23

Jennifer.
After Tomas finished recounting the entire saga of his life before and after he met Maya, I left his room and made my way to my own. I opened the door, stepping inside, and locked it behind me with a soft click.
I took a long, deep breath, trying to process everything I had just heard. It felt like a whirlwind of emotions swirling around my head. I picked up my cell phone and opened my inbox once again, feeling a mix of anxiety and anticipation. I had received a message earlier that I knew I needed to respond to. When Tomas had asked me why I refused to show him that message, my heart had nearly stopped. Oh my god! In that moment, I felt like I had lost my breath entirely! I thought I might faint from the tension.
Thank goodness I managed to divert the conversation away from that topic. Now, I had to reply. I grabbed my phone and quickly typed a message back, saying I would be coming very soon, maybe in the next few days.
But first, I needed to take a shower. Time was ticking, and I hoped this day would flow smoothly without any disasters or fights. I couldn’t help but wonder about my bad luck. Why had that snake of a girl chosen that particular nightclub? I guess I would find out soon enough. Less than an hour from now, I would uncover all the secrets. I whispered to myself, lost in thought while I stood alone in my room.
I walked over to my closet, carefully selecting a golden dress-backless, sleeveless, short, and undeniably sexy. This was me. With my icy long hair cascading down my shoulders, I knew I would shine like a superstar tonight. Feeling the excitement bubble within me, I took my towel and stepped into the washroom. I filled the tub with warm water and sank into it, allowing myself to relax for a while, closing my eyes as the warmth enveloped me, easing my tension.
—
**Tomas**
Jennifer had left to change her clothes and prepare for our meeting tonight. As I sat alone in my thoughts, I couldn’t shake the feeling of frustration. Why had she ignored my question and refused to show me that message on her phone? What was she hiding? It was apparent that she was keeping something from me, and I felt a knot of unease tightening in my stomach.
Jennifer seemed to think I had forgotten about the message, especially after she tried to distract me by asking about my story with Maya. Something felt off this time; I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Initially, I had thought she wanted to know everything about me because she cared, but now I felt a sense of doubt creeping in. For the first time in my life, I felt utterly foolish.
I knew I hadn’t shared everything with Jennifer. There were still parts of my life that I considered too private to disclose. I paced around my room while I dressed in a dark navy blue suit and a gold tie, mentally wrestling with my thoughts.
After I finished getting ready, I walked over to Jennifer’s room and knocked on the door. But there was no response. I tried the handle, but the door was locked. Frustrated, I turned and walked downstairs, pondering the situation.
“Mr. Tomas?! Mr. Tomas?” Carl called out, breaking my train of thought.
I turned to him, my eyes wide with surprise. “What is it, Carl?”
“What’s wrong, Mr. Tomas? You look different! And Jennifer has been in the same room for over three hours now!” Carl said, his eyebrows raised in concern as he awaited my response.
I ignored his comments and took a seat on the couch. Carl approached me, looking worried.
“Um, Mr. Tomas? Did you hear me, sir?” he asked, his voice hesitant.
With a wave of my hand, I gestured for him to stop talking. “Shush,” I said firmly.
Carl’s eyes widened in shock, his mouth agape as if he had been struck by lightning. I knew I was acting strangely, but I couldn’t help it. Minutes later, Jennifer emerged from her room, looking stunning in her golden dress.
I stared at her, taking in her beauty. Her face lit up with a radiant smile that stretched from ear to ear. I stood up and approached her, feeling a mix of admiration and confusion.
“Why are you shaking your butt like that? Maya!” I said in a deep, teasing voice as I leaned closer to her ear.
She pulled back, blinking in surprise. “What?!” she asked, her eyes wide.
—
**Jennifer**
After my refreshing shower, I dried off with a towel, styled my hair, and slipped into my sexy golden dress. With my glittering high heels clicking confidently on the floor, I felt empowered, as if I were stepping into a new chapter of my life. For the first time, I felt like a true lady, even though I was still a virgin.
Perhaps it was because I felt at home now, having lived here for a while. I didn’t keep too many secrets anymore. I knew I had my own hidden truths, but I felt that I had earned Tomas’ trust, and that brought me joy.
As I walked downstairs, I noticed Mr. Carl chatting with Tomas. When Mr. Carl turned his head to look at me, I could sense that both of them heard the sound of my heels clicking against the staircase. But Tomas remained on the couch, seemingly indifferent to my presence.
I took a few steps closer to where they stood, a huge smile plastered across my face. Then Tomas finally looked up at me, his eyes widening as he took in my appearance. He stood up, walked over, and leaned in near my ear, his breath warm against my skin.
“Why are you shaking your butt? You look like MAYA!” he whispered, his tone both teasing and serious.
His words hit me like a slap to the face. I pulled my head back, staring deeply into his eyes, momentarily speechless. I felt frozen in place, unable to respond.
He simply smiled a silly grin at me before turning away, walking off with his hands tucked into his suit pockets.
Mr. Carl approached me, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “Jennifer, you are not like Maya. I don’t know why he said that, but it’s not good. Don’t lose his trust, Jennifer,” he urged me gently.
I nodded, acknowledging his concern. “Mr. Carl, I don’t know what happened!” I replied, my voice tinged with confusion.
Mr. Carl took my hand, leading me to join Tomas as we headed toward the car. Just as we reached the door, Tomas yelled, “Hurry up, Jennifer!”
“Carl, don’t ever hold her hand this way! I’m warning you!” Tomas shouted at both of us, his eyes fierce.
I exchanged a glance with Mr. Carl, both of us startled by Tomas’ sudden intensity. This was unusual for him.
In the car, Tomas took the wheel, instructing me to sit beside him in a tone that brooked no argument. He didn’t even glance at me as he gave the order, leaving me to wonder what I had done to provoke his irritation.
The rude side of him resurfaced, the monster that sometimes lurked beneath the surface. I stared at him, trying to decipher his mood. He drove like a man possessed, speeding as if he were in a car racing championship, his expression unreadable.
When we finally arrived, Tomas got out and tossed the car keys to a valet, barking commands with an air of impatience.
“Park this!” he ordered.
“Yes, sir,” the valet replied politely.
Tomas strode over to me but didn’t open the door as he usually would. Instead, he gripped my arm and gave me a stern look. “Stay next to me, Jennifer!” he commanded, pulling me along with him as we entered the nightclub.
I looked at him, trying to gauge his mood, but he seemed oblivious to my gaze, focused instead on the crowd around us.
Mr. Carl followed closely behind, and as we walked through the bustling nightclub, Tomas asked him in a serious tone, “Carl? Have you called Maya?”
“Oh yes, Mr. Tomas,” Carl replied, keeping pace with us.
When we reached our table, Tomas was still holding my hand, but his grip was cold, not warm like it usually was.
As we settled in, I noticed Maya waiting for us, dressed in a very sexy outfit, her makeup striking. Her eyes followed Tomas with an intensity that made my stomach churn.
Tomas settled into a large chair, ignoring the warmth of my presence as he shook hands with others around him. He didn’t sit beside me like he usually did; instead, he positioned himself next to Maya, who was practically draped over him.
It felt like we were merely faking our relationship, and now it seemed more like a boss and his assistant than anything intimate.
I sat next to Maya, trying to ignore their conversation as I looked away, feeling confused and distracted. That’s when Jack appeared on stage, and I couldn’t help but feel a wave of dread wash over me.
But then a thought struck me. The last time Jack had danced and sung with me, it had made Tomas jealous. Perhaps I could stir up some feelings again.
Jack noticed me and before he began, he approached closely, kissing my cheek. Everyone, including Maya, could sense the tension brewing between Tomas and me.
I smiled back at Jack, and as he jumped onto the stage, he began to sing, dedicating a song to me in front of the entire audience.
I caught a glimpse of Tomas; he was staring daggers at me, his expression darkening. Maya, sensing the shift, was doing everything she could to distract him, kicking his legs with her shoes and trying to draw his attention away from me.
Jealousy flared within me as I faked a smile in Jack’s direction, feeling an intense urge to retaliate.
More girls approached Tomas, leaning in to kiss his cheeks. They didn’t look like whores; they were elegant and poised. But Tomas seemed to ignore me completely, showering them with attention that made my blood boil.
I controlled my temper, walking over to the bar and ordering a drink. The bartender asked what I preferred, but I couldn’t remember the names, so I simply asked for the strongest alcoholic drink available.
Jack saw me from the stage and rushed over, snatching the bottle from my hands. “What are you doing, Jennifer?! Are you out of your mind?” he yelled at me, concern etched on his face.
I glanced back at Tomas, who was still surrounded by the girls, their hands all over him. It made me feel bitter inside. I snatched the bottle back from Jack and gulped down half of it in one go.
“Jack?” I called out to him.
“Yes, Jennifer?” he replied, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.
I leaned closer and whispered, “Help me stand up on the bar counter, Jack. I want to dance!”
He blinked at me, clearly taken aback. “What the hell?!” Jack exclaimed, astonished.
“Now, Jack!” I insisted, my voice firm.
Jack hesitated but finally nodded. “Okay, calm down, Jennifer. You’re acting crazy!” he said, trying to keep me steady.
“I’m not crazy, Jack! Just help me jump on the bar counter and take your mic. I want to dance now!” I pleaded, placing a light kiss on his cheek to sweeten my request.
“Don’t look at me like that, Jack,” I said, making a puppy face.
He pulled out his mic and helped me onto the bar counter. I stood tall, my tanned skin glowing under the lights. I could feel all eyes on me as I appeared above them.
I caught another glance at Tomas. He was faking a smile, but it was evident that he was losing patience. He pushed the girls away and narrowed his eyes at me, a storm brewing behind them.
I threw my head back and began to dance provocatively, shaking my body and biting my lips in a way that I hoped would capture everyone’s attention. I tossed my shoes aside, and the crowd erupted in cheers, clapping and hollering as they tried to catch my movements.
But then I looked for Tomas again, and he was gone. In the next moment, he pulled me onto his shoulder and lifted me onto his table, seating me on his lap.
He hugged me tightly, his gaze intense and unyielding. Without saying a word, he leaned in and kissed my neck, his lips hot against my skin.
“Why do you keep acting like Maya?” he whispered into my ear, his voice low and filled with a mix of frustration and desire.
I tried to push him away, but I felt weak against his hold. He wrapped his arms around my back, kissing my neckline softly, leaving a love mark that sent shivers through me.
“Tomas, I love you,” I blurted out without thinking, my heart racing.