Chapter 4: C'mon Emma

Kyla sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the plane ticket to London clutched in her hand. She had everything she needed to leave-an apartment waiting for her, a credit card with enough money to start fresh, and the knowledge that her parents would be taken care of. But no matter how much she tried to convince herself it was the right thing, her chest felt tight, suffocated by the weight of everything she was about to leave behind.

Two more days. That's all she had left before she disappeared from Reece's life for good. Mrs. Hastings made it clear. And now, there was no turning back.

Her phone buzzed. It was her younger sister, Emma.

"Kyla!" Emma's voice was full of excitement. "I've got great news."

Kyla pinched the bridge of her nose. "What now, Emma?"

"I set you up on a date. Trust me, he's loaded. Not like Reece's family, but he's got money-cars, a couple of clubs, the works. You need a night out, sis. Stop moping around about work and whatever's going on in your head."

Kyla sighed deeply, her fingers tightening around the phone. She couldn't tell Emma. She couldn't tell her about Reece, about how she had spent two years of her life as his secret lover, how their nights were filled with passion but no promises. It was a dark part of her life she had buried, and with her leaving soon, there was no point in bringing any of it up.

"Emma, I told you, I'm leaving in two days. I don't have time for this."

"Please? Just one night. It'll get your mind off things. You need a break." Emma was relentless, her voice pleading.

Kyla exhaled sharply. "Fine. But I'm not staying long."

---

Later that night, Kyla sat across from a man in a high-end suit. He wasn't bad-looking, but his arrogance was off the charts. His flashy watch and designer clothes screamed money, but it was nothing compared to the effortless power that Reece exuded. This man didn't hold a candle to Reece, and the comparison only irritated her further.

"So, I own a couple of nightclubs downtown," the man said, lighting a cigar and leaning back casually. "Business is booming. I'm looking to expand into real estate next."

Kyla's mind wandered as he went on about his success, puffing on the cigar as though it made him more interesting. She glanced at her watch, counting the minutes until she could make an excuse to leave. Every man she met felt like a poor substitute for Reece. None of them had his quiet dominance, his ability to command a room without saying a word. And none of them, certainly, made her heart race the way Reece did.

"You know, a woman like you could have anything she wanted," the man said, his eyes flicking over her like she was something to be bought. "You just need the right man."

Kyla clenched her jaw. "I'm not interested."

The man chuckled, clearly unfazed by her rejection. "Feisty. I like that."

Kyla stood up abruptly, her patience gone. "Thanks for the drink, but I've got to go."

Without waiting for his response, she grabbed her purse and walked out into the cool night air. The city lights blurred around her as she made her way home, her thoughts circling back to Reece, as they always did. It didn't matter how hard she tried to move on-he was always there, consuming her mind.

The next day, Kyla made the long drive to her parents' house. They lived in a modest home, far from the glamour of Reece's world. As she pulled up to the driveway, she saw her mother tending to the small garden out front, while her father sat on the porch, sipping tea and reading the paper. They didn't know the truth about her life- the secret she'd kept hidden for two years.

"Kyla!" her mother called, wiping her hands on her apron as she came over to hug her. "It's been too long, sweetie. How have you been?"

Kyla hugged her back tightly, biting her lip to keep from crying. "I've been... good, Mom. Just busy."

Her father folded the newspaper and stood up, giving her a warm smile. "You look tired, Kyla. Come, sit with us."

She sat down on the porch between her parents, her heart aching with the lie she was about to tell. They had no idea what she had sacrificed, no idea the deal she had made with Mrs. Hastings to save them. They only knew that she worked hard to make ends meet, believing she had a simple job as a secretary.

"I have some news," Kyla said, her voice shaky.

Her mother and father turned to her, their faces filled with love and curiosity.

"What is it, darling?" her mother asked, placing a hand on her arm.

"I've... I've been offered a scholarship," Kyla lied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Το study in London. It's a great opportunity, and I'll be able to make more money when I come back."

Her mother's eyes welled with tears. "Oh, Kyla, that's wonderful! We're so proud of you."

Her father smiled softly. "You've always worked so hard. This is your chance to make something of yourself. We're behind you all the way."

Kyla smiled through the tears that threatened to fall. She didn't deserve their praise. If they only knew the truth-that the scholarship was a cover for the deal she had made with Mrs. Hastings, that she had sold her body and soul to keep them alive.

---

Later that night, Kyla returned to her apartment, exhausted from the emotional day. As she entered her bedroom, she froze. There, sitting on the edge of her bed, was Reece.

Her heart stopped. "Reece... what are you doing here?"

He looked up at her, his blue eyes dark with something between anger and desperation. He was holding a cigar in one hand, the smoke curling around him like a cloak. His suit jacket was discarded, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar, revealing the strong line of his throat.

"I've been waiting for you," he said, his voice low and rough.

Kyla's breath caught in her throat. She had tried so hard to avoid him these past few days, knowing she would have to say goodbye soon. But seeing him here, in her room, made it all come crashing down.

"You can't keep doing this, Reece," she whispered, her voice breaking.

He stood, towering over her, his scent wrapping around her like a drug. "Stay with me, Kyla."

"I don't want to," she said, backing up until her knees hit the edge of the bed. "Your fiancee-"

"Fuck her," Reece growled, his hand reaching out to cup her chin. "You belong to me."

His lips crashed against hers, and for a moment, all the pain, all the fear disappeared. Kyla melted into him, her hands fisting in his shirt as he deepened the kiss, his tongue sliding against hers in a way that made her legs weak. He knew her body better than anyone else, and even now, with everything falling apart, he still made her burn like no one else could.

"Reece," she gasped as his lips trailed down her neck, his hands roaming her body with a hunger that made her dizzy. "We can't... I'm leaving in two days."

"I won't let you go," he whispered against her skin, his breath hot and ragged. "You're mine, Kyla. You always have been."

His hands slipped under her shirt, and Kyla's mind screamed at her to stop, but her body was betraying her, responding to every touch, every kiss. She moaned as he nipped at her collarbone, his fingers finding the sensitive spots on her body that only he knew.

"You drive me fucking crazy," he groaned, pulling her closer until there was no space between them. "I can't lose you."

Kyla's heart shattered. She wanted him, needed him, but this couldn't last. She pulled away, her breath coming in heavy pants. "Reece, I'm going to London. This... whatever we have, it's over."

Reece's eyes darkened, his jaw tightening as he lit his cigar again, taking a slow drag before exhaling the smoke. "Why do you want to leave?"

Her eyes filled with tears. "I want to further my education. It's one of the things I've always put on hold but I'm excited I'm doing it."

He grabbed her wrists, pulling her back to him, his lips brushing against hers as he whispered, "They're top universities here, you don't have to go away"