"But..." Sara said, her voice a low, chilling whisper as she crouched in front of me, her dark eyes locking onto mine, unblinking, "*you*... will lose Aeri forever... don’t you love her?"
My heartbeat flatlined, a cold jolt slamming through me, my eyes widening as the words sank in like a knife. The room spun for a split second, the air sucked out, my breath catching hard in my throat. Shock washed over my face—raw, unguarded—my mind racing wild.
If I let her secret out, I’m fucked... but how the hell does she know? I hadn’t told a single soul about Aeri, not one damn person in this world. Had she figured it out on her own, pieced it together like some twisted detective? Or—shit—had Aeri said something? My chest tightened, panic clawing up my spine as I raised my eyes slow, hesitant, to meet hers.
She was grinning now—wide, evil, her lips curling up like a predator who’d just cornered its prey. "Pfft*... I knew it," she said, her voice sharp, triumphant, before she burst into a loud, cackling laugh. "Bwahahahah... so easy to read you are!" She jabbed a finger at me, her nail glinting in the dim light, her whole body shaking as she straightened up, towering over me in the chair.
Her stockings stretched tight over her thighs, her skirt rustling as she shifted, her boobs bouncing faintly under her bralet with every laugh.
"How?" I asked, gulping hard again, my throat dry as hell, my voice barely steady. "How did you come to know?" I leaned forward a fraction, my hands gripping my knees, my eyes narrowing.
"Ehe, it’s so easy to realize," she said, smirking wider, her tone dripping with mockery as she tossed her hair back with a flick of her hand.
"You act all cold and straight with the world—Mr. Tough Guy, right? But when she speaks, your words soften up like some chicken chirping—*lol*." She laughed again, sharp and biting, her finger still pointing at me like I was the punchline. "It’s pathetic, Ezra—written all over you."
I stared at her, my jaw clenching, my breath shallow as she kept going, her words slicing deeper.
"After you guys went home yesterday," she said, pacing a step, "even Daniel asked me if you love Aeri or something. Said he noticed how you keep staring at her—like some lovesick puppy, I guess." She shrugged, casual as hell, her smirk twisting tighter. "I told him it’s nothing like that, just you admiring her or whatever... but I’ve always known, deep down. You’re not slick, baby."
My hands tightened on my knees, my knuckles whitening, my mind reeling—*Daniel also noticed?* The dinner flashed back: my eyes on Aeri, her smile, the way I’d softened without even realizing. And Sara had seen it all, clocked it like a hawk, waiting to use it. I opened my mouth to say something—anything—but before I could, *SLAM*—she swung her leg up fast, her boot slamming down on the left side of the chair, the heel sinking into the cushion beside my face.
The force rocked me back, my hair swaying from the sudden gust, but I kept my eyes locked on hers, serious, steady.
Her leg stayed there, pinning the chair, her skirt riding up slightly, her stocking-clad thigh flexing close—too close—her smirk fading into something colder, sharper.
""That’s why..." Sara said, her voice dropping low, serious, her dark eyes boring into me as she leaned in closer, her boot still planted firm on the chair beside my face, "I’ve always toyed with you." Her words hung heavy, deliberate, a cold edge cutting through the sticky air of the room.
Her skirt had ridden up, her black lace panties peeking out, but she didn’t give a damn—obviously.
I didn’t say a word—just held her stare, my jaw tight.
"Kiss it," she commanded sudden, her tone sharp, her lips twitching into a faint smirk. "Kiss my feet," she said again, tilting her head, her hair spilling over one shoulder as she watched me, daring me to hesitate.
Her boot shifted slightly, the heel sinking deeper into the cushion, the leather creaking faintly under her weight.
I let out a slow *sigh*, the sound dragging out as I turned my face left, my cheek brushing the air near her thigh.
I leaned in, planting a quick kiss on her leg—over the stocking, the fabric rough and warm against my lips, her skin faintly salty underneath. It was mechanical, grudging, my eyes flicking up to hers as I pulled back, the taste lingering bitter on my mouth.
"Ehe... good boy," she said, her smirk widening, a giggle slipping out as she pulled her leg back, her boot hitting the floor with a soft *thud*.
She straightened up, brushing her hair back with a casual flick, her boobs shifting under her bralet as she stretched, all smug and satisfied.
"Well then, I’ll take my leave," she said, her voice flipping back to light, playful, like she hadn’t just turned my world upside down. "I’ve given the money to your boss, so enjoy that, Mr. Designer." She waved a hand back at me, her fingers fluttering in a mocking little goodbye, her smile sharp and bright as she turned toward the door.
She started humming again—some tune that drifted faint through the walls, the brothel’s music seeping in—and sauntered off, her hips swaying deliberate, her denim skirt swishing with every step.
*Clack*—her boots hit the floor, sharp and final, then *thud*—the door swung shut behind her, the sound echoing in the cramped space as she disappeared, leaving me alone in the mess she’d made.
I slumped deeper into the chair, my hands sliding up to grip my head, my fingers digging into my sweaty hair as I stared down at the cracked floor.
A deep *sighhhh* dragged out of me, long and heavy, my chest caving with it. *What the fuck do I do now?* She had me checkmated—cornered, trapped, no moves left. I couldn’t tell anyone, couldn’t touch her, couldn’t undo this. The pic on her phone, the recording, her knowing about Aeri—it was a noose around my neck, and she held the rope. If Aeri found out... shit, I couldn’t even think it through, the betrayal she’d feel cutting too deep to imagine.
Time slipped by slow, the room’s air pressing in, the distant hum of the brothel fading to a dull buzz as I sat there, dwelling, spinning in circles.
My hands stayed locked on my head, my eyes fixed on the floor, the weight of it all sinking heavier with every second—stuck, fucked, and out of options.