Phone Guy

My childhood friend said that he was connected with the doll. Now that he had lost it, he called me up to cry. One hand held my phone as I consoled him, while the other toyed with the doll. His voice began to take on a more interesting tone with my purposeful touches… I squeezed and pinched the toy and comforted him, “Shh, I agree with you. Whoever took your toy is a terrible person…”

At three in the morning, I stare at the unknown transaction record on my phone screen, my fingertips turning cold. The record is for a payment of 2980 dollars, made for an executive suite at the Wisteria. The time of payment was 8:00 pm last night. My husband, Tristan Griffin, is a detective. He was on the night shift last night. I clutch my phone, my knuckles turning white as I text Tristan, "I just saw your credit card bill for a hotel stay last night. What's up with that?" His reply is instant. "Our team had to work overtime at the last minute, so they put us up at the hotel. I forgot to tell you about it." I scan the text and sputter. The Wisteria is located in the western region of the city, which is on the other end from where his squad is stationed. I don't press him for more details and click on the bank app on my phone. Having found the vendor's address through the payment record, I sent it to my best friend, Rowena Sheffield, who works as a private detective. She replies instantly with an "OK" emoji and follows up with, "Give me a second. I'll find out everything you want in a jiffy!"

Hayley's life is in grave danger. Her lunatic of an ex is still at large after a failed murder attempt that left her almost unrecognizable. But that didn't stop her to go party, get drunk and have sex with a total stranger. The mysterious, drop-dead gorgeous, gray-eyed guy with an animalistic sex appeal made her think of the blue ridge mountains and the wolves howling at the full moon. Why? What's with... who's that guy again?

Tim Dalman has always wanted to be an actress. Finally landing on her big break in the industry, she finds herself with another problem—she reunites with her ex-boyfriend, Raphael Liu, who also happens to be the screenwriter of the television series she is a part of. Finding out about it, she is faced with different problems in the span of her series shootings as the guy doesn’t want to make everything easy for her. She develops hatred for the guy, constantly finding herself in heated arguments between the two of them. Destiny then plays amusingly as their love team becomes popular, forcing her to stick with the guy as she is told to do so if she wants her career to grow. She later finds out the reason why Raphael broke up with her years ago, and is later left with a career-breaking problem that could not only possibly end not only her rising fame, but her improving relationship with Raphael as well.

Life was going smoothly for Zara after she left everything behind, just to elope with her high school lover. They left the country together with the money she was able to save, and got married. But it took a big twist when she found her husband cheating on her on their matrimonial bed. Due to chronic stress and emotional distress, she went into labour, and ended up losing her child all because of her husband’s cruelness. When she was discharged from the hospital, she got welcomed back with a divorce paper from her husband. Unable to face the pains and humiliation, she went back home, but it was too late. Her family had already disowned her. She had no choice than to make a phone call which she never thought she would make after what she did years ago. After the phone call, helicopters filled the sky around her. “Will you run away just like you did two years ago?” A smirk appeared on the billionaire’s face. “No. Let’s get married, today.” She proposed, her eyes filled with determination.

Beta Max and I were at the Civil Affairs Bureau, ready to register our marriage. We were just waiting to take the final photo when he got a phone call and left. He abandoned me right there at the marriage registration office, leaving me stuck in an impossible situation. I called him—no answer. I messaged him—no reply. In the end, I had no choice but to call his childhood sweetheart’s number. Beta Max answered. “Louis, can you stop being so annoying? Grace twisted her ankle—I need to take care of her today. Stop calling and waking her up. We’ll reschedule the registration.” I bit my lip and murmured into the phone, “This makes it the seventh time we’ve rescheduled.” “So what? The Civil Affairs Bureau isn’t going anywhere—it’s not like it’s going to disappear!” My face was blank, but it felt like my heart was being carved open. A staff member looked at me with pity and asked, “Alpha Louis, are we still doing this?” I gave a small nod. “Yes. Let’s go through with it.”

Tim Dalman has always wanted to be an actress. Finally landing on her big break in the industry, she finds herself with another problem—she reunites with her ex-boyfriend, Raphael Liu, who also happens to be the screenwriter of the television series she is a part of. Finding out about it, she is faced with different problems in the span of her series shootings as the guy doesn't want to make everything easy for her. She develops hatred for the guy, constantly finding herself in heated arguments between the two of them. Destiny then plays amusingly as their love team becomes popular, forcing her to stick with the guy as she is told to do so if she wants her career to grow. She later finds out the reason why Raphael broke up with her years ago, and is later left with a career-breaking problem that could not only possibly end not only her rising fame, but her improving relationship with Raphael as well.

“You can call me when you’re lonely. I’ll be your temporary fix.” Those were the words that he said to me and it was plain simple, he wanted nothing but sex and I wanted nothing more than too. I was the kind of girl who was too scared of falling in love again because I feel like there is something more in life than being mournful over a guy who never actually gave a hell. I deserve something more than pain and misery over a stupid heartbreak. Since then, I got too scared of commitment that I no longer wanted to be in one. I wanted fun and I wanted to feel like I am alive again. He was the kind of guy who was too busy for permanent relationships. The superstar that all women wanted to bang with. The kind of guy who would have any girls kneel down in front of him because well, he is that kind of guy. He was a guy with a hectic schedule, sold out world tours, drinking champagne in private jets, holding a mic in one hand and conquering all over the world on the other. Maybe I needed someone to show me how to live again and he needed someone to show him how to love.

Samantha Hurst, a showgirl from Las Vegas, did not expect that at twenty-five her life would be transformed when she met Theon Adamos at a bachelor party. Theon, from a large and noisy Greek family, could not have imagined that one phone call could completely alter the course of his life. A single fun and spontaneous weekend can have definite consequences. What happens in Vegas, does it really stay in Vegas? Sometimes life really is a bitch!

My online boyfriend is very rich. Every time I get treated badly by my unscrupulous boss, he transfers money to me. But after another late overtime shift, I finally snapped. I was on the phone, yelling, “I’ll never forgive Zack Barlow. That scumbag!” However, my online boyfriend suddenly becomes quiet. He then asks, "Is your boss also named Zack Barlow?" His words made me pause.