I'm indulging myself with Kat x Satoru academy years scenarios.
Chapter 4 for "Cursed Gold" is going to take a little longer than the others! I've been using twine for ch. 1 - 3, but want to try recreating it on Godot (and hopefully add some mini-games for more interactivity).
You were halfway through by now. Sighing annoyed at your ceiling, while the stack of papers on your desk remains unfinished.
At least your phone wasn’t confiscated. Shoko checking in. Nobara too, though you are not sure how she got your number. Sending silly pictures of Yuji and Megumi.
And then there is Satoru. Spamming you.
Infinity Hair: How’s life at the Yamato estate? Did you run out of paper and start drawing on the walls instead?
Infinity Hair: Yuji ate 5 burgers today. Hasn’t beaten my record yet. You know, 10 burgers. No. 12!
Infinity Hair: Is your grandmother letting you out yet?
Infinity Hair: Kat? Did she take your phone away too?
Infinity Hair: You’re leaving me on read. Again.
Infinity Hair: ... Are you mad at me?
I read somewhere that it helps drawing the hair as a blob of color first. Thank you, internet.
The draft version of Chapter 3 is ready! Need to find the spots where illustrations help communicate the scenes better, then re-read it with a fresh pair of eyes xD
Been in a drawing spree while writing "Cursed Gold" Ch. 3. Experimenting with brushes and colors is fun (and the templates really help - still figuring out Kat's visuals)
Satoru would 100% be delighted by anybody flipping him off.
“Yamato-Sensei! Was the symbol supposed to look like a snake-”
“Oh my god, Yuji. It is obviously supposed to be the letter S. But in cursive!” Nobara argued back, throwing a crumpled seal paper at him.
Megumi sat in the middle, sighing quietly to himself. The training ground loud and littered with failed seal paper drawings, ruined brushes and empty bottles of ink.
“Why don’t we try the barrier formation B again.” I slowly cut in to restore some order and bring them back on track. Just a simple barrier layer.
Yuji’s eyes sparkled at that, using his cursed energy like I instructed him to earlier this morning.
The scent of freshly baked croissants hits me as I open the oven. No matter how many times I prepare them, I can never get sick of it.
Except today.
I groan as I take the freshly baked pastries out, fatigue hovering over me.
It’s been 3 weeks since my encounter with Jason. Or 4? It was hard to tell.
I was so mad, it felt like time passed by quickly.
There was a moment when I was tempted to text him, seeing that his number didn’t change. But why should I?
Its not like he texted me either after our… encounter.
The thought just angered me.
On the one hand, I managed to get things off my chest. On the other hand, he managed to piss me off again. Because of course he did.
The anger quickly dissipated when I felt another wave of tiredness. What was wrong with me?
“You look like hell.”
The man I was just cursing about now appeared at my doorstep. Leaning against the wall, crossing his arms.
He really had a talent for showing up in certain moments.
But I ignored him. I needed to finish these croissants.
An annoyed huff echoed across the room, along with footsteps that got louder with every second.
“Listen, I really need to finish these.” I hiss, not having the energy to deal with him.
“You’ll have to find the time. Because I am not leaving until we get a chance to talk.”
I finally looked up to him. I could tell he was pissed off.
“You never reached out.”
“Neither did you.”
The silence made the tension between us almost tangible.
“You can always leave if you don’t like it.” I finally say, putting the croissants on a table.
He suddenly moves forward, grabbing my arm to get my attention.
“Will you stop grabbing me like that and-“
I freeze.
“Oh, so now you’re also going to go all quiet on me-“ he complaints, before I raise my hand.
The nausea suddenly hits me hard.
I am going to throw up.
Without explanation, I yank myself free of him and run to the bathroom.
“Seriously??”
He rushes after me, but I stop him in front of the bathroom door.
“For fucks sake, will you give me some space? I need to throw up!” I yell, pushing him a few steps back before I burst into the bathroom and kneel next to the toilet, vomiting my heart out in time.
“Oh…” he whispers. For a second he considered coming in to pull my hair up but then decides against it and he waits outside.
When the nausea finally stops, I wait a few seconds to make sure nothing else is coming up.
And then I get up.
This isn’t normal. What’s going on?
My mind races through all the possibilities that could explain my symptoms.
And they all land on one possibility.
I barge out of the bathroom after having cleaned myself up.
“You should go. I need to check something.” I barely manage to say, before I grab the keys of the cafe.
“I’d rather come with you.”
“Whatever.”
I exit the café, closing the door behind me after he walks out as well. My pace is quick as I make my way to the pharmacy and of course, he is keeping up with me.
To my surprise he remains silent throughout the entire walk.
“Wait here.” I tell him before entering the pharmacy.
I quickly grab 3 pregnancy tests from different brands, pay for them and immediately head to the toilet.
It doesn’t take long for the results to come in.
And they all show the same thing.
Jason looks over to me as I slowly exit the pharmacy “So? What’s wrong with you?” he asks.
I could strangle him.
Perhaps my glare communicated exactly that.
“Oh.”
My anger was taking over again.
“Oh? That’s all you’ve got to say?” I mumble, furious.
He raises his eyebrows at me “come on, don’t put all the blame on me. You said yes to breakfast.”
I groan with irritation, throwing my hands in the air.
“Can you take anything seriously?! I’m pregnant!”
Various scenarios run through my head.
Can I raise it? Where do I raise it?
And can I afford it? Does he even want to be involved?
My thought train gets interrupted when he suddenly takes my hand and looks at me.
“Is it really such a terrible thing? “
I halt for a moment.
“When have you ever expressed the desire for a child? From what I recall, you never mentioned it.”
“Yes. But the circumstances have changed.”
“Do you even want to be involved?”
He looks at me surprised.
“I know you have a low opinion of me. But do you seriously think I’d let you go through it alone?”
I didn’t answer. I was still angry with him and feared I’d say something I shouldn’t.
He sighs.
“Please consider moving back. I can arrange living quarters for you, as well as a doctor I have heard good things about.”
“I am not going to just close my café and-“
“I am not saying that.” He raises his hands in defense “Let me take care of it. Your café can run while we figure this out. I’ll find somebody reliable to temporarily run things in the meantime. I promise.”
I eye him carefully.
A part of me feels relieved he is willing to make my life easier. But I also can’t help but be suspicious of it all.
He then slowly walks me back to the café, telling me he would be back in two days to pick me up. I’d have the time to bring my most important things and everything else could be sorted out later.
As we say our goodbyes, his eyes linger for me for a bit. And then with a swift motion he gently caresses my cheek before vanishing into his car.
Once it disappears into the distance, I go back inside to gather my thoughts. This will be a stressful transition.
“Who is it?” I mumble, slowly dragging myself out of bed.
“Guess.”
My eyes widen. When I said he could pick me up for breakfast, I didn’t mean directly from my door.
How did he even know… Oh, he probably bribed someone.
I could complain about invasion of privacy, but these things won’t matter to him.
“One second.” I call back, quickly getting myself ready.
Unbelievable. He was already making me work for it.
I open the door swiftly and see him leaning against the wall with crossed arms.
A lazy smile forms on his lips as he gazes back at me.
“You look lovely as ever. Shall we?” he asks.
The moment I nod, he grasps my hand and leads me out of the hotel. My eyes dart at our entwined hands as we exit.
“Ah… Not letting me get away with it, are you kitten?” he comments, letting go of my hand.
He then leads me to the city center, giving me small summaries of what happened depending on which area we passed.
I listen to his stories quietly. But in reality, millions of questions were racing through my head.
Why did he appear?
Why did he take my hand?
Why is he smiling at me like nothing happened? Like he didn’t abandon me?
My polite facial expressions remain as we continue walking down the street.
“And this of course… is our headquarters.” He explains proudly, as we cross a specific street I used to venture through quite frequently in the past.
As I look around, I notice how the Goldreams office has expanded in all possible directions. It looks more like a HQ now for business operations. I doubt they only focus on events anymore.
My eyes also notice the absence of Devenmentiel.
A small ache spreads in my chest.
“You know… I could arrange something for you. If you´re interested in staying here again of course.” He hums, his eyes never leaving mine.
My polite facade cracks a little as I stare back at him.
“Oh… I´d have to decline but thank you.” I say a little cold.
“So quick to turn down the offer?” He asks surprised.
It’s been 2 years since I last saw him. I always thought he was arrogant, but it seems his successes within the past 2 years have made him even more insufferable.
“Ah… you see, I already have experience working with you.” I say, taking a step towards him. His smile slowly dissipating.
“But how did it end again?” my voice turns into a whisper, but I know he can hear me.
He stares at me for a while. Not saying anything.
I honestly thought I moved on from it. But it turns out my anger is still very much existing.
As if it all happened yesterday.
I take a step back, my expressions unreadable.
“Thank you for the tour. I wish you all the best in your future business endeavors.” I say flatly and walk away, trying to create as much space as possible between us.
This was a mistake.
What was I thinking?
I could hear him saying something along the lines of you too. Not that I paid attention to it.
As I walk back, the new environment becomes oppressive. And I only have myself to blame.
Maybe this city has changed too much.
It was silly thinking I’d still feel like I belong here.
My pace starts to quicken. Why bother staying here for a few more days when I already feel suffocated by it?
I should go to the train station. See if I can go back right now to my little oasis of safety.
After a few observations, I find another train arriving in an hour. And as I am about to put the new ticket into my purse, someone grabs me from behind.
“What the-“
As I am forcibly turned around, I see Jason. Out of breath and holding on to my wrist.
“Are you out of your mind?” I hiss, yanking my arm free.
“You’re not leaving.” He mutters, taking a step closer to me.
“Aw, poor Jason can’t handle a rejection. Doesn’t feel nice to be dropped like a piece of garbage, does it?”
His eyes narrow down, his gaze becoming more intense. “Don’t act like you didn’t know what you were getting into. I warned you multiple times-“
“Seriously, why are you here? What do you want?” I almost shout, cutting him off.
I might as well go all out if I have his attention. My buried anger is boiling over anyway.
“Did it feel good? Rubbing your giant company building into my face? And then you have the audacity to ask me to join you again? You’re unbelievable!”
“We were a good team. We-“
“Yes, we were. But then somebody had to go and fuck it all up, huh?”
He takes another step towards me, his hand gripping my arm again. I almost hear him taking a deep breath.
“Fine. You were right, okay?” he finally breathes out, but it only adds to my confusion.
“You always told me… that if I go down that path, it would be lonely. Isolating. And after those two years, I finally understand what you mean.”
I stare at him. For a second I could feel myself going soft but I quickly pulled myself together.
“Its too late now.” I whisper back, but he does not pull away.
If anything, he is as close as ever. His breath brushing against my skin.
“I just had the feeling that beyond all the anger and sadness… there is still this spark between us.”
I freeze for a moment. Something small cracking inside of me.
My eyes stare at him in disbelief. And before I know it he leans in, kissing me.
Softly at first.
So soft I instantly melted away. Cursing at myself internally about how easy it was.
And when I didn’t push him away, he lets out a low groan before crashing his lips into mine. Tilting my head for a deeper kiss as his tongue delves into my mouth.
I can barely balance myself before he pulls me to a secluded corner of the train station, pushing me against a wall and pinning me against it with his entire body.
The sensation that I have been missing for a long time was slowly returning. My eyes close as my fingers get lost in his hair.
He doesn’t waste a single second either.
I can suddenly feel his hand on my thigh, his fingers digging into my skin before venturing underneath my skirt.
My cheeks flush, knowing were in public. As if noticing my distraction, his kiss becomes more needy as if protesting that I am thinking about anything else.
“Now… the big question is…” he breaks the kiss to whisper into my ear “are you already wet for me?”
Before I can respond in any proper manner, his fingers brush against my underwear and he chuckles satisfied.
I somewhat hate how pleased he is. And how he is going to use it against me.
“Always prepared, aren’t you kitten.” He whispers.
Knowing I will argue back, he quickly pushes my underwear aside and slowly brushes against my wetness with two fingers.
Holding back a moan feels like an impossible mission. My arms instinctively wrap around his neck as I try to control my breathing.
This is insane.
One moment I was yelling at him and now-
“Getting distracted, are we?” he smiles, digging his face into my shoulder before slowly thrusting two of his fingers inside of me.
My back arches, my body tenses. I can’t help but try to move against him, but he keeps me in place.
“Patience, kitten. We’re only getting started.”
His movements remain slow, enjoying my reactions. The more I try to plead with my eyes, the more he tries to push me over the edge.
Then finally, he starts thrusting his fingers faster before passionately kissing me again. Drinking in my moans, echoing across the train station. How long the sounds would be overshadowed by traffic and background chatter was unknown.
“You’re doing so well…”
Almost like an act of defiance for taking his time, I somehow manage to unbutton his collar, only to gain access to one of his weak spots: his neck. Before he realizes what I was going to do, I bite into his neck to gauge a reaction out of him.
And react he does. Immediately tensing up against me, movement becoming more hurried and his eyes declaring a hunger that wasn’t as obvious before.
“You want to rush this? Fine.” He groans, his arms wrapping around me before lifting me against the wall, leaving me no chance to escape.
I won’t lie.
This was exactly what I came for.
What I was missing.
His lips crash against mine again, combined with his fingers digging into my skin. And then I feel it.
The tip of his cock teasing against me.
He stops kissing me for a second to drink in my flushed face, my glossy eyes filled with desire.
“You want me. You never stopped wanting me.” He whispers into my ear as he continues tantalizing me.
“Says the guy who chased me all the way to the train station.” I argue back, breathing heavily.
He chuckles. And then thrusts into me with no mercy. Again, and again. Not even bothering to hold back his own moans as he buries his face into my shoulder.
I barely manage to hold on to him, my nails digging against his back as I gasp with every movement.
Whatever itch I’ve been feeling the past 2 years, it’s finally being taken care of.
But whether that’s a good or bad thing is too late to consider now.
His movements start speeding up, become more frantic than the last.
He must be close. But so am I.
“Come for me, kitten.”
It almost sounds like a command, but I am too distracted to argue back.
My eyes close, giving into the sensation. And when my release finally hits, I scream in pleasure, unable to hold on to anything.
His grip remains, as he rides out his own. Which is when I realize it trickling down my thighs.
As the movements slow down and we catch our breath, he slowly let’s go of me but doesn’t step away. His expression… is almost happy.
“Why not stay... See where this goes? We could try again.” He whispers into my ear, squeezing my hand.
I know better than to make decisions right after sex. No matter how tempting they sound.
“I can’t just leave my café... I need to think about it.” I mumble, still regaining my composure.
But his sudden irritation catches me off guard.
“Your train arrives now, doesn’t it?” he mumbles, taking a step back.
“Better get on it then.”
And with that he walks away. Leaving me speechless.
“Seriously?!” I yell back at him, but he keeps walking.
“Screw you.”
I angrily storm towards the train that´ll take me back home, not even bothering to see if he watched me get on.
Welcome to my next writing attempt - disclaimer that I am trying out more of an erotica direction (for mature audiences only). This is also an alternative take to mcl ng. Jason is a bit different in this version (a tad darker, the businessman aspect more exaggerated).
Intro:
It is done. Jason had been whispering into your ear countless of weeks. Tales about how Devenmentiel must fall. And how you are the only one who could help him. Maybe you fell for his seduction. Maybe you believed the stories he shared. One depicting Devon and all the investors as actual villains, responsible for a tragedy that occurred many years ago.
Not that it matters anymore. Because the moment you gave him the information he needed, he shut it all down. And with that, there were no more phone calls. No spontaneous dinners. No more passionate nights. Nothing.
The realization that you were used leaves you stone cold. And with it, you pack your bags and leave. Whatever happens to the city is now out of your hands. And you don’t have the heart to see what Jason will do with it.
Chapter 1:
It’s been 2 years since I left the city. Despite all the headaches, something just keeps pulling me back.
Or someone.
I’ve been spending my time building a café from scratch as I always dreamed of. It has a little library section, along with a tiny greenhouse where I grow all my herbs. I was so invested in making it mine that I built the entire thing myself. I got scars on my hands to prove it.
For a while, it kept me happy.
The peacefulness helped. No drama. Just serving customers, planning next week’s menu or experimenting with tea leaves.
I also started seeing… a few people.
One was kind. The other adventurous.
But in the end, they all lacked the same thing.
Sex.
I sighed at the thought.
Jason had many bad aspects that I could curse him for. But if there was one thing that he was particularly talented in, it was sex.
Leaving you breathless. Touching you, making you feel like you were a goddess.
And most importantly, he could go for hours. Giving your body all the attention it needs.
Did I always have an insatiable appetite? Is it something that just awakens or do you learn it from him?
Not like the answer would help me.
No matter how long I stay with any of the men here, I always end up dissatisfied.
I feel a little silly complaining about it, considering how everything else is going so well. But can it be described as an itch that just won’t go away? But nobody seems to be able to reach?
“Last stop! Please exit the vehicle!”
I twitch for a second, returning to reality.
After having left the city for 2 years, I am back. Just for a few days of course. To visit.
For no other reason at all.
I slowly get up, grabbing my suitcase and stepping out off the train. The cold air wakes me up after the 3-hour ride.
“I should make my way to the hotel first…” I mumble to myself. Might as well walk there and take in the changes.
Theres an energy that hasn’t been here before. People seem to be moving faster, most of the stores buzzing with activity. Did we always have so many tall buildings? It seems… new.
I take my time, not hurrying my pace. I left in such a rush last time, fearing Jason would show up any second to stop the process. Tempting me to stay.
He always had a talent showing up in the last second.
But now I can at least enjoy it my walk a little. Try to rewrite my last memories.
I notice the sun setting and keep the detours for tomorrow. As I approach my hotel, I get checked in, leave my bag in my room and then ascend towards the lobby.
An evening tea would do me wonders right now.
After making my order, I get comfortable in one of the chairs next to the hotel bar. The scent of peppermint tea calming me immediately.
And then from the corner of my eye, I see him.
Waltzing in all naturally across the lobby. Eyes slowly lingering on me.
I know him too well to call it a coincidence.
So I simply nod at him and sip my tea.
Despite closing my eyes to enjoy the flavor, I can hear footsteps walking toward me. A chair being pulled out. And then the sound of somebody getting comfortable.
“Kitten.”
My eyes slowly open, resting on the figure next to me.
“Hello, stranger.” I smile politely.
I notice the corner of his mouth twitching for a second. But his body posture remains as relaxed as ever. Or rather, in control.
His blue eyes stare back at me, as if aiming to uncover a grand secret.
“What a nice little surprise. You walking into this hotel and all…” I emphasize every word, my smile never leaving my lips. It’s almost like a challenge.
“How have you been?”
My casual tone seems to surprise him. His eyebrows rise for a second, before regaining composure.
“I have been excellent. Goldreams enterprise has expanded, and thanks to that I have been busier than ever.” he says, almost humming like a song.
I take the moment to observe him. His style is still the same. Suit and tie all the way, rings on the fingers… But there are a few more lines etched into his face.
Time has a way of showing itself.
“That sounds like your dream. Taking over business, attending all the meetings… It also explains the new buildings I saw outside during my little tour.” I express, sipping on my tea.
He studies me, before leaning back into his chair and ordering a glass of whiskey.
“What about you? It’s certainly been a while.”
I can tell how careful he’s being right now.
But I smile again. Politely.
“Good. I have my little café and all. It’s peaceful. Nothing as close to your empire of course.” I nod, enjoying myself.
“That sounds quite mundane.”
Ah. The first strike.
“Its certainly not for everyone.”
I won’t take his bait. I let it pass right through me.
There is a moment of silence before he continues.
“So, what brings you here? How long are you staying?”
I think for a moment, enjoying the silence.
“Visiting some friends and then heading back in a day or two.” I respond drily.
That’s when I noticed how quickly he finished his drink.
If anything, he was already on his 3rd whisky glass.
“Not to tell you what to do… but slow down there.” I comment, raising an eyebrow at his drinking pace.
He looks at me, then at his glass.
“Oh this? This is nothing.” He says, his fingers tracing the rims of the glass.
“Okay. But do you have anybody to drive you after?”
He laughs at my comment, glancing towards me.
“You’re concerned for my safety? How touching.”
I narrow my eyes.
Of course he would take that as a win.
His fingers run through his hair before focusing on me again.
“I have arrangements for such cases. Nothing you need to concern yourself with.”
Of course he has.
For a second I imagine some special woman waiting for him to come home. Or somebody nearby taking him in.
He must have somehow read my thoughts because he started smiling at me.
“What were you thinking about, kitten?” he asks amused.
“Oh, you know, just what kind of arrangements exist for a businessman like you. It must be convenient.”
I can almost taste the venom in my mouth. Even if it’s uncalled for.
I need to reel myself back in.
“Well, when you have an enterprise as big as mine, you need a team of people you can rely on. Delegate your tasks too. Some you keep closer than others.” He explains, finishing his 3rd glass of whisky.
“Keep close, huh?” I repeat, trying to resist rolling my eyes.
“Oh, please don’t misunderstand, kitten. I keep it professional with my employees.” He grins before leaning in a little forward “though there’s always room for… exceptions.”
I stare at him unamused. He leans back, quite happy with himself, playing with his rings.
“I must say, this reunion has been quite refreshing.”
“Why don’t we get breakfast tomorrow? I can give you a tour of the city. After all, quite a lot has changed.” He explains, keeping his eyes on me.
His proposal surprises me a little. But it could be interesting.
“Alright… you may pick me up tomorrow for breakfast.”
And with that, he gets up, slightly bows and smiles at me, before making his exit. His movements effortlessly as ever.
Ysaline was in the exact same spot she stood a few months ago. Admiring the city view from Jason’s apartment, with the smell of food spreading across the room.
And she was starving.
The only thing keeping her occupied was Jason’s criticism related to the private event.
“Why request a statue of a man holding the globe, when the host doesn’t even know what it represents?” Jason continued, rolling his eyes and moving the pan.
“Not everybody is a nerd.”
“Please, there is a difference. I am an intellectual.”
“How would you define an intellectual?”
“Obviously, someone who holds a great deal of knowledge about a specific subject and-“
“Interesting. How does that different from a nerd?”
Jason gave a loud sigh.
Ysaline used the distraction to snoop around. There were countless books focusing on various mythologies. Based on the labels, Greek mythology seemed to be his favorite one. No wonder he was so insistent about the Pegasus.
“Found something interesting? I’m afraid all my secrets are hidden elsewhere...” he called across the room.
“Just trying to guess which Greek mythology character is your favorite.”
The resulting thesis that came out of him was astonishing. Jason did not only explain a handful of characters, but also their different representations, why they differ and the meaning behind it all.
In other words, he couldn’t possibly pick one.
“You can relax on the couch, the food is almost ready.” Jason commented, scooping portions of the pasta and placing them on the plates.
“I can help.” Ysaline offered, but Jason shook his head.
As instructed, she sat down on the couch. She must have bumped into a remote, because there was a small buzzing sound. And after that, a TV that suddenly emerged, rising from a cupboard on the opposite side.
It was a pretty nice TV.
“You really live for the finer things in life.”
“Why not? I worked for it.”
He walked over, placing the plates on a small table next to the couch. The cutlery and wine followed.
“Is this the part where you reveal your villain origin story?” Ysaline asked, inhaling the delicious smell.
“Nothing you don’t know already. Having somebody sell off your personal belongings, just because they can, is unpleasant. Not worth reliving.”
Ysaline sighed. The story of Jason’s stepfather was playing in her head. If they ever crossed paths again, it wouldn’t go well for either of them.
“Jason Mendal hates being at other people’s mercy… A little ironic.” Ysaline commented, eyeing Jason.
He shrugged.
“You can’t really be all sunshine and flowers in our line of work. Especially when a lot of money is involved. So, a little intimidation or a few threats sometimes save the day. But that’s mainly reserved for difficult cases-”
“Riiight, like the difficult case of posing as my fiancé. Or the challenging scenario of telling my coworkers that I asked for your help. Lots of money involved, too bad I never saw it.” Ysaline explained, counting with her fingers. Jason took his time to sit down next to her.
He was silent for a moment.
“There might have been situations where I… purposefully messed with you.” He slowly articulated, trying to select his words carefully.
“You were new in the field and suddenly started making declarations of war. It was adorable. But you were so determined to prove me wrong and…” Jason continued, realizing how far he was from an apology.
“What I am trying to say is-“
“Do take your time, there’s enough wine for the entire evening.”
Jason’s eyes perfectly communicated the annoyance of being cut off. He was trying to be sincere for once. Ysaline quickly waved her hands as an apology.
Jason turned away again, looking into the distance.
He suddenly seemed more serious than usual.
“I lost a client that day. When I found you in the woods?”
Ysaline looked at him confused.
“It was a project proposal presentation. The client and I had been talking for weeks. But once I saw the message, I just bolted, almost forgetting to find a replacement. For obvious reasons, the client found that unprofessional and refrained from collaborating further.”
“Oh…” Ysaline mumbled, squeezing a pillow on the couch.
“I am not blaming you, I made that call. But Ysaline, I was furious. You were unconscious on the ground. It had been raining for God knows how long and your coworkers were nowhere to be found.”
He realized the anger in his voice and tried to tone it down a little.
“You’re right. I don’t like being at anybody’s mercy. And there I was, dropping everything for somebody working at a rival firm! I was beside myself.”
Without looking at her, Jason reached out for the plates and handed Ysaline her pasta.
“Me. In the rain. Soaked while wearing a suit, hair all over the place. Never in my life have I found myself in a similar situation.”
Ysaline took a bite, trying to recall the image. To be fair, it wasn’t the most pleasant memory to call upon. But in a way, seeing him drenched and out of breath compared to his usual appearance was quite a sight.
Then another memory played in her mind.
“So… What changed?” Ysaline finally asked.
“I had my regular life back. Just as you promised – no phone calls, no texts.”
She noticed that he hadn’t touched his food yet. His hands were busy removing the tie and releasing the upper button of his shirt.
After taking a few bites, Ysaline placed her plate temporarily away on the small table.
“And guess what?” he continued, changing his position on the couch to face her.
“It was terribly boring.”
He said it with such a dramatic tone, Ysaline couldn’t help but chuckle.
Jason took the opportunity to pull Ysaline towards him, wrapping his arms around her.
“Everything was going soooo smoothly. Nobody argued with me or told me I am full of myself.” He continued, getting comfortable on the couch. Ysaline lied down next to him, still wrapped in his arms.
“Sounds like your personal hell.” Ysaline added, letting herself sink into his embrace.
“It was. So, when the opportunity came to have you in my office once a week… I took it.”
He was gently caressing her cheek. Fingers slowly gliding down her neck.
There was another pause.
As if he was hesitating.
“I am sorry I couldn’t answer your question back then.”
Am I a burden?
Ysaline studied man in front of her. They were both lying on the couch, cuddled up together in their fancy clothes. Most of the wine and food remained untouched.
Jason had a sharp tongue, always knew where to hit. Ysaline had imagined herself beating him at his own game countless of times. Some big imaginary victory event, with her holding a trophy and Jason angrily storming off on the losing side.
I win.
Maybe there was some part of her that really wanted to prove herself. Or all the anger Ioan left, which Ysaline desperately needed to let out on somebody.
So she painted Jason as the main villain who needed to be beat. A lot of times.
But it was getting tiresome. Especially when he kept proving her wrong by being thoughtful again and again.
“Ysaline?”
She didn’t answer Jason at first.
Instead, she lifted herself up. Jason was about to follow, but Ysaline gently pushed him down against the couch. Only so she could position herself on top of his lap.
Now he was paying attention.
Eyes focused on her.
“Here’s the deal.” Ysaline slowly expressed, getting comfortable. Perhaps exaggerating certain movements, a little more than necessary.
“I accept your… interesting way of apologizing.” she continued, while her hands were gliding up from his shirt to his face.
“However… I feel like we should postpone all that sweet chatter to tomorrow morning. What do you think?” Ysaline asked with the sweetest voice she could muster.
She wasn’t aware how much her breathing had changed. But in her defense, it was exhilarating to have Jason underneath her. Observing her every move.
His eyes narrowed, his sly smile returning.
By now, he must have noticed her arousal.
Not that he was trying to hide his either.
“Jas-“
He lifted himself halfway up with ease. Pulling her closer, crashing his lips against hers.
There wasn’t a lot of time to think. His tongue rolling over hers was already distracting enough.
At least that’s what Ysaline thought, until he started grinding against her, hands gripping around her waist.
She couldn’t help but moan out loud, a shiver spreading across her.
For a second she could hear him groaning in response, his body tensing up underneath.
Every time she tried to create a little distance, just to catch some air, he’d pull her right back in. His movements becoming rougher with every minute passing.
She gasped again, when he had suddenly lifted her up. Despite his tongue moving on to her neck, he gracefully carried her into the bedroom.
And once her back hit the bed, she finally looked up.
He was standing in front of the bed, very much out of breath, swallowing hard at the sight of her.
“Not the first time you imagined me here, is it?” she whispered cheekily, knowing the potential consequences.
His eyes were enough to make her tremble. Almost devouring.
Just like she wanted.
“We’ll see how much you’ll be laugh by the end of it.” He huffed, taking off his vest.
He must have enjoyed her undivided attention, because his pace was slowing down immensely. Taking the time to with his shirt. Buttons and cuff links.
Her pouting face did not help.
Jason was doing this on purpose.
“What’s wrong, kitten? Can’t a man take his time?” he hummed amused.
Ysaline stared at him defiantly.
Then smiled as the devil herself.
“Of course you can. I’ll just keep myself busy until then.”
He looked perplexed at first.
But his eyes widened, watching her slip off her underwear. Dropping it next to the bed.
And without breaking eye contact, she slowly gliding her hand between her legs. First one finger.
Then another.
The wet sounds were echoing across the room, accompanied by Ysaline’s breath hitching. Occasional moan in between.
She wished she had a timer, just to measure how fast he unbuckled his belt, dropping the pants and finally taking hold of her hands, just to pin them against the bed.
“You really are the worst.” he groaned, chest rising.
“Only for you.” she whispered back, biting her lip.
Her chuckles were quickly replaced with cries. He tore that dress off so quickly, hands exploring ever inch.
His tongue was moving towards her breast, gripping it with one hand. And then slowly, the other was descending downwards, reclaiming the position Ysaline’s hands were previously at.
The sensation was overwhelming. Or maybe because Jason was the one doing it.
His fingers must have been engulfed by wet heat already. Especially with him taking his revenge by maintaining an agonizing pace.
Just when she thought he was done tormenting her, he suddenly stopped.
Ysaline was about to protest, but then realized Jason was lowering himself, wrapping his arms around her thighs.
And then suddenly, she felt his tongue delving inside of her.
“Fuck!” she gasped, her hand instinctively grabbing his hair.
His grip tensed up, occasionally switching between kissing her inner thighs and tasting her.
Or feasting, at this point.
Ysaline could feel herself dissolving into pleasure. An intensity building up in her abdomen.
But it wasn’t enough.
She was growing impatient once more.
“I...” she managed to stutter, trying to control her breathing.
“Hm…?” Jason responded, slowly lifting his face to meet her eyes. Without stopping the flickering of his tongue.
She tried to say something again, but he intercepted her by inserting another pair of fingers along with his tongue.
“I am sorry kitten, are you trying to ask for something?” he purred in between, letting his fingers continue the work while kissing her inner thighs once more.
She really was helpless. Pride preventing her once more from what she wanted.
Her eyes were almost pleading her case, a new form of betrayal.
Jason laughed softly, pulling himself up again. Licking his fingers with pure delight.
She couldn’t help but stare at his erection in the meantime, hoping he wouldn’t catch her in the act.
But then Jason was suddenly hovering over her, grasping her chin and tilting it up for another deep kiss.
He used the moment to position himself between her legs and then carefully sank into her. A groan escaped him at the first point of contact.
Ysaline immediately held on to him, digging her fingers into his shoulders.
A rhythm was starting to set in place, with Ysaline occasionally pulling her hips down harder whenever she got impatient. Burying her face into his shoulder, his rasped voice saying something in the meantime.
But at this point, her brain stopped functioning. All she wanted was to lick off his sweat and sink deeper into this exhilarating feeling caused by every thrust.
Jason was only happy to reciprocate.
At one point he switched Ysaline on her stomach, his hand tangled in her hair, head facing the pillows. All while slamming into her deeper, with a faster pace from behind.
She could feel the tension building up again. Her moans no longer held back, fingers gripping the sheets around her.
As if recognizing the signs, Jason continued without breaking, feeling Ysaline’s release as she shattered underneath him.
Before the feeling overtook him as well, he quickly pulled out and finished in his hands.
“You know… I wouldn’t have minded…” Ysaline tried to express, out of breath.
“I know, kitten. I know.” Jason whispered warmly, kissing her shoulder gently.
It didn’t take long for him to wash up in the bathroom and to return to bed. Ysaline had already lifted herself up, not wanting to imagine the state of her hair.
“Come here…” he hummed, lying down next to her and pulling her back into his embrace. With another soft kiss on her shoulder, he pulls the blanket to shield them against the cold.
“I should take a shower...” Ysaline mumbles, but Jasons arms tighten around her.
“The bathroom is all yours in the morning...” He promised, nuzzling his face against her hair. Slowly descending into sleep himself.
Jason’s gentleness melted Ysaline melt.
He was right. Everything could wait until the morning. The shower. Their talk. Her questions about their future.
But they’d figure it out somehow. With occasional losses of pride, arguments followed by apologies and mending affections.
Ysaline was determined to make it work somehow. And based on what she’s seen, Jason seems to be willing as well.
And before another thought could be formed, Ysaline finally drifts into a deep sleep, smiling to herself and enjoying her partner’s warmth.
------------
Hey everbody! This will be the last chapter of Circles - work has started to picking up again, so I wanted to make sure I leave those 2 in a good place before wrapping up (and before another episode realses, knowing it'll influence me). Thank you again for reading this fanfiction! It has been a lot of fun to write something again, I hope it was enjoyable!
Just a small heads up that the next "Circles" chapter will be a little delayed (its a long one and I'm visiting my grandmother for the weekend). I'll hopefully have it ready within the next few days. Thank you for reading and I hope you'll enjoy the next chapter too!! 😊
Ysaline was constantly glued to her phone. Ever since their little moment on the boat, their previously frozen chat was now regularly spammed with text messages.
Either with classic good morning / good night texts or articles focusing on the differences between Unicorns and Pegasus.
It mirrored their usual interactions as well. Plenty of arguments within the chats, especially when it came to judging current events going on.
I don’t get it. What’s wrong with using robots for a restaurant opening? It shows innovation if done correctly.
You lose the charm only human waiters can provide. Robots are cute. And you don’t want cute for a Michelin Star Restaurant opening.
They didn’t always agree. Or rather, neither side was openly proclaiming that the other might have a point.
So it usually ended with agree to disagree.
Or as Jason liked to say you’ll see for yourself and then you’ll agree with me.
Unfortunately, due to work, their evening plans always got pushed to another day.
The project was slowly coming to an end. Ysaline’s part was almost done, since it focused more on organization, scheduling and collaborating with Jason’s team. Thomas was more needed now, setting up all the technicalities with the artists and the stage itself.
Yet she was glued to Devenementiel desk. And tonight, there was an event to celebrate the projects upcoming closing.
Everybody was invited. Including the members of Goldreams.
Her phone buzzed again.
What are you wearing tonight?
Ysaline almost chocked on her water.
Not sure yet. Why? You want to wear matching outfits?
She grinned at herself. Matching outfits were probably a nightmare for Jason. Plus, it’s not like they were a couple either.
But she imagined him rolling his eyes at the message. And that made her chuckle.
I was rather asking to grasp the dress code…
Just wear your suit. You can’t look more official than that. Unless you want to shock people, then just arrive in sweatpants.
You’re saying that as if I wouldn’t look good in sweatpants.
Now it was Ysaline rolling her eyes. She wasn’t going to respond to that.
Her phone buzzed one more time.
;)
Now she finally put her phone on silent.
She caught Elenda glancing towards her. Eyes narrow, but with a smirk, nonetheless.
It was hard escaping her observant eyes at the office.
While Elenda hasn’t asked any questions, it was clear she sensed something.
“Alright, I am heading out.” Amanda said out lout in the open space, rising from her chair.
“So early? The private event is still 4 hours away.” Roy said surprised.
“Yes, we only have 4 hours left. And I want to look good. Just think about all the potential clients we will meet tonight!” Amanda explained, fire in her eyes.
“We should all look extremely professional and cleaned up. After all, people from Goldreams will be there too – say what you want about them, but they always look good.” Amanda finished, grabbing her stuff.
Some people booed at her, but she shrugged and left.
Perhaps Ysaline should go home early too. There was time to shower, do her hair…
Shave?
Did she need to shave?
Now those 4 hours didn’t seem so long anymore.
“I will leave early as well.” Ysaline said, grabbing her things.
Elenda and Brune joined in, making their way out. Only the guys were staring at each other confused, wondering if they should leave as well.
Once Ysaline parted from the girls, Elenda winked at her again.
Maybe Ysaline would ask her if she knew anything. But it could wait.
For now she was just focusing on getting home as fast as possible.
“Woa. What’s going on?” Tasha asked, surprised to see her sister zooming into the apartment.
“Private event tonight. Need to get ready!” Ysaline quickly responded, sliding towards her bedroom to open the closet.
She quickly recalled the details of private event. Don Suave was celebrating the upcoming Concert Hall opening. He invited his inner circle, who are probably as rich as he is. Both companies helping out will be presented. And there is a chance that Don Suave will introduce Ysaline personally to others as well.
In other words, she needed to look good. Really good.
There were other reasons for it as well. But they were placed aside for now.
At one point Tasha came into the bedroom, witnessing her sister throwing outfits on the floor, the bed, left and right.
“What are you even looking for?” Tasha asked, picking up a few clothing items to admire.
“I am not sure. Serious? Professional? A little intimidating.” Ysaline explained, continuing her search.
“Ah. Something that doesn’t scream newbie.” Tasha added, nodding to herself.
A few combinations were made. Ysaline quickly tried them on.
In the end they both agreed on the red velvet dress. It showed some curves, wasn’t too tight, had elegant long sleeves and an open back.
A few golden accessories would match well the colors.
After showering, cleaning, doing hair and make-up, most of the time was already used up. Ysaline hurried putting on the dress. Luckily the location wasn’t too far, and the girls would wait at the location’s entrance for Ysaline.
Once she was ready, Ysaline looked at herself one more time in the mirror. Tasha really had an eye for fashion and make-up.
“Mom is back tonight. Just so you know.” Tasha added, gathering her own stuff.
“Oh? You can still stay here, you know.” Ysaline said, putting on her black coat.
“Nahh, maybe I’ll rejoin you in a few days. Just in case.” Tasha said, smiling to her herself.
They both exited the apartment, said their goodbyes with a hug and then went their separate ways.
Ysaline was trying to speedwalk, but the heels weren’t ideal for that. Within a few minutes she would hopefully get used to them.
She checked her phone one last time, noticing a recent message from Jason.
See you tonight.
---
“There she is!” Elenda said, waving at Ysaline who was crossing the street.
She made it in time after all. Amanda and Brune were there too, waiting in front of the location. It looked like a fancy hotel.
Elenda looked the liveliest with her mixed pastel colored dress. Amanda had a luxurious vibe, while Brune looked like a badass wearing special kinds of leather.
“Are we waiting for the others?” Brune asked, looking around.
“That’s probably better. We’re presenting the team after all.” Amanda added, checking the time.
Devon, Thomas and Roy arrived a few minutes after, all suited up.
“I still think this is too much.” Thomas confessed, looking down at himself.
“Maybe, but I got really scared when the others left early just to get ready.” Roy added with a laugh.
“Thank you for waiting. Are we all ready to go?” Devon asked around.
Everybody nodded.
Ysaline was starting to feel nervous.
“Alright, let’s go team!” Devon chanted enthusiastically, leading the group and walking up the stairs.
There were plenty of signs inside the hotel, directing the group towards Don Suave’s private event. It seemed like he booked the entire upper floor of the hotel for this.
“Have you ever been to such a thing?” Elenda whispered to Ysaline, feeling a little out of place.
Ysaline squeezed her hand. It somehow reminded her of their rollercoaster ride.
“Never. But try to have fun! If somebody bothers you, we can always leave.” Ysaline said, trying to be reassuring.
The signs lead them to an elevator, taking them to the 11th floor. Once the doors opened, jazz music was playing in the background, combined with chatter and the smell of champaign.
One of the staff members was talking to Devon, writing down everybody’s names on the registry.
After a quick please enjoy yourselves, the group moved towards the main room.
It was almost like a giant open space, food and drinks stacked up at almost every corner. There was a small stage at the center, occupied by a band playing music.
“Ahhh, there they are!”
Don Suave’s voice separated itself from the background noise. Luckily one could hear him, before seeing him.
He squeezed through the ground, shaking every member’s hand. When it was Ysaline’s turn, a normal greeting was not enough apparently.
“My dear Ysaline! I can’t thank you enough for your help. The event’s organization has been proceeding flawlessly!” he loudly proclaimed, spreading his arms.
Ysaline braced herself.
“And Thomas! A genius indeed, learning all the stage’s secret. You must share them with me once it is all over!”
Ysaline then realized that she and Thomas were about to be embraced. Both at the same time.
It was somewhat comforting that she wasn’t going to be alone in this.
When Don Suave’s arms did wrap up around them, she could see Thomas’ discomfort. Especially after 2 squeezes.
Still, it was better than getting her hand kissed.
Don Suave continued his admirable speech after releasing them, but both Ysaline and Thomas were busy recovering.
“Mr. Mendal! Please, come over here!” Ysaline heard Don Suave say.
When Ysaline looked around her, most of her coworkers had scattered. Even Thomas had somehow made a quick escape, possibly fearing another hug.
She then looked towards the figure emerging from another circle of people. He didn’t rush his pace, as he was gracefully holding a champaign glass in his hand.
Jason’s eyes were lazy at first, until he noticed Ysaline behind their shared client.
She really wasn’t trying to stare too much.
But Jason was wearing an all-black suit, his vest sticking out a little due to the dark silver color and patterns. Some of his ringers were different too, matching the rest of the outfit.
Jason finished his Champaign glass by the time he arrived, nodding towards Don Suave. Then positioning himself next to Ysaline, greeting her with his classic sly fox smile.
“Good evening, Ysaline.”
“Good evening.” she responded drily.
They never really talked about how to act in public. But it felt like an unspoken rule not to show any signs of fondness. And especially avoid anything related to boats.
“Now, I know there was some tension in the beginning…” Don Suave continued, dramatically waving his hands.
Jason took the moment to place his Champaign glass on a table, situated right behind Ysaline. While putting it down, he noticed the open back portion of the dress.
“Nothing to worry about. I think we sorted it out quite fast.” Ysaline said as neutral as possible, without looking at Jason.
“Indeed. It turns out that our lady here can be quite convincing…” Jason added slowly.
Ysaline didn’t react too much, until she felt a cold sensation on her back. Without anybody noticing, Jason was slowly brushing his fingers against her back, switching between circles and lines.
“Truly? Was it a new experience then, sharing a project with another event organizer?” Don Suave asked excited.
“It was. I’d describe it as thrilling as a shaking boat.”
If they weren’t surrounded by people, Ysaline would have elbowed Jason. Probably in the stomach. Lightly.
But she was using all her energy to remain focused. His touch against her skin was incredibly distracting.
Luckily, another guest was calling out to Don Suave. He excused himself, leaving Jason and Ysaline alone.
“Nice dress.” Jason whispered.
“I can tell. You’re really feeling it out.” Ysaline responded.
Some of her coworkers who previously fled, were now looking over to her.
Roy and Devon looked especially concerned.
“You know, I think this is going to be an interesting evening.” Jason said, finally withdrawing his hand.
“How so?” Ysaline asked, trying not to sound too disappointed by the lack of touch.
“We hadn’t really had the chance to continue our little… adventure.” Jason purred, grabbing another drink from a wandering waiter.
“I wonder, kitten… How many touches will it take until you break?”
Devon and Roy were slowly making their way towards them.
“What makes you think I will break first?” Ysaline said, almost confident.
“Probably a boat that almost sank a few days ago. But I look forward to the challenge nonetheless.” Jason said laughing.
Jason’s eyes caught something in the crowd. He then suddenly turned to Ysaline, lifted her hand and kissed it.
“Business calls. I’ll return soon for round 2.” he whispered, winking at her before vanishing into the crowd.
Devon and Roy finally made it by the time Jason was gone.
“Everything alright?” Devon asked with a neutral expression.
“What was that? Why did he suddenly kiss your hand-“ Roy started asking, but Ysaline cut him off.
“It’s fine. He was just expressing how much he enjoyed our… collaboration.” Ysaline explained, eyes constantly switching between them and the floor.
“But he-“
“I would reeeally love a refreshment. Shall we go to the bar?” Ysaline continued, cutting Roy off again. She was suddenly feeling very warm.
Devon nodded quietly and led the way.
---
Ysaline was not sure how ridiculous everything looked from the outside.
But Jason’s game turned out to be more fun than expected.
Did he have the upper hand at the start? Yes, no doubt about it.
But it turns out Ysaline didn’t need much to turn the tables.
“Excuse me.” She politely expressed, as she squeezed past a group of people. Jason was inconveniently in her way, causing her body to brush against his from behind.
Another time when they made eye contact, she just happened to enjoy a cherry. Pure coincidence.
It was silly. Not even part of the evening’s goal – all that make connections, present the company, establish yourself elements.
Of course she took part in idle chit chats, checked in with her friends. After all, some sort of visual decorum needed to be kept.
But playing a little game between all that? That was fun.
“So I hear you were part of the project organizers.” Somebody said to Ysaline.
She had no idea who these people were. She joined into the conversation because Devon, Roy and some others were a part of it.
“Yes. My focus was more the organizational part and working together with Goldreans for a smooth transition. Thomas, my other coworker, is now taking over for the execution part.” Ysaline explained, not sure where Thomas was hiding.
“Goldreams, huh? Wasn’t there a rivalry between you all?” another stranger asked, curious to uncover more.
“We work in the same field. Some healthy competition is a natural part of the process.” Devon explained, not taking the bait.
“It’s like we were exposed to it. If anybody suffered by a certain CEO, it was Ysaline. I mean you had to see him once a week!” Roy chuckled, drinking another glass of champagne.
“It wasn’t that bad.” Ysaline responded neutrally.
“It’s okay, you don’t need to be nice for Mr. Mendel’s sake.” Another stranger added.
“Why would you think I am forcing myself?”
It came out snappier than initially planned.
Aside from her workplace, she didn’t expect others to have a degree of animosity towards Jason. It caught her a little by surprise.
Though again, he did have a talent for pissing people off.
“Unless you personally had bad experience with him, of course. I wouldn’t want to imply you’re making it all up.” Ysaline said with a smile.
The strangers quickly laughed along. Probably hoping to move on from the topic.
When Ysaline excused herself, she walked over to the bar again.
Were all high-class events like this? Nonsensical chatter while drinking expensive wine?
Ysaline wondered if that was a necessary price to pay. Based on what she gathered so far, she’d rather support local events instead.
Sure, the concert hall opening was a big project. There was a lot of money involved.
But the people around it? Dealing with certain kinds of artists?
Sometimes it got tiresome.
This event was becoming tiresome.
Suddenly she felt somebody brush a strand of her hair.
When she looked to her side, it was Jason. Initially with a smirk, but it quickly changed to a concerned glance.
“It’s nothing.” She quickly said. It wasn’t very convincing.
After a brief moment of silence, he got a little closer.
“Do you want to get out of here?” Jason whispered.
He looked sincere. And it’s not like she was enjoying this event.
“Yes please.”
He nodded, followed by a quick look around them.
“I’ll get the car ready. Meet you at the entrance in 5 minutes?”
Ysaline nodded.
He gently squeezed her hand. Hidden from the eyes of others, of course, before making his way to the exit.
Ysaline was using the opportunity to say goodbye to the others. She was initially worried about Elenda, but she was apparently enjoying herself with the band members.
She couldn’t find Thomas or Roy, so she asked Devon to let them know about her withdrawal.
Her previous annoyance was slowly starting to lift. She could feel it while going down the elevator. Walking through the hotel’s main hall. Exiting the building and walking down the stairs.
As promised, Jason was outside, leaning against his car. Once he saw Ysaline walking towards him, he opened the car door for her. Then joined in from the driver side.
“Yes yes, I know. I’ll put the seatbelt on-“ Ysaline commented, pulling the strap next to her.
What she didn`t foresee was Jason pulling her towards him instead. Kissing her gently, slowly brushing his fingers against her cheek.
“Does this mean I win?” she whispered between the kisses.
Jason chuckled, slowly returned to his seat.
“We’ll see about that. Now…” he responded, turning on the car’s engine.
“Where would you like to go?”
Ysaline thought for a little bit.
“Honestly, anywhere that’s not here. I could eat something too.” She confessed, looking over to him.
“I see…”
He was starting to drive out of the parking spot and then settled on a certain direction.
“What do you think about pasta with calamari and tomatoes?”
The next sessions went surprisingly smoothly. Despite the last encounter.
All the afterparty information was sent over to Ysaline’s email. During the next update rounds, Jason did not make any comments about the opening event.
Unless there was a big red flag, of course.
Some artists were unhappy about having limited time slots – especially the bigger names that expected special treatment.
But when Ysaline gave them an ultimatum about taking or leaving it, most of them adjusted themselves.
Except one troublemaker.
“I am the star of this event! What’s the point of starting the show, if I can’t finish it!” Jenny yelled, stomping around like a child.
They were all at the concert hall again for the first rehearsal rounds. And it was not going well.
“The ending act has already been given to another artist. Giving you two performing slots would be unfair to the others.” Ysaline explained, but logic didn’t seem to be going very far.
“Then fix it!”
At this point, Devon stepped in. Basically repeating everything Ysaline said earlier.
But because it came out of his mouth, Jenny suddenly agreed to everything.
It was giving Ysaline a headache.
As if keeping an eye on everything wasn’t stressful enough.
“Ysaline.”
She turned around, seeing Jason wave at her.
It was time to check the logistics for the afterparty.
Despite their recent fight, hearing him call out her name was… weird.
Still, she was determined not to let it show. Keep things professionally!
She left Devon with Jenny and quickly hurried over. Before being able to say anything, Jason held up a cup.
“Oh. I think I have enough caffeine in my system, but thank-“
“It is hot chocolate.”
She looked at him a little surprised. His tone was a little rude, but she accepted the cup anyway.
That’s when things started getting a little weird.
During the entire explanation process, he didn’t make any sarcastic comments. If anything, it was cut and dry.
As if he was in a bad mood and just wanted to get the day over with.
“Are you… alright?” she finally asked near the end of the tour.
“What?” he asked, almost abrupt.
That made her step back a little.
Before he could say anything further, another employee called Jason over.
Ysaline glanced towards Danica, but she shrugged back.
What was going on with him?
Was he mad at her? Just for speaking her mind last time?
It’s not like it was the first time. And he never had a problem acting like these fights never happened anyways.
Still, there was too much going on at this concert hall. And it’s not like they had a good communication history.
Even if the current project required it.
And so, the day continued with rehearsals and dealing with project conflicts.
When evening hit, Ysaline hadn’t encountered Jason again.
“Have you seen Jason?” Danica asked while everybody was getting ready to leave.
Ysaline shook her head. She watched Danica ask a few others, but nobody knew where he was.
Somebody mentioned he had a headache. Perhaps Jason stepped out once his presence wasn’t required anymore.
After that, everybody went their separate ways.
It was the perfect summer evening. Despite being night-time, the temperature was suitable for an evening walk.
Ysaline took the long route, hoping that the fresh air would cure her own headache.
Today was a lot.
Some peace and quiet would do her some good.
And then she had an idea.
It turns out she was halfway home, crossing the park next to the river.
If nothing had changed since, the boats would still be in their original position.
Ysaline stopped for a moment.
But what if he was there?
She could check, just in case.
There was a small sense of shame building up. The contradictions were absurd.
On one hand, she wanted to check if he was alright. On the other hand, it felt silly considering she wanted to maintain boundaries.
But says he was even there? He could be home lying on his couch.
And Ysaline could really use a boat session to relax a little.
Pushing down the sense of shame, Ysaline started following the path Jason showed her originally. Luckily, not many people were around.
After squeezing through some branches, she made it to the narrow path.
Nobody was there. The boats were untouched.
And that’s when Ysaline realized how sad she felt.
She really did hope to see him here.
Despite telling him off for crossing boundaries, she hated how dull their conversations have become.
Purely work-related. No banter.
She was always mad at him for dancing around the subject. Even when she’d confront him with questions, he’d act ignorant.
She just wanted him to take the first step.
But wasn’t that putting all the pressure on one person?
The longer she thought about it, the more she felt like crying.
“Ah.” She heard a voice say.
Ysaline turned around, startled by the sound.
Jason was standing a little further behind, changed into casual attire. One hand holding a bag.
There was a short silence.
“I’ll give you some privacy.” Jason said, turning around to walk back.
“Wait!”
Ysaline didn’t even realize how fast she bolted, grabbing his arm.
He didn’t pull away. So she blurted the first thing that came into her mind.
“There’s enough space for the three of us.” Ysaline explained, pointing towards the boats.
“The three of us?” Jason asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes. You, me and the unicorn that’s clearly hiding in your bag.”
At first, Jason stared at her. Dumbfounded.
Then there was a loud snort. Which then turned into laughter. And then into a howling sound.
He almost fell forward, holding his stomach. Grabbing Ysaline’s shoulder to balance himself.
The amount of laughter was making Ysaline’s face go red.
“Oh my god, I get it. It was a dumb thing to say. Ha ha, veeeery funny!” Ysaline said embarrassed, almost pushing him off to fall.
Jason was still wheezing, slowly kneeling to the ground.
“Your consolation skills are terrible.” He managed to say between waves of laughter, slowly regaining strength in his legs.
“I pity anybody who seeks your help.”
Ysaline rolled her eyes. It was all she could do, knowing she had already proved his case with her unicorn opening statement.
Suddenly she felt a pat on her head.
“Come on then.” Jason said, nodding towards the closest boat.
Ysaline silently followed him. After Jason placed his bag inside of the boat, Ysaline picked up some paddles scattered on the ground. The only thing left was to push the boat towards the water.
He jumped in with the final push, while Ysaline moved to the wooden dock next to the boat.
Jason held out his hand to take the paddles off her. She took the few seconds in-between to strategize the best entry point. She didn’t want to lose her balance again.
“Here, kitten.”
When Ysaline looked up, Jason had held out his hand. She held on to it, stepping into the boat with grace. Another factor might have been his arm around her waist during the process.
She was too distracted to figure it out.
“As lovely as you are, I can’t row the boat like this.” Jason said with a smirk.
Ysaline was still holding on to his hand, standing. An unrecognizable sound escaped her mouth, most likely a combination of mild curses as she let go of him, allowing both to sit down on the opposite ends of the boat.
Enough distance between them at least. Jason unzipped his bag, passing her a few blankets and getting comfortable on his end.
It didn’t take long to shake off the mortification. An accidental look towards the sky distracted her. There weren’t a lot of streetlights around this area, making the stars above perfectly visible.
It was calming. Almost soothing, combined with the rowing boat. She leaned against her corner, slouching down.
Nobody spoke for a long time.
It took a good few minutes for Ysaline to notice that the boat was no longer moving. They war far enough into the waters.
And just like her, Jason was leaning on his side, facing the night sky. Admiring the stars.
She rarely saw him in casual clothes. Perhaps it was even the first time.
It was almost criminal how good he looked. Maybe the tension earlier this morning was just her imagination too. Right now, his entire body posture looked relaxed.
But she stared for too long.
His eyes suddenly met hers.
Unreadable. Yet having a hold onto her, nonetheless.
“You look cold.” He said, almost a whisper.
She tried to speak, but nothing would come out of her mouth.
“Come here.”
Ysaline slowly sat up, moving towards his side. By the time she was halfway there, Jason grabbed her arm, pulling her in. Both leaning against the boat’s end, despite the small amount of room.
Her head ended up resting against his shoulder. One of his arms wrapped around her waist.
She suddenly felt shy. Unable to look him in the eyes.
But his other hand reached up to her cheek. Caressing it gently.
Until he lifted her chin to meet his gaze.
Look at me.
When their eyes locked again, the space between them had vanished.
His lips crashed into hers. Holding her body tightly against him within the small space they shared.
It wasn’t gentle at all. If anything, hungry, impatient. Every time she tried to catch her breath, he’d switch to her neck. Kissing. Licking. Biting. Digging his nails into her clothes.
She tried holding back on making any loud sounds. But whenever an action of his broke her restraints, he’d just go back and repeat it again.
At one point she had enough of being teased, pushing him off. Just to reposition herself on top of his lap.
“Wait, kitten.”
Based on his tone, Ysaline initially thought she crossed a line.
But that wasn’t it. The quick movement of trying to get on top of his lap, rattled the boat itself. Tilting left and right.
Ysaline squirmed when a few drops of cold water splashed on her. Once they stopped moving, so did the boat.
Jason couldn’t help but laugh again.
“Stop laughing!” Ysaline whispered, pinching his arm.
“I take it back. You’re great at entertaining others.” He expressed between the chuckles, pulling her slowly back into his arms.
“As much as I love your eagerness, I don’t think the boat can handle it.” He continued, giving her a kiss on the head.
Ysaline grumbled a little, but didn’t argue back.
It was unclear how much time had passed while she was lying in his arms.
The earlier fatigue was creeping up on her again.
Once she started dozing off, Jason rowed the boat back to the park. Their fingers brushed against each other, while he was walking her home.
It was tempting to invite him in. But she was so tired.
And Tasha might be around too.
“What are you doing tomorrow evening?” Jason asked as they walked towards her apartment door.
“Nothing, why?”
He smiled at her.
“I’ll tell you tomorrow. Sweet dreams, kitten.” He said, giving her another kiss on the head.
Her gaze made Jason keen on stepping into the apartment after all.
But he was also not in a rush.
“There, there…” he whispered, coming closer. Drinking in Ysaline’s blush.
“Let’s not get impatient, hm?” he finished, kissing her one last time.
Ysaline would have pulled him inside, had he not moved away already.
And then after a sly smile and a goodbye wave, he was gone.
Jason sat on his couch, slowly gazing towards the famous portion of his apartment.
The view.
Everything shined so brightly during nighttime. Flickering lights. Parties perhaps.
Or people just returning to their homes, enjoying their evenings together after work.
He rolled his eyes.
Since when did his mind wander to such thoughts.
He took a quick sip of his favorite wine, confident that the delicious taste would fix the mood.
But it didn’t.
If anything, the permanence of his state annoyed him even more.
All he did was suggest dinner.
Why did she react like that?
He groaned again.
It was clear that no kind of distraction would help him this time.
So instead, he closed his eyes, sinking into the couch’s comfort.
Ysaline was an annoyance at first.
Freshly hired and already making bold statements. Whatever Devon told her and the rest of the team, framed Jason as the ultimate villain.
Perhaps he was.
But Ysaline really took it all in, talking about winning against him. How his company would fail. It was only a matter of time until he’d slip.
How funny it was to go along with his assigned role. And then slowly but surely, pull Ysaline to the other side – just to show Devon yet again, that he is superior.
Danica switched sides. Why stop there?
But then Ysaline had to start making small talk.
Or talk back at him, in her own way.
Jason did not take it seriously at first. She was always so quick to judge. Convinced every interaction was related to Devenementiel. Which to be fair, was often the case.
At least at the start.
He wasn’t sure when the priorities started shifting.
Was it at the amusement park? Asking whether he was having enjoying himself felt out of character. Even going to far as to enter the maze with him.
He had fun. It was all very amusing.
The amusement continued during Tasha`s first internship. Or when Ysaline somehow agreed to steal that boat with him.
He always wondered how far he could take it. She clearly was trying to get to know him. Or to confirm whether the villain stories were true.
And with every attempt, he turned things around. Testing her limits. How far would she tolerate his mischief?
Well, not for too long.
It all ended after his majestic fuck up at the apartment viewing, where he called her his mistress.
Unaware of the history of course. But a fuck up, nonetheless.
He made her cry.
Jason grimaced at the memory.
It was around here, where things started changing. Everything he did became an attempt to fix his mistake. The swimming pool incident. Finding Thomas.
The dinner.
It was going to be perfect.
The art exhibition went fantastic. Compliments were received left and right.
Ysaline had agreed to the bet, because of course she did. Every facial expression she made while he selected the dinner’s ingredients were a joy.
And then she was here.
He looked towards the corner where Ysaline stood. Making fun of the Pegasus.
He was surprised himself back then.
He was so close to…
To what exactly?
He almost jumped up.
What exactly was he so close to?
Let’s say she didn’t leave. Let’s say she’d stayed.
In his mind, it was just dinner. And then some wine.
And then…
Jason was burying his face in his hands.
He started to comprehend how it looked like from her side.
And she wasn’t wrong.
If the mood was right, would he have made a move?
The tension in his body was the answer to that question.
Somehow everything he looked away from, started staring him down instead.
He wanted her.
Badly.
“Fuck.”
How he’d redeem himself was a problem for another day. While maintaining his usual image of course.
And with that, he waltzed towards the bedroom and closed the door behind him.
