~Mia~I’d just finished getting ready for school and was rushing to leave the house, my mind spinning with fragmented thoughts about what might’ve gone down between me and Mr. Cross.My memories were scattered, like a puzzle missing crucial pieces, and I was desperate to piece it together. What exactly had he done?“He warned me about someone taking advantage of me, only to do the same thing?” I muttered bitterly, grabbing my tote bag. Before stepping out, I took a quick look in the mirror.An ironed shirt tucked into black trousers cinched at the waist with a belt, paired with simple flats—I looked polished enough. I’d left my hair loose, hoping it would distract from the dark circles under my eyes. Still, the hangover clung to me like a shadow.As I shut my door, I heard Mr. Cross’s door close too. Our eyes locked, and my stomach churned. His gaze seemed to pull fragments of memory from the depths of my mind—the bathtub, his voice, the confusion.I wasn’t ready to confront him. Not
~Ethan~ John burst into my office, phone clutched tightly in his hand. "Ethan! Ethan!" he shouted, his voice brimming with excitement. I looked up from my laptop, curiosity piqued."Can you stop yelling?" I muttered, my tone barely masking my annoyance. "I'm trying to focus here.""Oh, come on, forget work for a minute," he shot back, plopping into the chair across from me. A sly grin spread across his face. "Guess who's about to go on a date?"I slowly lifted my head, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What are you on about? You’ve got a woman now?" I asked, my gaze shifting to the phone he eagerly held out."Darla," he declared, turning the screen toward me. "Met her on Tinder. She's absolutely perfect, mate. Just moved into town. We've been chatting for weeks, and guess what? She wants to meet up. I’ve got a date tomorrow night!""I see, that’s good," I said, forcing a smile to seem supportive. Truth be told, I wasn’t really interested. Listening to him gush about his newfound roman
~Mia~Mr. John took a different route home, while Mr. Cross and I headed to a restaurant for lunch. Despite feeling sad and heartbroken, my stomach wouldn't stop growling.As I sat quietly in the car, my phone started buzzing non-stop with messages flooding in from Sharon and Charles.I opened Charles' messages first. "I’ve heard you, Mia. Honestly, I thought I could stay mad at you for more than a day, but I can’t. I’ve forgiven you. Let’s meet up."I scoffed and shook my head at his words. ‘Unbelievable.’“What’s wrong?” Mr. Cross glanced at me, his eyes briefly darting to my phone.“Charles texted me,” I replied, scrolling to the next message. "Where are you, babe? Sharon told me you went looking for me in the changing room, but I didn’t see you. Did you see me?"“What’s he saying?” Mr. Cross asked, returning his focus to the road.“Just random things. He’s acting like the perfect boyfriend I thought he was,” I said flatly, just as another message popped up."Are you still on campu
~Mia~Mr. Cross opened the door, and we stepped into the house together. Evening had already set in. We’d spent countless hours at the restaurant, talking and indulging in new dishes.When I finally surrendered to the limits of my stomach, he insisted on taking me to an ice cream shop for my favorite flavor—strawberry.Once inside, he spun playfully in the center of the living room. “So…” he began with a soft smile, his expression a mix of warmth and mischief that mirrored the playful side I’d seen all day. “We’re back home.”“Yes, we are,” I replied softly, heading toward the couch. I dropped my bag onto it, my gaze lingering on his.His excitement bubbled over as he stammered, “We… we should dance.”“Really?” I asked with a chuckle, raising a brow in surprise.He nodded eagerly, stepping backward toward the TV. Pulling out his phone, he began playing Perfect by Ed Sheeran, syncing it to the speakers. The music swelled, filling the room with its tender melody.“I can’t dance,” I adm
~Mia~A salty warmth touched my tongue as it flicked over his tip, sending a shiver down my spine."Uhmm…" he groaned, his fingers tightening around my head in a wave of pleasure. It was his precum.I took him into my mouth again, savoring the moment, but before I could go further, he pulled away, his chest rising and falling with ragged breaths."I don't want to finish yet," he said, his eyes heavy with desire. "Not until I’ve satisfied you first."Gently, he guided me onto my back, his hands firm but tender. His head dipped between my legs, and I felt his lips against my most sensitive spot, separated only by the delicate barrier of my lace panties."Fuck…" I gasped, my back arching as an intense wave of pleasure washed over me. The dampness of my soaked panties was undeniable, and embarrassment prickled at my skin.I instinctively started to close my legs, but he stopped me, sliding my panties down to my knees. My heart raced as he gazed at me with unrestrained hunger, his stare ig
~Mia~‘Bzzz! Bzzz!’ My phone’s vibration jolted me awake. Groaning softly, I groped blindly on the bedside table, trying to find it.With half-closed eyes, I grabbed the phone and answered, pressing it against my ear as my lids slid shut again.“Hello,” I mumbled, shielding my eyes with my hand.“Mia?”My eyes snapped open at the sound of her voice. I bolted upright. “Hello?”“Aunt Alexa?” I stammered, stunned. I hadn’t expected to ever hear from her again. ‘Why is she calling me now?’“You’re there!” Her upbeat voice practically burst through the speaker. “For a moment, I thought the call had dropped. How are you?”“I’m... fine, Aunt,” I replied, furrowing my brows.“I know this is sudden,” she said, her tone brisk, “but I don’t have time to explain everything right now. Can you swing by the club today?”“The club?” I repeated, my voice tinged with confusion. “What’s going on at the club?”Before she could answer, the door creaked open, and Ethan walked in carrying a tray. On it were
~Charles~I stared at my phone, a smirk tugging at my lips. The post had blown up just as I expected. ‘Who doesn’t love this kind of drama?’ I thought, scrolling through the flood of comments.“You’re mad, bro,” Liam said as he strolled into my room, his phone in hand. He already knew I was the mastermind behind the anonymous post.I chuckled, shrugging with pride. “Well, she’s been acting distant, ignoring my calls and messages. What else was I supposed to do?”“She probably caught wind of your plan. Remember, she went to the changing room looking for you,” he said, dropping into my gaming chair with a thud.“Yeah, that’s my guess too,” I replied smugly, still glued to the screen. “But she’s not the type to just ghost me. Nah, I always come out on top.” I scrolled through another comment and smirked. “The whole school’s gonna see her for who she really is.”“But one thing’s bugging me—how did you even find all that dirt on her? She never talks about personal stuff,” Liam said, his ton
~John~I waited in the bar where Ethan and I had planned to meet, glancing at the clock as the minutes dragged on. It was starting to feel strange—Ethan was never late, not even for casual meet-ups. If something came up, he’d always text or call beforehand.“What’s holding him up?” I wondered, my stomach knotting with worry. I reached for my phone, about to unlock it, when his name lit up my screen. Relief flooded through me as I answered.“Bruh!” I exhaled, half-laughing, half-scolding. “I thought you bailed on me or forgot we were meeting.”“John, listen.” His voice was low and urgent, slicing through my relief like a knife. “I think I’m being followed.”That serious tone yanked me into full alertness. “Where are you right now?” I asked, already pulling out my second phone to dial 911.“I’m stalling near that creepy close—the one that always freaks us out.”“What?!” My voice shot up as I bolted upright, weaving through the bar’s growing noise. “Why the hell would you go there if som
~John~I drove to Darla’s house, and as I pulled up to the location, my brows furrowed in confusion. ‘Why does this place look so awkwardly familiar if it’s my first time here?’ I wondered, turning off the engine.Reaching for my phone, I was about to text her when I heard the creak of the gate. Looking up, I saw Darla step out of the compound.“So, I wasn’t imagining things,” I muttered, setting my phone aside as a wide grin spread across my face. “Hey,” I greeted, opening my door and stepping out.“Hey.” Her voice was soft, her lips curling into a faint smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Something felt...off. I opened my arms, pulling her into a tight embrace, my gaze drifting back to the house.“Are you alright?” I asked as she sniffled, nodding against my chest. Pulling back slightly, I looked into her face. “Why does your house look so familiar?”She sighed heavily, her head dropping. “Because...you probably know this house,” she muttered, swallowing hard.“What do you mean?
~Mia~As Ethan and I sat cuddled on the couch in the living room, the sound of the door opening and closing caught our attention. We turned to look, and to our utter shock, it was Mrs. Cross.I quickly jumped to my feet, stepping away from Ethan, my heart pounding as she walked toward us, her eyes locked on me.“Mum, you didn’t mention you were coming,” Ethan said calmly, standing up as well.“Well, I needed to see things for myself,” she replied with a sigh, settling onto one of the armchairs. Ethan stepped closer to me, lacing his fingers with mine. I glanced at him in disbelief.“I knew if I told you I was coming, you two would try to put on an act,” she added.“Mother, we…” Ethan began, but she quickly interrupted.“Let me finish first, okay?” she said gently, gesturing to the couch opposite her. “Please, sit.”Ethan and I exchanged a wary look before doing as she asked.With a deep breath, she continued, “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and I’ve realized how self-centered I’ve
~Ethan~I pulled up outside Alexa’s clubhouse and stepped out of the car. Taking long strides, I circled to the passenger side and opened the door for Mia.“Thank you,” she said shyly as she stepped out.“You don’t have to thank me for that.” I took her hand in mine, shutting the door behind us. “It’s just what I’m supposed to do.”We walked toward the entrance together, and I could see the unease etched on Mia’s face. It wasn’t hard to understand why. She hadn’t seen her aunt since the day she’d been sold off, and now that same aunt was sick and planning to sell off Mia’s parents’ properties? It was too much for anyone to process.Inside the club, the daytime atmosphere felt muted compared to its usual liveliness. A few workers were scattered about: the bartender, a couple of the girls, and the cleaners prepping for the night.Mia led the way to her aunt’s office, but before we could reach the door, a voice called out from behind us.“Mia?”We stopped and turned. The guy approaching
~Mia~After a week of exams..."Arrghhh! I’m so glad to finally be done! Now I can enjoy life like never before!" Sharon exclaimed, throwing her arms around my shoulders with glee.I chuckled lightly, nodding. “Same,” I replied, though my tone was far less enthusiastic than hers. “But I’m not happy because I have more time for fun,” I muttered under my breath, my thoughts inevitably returning to Aunt Alexa and the malicious schemes she had for my parents’ estate.Sharon’s expression softened as she looked at me. “Is Charles still giving you trouble?” she asked, concern written all over her face.I shook my head. “No. I’ve made my peace with him facing the consequences of his actions,” I said.“Good,” Sharon said sharply. “He nearly killed Mr. Cross and ran that disgusting anonymous account to ruin your reputation. He’s a lowlife who deserves to rot in prison.”I raised an eyebrow, caught off guard by her bluntness.“Well… maybe not rot, but a few years wouldn’t hurt,” she stammered, h
~Sienna~ I paced back and forth in my room, my eyes locked on the pictures on John’s Instagram story. It was from the annual charity gala Ethan and I were supposed to attend together, yet now, he was there with *her*—that maid!“Ugh, he has no taste whatsoever!” I shouted, frustration bubbling over. The thought of him parading around with her at such an event, embarrassing me like this, was infuriating.That girl has done enough. It's time to end this for good. I paused, dialing Mrs. Cross’s number. I needed her to remind me where her loyalties lay—she had been acting too comfortable lately. As the phone rang, I resumed my pacing, waiting for her to pick up. When she finally answered, I stopped in my tracks.“Mrs. Cross?” My voice quivered, on the verge of breaking. “Sienna, darling, how are you?” she replied sweetly. I sniffed, trying to hold back the tears. “I’m not okay, Mom. Ethan went to the gala with that maid. It was supposed to be the two of us,” I mumbled, sniffling harde
~Mia~ I stood in front of the mirror, eyes fixed on my reflection. I was wearing a sleek black silk dress with tiny straps, the one Ethan had gifted me. Around my neck, the necklace he gave me shimmered, and a dainty watch rested on my wrist, right above my black cotten glove.On the other side of the room, Ethan stood in front of the closet, busy getting dressed as well. We were getting ready for the Charity Gala he’d been invited to, and he’d asked me to accompany him as his date.“Baby, can you help me with my watch?” Ethan called out, and I turned toward him. A soft smile spread across my face as he walked toward me and extended his hand.“Why are you smiling?” he asked, his grin playful as he gazed at me.I shrugged lightly. “I… I don’t know,” I stammered, “This… this feels cute. It’s like we’re a couple,” I added shyly, fastening his watch around his wrist.He chuckled. “Like a couple? We are a couple already, babe. We’re not pretending,” he replied, reaching up to touch my fa
~Alexa~"Get Dina here, now!" I shouted, my frustration echoing through the office. One of the girls quickly bolted to fetch her. My account book sat on the desk in front of me, glaring back like an unwelcome reminder.Dina was the club's newest stripper, and in her first week, she was a star—pulling in over $500 a night and earning the title of my favorite. But now? Her nightly earnings had plummeted to less than $100.The door creaked open, and Dina stepped in, dressed for the night."You called for me, Alexa?" she asked, her tone cautious.I grabbed the account book and flung it toward her. She caught it just before it hit the ground. "What the hell is going on? Look at this! Your numbers have tanked! Are you stealing from me?" I demanded, my voice laced with fury.Her eyes widened in shock. "What? No, Alexa! I’d never do that!""Then explain this!" I snapped. "Why aren’t you earning like you used to? What’s the excuse? Your knees giving out or something?"Dina shook her head, "Tha
~John~I pulled into the parking lot and stepped out of my car, clutching a bouquet of roses in one hand. I adjusted my suit and shirt, my heart pounded with nervous anticipation as I approached the entrance.Pushing the door open, I paused for a moment, my eyes sweeping across the restaurant in search of her. And then, there she was—seated in a cozy corner.She spotted me and waved, her face glowing with a cheerful grin. A broad smile spread across my own face as I made my way toward her.I approached the table and set the bouquet on it. She stood, greeting me with a warm hug and a light kiss on the cheek.“Finally,” she said, her voice brimming with excitement as she sat down again.“Right.” I chuckled. “Finally. I’m so sorry you had to wait this long.” Sitting down, I picked up the bouquet and extended it to her. “These are for you.”She accepted it with a soft smile, bringing the flowers to her nose for a gentle sniff. “This is so sweet of you,” she murmured, closing her eyes as i
~Mia~“Won’t you go back to her?” I whispered as I manage to break the kiss and catch my breath. He heaved a loud sigh, his hand moving slowly under my shirt, right on top of my nipple. “I will, but I don’t want to move away from you.” he muttered, resting his forehead on mine. I was still pinned to the wall and my hands were held up high, above my head with one of his hands, while the other explored my warm, perky peaks. “You have to or she will cause another problem.” I responded sadly, “I don’t think I want to deal with her anymore, Ethan.” “You wouldn’t have to.” He responded, slowly releasing his grip on my hands and they fell to my side. I could feel slight pain in my shoulders, but I didn’t care about it. “She wouldn’t bother you anymore. I am working on a plan to end things with her for good.” He said, and my face instantly lit up.“Really?” My voice etched with hope. “Hmmm,” he nodded. “I just need a little more time. I need to prepare my mother for what is to come. If s