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Chapter 11: The First Client
Last Updated:
2025-07-03 02:02:19
Latest chapter
After Dark Chapter 15: The First Target
The Grand Vista Hotel ballroom glittered, a sea of elegant dresses and sharp suits. Soft music played, mixing with the hum of many conversations. My heels clicked softly as I moved through the crowd, my eyes fixed on Emmet Samuel. He was exactly as Caden described: in his twenties, dark hair, sharp suit, looking ambitious among a group of older, powerful men. He was laughing, a bit too loudly, at something one of them said. My heart thumped, but I pushed down the fear. This was my first real test for Caden. I had to do this, for Mom, for Jasper. I took a deep breath, pasted on a polite smile, and aimed for his group. I paused a few feet away, pretending to admire a nearby art piece, making sure I was close enough to listen, to catch his eye. Emmet glanced over, his eyes lingering for a moment before turning back to his conversation. He noticed me. Good. I waited for a natural pause, then moved closer. "Excuse me," I said, my voice soft, but clear enough to cut through the noise. "I
After Dark Chapter 14: A New Kind of Performance
The heavy main door of Caden's mansion clicked shut behind me. The sound didn't offer freedom; it sealed me into a new kind of prison. The bright afternoon sun felt too harsh, mocking the darkness that had just settled deep inside me. I was outside, yes, but no longer my own. The air felt thick, heavy with the weight of the deal. My limbs felt weak, like every bone had turned to water. I had agreed. I had sold myself, not just for money now, but for Caden’s sinister game. The long walk back home was a blur of concrete and green lawns. My mind replayed his cold smile, his cruel words, the way he twisted my love for Jasper and Mom into a chain around my neck. He owned me now, in a way that felt even worse than before. Before, it was about hiding Eve. Now, Eve was his too. I got home just as Mom was waking from her nap. "Maeve, honey? Is that you?" she called, her voice still a little raspy. "It's me, Mom," I said, forcing a cheerful tone I didn't feel. I quickly hid my backpack and
After Dark Chapter 13: The New Terms
The heavy wooden door opened slowly, revealing a sliver of darkness that widened into the mansion's vast entry hall. My heart hammered against my ribs. Caden stood there, looking impossibly calm. He wore dark pants and a loose white shirt, sleeves rolled up, showing strong forearms. His eyes, dark and sharp, met mine, and a slow, unsettling smile spread across his face. "Right on time, Maeve," he said, his voice a low rumble that filled the huge, echoing space. "Come in. Don't be shy." I stepped inside, the door closing with a soft, heavy thud behind me. The soundproofing was immediate. The world outside, the city noise, all vanished. I was truly trapped. The entry hall was massive, cold marble floors stretching out, leading to wide, curving staircases and more dark, expensive wood. It smelled faintly of old money and something sharp and clean, like polished steel. "This way," Caden said, gesturing with a hand that seemed to command the space. He didn't wait for me, just turne
After Dark Chapter 12: The Tightening Noose
Saturday morning offered a thin, fragile peace. The wad of cash from Richard was hidden deep in my backpack, a heavy secret, yet a desperate relief. It meant Jasper's hospital bill, that grim monster, could finally be tamed. Mom's cough sounded softer, and Jasper's innocent play filled our small apartment with rare, normal sounds. For a few precious hours, our home felt almost safe. But the calm was a lie. It always was, with Caden Dovewood lurking. He'd known about Eve, a shadow always at my heels. His gaze was a constant, chilling reminder that my carefully built double life was his to expose whenever he chose. I'd lived with his eyes on me for weeks, enduring his presence at school, the forced closeness, the terrifying physical demands. The encounter with Richard, a desperate gamble for cash had only deepened my vulnerability, giving Caden more specific ammunition. My mind kept returning to Richard—a lonely man, yes, but also a symbol of how far I’d gone, how much deeper into the
After Dark Chapter 11: The First Client
Caden, surprisingly, kept his distance. He watched me, I knew, felt his eyes like a physical touch, but he didn't approach. It was a strange kind of freedom, and a new kind of terror. What was he planning? Was this his way of seeing if I'd break on my own? He probably thought I would. By Friday afternoon, my nerves were frayed. My last class felt like it lasted forever. I walked home on autopilot, the world feeling muted around me. Mom was coughing more, Jasper was drawing quietly on the floor, and the hospital bill sat like a monster on the kitchen counter. It reminded me why I was doing this. --- The air at The Onyx on a Friday night was always thick with a mix of expensive perfume, stale smoke, and loud music. Tonight, it felt heavier, almost suffocating. I went through the motions of getting ready, pulling on the familiar black wig, painting my face into Eve's confident mask. This time, however, the usual shimmer of my dancing outfit felt less like a costume and more like a un
After Dark Chapter 10: The Offer
The message to Mr. Thorne sat in my 'sent' box, a glowing confirmation of the new, terrible path I was about to take. My stomach was a tangle of nerves and grim resolve. There was no going back now. Jasper's breathing was too shallow, Mom's cough too deep. The next morning at Oakridge High, the air between Nova and me was thick with unspoken words. She tried to catch my eye in the hallway, her expression a mix of hurt and worry, but I kept my gaze fixed ahead. I couldn't afford to break, not with the new weight on my shoulders. I was already juggling Caden's demands, school, and my shifts at The Onyx. Adding this new "Special Client Engagement" role meant I needed to be tougher, colder, than ever before. Lunchtime arrived, and I made my usual quick escape to a quiet corner of the library. I pulled out my sandwich, but the thought of eating made my stomach rebel. My phone vibrated. A text from an unknown number. My heart leaped. It was Mr. Thorne. Mr. Thorne: "Meet me at The Onyx af
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