Aria
Later, I couldn't stop wondering if I should call this man or not. Honestly, he had been on my mind the whole damn day. I needed to talk to my bestie, Nancy. So, I headed to her house, excitement buzzing in my chest at the thought of seeing her reaction.
But when I knocked at her door, she didn't answer. Just as I was about to give up, she suddenly opened it.
"Fuck! What are you doing here!" she snapped, anger flashing across her face. The smile on mine faded instantly.
"I'm sorry, Nancy," I whispered, already turning to leave.
"Fine, I'm sorry too, Aria. Jack is here," she said, grabbing my hand.
"Oh… Jack is here?" I stammered, my voice trembling.
"Yes. You've already interrupted, so just come inside," she muttered, tugging me in.
The moment I heard his name, my heart shattered into pieces. Nancy knew what Jack had done to me, yet she still let him stay in her life. She never believed me. She never believed that Jack had raped me in her house a year ago—when she was away on a business trip. I had gone there to see her, not knowing he was home. He begged me to sleep with him. I refused. I would never betray Nancy like that. That's when he forced himself on me.
I tried to sue him. But Nancy begged me not to. She swore she would break up with him and never see him again. And my husband? He dismissed it completely, saying Jack could never rape "a woman like me." He accused me of framing him.
Seeing Jack again now made my jaw tighten with rage. I wanted to punch him. No—kill him. But I couldn't. He only smirked.
"You're still the same," he sneered.
"Jack, go. Leave us," Nancy cut in with a forced smile.
Once he was gone, she sat beside me.
"Come on, we're not back together. He just keeps bothering me," she said. But I could see the lie in her eyes.
"Fine. Anyway, I have something to tell you—you'll be shocked," I said, trying to shift my mood.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I slept with someone last night," I confessed, grinning.
"Aria, you're joking, right?"
"I'm serious! And he's super hot. I should've taken a picture."
Her jaw dropped. "How did that even happen? Does Damon know?"
"No! If he knew, he'd kill me," I laughed nervously.
"Kill you? It's not like he loves you anyway," she chuckled.
"But God, he was so good. I can't stop thinking about him. I was wondering if I should call him—he left me his number."
"Fine. But next time, take a picture so I can see this mystery man," Nancy smirked.
"Do you think I should really meet him again?" I asked, excitement bubbling.
"Go on. But don't forget to wear baggy clothes if you don't want him disgusted by your fat belly," she teased.
That stung, but I forced a smile.
"Okay, let me hurry before Damon gets back," I said, standing up.
"As if he'd care," she laughed, waving me off.
Back home, I finally dialed his number. To my shock, he picked up.
"Who's this?" His voice thundered through the line, sending shivers down my spine.
"Um… I'm the girl from last night," I said, chuckling awkwardly.
"I met tons of girls last night. Be specific," he said flatly.
"We… slept together," I blurted.
"I slept with four girls yesterday."
My eyes widened. "Four girls? Are you a player?"
"No. Girls like me. What can I do?" he said smoothly.
"What?"
"You're the fat one, I guess. I can tell by the way you react. Do you seriously not know who I am?"
"Why would I know you? Are you famous or something?" I teased.
"You're interesting. Should we meet again?" he asked, a hint of laughter in his voice.
"Really?" I asked shyly.
"Let's meet."
"Okay, I'll send you the location."
"What? So I'm supposed to come to you?" he chuckled.
"Yes," I said quickly, hanging up before I could lose my nerve.
I practically ran to my closet. None of my clothes ever fit the way I wanted. I had tried everything to lose weight, but nothing worked. Still, I couldn't help the giddy excitement running through me. For the first time in two years, I felt alive.
At the restaurant, I arrived early. My hands trembled around my cocktail glass as I waited. He didn't make me wait long.
He walked in wearing a mask, and my breath caught. He moved like the main character of every story I'd ever dreamed of commanding, magnetic. My glass nearly slipped from my hand.
"I found you," he said, smirking as he slid into the seat beside me.
"Oh, yes," I stammered, my heart racing.
When he pulled off the mask, I almost choked on my drink. He was gorgeous. No wonder women threw themselves at him.
"What do you do?" I asked, struggling to act normal.
"I'm jobless. Do you want to hire me?" he whispered with a wicked smile.
That smile stole my breath.
"Do you want me to hire you? How about… come closer… do you want to be my sex slave?" I whispered, instantly regretting my own words. What the hell was I saying?
He nearly choked on his drink before laughing, leaning closer.
"That's so interesting. Let's do it. What are you paying me?"
My smile froze. My pulse hammered in my ears. He wasn't joking, was he?
The heat in his eyes made my skin burn, but his words cut like a blade.
Was he mocking me? Or was he dead serious?
For the first time in years, I couldn't tell if I was the one playing with fire—
Or if I had just offered myself up to the devil.