A Taste of Danger

The Chat Room

Rose

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted a family, and that dream might soon come true.

Steven, my boyfriend, has been sneaking around lately, and I think it’s because he is about to propose! He has made strange phone calls, and when I grabbed his phone yesterday, he quickly snatched it back, probably because he is making wedding plans on it!

I wake up with a smile, feeling all excited when Steven’s alarm goes off at six o’clock in the morning on a normal Saturday. It’s singing the tune of Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance, and even though I’m thrilled to start our weekend together, the song is beginning to give me a headache.

“Babe…” I whine in a tired voice as I desperately try to reach for the phone to turn off the terrorizing alarm. “It’s time to get up.”

Steven groans and flips around, hiding his face in the pillows. “Five more minutes…”

I snort and am about to put down his phone, but something compels me to press on the messenger bubble. It leads to a group conversation called, “My slut of a wife—VIP subscribers chat,” and I can feel the oxygen leaving my lungs.

What the fuck is this?

As my eyes scan the contents of the chat, I finally realize what I am looking at.

You’ve got to be shitting me!

It’s a private group for fans of “my slut of a wife,” which is a role I am starring in without knowing. Every single GIF in the chat is of me naked, and there are even some videos of Steven spanking me in our bed—I had no idea he filmed us having sex! So this is what he has been hiding from me and why he never lets me look at his phone even to check the time!

My cheeks grow hot as I continue reading, my blood boiling.

Fred the wanker: I’m sure you’ve heard the news, but I will say it again: The man who is starring with Rose is actually her boyfriend. It’s so juicy!”

My heart flatlines as I read the other comments.

Bob: You think this hoe has sex with other people? I would love to tap that ass.

Jimmy: You could ask the husband. I can tell the wife is a slut just by looking at her having sex. Those moans? Fuck me, she is more vocal than the prostitutes working downtown. I bet she would be down to fuck someone else.

Freddy: Does she know that her husband is sharing these videos lol?

Jimmy: Does it look like he cares?

Freddy: No, LOL! And besides, I need Slut wife in my life. I came so hard jerking off to her jiggle tits yesterday. Best video ever. You should fuck her more often without a bra.

I can’t breathe. I feel dizzy, and my heart is beating so fast that I think I am going to have a heart attack. I stumble out of bed and into the hallway.

No, no, no, this can’t be happening to me. How could Steven do this to me? I trusted him!

I stumble into the kitchen, tears streaming down my face like molten lava—hot trails of pain that scorches my cheeks. My throat is thick with emotion and I can’t draw a single breath.

With trembling hands, I grab a glass of water and chug it down while standing over the sink, trying to calm myself down. But the images and words from the chat replay in my mind over and over again, like a never-ending nightmare.

I feel violated, betrayed, and humiliated.

How could Steven film me without my consent? How could he share these intimate moments with strangers? And worst of all, how could he label me as his slut?

I’ve been his girlfriend for over four years now, and he treats me like trash.

This is…so…horrible…

I’m not even sure if there are words to describe how I feel. I can’t stand how violated I am, and I wish I could just crawl into a hole and disappear.

“Rose?” I hear Steven call from our room, and I use whatever energy I have left to just walk into the hallway and get the hell out of the apartment.

Sadly, I never make it very far.

A hand grabs mine and pulls me back inside the hallway. I crash into Steven’s chest, and he growls. “What the fuck, Rose? Why did you ignore me when I called your name? And where are you going?!”

Tears prickle behind my eyelids, and I mumble. “Y-you’re hurting me.”

Steven still doesn’t let go of my arms. “Answer. The. Fucking. Question.”

I lift my face to his. “I was going out.”

“Why?”

My lips tremble. “B-because it’s nice weather outside?”

“Liar, you saw the phone, didn’t you?” There is a wicked gleam in his eye right now, and a malicious smile spreads over his lips. “The slut chat was open, and I believe you’re the one who looked at it.”

Before I can answer, he closes the door and pushes me into the wall, pinning me there with his lower body. There is a fat bulge in his pants, and he laughs above me.

“So, did it turn you on to see all those men lusting over you, Rose? I bet it did. You’ve always sought attention—you’re even doing it now by wearing that v-shirt.”

My eyes water. “No, it did not turn me on!”

“I don’t believe you,” Steven laughs and presses me harder against the wall and cups my chin with one hand to then angle it to force me to look at him.

“I think you were wet and horny when you saw that chat of men, which is okay, Rose. You don’t have to hide how you feel because if you are in on this, it will make my life so much easier. We can start planning live shows for you and drag in so much money,” he says, grinning menacingly.

You are Safe

Rose

I groan at the stupid nickname he used to call me when I was little.

“Rosie?” Victor repeats. “Is that really you?

I nod, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. It’s been years since I’ve seen Victor. He was my brother’s friend that I had this embarrassing crush on, and now he is my boss. The irony of the situation isn’t lost on me.

“You’ve changed,” he says, his eyes scanning my face. “You look different.”

“I’ve grown up,” I say, my voice steady even as my heart races. “It’s been a long time.”

Victor nods, his eyes narrowing. “Why didn’t you tell me who you were when you first started working here? You could have told me your name in the elevator.”

I shrug, feeling a little defensive. “I wanted to prove myself based on my own merit. I didn’t want to be judged based on who I used to be.”

Victor nods. His expression is unreadable. “I can understand that, but you should have told me. It’s not fair to keep something like that from me.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, my voice quiet. “I didn’t mean to deceive you.”

Victor stares at me intently as if he is trying to read my mind. I fidget. He always had these intense eyes that could make me feel like he could see right through me.

Finally, he sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “It’s okay,” he says, his voice softening. “I’m not upset, Maddie. I’m just surprised. It’s good to see you again.”

A small smile tugs at the corners of my lips, and I feel a sense of relief wash over me. “It’s good to see you too, Victor.”

“So, what do you think of my restaurant, Maddie?”

I cringe at the nickname as I remember how he used to call me Maddie while teasing me endlessly. “Do you have to?” I blurt it out.

Victor narrows his eyes. “Do I have to what?”

“Call me Maddie?” I say. I might as well correct him now.

Victor cocks his head, still smiling. “That’s your name, isn’t it?”

“It’s Rose. That’s what I prefer people to call me,” I stand my ground, hoping it doesn’t annoy him too much. I still need him to keep me on the job.

Victor clears his throat. “Alright, Rose. You are a grown-up now, so I guess I must treat you as such.”

“Yes, sir.

Victor grins but then turns serious again.

“So, do I have the job?” I ask. My heart starts beating rapidly. I really need this, at least for now, until I find another job.

“I’m afraid you were only supposed to be filling in for Emily. And the restaurant doesn’t need another chef,” he says grimly.

My heart sinks as I hear Victor’s words. “Oh,” is all I can say, feeling a wave of disappointment wash over me. I thought this was a done deal. Stanley told me so!

Victor must have seen the disappointment on my face because he adds, “But, since you did such a great job and Emily has some personal issues, you can take her place, for now.”

I perk up. “I won’t let you down!”

Victor’s facial expression remains serious, but his eyes twinkle. “I know you won’t.”

“You’ll officially start tomorrow. Be here at eight am sharp.”

“I will,” I confirm, my heart is beating fast.

Victor opens the door for me, signaling the end of our meeting. “You can go now, Rose. Say hi to Stan for me.”

“Thank you again, Victor,” I say, standing up and leaving his office with a spring in my step. I can’t wait to start my new job as a chef at Victor’s restaurant.

~-~

I find Stanley in the living room, sipping on hot cocoa. “Stan! Guess what!?” I chirp, unable to hide my excitement.

Stanley grins. “You got the job, didn’t you?”

“Yes! I did! I’ll be working as a chef at Victor’s restaurant starting tomorrow!” I exclaim.

Stanley stands up and pulls me into a tight hug. “I’m so proud of you, Rose. You deserve this.” He pauses as if he has something more to say.

“What?” I raise an eyebrow.

“Be careful,” Stanley says.

I look at him with surprise. “Be careful with what?”

“I’ve known Victor for a long time now, and he can be a bit…well…intense. So if he ever makes you uncomfortable or scares you, you can come talk to me, okay?”

I giggle. “Don’t be silly. I’m not scared of Victor.”

“I know you aren’t, but…”

I put my hand on his shoulder. “Stan. I love you, but you can be a bit overprotective. I’m a big girl. I can handle the job and Victor, so just trust me, okay?”

Stanley smiles. “Alright. I know you can do this, Rose.”

“And I couldn’t have done it without you, Stan. You’re the best brother anyone could ask for.”

Stanley grins. “I know. Now, let’s celebrate with some pizza and a movie.”

I laugh. “Sounds like a plan.”

My life is finally getting better. Once I get settled in my job, I can get my own place and then after that, maybe I will meet someone who is not a complete asshole like Steven.

“So, what movie do you want to watch?” Stan asks me.

“How about…” My phone starts to ring, interrupting me. I look down at it and squint as I don’t recognize the number.

“Aren’t you going to answer?” Stanley asks me.

“I don’t know who this is,” I say and click the hangup button.

But my phone starts ringing again.

“Go ahead and answer. It could be the restaurant.” Stanley shrugs. “I’ll be right back.”

I watch him leave to go to the bathroom as I answer the phone, “Hello?”

“Hey baby.”

My blood runs cold.

“Rose? Are you there? Don’t hang up,” Steven growls.

I freeze as Steven’s voice pours out of my phone. I changed my phone number hoping I never have to hear his voice again. My heart rate spikes, and I struggle to keep my voice steady as I reply, “What do you want, Steven?”

“I just wanted to talk to you, see how you’re doing,” he says, his voice dripping with false sincerity.

“I’m doing just fine without you,” I say, my tone sharp.

“I don’t believe that,” Steven responds, his voice growing more aggressive. “You were nothing before me, and you’ll be nothing without me.”

I feel my anger rising. How dare he speak to me like this? “You know what, Steven? I’m not interested in talking to you. Don’t call me again.”

“Hold on, Rose. I’m not done talking,” Steven hisses.

I feel a knot forming in my stomach as Steven continues to talk. I don’t want to listen to him anymore. I take a deep breath and try to remain calm. “What do you want, Steven?” I repeat, hoping to steer the conversation to the point.

“I just wanted to say that you made a huge mistake by leaving. We had a good thing going,” Steven says.

“A good thing? Are you kidding me?” I nearly shout. I look for Stanley, but he is still not back yet. “You are the most manipulative piece of shit I’ve ever had to deal with, Steven. And now that I’ve freed from you, I’ll never look back.”

Steven chuckles. “Oh, sweetheart. Do you really think you escaped from me? I know you’re living with your brother now, so it won’t be hard for me to pay you a little visit.”

“You wouldn’t dare show your face around here!” I cry out.

“Oh, I would. And I will,” Steven says, his tone menacing. “You belong to me, Rose. You always will. And you’ll soon realize that you can’t live without me.”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Steven’s words send shivers down my spine. I feel a surge of fear, but I try not to let it show.

“I belong to myself, Steven. And you have no power over me. Don’t contact me again,” I say firmly and hang up the phone. My hands are shaking, and I feel like I’m going to be sick.

I’m already crying by the time I see Stanley striding toward me. “Rose? What’s going on? Why are you crying?” His face is etched with concern. “What the hell happened while I was in the bathroom? Who was on the phone?”

I look up at Stanley, tears streaming down my face. “It was Steven. He called me,” I manage to say between sobs.

Stanley’s expression turns to one of anger. “What did he say to you?”

“He threatened me. He said he’s going to come find me,” I say, my voice shaking.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let him anywhere near you,” Stanley says, wrapping his arms around me. “You’re safe with me.”

I bury my face in my brother’s chest, but I feel no comfort. Steven sounded like he meant it when he said he’d come see me. And knowing Steven, he will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

Rosie Posie

Rose

It’s been a week since I fled from my ex-boyfriend Steven and moved in with my brother Stanley. He owns a large flat, and I was given the guestroom. It’s not the largest room, but I’m more than grateful for my brother’s hospitality.

Stanley is helpful, perhaps a little too helpful since he is already trying to get me hired by Victor Giovanni. There is no secret that our childhood friend is the wealthiest man in the city, and not only does he own hotels, but he also owns the restaurants associated with them. Since I’m a brilliant chef, my brother wants me to work at one of them.

“Hold on. Are you being serious right now? Do you really think that I can handle filling in for Victor’s head chef at his famous restaurant?” I ask my brother in disbelief. I’m extremely skeptical about this assignment.

“Well, you needed a job, right? This is your chance to prove yourself. Victor is understaffed and desperate, Mads. He would take anyone, but since you’re talented, you might have a chance of becoming hired.” Stanley says while putting on his shoes. “And you honestly got nothing to lose.”

“That is true…” I mumble, giving it some serious thought. I am a talented chef, and it would feel great to earn more own salary so I could pay half of Stanley’s rent. I feel like a complete and utter leech right now.

“So, what do you think? Do you want me to drive you there? We don’t have to tell Victor that it’s you working in his kitchen. That way, his judgment will be non-biased.”

“And he won’t wonder who the fuck I am?”

“Of course, he will, but not before he has tasted your food since he doesn’t respect a chef before discovering they are talented,” Stanley laughs. “And it’s not like I haven’t taken in new talents before. Victor trusts me and just asked me to find someone who can cook tonight since Elena called in sick again. She is the sous-chef, but Victor secretly wants to fire her since she often calls in sick.”

“I see…” I tap my chin. While the thought of working for Victor frightens me, I know he pays his chefs extremely well. The man is wealthy, and I’m desperate for a job. All I have to do is swallow my pride. “Well, I don’t see the harm in giving it a try. Perhaps this could be my new future job?”

An hour later, I’m standing in a cramped elevator space together with a bunch of people I assume work in Victor’s luxurious three-star restaurant.

They all look nervous, but I can’t tell why. Sweat is glistening on their foreheads, and there is a tension that I don’t quite understand. It worsens when the doors open on the first floor and a man that smells like leather and warm pears enters the elevator. He is tall and muscular, and my eyes widen.

Is this Victor?

He looks so grown-up and shamelessly handsome. Completely different from the last time I saw him. His eyes are still endlessly blue under two thick eyebrows that are set in a hard line. His mouth is full, surrounded by a well-trimmed beard, but his expression isn’t happy.

My heart rate picks up. I bet looking at Victor for too long could put physical scars on your eyes. He is that beautiful. But it doesn’t go unnoticed that everyone inside the elevator seems scared of the big man.

“Good evening, everyone. I hope you’re all ready to work hard tonight,” Victor says, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the elevator. “Elena called in sick again, so we are all going to have to pull our weight.”

His voice is deep and commanding, and I can feel his gaze linger on me for a moment longer than necessary. My heart races as he steps closer, boxing me into the corner, his warm, spicy scent enveloping me.

“Who are you?” he asks, his eyes narrowing slightly.

I swallow hard, suddenly feeling very small and insignificant in his presence. It’s obvious that Victor doesn’t recognize me, and I wish to keep it that way.

“I’m n-new,” I stammer. “Stanley recommended me for the sous-chef position tonight.”

Victor gives me a once-over, his eyes tracing the lines of my body. There is a predatory gleam in his eyes that makes me shiver, but I stand my ground, refusing to back down.

“Do you live in the city?”

It’s obvious that I don’t impress him. “Yes, sir.”

“So you can come in on short notice?”

I nod and repeat my answer. “Yes, sir.”

“Well, we will see if you’re cut out for the job,” he says finally, turning to face the doors.

The elevator dings and Victor strides out of the elevator, the rest of us following behind him like a pack of scared lambs. We enter the kitchen, where the frantic energy is palpable. Pots and pans clang together, and a dozen people seem to be shouting orders at each other.

Victor stops in front of a large kitchen island and looks around, his eyes squinting as he takes in the chaos. “Elena was in charge of the appetizers tonight,” he says, his voice cutting through the noise. “Who is going to take over for her?”

A few hands shoot up, and Victor nods at a tall man with a shaved head. “You’re in charge now. Get the kitchen under control.”

The man nods and rushes off, barking orders at the rest of the staff. Victor turns to me, his eyes raking over my face. I can feel my cheeks flush under his scrutiny.

“You’re with me,” he says, grabbing an apron. “You better not disappoint me.”

“Yes, sir.”

I take a deep breath, my hands shaking as I tie the apron around my waist. The kitchen is hot and chaotic, but I try to stay calm and focused. Victor moves around the kitchen with deadly precision, his movements fluid and confident.

He hands me a tray of raw seafood and gestures for me to follow him. We move to a large prep table, where Victor begins to show me how to clean and prepare the seafood properly.

His movements are quick and efficient, and I can’t help but be impressed by his skill. He effortlessly fillets a fish, tossing the bones and scraps into a nearby bin.

“Have you ever worked in a kitchen before?” Victor asks, his eyes flicking up to meet mine.

I nod, feeling a little self-conscious. “I worked at a few different restaurants, but nothing like this.”

Victor snorts, shaking his head. “This isn’t just any restaurant. This is the best restaurant in the city. We don’t tolerate mistakes. Everything needs to be cooked and created with perfection in mind, and there needs to be heart in every single dish. Even the salad.”

I nod, understanding that Victor is a perfectionist and he expects nothing but the best from his chefs.

“I completely understand,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Do you truly understand, or are you just saying that?” Victor moves closer to me, his chest almost brushing against mine. I can feel the heat emanating from him, and my heart starts racing again.

Victor was pretty in the past, but now he is devastatingly so. He looks like an angel ready to hand out judgment in front of the gates of heaven, and goosebumps prickle over my skin. It doesn’t help the situation that he is so tall that I have to crane my head to meet his uncompromising eyes.

He is one scary, beautiful bastard.

“I’m not just saying that Victor—ehm, I mean sir!”

His lips twitch as if he is amused. “Did you just call me Victor?”

“I didn’t mean to, sir!”

He looks as if he is holding back a laugh. “Good catch.”

I blush. “Thank you.”

“I don’t expect you to slip with your tongue again.”

“I won’t, sir.”

“Good, because I don’t appreciate it when my staff calls me by my first name. It’s unprofessional, and I’ve fired people for less.”

My face burns even brighter. “I apologize, sir. It won’t happen again.”

Satisfied with my answer, he smiles, but it’s wolfish and lacks any sort of warmth.

“You must be a talented chef since Stanley recommended you,” he says, his voice low and husky. “But talent isn’t enough to make it in this kitchen. You need to have passion, heart, and a willingness to push yourself to your limits.”

I nod, feeling a strange pull toward Victor. He is intimidating, but there is something about him that draws me in, something primal and raw.

“I will try my hardest not to disappoint you, sir.”

“Good. Let’s get to work,” he says, handing me a sharp knife. “We have a long night ahead of us. The restaurant is bustling with people.”

For the next few hours, we work in silence, chopping, slicing, and sautéing our way through the orders. The kitchen is a hectic workplace, but the night is soon over.

We have fed over a hundred guests, and the kitchen is finally quiet. Victor has been hard on me, watching my every move with a critical eye, but I have managed to meet his expectations.

I take off my apron and follow Victor as he walks out of the kitchen, his tall figure leading me through the restaurant. The staff is bustling around us, cleaning up and preparing for the next day.

As we walk, I can’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. I have proven myself to be a capable chef, and I can see that Victor has taken notice.

“Good job tonight,” he says, his voice softening slightly. “You have potential.”

I feel a rush of pride, knowing that Victor has recognized my hard work. “Thank you,” I say, smiling up at him. “I appreciate it.”

Victor nods, his eyes lingering on my face for a moment longer than necessary. “I could use someone like you in my kitchen,” he says in a thoughtful voice. “What is your name?”

Is this when I reveal my name and that we actually know each other?

I hesitate for a moment, the warm, delicious scent of Victor’s cologne enveloping me. It’s obvious that he doesn’t recognize me, and a part of me wants to keep it that way. But at the same time, I know that I can’t keep this a secret forever.

“It’s Rose,” I say, meeting his gaze head-on.

Victor’s eyes widen, and for a moment, he looks stunned. “Rose?” he repeats as if trying to place me. “That’s the name of Stanley’s little sister and my childhood friend.”

I shrug, playing dumb. “It’s a pretty common name.”

Recognition dawns in Victor’s eyes, and for a moment, it looks like he is about to choke. His jaw drops to the floor, and an awkward silence settles between us before Victor slumps his shoulders and croaks. “Rosie Posie?”

Live Shows

Rose

“Live shows?” I choke.

He doesn’t even notice that he is squeezing my wrists so hard that it stings.

Steven just continues. “Yes, I have a lot of fans. I could be the next Hugh Hefner, the next porn star. But of course, we will start with you. You already have a good body, and you’re a slut, so this is a match made in heaven. This will be your retirement plan. You’re going to do whatever I say, and if you criticize it, I will make your life a living hell. Got it?”

Oh my god, he is actually crazy.

“I-I’m not in on this! And I’m not a slut!”

“Don’t you lie to me, Rose! You want to be my slut.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Now that you’re a video star, you want to be a real-life porn star, don’t you? Think of all the money. Imagine how many people you can fuck, Rose.”

Tears fall from my eyes. “I don’t want to be a porn star! And I am not your slut!”

He laughs at me. “No? Did you, or did you not have the best orgasm of your life when I called you my little slut in bed?”

My eyes widen. “But that was only between us! We were role-playing in bed, Steven! I don’t want this in real life!”

“Well, I do.”

I shake my head. “No, Steven, please. Don’t do this to me. Please delete those GIFS and the videos and let’s just forget this ever happened. Please!”

“No can do, Rose,” he murmurs. “I’m earning too much money to stop this now.”

I clench my eyes shut, not wanting to see what is going on right now. “If you keep blackmailing me, I-I will call the cops.”

“And say what? That your boyfriend is an asshole? Because in the videos, it looks like you’re very much into it.”

My head starts spinning. “Please, Steven. Stop this. I’m begging you…”

“You’re begging? Good. Now beg for my cock,” he whispers in my ear.

“Steven, please. Don’t do this. I’m not in on it, I swear!”

“Don’t you lie to me, Rose. You—” Steven trails off to the sound of his phone ringing. He glances over his shoulder and then makes a “Tssk” sound before releasing me. “I will be right back. Stay where you are.”

I give him a nod, but as soon as he is in the other room, I bolt out through the door.

It doesn’t matter that I haven’t packed anything. Everything inside the apartment reminds me of Steven, and I want nothing to do with him. I want to go incognito and tap my brother’s number into my phone while racing down the stairs.

My brother Stanley and I are close, but our relationship has suffered since he doesn’t like Steven. But now, I need him more than ever. Stanley and I might not have talked in forever, but if I want to move and start over, he is the answer.

Stanley’s best friend, and my childhood crush, is none other than Victor Giovanni. I haven’t seen him in years, but I’ve now sunk so low I might have to ask Stanley to ask him if he needs a private chef or something.

It might be desperate, but I need to get out of here!

I call my brother, and he answers immediately.

“Hey, Mads, I was wondering when you would call me again,” Stanley says, sounding happy.

I can’t keep the tears from coming. I’m walking quickly away from the apartment, afraid that Steven might come for me at any moment. “Stan…I need your help.”

There is silence for a while before he growls. “What the fuck did that bastard do? It’s Steven, right?!”

I take a deep breath and enter another apartment building for shelter. “Yes, and I need a place to escape to. I need somewhere to go.”

“You can come here,” Stanley says in a soft tone. “Are you crying?”

“Yes…” I don’t even bother to deny it. “Steven is terrible, but I will tell you more about that later. I would love to go there, but I don’t have any money or a car,” I cry louder and laugh at how pathetic I am. “Shit, I can’t stop crying. This is so embarrassing and so not me. I don’t react like this. I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.”

I nod even though he can’t see me. “I have to get away from Steven. He is a piece of shit and fucking crazy.”

“Glad we both agree on that,” Stanley says in a dry tone. “And I will see if I can have someone pick you up. Just go and sit at a coffee shop meanwhile, and I will call you back, okay?”

“Okay,” I smile despite the situation. “You’re the best.”

“I know,” I can hear his smile through the speaker. “I’m the best brother there is, and I will take care of you, Mads. A couple of phone calls and I’m sure I can even offer you a new job in the big city.”

“Really?”

“Yes, but…you would have to work as a chef for Victor. I’m so sorry, Mads, but he is the only person I know with an insane amount of wealth. I’m sure he would hire you, though, especially if I explain to him what happened.”

I laugh. “You don’t even know what happened.”

“I know that your ex-boyfriend is an asshole, and that’s all I need to know, okay?”

“Okay.”

“By the way, does Steven know that you left?” Stan asks me.

“No,” I’m fleeing from him. “And I don’t want to confront him about it, or he might not even let me leave. He is crazy.”

“What did he do?”

“I will tell you about it later. Just get me out of here, please.”

“Alright, alright, I will fix a ride for you, but once you’re here, we will discuss this in private, okay? I need to know what he did.”

“Yes, I will tell you everything.”

“Good, now stay safe.”

“I will.”

We both hang up, and I decide to go to a coffee shop so that I can get myself together. But the memory of what Steven said keeps haunting me, and remembering his face when he said I was a slut sends a tremor through me.

My ex-boyfriend is crazy.

This Girl is on FIRE!

Rose

After a long day working in the kitchen, I’m exhausted. Working at Victor’s fancy restaurant was exactly what I expected: hectic and stressful. Yet the work isn’t what got my heart pounding a mile a minute. The phone call I received from Steven yesterday is the reason behind my tiredness.

I didn’t sleep at all last night.

The anxiety of Steven coming to find me prevented me from falling into a peaceful sleep. And whenever my eyes would close, nightmares snared me like a deer caught in a trap in the woods. I honestly think I woke up a billion times, drenched in a cold sweat and tears not far away. It was a terrible night, and needless to say, something needs to be done about the Steven situation.

“Hmm…” I hum to myself while holding up a book named, “How to stop worrying about your stupid ex-boyfriend,” that I found at the store.

“Okay…aha…I see…” I tap my chin while thinking, and then I speak out loud—I never claimed to be perfect. “It says I need something from my ex-boyfriend to burn for the catharsis to take place, but that I can also draw him and burn the paper… this is very important for the inner cleansing…”

I immediately walk into Stan’s kitchen to find a blank paper and some pens. A quick sketch of Steven with devil horns is made within seconds, and then I grab my brother’s stainless steel bucket to fill it with firewood—it’s where I will light the fire.

I open a couple of windows and the door to the balcony, and then I put on the kitchen fan before setting the contents inside the bucket on fire. I’m so into my ritual that I don’t even notice the door opening before someone shouts, “Surprise!”

Frightened by the sudden voice, I manage to kick over the bucket, and my eyes widen when fire dances over the wooden floor. “OH-MY-GOD!”

The new person inside the apartment is Victor. He is holding a cake and silver balloons that say, “Congrats on your new job!” but he immediately releases the cake on the floor, and the balloons fly up to the ceiling as he grabs the fire extinguisher.

Seconds later, white foam fills the kitchen to put out the flames. Surprisingly enough, the sprinkler system doesn’t start, but the harm is already done. Stan’s floor is ruined, and Victor glares at me with his intense blue eyes.

“What the fuck were you thinking?!”

I jump at the tone of his voice and gulp before holding up my hands. “I…I-I was just trying to do a cleansing ritual.”

“Cleansing what?!” Victor sighs in disbelief and makes this eye-roll gesture that is typical for his character. He always used to do it when he was furious with something I had done back when we were kids.

I swallow thickly. “I had the fire under control…”

“Sure you did.”

“I did,” I argue.

Victor folds his thick arms underneath his chest and stares me down. His face is uncompromising. I won’t win this argument. “Uh-huh…”

I sigh. “What are you doing here anyway?”

He pulls his lips into his mouth to wet them, probably weighing his options: keep being angry with me or move on. In the end, he decides to move on. “Stanley and I were going to surprise you with champagne, balloons, and cake to celebrate your new position. But your brother is working late, so I came alone. The champagne is in the car,” his eyes narrow, and I shiver when I realize the anger is back all over again. “But I’m not so sure if you deserve that champagne. Seriously, Rose, what the hell were you thinking?!”

Just like last time, I raise my hands in surrender, knowing better than to argue with Victor when he is like this. His eyes are darkened with rage, and he looks ready to murder.

“I’m so sorry, Victor,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper as I peer up at him. “I didn’t think it through…”

“Clearly,” he grunts and takes off his expensive suit. “You need to be more careful, Rose. You could have burned down the entire apartment.”

“I know. I’m sorry,” I say, feeling guilty for my actions. The book had me excited and hopeful. I thought burning Steven’s picture would help me sleep, but instead, I almost burned down the entire apartment. “I will make it up to you and Stanley, I promise. I just got so caught up in this ritual that was supposed to cleanse my negative energy, but…then this happened. I’m so sorry.”

Victor breathes a laugh, his eyes softening. “There is no need to apologize to me, Rose. It’s not like this apartment belongs to me anyway,” humor curls the corner of his lips as his eyes flicker down to scan the floor. “Stanley is going to throw a fit once he sees this, though.”

Oh shit!

He is right!

“Stanley is going to kill me…” I whisper with panic rising in my chest. My heart is beating so fast that I, for a moment, worry that I’m going to pass out.

“He might,” Victor chuckles. “I will help you clean, though, but you have to promise me that you won’t pull a stunt like this again,” he laughs again. “Cleansing? Seriously? Is this what they teach in those books?” He nods at the ex-boyfriend book resting on the table. “To burn down apartments to get over your ex-boyfriends?”

I blush. “It wasn’t the apartment I was supposed to burn! It was this…” I pick up the drawing of Steven, and Victor ducks his head to hide a smile.

“Right…because that makes much more sense.”

I flip over the drawing and study it with a content smile. “It does, doesn’t it?”

“Just one question.”

“Shoot.”

“Which mental hospital did you escape from, and where do I find their number?”

“Oh my god, you’re such an asshole!”

I pick up Stan’s butt pillow from his special chair and fling it at Victor. He laughs in response, and, to my disappointment, he grabs it before it can hit his face. What is even more irritating is that his arm is at an angle that does interesting things to his thick biceps.

“Still a lousy thrower, I see,” he grins, and I stick out my tongue at him, which results in him snorting at me. And while I shouldn’t be affected by the smile spreading over his face, there is a slight flutter in my chest.

It grows stronger until I realize I’m staring, and I abruptly leave the kitchen. “I will grab some cleaning items! Be right back!”

We clean up the mess together, Victor and I, and it takes us the rest of the evening to rid the apartment of the smoke smell. After we are done, Victor opens a beer in front of the TV while I’m sitting on the couch. My phone chimes with a message, and Victor turns his head.

“Is it from Stanley?”

My eyes flicker down to my phone. “Let me check…”

I swipe to unlock my phone and almost choke when I see Stan’s message.

Stan the best: Don’t get mad, but I went to the bar after work, and this woman invited me to her place. So… don’t stay up for me, okay? Enjoy your cake.

Traitor…

“Is something the matter?” Victor asks.

I plaster on a smile. “No, it was just Stan saying he won’t be coming home tonight.”

“Oh, that’s no problem. I have nothing planned.”

I blink in surprise. “What do you mean?”

He arches a perfect eyebrow. “That I’m not letting you sleep in the apartment alone. I can take the couch, but that—” he points at the bucket. “Tells me that you’re not alright after your ex-boyfriend. And while I won’t ask you what he did, I’m not leaving you alone tonight.”

His words are final, and while I should be mad that Victor is treating me like a child that needs babysitting, I’m not. Instead, I’m touched by the fact that he cares about me enough to stay the night.

“Thank you,” I say, smiling softly at him.

He nods and takes another sip from his beer. “I mean, it’s not like I have any grand plans tonight anyway.”

I raise a teasing eyebrow. “Really? No hot date or anything?”

He chuckles. “Unfortunately, no. My dating life has been pretty nonexistent lately.”

“Well, that’s surprising,” I say, tilting my head to the side as I take in his tall body. His tattoos are new, and I avert my gaze. Looking at his muscles isn’t wise. “If I remember correctly, you dated more than one woman at once back in high school.”

“We are no longer in high school,” there is a distant look on Victor’s face as he stares at the TV. It looks like he is hesitating about telling me something, but eventually, he talks. “The last woman I was dating… she…she betrayed me. I’ve had a hard time letting people in after that. I don’t trust easily.”

“Oh,” a sad smile touches my lips. “Then we are two.”

Victor glances over at me. “Steven betrayed you?”

“Yes,” I take a deep breath. I don’t like to talk about Steven, but something about Victor makes me trust him. It must be his calm and somewhat intimidating persona. He also carries the air of someone who is loyal. I continue. “Steven definitely betrayed me, but maybe not in the way you think.”

Interest shimmers in Victor’s intense eyes as he strokes his jaw. He has shaved. “Care to tell me what happened?”