Chapter 1 The Apartment

“Zoe, get up and start packing what you need to bring to your brother’s apartment. Me and your Dad need to leave soon, so we don’t have much time. Zach’s already here to pick you up.”

I opened my eyes in confusion when I heard Mom’s voice along with a gentle pat on my shoulder.

“Oh, Mom…” I groaned in annoyance. “I want to stay at home,” I said afterward.

“No,” Mom shook her head. “We’re not letting you stay home alone without any supervision.”

I let out an exasperated sigh. “I’m old enough and can take care of myself!” I said while sitting up.

Honestly, I had said this exact sentence over and over again since Mom and Dad told me they were going on a business trip to Europe for two weeks. The plan was for me to stay at my brother’s apartment while they were away, but I had been rejecting that idea for the past month. I didn’t expect this day to finally arrive, and I would still lose against my parents’ decision.

“Zoe Grace Langston.”

I groaned again. “Mom…”

Whenever Mom used my full name, I knew the battle was over.

“No,” Mom shook her head again. “Who’s going to take you to school and pick you up? How can you sleep alone at night with no one around? And what if you feel unwell and have no one to help you?”

“Why can’t Zach just stay here instead?” I rolled over to my right side and pulled the blanket back over me. It was Sunday, and Mom had already ruined my peaceful morning.

“You know Zach’s extremely busy with work, and this house is a bit far from the hospital. It would be difficult for him to stay here with you for two weeks, sweetheart.”

Oh damn. Now I really had no argument left.

My brother, Zachary, is an anesthesiologist working at a hospital in New York. He’s always busy with work, so he rarely spends the night at home, even though he still visits almost every weekend.

“Then let me stay here alone,” I blinked my eyes like a puppy begging to be picked up. “I won’t do anything while I’m home, and I promise I’ll be back before 11 p.m., Mom.”

“No,” Mom shook her head again. “I’d rather not go with your Daddy than leave you alone here at home.”

Honestly, that sounded like a great idea. But I knew Mom couldn’t bear to be apart from Dad for too long—and vice versa. I was afraid I’d ruin their business trip if I selfishly said yes to her offer.

“Believe me, this house is totally safe for me to stay in alone. This is a luxury neighborhood, Mom. There’s 24-hour security, and they’ll always help me if I need anything.”

“Do you understand that Dad and I can’t trust anyone to watch over you, including the security guards?” Mom sighed deeply. “We only trust Zach. So, you have no choice but to go stay at his apartment.”

God, why am I stuck with overprotective parents and an even more overprotective brother?

“Zoe! Are you gonna be much longer?”

I turned my head and saw Zach peeking in through my bedroom door.

Damn. There was truly no escaping this ridiculous plan.

***

“Why do you look so grumpy?” Zach glanced at me just as our car pulled out of our parents’ driveway.

After all the drama I’d caused this morning and making everyone help me pack, I could now sit in defeat while Zach drove us to his apartment. Per my parents’ orders, I would stay with Zach for the next two weeks until they returned from Europe.

“Well, I think you already know the reason,” I shrugged.

“Is staying with me really that bad?”

I scoffed. “That’s not the point!”

Honestly, I’m pretty close with Zach even though there’s a 15-year age gap between us. I’m only 17, while Zach is about to turn 32 in a few months. I’ve never really understood why my parents decided to have another kid after such a long gap. Still, Zach and I get along so well that I don’t actually mind living with him. The problem is—his apartment is far from my neighborhood. This means I’ll be stuck there for two weeks without any of my friends and… without my boyfriend, Jack.

Zach doesn’t like Jack, just like our parents don’t. But at least Mom and Dad still let me hang out with Jack occasionally. Zach, on the other hand, completely disapproves of our relationship.

“So what’s the problem?” Zach asked as he stopped the car at a red light.

Well, I was sure my brother already knew the answer, but he wanted to hear it from me anyway.

“First of all, you’re absolutely obsessed with cleanliness and order. You’ll drive me insane for two weeks if you make me clean my room every single day.” I jabbed his cheek with my finger, which made him laugh.

“And second?” Zach asked again without the slightest hint of offense.

“I know you already know,” I rolled my eyes.

“That dumbass Jack?”

“He is not dumb!” I snapped quickly. This time, I smacked his arm just as he shifted gears and started driving again when the light turned green.

“Well, I still don’t understand why you’re even dating him.”

“Because he’s sweet, and I love him!”

After Mom ruined my perfect Sunday morning, Zach was making it worse. I had a feeling my mood would stay sour all day.

“What do you know about love, you little brat?”

“Of course I know a lot!” I lifted my chin defiantly. “I once read a book that said young love is the purest form of love. It’s because we don’t think about anything else except the love itself. No career stuff, financial worries, or family background issues to consider before starting a relationship. We’re together simply because we want to be together.”

Zach raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “What kind of book did you read that gave you that idea?”

“Why are you looking at me like you’re mocking me? I’m not making this up. That’s the truth,” I furrowed my brow at him. “When I’m with Jack, I don’t care about what kind of career he’ll have in the future—well, I do care about him and his future plans, of course. But I don’t think it’s going to affect our relationship. He can work wherever he wants, and I’ll still love him. And as for family background? Well, that’s not a problem for me either.”

“You’re talking like you’re really going to be with him forever,” Zach looked at me in disbelief. “Whatever you say about him, it’s not going to change my opinion. Zoe, he is not allowed to come to the apartment to visit you.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Are you trying to lock me up there like Rapunzel?”

“Well, it is my apartment, and I can make the rules while you’re living under my roof.”

I glared at him in frustration. “He’s not going to come over every day since your place is so far from his, but of course, he’s going to visit me now and then. He’s my boyfriend, for God’s sake.”

“Don’t you two go to the same school?”

“Yeah, so?”

“So why don’t you just see each other at school? There’s no need for all the after-school hangouts and visits.”

“What?!” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

Even though Mom and Dad weren’t exactly fans of Jack, at least they still let him come over to the house once in a while.

“I know you’re probably mad at me,” Zach sighed deeply, “but I can’t supervise you 24/7 because I’ll be busy working. I’m not taking the risk of you two being alone together.”

This time, my eyes went wide. “What do you think we’re going to do if we’re alone?”

Honestly, I knew exactly where this conversation was headed because… well, we’ve had this exact talk before. A bunch of times, ever since I started dating Jack a year ago. But Zach never failed to be an annoying older brother every time we brought up my relationship.

“I know you’re old enough, and I probably shouldn’t be this controlling. But Jack is a guy, and I know what goes on in a guy’s mind.”

“Yeah, and in the whole year we’ve been together, we’ve never had sex!” I blurted out quickly.

Zach gave me an awkward look for a second, but then he nodded in satisfaction. “Nice to hear that. Stick to your principles, Zoe. I’m proud of you.”

I let out an annoyed huff. “So—”

“No!” he cut me off instantly.

I looked at him, puzzled.

“I know what you were going to say,” he shook his head like he was doubling down on his answer. “You were going to try and sweet-talk me into letting your boyfriend visit, weren’t you?”

Damn. He is the worst.

“The answer is still no,” he added, extra firmly.

Just as I was about to start arguing again, Zach’s phone rang, and he immediately picked it up.

Of course—Zach and his never-ending work, even on weekends.

Instead of following in our parents’ footsteps as businesspeople, Zach chose to become a doctor. He spent his youth buried in books and studied for years. Now that he’s finally working full-time at a hospital in New York, he’s still returning to school and living a packed schedule.

“I’m sorry, but something urgent just came up, Zoe,” Zach said after hanging up the phone and stepping harder on the gas pedal. “There’s an emergency at the hospital and I need to head there now. Is it okay if I drop you off at the apartment lobby? You already know which unit is mine, right? You can go back to sleep in the room I’ve set up for you. Everything’s already cleaned and ready, so you don’t have to do anything.”

I sighed long and deep.

This was so annoying, but really, what could I do?

“I hate you, Zach,” I muttered, rolling my eyes.

“I love you very much,” he replied shamelessly, flashing me a grin. “Your room is to the right of the TV lounge. You get the biggest one—with the huge balcony.”

***

“Oh, Jack…” I closed my eyes and let my fingers brush against the part of me that was already wet.

“Yes, honey, like that.” Jack’s face, filled with desire, made me even more eager to rub my clitoris with my middle finger. Occasionally, I would try to slip it inside, just as Jack often did to me, and I would moan loudly from the pleasurable sensation. “Put your phone down so I can see it, honey.”

I obeyed Jack’s instructions and quickly moved my right hand down so Jack could see what my finger was doing to my body.

“Ahhh… I want you, Jack.” I closed my eyes and let my mind imagine Jack was there with me—kissing me and using his fingers to satisfy me.

Damn. If only I weren’t at Zach’s apartment, I’m sure Jack would come to me right now.

Well, even though we weren’t having sex, that didn’t mean we weren’t doing anything. There were times when I was at the peak of my arousal, and I needed Jack to help me release everything. There were also times when Jack needed my help, and of course, I would help him with whatever I could.

“Yes, honey, I want you too. Come on, put your finger in, honey.”

Once again, I followed what he told me to do.

“OH!” I couldn’t hold back my moan.

My middle finger started moving in and out of my completely wet hole.

I never expected that the first thing I’d do after entering my brother’s apartment would be to lie in the room, make a video call with Jack, and masturbate to satisfy myself.

I hadn’t even explored the apartment to see what had changed here.

It had been a while since I’d visited here; I think I last came six months ago. However, I felt that exploring the apartment wasn’t that important. The most important thing was satisfying myself after such a frustrating morning.

“Damn, Jack…”

“Shit, Zoe. Your pussy is driving me crazy! I want to touch it!” Jack growled, and I knew he was also doing something to his dick.

If he were here, I’d gladly do something for him with my tongue and lips.

“You can touch it…” I sped up my finger movements and knew I’d soon get what I needed, “Please touch me!”

“Yes, Zoe. I’ll do it…”

Shit, I was about to climax just from my fingers and Jack’s voice on the video call.

“Jack…” I moaned loudly.

Just as I was about to reach the peak, I heard the sound of the bedroom door being pushed open from the outside.

I turned my head in surprise to find a man standing there, his naked body still wet with water. He smiled mysteriously, then stared at me with his sharp eyes before speaking, “Is there anything I can help you with, little girl?”