The ckmail


    Damien had this refined, ssy aura and scent that was sophisticated and refreshing. It sifted into my nose the closer he came. I realized I was trapped between him and the door. His tall, huge frame was intimidating and overpowering.


    I swallowed. “What do you want? As long as it’s not a crime, I’ll grant it.” I said in a low whisper, my voice hoarse. My heart was pounding hard in my chest. I just needed him far away.


    “A date with you after school tomorrow.” Damien smirked.


    “What!” I swallowed, “I’m not going on a date with you. Never!”


    He moved back and folded his hands, and I released the breath I didn’t know I was holding.


    “Then I just have to tell my mum and Julian what you were doing in this office.”


    “How do you know his name?” I asked.


    “It was in Hond’s file,” Damien replied as though it was the most obvious thing.


    “So what do you say? A date with me or trouble with my mum and Julian?”


    I narrowed my eyes at him. “Are you ckmailing me?”


    “If that’s what you want to call it,”


    I scoffed,”That’s what it is! Cheap ckmail!”


    He chuckled, “What are you going to do about it then? The way I see it, I hold all the cards.”


    “Well, that’s selfish!” I fumed.


    “Why’s it selfish? You just said you have nothing to do with Hond’s father.”


    “Well. Yea.” I stuttered.


    If I’m wrong and Julian sees me on a date with Damien, that could destroy the rtionship we were trying to build.


    It’s not like he was trying to develop a rtionship with me.


    But he said he likes me.


    It could just be that he didn’t want to be rude to me after we just had sex, and he really needs my help with Hond, so he’s trying to get on my good side.


    Or he is just a nice person


    Or a yboy. Fuck!


    Should I give Damien a chance? No, no, he’s a fuckboy. I can’t do anything with him.


    It’s just a date, Samantha.


    But Damien is Dangerous.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    “Still waiting for your answer,” Damien said, summoning me out of my thoughts.


    “Fine. I will go on a date with you, but it has to be in a discreet ce, and no one must know about it. Is that understood?”


    “Your wish is mymand, love.”


    I roll my eyes.


    “I am not your love!”


    “Am I allowed to leave now?” I asked.


    “Sure.” He winked at me.


    I dashed out of the office as if it were aze. Upon stepping outside, my phone beeped, revealing a text from an unknown number.


    Julian is hiding a secret from you.


    My phone beeped again, and another text came in, this time from Julian.


    Aaron is going to pick Hond up from ss today. I just got called for an important meeting. I’ll see you tomorrow, then you can start working.


    Julian’s texting after an anonymous message, told me to be careful of him, looked too much like a revtion.


    And he didn’t even apologize for noting today as promised.


    What an asshole!


    ***


    Tuesday morning brought a level of internal conflict I had never experienced before. It was as uncertain as Summer in New Everest, where it rained heavily even as the sun scorched the earth. I was so deeply lost in thought that even children’sughter, which used to be my greatest remedy, did nothing to bring me out of my reverie. I couldn’t sleep wellst night because I felt the man hiding outside my house in the shadows would get in and kill me even though I checked to see if he was there, and he wasn’t. Damien was also not at the assembly today, which I found weird. He was always there, at least to support his mother.


    It’s not like I cared, though.


    I didn’t.


    Throughout the day, I watched Hond like a hulk watched her chick. I was so determined not to let her out of my sight that I barely taught well. I didn’t even pay as much attention to other kids as I used to before. I felt like a robot and behaved like one.


    I was indeed acting out of character and breaking so many rules.


    “Good afternoon, Samantha.” Julian greeted, calling my attention as I had been engrossed in helping a kid paint while being lost in thought.


    The bell hadn’t rung when he appeared in front of my ss in a ck suit. He was unusually early today, which made me even more suspicious.


    “Good afternoon, Julian,” I replied with the same professionalism he had greeted me.


    If he wanted to be all professional, I think I can handle that.


    “Hond baby,e.”


    Hond ran to her Dad, and I helped her wear her bag across her shoulders.


    “I’ll be picking you up by four, Alright. Then we can talk.” Julian said to me as he took Hond in his arms.


    “Sure, I’ll be ready by 4 pm.”


    I pretended to adjust Hond’s bag so that I could sneak a book out of it. Today, she had seemed worse than normal. She didn’t even call my name, nor did she let me touch her throughout the day. She looked like a ghost, and I was sure I did, too, even though I didn’t look in the mirror all day, afraid of what I would see in my reflection.


    Maybe in another life, Hond would be my daughter. I felt connected to her.


    The textbook I took was my best shot if I wanted to see her before 4 pm when Julian woulde to pick me up. What excuse could be better than a good teacher personallying to return the book her pupil forgot?


    If something was wrong with the ST ire’s, I had to find out, especially if it affected Hond.


    Julian turned back and smiled at me. “I miss you.” He mouthed just before walking off.