She wasn’t expecting anyone, and after the day she’d had, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to see anyone either.Maybe it was Jessie, coming to check on her.Suddenly, she panicked.Could it be the real owner of the gift she received the other day?She hesitated, staring at the door.The doorbell rang again, this time the visitor was desperate, after being ignored by Beauty for the past minutes.Beauty sighed and finally walked cautiously toward the door, her hand trembling slightly as she reached for the handle. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.To her surprise, the same delivery people from the other day stood on her doorstep, smiling warmly at her.This time, they were holding an even bigger package, a large box of chocolate cake adorned with chocolate snacks like Hershey's, Reese's, and M&M's.Another bouquet of roses accompanied the box, even more beautiful and looks more expensive than the firstBeauty’s eyes widened in shock. She blinked severally, her mouth opening slig
With one last glance at the hidden gifts, she left her room and headed downstairs to wait for her parents, hoping she could keep everything normal so they wouldn't suspect anything.When the doorbell rang again, Beauty's heart skipped a beat. She thought it was too soon for her parents to have arrived. But as she cautiously opened the door, she was surprised to find Jessie standing there, looking annoyed.“Really?”Jessie snapped with arched brows, her hands folded.“Jessie! I’m so sorry…..” Beauty started to apologize, but Jessie waved her off, stepping inside with a huff.“It’s fine, don't start crying. I’m here to make you feel better, not the other way around.” Jessie said.“I wasn't going to cry”.Beauty said, embarrassed.Jessie rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, cry baby. I actually came to tell you that I had a run-in with Kathy. So I gave her a piece of my mind she’ll never forget.”Beauty's eyes widened, she wondered what could have been the issue.Jessie was never one to hol
He flashed Raymond that smile of his.“I guess I have found out, who do you think I had this bulge for?”Raymond's jaw dropped as he noticed Bruno's massive bulge too.He felt the strongest urge to touch it.“That is a nice-looking stuff, so this was because of me?”Raymond asked, he couldn’t take his eyes off it.While Bruno couldn’t take his eyes off Raymond's face.“You ask too many questions, cutie”.Immediately Bruno got down on his knees, face straight in Raymond's crotch, and hands started undoing the lace of his shorts.Raymond felt his throat dry, he knew what he was going to do, most importantly he wanted Bruno to do it, he ached for it for so long. That was the only reason he is here working for his annoying sister.He closed his eyes and threw his head backwards.“Yes…Fuck… Bruno”.“Raymond…”“Bruno…”“Raymond!”“Wait, that wasn't Bruno's voice," Raymond thought and opened his eyes only to see a blurry image of a tall lady furious staring at him.“What the hell are you ca
Bruno woke up to the soft light filtering through the curtains of his luxurious bedroom. The first thing that caught his eye was the image of Beauty on his PC screen. He had spent the previous night scrolling through her Instagram page, he wanted to see if she posted about the gifts he sent, until sleep claimed him.Doesn't that make him a stalker?However, unlike his sister Abigail, who posts any little thing, including a pimple update.“Ew a zit, you don't belong here, but it's cute, though. My face makes it cute. Schedule calling, I will get emergency laser treatment. See ya soon lovelies,xoxo”.Beauty never posts even a picture of herself. Only the cropped profile picture. The pictures on her wall are mostly Jessie's, her parents and family members he had no idea of.Pushing aside the covers, Bruno sat up and ran a hand through his tousled hair, the remnants of sleep slowly fading away.He took a moment to appreciate God for another day before swinging his legs out of bed and s
Just then, her mother's voice echoed up the stairs. "Beauty, breakfast is ready! Come down before it gets cold!"Beauty blinked and glanced at herself in the mirror one last time before turning away.She walked out of the bathroom and made her way downstairs. The scent of bacon and eggs wafted through the air, and her stomach growled in response, momentarily distracting her from her worries.Entering the kitchen, Beauty saw her father sitting at the head of the dining table, hidden behind the morning newspaper, and her mother bustling around, setting down plates of food. The kitchen was filled with the warmth of morning sunlight streaming through the windows, making the room feel warm and bright."Morning, sweetheart," her father greeted, looking up from his newspaper with a smile. "Did you sleep well?"Beauty nodded, taking her seat at the table."You are not going to work today?"Her father asked again. "Yeah, I took a day off, to focus on an important design." Luckily, her fa
“Oh it was indeed a wonderful day sweetie. And the music! Oh my gosh! They had a live band playing soft jazz throughout the night. It was so romantic. Couples were dancing, your daddy and I showed off a little too much, we almost overshadowed the young couple”.Beauty's mom said with pride.Beauty smiled softly.“She dragged me into it”.Her Dad snapped in defense.His wife frowned at his statement.“Oh now you're going to blame me? But you got into it and danced like you were the groom!”Beauty shook her head.“Anyway, Lisa's fiancé, Marcus, made the sweetest speech. He talked about how he knew from the moment he met her that she was the one. He even said she was his other half, and he couldn’t imagine his life without her. Everyone was tearing up.”“Your mother was the everyone I guess”.Mr. Hills cuts in sarcastically and chuckled.“What do you mean, Hills! You also had some tears in your eyes too!”“I didn't even cry on our wedding day what makes you think I had tears in my eyes b
As they finished breakfast, Beauty’s mother, Mrs. Hill got up to fetch something from the fridge.Opening the door, she peered inside.She sighed and closed it with a slight frown. “It looks like we’re out of a few things,” she said, glancing over at Beauty.“I was thinking about going to the grocery store today. Do you mind going instead? I have a few things to take care of around the house.”Beauty nodded readily, wiping her mouth with a napkin.“Sure, I can go. I was planning to run a few errands today anyway.”A few errands or maybe a therapeutic walk to get her emotions in check. First about her high school reunion invitation and now.Her little cousin who just got engaged.Mrs. Hill smiled back to her daughter, appreciative. “Thanks honey. Just make sure to take your umbrella with you. It’s looking cloudy out there, and I wouldn’t want you to get caught in the rain. You have a thing for colds you know.”Beauty glanced out the window and saw the gray clouds gathering, heavy an
“He wasn't wearing anything that speaks celebrity, just a simple Hoodie and sweatpants, he was still able to pull a large crowd. Unfortunately for him, anything on that body of his will appear expensive and hotter. He should put more effort and wear a face mask. That face will always attract female admirers”Beauty pouted.She looked closer and noticed his awkwardness.“That smile definitely looked forced, poor Bruno, he hates such attention. He must be praying to disappear from there”. Beauty said to herself.When the women finally dispersed, satisfied with their encounter, Bruno turned to continue his shopping. Beauty waited, counting to ten in her head before daring to peek around the corner.The coast seemed clear.“Thank goodness, I better grab the things I need and leave before he sees me”.She murmured with relief.Quickly, she straightened up and headed for the next item on her list.She needed a jar of honey from the top shelf, but as she stood before it, she realized with a
"How did this even happen?" Jessie asked curiously."It's a long story, Jess," Beauty replied, shivering-not so much from the cold but from the aftershock of what had just happened."You're still shaking," Jessie commented."I'm okay, Jess," Beauty murmured, her voice thick with emotion. "Thanks to Bruno... I don't know what would have happened if he hadn't been there.""I'm glad. He followed you without a second thought."Beauty pressed her lips together"The way he shouted my name, his voice... it was the reason I kept pushing to survive, even when I was sinking into the water. I've never been so scared in my life," she sobbed.Jessie hugged her again. "It's okay, honey. It's okay," she whispered.Just then, Ferdinand's voice interrupted them. "You two want to go back swimming? It's time to leave the woods!""This is probably a sign to leave the woods you know," someone on the team whispered.Jessie pulled back and used her palms to dry her friend's tears. "Come on, let's get you
Her voice was a whisper, her gaze downcast, her cheeks flushed but still wet with tears. She suddenly shifted, her foot slipping as she tried to balance herself, pressing her knee against his crotch, directly into arousal he'd been fighting to hide."It's... hard... rock," she murmured to herself, her cheeks flushing as realization dawned on her.Bruno froze, knowing she'd found him out, feeling the blush of embarrassment creep up his neck.How could he get an erection at a time like this? What a creep he is!Awkwardly, he stepped back, gently letting her go, his hands falling to his sides.Beauty stood there at the shore, her body soaked, watching him leave.Just then, Jessie and the others appeared, rushing toward them.Mrs. Lola Cruz covered her mouth emotionally, seeing they were both safe."Lo siento, this is all my fault. I shouldn't have asked you to look for Bobby.""Please don't apologize. It's not your fault," Bruno replied calmly.One of the staff threw him a towel.Jessie
"Hold on, I'm coming for you!" Bruno yelled out.The river's current was strong, making it difficult even for him, but his strokes were powerful, so he pushed through, his eyes never leaving her.He could feel his heart pounding harder and harder with fear. He had never felt so much fear, never had someone so dear to him that he panicked at the thought of losing them-let alone watching them die right in front of him.Beauty started coughing and sank into the river."Beauty!" Bruno yelled so loudly that his veins created a visible network across his forehead and neck, his eyes red with shock and despair.The river's flow had dragged Beauty under, only for her to resurface, coughing and choking, her eyes red from the struggle. Her breaths came in frantic gasps, her arms flailing.She burst into tears.Bruno, who had frozen after she went under, snapped out of it and pushed himself to swim faster this time.His heart skipped a beat when he saw her disappear beneath the surface again, w
A collective sigh of relief swept through the group. Beauty felt a strange mix of embarrassment and awkwardness. She wanted to laugh but had to hold it in.They had all been so caught up in the drama, so ready to offer help, only to find out it was just... a chicken?"Oh, sorry," they all murmured in unison, their faces flushing with embarrassment.Jessie was fighting every urge not to laugh at the poor lady. In fact, she had to avoid eye contact with Beauty, because that would definitely cause her laughter to explode."We'll help you find your baby, Mrs. Lola," Bruno said gently, reassuring her."Muchas gracias."Beauty stared at Bruno as he consoled the elderly woman, hoping they could make eye contact, longing to be consoled by him too. But he was very serious about keeping his distance this time... forever.Kathy wasn't happy with the idea of looking for a chicken. She had been glad to finish her shoots so they could leave this dreadful place, only to be asked to find a missing ch
However before any of them could actually say anything, Mrs. Lola approached them.Beauty nervously wondered what could be her reason for coming to speak with her."Ms. Beauty, I am impressed by your designs, really. I would love to work with you again... after this tour. What do you say?""Thank you so much," Beauty managed, feeling a mix of pride and nerves. "I appreciate the offer and will do my best.""I'm sure you will," Lola said with a smile, then she nodded at Jessie inform of acknowledgement, Jessie smiled back awkwardly.As the two watched her walk away, Beauty drew a deep breath."She does like you... a lot of pressure, huh?" Jessie whispered, starting a conversation.Beauty's breath caught in her throat as she looked at her friend and nodded slowly.Jessie chuckled and gave her a thumbs-up."Good job. Looks like you've got a fan in Mrs. Cruz. You shouldn't be distracted at this time, okay? We all make mistakes...you have to be strong and focused more this time. Don't let t
Mrs. Lola Cruz stepped forward with a broad smile."First, I want to thank the F&F team for this collaboration. I am yet to see Mr. Bruno, but I am sure he has something important that may be the reason he can't be here with us. About this collection. It is meant to embrace our culture with a combination of nature. I must confess, Mr. Ferdinard, your company has some real talent; I can testify to that. It was nice working with them.. especially Beauty Hills.I can't believe we were able to round up the designs within hours after she joined us... please give her an applause, please."She said and gestured at Beauty.The models and stylists, the whole crew, clapped loudly, cheering for Beauty.Well,Kathy was an exception,other designers had a tough t"Thank you... for the opportunity, Mrs. Lola." Beauty managed to reply and tried to force a smile but her thoughts kept drifting back to her break-up.She stole a glance at her phone lying beside her Sketchpad, half-hoping for a message fr
Jessi frowned at his stubbornness. She didn't blame him, but the fact that he was in denial seemed childish to her.He still loves her, he can't even look her in the eyes and say those words!He longs for Beauty..he just need to push a little bit. He must be feeling like a fool but just another chance."I know you're frustrated, Bruno. But she's been through so much. Her past... it's made her afraid to trust anyone, even herself. Can't you give her one more chance? She's terrified you're going to leave, just like everyone else. And here you are, making it come to pass. Don't pretend this doesn't matter to you. You can't just shut your feelings for her off like that; you know you love her."Bruno shook his head, an exasperated chuckle escaping his lips."You don't get it, Jessi," he muttered. "Beauty's... she's too complicated. She's hurt me in ways I didn't even know were possible. Do my feelings not matter because I am a man?"Jessi crossed her arms as she took another step toward hi
Jessi stood just outside the door, hesitating. She had already knocked twice; no reply from Bruno. She wasn't sure if he even wanted to see her. Not after what happened last night. She knew it would be tough for him this time.However, Beauty's sadness had broken her heart. She knew she had to do something-anything-to bring them back together.She told Beauty she can take care of him.Ofcourse,she would have given it a chance, but not when she knew for sure that Beauty loved Bruno, and he also loved her. They had to make it work; they should!Arching her brow at the thought, she summoned a deep breath and gave one more quick knock.Without waiting for an answer anymore, she turned the knob and stepped into the room.Bruno was standing by the window, his gaze out over the garden. He didn't turn when she entered or even act like he noticed her presence.Jessi sighed."Bruno," she called softly, as she closed the door behind her. He didn't answer, and she didn't expect him to."I know y
The next morning, Beauty was the first to wake, her heart heavy as she sat up on her bed, staring at Bruno. He was still asleep, his chest rising and falling with the rhythm of his breath.Everything that happened last night kept flooding into her head.From the truth-and-dare game, the harassment from Ferdinard, to Bruno's drunk act and cuddling her to sleep.She wasn't sure how he would have reacted, so she had to wake up with him close to her, but she had to pull away. Her gaze went back to Bruno.She didn't know what to expect from him or the next step she should take. Jessie isn't here to give her a piece of advice. Her words last night were clear; she had to choose.As if on cue, the duvet she had carefully draped over Bruno's body after sneaking out of his arms the night before shifted and fell off, leaving him exposed.Beauty's breath hitched, her hands trembling slightly as she stood up and moved toward his bed to cover him again.She reached for the blanket, but before she