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16 - I OWN THE PLACE
Last Updated:
2025-01-20 03:55:08
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The Roomie Complex 17 - MARTY!!
“You – you own the place?” I nearly choke on my own words when we reached the parking lot, and I had finally recovered from my shock and found my voice.Damon chuckled at my shocked response “Oh don’t act humble now, I’m not going to fire you”“It’s not that” I interjected “You’re my boss literally, and – and I can’t date my boss. I’m sure it’s against the code of ethics or something”Damon chuckled again “What code of ethics?”“I – I – “ I was suddenly at loss for words“Get into the car Cheryl” he grunted as he held out the door for me. It was a sleek BMW and I was immediately engulfed in the new leather smell of the car, shiny leather glistening under the sun but there was something immediately comforting and equally uneasy about the sleek interiors of Damon’s car. Now Damon’s presence inside the car immediately shifted the whole dynamic. I became so aware that I was in the car with a man, and not just a man – the owner of the company I worked for and I just couldn’t seem to get p
Last Updated : 2025-01-21The Roomie Complex 18 - WHO ARE YOU
“So I’d assume the whole roomie thing didn’t work out, because I’d figured when he kissed you, you guys were actually a thing”I froze on the spot, my hands freezing mid-air, my eyes flicked up to Damon’s for a mere second and his expression mirrored mine.“Oops” Marty’s annoying voice cut through the thick tension in the air “I swear, that slipped right out of my mouth” it was fake guilt and I could see right through it. In as much as I could barely stand Marty’s face, I didn’t think I could sit in front of Damon. I felt a wave of embarrassment blast my face so hard that it nearly knocked me out of my seat.“Excuse me” I pushed my chair back, picked up my bag and walked right out of there.Yea, I was never coming back to this restaurant and I also needed to find a new job. Just as I stepped out of the restaurant, I could hear Damon’s heavy footsteps echoing behind me and before I could hit the streets, his heavy pair of hands grabbed my arms and turned me around.I didn’t give him a
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DAMON’S POVHer lips on mine—soft, warm, and utterly unexpected.It was like the air had been sucked out of my lungs, leaving me suspended in a moment I didn’t see coming but had been craving since the moment I walked into the casino, my casino. But she was sitting right there, a novice expression on her face. I had never seen her before, was she a new hire or had I never taken note of the people that worked at my company? No, I’d have definitely noticed her. The innocence in her eyes could never go unnoticed, it shook something in me, something primal and beastly. I wanted her, but she wasn’t making it easy….. she had this way of flipping the script.She fell into my arms that very same night, drunk on something more than the tequila I’m sure she had sworn she could handle. And I knew then that she wasn’t just another passing fascination. No, she was the kind of woman who wormed her way under your skin and settled there.And now, she’d kissed me.Her hands were firm but tender on eit
Last Updated : 2025-01-28The Roomie Complex 20 - TORN IN THE SPOTLIGHT
CHERYL’S POVThe air around me stilled as my eyes locked on Aiden. It was as if the world had slowed down, leaving just the two of us in this unbearable tension. He stood there, stiff yet poised, his arm resting lightly on Anika’s, but his gaze… his gaze pinned me in place. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.I should’ve looked away. I really should’ve, but there was something in those dark eyes that held me captive, something unreadable that twisted a knot deep in my chest.“Come on,” Damon’s voice cut through the haze, his hand resting on the small of my back. He urged me forward, but the weight of Aiden’s stare clung to me like a second skin.We stepped closer, and suddenly, there was no avoiding it. We met halfway. Aiden and Anika stopped just a few feet away, and the air felt like it was crackling, charged with tension so thick I could’ve sliced through it with a butter knife.Anika’s face lit up the moment she saw me, though her smile wasn’t the least bit friendly. Her eyes flitt
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AIDEN’S POVThe roar of paparazzi made me turn instinctively, my curiosity piqued. It wasn’t unusual for these events to get loud, but the sudden eruption had an edge to it, a frenzy that caught my attention. I scanned the crowd, trying to figure out what the ruckus was about—and that’s when I saw her.Cheryl.And not just Cheryl. Cheryl pressed against that guy she’d been gushing about for days, her lips locked with his in what could only be described as a very public display of affection. Damon Bass.For a second, my brain short-circuited. It wasn’t supposed to affect me. It’s Cheryl, I told myself. The same Cheryl I shared an apartment with, the same girl I used to torment in high school because she was ditsy and awkward and too easy to tease. She wasn’t supposed to matter like this.But she did.My jaw tightened as I watched them. Something twisted in my chest, unfamiliar and unwelcome. Why the hell did it feel weird watching her kiss that guy? Was she trying to make me jealous? I
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Cheryl’s POVThe moment Aiden looked up from his phone and said, “It’s my mother, Evelyn,” I swear my brain short-circuited.We just stood there, frozen in this ridiculous silence, like one of us was waiting for the other to pull a rabbit out of a hat. Finally, Aiden blinked down at his phone again, his brows knitting together in a way that was both adorable and maddening. “She wants to talk,” he said, his voice quiet, like he was still trying to convince himself. “She says she’ll tell me everything.”Everything.My mind did a quick sprint through all the possibilities of what “everything” could mean, but instead of settling on something profound to say, I just stood there, gaping like a fish. Smooth, Cheryl. Real smooth.Before I could recover, his phone pinged again, and his eyes flicked to the screen, then back to me. “She sent an address.”“Well—?” I prompted, crossing my arms as I studied him. Aiden looked... lost. Like a man who’d been handed the key to a locked door he wasn’t s
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Cheryl’s POVThe words hung in the air like an unfinished thought: One room left.I turned to Aiden, hoping he’d do the decent thing and sleep in the car, or better yet, vanish into thin air. But there he was, standing behind me, hands shoved into his pockets, a small, self-satisfied smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. Of course, he’d find this funny.“Well, this is awkward,” I muttered, my voice tinged with the kind of humor people use when they’re seconds away from losing it.“Awkward?” Aiden raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying himself. “Relax, Cheryl. It’s just one room. I promise not to snore.”Snore? That was the least of my concerns. The thought of being cooped up in a small space with Aiden Scott—the same Aiden Scott who’d bullied me all through high school and was now inexplicably hot and annoyingly smug—was enough to send my stress levels skyrocketing.“Fine,” I finally said, trying to sound unfazed. “We’ll take it.”The receptionist slid a rusty-looking key across the c
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DAMON’S POVI could feel her absence before I even realized she was gone.Even as I stood in the circle of dull conversation, listening to balding Williams tell a joke that was blatantly sexist if you actually thought about it, something about the air around me felt… off. Cheryl wasn’t here. Neither was that roommate of hers. My fingers tightened around my wine glass, forcing a tight-lipped smile as the men around me chuckled at the crude punchline.Where the hell did she go?I let my gaze flicker across the room, scanning through the sea of tuxedos and sequined gowns. Nothing. A slight frown creased my forehead. Cheryl wasn’t the type to just up and disappear without saying a word. Was she in the restroom? Outside getting air? The thought of her slipping away, vanishing into the night without so much as a goodbye, sent an unfamiliar irritation slithering through my chest.A second later, I’d had enough. “Gentlemen, excuse me,” I said smoothly, stepping away from the group without wai
Last Updated : 2025-01-30
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The Roomie Complex 58 - THE KIDNAP
AIDEN'S POVI’d texted her earlier asking if she wanted to meet for lunch. But this wasn’t going to be just lunch — I was planning a date. A real one. The kind where I’d lay it all out: the truth, my past, my feelings. I was going to tell her everything. Then I was going to tell her I loved her and I wasn't that person anymore.So I dressed like it mattered. A dark navy suit, tailored. The tie she once complimented. I bought a bouquet of red roses — ones that matched the silvery-red dress I’d sent over earlier. It had taken me a solid hour to choose that dress, something that clung just right and shimmered when she moved.The restaurant was tucked into the edge of the waterfront, the kind of place that wore its elegance like an old song — soft jazz playing in the background, golden lighting that kissed the walls, waiters in pressed shirts moving with quiet grace, and tables set with flickering candles and polished silver.I arrived early. Sat by the window with the view of the river g
The Roomie Complex 57 - DANCE WITH THE DEVIL
CHERYL'S POVI didn’t go home yet after I left Aiden at the party. I couldn't wrap her head around the bombshell Aiden had just dropped on me, and more so I couldn't believe Anika had been using it to have him wrapped around her slimy fingers.I walked straight into the storm.Anika’s place looked exactly how I imagined a villain’s lair would look—sharp angles, moody lighting, the scent of overconfidence and money woven into every inch. I didn’t knock. I walked in like I had every right to be there, because I did. Not with a plan. Not with a strategy. Just the weight of the truth and a fury too heavy to carry alone.She was sitting by the window holding a glass of red wine in her hand, dressed in casual baby tee and sweatpants, her blonde hair tied up in a messy ponytails, tendrils of her framing her face that now had a scowl the moment she saw me and then slowly it morphed to a smirk.“Cheryl,” she said without looking at me, like she’d been expecting this moment all her life. “To wh
The Roomie Complex 56 - YES YOU CAN
Cheryl's POV“She has something on me.”The words fell from his lips like stones into water, heavy and irreversible.For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. I just stared at him, feeling the ground beneath my feet shift. My heart was thundering in my chest, but my limbs were frozen, stiff with disbelief.She has something on me.That sentence echoed over and over again in my head, and with every repetition, it burned hotter—an inferno roaring in my chest, trying to claw its way out of me. My fingers loosened their grip around his wrist, not because I wanted to let go… but because I had to. Because if I held on a second longer, I might have shattered right in front of him.“What does she have on you?” My voice cracked around the edges, but I couldn’t keep the question down. It came out too fast, too desperate. “What kind of thing could she possibly have on you?”He looked away, his jaw tense. His silence twisted the knife deeper into my ribs.Then, finally, he spoke.“Something that happened
The Roomie Complex 55 - SECRETS
Aiden's POVI saw her before she saw me.She’d gone back to the party, to the flashing lights and the pulsing bass. I stayed behind, pacing like a caged animal, fury choking me with every breath I took.I’d let her walk away.Again.And that stranger—the one in the black mask—he was still there. Lingering. Like a goddamn shadow.The second I stepped back into the crowd, I saw her. Dancing.With him.Her body pressed flush against his, the white feathers of her mask catching the lights like she was some kind of fallen angel gone rogue. She moved like the music was part of her bloodstream—wild, reckless, untouchable. His hands were everywhere—her waist, her back, sliding too low. And she wasn’t just letting him.She was enjoying it. She was feeding off of it.And then she looked at me.That’s what fucking did it.She saw me standing there, eyes locked with mine.She knew I was watching.And she smirked.I felt it like a punch to the chest. That look—it was deliberate. A fire lit in her
The Roomie Complex 54 - TIME BOMB
I could still feel the weight of his touch lingering on my skin as I walked away from Aiden, but I didn’t let it stop me. Every step was harder than the last, but I pushed through, my heart pounding not just from the sudden rush of emotions, but from the fury that surged within me. Aiden wasn’t the only one who could make choices tonight.I needed to forget, and the quickest way to do that was to drown in the chaos of the party. The music called to me, a steady thrum that could wipe away anything. I didn’t even look back when I entered the mass of bodies. I needed something else to numb the ache. A distraction.I found him again.The stranger in the black mask, still standing there, leaning against the bar like he belonged to the night itself. His black shirt and trousers fit the atmosphere perfectly—dark, alluring, and just out of reach. When our gazes collided, I felt a pulse of recognition, that same magnetic pull that had led me to his side earlier. I was drunk, lost, and I hated
The Roomie Complex 53 - THREE WORDS, EIGHT LETTERS
CHERYL'S POVThe night wrapped around me like a silk veil, thick with the scent of summer air, sweat, and liquor. The masquerade carnival pulsed with energy—bodies moving in sync to the bass-heavy music, laughter and chatter blending into the electric atmosphere. Everywhere, there were flashes of color, glimmering masks, and people indulging in the thrill of anonymity. Tonight, nobody was anybody.I downed the last of my drink, my pulse buzzing as I let the alcohol seep into my bloodstream. One more. I needed another. Anything to drown the thoughts clawing at the edges of my mind—Aiden, Anika, my own stupidity. My dress fluttered as I spun into the crowd, letting myself get swept away by the music.I moved with reckless abandon, my body swaying in time with the beat, hands tangled in the humid air, the golden glow of the fairy lights painting my skin. If I let go hard enough, if I danced wild enough, maybe the weight in my chest would disappear. Maybe I could forget the hollow ache of
The Roomie Complex 52 - CARNIVAL
CHERYL'S POVI refused to cry.I refused to be the kind of girl who sat in her room, sobbing over a guy who couldn’t even bother to text her back. Well, I used to be that girl when I was married to Marty but not anymore or so I thought. But no matter how many times I swallowed hard, clenched my fists, or blinked up at the ceiling, the tears still fell. Hot. Unwanted. Furious.I wiped them away aggressively, my throat burning. Why did I still care?It had been hours since I left the beach, since I stood there alone under the fading sunlight like a complete idiot, waiting for Aiden. Waiting for nothing.And now, all I could see in my head was the exact reason why—Aiden walking out of Anika’s house.Betrayal sliced through me.The sound of my phone buzzing snapped me out of my thoughts. I almost ignored it, but then I saw the message.Pearl: Hey babe, town's masquerade party is tonight. You in?I hesitated.I wasn’t in the mood to party. Not when my heart felt like it had been ripped apa
The Roomie Complex 51 - I'LL MAKE IT UP TO YOU
Aiden’s POV – The Night He Stood Cheryl UpThe plan was simple. Meet Cheryl. Tell her the truth. Be with her.I had imagined it already—the way her face would light up when she saw the picnic I had set up. The way the ocean breeze would tangle in her hair, the way I’d sit next to her, close enough to reach out and touch her hand. Just me, her, and the waves.And then, just as I was getting ready, Anika called.I almost didn’t pick up. Almost. But something in her voice made me pause. A tremble. A sharp breath. I had known her long enough to recognize when something was wrong."Aiden, can you come over?""Anika, I can’t right now—""Please. Just for a second."It was stupid. I should have said no. I should have ignored the call and gone straight to Cheryl like I was supposed to. But a part of me thought, if I just check on her real quick, then I can leave. No harm done.I told myself I was going to be in and out.At Anika’s PlaceI barely stepped through the doorway before I told her,
The Roomie Complex 50 - STOOD UP
CHERYL'S POVCheryl wasn’t sure why she invited Pearl shopping with her. They weren’t particularly close. In fact, before all of this, Pearl had been little more than a friendly acquaintance—one of the few people in town who didn’t make her feel completely out of place. But for some reason, when she was debating who to call up, Pearl’s name had come to mind.Maybe it was because Pearl knew things. Maybe it was because Cheryl needed information.She didn’t ask about Aiden right away. That would be too obvious. Instead, she wandered the clothing racks with a lazy sort of interest, picking up a sundress here, a pair of sandals there, pretending to be lost in thought.Pearl caught on quickly.“Okay,” she said, turning to Cheryl with an amused look. “You keep sneaking glances at me like you wanna ask something but are too scared to say it. Spit it out.”Cheryl hesitated, feigning interest in a rack of crop tops before finally sighing. “It’s nothing.”Pearl scoffed. “Bullshit.”Cheryl wince
