The moment the door clicked shut behind Ben, the sly smile on Stacy’s face widened into a full-blown grin. Her eyes flickered to the dimly lit corner of the suite where a small, sleek black camera, no larger than a thumb drive, blinked faintly behind a decorative vase on the table across the bed.She threw the sheets off her body and got out of bed with a catlike stretch, her silk robe now draped loosely over her shoulders. The scent of perfume and sin still lingered in the room, and she breathed it in as if victory had its own intoxicating aroma.“You think you’re smart, huh, Ben?” she said aloud to the empty room, walking over to the vase. Her heels clicked softly on the marble floor. “You think it’s over because you walked out with your conscience dragging behind you like a kicked dog.”She retrieved the hidden camera with delicate precision, smirking at the blinking light. “But I’ve got the real power now.”She walked over to the laptop she’d hidden under the bed, slid it out, and
The air was heavy in Ben’s car as he sat parked outside the hotel.He gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. The city lights glowed dimly around him, casting flickers of red and gold across his windshield. His mind replayed the last few hours like a never-ending reel—Serena’s laughter that morning, her eyes lighting up when he brought her tea in bed, the way she had pulled him close and said, “Promise me you’ll never hurt me.”But here he was.Parked outside the Orion Hotel, Suite 907. Stacy’s chosen place.His head dropped back against the headrest, and he closed his eyes. Why am I here? he asked himself, over and over. He already knew the answer.He wasn’t here for lust. It wasn’t about desire. It was about control. Stacy held something over him something that could rip Serena apart and in a moment of weakness, self-hatred, and fear, Ben had chosen the coward’s path.He took a deep breath, unbuckled his seatbelt, and stepped out of the car.The lobby was qu
Casedepero Lounge was dimly lit and stylish, with velvet chairs, low golden lights, and a jazz trio playing in the corner. Ben walked in, scanning the room with the sharp, assessing gaze of a man used to being in control.And there she was.Stacy sat at a secluded table, sipping a martini, her lips painted blood red and her dress clinging to her like silk on fire. She waved him over with an infuriating smile.“Well, well,” she purred as he slid into the seat across from her. “You came.”“I came for answers,” he said curtly, not bothering with pleasantries.“Of course,” she murmured, tracing the rim of her glass with one finger. “But first, let’s drink to old times.”Ben ignored the offer and leaned forward. “How do you know about Serena’s parents?”Stacy tilted her head, smirking. “I told you, I have my ways. You’re not the only one who’s been digging through the past, Ben. You should know me by now I always land on my feet. And lately, I’ve been… curious.”He stared at her, expressio
Hi, Ben,” she said seductively, her voice purring like a cat circling its prey.Ben leaned back in his chair, one hand lazily resting on the armrest, the other holding his phone to his ear. He arched a brow at the sound of her voice silky, confident, and dripping with trouble. “Hello, Stacy,” he replied in a teasing tone. “Good to hear from you. It’s been a while.”“Well,” she said with a dramatic sigh, “after our last encounter in your office, I haven’t reached out. Thought I’d give you space. But I decided now is as good a time as any.”Ben chuckled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Wow, that’s considerate of you.”There was a pause, then Stacy’s voice returned with a playful edge. “Could we meet up by 7 PM? I pick the place.”“Stacy, Stacy…” Ben said her name like a warning, half amused, half wary. “What would you think my wife who is your supposed best friend would feel if she knows you’re planning a little evening with her husband?”“Oh, come off it, Ben.” Her voice suddenly sharpe
Ben sat alone in the study, the soft amber glow of the desk lamp illuminating the sharp angles of his face. Outside, night had cloaked the estate in quiet, the only sounds were the occasional chirp of crickets and the distant rustle of wind through the trees.But inside him, there was a storm.He leaned back in the leather chair, his eyes fixed on the swirling glass of brandy in his hand. The fireplace crackled nearby, casting flickering shadows on the tall bookshelves that lined the walls. Normally, the room brought him calm. It was his sanctuary. But tonight… it offered no peace.His thoughts were with her.Serena.The woman who had slipped so effortlessly into his guarded life. Who had broken down his walls not with force but with softness—with laughter, late-night conversations, with the way she danced barefoot in the kitchen and fell asleep mid-sentence in his arms. The past week had been magic.He had let himself feel things he hadn’t in years. Maybe ever.He had watched her sle
The morning sunlight poured through the sheer curtains, casting soft golden patterns on the white sheets. Serena stirred gently, her fingers reaching instinctively toward the other side of the bed. But it was empty.Her eyes fluttered open.The spot where Ben had lain just hours ago was cold now, the sheets already flattened back into place. Her heart dropped.She sat up slowly, clutching the sheet to her chest as the heavy silence of the room closed in. The warm, magical haze of last night began to fade, replaced by a creeping sense of dread.He was gone.Maybe it had all been a mistake. Maybe she had misread him, misread everything the gentle kisses, the whispered promises, the way he had looked at her like she was the only thing in his universe. Maybe that was just a moment. A trick of candlelight and red wine.You shouldn’t have slept with him, her thoughts scolded harshly. You let your guard down. You let him in—too fast, too easily. Just because he was kind for a while doesn’t m