LOGINCassie felt a surge of determination. She couldn't let Emily and Sarah win this bet. She needed to prove to them that she wasn't as innocent as they thought. She was a virgin yesterday, but she could find a man to break it. It was not like she was going to propose to him right away. If she could finish her PHD and present her thesis to a bunch of no-nonsense lecturers, then she could find a man to fuck her. It was not rocket science, she reasoned.
She was tired of carrying the virginity badge. She needed to set it down and let others carry it. But where to start? She couldn't just ask a random guy for sex. She was not comfortable with going to clubs, she only went because her friends insisted. She was also not brave like Emily and Sarah. She had met Emily when she joined for her PHD. Sarah had been her friend from when she was doing her Masters. She admired Emily's brazen nature. The way she was not afraid to speak her mind, the way she went for anything she wanted, that was what Cassie wished for. Emily was an extrovert, she was loud and funny. Sarah was an introverted extrovert who was also rarely afraid of speaking her mind. Cassie needed a place where people were open to casual encounters. She did not want to have small chats or exchange numbers. In fact she wanted a one night stand with a stranger, no names, or personal information. A thought struck her: Sex clubs. She'd heard rumors about them, places where people went to explore their desires without judgment. She pulled out her phone and started searching online. After a few minutes, she found one: 'The Forbidden'- a BDSM club, known for its intense encounters and open-minded clientele. A shiver ran down her spine as she read the reviews. It was a world she knew nothing about, a world of whips, chains, and dominance. She had always pictured her first time as beautiful and romantic. In all her fantasies, her lover was gentle, romantic and cared about her. He took her on a date first, serenaded her with music and got her flowers. Now was not the time for all that romance ideas. She was desperate and desperation was a powerful motivator. She decided to take the plunge. What was the worst that could happen? The club was located in a discreet part of the city, a nondescript building that blended seamlessly with the surrounding architecture. As she stepped inside, she was greeted by a dim, dimly lit room, filled with the soft hum of conversation and the subtle scent of leather. A host, a tall, imposing figure with a piercing gaze, approached her. "Welcome to The Forbidden," he said, his voice low and seductive. "Are you here alone?" Cassie nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and fear. He made her choose a mask from one of the collections hanging by the door. "No face, no case. Right?" He teased. Cassie nodded. Her throat was clogged and she could only nod. "Well then, let's get you acquainted," he said, leading her through a maze of corridors. She found herself in a dimly lit room, the walls adorned with erotic artwork. A man sat in a leather chair, his body muscular and his expression intense. He was wearing a mask, his identity hidden. "This is Dominus," the host introduced. "He's our resident Dom. He'll be your guide tonight." Dominus removed his mask, revealing a handsome face with piercing blue eyes. "Ready to explore your darkest desires?" he asked, his voice sweet. Cassie hesitated, but she nodded. She was here, and she was determined to see it through. Dominus took him to a room that had a masked man seated on the bed. The light was dim and she could not figure out the colour of his eyes no matter how much she tried. "He is all yours. Enjoy yourself," Dominus said before closing the door and leaving Cassie with the broody man. Cassie stood in the middle of the room, not knowing what to do. She knew she was inexperienced, but she was embarrassed that he had to see her like that. "You can come sit," the man said. His voice, a baritone, captivating, mysterious and luring. It caressed her ears and sent a shiver down her spine. She was in for a ride,she thought as she sat on the furthest corner of the bed. The man moved close to her and she flinched, not from being afraid of him but from being scared of what was to come. She had plunged in to this world with both feet instead of one like the conserved woman she was. She was out of her depth here and the man had sensed that. "Relax, we are not going to do anything you do not want to do. We can start simple," the man said. "Okay," Cassie managed to say. Her throat was dry and she was almost starting to sweat. Why couldn't she be bold like Emily? She wanted this but did not want the intensity that came with it. The man was looking at her like she was the best thing he had ever seen. "Why did you come here?" he asked. "I...I want to break my virginity. I am twenty five and I have never had sex," Cassie said. That was embarrassing. She waited for the laugh to come. Silence. "There is nothing embarrassing about it. That can be arranged, but only if you are relaxed and really ready. Do not let anyone put pressure on you,' the man comforted. She felt tension leave her body. "Perhaps we could start with something simpler," he suggested. "We could talk, get to know each other, only in the confines of this place. No pressure, no expectations." "They talked about the current state of things in the country. Despite the long talk, none of them revealed any personal detail about themselves. "Can I come back tomorrow?" Cassie asked. "Sure, I will be here, waiting. Just tell Dominis to bring you toe when you get her," the man said. "Thank you," Cassie said. She was grateful. They had not had sex but he had opened her eyes on different ways that she could get pleasure. Cassie promised to be more open. The next day, Cassie met up with Emily and Sarah for breakfast. She was feeling confident and excited. "Looks like someone had a wild night," Emily said, raising an eyebrow. Cassie smirked. "Not exactly wild, but definitely interesting." "So, did you manage to find someone to, you know, take care of business?" Sarah asked, her voice dripping with curiosity. "Just say fuck Sarah," Emily chimed in. "Emily!" Cassie chided. "What?" Emily countered. "Nothing. Anyway, I did find someone," Cassie said. Emily and Sarah exchanged a surprised look. They couldn't believe their eyes. Cassie, the quiet, innocent girl, had actually done it. "Well, well, well," Emily said again, this time with a hint of admiration. "I guess we underestimated you. We are going dancing in the evening." "I can't. I am meeting my mysterious man tonight," Cassie said. "Again?" Sarah asked, shocked. "Ah,Cassie has unlocked the sex genie," Emily said in a sing-song voice. Cassie smiled. "Don't underestimate me again." It was false bravado, if only they knew what had happened. "I have learn my lesson. We are going dancing tomorrow then. And I want all the deets," Emily said. As her cab drove away, she couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. She had won the bet despite her not revealing the details about her sexapades.Cassie woke to sunlight streaming through the bedroom blinds. Reggie was still asleep beside her, one arm flung across her waist, face half-buried in the pillow. She watched him for a moment; the steady rise and fall of his chest, the faint scar on his eyebrow from some long-ago fight Asher refused to talk about and felt a quiet happiness settle in her bones.She slipped from bed carefully, padded barefoot to the kitchen, and started coffee. The apartment smelled like cedar and last night’s takeout containers still on the counter. Her phone buzzed on the island while the machine gurgled.An email from the university.Subject: Final Reminder... Doctoral Commencement CeremonyCassie,This is your final reminder that the graduation is scheduled for Friday, 20th from10:00 a.m. in the Grand Hall. Your name has been confirmed on the graduate list. Please arrive by 9:00 a.m. for robing and lineup. Caps, gowns, and hoods will be provided.We look forward to celebrating your achievement.Warm
Cassie woke most mornings to the soft clink of Reggie in the kitchen, the smell of coffee drifting under the bedroom door like a promise. The weeks after her internship ended carried a gentle rhythm she had never known before. There were no deadlines pressing at her temples, no hospital beeps echoing in her ears, only the slow, deliberate unfolding of days shared with someone who chose her every single time.Their dates were small and deliberate, carved out of ordinary evenings like treasures. One Tuesday he took her to a narrow Italian place hidden behind a dry cleaner’s, the kind of spot that didn’t advertise. It smelled like garlic and fresh basil the moment they stepped inside. They squeezed into a corner table barely big enough for two plates, sharing gnocchi in brown butter and a bottle of wine between them. The rain tapped the single window beside their booth. Reggie told her stories about his first apartment in college; a shoebox with a mattress on the floor and a ceiling that
Cassie stood in the doorway of the break room, arms crossed loosely over her chest, watching the team arrange platters of sandwiches, fruit skewers, and a towering chocolate cake someone had clearly spent too much time decorating. The sign above the table read “Farewell, Cassie!” in bright blue marker, the exclamation point slightly crooked. Balloons bobbed against the ceiling. The sight made her throat tighten.She had not expected this.Linda appeared at her elbow, holding two paper plates. “You thought we’d let you sneak out quietly?”Cassie laughed, soft and surprised. “I thought maybe a quick goodbye email would do.”“Not a chance.” Linda handed her a plate. “You’ve been part of this team. We don’t say goodbye to family through emails.”The lunch stretched into the early afternoon. People drifted in and out; analysts she had collaborated with on the merger report, junior associates who had asked her endless questions, even Tyler the intern who slipped her a small potted succulent
Mr. Patel came back the next week.Cassie sat at the small conference table in the glass-walled meeting room, hands folded in her lap, trying not to fidget while Mr. Patel flipped through the final pages of her evaluation packet. The supervisor’s face remained unreadable, lips pursed, pen tapping once, twice, until he finally closed the folder and looked up.“Cassandra,” Mr. Patel began, voice calm but warm, “this is one of the strongest internship evaluations I’ve written in years.”Cassie blinked. The words landed slowly, like stones dropped into still water.“Your performance metrics are exceptional with timely deliverables, insightful and seamless collaboration with the team. The merger impact report you co-authored last month? It’s already been referenced in two executive summaries. Your thesis draft is polished, well-researched, and shows real critical thinking. And your professionalism…” Mr. Patel leaned forward slightly. “You handled a family emergency without missing a beat.
Cassie woke before dawn to a quiet mansion. She slipped out of bed, padded to the kitchen, and brewed coffee strong enough to wake the dead. Asher shuffled in twenty minutes later, walker clicking, his hair mussed, but eyes brighter than they had been in days.“You’re up early,” he said, easing into a chair.“My supervisor called yesterday to tell me that he will be dropping by my place of internship on Friday for the last project review." She poured him a mug and slid it across the table. “I need to catch up on everything before then.”Asher sipped, watching her over the rim. “You sure you’re ready?”She nodded. “You’re walking to the mailbox without help now. You ate a whole sandwich last night without complaining. Mrs. Carla will be coming every day. You’re in good hands.”He grunted, but the corner of his mouth lifted. “Fine. But as I said, if Reggie doesn’t treat you right, I’m driving to the city and breaking his knees.”Cassie laughed, the sound startling in the stillness. “Not
Asher shuffled in from the kitchen, walker clicking softly against the hardwood. He looked at her face and frowned.“You okay?”She nodded, wiping her cheeks quickly. “Yeah. I am okay. Just reading about the office drama. Nina was telling me about the new intern spilling coffee everywhere.” She was smiling.Asher snorted and eased himself onto the sofa beside her. “Sounds about right. Remember when you spilled soup on the break room microwave your first week?”Cassie groaned. “Don’t remind me.”He leaned back, careful of his ribs. “You survived. You always do. The new guy will survive too.”She rested her head on his shoulder. “So do you. And yes he will. I guess he is just anxious about pleasing the boss.”They sat in comfortable silence for a while. The radiator hissed. Outside, snow tapped gently against the windows.Asher spoke first, voice quieter. “You don’t have to stay here every second, you know. I’m not going anywhere.”“I know.” She lifted her head. “But I want to.”He stud







