, Coach Rick gathered the team around him.“Today’s practice is crucial. We need to perfect our
014.Axel’s gaze roamed over Amber’s bikini-clad body, his eyes lingering on her curves. Her bikini was a vibrant, electric blue, with beautiful white floral patterns that accentuated her tanned skin. The tiny triangles barely contained her full breasts, and the high-cut bottoms hugged her hips, showcasing her toned legs.Amber’s long, midnight black hair cascaded down her back, framing her beautiful smile. Her sunglasses perched on her forehead, and her lips shimmered with gloss.Axel’s throat dried up as he struggled to maintain his composure. He felt a stir in his swim trunks, and his heart pounded in his chest.“Wow, you look… stunning,” Axel stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.Amber's cheeks flushed, and she chuckled. “Thanks, Axel. You don't look so bad yourself.”Axel's gaze never left hers, his eyes burning with desire. He knew he needed to rein in his emotions, but Amber's beauty had left him breathless.Melissa's distant laughter and the sound of waves crashing agai
015.“Come on, Amy, it’s just cheerleading tryouts. I really, really want to participate.” Melissa pleaded with Amber as she stared at the posters on the wall.The school’s cheerleading team just got a new captain and they needed new members. Melissa had waited for this day to come, and it was finally here. She wanted to try out, but she didn’t want to go without Amber.Amber wasn’t the least interested and Melissa wouldn’t stop pestering her.“Mel,” Amber sighed, her frustration evident. “How many times do I have to tell you that I am not interested in trying out for cheerleading? I’m not a dancer, okay?” she said for the one hundredth time, hoping Melissa would get it, but the lady was persistent.“You don’t have to be a good dancer to be a cheerleader. Besides, they’re gonna train you. Don’t you want to belong somewhere at least?” she pouted, making cute puppy eyes at Amber, who didn’t seem swayed. “Jack’s on the soccer team, your brother is on the gadgets or whatever you call it t
120.Amber blinked. She couldn’t believe Cole would say such a thing to her. How on earth was she selfish? She was doing this for his own good. It was hurting to see her genius brother being fooled by a wolf in sheep’s clothing. But now because she cared, Cole had to raise his voice on her for the first time. It broke her heart so much that her brother didn’t trust her enough to believe her. “We’ve never had a fight before, Cole,” Amber said, her eyes turning glassy as she looked up at her brother. “Are you going to allow your so-called girlfriend come between us? I’m your sister. I would never hurt you or put myself first before you.”“Stop making this about you, Amber,” Cole sighed, feeling conflicted. “When you and Axel got together, I wasn’t against it. Even when you two kept it away from me, I didn’t get mad.”“I and Axel are different!” Amber snapped. “And the reason you approved of the relationship was because you trusted Axel. You knew he was a good person. I don’t trust Jan
119.“Axel, I need your help with talking to Cole,” Amber said as they headed to the parking lot together.Axel stopped in his tracks, turning to face with a confused expression on his face. “Why? What happened?” he asked.Amber stopped walking as well, holding her books to her chest as she looked at Axel. “Because,” she paused, sucking on a long breath. “Janice doesn’t love him. She is lying to him and using him.”Axel blinked. “What?” he asked.Amber nodded, the annoyance she tried so hard to keep in coming back. “Today, Cole asked me to get him food from the cafeteria. On my way to deliver the food to him, I passed by a classroom where I overheard Janice speaking with her friend. She mentioned that once she gets what she wants from Cole, she’d dump him. At first, I thought it was about his grades, but when I confronted, and she was so mean to me, I realized there was something more, but I couldn’t find out what.”Axel stared at Amber for a while. “Are you sure about this?” he asked
118.“Spill what exactly?” Amber asked, folding her arms with a frown on her face.Janice scoffed. “Don’t try to act smart with me, baby girl. I know you overheard me and my friend talking. So tell me, what did you hear?” Amber snickered. “Is your conscience pricking you or are you scared I’m gonna tell my brother what you’re up to? Are you scared I’ll tell him that you are a liar, a deceiver and a bitchy person?” she asked and Janice clenched her fists.Janice watched Amber for a while, but then she realized something. There was no way Cole would believe Amber anyway. She knew how much Cole loved her, and Amber telling him would only make him feel Amber was selfish and unreadable. A smith found its way to her lips as she chuckled. “There’s nothing that’s gonna make Cole believe you anyway,” she said and Amber raised a brow.Janice began pacing the room, a victorious smile plastered on her face. “Need I remind you that you are dating Cole’s best friend,” she said?“So?”“And Cole did
117.Amber huffed and began walking away. “Amber!” Amber stopped in her tracks, her fists clenched. She turned with a frown on her face, annoyance coloring her features as she stared at Janice. Janice’s eyes darted to the bag in Amber’s hand and instantly knew it was the food she had asked Cole to get her. “Hey, are you going to meet Cole?” she asked, beaming at Amber who didn’t return a smile of her own. “Why are you asking? Do you want to use him for something else?” Amber asked, trying to keep the accusation out of her voice, but it wasn’t working.She was literally boiling with rage, and it annoyed her to the core that Janice was acting all innocent in front of her when she just talked down on her brother a few minutes ago. Don’t people have shame these days?Janice raised an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?” she asked, wondering if Amber had overheard her conversation with her friend. She forced a smile and held Amber’s arm. “Don’t be too cocky, Amy. I know you’re mad th
Author’s note: Sorry for the inconveniences dear readers. I just found out that the current chapters 112, 113 and 114 are having errors. I do apologize for that. The chapters will be fixed and will return to the original by next week Monday or Tuesday. I’d advise you to stop reading for now. All you have to do to be able to read again is to take the book away from your library and add it back. The real chapters will show then. I’ll keep you informed, so please, kindly wait as the chapters and this current one are being fixed. Thanks for understanding. ***** “Do you really love my brother or you’re just using him to get good grades?” Amber asked Janice, her eyes holding nothing but annoyance towards the young lady. Janice smiled sweetly, annoying Amber to the core. “Are you trying to act like a good sister or you’re just plain stupid?” she asked. Amber clenched her teeth, her hands balling into fists at her sides. She hated that smile of Janice’s—that saccharine, condescending g
115.Author’s note: Sorry for the inconveniences dear readers. I just found out that the current chapters 112, 113 and 114 are having errors. I do apologize for that. The chapters will be fixed and will return to the original by next week Monday or Tuesday. All you have to do to be able to read again is to take the book away from your library and add it back. The real chapters will show then.I’ll keep you informed, so please, kindly wait as the chapters and this current one are being fixed.Thanks for understanding.*****“Do you really love my brother or you’re just using him to get good grades?” Amber asked Janice, her eyes holding nothing but annoyance towards the young lady.Janice smiled sweetly, annoying Amber to the core. “Are you trying to act like a good sister or you’re just plain stupid?” she asked.Amber clenched her teeth, her hands balling into fists at her sides. She hated that smile of Janice’s—that saccharine, condescending grin that made her seem like she was in on
Bianca paced to and forth in the living room as she waited for her father's arrival. She had been waiting to tell him about what Aiden said and also make sure he explained things to her, but he hadn't been around.He had told her he was coming home today and she had been anxiously waiting. She heard the sound of the door and quickly rushed to get it.“Dad, welcome.” she greeted him and he nodded.He walked into the house and took a seat. She took a seat facing him, dabbing her fingers together as she stared at him.“I want to hear good news, Bianca. Were you able to secure the deal with Aiden?” he asked curtly.Bianca's face fell, and she shook her head. “No, Dad. He refused to work with us.” she answered with a frustrated sigh.Mr. Sullivan's expression turned dark. “What did he say?”Bianca took a deep breath before recounting her conversation with Aiden. Mr. Sullivan's face grew angrier with each passing moment.“When I asked him why, he said it was because of your business practic
“Apologize to her now, Mia. I will not repeat myself again!”Aiden's voice was firm and commanding, leaving no room for argument. Mia's eyes flashed with anger, but she knew better than to cross Aiden when he was in this mood. She took a deep breath and turned to Samantha.“I apologize,” she said stiffly, her words dripping with insincerity.“Say it like you mean it, Mia.” Aiden ordered and Mia sighed, lowering her head.“I'm sorry, Samantha. I shouldn't have said all those words. Please forgive me.” she sounded sincere this time around, but her heart meant something entirely different.Samantha looked at her, her expression unreadable. “It's fine,” she said curtly, her voice barely above a whisper.Aiden's eyes narrowed at Mia. “I mean it, Mia. No more of this. Samantha is going to be my wife, and I won't have you disrespecting her like this.”Mia's eyes widened in shock, but she knew better than to push Aiden further. She nodded, her face pale.“I understand,” she said, her voice ba
112."Now, let's go make a dramatic entrance." he smirked and she smiled as they walked into the hall together.The hall was filled with influential men and women, who came to witness the handover ceremony of the Sullivan Group. Bianca sat in the midst of her friends as they chatted and giggled happily while congratulating her for becoming the first CEO among them.Nathan was seated by her side, her arms locked with his as she gisted with her friends about how shocked she was when her father sent out the invitations."You needed to see the look on my face, babes." she said, flaunting her perfectly manicured nails in their faces."Girl, you rock. Your father must have seen your potential. We all know how much of a boss lady you are." Brenda, one of her friends, spoke up."I know, right? She is beautiful, talented and all round capable! Not to think she also has a very handsome boyfriend." Ava, her second friend complimented her as she looked at her dreamily."Oh, stop it, girls. You fl