Nyla’s POV;

“HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SLEEPING WITH MY BOYFRIEND!?? YOU WHORE!” Britney screamed.

I froze.

She took a step closer to me, her jaw clenching and her eyes burning with anger.

“Brit.. plea..”

“DON’T!” She cut me short before I could finish my sentence.

Two days earlier…

The room was quiet except for the sound of our breathing. I was still lying beside Ezra, my head resting on his chest, his left hand running through my hair and his right holding a glass of wine.

“That was so good, I’ve always imagined how my first time would be, you know.” I whispered.

Ezra looked down at me, pulling me closer and kissed me on my forehead.

“I know,” he said quietly. And I hope it was worth it.”

I smiled softly at him. For a moment there, he felt like mine..not someone I had to share, just mine.

The soft vibration of his phone interrupted the moment,he glanced at his screen and quickly declined the call.

I looked at him. “Who was that?”

“No one.”

His phone vibrated again but this time, I caught the name on the screen.

“baby” I knew it was Britney. Seeing that made me uncomfortable, mostly jealous and I immediately lifted my head away from his chest.

“Attitude? really?”

“Don’t do that.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about but c’mon babe, let’s not do this. I don’t wanna fight right now.” He said, pulling me back softly into his arms. His hands slipped around my waist while he leaned in for a kiss.

It worked, and that was the problem. He knew how to get me. Just then, a notification chimed into his phone.

His smile immediately disappeared.

“What?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Ezra..”

He unlocked his phone and handed it to me.

Britney: We need to talk.

I looked at the message closely again then I asked him “What does she want to talk about?”

He took the phone from my hand and hesitated for a second before typing.

Ezra: I’m busy right now, I’ll call you later.

He looked up at me, facing his phone down and tucking it under his pillow.

“I don’t know, probably us.”

A shiver went down my spine and I paused, sitting up properly.

“US? SHE KNOWS ABOUT US!?” My stomach dropped and my eyes widened.

“Calm down, baby.” He said, acting like everything was fine.

I stared at him in confusion. “Hold on, you said it’s probably about us and now you’re saying I should calm down? I don’t want her to find out like this.”

He sighed. “She’s just been asking questions lately.”

“About me?”

“No! about why I've been so distant.”

I swallowed. “And what did you tell her?”

“That I’ve been busy”

I wasn’t satisfied with his answer. “Does she believe you?”

“I hope so.”

I looked away, suddenly feeling so restless.

“Ezra, what if she finds out? I can’t have it come out this way.”

He reached out for me, pulling me closer by my waist.

“She won’t.”

“How can you be so sure?? Why can’t you just leave her already? I’ve been patient”

“It’s not so easy Nyla, things are complicated.”

“Complicated?”

“Yes.” He was quiet for a moment. “Britney and I have been together for a long time. There are things between us that I need to sort out before walking away.”

At that moment, I knew he wasn’t certain about leaving her and he was just stalling.

“So you’re not going to leave her?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Yeah, and you also didn’t say you would.”

“That’s what you want to hear? Fine Nyla, I would leave her. I just need to do it at the right time.”

“You’re yelling at me now?”

“I’m sorry baby, I’m just stressed.”

“When is the right time?”

“Soon.”

He smiled faintly, grabbing my hands and running his slowly around my body.

“You feel so good,” he murmured , while kissing my neck.

I moaned softly into his ears, slowly licking them and adjusting the placement of his hands to where I wanted them.

His lips moved slowly down my body, his hands moving between my thighs as he gently spread my legs as we pulled each other’s clothes off without saying a word.

I could hear his breathing growing heavier against my skin.

“Kiss me” he said while struggling to catch his breath and I did, wrapping my arms around him and letting myself get lost in him.

In that moment, I forgot about everything else and how bad what we were doing could take a bad turn.

One day earlier…

The day before the fashion show, Ezra and I went shopping. It wasn’t something new so I didn’t think anything of it.

We first went to a luxury shop downtown, moving from one store to another while Ezra carried the bags behind me.

I was lustfully admiring the newly released Rimowa suitcase when someone across the store recognized us both, Ezra especially. She was a friend of Britney, I didn’t know her then so it didn’t matter.

She watched us for a few seconds before quietly pulling out her phone out of her bag. I didn’t see the camera or had any idea she took a picture.

Later that afternoon, Britney received a text while getting ready for a movie premiere event. It was a picture of Ezra and I.

She received an attachment of them looking too comfortable and too close than he should be, and a text that followed, “Isn’t this Ezra?”

“What the hell?” She didn’t react, that was all she said as she stared at the picture.

Suddenly everything began to make sense, the excuses, the distance, the lack of communication, the missed calls and unreplied messages, and the lies.

She didn’t say a word of it to him, not yet. She locked her phone and waited for the fashion show event.

Neither of us knew what just happened.

After shopping, Ezra drove me back to my apartment. I leaned over and kissed him goodbye before getting out of the car.

“Text me when you get home.” I said.

“I will, my love.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too.”

I smiled and closed the door behind me then headed straight upstairs. I opened the door and stepped inside. Kim was lying across the bed, smiling sheepishly with her phone in her hand that she didn’t even realize I had come in.

“Kimora, who are you smiling while texting?” I asked, dropping the shopping bags on the floor.

She looked up from her phone still smiling “Girlllllll, it’s Mykel.”

“Ah! already?”

“Right? We’ve been texting since last night.”She said as she turned her face back to her screen.

“Deadass?”

“Yessssssss, I think I’m feeling him already babes.”

I nodded, watching her for a second. Something in my expression changed, but I couldn't tell why. Thankfully she didn’t notice it

“Oh my daysssss, you’re so easy.” I said, faking a laugh.

“Shut it.” She added, as we both continued to laugh.

“I don’t think he’s feeling me though, he hasn’t said anything so he’s probably just being friendly.”

Before I could say anything else, her phone rang.

“Talking about the devil.” She got up, smiled and excused herself to pick the call.

“Be right back, try not to miss me too much.” She teased, peeking my cheeks as she walked out the door with her phone pressed to her ear.

“Okayyyy baby, I'll try.” I said, reaching for one of the shopping boxes to start unboxing when my phone chimed.

Ezra: Just got home.

Present day…

I had barely gotten out of bed when my phone buzzed on the nightstand. It took a minute before I stretched out my hand to get my phone.

Mom: Don’t forget the fashion show is today, six o’clock. Do not be late.

I stared at the message for a second trying to process. “Right, the launch!”. I had been so caught up in everything else that I almost forgot about it.

I quickly tossed my phone onto the bed and headed straight into the bathroom. After showering, I went into my closet.

Mom had been talking about this for months, I knew how much of a big deal it was. There would be celebrities, influential people, politicians, basically the people who mattered in the city and of course my family was invited.

I spent most of my afternoon getting ready, Mom had come into my room more than once to remind me not to take too long. It was the third outfit I was trying on before finding the perfect dress.

By the time I was done with my hair and makeup, it was almost time to leave. I picked up my phone and that was when I saw his text.

Ezra: See you tonight.

I smiled right before texting him back, “Can’t wait.”

“Nyla, you done?” Mom asked from downstairs.

“Almost!”

I grabbed my phone from the bed, put it into my purse and took a last look at myself before leaving my room.

I headed downstairs and Mom was already standing beside the door waiting for me.

“You’re finally done”,She said, looking at me from head to toe. “You look so gorgeous,” she added.

“Aww, thanks mom. I said as I smiled softly heading toward the door.

Dad was already outside talking to the driver. “Come on, hurry up!” He called.

We walked outside and got into the car. The drive to the venue was pretty much quiet for the most part. It was just mom talking about the event and telling me to stay close and walk in majestically.

I wasn’t paying too much attention to her at first because I was wondering why Ezra hadn’t texted me back.

“Well, he said he’d see me there so there’s nothing to worry about.” I thought to myself.

We finally arrived at the venue and everywhere was already crowded. Cameras flashed almost immediately. People were dressed beautifully, stepping out of their cars while the paparazzi called out their names.

Mom placed a hand tightly in my arm,”Stay close” she said.

“I will.”

We walked into the venue together. I could hear the music playing from inside, mixed with the sound of people talking and cameras clicking. Everything looked perfect, maybe too perfect.

Then I saw him standing by the entrance, by his side was Britney. She looked really beautiful resting her head on his shoulders, smiling as photographers took pictures of them together.

Ezra looked too comfortable, or maybe too happy beside her then his eyes found mine. I smiled at him but he didn’t smile back, he just kept on staring and Britney noticed. She followed his eyes and then she saw me.

I pretended to look elsewhere but she had already seen me staring at Ezra. She began to slowly walk towards me. I could feel my hands shaking but I didn't know how to control it.

She turned back to Ezra making sure he was watching her walk towards me. It was then I knew that she knew. I didn’t know how, I just knew she knew.

I glanced around. There were people, cameras, the paparazzi, guests, security, people i knew, and also people i didn’t.

I looked away and was about walking out of there when she reached out to me.

“Nyla” she said.

I slowly turned around, facing her with a fake smile. “Oh hi Britney.”

“Drop the act.” she said, staring at me with anger. “How long?” she asked loudly which caught the attention of everyone. Cameras turned immediately, flashing towards us.

My heart dropped. “Wha..t?” I asked with my voice trembling with fear. I tried swallowing but my mouth was dry.

“HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SLEEPING WITH MY BOYFRIEND YOU WHORE?? Britney screamed.

I froze.

Before I could say a word, cameras were already in my face. Flash after flash. Phones were raised around us, people recording from every direction. The room which had been filled with music and conversations suddenly went quiet.

She took a step closer to me, her jaw clenching and her eyes burning with anger.

“Brit.. plea..”

“DON’T!” She cut me short before I could finish my sentence.

I looked around completely overwhelmed, wishing for the ground to open up and swallow me.

“Britney, I..”

“Nyla!” Dad’s voice cut through the noise. I turned immediately, filled with embarrassment. He was already walking toward me, his face hardened. I just knew it was going to be a long night.

“To the car, now!” he ordered.

“Dad..”

“Now!”

I looked at Britney one last time. She was still standing there, staring at me. I didn’t know what to say or what had just happened. I followed Dad through the crowd, with my head down as cameras kept flashing behind me.

“You should’ve just stayed home.” A little voice in my head said as tears began to roll down my cheeks.

The ride back home was quiet, nobody uttered a word and that was the scariest part.