THE SIDE PIECE (ENGLISH)

CHAPTER 5

TAMARA

Throughout the entire event, I couldn't take my eyes off Kyler Laurel.

Or maybe it would be more accurate to say that he never left my sight because I kept catching him looking my way.

Whatever his reason was for staring at me so often, I didn't really care. What mattered was that I made a lot of money from the tips I earned during the three-hour car show Nyx and I had worked at.

"I'm exhausted."

We were changing back into our regular clothes now that the event was over. If Nyx hadn't spoken, I probably would've kept thinking about Kyler Laurel.

I had to admit he was incredibly handsome, and there was something undeniably attractive about him. I could even say that he was my type, which was why I secretly enjoyed catching him looking at me several times earlier.

I had actually been hoping he'd come over and talk to me again.

He never did.

It was a little disappointing, but I still had a great time tonight, so I couldn't really complain.

"Did you get a lot of tips?" I asked after we finished changing.

If she'd earned a lot, she'd surely be happy once I gave her all the tips I'd made tonight, along with my salary for working as a brand ambassador.

"A few people tipped me," Nyx replied. "But most of the guests were genuinely interested in the cars. Besides, you know how these rich people are. They didn't come here to flirt with brand ambassadors like us."

I simply nodded.

My thoughts drifted back to Kyler Laurel.

He never approached me again, so maybe Nyx was right.

He'd come because he loved cars—not because he was looking for a woman.

Besides...

A man as handsome as him probably already had a girlfriend.

Or maybe even a wife.

"What about you, Tam?" Nyx asked. "How was your first side gig? Did you enjoy it?"

"So much!" I exclaimed, turning to face her.

"I'm so glad you brought me here! I had so much fun, Nyx! Making money is actually exciting!"

She laughed.

"So you're satisfied with the one thousand five hundred pesos we earned tonight? You can't even buy much with that, Tam. It doesn't even cover half the price of one of your dresses."

I quickly shook my head.

"I made a lot from the tips. I have fifteen thousand five hundred pesos now, Nyx."

I smiled as I held onto her arm.

"I'm giving it all to you. That way you'll still have money even if Mom stops paying your salary."

She immediately stopped walking and stared at me.

Then she started doing the math in her head.

"Wait..."

"So you earned fourteen thousand pesos in tips?"

She looked completely stunned.

"How did you make that much? How many people tipped you?"

"Only four," I answered honestly.

"But a lot more people came over to ask about the car."

Her brows knitted together even more.

"Four people gave you fourteen thousand pesos?"

She still couldn't believe it.

I nodded repeatedly before explaining how I'd gotten my biggest tip.

"f**k, Tam..."

Nyx stared at me in disbelief.

"What?"

"The guy who gave you eleven thousand..."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Didn't he say anything else?"

"What else would he say?"

"Didn't he tell you he'd wait for you after the event?"

I frowned and shook my head.

"No."

"He didn't say anything like that."

"Besides..."

"I turned him down when he said he wanted to buy me."

"Oh, for f**k's sake!"

She cursed so loudly that I stopped talking.

She grabbed my arm and practically dragged me toward the exit.

"Nyx!"

"What's wrong?"

"Why are we in such a hurry?"

"Don't tell me Mom's already home!"

My heart immediately started racing.

If Mom had gotten home before we did...

We'd be in serious trouble.

We had just stepped outside the venue when Nyx's phone rang.

She stopped walking and glanced at the screen.

"Wait here, Tam," she said.

"It's one of my friends."

"Maybe it's another side gig."

She walked a few steps away to answer the call.

"Are you going home?"

I almost jumped when someone spoke beside me.

When I turned around...

There stood Kyler Laurel.

Without realizing it, I found myself staring at his face.

He really was handsome.

The kind of handsome you could look at forever without getting tired.

Maybe it was because I had tan skin, but I'd always been attracted to fair-skinned men.

It was rare to meet someone with such pale skin who still looked undeniably masculine.

Kyler Laurel was exactly that.

"Yeah."

I nodded.

"Why?"

Then I remembered the huge tip he'd given me.

He wasn't planning to ask for his money back...

...was he?

"Do you live nearby?" he asked.

I nodded again.

"Not exactly close."

"But not that far either."

As he slowly ran his tongue across his lower lip, my eyes instinctively followed the movement.

"Can I contact you?"

My brows shot up.

Had I heard him correctly?

Did he just ask for my phone number?

"You... want my number?"

I asked in disbelief.

He nodded.

"Can I have it?"

I swallowed nervously.

I never expected him to approach me again.

Nyx had said rich guests like him never flirted with brand ambassadors.

So I definitely wasn't expecting him to ask for my number.

"Um..."

"I don't actually have a phone right now..."

Before I could finish explaining...

He let out a soft laugh.

"Are you playing hard to get?"

I blinked.

He must've thought I was making excuses because I didn't want to give him my number.

Mom had taken my phone away, and I wasn't even sure if she'd ever return it.

"I'm not playing hard to get."

"I really don't have a phone."

He narrowed his eyes and studied me for a few long seconds.

Then he sighed.

Without another word, he pulled out his wallet.

I watched as he took out several one-thousand-peso bills before slipping his wallet back into his pocket.

Then...

He handed the money to me.

"What am I supposed to do with—"

"Buy yourself a phone."

He held out a business card along with the cash.

"And call me."

"Why do I have to contact you?" I asked, confused.

His eyes narrowed.

"So we can have physical contact..."

He held my gaze without looking away. After a few seconds, he bit his lower lip, slowly let his eyes roam over my body, then looked back into my eyes.

"Call me as soon as you get yourself a new phone," he said before turning around and walking toward a luxurious car parked nearby.

I couldn't help gasping when I saw him get into what looked like a brand-new Lamborghini.

He really must love cars.

No wonder he had been so interested in the new Lamborghini I'd been assigned to earlier.

As he drove past me, he honked the horn and waved.

"Tam!"

I turned when Nyx tapped my shoulder.

Her eyes immediately landed on the cash in my hand, and she frowned.

"What's that? Why are you holding so much money?" she asked.

I smiled and walked over to her.

"The man I told you about—the one who gave me the eleven-thousand-peso tip—came back just now. He gave me money to buy a new phone."

"A new phone?" she repeated, confused.

I nodded eagerly.

"He asked for my number, but I told him Mom took my phone away. Then he gave me money so I could buy a new one and contact him."

Nyx's mouth fell open.

She took the business card from my hand.

"Kyler Laurel..."

She read the name aloud.

"Vice President of Laurel Construction."

She looked up at me.

"Wait. Isn't Laurel Construction the company you applied to a few days ago?"

I laughed and nodded.

"Yeah. He's the one who interviewed me."

Her eyebrows shot up.

"The same guy who offered you a blow job?"

I nodded again.

"Oh, for f**k's sake."

She shook her head.

"That bastard really knows how to make his move."

I frowned.

"Why? Shouldn't I have talked to him?"

She stared at me for a moment.

"Do you like him?"

I didn't hesitate.

I nodded.

"He's handsome."

Nyx grimaced before grabbing my arm as we started walking toward the bus stop.

"If he asked you to sleep with him, would you say yes?"

"I don't know."

"It depends..."

"Oh, come on."

She rolled her eyes.

"You might as well admit you'd gladly spread your legs for him."

I thought about it for a moment.

There wasn't anything wrong with s*x if both people wanted it.

What was wrong was forcing someone to do something they didn't want.

"There's nothing wrong with having s*x if both people consent, right?" I asked.

Nyx wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

"I thought you were conservative."

She laughed.

"Turns out you're willing to sleep with someone as long as he's your type."

I shrugged.

"Everyone has s*x eventually, don't they?"

"No one says it's forbidden."

"The important thing is that both people want it."

She laughed even harder.

I frowned.

"Do you like Attorney Revamonte?" I asked.

"I just want Little Nyx to get to know him," she replied with a grin.

"That doesn't mean I like him."

"What if he's secretly a terrible person?"

"Better be careful."

"What if he asks you to sleep with him after you flirt with him?" I asked.

"Then I'd do it."

She answered without hesitation.

"As long as he grants the favor I ask for."

"What favor?"

"That he lets us keep living in your house."

She shrugged.

"Or at least until your mom earns back everything she lost gambling."

A wave of guilt washed over me.

I should be the one helping Mom.

Not Nyx.

"Are you really willing to do that?"

"You said you don't even like Attorney Revamonte."

"Wouldn't that mean you'd just be forcing yourself?"

She laughed.

"I never said I didn't want to sleep with him, Tam."

"In fact..."

"I'm actually excited to meet him."

She bit her lower lip playfully.

"He just seems... delicious."

I simply shook my head and looked out the window.

Once we were on the bus, I looked at the money Kyler had given me.

When I counted it, my eyes widened.

Thirty thousand pesos.

The bills were so crisp and new that they felt thinner than usual. I hadn't realized there were that many.

Thirty thousand...

Just to buy a phone?

I honestly had no idea phones cost that much.

Mom had always been the one buying things for Tamiko and me.

Thinking of my twin made me look at Nyx.

"Has Tamiko posted anything online?"

Nyx shook her head.

"Nothing."

I quietly nodded.

When we arrived home, I let out a sigh of relief after the guard told us Mom still wasn't back.

Nyx and I went straight upstairs to my room.

"Nyx..."

I handed her all the money I was carrying.

"This is for you."

She frowned.

"Why are you giving me the money you earned?"

"And the money that guy gave you?"

"He's right."

"Use it to buy yourself a phone."

"Just don't let your mom know, or she'll take it away again."

I shook my head.

"I don't need a phone."

"I can just borrow yours whenever I want to call him."

Before she could stop me, I stuffed all the money into her bag.

"Oh, come on, Tam."

"Keep it."

"It's your first salary."

"It's the first money you've ever earned."

"You should save it."

I smiled.

"I don't need money as long as I'm living with Mom."

"You keep it."

"I only came because I wanted the experience."

"I had so much fun tonight."

"That's enough for me."

She sighed before pushing the bag closer to herself.

"I'll keep it safe."

"But remember..."

"It's still your money."

"If you ever need it, just tell me."

I simply shrugged before heading to the bathroom.

After my shower, I suddenly remembered Kyler.

"Nyx..."

"Can I borrow your phone?"

"I just need to make a call."

She grinned.

"Calling your crush?"

I laughed and nodded.

She cursed under her breath.

"When is Attorney Revamonte coming, anyway?"

"You'd better not beat me to sleeping with your man."

"He'll probably come by the end of the month," I answered.

She grinned wickedly.

"Perfect."

"Little Nyx and I will be fully prepared for Attorney Revamonte."

Still laughing to herself, she disappeared into the bathroom.

As soon as she was gone, I sat on the bed and dialed Kyler Laurel's number.

He answered after the third ring.

"Hello?"

The moment I heard his voice...

My mind went completely blank.

I suddenly had no idea what to say.

Panicking, I ended the call and placed Nyx's phone back on the bed.

I wasn't ready to sleep with anyone.

My twin sister was still missing.

Our family was on the verge of losing our home.

This wasn't the right time to get involved with a man...

Especially not in that way.

A few minutes later, I picked up the phone again.

I decided I'd return his money instead.

I had no intention of buying a new phone just so I could contact him.

He answered almost immediately.

"Hello?"

"Um... this is Tamara."

"Who?"

I raised an eyebrow.

Had he already forgotten my name?

"Tamara," I repeated.

"We met earlier at the car show."

I took a deep breath before continuing.

"I just wanted to tell you that I'm not buying a new phone to contact you. I'm only borrowing my friend's phone right now. I'll stop by your office tomorrow to return the money. Bye."

I hung up before he could respond.

A moment later...

His call came in again.

I frowned but answered.

"No. Don't come to my office."

"Come to my unit instead."

"I'll send you the address."

Before I could say anything, he ended the call.

A few seconds later, a text message arrived.

It contained his address.

"Skyline Villa?"

I stared at the screen.

"Wow..."

"He really is rich."