Rash decisions were, after all, seeds of mistakes. Rebecca never intended for their relationship to go this far, but after that morning, when they agreed to exchange numbers, she asked the man to meet her again.

The man, on the other hand, didn't even hesitate and decided to meet with her the weekend after they met.

That one time happened again and again and again until Rebecca found herself having a bed partner in the face of the man.

While Rebecca let herself drown in her thoughts in the bathroom, the man suddenly knocked from outside. She listened and heard the man shouting, "You still alive in there?"

Rebecca laughed bitterly, then turned off the water and shouted back, "I'll come out in a minute!"

...

Rebecca immediately saw the man sitting on the couch, smoking a cigarette as she entered the living room.

He looked so serious, looking as though he had been waiting for her to come out and take a seat. Once she did, the man leaned closer and caressed her cheek.

'He smells like cigarettes,' was Rebecca's last thought before the man took her lips in a not-so-gentle kiss. As their kiss deepened, the man grabbed and squeezed Rebecca's right breast through her robe, causing her to break their kiss with her surprised gasp.

As if unsatisfied, the man took out her right breast, squeezed it, and planted kisses on it.

Because of that, Rebecca could only let out a long groan. Her breathing accelerated more when the man started teasing her nipple next, prompting her to slide her fingers into his hair and push his head to her breast.

"Don't stop!" Rebecca protested when the man stopped but gasped, moaned, and writhed again when the man adjusted their position to have better access to Rebecca's left breast this time.

Fast as a flash, Rebecca pushed the man onto the couch and sat on top of him, her legs spread wide open on either side of his closed legs. She tried to keep afloat to avoid pressing on his cock through his robe, but the man pulled her waist and pressed her most sensitive and wet part to him.

With that, pleasure shot through Rebecca's body. She didn't care if it would hurt, but she pulled the man's hair and initiated a deep kiss while her waist swayed with the rhythm the man had set.

The man teased Rebecca's tongue out, licked, and played with it before nipping at her bottom lip, which made Rebecca tremble in pleasure.

"Stop teasing me!"

Rebecca knew she was starting to sound desperate, but she didn't care. All she wanted was for him to put his big throbbing thing inside her, but he kept playing with her. So when he gripped Rebecca's waist harder, pressing his aching cock harder on her clothed body, she gritted her teeth and pleaded, "Please… Mmmm. Put it in!"

Rebecca felt the man smile when he kissed her exposed neck before lifting her and laying her spread wide on the sofa.

After untying his robe and revealing all his maleness for her eyes to see, the man slammed his cock inside her.

As soon as he did that, Rebecca's back bowed as he thrust in and out of her.

"Tell me what you want," the man groaned as he pushed deeper inside her to get better access to her lips.

"Tell me!" he demanded again, pulling his cock halfway from her pussy and then banging it back in her.

Rebecca gasped and grabbed at the man's shoulders. "Faster!" she managed to groan out. "I want you to go faster! Please!"

...

The smell of food woke Rebecca up the following day. Sluggish with her night activity with the man, she slowly got down from the bed and looked for him. After looking around, she found him preparing another set of food on the dining table — no doubt it was something he had ordered from the hotel restaurant.

"Good morning!" he greeted.

Rebecca thought the man must have woken up early because he looked even more refreshed. He was wearing a striped polo shirt and black slacks, paired with black leather shoes, and his hair, almost always mused when they were together, looked unusually styled this morning.

Rebecca had noticed it before, but the man didn't seem to be an ordinary man. He spoke of class and wealth. And although she couldn't confirm it, the clothes he was wearing looked to be custom-made for his build and physique.

Rebecca might not be well-off, but she had met many people just like him in her line of business to know that the man was no ordinary man.

"Morning," Rebecca mumbled while she watched him.

"Breakfast?" he invited.

"Yes, please," Rebecca said excitedly. She was famished, and her stomach grumbled in agreement.

Rebecca sat across from him and started eating, her eyes glued to her phone. She was sending a message to Sophia when her mobile phone suddenly disappeared from her sight.

When Rebecca looked up, she saw that the man had snatched her phone away.

"I was just –"

The man didn't bother to hear Rebecca out and insisted, "No phones while you're eating."

...

Before leaving, Rebecca grabbed the man's arm and pushed the room card into his palm. "I'm giving it back," Rebecca said when the man looked at him in question.

However, the man only stared at the room card for a full minute before looking back at Rebecca.

"Keep it. I reserved the room for three months," he answered when Rebecca looked at him in question. "You can use it anytime."

"Three months?" Rebecca repeated, surprised that the man would go so far as to reserve this expensive room for their little rendezvous. "I didn't realize we agreed to a three-month relationship. Isn't that a little too long?"

"Long?" The man quirked an eyebrow, his lips curling in a smirk. "You must have had quite a few relationships in the past. How many have you had?"

"N–No. I only meant…." Rebecca couldn't see her face, but she was sure she was as red as an apple. She was no player, and it was her first time proposing a one-night stand with the man in front of her. She wanted to explain herself but stopped herself from doing so.

'We're not in a relationship,' she scolded herself. 'I don't have to tell him anything. It's best,' Rebecca decided, 'that we keep secrets from each other.'

"I was just teasing you." The man laughed, but Rebecca didn't mind. But she narrowed her eyes at him when he said the craziest thing she'd ever heard. "But if you don't want to be in a hotel, you can go to my house ins—"

"I didn't say that!" Rebecca hastily rebutted.

Even though she and the man had met quite a few times, Rebecca made a rule for herself. She promised herself not to step into his life completely, so going as far as staying at his house was breaking that rule.

"We're fine the way we are right now," Rebecca added, scared that the man would try to persuade her to agree.

So, it was almost a relief when the man only shrugged at Rebecca. "Ah, well. Maybe I'll ask another time."

Rebecca flinched. "Y-You don't have to. I won't change—" Rebecca's heart jumped in surprise when the man stepped closer.

He was so close. Close enough that Rebecca could feel his breath on her right ear. He gently grabbed her hand and placed the room card in her palm. "Keep this with you," the man said while gently touching the delicate skin of her wrist with his fingers. "So we can meet whenever you want."

Rebecca wanted to convince herself that she wasn't expecting the man to kiss her then, but the disappointment in her eyes when he stepped away was enough to tell her otherwise.

"Do you have plans for today?" the man asked as if nothing had happened. "I'll take you there."

"I'm fine!" Rebecca didn't mean to sound annoyed. She coughed. "I mean… it's faster for me to take the subway, but thanks for the offer."

Not waiting for the man to respond, Rebecca left and headed directly to Southwood High School.

...

Once the first bell rang, Otis quickly ran toward the concealed corner of the school ground and hid there. He stood in front of the wall and contemplated how to climb over the wall.

Otis was planning to skip school and spend his valuable time more productively, like playing at the Internet Cafe near his school!

The moment he flung his bag over his shoulder to prepare himself for jumping, someone called his name.

"Otis!"

Frowning, Otis looked at the teenage boy who was running toward him. "What is it?" He asked when the boy got closer.

"You're…" the boy gasped. "Your mom is here!"

Otis glared at the boy, and the latter quickly raised his hands in defense. "I didn't say anything!"

That annoyed Otis. 'Why is she here then?' he wondered.

'Mom couldn't have heard I was skipping class, right?' he thought.

"Where is she?" Otis asked.

"She's right behind me…."

Otis looked in the direction his classmate indicated, but the person he saw turned his frown into anger.

"Hi, Otis!" The woman stepped closer and greeted Otis.

"You're not my mother!" Otis screamed. He looked in the other boy's direction, intending to shout at him too, but his classmate had already fled. 'Traitor!'

"What the hell do you want?" Otis asked the woman in front of him. If he remembered it right, her name was Rebecca, and she was Raynor's older sister.

"You know, for an injured person, you look very healthy," Rebecca said while she pointed out his forehead.

Otis almost gasped. He had forgotten to put back the bandage on his forehead this morning! 'Otis, you fool!' he screamed at himself.

"I–I don't need it anymore." It was a weak answer, but it was the first thing that came to Otis's mind.

"Hmmm…" Rebecca came closer, close enough to peer at Otis's forehead.

"Wh-What are you doing?" Otis stuttered when Rebecca scrutinized the wound he didn't have in his head. Only a few people could intimidate Otis into a stuttering mess, and Rebecca wasn't one of them. But somehow, at that moment, he felt wildly scared at the hint of animosity in the woman's eyes. "G–Get away from me! I–I'm warning — "

Rebecca turned her head sideways, glanced at the surveillance camera at the school gate, stepped back two steps, leaned against the wall, and gestured for Otis to come.

When he did, Rebecca didn't let him finish his words. She had no time to listen to the little boy's ramblings. She was there for one reason and one reason only.

Quick as lightning, Rebecca grabbed Otis's arm, held him, and threw him over her shoulder and onto the ground.

When the kid started cursing, Rebecca didn't care. It was music to her ears.

"You bitch! You crazy woman!"

"That's only a warning, Otis," Rebecca loomed at the teenage boy writhing on the ground. "If I hear you are bullying Raynor, I won't hold myself back. Whatever pain you give him, I'll make sure it's tripled!"

The boy's eyes widened in anger, shock, and humiliation.

"Y–You'll regret this! I'll make sure you and Raynor…" the boy screamed even louder, but Rebecca was no longer listening. She left the boy screaming on the ground and walked away.

Nicole booked a four pm rehearsal meeting with Rebecca that afternoon to check if the latter was doing her job right. However, it was now five twenty in the afternoon, and Rebecca had not seen a single hair of the woman.

Rebecca waited, annoyed that Nicole had not even messaged her that she would be late.

"I could have finished a few more works at the office!" Rebecca grumbled to herself.

Alas, when Nicole finally appeared with a man in tow at five thirty, Rebecca wiped out any personal emotions and greeted the two with a professional smile.

Nicole introduced the man to Rebecca, "This is Derick, as you've seen in the pictures I showed you. He'll be the star of the party!"

Rebecca didn't break her smile as she shook the man's hand, "It's nice to meet you, Derick. I'm glad you two got here safe. Shall we get started on the tour at the venue?"

"I'm good. I'll stay here," Nicole announced as she took a seat in the corner seat of the room. Though Nicole was full of smiles, Rebecca knew the woman was bored with the event planning and only came today to be with Derick.

Rebecca would have rolled her eyes because of that. But then she reminded herself, ‘A client is a client, Rebecca. So don't mess this up!'

Despite how fickle and uncooperative Nicole might be, the woman was still a paying customer, so Rebecca forced herself to keep the smile on her face. "Well then, Derick, if you follow me, please."

"So you're in charge of my welcoming party, huh?" Derick said when they were a few feet away from Nicole.

"Yes," was Rebecca's simple answer. To stop Derick from discussing anything other than the party, Rebecca described to him what the actual party would look like.

Derick must have felt Rebecca's dismissal since he also focused on checking the place, sometimes nodding and asking questions Rebecca.

By the time they were finished, Rebecca felt relieved, happy even that a few minutes more and Derick and Nicole would be out of her way for the day.

But before Rebecca could give Derick back to Nicole, he stopped and looked at Rebecca.

"Do you have any more questions about the party?" Rebecca asked.

"No, it seems perfect enough," Derick answered. "You will pick me up before the party, right?"

"I will make sure that the company will provide you transportation that day." It wasn't a no and not a yes, either. Rebecca's job didn't include chaperoning a full-grown man around.

"Yes, but if you want the party to be a success, you'll come and get me yourself," Derick bantered, which made Rebecca pause. The man was right. He was the very reason Nicole organized the event in the first place!

"I'll pick you up at the said time, Derick," Rebecca conceded, her face stiff from keeping the smile on her face.

...

Rebecca had promised Raynor she would pick him up at seven at school that afternoon, but her appointment with Nicole and Derick didn't finish until seven that evening. Because of that, Rebecca messaged Raynor that she would be late, but still, she could have avoided being late had Nicole come at their appointed time. Then Raynor wouldn't have to stay at the library waiting for her.

At least, it was where Rebecca thought Raynor would be. So she was surprised to learn from the school security guard, the first person Rebecca met when she arrived at school, that Raynor was at the teacher's office.

"That's her!" Otis shouted as soon as Rebecca stepped inside, pointing his finger at her. Rebecca ignored Otis and looked at Raynor, who sat across from him instead.

"Raynor, what happened?" she asked and sat beside him.

Raynor made a sign that said he was alright.

The teacher, who was also inside the room, coughed to get Rebecca's attention. "I'm sorry for keeping Raynor here, Rebecca. It's just Otis here who has concerns about you." The teacher said, looking at Rebecca with curiosity and worry. The teacher was Raynor's homeroom teacher, and because of Raynor's particular circumstances, Rebecca had been in constant contact with her. The woman no doubt didn't want to put Rebecca in an awkward place, but she was also a teacher and had to do her part.

"I see," Rebecca answered slowly. No doubt Otis had reported the incident this morning to the teacher, but Rebecca wasn't worried. She, after all, knew a thing or two about revenge plots. Try as Otis might, he wouldn't be able to pin the blame on her or Raynor.

"Come on, Teach! Do something," Otis whined. "I'm telling you, she was the one who beat me up. Look at the bruises I have!"

The teacher cleared her throat. "Calm down, Otis," she gently chided the boy, and the latter shut up in anger. "Rebecca, do you know anything about this?" she asked.

"No," Rebecca said innocently. "I'm not sure what he's saying."

"She's lying!" Otis shouted. "Teach, you can see my wounds. They're proof enough that she hurt me!"

The teacher looked at Otis and Rebecca.

Rebecca, on her part, did her best to sound hurt when and worried at the same time when she said, "Otis, why ever would you tell your teacher I beat you up? You know I don't have any reason to hurt you."

"Yes, you do!" Otis answered before he could stop himself, making Rebecca, Raynor, and the Teacher look at him.

"What do you mean, Otis?" The teacher asked, unaware that Otis asked for a medical certificate so that he could bully Raynor.

"I—I m–mean…" Otis tried to explain, but the teacher was already looking at him suspiciously, making Otis stutter more. "I–It doesn't matter if she has. The fact is, she beat me up, and I want her punished!"

"Young man," the teacher said, "We don't punish anyone just because of assumptions. You know that!"

"Otis, are you sure you didn't get those wounds from playing with your friends?" Rebecca interjected before Otis could shout again. The latter was wasting her, Raynor, and the teacher's time.

"No, I didn't!"

If Rebecca didn't know the real reason why Otis was hurt, he would have believed Otis that he didn't get bruises while playing with his friends. With how little Rebecca knew Otis, she was eighty percent sure the latter didn't have any friends. If Otis had, they must have only stuck close out of fear of the boy.

"Then…" Rebecca paused purposefully, waiting for Otis, the teacher, and even Raynor to look at her in question. "Could you have gotten them from trying to skip class?"

Silence, short but very telling, descended on the room.

When Otis's teacher spoke next, it sounded firmer and suspicious, "Otis, is that true?"

"No!" Otis choked. "No, of course not! Oh, forget this! I'm leaving!"

The boy didn't look at the teacher and scrambled to get his bag and ran from the office.

‘And that is how you win a fight!' Rebecca thought happily.

...

Otis slammed the car door shut and faced his uncle, Derick. "That woman threw and beat me up, Uncle! Now my body is hurting. She even threatened me! Look." He raised his arms and rolled up his sleeve. "I have bruises all over. Can you give me another medical certificate?"

Derick barely glanced at Otis's arms before starting his car. "Not a chance."

"Uncle!"

"You lied to me once, kid. I'm not going to help you again."

"But Raynor's aunt beat me up this time. I even have wounds. Why can't you?" Otis whined.

"You should have thought about that before lying to me the first time, Otis," Derick answered, his voice indifferent. "You reap what you sow."

Otis started protesting, grumbling and mumbling any excuse he could use to persuade Derick into helping him, but the voice of the man who sat in the back seat stopped him, "Enough, or I'll send you back to your mom's house."

Otis shut up, and he remained quiet and still until they returned home.