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
018. “You heard what she said, Axel, didn’t you?” Candice snapped, her expression hardening. “And you’re just going to stand here and act like you heard nothing?” Axel sighed and ruffled his hair. “What exactly is your problem, Candice?” he asked. This was tiring him out. He was happy Amber handled it perfectly, but Candice was work; one he didn’t want to attend to. “My problem?” she scoffed. “My problem is that your relationship with Amber is beyond friendship. The signs are there. Everything adds up and there is nothing anyone’s gonna tell me to make me change my mind!” Axel raised an eyebrow. "That's ridiculous, Candice. Amber's my best friend." Candice's eyes flashed with anger. "Don't lie to me, Axel. I see the way you look at her." Axel's expression turned cold. "You're being paranoid." Candice's voice trembled. "I'm your girlfriend, Axel. I deserve better than to be disrespected like this." Axel's eyes narrowed. "You're not being disrespected, Candice. You're ju
020.KING GLOBALAmber stared at the imposing doors of the luxurious hotel, where the event would be taken place and exhaled. When Ms. June had requested her and Gina handle this event, she knew that woman was prone to throwing her into the den of her past.There was no doubt that she was going to see Mr. King himself today. And there was no doubt, Axel was going to be here today. Jack was going to be here to be here too. She prayed they wouldn’t cross paths. She didn’t want Jack to find out Axel was Mr. A.“Are you coming or not?” Gina, who was excited and pumped up for this, asked, already walking in.Amber exhaled and walked in as well. They registered their names and were led to the front row which were the seats designated for them. Amber wondered how this was possible. This wasn’t her first time attending such event. She was dang sure that someone had pulled strings for them to have the best spots. Only reporters with lots of connections or influential backing get to sit at the
019.Saturday Night… Cinema… 9pm“Are you enjoying the movie?” Jack asked and Amber nodded, but her thoughts were elsewhere. She kept checking her phone at intervals. The deadline was Monday, and she needed Axel to attend to her before then. She had already polished the first draft and sent it to him again, but he hasn’t said anything.Coupled with that was his obsession with making her heart skip beats several times. She couldn’t trust herself around him anymore, and had to stop meeting with him personally. But Axel was a determined person, and it was driving her nuts.She drew a long breath and checked her phone again. There was supposed to be text from Ms. June with feedback by now, but she still got nothing.Jack kept noticing that she was spacing out at intervals. He watched her closely and when the movie was over, Amber turned to face him with a strained smile. “Did you enjoy the movie?” she asked, rubbing her palms together.Jack smiled and nodded. “How about you? You seemed to
018.Amber quickly pushed him away. “What do you think you’re doing?” she asked, folding her arms.Axel smiled at her. “You asked us to talk, didn’t you?” he asked, feigning an innocence that made her want to hit him on the head with a brick.“Do you act like this to every female reporter who comes to your office?” Amber asked, her voice laced with irritation. Had he become a pervert? Why would he hold her like that?Axel’s eyes darkened and closed the space between them. He leaned forward, but Amber leaned back. Axel didn’t stop and leaned in again. Amber tried to lean backwards to escape him, but he wrapped his hand around her waist and used his other hand to support her back. “I do that to only those who come to my office uninvited, while I’m addressing my employees and asking us to talk.” He paused, his eyes locked with hers. “Now, shall we continue our conversation?” he questioned, raising his eyebrows suggestively. “You look a little hot, do you know that?” Axel whispered, sendi
017.Axel kept staring at Candice as she walked to stand in front of him. She made to hug him, but a look from Kevin made her halt.Kevin walked to stand in front of them, smiling. Axel looked at his father, his expression showing he wanted an explanation. Candice rubbed her arms, waiting for Kevin to say something.“Hey, no need for the staring contest, come sit down,” Kevin smiled at Axel.Axel sighed and sat down, crossing his legs. Candice sat down as well and Kevin followed right after. He faced Axel. “Before you ask, no, she isn’t one of the ladies I kept for you. Besides, you already made it clear that no one can replace Amber,”Axel nodded, his gaze fixed on Candice, who looked away instantly. She couldn’t believe how more good-looking he had become:“You know Candice’s father has been friends with us for years. Candice just returned from overseas where she went to study theatre and arts. He pleads that you let her work in your company. I think she wants to go into dance and a
016.The next day, Amber couldn’t concentrate on work as she kept zoning out, her thoughts drifting to what Axel said the previous night.Did he actually mean everything he said? She might not have given him a response then because she was unsure, but now that she thought about it, did he really want her? Did he approach her because he wanted her back and not because of the guilt?Amber shook her head to get rid of the thoughts and stood to her feet. She walked to the water dispenser to get a glass of water, which she took before returning to her seat.“Amber, Ms. June wants you.” Gina tapped Amber’s back.Amber nodded and headed for Ms. June’s office. When she got there, Ms. June gestured for her to take a seat which she did. “The deadline is approaching, Amber. Have you corrected the draft and sent it to Mr. A?” she asked.Amber shook her head. “I’m almost done with the corrections, Ms. June. You know, he made numerous corrections so…” she trailed off and lowered her head.Ms. June
015.“All I care about is how much I want you.” Alan whispered and Amber’s eyes widened.The rest of the world seemed to fade into the background as both locked gazes. Amber was dumbstruck as she stared at Axel. Did she hear what he said or was she hallucinating? What did she miss? Why would he want her when he was the one who ruthlessly left her?That seemed to bring her back to her senses. She broke eye contact and scoffed, looking out the window. “For someone as heartless as you are, you sure have some guts,” she spat, her face scrunched up in disgust. “Keep your want to yourself. I love my boyfriend. I want nothing to do with you anymore, Axel.”Axel smiled. “At least you still know my name,” he said and Amber adjusted in her seat. “I stand on my word, Cat eyes,” he whispered, and she swiftly turned to look at him. “I only lent you to that boyfriend of yours, and I’m going to take you back.”Amber folded her arms and glared at her. “Don’t make me repeat myself. I already said I do
014.GLAM MAGAZINES “Not only did he insist on being interviewed by her, he also invited her to work over dinner. No girl has ever been opportune to have dinner with the likes of Mr. A, and she got it on a platter of gold. What trick did she play this time?” Vera, Laura’s friend spoke, watching Amber in disdain.Amber was already clocking out due to the dinner she had, and they couldn’t help showing how much they loathed her through their eyes.Laura folded her arms, her envious and jealous gaze fixed on Amber, who had no idea they were already boring holes into her back with their glares. “I’m certain she must have done something.”“Of course she has,” Vera huffed. “She is just a termite who eats into other people’s lives. This was supposed to be you, but she stole it.”Laura’s frown deepened.“See you tomorrow, Gina.” Amber picked up her handbag.“Have fun and make sure you eat a lot. Mr. A is rich and can provide whatever you need.” Gina winked.Amber rolled her eyes. “Cut it out.
013.Amber rubbed her jaw, her eyes fixed on the red lettered “Rejected” on the draft she submitted. She wondered what could have made Axel reject her draft. She checked to see if he stayed any reasons, but there were none.“Gosh, what the heck!” she facepalmed.Gina moved closer and stared at Amber’s laptop screen. Her eyes widened. “What? He rejected your draft?” she whispered.Amber nodded with a sigh. “And he didn’t state any reasons or modifications to be made.”Gina raised an eyebrow. “That’s not right. He should highlight where you got it wrong. Besides, no one has ever rejected your drafts before. This is a first.”Amber frowned and took her phone. “I’m going to call his assistant,” she dialed Maverick’s number and he answered immediately. “Good day, Mr. Maverick, I got Mr. A’s response on my draft. It was rejected, and no reasons were stated. Would you mind helping me notify him?” she asked.There was silence from the other end before Maverick spoke up again. “Mr. A would lik
012.“The interview…” Amber trailed off and forced a smile. “It went well.”Jack watched her closely. He knew Amber too well. As much as she didn’t like to boast or brag about her efforts, there was a certain way her face always lit up whenever he asked about her successful interviews. This time around, she looked conflicted, and it made him wonder what must have happened.“Hey,” he called softly. “Didn’t it go well? I mean, you’ve been preparing for months and thankfully, your outline got picked. I was expecting you to at least tell me how the interview went.”Amber sighed and licked her bottom lip. “Well…” she cleared her throat and suddenly beamed. “It went well!!!” she exclaimed, causing Jack to laugh heartily.“Gosh, you almost got me there,” he took a deep breath of relief.Amber only chuckled and shook her head, but deep down, she knew it wasn’t over. She couldn’t hide the fact that Mr. A was Axel for long. Very soon, Axel might do a face reveal and Jack would find out. Why not