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
016.Axel walked into his room and grabbed a towel which he used to dry his hair. He shut his eyes tight, remembering what almost happened between him and Amber a few minutes ago.He groaned, the intensity eating him whole. He didn’t mean to lose control, just that he couldn’t help it anymore. The tension between them was obvious to even a blind man, and he had tried holding on to the last thread of self-control he had while they were swimming, but it snapped the moment they sat at the edge of the pool with their legs in the water.The way the water stuck to her face, the way her swimsuit clung to her curves, and the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed had been too much for him. He couldn’t help but stare, his desire for her overwhelming.Amber was hot — too hot if you asked him. He was drawn to her both emotionally and physically. She was his distraction, his cute little kitten, and it was getting even harder to control himself around her. If that call hadn’t come in, nothing woul
017.Amber stood rooted on the spot, her shocked gaze fixed on Candice, who had a mischievous smile on her face. Amber knew she wouldn’t get picked — not when Candice was the team captain.She had two options — she could chicken out and act like this ever happened, or she could face it head on and just do her routine, giving no fuck about Candice.Amber smirked. She wasn’t one to back down and cower in fear. Option one was not her style. Option two was better.“Come on, Amber, show us what you got!” Candice exclaimed, her voice laced with mockery. Amber was certain Candice doubted her, and it only made her determination to prove herself stronger. They saw her as a nerd who knew nothing besides reading books and getting straight As but what they do not know was that, she wasn’t just an ordinary nerd — she was Amber Smith, a computer guru’s younger sister and friend to the hottest guy in school. There were tons of things she could do aside books and one of them was showing people they
059.Amber stepped out of her apartment with her luggage and met Dan, the private chauffeur already waiting for her. When he saw her, he quickly rushed to take her luggage from her."Good morning, Ms. Smith." he greeted with a warm smile. Amber nodded, giving him a smile of her own. "Good morning, Mr. Dan.""I'd prefer being called Dan, ma'am." he said and Amber nodded."And I'd prefer being called Amber." she smiled at him.Dan simply nodded and opened the door for her. She got into the car and he closed the door before putting her luggage in the car booth. After that, he drove out of the vicinity. As they headed to the airport with the city passing by in a blur, Amber's mind reeled with lots of thoughts. Especially about what happened between her and Jack, and how Axel had taken it upon himself to take care of her. She couldn't help the fluttering she always felt whenever she thought about it, and now he had helped her book a flight to Los Angeles.With a sigh, she rested her head
058.Next Day... CLOUD LIMITED "It's over, Trent," Jack leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk as he rested his jaw on his palms. Now that he thought about what he did, he was sure Amber would never want to see him again. She might not even talk to him ever again.Trent watched him, his expression neutral. He was sick and tired of talking. Everything was already out of hand. If Jack had listened to him, he wouldn't have gone that far. "So... I don't think there's nothing we can do to fix this. You've lost her, man.""Don't tell me that!" Jack yelled, standing to his feet and ruffling his hair as he paced the office. "I have to find a way.""Didn't you just say it was over?" Trent asked, cocking his head to the side to get a close look at Jack. "Man, you went far this time. How could you have done that? That was fucking a sexual harassment. What are you gonna do if Amber decides to take it up? Have you forgotten that she's a reporter? What if she writes an article against you?
057.Axel was done cooking and Amber sat in the dining with him as they faced each other. He put the food into a plate for her and gestured for her to eat some.Amber stared at the food, feeling like she was dreaming. This all felt so surreal. "Come on, eat." Axel admonished her. She looked up at him and he gave her a small smile before gesturing to the food in front of her.Amber took a bite of the food, savoring the rich flavors Axel had skillfully crafted. The taste brought a flood of memories back to her—memories of the simpler times, before everything had become so complicated. She couldn't help but smile, despite the bittersweet nostalgia that tugged at her heartstrings."I...I really missed this," she confessed, her eyes meeting Axel's over the rim of her teacup. "You've always been the best cook. I don't know how you do it."Axel shrugged, a warm, genuine smile spreading across his face. "It's all about passion," he said, leaning back in his chair and sipping his own tea. "Wh
056.When Amber had calmed down, Axel cupped her cheeks. "Are you okay?" he asked and she slowly nodded.He held her hand and made her sit on the couch while he squat beside her, watching her closely. He reached out with his hand and wiped the remaining tears on her face, his heart aching for her.Amber clenched and unclenched her fists. Her mind was racing with lots of questions. Questions like, if Axel hadn't come, would Jack have done more than forcefully kissing her? Would he have forced himself on her? Jack wasn't like such a person. She's known him for years, and even while they were dating, he had not made any attempts of forcing himself on her before. What came over him? Did the breakup trigger him so much?But why would he go too far?Amber sighed, and shook her head. She didn't want to think about it. She was already disappointed and mad as it is. But then, she remembered something. What was Axel doing in her place? She looked down at Axel, who had been staring at her all t
055.Jack blinked at Amber, his expression that of disbelief. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that Amber would initiate their breakup. Was she being serious right now? "Amber," he called, his gaze fixed on her. He didn't want to believe this. "I know you are angry that I disrespected you. Everybody makes mistakes and acts in impulse. That's not enough reason for you to break up with me, please."Amber sighed, feeling a pang of guilt. As much as she was hurt for doing this, she needed to stop stringing him along. She needed to stop making him have false hopes when she knew she would never end up with him. "Jack, I'm sorry," she shook her head. "I'm not angry at you, Jack. I just feel so bad for agreeing to date you when I had no feelings for you.""Amber," he held her hand, his expression pleading. "Babe, I didn't mind. And I still don't mind. You will fall for me with time. We just have to keep trying.""No, Jack," Amber pulled her hand away and turned away from him. "We can'
054.Therapy Session...Axel walked into the therapy room with a heavy heart. The last few weeks had been a whirlwind of emotions, and he desperately needed help sorting through them. As he settled into the chair across from the therapist, he couldn’t help but feel a little awkward.The therapist, Dr. Evelyn Clarke, was a middle-aged woman with a warm and inviting smile. She sensed his discomfort immediately and leaned forward, her eyes meeting his with empathy.“Hello, Axel. How are you feeling today?” she asked in a gentle, reassuring tone.Axel sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, a nervous habit he'd developed over the years. "I'm...uh, I'm not doing great, honestly," he admitted. "It's been a really rough few weeks. I don't even know where to start."Dr. Clarke nodded, understanding etched on her features. "Sometimes just starting is the hardest part. But don't worry, we're in no rush. Let's start with whatever feels most pressing for you right now."Axel closed his eyes,
053.A.A ENTERTAINMENT Amber was beaming with smiles as she went through the readers comments on her article. They were so excited and expectant of the day Axel would reveal his identity to them. They couldn't help dying of curiosity as Amber discreetly gave them a hint about the event that was coming up in A.A Entertainment soon.With a sigh, she smiled at herself. "I'm really amazing," she said, going through the rest of the comments. The door to the office opened and Axel walked in. Gina's words about playing hard to get echoed in her mind, and she couldn't help letting out a scoff. She stood to her feet, her eyes squinting as she took him in. He liked quite pale. When she had come to the office, Maverick had informed her that he was at a meeting with the Executives and Shareholders. Why would he come out of there looking pale?Axel smiled and walked to stand in front of her. "Good afternoon, Reporter Amber." he greeted her, that smile still plastered on his face.Amber folded h
052.Next day... GLAM MAGAZINE "Girl, you're on fire. Now the readers are more curious to actually know who Mr. A is. You delivered that interview so perfectly that even I want to know who this man is." Gina said as she and Amber scroll through the readers comments under her article.Amber smiled. How was she going to tell Gina that she'd seen Mr. A before? Amber could remember the gala they attended at King Global, where Jack and Axel met for the first time in years. Gina had seen Axel, but didn't know he was Mr. A."And maybe we see him everyday, but since he hasn't shown his face, we actually don't know." Gina beamed.Amber chuckled. "Yeah, I guess."Gina moved close to Amber and cleared her throat. "When are you taking me to A.A Entertainment? I really really wanna see Mr. A. I know you're the one working there, but you could make me your Assistant for a day. I just want to see his face."Amber turned to face her. "You know we are supposed to keep his face confidential, right?" s
051.GLAM MAGAZINEMs. June went through the article and smiled. "It's great. And you say Mr. A approves of it?" she asked.Amber nodded with a smile. "Yes, he did."Ms. June sighed and crossed her legs. "Very well then. Publish it on the feature," she said and Amber bowed with a smile. "How has working with Mr. A been, Amber? Any issues? Observations?" she asked.Amber raised an eyebrow. "Why do you ask, Ms. June?"Ms. June leaned forward. "What? Can't I ask anymore?" she raised an eyebrow at Amber. "Our journalist is working with A.A Entertainment. I want to know if she's comfortable there. Why do you ask like I'm trying to pry into your personal life?"Amber took in her lower lip. Ms. June was right. This was work, and she shouldn't have asked that. "I'm sorry, Ms. June," she replied and Ms. June nodded with an amused expression on her face. "It's been great working with him. A.A Entertainment is a very fun and conducive place to be. The employees are nice, and the CEO himself is..