SIGN THEM

I stared at the door for a long second. Her voice was still echoing in my head.

I bent down and picked up the divorce papers, gripping them tighter than necessary. My chest felt tight. I didn’t want to lose her. Not after waiting this long.

I forced my expression to stay neutral, then raised my hand and knocked.

"I have to go now Stacy"

A few seconds later, the door opened just enough for Mia to stick her head out. The moment she saw me, her face pulled into a clear frown.

That small expression hit me harder than I expected.

She rolled her eyes and was about to shut the door in my face.

I put my hand against it and pushed firmly, forcing my way inside before she could shut me out. She stepped back, clearly annoyed.

“Excuse me? You can’t just push your way in.”

I closed the door behind me and held up the papers.

“Sign them.”

She glanced at the documents, then crossed her arms.

“Are you seriously doing this?”

She slowly stepped closer, her eyes narrowing at me suspiciously.

“Do you, by chance… like me?”

My heart skipped. For a second, I forgot how to breathe.

“You figur…” I was halfway confessing when she cut me off.

“Or are you just trying to help me because you feel bad for me?” she said, stepping back a little and pointing at me with a small smile.

“What?”

“Come on, you don’t have to.”

“Guess what?”

I looked at her, the words stuck in my mouth. I already knew what she was about to say, and I hated that I could read her so well.

“I don’t want to hear it.”

“Why not?” Her lips pouted, and she looked as cute as ever. Once again, I was lost in her beauty. The same face I had imagined more times than I wanted to admit.

I can’t believe she’s right here in front of me. Under my roof.

“Hello? Zamani!”

“I’m so sorry. I have a lot on my mind.”

“It’s fine. Okay, so I’m thinking of talking to my husband. You know, maybe hear him out. What do you think?”

“Husband?”

Her eyes moved around like she didn’t understand what I was saying.

“Yes, husband. Come on, think about it. What if he was drugged or threatened or…”

“Can you stop?” The anger in me was already visible. My jaw tightened.

She looked at me with her forehead furrowed.

“Don’t you think you’re forgetting something?” I drew closer until my face was almost touching hers. She only moved back until she hit the wall.

“What am I forgetting?”

“Think. You still have to take responsibility for me. You can’t leave me after using me.”

She rolled her eyes and slightly pushed me away before looking at me like I had gone mad.

“What the fuck is a grown-ass man talking about, acting like an innocent high school girl whose innocence was taken by force? It’s not like I’m your first. Move.”

She tried to walk past me, but I grabbed her wrist and pushed her back against the wall. My grip wasn’t rough, but it was firm enough to keep her there.

“And what if you are?”

She looked confused before suddenly laughing and looking me up and down at me.

“Do you think I am a child?”

I ignored her and brought my mouth closer to her ear, kissing it gently, then down her neck. I felt her body react almost instantly. A small shiver ran through her.

“She was indeed my first”.

MIA

I felt so embarrassed and stupid watching myself react to a total stranger instead of pushing him away. My body was betraying me, and I hated how easy it was for him.

His lips kept working on my body, then down to my upper breast.

“What are you doing?”

I felt his hands move inside my shorts as he caressed my butt cheek. His touch was warm, confident, and completely unfair.

“Maybe the first night wasn’t clear enough.”

His hand found its way between my legs, teasing me with his fingers. Slow at first, then more deliberate.

“Can you stop?” I said, making no real effort to stop him. My voice already sounded weak.

“Are you sure?” He pushed one finger inside me.

“Fuck, you bastard.”

“Are you still considering going back to him?” he asked, pushing in another finger. The stretch made my knees weak.

“Oh my god, don’t do this.” My hands grabbed his chest for balance, and I felt his dick poking hard against my stomach. He was already fully hard, and that only made it worse.

I felt ashamed of myself. Cheap.

How could he have such an effect on me? I barely know him.

He kissed my ear and whispered,

“Or you can be with me instead.” He tried coming down to my lips but I posted him away immediately.

The sudden loss of his touch left me feeling cold and irritated with myself.

Embarrassed, I shoved him out of the room but he only laughed at how embarrassed I was.

“Chill princess, it’s not like it’s out first time”

“Get out” I finally pushed him out and shut the door, resting my back against it. Even with the frustration written all over his face, he didn’t stop me from pushing him away even when he can.

“Good night princess. Don’t hesitate if you need anything. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

It was silent for a few seconds before I heard his retreating footsteps down the hall.

I sighed and walked straight to the bed, stressing my legs and hands.

ONE WEEK

NATHAN

I opened my eyes, and the light struck them so sharply I had to shut them again.

Slowly, I forced them open once more and found myself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling, the sharp antiseptic smell of a hospital thick in the air.

I looked around. There was no mistaking it, I was indeed in the hospital.

I tried to sit up, but pain shut through every part of my body, forcing me back down.

“Why am I here?”

I closed my eyes and memories of Mia leaving and getting abducted by my boss.

I gritted my teeth in rage.

“To think something like this could hold me back. Until he kills me, I will never let go of the relationship I built over all these years.”

A presence stirred at the door. I turned my head and saw a figure in a face cap standing there, staring straight at me.

“Who are you?”