i

J O L I E N

"You're not serious!" Bekka looked at me in horror. "You could talk to Gibbens. I don't see what serving Malio's birthday party should do to a good cause," Gray mused aloud, giving a thoughtful thumbs and index finger on his chin. “Exactly, you could insist on doing something that would benefit the school, or at least Silverside. Waiting would only benefit the Dakarias." Brandon agreed while shoving a fork of pasta salad into his mouth.

As we did every day when we ate lunch together, we sat down at one of the tables that was a bit away from the hustle and bustle. Bekka and I had spent the last ten minutes updating Brandon and Gray. They were both delighted with the news of my renewed detention - probably hoping that after Malios got over me I would become a model student.

Well, wrong thought!

"I somehow don't think I can get out of this number." I ended the discussion without further ado.

Because secretly I didn't want it at all. In fact, it actually suited me pretty well. This was the chance I needed to confront Malio. Since he had completely cut off communication, I had no choice but to go this route. Maybe he wasn't very good, most likely quite silly, but it was all I had left.

"Jolien, where are you with your thoughts again?" Bekka waved her open hand back and forth in front of my eyes. "Sorry." I murmured and smiled apologetically around the group. "Well, at least you're not alone there," Bekka replied, shrugging, as if my absence a few seconds ago hadn't even existed. With a single sip, she emptied the remaining lemonade that was still in her glass. I frowned at her "What?"

"I'll be there, too.", Gray forestalled her with the answer. "Oh, really?" I tried to suppress the disappointment that was clearly in my voice. Without much success. Gray nodded, but his skeptical eyes stayed on me. "You're not planning anything, are you Jolien?" He eyed me for a few seconds and when I looked down guiltily, Bekka jumped up in horror. "Jolien!" I just shrugged - which was a pathetic attempt to convince her of my innocence.

"You can't do that!" Bekka looked at me in shock, finally sat down again and then hit her brother several times in the upper arm. "Can you please say something about that, Brandon?" For the first time, Brandon looked up from his plate, slowly moving his gaze to Bekka and then to me before he replied nonchalantly, "No matter what I say, Jolien will do it anyway." I sighed, annoyed exaggerates!"

"I'll make sure you don't do anything stupid. I can imagine you want to talk to him again, but maybe it's for the best Jolien!" And although Gray's voice was friendly, it felt like an attack. "Gray, are you done? I really think you are "You should cool off a bit. It's just a waiter job, at his birthday party. I'm sure there will be a lot of people there. What are the chances of running into him?"

Before either of you could even think about it, I quickly add, "Yeah guys, the odds are pretty damn slim."

I didn't care how small the chance was. Because it was already clear that I would take her. I would talk to him! No matter what it cost. No matter how difficult it would be.

I don't know. Jolien, you're..." But exactly what Gray thought of me was lost in the ringing of the bell that announced the end of recess and the beginning of the last block of classes.

It was crazy that I still trembled in awe every time I stood in front of the brightly lit house of the Dakarias.

The property was, is and always would be incredibly impressive. And once again it triggered mixed feelings in me.

On the one hand there was admiration. Everything was impressive. The pristine white facade. The floor to ceiling windows. The sight of all the marble.

On the other hand, there was something else.

A deep dislike, because I knew there was not a spark of love in this house - for Samael Dakarias was polluting the beautiful atmosphere of the house from within, like a cancer.

When the huge glass front door swung open and this La Cruel bastard stepped into the doorway, another conflicting emotion swelled on top of all the conflicting feelings I was already raging inside me.

Mistrust.

When they last met, there didn't seem to be any friendship or even acceptance between the two families. So what was this man doing at this party, grinning from ear to ear? At Malio's birthday party...

"Are you finally coming in? I got you your work clothes.", he waved around with a pile of fabric he was holding in his hands. The fact that he suddenly called me a first name irritated me, but I didn't think much of it. Maybe he wanted to be nice since we were out of town the Academy were.

"What's that?" I asked, stunned. In response, he impatiently threw the ball of yarn at me.

It turned out to be a black and white maid costume that the women used to wear in old movies. Or in porn.

"Is that a joke?" I asked in shock, looking down at the rag I was holding in my shaking hands.

A wicked smile spread across his lips and I was sure he savored my insecurity to the fullest before saying in a calm voice, "No, it's not a joke. And if you want to stay at the Academy, Jolien I would advise you to do a good job." He paused for a moment and then continued: "Samael wants a smooth evening. And you certainly don't want to see him angry. "

But he was right about that. Mr. Dakarias was already in a bad mood with me, if I sabotage this event in any way he'd probably cut my head off himself.

"Fine," I finally gave in. "Where can I change?" A question that was so unnecessary and still slipped from my lips. I've been in this house countless times, I knew exactly where the rooms, toilets and storage rooms were - but now, after breaking up with Malio, it all seemed so far away. so strange

"I'll take you to a room. I don't have to lecture you that you're only here to work? That means no private conversations." Enrico La Cruel waves me in impatiently. "I know," I replied briefly as I followed him down the brightly lit hallway. "No flirting with guests," he continued. ,"OK."

He winked at me as he pushed past me in his tailored light blue suit and waved again for me to follow. He stopped in front of a door near the kitchen. And what is even more important for you. No talking to the birthday boy. I'm responsible for the service and you, dear Jolien, I'll keep a special eye on you.", his eyes traveled down my body and he licked his lips with a soft "mhh". For a moment I didn't know whether to laugh or throw up. I chose to ignore the insinuation and instead said, "Okay!"

Enrico La Cruel was such a disgusting asshole. All I could think of was countless insults I wanted to throw at that pompous prat in that moment.

"Do you understand me, Jolien?" His voice pulled me back to the here and now. This time, however, his voice had changed. He threatened me.

"Yes I have. I will only wait. Don't engage in conversation or flirt with anyone." I repeated his instructions.

"And further?" "No talking to Malio," I said through gritted teeth, hoping he wouldn't force me to swear by my testimony. I was superstitious and believed that breaking one's oaths brought bad luck.

Because one thing was clear - I would break him! That was not up for debate at all!

To my own relief, he didn't dig any further, instead turning the doorknob. "You have five minutes," were the last words before he slammed open the door and then turned on his heel, leaving me alone.

"Where do I have to go?" I called after him at the last second, realizing I didn't even know which part of the house the party was actually taking place in.

Enrico La Cruel paused, but didn't turn back to me. "Lobby and conservatory and now you'd better get into that uniform, little one!" Although he hadn't turned around, I could almost see the smile that must have been on his lips at those words.

The thought of seeing me in this garment, which was far too short and absolutely forbidden, apparently made him very happy. Or it was something else I still had no idea that made him smile.

No matter what it was, I regretted at that moment that I hadn't fought my inner madness.

Because now it was too late.

***

I managed to force myself into this dress (if that rag could even be called a dress) in less than five minutes.

To my own surprise, it fit like a glove - as if tonight had been planned after a long time. He probably was too. How else would Enrico La Cruel know my dress size?

I tugged uncertainly at the white hem of the dress, but it didn't help, it stayed short. Too short.

It was just a little more than a hand's breadth over the bottom. Which was definitely a no-go for me. Because with the smallest, wrong movement, it would provide insights that I certainly did not intend.

I couldn't believe I really got into it. Why hadn't I followed Bekka's, Brandon's and Gray's advice and complained to the Headmaster, Gibbens, about the punishment? In the end, we all agreed that this punishment, waiting tables at Malio's birthday party, was Enrico La Cruel's personal revenge and had nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with the Academy.

I immediately felt a knot of anger forming inside me and it took all my self-control not to give in to this feeling. It really wasn't the right moment. While there's nothing I'd rather do than curse Enrico La Cruel in my mind, I really had better things to do. More important than indulging in my anger.

I had to find Malio and talk to him. That was the plan. And after the call from that flat-nosed fellow, La Cruel, I'd better go about this plan quietly.

Knowing that the five-minute grace period Enrico La Cruel had given me must have long since passed, I rushed out of the room to run straight into someone.

The impact against a hard male chest threw me back a few steps. "What the hell are you doing here?" I heard someone else say before awkwardly stumbling back into the small room I'd just come from. I just made it, arms flailing wildly in what must have looked very silly so to avoid a fall.

The stranger I'd bumped into had closed the distance between us in just one big step and now stepped into the room as well. It wasn't until I breathed out a sigh of relief and looked up from the floor that I realized who I'd just bumped into.

Samael Dakarias.

It was clear!

I stifled a desperate laugh. That laugh I was always prone to when something unexpectedly upset me - and bumping into none other than the host himself was definitely one of those moments!

Destiny really played a lousy game with me if he was the first to meet me at this party.

"I'm working." Was all I could manage, not knowing what else to answer.

Besides, that's exactly why I was here. To work.

His lips curled into a dangerous smile. "Is that so?", his eyes darted over my body. But he didn't even wait for my answer, but said: "Then you should move your ass!" I could almost feel Samael Dakaria's amused gaze piercing me. When it became unbearable, I just fell. Ran blindly left out of the small room. Rounded a corner, straight into the foyer of the huge house.

As I almost bumped into someone again, I cast a nervous glance over my shoulder, expecting Mr. Dakarias to appear behind me. But the terror and fear that this man's appearance always brought with it did not materialize. Thank God.

"Are you fucking serious?" hissed a familiar voice that even now, after everything he'd done to me, was still capable of electrifying my entire body in a matter of seconds.

Very slowly, as if it were hard work, I turned my head to look straight into the icy blue eyes I'd lost myself in so many times before.

"What are you doing here?" Malio substantiated his question. Apparently he thought I didn't quite understand the meaning behind his first one.

Even the tone of his voice, which made it clear that I was the last person he wanted to see here today, didn't change my feelings - even if the realization of his displeasure almost broke my heart into a thousand pieces again.

Although I knew that it might be better to leave now and throw my plan overboard, I let my gaze wander over his face. To the cold blue eyes, the striking facial features and the black, thick hair. He still looked the same as when we last met, and yet he looked very different. I couldn't explain it properly.

Couldn't tell if it was the coldness and toughness he exuded in his tailored black suit or the new tattoos adorning his hands. Or maybe it was the thick, silver signet rings that he was probably wearing around his fingers lately.

Despite the doubts that had crept into my mind in the last few seconds, I decided to stay. Didn't want to miss the chance to finally get answers from him.

"I'm working," I repeated the words I'd answered his father before. This time, however, my voice trembled significantly.

"Why?" I noticed his eyes travel down my body, scanning every inch of this costume and finally settling on my bare legs.

Malio's gaze lingered there for a few seconds, and those were enough to instantly set me ablaze.

Suddenly he sucked in his breath and bit his lip before repeating his question. "Why?" "Detention," I retorted.

To my own surprise, his head snapped up again and his gaze, which was clearly softer now, met mine. "School has only been back for a week and you already have detention. Why?" He raised an eyebrow in amusement.

"Ask that dumbass from La Cruel," I said grumpily. Thankfully, I had recovered my balance, because the sudden and unexpected encounter with Malio had thrown me a bit off balance. Still, my good intentions and any questions I had I had laboriously put it together in my head, gone, gone, through one small encounter.

If he still made me feel this way, even though he had destroyed my heart, my whole world, I was irrevocably lost.

I watched in silence as Malio's gaze swept through the huge crowd of people eager to spend the day with the birthday boy.

"You have to go," he finally said firmly, while I noticed his eyes narrow. Obviously, they had reached their destination - and he didn't seem to like what they had discovered at all.

I followed Malio's gaze and saw the reason for his scowl. Enrico La Cruel standing with a group of men and toasting a beautiful brunette.

"I can't go, otherwise I'll get expelled from school!" I tried to make Malio understand. "You won't!" He pushed me to the side. "I can't go, though." I shook off his hand, which had already wrapped itself around my wrist, ready to pull me out of the foyer any second.

"Why not?" Malio replied without taking his eyes off the group. "Because you damn well owe me answers, Malio! Why did you do that? Why did you lie?" "Lied?" he muttered, growling, and I noticed the clear distaste in his eyes as he looked away from Enrico La Cruel to look me straight in the eyes again. "You lied when you broke up with me. I actually know that I killed..."

“Psst. What are you doing? Shut up!" he interrupted me harshly and frantically looked left and right. Finally, he turned back to me: "You can't just babble about it like that. Do you even know where you are here? Who the guests are here ?"

I shrugged my shoulders. Friends, family, relatives, I assumed. To be honest, I wasn't particularly interested.

He obviously interpreted my ignorance correctly and started to explain. “Every person in this room is a criminal. To put it bluntly. Everyone here is dangerous, Jolien." I noticed a worried frown form on his forehead.

He ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair. As he always did when he was quarreling with himself or getting nervous. "Come on!" Malio finally said and unobtrusively pulled me behind him.

First through the foyer, then through the winter garden, to finally open a door to the outside, from which he finally stepped and continued to pull me behind him. "Malio, are you crazy! It's freezing cold, it's January!" I exclaimed indignantly as the cold hit me.

Unexpectedly, he spun me around, jerked me against the wall of the house, and placed his palms next to my face, denying me any chance of escape.

Suddenly I wasn't cold anymore. But on the contrary.

"What do you want from me, Jolien?" "Answers! No lies, Malio!" I retorted. It was becoming increasingly difficult for me to concentrate, because his proximity clouded every sense. every thought Just everything. All I could think about was being closer to him. So much closer.

After everything he'd done, after all the tears I'd shed for him, I still wanted him so bad it hurt.

Much more than was actually good for me.

M A L I O

That damn girl!

I should have known that she wouldn't believe a word I said about the breakup. Jolien was that one person I found incredibly difficult to lie to.

"What kind of answers do you want?" I asked, careful only to look at her face, because one look at that outfit would have been enough to make me instantly hard. Thinking about it, I had to I think of all the things I could do with her right now.

How tempting that fucking thought was, having her whimpering beneath me now. But no, every minute she was here, every second that passed, put her in danger and me in trouble.

"You have to go!", I therefore repeated my words. This time, however, with much more hardness and emphasis. "Why?", She didn't let go and pulled a pout. I couldn't help but chuckle—Jolien was still a stubborn thing.

And although there were weeks between our last meeting, she managed to shake my resolve to stay away from her with just her presence.

Leaving the Academy, now that she was standing in front of me and had this tremendous attraction for me, felt like the best decision of my life.

Because I wouldn't have made it. Wouldn't have been able to keep my hands off her. Couldn't have resisted her. I couldn't even make it today. Already buckled at her nearness, her scent, her mere appearance.

I broke her heart... Did it on purpose and she was still here fighting for my messed up soul.

"Why did you break up with me?" I suddenly heard her ask again, which forced me to think clearly. "I already told you that, I...." "Stop it, Malio!", she interrupted me angrily and swung back.

The slap didn't reach its target. Of course not. She was too slow. Far too slow to be a serious threat to me. My hand had wrapped around her wrist seconds after the swing, absorbing the blow in midair.

"What's that supposed to be?" I whispered dangerously, pulling her towards me with an almost imperceptible movement. A surprised squeak escaped her lips as she looked at me in horror. She probably hadn't expected that – but my skills had improved again since our last encounter.

"Y-You're hurting me," Jolien whimpered under my gaze, which made her wriggle uncertainly, like a fish in a net. Like a snake's prey.

"You had better go now and not come back. That's what's best for both of us and one more thing Jolien, regarding prom night, better shut up." My words were cold, emotionless and harsh. I don't know how I managed that when I was actually just hugging her wanted to close to tell her not to look at me like that. Not so scared. But I knew Jolien, knew that only this tour would work on her. Only this tour would save her!

She swallowed hard, closed her eyes and breathed faster. We stayed like that for a split second, then her lids fluttered open again and she looked at me while raising her free hand.

I understood what she was up to. Didn't resist, however, when her trembling hand brushed my cheek. A single touch from her was enough to make my hand drop.

Crap. I was lost Lost in the hands of this blonde angel.

Jolien was able to break down my walls much faster than the darkness within was able to build them up.

"Then why, do you shudder under my touch, Malio? Why, are you breathing faster and why are your eyes shining when you actually have no feelings for me and I should go? Can you explain that to me?" her soft voice reached my ear and I wondered when she had started to have such control over me. When I had started to lose myself in her.

It was too late...

I could tell from Jolien's smile, which quickly spread to her lips, that she knew it too. Knew she was the only thing that made me weak - kind of human. The monster in me tamed.

Fuck it all! Screw it that I actually wanted to protect her. Fuck any of those good intentions. Everything I wanted was right in front of me.

The air between us crackled and where just before the cold made our bodies tremble, now everything between us was fire. An irrepressible fire.

There was lust and desire in her eyes and I knew mine had the same, greedy expression. "Do it, Malio!" She fueled the dangerous situation.

That damn girl had actually managed to get me around. And it hadn't even taken much of an effort.

I fought the urge. The longing for her that raged inside me like a new storm. Unstoppable and destructive.

She just had to go. If she stayed, she would surely hate me...

But all those thoughts were so far away when she looked at me with her emerald green eyes. So far away as she gripped the collar of my shirt. So far away as she longingly pressed her soft lips to mine.

As I returned the kiss without hesitation, I thought of only one thing. About being a pathetic asshole and in a lot deeper shit than I had feared.