Daniel stepped out of the bathroom, the lingering coolness of the ritual rinses still clinging to his hands and mouth.
His shirt sleeves were rolled up, his tie discarded somewhere in the corner. He was muttering under his breath, still irritated at the evening’s events. The soft click of the bathroom door behind him punctuated the otherwise silent room. And then he froze. Standing in the middle of the dimly lit suite was Irene, but she wasn’t just standing. She was completely bare, her skin glowing like porcelain under the subdued light, flawless and untouched. Daniel’s throat tightened, and an involuntary gulp escaped him, the sound echoing in the stillness. His eyes widened, unable to immediately process what he was seeing. “Hot,” Irene muttered, her voice slightly slurred as she bent down. Her fingers worked deftly at the clasp of her bra, unhooking it with an unsettling calm. The garment slipped down her arms and onto the floor, joining the other discarded pieces of her clothing. “I’m so hot,” she murmured again, running her hands through her tousled hair. Her movements were unsteady, but her tone was almost nonchalant, as though oblivious to Daniel's presence. Daniel’s breath hitched, his fists clenching at his sides as he fought the pull of his emotions. Annoyance. Shock. A spark of something darker that he shoved down with ruthless control. “Who the hell sent you?” His voice cut through the tension like a knife, low and furious. He crossed the room in two long strides, his hand shooting out to grasp her neck, not tightly but firm enough to still her movements. Irene gasped, her wide, dazed eyes locking onto his. Her lips parted, but no words came. She didn’t struggle, didn’t pull away. “Tell me,” Daniel growled, his face inches from hers, his dark eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and confusion. “Who sent you? Who the hell are you working for?” Her breath came in shallow pants, her chest heaving under his intense glare. “I… I don’t…” she stammered, her voice barely audible. His grip on Irene’s neck faltered as she swayed unsteadily, her glassy eyes unfocused. Irene did not answer his furious question—didn’t even acknowledge it. Instead, she tilted her head to one side, then the other, humming softly as if she were lost in her own world. “Who sent you?” he demanded again, his tone sharp and biting. “Answer me!” But Irene just giggled, the sound soft and strangely childlike. Before Daniel could react, she reached out, her fingers curling around his wrist. With surprising strength and drunken determination, she tugged him forward and turned him, pushing him flat onto the bed. “What the—” Daniel’s protest was cut off as Irene climbed on top of him, straddling his hips. Her hands pressed against his chest, and she leaned forward, her breath hot against his face. “I’m hot,” she murmured, her voice slurred but insistent. “So hot, Daniel.” Her hips began to move, grinding against him through the fabric of their clothes. Daniel froze, his hands gripping the bedspread as he fought the surge of heat flooding his body. His jaw clenched, his breathing quickening despite himself. “Get off me,” he growled, but his voice lacked its usual conviction. Irene shook her head, a teasing smile playing on her lips. “No,” she said simply, her hands sliding up to his shoulders. “You feel good. Cool. I need… cool.” Her movements became more deliberate, and Daniel’s restraint began to slip. His dark eyes burned with a mixture of anger and lust as he glared up at her. “You crazy woman,” he warned, his voice dangerously low. “Stop this right now.” She didn’t. Instead, she laughed softly, her drunken haze evident in every motion. You know we can have sex right I am ready for you Irene said roaming her hands over his chest through his clothes. Daniel groaned, his frustration mounting. His self-control was hanging by a thread, and she was unraveling it with every sway of her hips. “Fuck,” he muttered under his breath, his resolve breaking. In one swift movement, he flipped her over, pinning her beneath him. Her laughter died as she stared up at him, her lips parted and her chest heaving. “You don’t even know what you’re doing but better don't regret this and when you are back to your senses tomorrow I would take responsibility,” he growled, his voice rough with suppressed desire. Irene’s only response was a lazy smile, her hands trailing up his arms as if to taunt him further. Daniel’s gaze dropped, his eyes catching on the curve of her bare skin. His control snapped, and he bent down, his lips capturing her nipple. Her soft gasp was the only sound that broke the tense silence in the room. And then everything went quiet, save for the sound of Irene's moans.The house was still as, Daniel sat cross-legged on the edge of his dining table, a newspaper open in front of him, one hand holding his usual morning cup of coffee. His hair was still messy from sleep, and he hadn’t bothered changing out of the navy T-shirt and sweatpants he’d thrown on after his shower. The article he was reading had nothing to do with work but everything to do with escaping it. Then, the front door flew open. “Dano!” a familiar voice roared from the hallway. “Dano! Dano!” Daniel sighed, setting his mug down. “I’m right here,” he called out, loud enough for his voice to travel. “God, what now?” he asked himself, Just as Henry his father stormed into the room, nearly tripping over the rug at the doorway. His eyes were wild, his blazer was half-off one shoulder, and in his hand was a white envelope he clutched like a winning lottery ticket. “I told you!” Henry said breathlessly, waving the envelope in the air. “I said it, didn’t I? I told you there was a pos
The door clicked shut with more force than necessary. Daniel Blackwood stormed into his father’s private lounge inside the top floor of the company a room meant for peace, but now crackling with tension. “Father, you can’t be serious he barked at his father who was seated in his usual chair by the tall window, his back straight, and his eyes calm. Daniel didn’t wait for his father's response before throwing another or several questions at him. What the hell was that father why did you do it?” He asked his voice brimming with anger But his father did not even stir or flinch at his son's voice instead he turned his glass of wine slowly on the table, the wine inside barely rippling. Before looking up smiling at his son and giving a response that was totally different from the question he had been asked. “Good evening to you too, son he responded To which daniel threw his hand in the air in annoyance Don’t start with that father don't try to change the subject. You
The old front door creaked open and banged softly against the chipped wall behind it. Irene walked in first, her lips pressed into a tight line. . She didn’t say a word she didn’t need to as her silence screamed louder than anything the boys had ever heard. She still had her hand wrapped firmly around Elias’s wrist, not yanking him forward, but holding him just tight enough to make sure he wouldn’t drift away. Ethan shuffled behind them, his backpack sliding off one shoulder, his shoes scuffing against the floor. The apartment was hot, cramped, and smelled faintly of fried stew. The fan in the corner was doing its best to fight the stale heat, whirring loudly and shaking a little with every turn. One small couch, an old center table, a folded mattress against the wall, a bucket of clean clothes waiting to be folded everything was squeezed tightly into the tiny room. Levi came out from the bedroom just as the door closed behind them. Her scarf had fallen halfway off
Inside the sleek interior of the car, Ethan leaned toward Elias and whispered, “Do you think Mama’s gonna be mad?” Elias gave him a side-eye. “Probably. But maybe less mad if we come with a rich old man.” “I heard that,” Mr. Blackwood’s father said mildly, amusement tugging at his lips. Then they turned sheepishly toward him. “Don’t worry,” he continued. “If she scolds you, I’ll take the blame.” Elias grinned. “Promise?” “Cross my heart.” As the car came to a smooth stop in front of the private underground entrance, a valet rushed over, already bowing slightly when he recognized the man inside. The driver opened the door for Mr. Blackwood’s father, who stepped out and gestured for the boys to follow. “Stay close,” he said, his voice low but authoritative. Ethan grabbed Elias’s hand instinctively as they trailed after the man, wide eyed at the luxury around them. The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, revealing a mirrored interior lined with polished gol
“Elias, are you sure this is a good idea?” Ethan asked, tightening the straps of his tiny backpack as they walked side by side. Elias grinned mischievously, hugging his little hoodie closer. “Of course it is. Don’t you want to see where Mama works?” “I do,” Ethan muttered, then glanced around. “But we’re gonna get in so much trouble. You know she’s gonna be mad when she finds out we left after school!” “She won’t be mad if we surprise her,” Elias said confidently. “It’ll make her happy.” Ethan shot him a skeptical look. “You sure about that?” “Very sure.” There was a beat of silence before Ethan mumbled, “Do we even know how to get there?” Elias smirked and patted his chest proudly. “I took it for myself.” “Took what?” “The card. Mama’s card. It has the name of her company on it. BIC Enterprises.” Ethan’s eyes widened. “You stole her business card?” “I didn’t steal it! I borrowed it. I’m gonna give it back.” They reached the sidewalk where a few cabs were parked
Irene moved through the office like a machine. From the moment she clocked in that morning, her mind had been spinning. Ethan and Elias's question from earlier haunted her like a shadow clinging to her heels. "Mama, do we have a dad?" Her lips had gone dry immediately and her heart had nearly stopped From that question. And ever since, everything around her had felt like a blur. Her hands had moved on their own filing documents, passing forms, replying “yes sir” and “on it” to her boss's endless commands but she wasn’t there. Not really. Her body was present, but her soul was elsewhere, trapped in that single question she had no answer to. Mr. Blackwood had barked orders all morning. "Where are the Peterson files?" "Did you cross-check the shareholder update?" "That email should’ve been sent ten minutes ago!" She didn’t even flinch. She did everything without protest, without expression just like a robot. It was around midday and she had just returned from su