LOGINI chuckled, staring down at the empty glass shot before me. It’s crazy how loyalty and honesty don’t count in today’s world. I’ve always been a good girl, and yet I was betrayed by the people I trusted and loved the most in the world.
I honestly had no idea why I thought I could cover up for the ladies who were trained to entertain very important guests.
“I don’t remember telling you my story.” I attacked.
The moment I got here, I spent a good amount of time in the restroom, crying my eyes out, before I finally came to sit by the counter for drinks.
Harry gave me an obvious look. “This is a club. Happy people come here; sad people also. So I can tell what’s up with you. I bet someone is going to replace you after you take your leave.” He gestured to where I was seated.
“Wow!!! Men must really be dickheads!”
“If you say so! But why do you even think I’ll choose you!”
“Because I am a virgin.”
Harry stared at me as though I had horns in my head.
“You are really untouched, and you let me waste my time in engaging in conversation with you?”
“You’ve had quite a number to drink, how come your speech is still clear?” He added.
“I’m a good girl, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to do the bad stuff.”
Harry parted his lips to say something, but I guess words failed him.
I had no power over the words that were rolling off my tongue. All I knew was that I was tired of being trampled on and, most importantly, I needed something to take my mind off this betrayal.
“Don is not having it. He said he’s going to leave in five minutes.” The staff from earlier said, looking worried as hell. “Did you get through to Nancy?”
“We need to act fast. Our job is at stake.” He panicked.
I could feel Harry’s eyes on me.
I continued to stare at the empty glass shot before me, pretending I had no idea what was going on around me.
“Are you sure you are up to the task?” Harry directed at me.
“I don’t do business with people who look down on me,” I answered, still not looking into his eyes.
“Look, sorry if I was harsh! Don is our biggest client. We only give him the best.”
“Then good luck with finding him the best!” I picked up my purse, then was almost getting off the stool when his voice came through again.
“Why go home and continue to sob on your couch when there’s an opportunity to have the time of your life?”
I finally looked into Harry’s eyes. “So now you believe in me?”
He shrugged! “Don is not into men, so there’s little I can do. I let you have a good time with a man anyone would die to have. In return, you help me keep my job.”
I rolled my eyes as I got off the stool.
“Don’t be a sucker! What better way to get revenge against your ex than screwing someone richer, hotter, and sexier than him?”
“Don doesn’t do virgins!” I mocked.
“You can take your leave. Let him know that someone will be there in a few.” He said to the staff who obeyed.
“You didn’t have to say that out loud.”
I arched a brow at the dude before me.
“Keep that between us. Don doesn’t have to know.”
I folded my arms. “And who says I’m in?”
“I don’t trust people, but I’m going to give you a chance,” Harry said, but before I could say a word to defend myself, he disappeared from my face.
“Asshole!” I mumbled as I opened my purse, trying to see if I still had some cash in there to take a taxi home.
Sadly, there was nothing there—just my phone, which I had run out of battery on.
“Perfect!” I huffed! I spent all my money on alcohol, and here I was. Stranded.
“Let’s go!” That familiar voice said, bringing me out of my thoughts.
It was Harry who was now standing beside me with his apron discarded.
“Huh?”
He grabbed my hand and let me out of the bar through a “staff only” door.
We got into the dressing room, and then he let go of my hand.
A lady in a very short dress and wine hair approached us. “Her dress is perfect, but please do something to her face and hair. Simple but classy. You got just one minute.”
Before I could have a say, the lady called Mary pushed me into a chair and began to work on my face. Through the mirror before me, I could see Harry standing behind us, watching Mary closely.
Mary was done with my face in no time, then she moved to my hair, fixing the curls as fast as she could.
“All done, Boss.” She said to Harry as she turned the chair around so I could face him.
“Better! Let’s go.”
“Huh?!” At this point, my reality dawned on me.
What the hell did I agree to?
“You have only one option. Getting the job done.” Harry said sternly. “I also do not forgive easily, so think twice before you ruin things.”
“You’re threatening me?” I said in disbelief. I was literally helping out here. Shouldn’t he be more grateful than commanding?
“I’m just being realistic, Amore. I need you to channel the betrayal into something positive. Make the best of this night. Look back and have no regrets!” Harry said, then took slow steps toward me. “I think I know your type, and it’s time to bring to life all the fiery and beastly desires that you’ve buried inside of you! Forget about me and my job. Go in there and make yourself proud. This is all about you.”
I swallowed painfully.
“After what felt like forever, Harry brought me before a door. “Don is all yours! He doesn’t need to know this is your first time. Bon appétit!” Harry reminded, then disappeared in a flash.
My heart began to race as I stared at the door before me. I was trying so hard not to think of the consequences of what was about to happen. I agree that I used to be a very calculated person, but where has that gotten me? I was done playing by the ethical rules of life. Even though it was just for tonight.
I heaved a silent sigh as I connected my hand to the door handle and pushed the door open.
ISABELLE The drive to the hospital was a blur.I don’t remember getting in my car. Don’t remember the route I took or how fast I was going.All I could think about was my mother.She found out.How? How had she found out?Had Dave’s parents told her? Had she run into them somewhere and they’d mentioned it?Or had Aurora—My hands tightened on the steering wheel.If Aurora had done this. If she’d gone to my mother after everything—I couldn’t finish the thought.Because none of that mattered right now.The only thing that mattered was getting to the hospital. Getting to my mom.Please let her be okay. Please.…………………..Sage was already in the waiting room when I arrived, pacing back and forth, her face pale, her eyes red.“Sage!” I rushed over to her. “What happened? How is she?”“I don’t know.” Sage’s voice broke. “They won’t tell me anything yet. They’re running tests, checking her heart—” She pressed her hands to her face. “God, Bella. I thought we had more time. I thought we could
ISABELLE“Did Aurora say anything to you?” I held his gaze, watching for the thing people reveal before they can stop themselves. I didn’t trust his words. I wasn’t sure I trusted his intentions either.Dave frowned slightly. “About your mom? I already told you everything—”“Not about her.” I kept my voice level. “I didn’t do anything to make Aurora take down those photos, and I don’t trust her silence. And now you showing up here…” I let the sentence sit unfinished. “I’m not sure I see much difference between the two of you right now.”The hurt that moved through his face was real. I could see that much.“I had nothing to do with any of that,” he said. “She made those choices on her own. The whole situation, everything that has happened, has made her uncomfortable. She’s angry, yes. But she promised me she’s done with social media. She won’t say anything.”“Is that all?”He hesitated just a fraction too long.“You and Aurora know something I don’t,” he said, his eyes narrowing slight
AURORA“Nobody,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “Just spam.”Dave’s eyes narrowed. “You’re shaking.”“I’m tired, Dave. I’ve had a traumatic day—remember?” I let my hand drift to my stomach. The universal signal. The one that never failed.His expression softened immediately. “Right. Sorry. Get some rest.”“I will.” I waited until he stood, until he bent to press a kiss to my forehead—gentle, obligatory. “Thank you for being there today. For choosing us.”Something moved across his face. Guilt, maybe. Or the beginning of doubt.He nodded and left without another word.The moment the door clicked shut, I grabbed my phone.The message was still there on the screen, each word sitting like a stone.“I warned you once. You didn’t listen. If Isabelle’s name comes out of your mouth again—to anyone, in any context—what happened to your Instagram will look like a kindness. You have enemies you can’t afford, Aurora. Remember that.”My hands were trembling so badly I nearly dropped the ph
ISABELLE“Wh—why did you—”“How dare you?” Aurora’s voice cracked, her lips trembling. “How dare you lay your hands on me?” She was still pressing her palm to her cheek, eyes bright with tears she was fighting to hold back.“Because a bitch deserves to be treated like one.”“You hit a pregnant woman,” she breathed, “because I confronted you with your own dirty secret? You’re insane—you actually—”“I should have done this a long time ago,” I said. My voice was steadier than I felt.She opened her mouth—then stopped. Her eyes flicked past me, and something shifted in her expression. The tears didn’t disappear. They just changed.Fear turned calculating in the space of a breath. “Dave!” she screamed.I spun around.Dave was crossing the car park from the direction of his car, brow furrowed, pace quickening. “Aurora? What—”What happened next took less than three seconds. Aurora’s hand shot out as if reaching for the car door to steady herself—then she let go. Deliberately, carefully, sh
ISABELLEI woke to sunlight pressing through Sage’s guest room curtains and the smell of coffee already brewing in the kitchen.My phone showed 6:02 AM. No new messages.I stared at the screen longer than I should have, my chest tight, before I made myself put it face down and get out of bed.Sage was at the stove when I shuffled in, still in her pyjamas, prodding at scrambled eggs with a spatula.“Morning, sleepyhead,” she said without turning around. “Want some—” She stopped the moment she looked at me. Her expression shifted. “Whoa. You look terrible.”“Thanks,” I muttered, making a beeline for the coffee pot.“I’m serious, Bella. You barely slept, didn’t you?” She set down the spatula and came closer, studying my face. “What’s going on?”“I’m fine. Just a rough night.”“Bad dreams?”“Something like that.”She didn’t look convinced. But she let it go and went back to the stove. “Sit down. Coffee and food fix everything.”I sat at her small kitchen table, both hands wrapped around t
ISABELLE “Isabelle.” Matteo’s voice was patient but firm. “How did you know?”I took a breath, feeling his steady gaze on me. “A coworker mentioned it. She was going on about how beautiful the engagement party and civil ceremony were, how everyone’s been counting down to the white wedding in Iceland.”His jaw tightened slightly.“She also mentioned you weren’t there,” I continued quietly. “For the first two events.”Silence filled the car.Matt’s hand dropped from my jaw, moving to rub the back of his neck—a gesture I was beginning to recognize as his tell when something made him uncomfortable.“And my sister,” I added. “She’s been obsessing over your sister’s wedding dress. The whole internet was talking about it, apparently.”“Of course they were,” he muttered, more to himself than to me.I shifted on his lap, suddenly feeling like I’d overstepped. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up—”“No.” His hands settled back on my waist, keeping me in place. “You have every right to as
ISABELLE. Reality came crashing back in waves.We’d just done it again. Unprotected. Fully aware of the risk this time. No excuses about being caught up in the moment or not thinking clearly.I looked down at myself—shirt bunched around my waist, legs still spread, sitting on his dining table with
ISABELLE.My eyes widened as my brain struggled to process everything that was happening. We were literally in the parking lot where anyone could see us – including that crazy Enrico. I also didn’t understand why my body kept losing control at his words, as though I wasn’t in charge anymore.A smal
ISABELLE.What the hell was he doing here?I was pulled from my racing thoughts when he drew me closer to him. Then I finally found the courage to look him in the eyes.DonMatteoOr whatever the hell his name was.His tie was gone, and the first two buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing a gl
MATTEO.“I bet she loves to be in vulnerable situations like this. She’ll be fine.”“So you’ve been putting on a show?” Charles voiced out.“The obsession with her?”“Anything else?” I dismissed.I knew Charles still had more to say, but the look I gave him forced him to swallow his words.“Lisa ca







