SECRETS?
1624 Words
JOJO HOUSE OF FASHION
The boutique everyone kept talking about, glass walls glowing softly like it knew it was expensive.and I didn't have that money,but I had people to steal from.
Dora had hyped this place up for weeks.
You need something professional but dangerous, she’d said.The kind of outfit that makes men forget their names.I hoped she was exaggerating.
I stepped in slowly, heels clicking against polished floors. The place smelled like fabric, perfume, and money. A pretty lady walked toward me, smiling wide,asian, delicate features, eyes sharp like she’d seen everything.
“Hi, welcome,” she said warmly. “What would you like today?”
“Uhmm… office wear,” I replied flatly.
She blinked once. Then smiled wider. “Say less.”
I followed her deeper into the store, past mannequins dressed like powerful women who didn’t apologize for existing. She pulled out a few pieces,clean lines, sharp cuts, nothing excessive.
As she held one blazer against me, she tilted her head.
“This one,” she said. “You’ll break hearts.”
“I’m not trying to,” I muttered.
She laughed. “That’s when it happens.”
I was about to respond when I began hearing murmurs,low voices,excited whispers. The kind that made you curious without even trying.
I lifted my head slightly, eyes narrowing.
“What’s going on?” I asked no one in particular.
Girls were clustering near the far end of the boutique, pretending to browse while very obviously not browsing.Someone else whispered far too loudly.
“Oh my God, he’s hot.”
I frowned, already irritated.I turned to Dora
“This is your favorite place,so do you have any idea who the…” I paused, then scoffed. “Oh. He’s hot, blah blah blah.”
Dora tugged my sleeve, her eyes wide, her lips pressed tight as if holding back a scream. She started gesturing frantically,pointing, shaking her head, mouthing words.I squinted at her. “Have you by any chance seen any hot guy pass here? I just want to see why girls are y’know.”
She nearly choked.
I shrugged. “Yeah, I don’t know why they do that.”
Then a shadow fell in front of me.
A man stood there tall, composed, dressed in black like elegance was his natural language. Black shades hid his eyes.I turned,”oh hi, I'm wondering why everyone's acting like a hot celebrity walked in”I said awkwardly
“Hi,” he said calmly, stretching out his hand. “I’m Arthur.”
Oh.
I blinked once. Took his hand without thinking. “Stella.”
His grip was firm but brief.I glanced at the display beside us, pointed casually. “Pick the gold. It looks better on you.”
And before my brain could catch up with my mouth, I turned and strolled toward the reception.
Behind me, Dora made a strangled noise.
Something felt… off.
Almost immediately, I noticed it,staff members subtly shifting direction. Conversations dying mid-sentence.I stopped in front of a straight-fitted gown, fingers brushing the fabric.
Hmm,I love this.I turned right and froze.
One of the receptionists was practically leaning into Arthur, smiling too wide, touching her hair and being all flirty.He didn’t even look at her.
I chuckled under my breath. Interesting.
“Arthur Salvatore is here,” another receptionist whispered dramatically. “I feel so hot inside, I’m trying to keep it together right now.”
My smile slipped.
Salvatore?
I looked again.Wait….is that.I gasped before I could stop myself.Dora, who had been hovering like a nervous satellite, flinched.
“Hey,” I whispered sharply. “Come here.”
She jogged over, eyes darting around. “What?”
“I can’t believe you talked to him like that,” she hissed.
I stared at her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I did, you psycho!” she snapped back. “You just never listen!”
I sighed, rubbing my forehead. “It’s fine. It’s all good. I didn’t die.”
As if summoned by my embarrassment, Arthur approached again, holding two wrist watches,one gold, one champagne.
“Which do you prefer?” he asked.
Up close,clean lines,sharp jaw,a calm confidence that didn’t need attention,just commanded it.
I swallowed. “The… gold,” I said, my voice betraying me with the slightest stutter.
A corner of his mouth lifted but not quite a smile
“Go home Dora”James walked in interrupting
His eyes locked on us.
“And who said I need bodyguarding”
He crossed the distance in long, controlled strides, stopping far too close. His gaze never touched mine.
“Why are you standing so close to her?” he asked coldly.
Arthur raised a brow, unbothered. He extended his hand. “Oh, I’m clean, man. Arthur.”
James glanced at the hand and ignored it.I was too stunned to speak
“You’re standing too close,” James said again.
Arthur tilted his head. “Am I missing something here?too close to who”
“Mine.”he said with his teeth
Before I could protest, James grabbed my wrist,and dragged me toward the counter. The cashier didn’t dare say a word. He paid without looking, his aura screaming don’t interfere.
Then he pulled me out of the boutique, the door slamming shut behind us.
My heart pounded.Behind us, I didn’t need to look to know.Arthur was watching
“Let go of me James, what's the meaning of what you just did? acting like you own me “
“If I wanted you,no one could stop me."He paused
“The fact that I haven't should terrify you more”
THE MANSION
Breakfast smelled like power.I still couldn't take my mind off yesterday, everything that happened at the boutique,what would happen if he saw me today.Heat shimmered faintly above the table where Dora sat, lazily twirling fire between her fingers like it was a party trick. Across from her, Noah cooled his tea without touching it, ice crawling up the porcelain before retreating.
James sat at the head of the table, doing nothing
My stepmother moved around the kitchen, humming softly, the air subtly shifting as she bent space to reach things faster. My father read the paper, eyes glowing faint gold,precognition flickering in and out as casually as blinking.
Six countries.
I buttered my toast slowly, saying nothing.
Dora laughed at something Noah said, flashes flaring brighter with her mood. The sound echoed too loudly. James’s jaw tightened. The lights overhead flickered, then steadied.
“Sleep well?” my stepmother asked me gently.
“Yes,” I lied.
James’s gaze slid to me.This was how it always was,calm on the surface, tension coiled beneath. Power shared in pieces, like everyone was showing off just enough to remind the others who they were.
And me?
I watched.
James lifted his cup, power humming quietly around him. Everything responded to him,even the house and me if I was being honest.
Our eyes met briefly,his expression unreadable,like monsters pretending to be human.
I watched until I couldn't take it anymore,I dropped my spoon “I need to get ready for an interview”
Silence………yea I thought so.
I showered, letting warm water rinse off the heaviness of the table, the unspoken hierarchy, the way I always felt like an observer in my own family. When I stepped out, steam curling around the mirror, I barely recognized the woman staring back at me.
She looked… steady.I dressed slowly.
The skirt hugged my waist and hips perfectly,not tight enough to be inappropriate, but fitted enough to remind me that I existed. That I had a body, a presence, a place in the world beyond this house. The blouse tucked in neatly, sleeves smooth, posture inevitable,leaving my hair to fall naturally, added minimal makeup, nothing dramatic
When I reached the top of the stairs, I hesitated.
Then I walked down anyway
“Okay….wow.”Dora said dramatically
Noah whistled before my stepmother shot him a look. “Stella,” she said warmly, eyes approving, “you look beautiful.”
My father lowered his paper, nodding once. “Very professional.”
Compliments stacked around me like sudden sunlight,this was new
I smiled, “Thank you.”
James was quiet the whole time,but his eyes never left me. I picked up my bag,I didn't even spare him a glance.
“I should go,” I said lightly, breaking the moment. “First day.”
“Good luck,” Dora chirped.
“You’ll do fine,” my stepmother added.
Savire opened the door for me
“Thanks”I almost whispered
“I think you deserve to know the truth about your real mother and James too”he whispered back.
My brow raised
ZINA
I woke up thinking about coffee schedules, interview lists, and the way my boss frowned when he was concentrating. He didn’t talk much about himself, but I’d learned his moods the way you learned weather,by watching patterns.Today felt important.
I dressed carefully. Neutral blouse,pencil skirt and super short almost revealing my behind,hair neat,and of course professional cause this girl liked order. It made the world easier to handle.
The office was quiet when I arrived.I checked my watch,that was strange, Arthur was never late.
I set my bag down, organized the files for the day, and straightened the interview schedule for the third time and still no sign of him.
I kept thinking of his voice,calm,controlled. The way he listened,not just to answers, but to pauses. I admired that maybe more than I should.I shook my head .”focus” I scolded myself
“Why,thinking about me huhn” he whispered from behind, directly behind me.My cheeks turned red instantly,I felt so embarrassed, I couldn't turn my face .
- Writer
