As each day followed by things in college became more serious. Her classmates gave her a jealous look every time she passed by. Lucas bullied everyone from her classmates to her senior, but he never once called her. Pearl thought it was because she was Daniel's friend, but the real reason was he couldn't bring himself to hurt her. Pearl stayed up till late at night to complete her syllabus. Her first exam was knocking on her door.
Pearl flipped through her books page with her glasses on her nose bridge and pushed them back every now and then. She read and then scripted what she understood in her notebook.She was so concentrated that she didn't notice a shadow behind her. The shadow raised her hand and touched her shoulder." Ah! "Pearl screamed on top of her lungs. She felt a touch on her shoulder." Gosh, stop shouting "Daniel sat on her bed while covering his ear. " You sound like a pig. "Pearl looked over her shoulder and saw Daniel sitting on her bed. " How did you get in? " She remembered locking her door properly." Nothing is impossible for me " He smirked.Pearl rolled her eyes and stood up. She grabbed him by his hand and dragged him towards her door." Get out. I have to study. "Bang!Daniel pushed her against the door and caged him between his arms. Pearl was shocked to hell. She looked at him with her eyes opened wide and her mouth open." Wha… What are you doing? "Daniel looked down at her red face and her wide eyes. Her red mouth was looking so kissable that he couldn't stop himself from touching them. It felt so soft under his touch.Pearl blushed when his finger met with her lips.She bit her lips to stop herself from slapping him. Daniel saw her biting her lips and realised what he was going to do. He quickly moved back. They stood awkwardly looking at each other." Ahem… I.. I should go now. Bye " Daniel rubbed his neck." Amm.. Hmm " Pearl nodded her head. She saw him opening the door.Just when the door opened they were greeted by Lucas' angry face.Lucas looked at Daniel coming out of her room. He had his hand on the doorknob and behind him he saw Pearl.She. Was. Blushing.!Her cheeks were red and her breathing was fast. He felt like killing Daniel and Pearl right there and then. God knows what they have been doing in that room.He clenched his fist to stop himself from punching Daniel.Daniel saw him looking at Pearl and then back at him. " That's not what it looks…"Before he could finish his sentence a strong punch landed on his face.Lucas pushed him against the wall and started punching him. His eyes were red from furry. He looked like an angry beast who was ready to swallow his prey at any moment. Daniel punched him back and the two of them rolled on the floor." Ah, somebody help! "Pearl tried to stop them but she couldn't get any close due to the dangerous aura they were emitting. She looked at them with wide eyes and an open mouth. None of them were ready to back off first, they were ready to kill each other. The fight looked nothing like a regular one. It seemed like they were waiting for this moment to arrive for a very long time." Stop it! You are going to kill each other! " Pearl hugged Daniel and the two angry beasts stopped.Lucas looked at the girl before him. She was hugging Daniel so tightly. " Does she love him? That she is ready to shield him behind her? " Lucas looked at the couple before him. He gave a cold smile." Daniel Ashbluff, watch out " He whipped the blood from his lips and gave one last look to the girl who looked at him with fear in her eyes. It was the last thing he wanted to see in her eyes.Pearl stared at Lucas with her eyes widened. She was so scared of him that she was shivering. Daniel patted her back to calm her down.Bang!Lucas closed the door behind him. He punched the wall and when he pulled his fist back it was covered in blood.He closed his eyes and a tear rolled down from his eyes down to his cheek. He opened them again and the only thing that was visible in them was hatred. He pushed his hair back and took out his phone and the call was picked immediately. " Call year one students on the rooftop night now. Specifically Pearl hart. "Everyone kneeled down on the rooftop.Pearl looked at the boy. He was sitting on the chair, legs crossed. She shivered from his graze. It was so sharp that she felt it could cut her. She looked down immediately.This did not miss Lucas' eyes. He smirked and stood up. He kneeled down before him and raised her chin. He stared into those eyes as if he was lost in them.Pearl shivered from his touch. She felt like fainting from his intense graze.Lucas grabbed her by her arm and pulled her up. He dragged her towards his chair." Do you know who I am? "He asked her and saw her nod. " No nodding, speak! "Pearl moved back from his sudden outburst." I.. I know about you.. " She replied.Lucas smirked and made her sit on his chair. " What's my name? " He asked again." Lu.. Lucas Whitlock "Splash!A bottle of cold water was poured at her. Her white shirt was drenched. It stuck to her body and her red bra was visible.Pearl was so embarrassed that her tears fell continually from her eyes, but her face showed no sign of fear. " It's Sir Lucas Whitlock. "Lucas turned back at her and saw her sorry state. His heart ached seeing her like this." Hey beauty, you got a nice figure " Michael raised her hair from her shoulder. He tried to touch her face when he was punched in the face." Did I tell you to touch her!?Lucas grabbed him by his collar and kicked him." No one can touch her. Except me! " He growled and everyone shivered.Michael moved back and apologised.Lucas grabbed Michael's shirt and draped it over her shoulder." Get lost now " Saying this he vanished.My breathing was too slow that my heart skipped a beat. Caelum stood there, smoking slowly. I couldn't see his face clearly but I could bet my life on the fact that he was staring straight at me and for some strange reason it made my stomach drop. but not in a bad way, not because I was feeling anxious or nervous no, it was the opposite. I was feeling a strange type of peace that made my stomach feel weird and that fact scared me to my bones. " Caelum " I whispered slowly as if he would hear me. And I saw him leaning his head back exactly at that moment like he heard me whisper his name, and it relieved him in some way. My ringtone startled me. I looked down at my phone, he was calling me. I picked it up and moved it closer to my ears. I heard his deep breathing first and then his deep, velvety voice came next. " Amara " He spoke my name with so much care, that he made it sound almost sacred. " Caelum " " How are you my swan? " I closed my eyes. After
I had just finished applying my face mask when the door bell rang, without even any doubt I knew who it was. Marina told me she'll be sending a assistant for me. But I still checked the security camera before opening the door. You can't take any risk if you're a woman living alone, and as expected it was her. A young girl, probably same as my own age. she stood before the door, her right hand was tightly clutching the sling bag at her side. She was nervous. I opened the door quickly, I smiled at her. She raised her eyes at me and I looked into a pair of chocolate brown eyes, she nervously smiled back. I envied her innocence. I was just like her once before I turned into this particular version of myself, who was cold and.. and strong. " Hello, please come inside, " I opened the door wider and stepped aside. She looked down, nodded once and stepped in. I closed the door behind her with a soft thud. " Have a seat, don't be so nervous, " I smiled once again. I wanted he
The city changed as I left the café. At first, it was subtle—a black car that lingered too long at a turn, a woman with a phone pointed just a second too long in my direction. I tightened the collar of my sweater and kept my face angled away from the street. But I knew that feeling. The air grows tighter. And the world, smaller. My driver opened the door for me, and I stepped into the backseat with practiced grace. We pulled away from Verde Fiore, winding through the ancient veins of Rome, heading toward the studio. The second rehearsal was due in less than an hour. I didn’t notice the third car until it sped up beside us. The first flash came like lightning. Then came another. And another. The sound of camera shutters, like mechanical gunfire, filled the space around us. My driver cursed under his breath. “Signorina—paparazzi.” I turned sharply. Three cars now. One directly behind us. One to the left, keeping pace. One ahead, slowing to block our path. From ever
The office was too quiet, even for someone who’d come to love silence. Or maybe not love it—just forget how to hate it. The rain tapped against the glass of the penthouse windows as I stood staring at the city skyline, the vast sprawl of glass and chrome stretching beneath me. It should have felt triumphant. It didn’t. "Mr. Whitlock, the Tokyo team has confirmed the merger." I didn’t look away from the window. "Put it on my desk. I’ll review it later." "Yes, sir." I heard the secretary retreat, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor. I waited for the door to close with a muted hiss before finally turning. The office was sharp and sterile. Mahogany desk, floor-to-ceiling shelves lined with untouched books, and a liquor cabinet I never used. The only thing personal in the entire room was a single velvet box in the bottom drawer of my desk—locked, untouched. My reflection caught in the glass. The tailored black suit, the gray eyes that no longer sparked, the hair
The city was quiet at dawn. Rome always woke slowly—like a lover reluctant to leave bed, curling back into warmth and marble silence. I stood by the tall window of my apartment, my hands wrapped around a cup of black tea. Below me, the street was just beginning to stir. A Vespa buzzed. A café owner unlocked his doors. The sky above was pale lavender, the kind of color that made me feel like I had already danced through a dream. I turned away from the view and moved through the apartment—barefoot on cool, polished floors, the silk hem of my robe whispering at my ankles. My rehearsal bag was packed. Hairpins ready. Pointe shoes tucked in like sleeping swans. A knock at the door broke the quiet. Three knocks. Not loud. Not urgent. Just... expectant. I didn’t even need to ask. It was him. I opened the door and found him standing there. Black suit, no tie, simple white shirt. Tall, lean, not brutish. The kind of man who blended into any hotel lobby or opera house. You wouldn’t rememb
The city of Rome gleamed beneath the dusky sky, its ancient streets echoing the low hum of life. After the warm dinner with Mama and Papa, I returned to my sanctuary—the apartment that cradled the version of me the world knew as Amara Liora. The Swan of Rome. The driver pulled up to the front of the building, and the doorman, Roberto, greeted me with a warm smile. " Good night, miss." "Good night, Roberto," I replied softly, stepping out as he opened the door for me. I nodded politely, tired but glowing from the comfort of home. The building was tucked in the quieter part of Trastevere, away from the tourists and noise. But nothing about it was modest. A beautiful blend of classic Roman architecture with subtle modern elegance, its cream façade held wrought-iron balconies adorned with red and white flowers. I took the private elevator to the top floor—my floor. The doors opened with a soft chime and I stepped into my apartment. Light spilled across marble floors, polished to a mu