Dominant & Submissive | 18+

17: The fixed Date

Brielle's POV

There are only so many ways you can say "You look fabulous, Hera." It's not even fair. She has that effortlessly curvy, slim figure that makes every outfit look like it's been custom-designed for her. Meanwhile, I'm hauling my sweaty, old t-shirt, sweatpants, and sneakers-clad self into my room, pretending to unpack more boxes.

The next day, after a full morning of job hunting, I call my mom. Milan's sun is brutal today, and the city's unrelenting energy is starting to wear me thin. My mind's been buzzing all day, partly because of that text I got from Mr. Dominant Freak earlier this morning. I still don't know what to make of it, and part of me is nervous he might just call the whole thing off.

"Brie, honey, I'm so sorry," my mom says down the line, her voice dripping with guilt.

"Mom, it's fine. Really. My friends were there for my graduation. I'm okay. Don't overthink it."

"But you sound distracted, baby," she presses, a slight edge of concern in her voice.

I sigh, trying to keep the conversation light. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... adjusting to things here, I guess."

"Oh, well, darling, I've been thinking of coming to visit on Friday. I miss you, sweetheart."

She laughs softly, the kind of laugh that tells me she's up to something, but I don't ask. Instead, I close my eyes and let her words warm me. I miss her too. Even though my mom isn't always the most straightforward, she's my mom, and I treasure that bond.

"Love you too, Mom. Say hi to Lawrence for me, and I hope he gets better soon."

"I will, honey. Love you. Bye."

"Bye."

I hang up and stare at my phone for a moment, a lump in my throat. Lawrence is my stepdad, but he's always treated me like his own. I miss him. I miss that quiet strength, and I wish I could be with him right now to steady my nerves. Tomorrow's going to be tough—Hera and I have more boxes to unpack. But for tonight, I need to get some rest. I crawl into bed, hoping for a peaceful night's sleep.

But, of course, that's not going to happen.

**Ring, ring, ring!**

I groan and wipe sleep from my eyes. When I open the door, I freeze. It's Javier. The same Javier who abandoned me after I rejected his proposal. What the hell is he doing here? How did he even get my address? My mother...? Ugh.

"Javier?" I blink, still in shock. "What are you doing here?"

He smirks, looking like he's about to say something smug. But I don't give him a chance. I turn on my heel and head for the kitchen, expecting him to just sit and wait. But no. He follows me around like a lost puppy, asking me questions I'm not in the mood for.

He's just returned from Rome and is now setting up for an internship in Milan with some financial company. I haven't seen him in months, and now he's here, pushing his way back into my life. The worst part? He's asking me for a date, like he's trying to pick up where we left off. It's not charming. It's annoying.

"Javier," I start, keeping my voice even. "I have a date this evening. Can you please stop following me around?"

"No, you don't," he sneers. "You're just saying that to avoid me. You're always avoiding me."

"Javier, you've got to take the hint. I didn't want to date you when we were friends, and I sure as hell don't want to date you now."

His eyes narrow, his jaw tightening. "Still looking for a job, huh? It's been months since you moved here, and you've already found some rich businessman to hook up with?"