Affected

Mariana

Tonight was completely out of the ordinary, and now I found myself at a crossroads, and I had to make an important decision, one that I didn't feel at all prepared for.

Ethan Constantino had just given me an ultimatum based on petty and cruel blackmail, and I wasn't sure I could go through with such nonsense.

But neither could I take the risk that Virginia and I would end up being exposed in the way he was threatening to do if I didn't go to bed with him that night.

I loved my friend and Murilo, her boyfriend and the father of the child she was carrying, but I wasn't just thinking about how much it would affect their lives if our secret got out to the media.

My life would also be affected in an extremely negative way, even though I am not someone with the profile that gossip sites look for subjects to comment on and make money with news about me.

I have family, friends, and customers in the store, and everyone would be horrified if they found out what Virginia and I did, so I would prefer that that matter could stay just between us.

I don't regret putting my virginity up for auction, because it positively changed my life and allowed me today to have a stable financial condition that gives me peace of mind, something I couldn't even dream of before.

Now I can design my models at will and see people wearing the clothes I create myself, which is simply outstanding and the fulfillment of an old dream, from when I was just a child.

The fact is that I couldn't have done it so easily any other way, and if no one knew, no one could judge me either, and I would truly like things to continue as they were.

But Ethan Constantino was out to change all that, and I couldn't let that happen, so I arranged everything with Arlete, and when he approached me and left that ultimatum in the air, I felt obliged to make a decision that would preserve all those people I loved, and even though I didn't want to admit it, not even to myself, I did it quickly and without much thought, and I knew that this classified me as someone without limits or shame.

But the decision was already made and after saying goodbye to Arlete, because my friends had already retired to their rooms, I walked slowly, in no hurry at all, to the room I knew was where Constantine was and knocked lightly on the door, without stopping a second longer to think about what I was about to do.

"Come in. " I heard the authorization in a firm voice.

I felt a shivering chill in my stomach, my legs trembling, but I went ahead and opened the door, realizing that he was so sure I was going to meet him that he didn't even lock it.

Constantine was standing in the center of the room, apparently just out of the shower, because he had a towel wrapped around his waist, while he used another one to dry his hair, and he smiled at me when I stopped a few centimeters away from the entrance.

"I can see that you are a very reasonable person. " He pointed out, rather cynically.

"At times, reason must be our guide. "I said in a very direct manner.

There was no use pretending that I wasn't afraid of what he might do if I didn't cooperate with him in what he wanted, and I liked to always keep things as clear as possible since I had learned an important lesson about how we could delude ourselves also with wordless actions.

"Come over here," he called to me, pointing to himself, and his tone indicated that he would not like to be contradicted.

The chill in my stomach increased, as did the sense of danger that man aroused in me, but I pushed myself to do as he commanded, for if I was there, it was to fulfill the desires of that arrogant but also wonderful man.

Ethan dropped the towel he was holding on the floor, not bothering to put it back in its proper place, and when I stopped beside him, his smile was one of clear satisfaction that I was getting exactly what he wanted.

"How old are you, Mariana?" he asked, surprising me.

"Twenty-one.

"Too young for me, I can tell," he said, but smiled, showing that it didn't matter at all.

Ethan, however, always seemed to have this corner smile, laden with cynicism, but not conveying happiness. It was more like he was always making fun of something, or someone, and this bothered me because at the moment I am his only target.

"But that fact won't stop you from going forward, will it? "The most important thing is to fulfill your wishes. At least, that's what you told me just a few hours ago.

"Exactly, Mariana. " I agreed. " Won't our age difference be a hindrance to me, when other things weren't and I don't care a bit about that?

We were now facing each other, Ethan wearing only the towel around his body, while I had exchanged the evening dress for jeans and a red sweater, my favorite color, and he held my face between his hands, pulling away a curl of my hair that had come loose from my hairdo, and tucking it behind my ear while looking at me intently.

Without me expecting it, but unconsciously longing for it, Ethan kissed one of the barrels of my mouth, taking a light bite in place and licking it clean.

I didn't want to feel anything from that gesture, but my body responded to the sensual stimulation and I got goosebumps, a treacherous throbbing between my legs, and the chill in my stomach that had been with me ever since I entered that room increased to gigantic proportions.

"I've wanted you since you first stepped foot on that ladder, and everything I want, I get. "Ethan spoke, his voice husky and sexy.