Forbidden Desires

Airport I'm here in a new city Fresh breeze,beautiful buildings, New people I can't believe I'm about to see my new stepdad I'm a bit nervous tho, weirdly, for someone who doesn't really care about how people view her; I wonder where mum is Isn't she supposed to pick me up, or did she forget Salish sighs I hope not, because I don't even know where to go next from here Miss Salish? A middle aged man called me with a British accent Um yeah? I answered Do we know each other, I asked Oh Gracious, No he said laughing I'm actually the Butler, James.Your mother asked me to pick you up because she's busy with the party preparations James said Oh.... I said Don't be sad my dear, it's just..... the lifestyle I guess He said it's fine Mr James, I'm used to her not showing up when I need her Salish said Oh dear James said It's fine James, let's go I'm tired already Of course, Shall we James said We shall I replied, trying to imitate his British accent We both laughed it off and went to bring my luggages We go outside the airport and James puts my bags in this black shiny..... BMW wait..... a BMW?? Who the hell..... you know what, nevermind Salish sighs in her mind, the life of the rich Get in Miss James said Yeah sorry, got lost staring at the beautiful buildings here James laughed and said don't worry miss,we have all the time to take you out for sightseeing Oh that would be lovely James, thanks Salish said Okay, so seatbelt please James Said as he fastened his seatbelt while the driver turns on the ignition I fastened my seatbelt too I can't believe I have a butler and a driver Salish giggled in her head She sighs happily I think I'm going to adapt to this life faster than I planned She watched as they drove past many places then stopped in front of this giant gate She watched as they entered an estate from there Then stopped at a Very beautiful villa Holy Shittttt, this house is so fuckin BEAUTIFUL Okay Miss Salish James Said Here we are Mom I said as I saw my mom standing outside the house with a smile on her face oh my baby Mrs Louisa Miller said as she hugged her daughter You've grown up so much she said I didn't change much mum, if you didn't leave me all alone back then you would notice Salish said Louisa sighed softly I know Lish but I want to make up for all those years now, I'm sorry What ever mom, I'm not ready to talk about that yet I'm tired Salish said I forgot you traveled a long way Louisa said James, please get the bags and put them in her room I'm going to give you a little tour of the house while James set up your room for you Louisa then showed her The cinema, the Kitchen, the living rooms and the rest of the rooms I'll show you the pool later or you might as well find it yourself when you're in that adventurous mood of yours Mom who's room is that Salish pointed to a room that has a DND sign hanged on it Oh that's your stepbrother's room Wait... Step brother Salish exclaimed No one told me nothing about a step brother It's not enough that I have a step dad I now have a step brother too she shouted Will you calm down Salish Louisa said Okay I'm calm Salish said as she tried to control her heavy breaths You'll like him Salish he's your age does he like you mum Salish asked Louisa sighed Not really Mum... I can't believe, I'm tired mum take me to my room please alright love Louisa said We kept on walking and then stopped in front of a door Here we are baby Louisa said It's so beautiful Salish said still awed Yeah I designed it design??Salish asked Yeah I'm an interior designer now I don't know anything about you mom Salish said Like I said before Lish we are going to have a mother and daughter talk very soon Why not tonight Salish asked A deep and pleasant voice said There's a party tonight we both turned around and I saw this handsome man Louisa smiled Hey love Hey baby Mr Richard said and kissed her lips so this is Salish Mama Mia You are as beautiful as your mother said you are Mr Richard said Thank you sir Salish said while blushing Nice to meet you Sir Just call me Richard dear Oh... nice to meet you Richard Nice to meet you too Salish By the way Salish, have you met my son, Rafael His name is Rafael huh nice name I wonder how he is going to react when he sees me No sir I haven't Oh well you'll meet him at the party Rest up now darling Richard said and took mom away I plopped down on my soft queen sized bed sighed happily so soft And soon Salish slept off "Salish dear" Louisa said Salish She said again "Yes mum Salish groaned and said It's time to dress up now Louisa said ' Wait...... I'm going to the party ' Salish asked ' Of course you are' Louis said while laughing ' I don't have a dress mum , I don't even know what kind of party it Is' Salish said almost cried ' That's why your mum is here,love' Louisa said as she goes to Salish's walk in closet ' I have clothes in there too' Salish Marveled at the gorgeous dresses, shoes, bags and so on Just then, A few ladies walked into the room Just as Salish was wondering who they are Louisa said ' These are your make-up artists' ' Really mom.... I don't need this, I mean .... I'm very much beautiful' ' I could rate myself as a solid 9 if not a ten on ten ' Salish said ' I know darling, but in the world of the rich Everything is necessary, so chop chop now we don have much time' Louisa said and walked out of the room A few minutes later,Louisa Enters again ' Um baby, You'll have to go to the party on your own I'll be going with Richard and we'll need to be there a bit early James is going to drop you off and you might end up finding your step brother there too ' Salish frowns and said clearly not hearing the stepbrother part ' fine,it's not like it's the first time you're re leaving me ' Baby, c'mon ' Mum!!, I said it's fine' Salish raised her voice Louisa sighed and said ' Alright baby, keep looking beautiful, I'll find you during the party'. Salish puffs out air and said to the make-up artists ' Come on, let's get this over with'The music was loud enough to shake the glass chandeliers, but Salish barely heard it. She stood at the top of the grand staircase, fingers resting lightly on the railing, her black gown flowing like liquid shadow around her feet. The mask—sleek, silver, and mysterious—hid most of her face, but not her eyes. Those eyes were dangerous. Not because of their color—no one could see that tonight. The blue contact lenses did their job well. But because of what they carried. Pain. Secrets. Fire. She inhaled slowly. You’re not her tonight. Tonight, she was just another rich girl at a masquerade in a mansion filled with people who didn’t know her past… and people who must never find out. “Stop overthinking,” she whispered to herself, her voice steady despite the storm inside her chest. Then she walked down. Across the room, Rafael DeLuca noticed her instantly. He didn’t know why. He had seen hundreds of women tonight—beautiful, elegant, desperate for attention—but none of them made the air shift like this one did. She didn’t look around nervously like the others. She didn’t try to be seen. She just… was. And somehow, that made everyone else invisible. Rafael tilted his glass slightly, watching her through the crowd. His jaw tightened. “Who is she?” he asked quietly. His friend followed his gaze, then shrugged. “No idea. New face.” Rafael smirked faintly. “Not for long.” Salish felt it before she saw him. That feeling… like someone was watching too closely. Her steps slowed. Stay calm. She turned slightly—and their eyes met. Time didn’t stop. But something shifted. He stood across the room, dressed in all black, his mask simple but sharp, like everything about him. His presence wasn’t loud—but it was heavy. Dangerous in a way that didn’t need explanation. Salish looked away first. Big mistake. Because now… he was interested. Rafael moved through the crowd without effort, people stepping aside without even realizing why. By the time Salish reached the edge of the ballroom, he was already there. “Leaving so soon?” his voice came from behind her—low, smooth, controlled. She paused. Don’t turn around. But she did. Up close, he was worse. Sharper. Colder. More… real. “I don’t remember saying I was leaving,” she replied calmly. Rafael’s eyes flickered with amusement. “You looked like you were escaping.” Salish tilted her head slightly. “Maybe I don’t like crowds.” “Or maybe,” he stepped closer, just enough to make the space between them feel smaller, “you don’t like being seen.” Her heart skipped. Just once. And she hated that he noticed. “I could say the same about you,” she shot back. A pause. Then—he smiled. Not a warm smile. The kind that meant this just got interesting. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The music faded into the background. The world blurred. And somehow, in a room full of people… it felt like it was just them. Two strangers. Both hiding something. Both pretending to be someone else. Rafael leaned in slightly, his voice quieter now. “Tell me your name.” Salish held his gaze. A battle. Silent. Intense. Then she smiled—just a little. “You first.”