Chapter 3

The room smelled faintly of whiskey and expensive cologne. Nick leaned back in the leather chair, a smug smile curling his lips. Around him, the other elite church guys lounged like they owned the place, glasses of wine or scotch in hand.

“So… who’s next on your list, Nick?” one of them jeered.

Nick shrugged, eyes glinting. “Depends, who’s giving me a challenge tonight?”

“Naomi,” said a taller guy with slicked-back hair. “You saw her, right? Daddy's a pastor and he owns half the church. The girl is like caged, couldn’t resist if you tried.”

Nick smirked. “Caged or not, girls get lonely.” A ripple of laughter went around the room.

Williams sat off to the side, swirling his wine slowly, quiet and unimpressed. He listened but didn’t join, his mind elsewhere, sharp blue eyes flicking occasionally to Nick.

“Bet she’s too decent to fall for your tricks,” one guy said. Half the room nodded, “Yeah, Nick can’t touch her.”

Another guy snorted. “Decent? Please, give him five minutes, he’ll have her drooling.”

Nick leaned forward, voice low and dangerous. “I don’t waste time, and I don’t lose.”

Williams raised an eyebrow but stayed silent, taking a slow sip.

Then, Williams’ best friend the notorious spoiled rich brat who everyone knew leaned forward, a grin on his face. “Nick,” he said, “I’ll make this interesting, One million. If you can get Naomi up to your place… and, well… you know.”

A low whistle went around the room.

Nick’s grin widened. “One million?” He leaned back, casually resting his hand on the arm of the chair. “Done. Too easy.”

“Wait,” another guy interrupted, “I’ll add another million if he pulls it off, two million in total! Can you imagine?”

Nick laughed sounding rich and confident. “Two million? Piece of cake, she won’t know what hit her.”

The room erupted into cheers, glasses clinking. “Nick! Nick! Nick!”

Williams set down his wine glass, finally speaking. “This is disgusting,” he said quietly, almost to himself. “You’re all acting like vultures.”

Nick turned toward him, smirking. “Oh look, the piano prince has an opinion, Don’t tell me you care about her.”

Williams’ jaw tightened. “I care about decency, Something you obviously don’t know.”

Nick chuckled. “Decency? In this room? Good joke.”

“Don’t underestimate her,” Williams said, tone calm but sharp. “She’s smarter than you think.”

Nick laughed, standing up. “That’s the fun part, she should prove me wrong, your little Miss Perfect.”

“Little Miss Perfect?” Williams echoed, voice low. “You don’t even know her.”

“I’ll know her soon enough,” Nick said, grinning. “And you’ll see it’s as easy as daylight.”

Williams shook his head, swirling his glass again, eyes never leaving Nick. “I don’t like this,” he muttered.

Nick ignored him, already plotting and imagining the thrill. Around him, the other guys whispered and laughed, some placing side bets, some just watching the show unfold.

“First step,” Nick said, leaning back, “is get her to fall head over heels in love with me, You know how church girls are overprotected, clingy, clueless. I’ll make her feel special. One smile, one touch, and bam.”

“Bam?” Williams asked, voice sharper now. “You think she’s that easy?”

Nick shrugged, voice smooth and dangerous. “Watch me.”

Williams stared, cold and calculating. “She’s not like the others, You’ll regret underestimating her.”

Nick smirked, brushing off the warning. “Regret? I don’t know the meaning of it.”

The guys around them laughed again, placing more bets, clinking glasses. The tension between Williams and Nick was thick and suffocating.

Half the room whispered about Naomi’s father and her protected life. Half laughed, betting she’d fall for Nick’s charm. Williams didn’t say a word. He just watched, already planning how he’d make sure Nick failed.

****

The next Sunday evening, Naomi stepped out of the shower, wrapping herself in a towel. Steam lingered in the bathroom as she dried her hair and hurried downstairs.

Her parents knelt in the living room, hands clasped together and lips moving in the final prayer. Naomi quietly joined them, bowing her head, murmuring her own silent words. When the prayer ended, she excused herself, heading upstairs.

Her phone buzzed as she reached her room. A message from Layla lit up the screen: “Hey! Meet at our usual spot tomorrow?”

Naomi smiled, quickly typing back: “Yes, see you there!”

She set her phone down, sprayed her bed with her favorite linen scent, and was about to retire for the night when another buzz made her heart skip.

It was Nick.

“Hey, I just wanted to say your voice today in choir… incredible, you really have something special. I admire you, Naomi.”

Naomi’s cheeks heated, Her fingers trembled slightly as she replied, trying to sound casual.

“Th-thank you.”

Nick’s next message came almost immediately.

“You know, I’d really like to take you out. Maybe dinner? Just us, I promise you’ll enjoy it.”

Naomi hesitated, Her mind raced. “I… I can’t. My parents… they don’t allow me to go out with guys.”

Nick’s tone softened but stayed persuasive. “I understand, but trust me, I’ll make sure they don’t find out. Just one night, you won’t regret it.”

Before Naomi could reply, her door creaked open. Lydia stepped inside, her arms crossed.

“Why haven’t you turned your light off yet?” she asked, her voice calm but firm.

Naomi jumped slightly. “I.. I was about to, Mom.”

Lydia’s gaze bore into her. “Naomi no secrets, no lies. If I find out you’re hiding things from me, there will be consequences, Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, Mom,” Naomi whispered, biting her lip.

Lydia stepped closer, her gaze unwavering. “Naomi, listen to me carefully. Proverbs 12:22 says, ‘Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are His delight.’ You understand what that means?”

Naomi swallowed, her cheeks warming. “Yes, it means lying is wrong.”

Her mother’s tone softened just slightly, but her warning was clear. “Exactly. And hiding things from me secrets, lies, pretending falls in the same category, You must never let yourself be swayed by the world. The world will tempt you with flattery, with charm, with promises that seem sweet, but in the end, they lead to trouble.”

Naomi nodded, looking down at her hands. “I…I understand, Mom.”

Lydia’s eyes narrowed, a quiet fire burning in them. “Naomi, I don’t care who says what to you, who compliments you, or what offers are made, You are my daughter, you have a heart, a mind, and faith. Never give any of that away lightly, and you must never allow someone to take advantage of your kindness or curiosity. Do you hear me?”

“Yes, Mom,” Naomi whispered, the weight of her mother’s words pressing down on her chest.

Her mother gave a slow nod, her expression softening just a fraction. “I know you are curious about the world, That’s natural. But curiosity must not lead you astray. Never compromise yourself, Naomi. And remember honesty, truth, and faithfulness are your shields.”

Naomi felt a pang of guilt. She knew she was about to break this rule, even if she tried to justify it. Her heart raced as she imagined Nick’s texts glowing on her phone, his compliments, and his charm.

Lydia’s gaze lingered for a moment, then she turned and left, leaving Naomi with the echo of her words.

As the door clicked shut, Naomi exhaled slowly, Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. Don’t let the world sway you, her mother’s words repeated. And yet, a small voice inside her whispered that maybe, just maybe, she could see if Nick was different.

Her phone buzzed again. Nick’s latest message:

“So, dinner tomorrow? You and me?”

Naomi’s fingers hovered over the screen, The weight of her mother’s warning pressed down on her, yet a strange thrill ran through her. She knew she should say no. But a part of her, the part that was curious and daring said yes flustered by his charm she couldn’t resist.

Finally, she typed back, trembling slightly: “Okay tomorrow.”

She hit send before she could second-guess herself, her heart pounding in her chest.

As she dropped her phone on the nightstand and pulled the duvet over her body, her thoughts were tangled between caution and curiosity, between the voice of her mother and the charms of Nick’s words.

Somewhere far away, Nick read her reply and grinned. “Piece of cake,” he muttered to himself. Already, his mind was spinning with plans.