LOGINI chuckled, staring down at the empty glass shot before me. It’s crazy how loyalty and honesty don’t count in today’s world. I’ve always been a good girl, and yet I was betrayed by the people I trusted and loved the most in the world.
I honestly had no idea why I thought I could cover up for the ladies who were trained to entertain very important guests.
“I don’t remember telling you my story.” I attacked.
The moment I got here, I spent a good amount of time in the restroom, crying my eyes out, before I finally came to sit by the counter for drinks.
Harry gave me an obvious look. “This is a club. Happy people come here; sad people also. So I can tell what’s up with you. I bet someone is going to replace you after you take your leave.” He gestured to where I was seated.
“Wow!!! Men must really be dickheads!”
“If you say so! But why do you even think I’ll choose you!”
“Because I am a virgin.”
Harry stared at me as though I had horns in my head.
“You are really untouched, and you let me waste my time in engaging in conversation with you?”
“You’ve had quite a number to drink, how come your speech is still clear?” He added.
“I’m a good girl, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to do the bad stuff.”
Harry parted his lips to say something, but I guess words failed him.
I had no power over the words that were rolling off my tongue. All I knew was that I was tired of being trampled on and, most importantly, I needed something to take my mind off this betrayal.
“Don is not having it. He said he’s going to leave in five minutes.” The staff from earlier said, looking worried as hell. “Did you get through to Nancy?”
“We need to act fast. Our job is at stake.” He panicked.
I could feel Harry’s eyes on me.
I continued to stare at the empty glass shot before me, pretending I had no idea what was going on around me.
“Are you sure you are up to the task?” Harry directed at me.
“I don’t do business with people who look down on me,” I answered, still not looking into his eyes.
“Look, sorry if I was harsh! Don is our biggest client. We only give him the best.”
“Then good luck with finding him the best!” I picked up my purse, then was almost getting off the stool when his voice came through again.
“Why go home and continue to sob on your couch when there’s an opportunity to have the time of your life?”
I finally looked into Harry’s eyes. “So now you believe in me?”
He shrugged! “Don is not into men, so there’s little I can do. I let you have a good time with a man anyone would die to have. In return, you help me keep my job.”
I rolled my eyes as I got off the stool.
“Don’t be a sucker! What better way to get revenge against your ex than screwing someone richer, hotter, and sexier than him?”
“Don doesn’t do virgins!” I mocked.
“You can take your leave. Let him know that someone will be there in a few.” He said to the staff who obeyed.
“You didn’t have to say that out loud.”
I arched a brow at the dude before me.
“Keep that between us. Don doesn’t have to know.”
I folded my arms. “And who says I’m in?”
“I don’t trust people, but I’m going to give you a chance,” Harry said, but before I could say a word to defend myself, he disappeared from my face.
“Asshole!” I mumbled as I opened my purse, trying to see if I still had some cash in there to take a taxi home.
Sadly, there was nothing there—just my phone, which I had run out of battery on.
“Perfect!” I huffed! I spent all my money on alcohol, and here I was. Stranded.
“Let’s go!” That familiar voice said, bringing me out of my thoughts.
It was Harry who was now standing beside me with his apron discarded.
“Huh?”
He grabbed my hand and let me out of the bar through a “staff only” door.
We got into the dressing room, and then he let go of my hand.
A lady in a very short dress and wine hair approached us. “Her dress is perfect, but please do something to her face and hair. Simple but classy. You got just one minute.”
Before I could have a say, the lady called Mary pushed me into a chair and began to work on my face. Through the mirror before me, I could see Harry standing behind us, watching Mary closely.
Mary was done with my face in no time, then she moved to my hair, fixing the curls as fast as she could.
“All done, Boss.” She said to Harry as she turned the chair around so I could face him.
“Better! Let’s go.”
“Huh?!” At this point, my reality dawned on me.
What the hell did I agree to?
“You have only one option. Getting the job done.” Harry said sternly. “I also do not forgive easily, so think twice before you ruin things.”
“You’re threatening me?” I said in disbelief. I was literally helping out here. Shouldn’t he be more grateful than commanding?
“I’m just being realistic, Amore. I need you to channel the betrayal into something positive. Make the best of this night. Look back and have no regrets!” Harry said, then took slow steps toward me. “I think I know your type, and it’s time to bring to life all the fiery and beastly desires that you’ve buried inside of you! Forget about me and my job. Go in there and make yourself proud. This is all about you.”
I swallowed painfully.
“After what felt like forever, Harry brought me before a door. “Don is all yours! He doesn’t need to know this is your first time. Bon appétit!” Harry reminded, then disappeared in a flash.
My heart began to race as I stared at the door before me. I was trying so hard not to think of the consequences of what was about to happen. I agree that I used to be a very calculated person, but where has that gotten me? I was done playing by the ethical rules of life. Even though it was just for tonight.
I heaved a silent sigh as I connected my hand to the door handle and pushed the door open.
MATTEOThe path was shorter than I remembered.Or maybe I’d just been dreading it long enough that I’d built it into something it wasn’t.The cemetery was quiet at this hour—the kind of quiet that didn’t feel empty but full. Like the air itself was holding something. I walked without needing to think about where I was going. My feet remembered even when the rest of me had spent three years trying to forget.I found her easily.The stone was smaller than I remembered. Or maybe I’d just grown heavier since the last time I stood here.Abigail MorettiEleven days. Forever loved.The grave was tended. Fresh flowers already there—the arrangement I had someone change every week without fail. The grass around it neat and trimmed.I stood there for a long time. I didn’t speak.The wind moved through the trees lining the path behind me. Somewhere in the distance a bird called once and then went silent. The afternoon light fell across the stone in a way that made it look almost warm.I don’t kno
MATTEOI don’t know what made me call. I don’t know what made me show up either.But somehow I was here, sitting in the same chair I hadn’t sat in for almost three years, in the same office that still smelled faintly of cedar and old books.The room was the kind of space that had been deliberately designed to put people at ease without being obvious about it. Warm light from a lamp in the corner cast something softer than the afternoon outside. Two chairs faced each other across a low table—no desk between us, no barrier. A bookshelf lined one wall, full but not cluttered. And directly opposite, the same abstract painting I’d spent too many sessions pretending to study instead of answering questions. Blues and greysbleeding into each other in a way that could mean anything or nothing, depending on the day.Dr. Reid sat across from me—relaxed, unhurried, one leg crossed over the other, a notepad resting on the arm of his chair that he hadn’t yet opened.He looked a little greyer at the
ISABELLE“Heyyyy!” Rachel caught up with me in the elevator, and it took everything in me not to roll my eyes. She stood close as the elevator door slowly came to a close.“You seem quiet lately. Or is it just me?”I finally looked her in the eyes, my hand tightening around my handbag.“You’re the one who’s been stalking me because you thought I had something going on with your man. When in reality, he wanted me as a tool.”Rachel scoffed. I was surprised at myself, too—in situations like this, I was used to saying nothing.“I don’t know who’s more delusional. You or Enrico, who actually thought you had potential.”“Why are you so obsessed with me?” I challenged, turning to face her fully. I had no idea why the elevator was taking so long to reach the ground floor.“Huh?” She gave me that look—the one that was half confusion, half ego.“Would you even still be standing here if I had ended up with Moretti and closed the deal Enrico wanted?”I didn’t miss the jealousy that flashed acros
ISABELLEI dumped my bag and the folder on the couch and made my way to the bedroom.I stopped at my nightstand, filled the glass with water, and gulped it down. I set the cup back where I’d picked it from and began undressing. I put my clothes aside and made my way to the bathroom.I heaved a deep sigh as the cold water made its presence known on my body. I shut my eyes for a moment, trying to block out any memories of him.He definitely took it seriously when I told him to ruin me. Because right now, I was in an even worse position than he’d found me in. Not only did I feel used, but now I was left to make a decision that felt like it would break me either way. It was crazy—I thought I had seen it all after what Dave put me through.My life was—I snapped out of my thoughts. Washed my body quickly and stepped out. I dried off, changed into a comfy top and matching shorts, then stood there for a moment in the quiet of my bedroom.I was debating whether to crawl into bed even though i
LUCIAThe shoot wrapped twenty minutes ago.The creative space was still buzzing with the tail end of it—assistants folding equipment away, stylists packing up their kits, the low hum of people transitioning from work mode back into themselves.I was still at the photographer’s workstation, leaning over his laptop, scrolling through the final shots. He’d stepped away moments ago to oversee the breakdown of the lighting equipment, leaving me with the images and the quiet satisfaction of a session that had gone well.I was mid-scroll when I sensed someone approach.Sheila.She looked the way she always did in professional settings—polished, deliberate, like every movement had been considered in advance. Her assistant trailed a step behind her, attending to whatever needed attending to, before Sheila dismissed her with a small gesture and closed the remaining distance between us alone.She smiled when she reached me.The kind of smile that was practiced enough to feel genuine.“Good sess
ISABELLE I don’t want to scare you.” A pause. “But I saw you standing at a crossroad. And I felt this overwhelming need to call you. To tell you—” Her voice wavered slightly. “Whatever you’re facing, my love. Whatever decision is in front of you. Please. Hang on. Don’t let fear or pain push you into something you can’t take back. You are stronger than you know. And you will be fine. I promise you, you will be fine.”I pressed my hand against my mouth. “Mom—”“I don’t know what’s going on with you,” she continued. “You haven’t called in days, and that’s not like you. But I felt it, Bella. I felt that something was sitting heavy on you. So I’m just asking you to hold on. Whatever it is.”The tears came before I could stop them.“I love you,” she said softly. “Whatever happens. Whatever you decide. I love you and I am so proud of the woman you’ve become.”“I love you too, Mom,” I managed, my voice barely holding together.We talked for another minute—small, gentle things, her telling me
Matteo.“What did you find?” I asked Charles. My eyes were on him as I brought the rim of my glass cup towards my lips.“She doesn’t work for the bar. Yesterday was her first time there. The hostesses meant for you were running late, so she covered up for them.”“Isabelle, 26. Engaged and dum
Hardly had I completed my statement when I felt a sharp thrust inside of me.Don took my words literally. He took my left nipple in his mouth, sucked, and continued to drill me down there.The room was filled with my moans and a little bit of Don’s grunt.Don got off me, lay on his side, and
ISABELLE.I gasped against Matteo’s mouth, and he took immediate advantage, his tongue sliding against mine with a skill that made my knees weak. This wasn’t like before—not careful, not controlled. This was raw, desperate, and absolutely consuming.My hands fisted in his shirt, pulling him closer
“You can just call in sick, you know?” Sage stared at me with worried eyes as I grabbed my handbag.“Staying home would only make me more depressed. So I might as well get busy with some real-life tasks.”“Everything going on is real?” She said, and I shrugged.“It makes no sense to cry over







