LOVE IN DISGUISE

Hurt

She felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her, followed by a deep sadness. She had trusted Cameroon, had thought that he might feel the same way about her. But now, she realized that she had misread the situation entirely.

EVENING~ 4:00pm

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✨✨ JEFF'S MANSION ✨✨

Cecelia ended the video call with Avery and took a deep breath, glancing at her ringing phone. It was Damric calling. She smiled, feeling a flutter in her chest. After three rings, she finally picked up.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I wasn't with my phone," Cecelia muttered, trying to sound casual.

Damric coughed before speaking, his voice low and husky. "It's okay... how are you?"

Cecelia's heart skipped a beat as she tried to compose herself. "I...m fine... What about you?" she stuttered.

"Fine too," Damric replied, his voice smooth.

An awkward silence followed, and Cecelia wondered what Damric wanted to talk about.

"Can you please switch to a video call?" Damric asked, interrupting the silence.

Cecelia's heart skipped another beat. "Uh... I don't usually do that... except with Avery."

Damric chuckled. "Please, it's not like I don't usually see your face at school."

Cecelia smiled, feeling a blush rise to her cheeks. "Okay, fine."

She switched to a video call, and at first, she didn't see anyone and thought Damric was playing a prank on her. But then, she heard a dog bark and looked up to see Damric petting a little white puppy that sat on his lap.

A smile spread across her lips. "OMG... he's adorable!" she exclaimed.

The puppy looked up at her with big brown eyes, and Cecelia's heart melted. "Is he the puppy you told me about?" she asked, her eyes fixed on the puppy.

Damric nodded immediately staring at her.

Cecelia looked beautiful on the video call. She wasn't wearing any makeup, but her skin still glowed. Her hair was tied back with a ribbon, showing off her pretty face.

Her bright blue eyes sparkled. They were framed by thick, dark eyelashes that made them stand out even more.

When she smiled, her whole face lit up, and Damric couldn't help but be captivated by her charm.

“You're beautiful” Damric muttered his voice sounding deep and husky.

Damric's compliment made Cecelia's cheeks flush pink. "Thanks," she said, looking down, trying to hide her smile.

"You're welcome," Damric replied, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. "So, what were you doing before I called?"

Cecelia shrugged. "Just talking to Avery. We were studying for our math test."

Damric nodded. "Yeah, I need to study for that too. Maybe we can study together sometime?"

Cecelia's heart skipped a beat at the suggestion. "That sounds like fun," she said, trying to sound casual.

As they continued talking, Cecelia found herself feeling more and more at ease with Damric. She couldn't believe how easy it was to talk to him, how much they had in common.

Before she knew it, they'd been talking for over an hour. "I should probably go," Damric said, glancing at his watch.

"Yeah, me too," Cecelia replied, feeling a sense of disappointment.

"Okay, well, I'll talk to you later,"

"Bye," Cecelia replied, watching as Damric's face disappeared from the screen.

As she sat there, staring at her phone, Cecelia couldn't help but feel a little flutter in her chest. She had a feeling that this was just the beginning of something special.

✨✨ 5:30pm

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RD'S INDUSTRIES

“Mr Reed....“ Suize called out while walking to his office. "Mr. Re..." She stopped in her tracks when she saw Reed sitting with his head bent over his desk, and she hesitated, unsure of what to do.

The soft glow of the desk lamp cast a warm light on Reed's face, accentuating his sharp features. His dark hair was mussed, and his shoulders slumped slightly, giving him a vulnerable appearance.

Suize cleared her throat and began, "Mr. Reed... Uhm, it's past closing hours..." But Reed didn't move or respond, and she sighed in frustration, about to leave the office.

However, something about Reed's stillness made Suize pause. She turned back to him and gently walked closer, her eyes drawn to his peaceful face.

As she examined his features, her gaze on the side of his eye, then his long, straight nose, and finally, his lips... Suize's heart skipped a beat as she felt a flutter in her chest.

She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. No, she couldn't let herself feel this way. Even if she liked him, they couldn't work out. She was thirty-six, and he was forty-two. The age difference, combined with their professional relationship, made it impossible.

Suize breathed heavily, trying to compose herself before tapping Reed's shoulder. His eyes slowly opened, and they stared at each other for a moment, the air thick with tension.

Suize broke the silence, her voice barely above a whisper. "Ah, Mr. Reed, it's... past closing time."

Reed looked at her for a moment before he sat up straight, rubbing his eyes. "I'm sorry, Suize. I must have dozed off."

"It's okay, sir. You've been working late a lot lately."

Reed stood up, towering over Suize. "I'll head home now. Thank you for waking me, Suize."

Suize nodded, feeling a sense of disappointment as Reed walked out of the office, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

✨✨(6:00pm)

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✨ LANGLIN'S MANSION ✨

Jasmine was in her room, staring at the paper she had found earlier, when she heard the doorbell ring. She hesitated for a moment, wondering who it could be, before getting up to answer it.

When she opened the door, she was surprised to see Micheal standing there, a worried look on his face. She immediately wanted to close the door, but Micheal's hand shot out to stop her.

"Please, can I..." Micheal started to say, but Jasmine cut him off.

"Micheal, I've told you already... know your limit," she said firmly, trying to hide the frustration and annoyance she felt.

But Micheal pushed the door aside and walked in, his eyes fixed on hers. "You've been avoiding me lately... I couldn't help it," he muttered, his voice low and husky.

Jasmine scoffed, rolling her eyes. "That's not a good reason to come over. Why don't you get it, Micheal? I don't love you... and I'll never do so."

Micheal's face fell, but he quickly recovered. "Why? Is it because I'm not like the other rich dudes at school? Or because of the kiss?" he asked, his tone bitter.

Jasmine's mouth opened to respond, but she shut it back, unsure of how to answer. Micheal's words struck a chord, and she felt a sense of guilt.

"Or you're ashamed of me... or you think people will think so low of you?" Micheal added, his voice dripping with emotion.

Jasmine's eyes dropped, and she felt a lump form in her throat. "Micheal... it's not that," she stuttered.

But Micheal just shook his head. "Then what? Why can't you just let me love you? I really can't stop."

Jasmine felt a surge of frustration, but Micheal's next words caught her off guard.

"But if staying away from you would make you happy... then I would gladly do so.. but just remember I still love you and will always do."

With that, Micheal turned and left, leaving Jasmine feeling stunned and confused. She watched him go, her heart pounding in her chest.

As the door closed behind Micheal, Jasmine felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. She had never seen Micheal like that before, so vulnerable and raw.

She took a deep breath, trying to process her emotions.

Why did Micheal's words affect her so much?

And why did she feel so guilty for rejecting him?

LATE AT NIGHT: 9:30PM

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SMITH'S MANSION

Ava stormed into her mom's room, a look of anger on her face. "Mom, I think you should cancel the deal with Mr. Reed," she said, her voice firm.

Victoria's room was a lavish sanctuary, with cream-colored walls adorned with expensive artwork. A large, ornate mirror hung above a beautifully crafted dresser, where Victoria sat applying her makeup. The room was filled with the sweet scent of perfume, and the soft glow of candles cast a warm ambiance.

Victoria glared at Ava through the mirror, her eyes narrowing slightly. But she continued applying her makeup, her movements calm and deliberate. "And why is that?" she asked, her voice calm.

Ava scoffed, her frustration evident. "I'm sick and tired of your rules, Mom... I already told you, but you fail to listen." Her voice trembled with emotion, and Victoria's gaze snapped up, her eyes flashing with anger.

This time, Victoria couldn't take it anymore. She turned to Ava, who was standing beside her, and shouted, "I won't have you disrespect my orders! Understood!" Her voice was loud and commanding, making Ava shiver in fear.

She took a step back, her eyes wide with tears. "But... I can't afford to be with someone who doesn't even reply to my texts or pick my calls," she stuttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Victoria's expression softened slightly, and she smirked. "Well, he will from now on. Next week, you're resuming Clifford High." She turned back to the mirror.

Ava's eyes widened in shock. "What? No, Mom, please! Anything but that!"

MIDNIGHT: 11:45PM

✨✨ BENISON'S CARE CENTER ✨✨

Maddie sighed, feeling helpless as she gazed at her mom's motionless form. "I don't know what to do anymore... if only mom could hear us," she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion.

Amanda wrapped her arms around Maddie, offering a comforting hug. "We should find a way to save her life... I can't afford to lose her," Amanda muttered, her eyes welling up with tears.

Maddie nodded, feeling sad.

"Or you could ask Austin for help," Amanda added, raising an eyebrow.

Maddie glared at her, but her expression faltered. Amanda was right! She knew Austin was wealthy, and he might be willing to help.

Without another word, Maddie stood up and left the room, stepping out into the cool night air. The hospital's parking lot was dimly lit, with only a few cars scattered about. The sound of crickets and the distant hum of the hospital's machinery filled the air.

She pulled out her phone and dialed Austin's number, her heart racing. She wasn't sure if he would pick up, given the late hour, but after a few rings, she heard a husky voice on the other end.

"Maddie... hi," Austin spoke, his voice low and smooth.

Maddie's heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice. "I'm fine, what about you?" she replied, trying to sound casual.

"Fine too," Austin replied. "What's going on, Maddie? It's late."

Maddie took a deep breath before asking, "Austin, please can you pay my salary for this month, even if it hasn't come to an end?"

There was a pause on the other end, and Maddie's heart sank. Maybe she had been too forward.

"Don't get me wrong..." she began to say, but Austin interrupted her.

"Where are you right now?" he asked, his voice firm but curious.

Maddie hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But something about Austin's tone put her at ease.

"I'm at the hospital," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "My mom's in a coma, and I need the money to pay her medical bills."

There was another pause, and Maddie wondered if she had made a mistake by confiding in Austin. But then, she heard his voice.

"I'll take care of it, Maddie. Just stay there, okay?"

Maddie took a deep breath, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. She ended the call with Austin and stepped back inside the hospital ward, the cool air conditioning enveloping her like a blanket.

As she sat back down beside her mom's bed, She felt a sudden wave of exhaustion wash over her. She had been running on adrenaline for hours, and now that the tension had dissipated, her body was crashing.

Before she knew it, her eyelids drooped, and she fell fast asleep, her head slumping forward.

But her sleep was short-lived. Suddenly, Maddie was jolted awake by the sound of footsteps entering the room. Her heart racing, she opened her eyes, ready to scream.

But then she heard a familiar voice, low and soothing. "It's me."

Her gaze snapped to the figure standing in the doorway, and her eyes widened in surprise. Austin was standing there, a look of concern on his face.

"What are you doing here?" Maddie whispered, her voice shaking slightly and Austin chuckled.

"I told you I'd take care of everything," he said, his voice low and husky. "I'm here to help, Maddie."