ELLEN I could hear my heart pounding in my ears. I did not know how many seconds or minutes passed us there. But his deep voice jerked me out of my silent reverie. “Miss Knight, did you forget that you stay here in my room now?” He left my hand, turned his back to me, and sauntered toward the luxurious bed in his room. I heaved a deep sigh and tried to calm my racing heart. He was in his pajamas already and there was no need to freshen up again, so he lay down on the bed and drew the blanket to his chin. “Leave the lights on when you come to bed,” he said. “I cannot sleep with the lights on.” “You should adapt,” was his reply before he turned to the side, shutting me off. I inhaled and puffed out the air. Do I need to sleep here tonight? “I think I will manage the guest room tonight until your father comes.” “You are sleeping here tonight.” He muttered in a tone that indicated he was not interested in the conversation I wanted to have

ELLEN Oliver did not come back that night and I got worried. I saw him leaving his father's office in a fit of fury yesterday and almost bashed his car into the gate while leaving. I did not know what got him so upset but I knew it was something his father said to him about Sara. Could it be his father found out who killed Sara? Was it Tony? I was agitated and curious. I did not see Mr. Pablo Moreno throughout that day too. The house was quiet. It was usually quiet, but there was an aura hanging in the air that made it eerie. I wanted to speak to Tony because I do not know what I got myself into. I do not know how deep this thing ran. I was caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. Mr. Moreno the senior already suspects me. I had to make sure he did not already have something on me. I went into Sophie's toilet and sat down. That was the only place I could trust in the house. I was scared that Oliver tapped everywhere in his house. I did not want to continue th

ELLEN My head hurt. My body ached and I felt heavy to even lift a hand. A jackhammer. Someone must be pounding my temples with a jackhammer at this moment. There was no other logical explanation for this horrendous ache in my head. I shifted slightly and the pain in my head almost made me crazy. My eyes fluttered open slowly and I was facing an unfamiliar ceiling. The air around me smelled so clean and I turned my head slowly to the side to see Oliver sitting on a seat beside me. Relief crossed his face as he saw me. "You are awake," he said and held my hand. I stared blankly at him, unable to remember what happened. He waved his hand over my face and peeked at me. "Ellen, can you see me?" he asked. "Yeah..." I tried to speak but my voice was hoarse, so, I cleared it. "What happened?" "You got into an accident." The memories came flashing back at me and I shut my eyes as I heard the sound of the crash in my head. Oliver placed a hand on my fore

ELLEN "Uh— I have had my first share of love," I said and cleared my throat. I have to make him trust me, so I will tell him part of the story and toss in a lie or two. He knows about two years of my life missing from the records, so I had to put his mind away from there. "I met my first boyfriend, Derek, in my first year in college. He was handsome, sweet, funny, charming, wealthy, everything a girl could ask for. I was in dire need to love and be loved so I fell head over heels for him. Long story short, he turned the beast on me after a year and I barely escaped with my life. So, I had to clear everything about our relationship for two years. I left that town and transferred to NYU. "I do not like revisiting the memories, they are too traumatic for me. I cleared those years from my records because I did not want anything to associate Derek and me." Tears were strolling down my cheeks now because I remembered all that Tony did to me. "Is he the father of your

ELLEN When I woke up, the bed beside me was empty. Oliver was not there and I was lying alone naked on the bed. He left again. Why does he always leave when we have sex? I sat up, clutching the bedsheet to my body. I did not know how to feel, but I felt this whole thing was a mistake. I should not have let him touch me, I should have kept my distance. I would amount nothing to this man except a one-night stand. I was someone he would always use to quench his sexual frustrations. Then and now, yet I have not learned my lessons. I stared at his side which was now empty. Everything was the same as five years ago, except that this time, there was no bundle of money beside me. I sighed. I would not stay here and suck all day, I have a child to take care of. I got off the bed, picked up my nightwear that was still tossed across the floor, and wore it back. Oliver satisfied every bit of my sexual hunger, no doubt, but it was excruciatingly hurtful to feel the way I feel