Aurelia
I was on my way out of the penthouse with Trevor leading the way when Jayvion came up beside me. His face was hard and emotionless, making him look like he was carved from stone.
"From now on, use this device" his voice was strangely cold and distant as he handed me a sleek black phone.
"It's encrypted. My number is in speed dail. Trevor's number is in emergency call" he added, staring at me dead in the eye. His eyes smoldered, cold as ancient glaciers. He's giving me the impression of the day at the bookstore. Just like that, he left.
The drive home was long and quiet. I stared out the window but saw nothing of the passing city. I was seeing the pain in Jayvion's eyes when I said Twyla.
Who was she? Was it someone from his past? If so, what was her connection to me? My mind raced with possible questions that I don't have answers to. But with time, I will find out. I promise.
The phone Jayvion had given me felt like brick in my purse. My own phone had been off since the event. I turned it on out of habit, and it buzzed to life.
Instantly, notifications flooded the screen. Missed calls from Dahlia and Freya, few emails and then... a message from an unsaved number. Sent last night.
I clicked on the message and my blood ran cold.
It was a picture of me. An intimate one. A nude. From years ago. One I thought was deleted forever. One that only one other person ever had. One that I sent when I was head over heels with him. One I sent because I trusted him my whole life.
Beneath it, was a message:
"Long time, Relia. You look even better now. Shame if your new fans saw the old you, huh? Let's talk, $50k and I'll make it disappear. Refuse and I blow up the internet with this...and even more. You have 24 hours. With Love, Felix"
A wave of nauseating shame crashed through me. My past, one I thought I've buried forever came clawing back at me. No, this can't be happening. No way.
Felix, my ex boyfriend. That asshole! White-hot anger surged through me, and I clenched the phone hard enough to crack the screen. I shouldn't have trusted him. I shouldn't have.
24 hours. The close was ticking.
I had to do something. Anything. I should tell Jayvion--no, I couldn't let him know about my past. It was my shame. My mess. I need to figure out how to solve my own problem without depending on anyone.
I didn't notice that I was shuddering in panic until Trevor spoke.
"Any problem, Ms Blackwood?" His grey eyes were sharp as he started at me through the rearview mirror.
"N--no, I'm alright" no I'm not. I'm going crazy.
"We were here two minutes ago" he pointed. Oh.
"Oh thank you for the ride Trevor" my voice was shaking and barely audible. I shove the phone into my purse and alighted from the car.
I walked into my house that no longer feels like mine. It was just the shadow of my sanctuary. I barely closed the door when the encrypted phone buzzed with a message.
"You're home. Security is active. Do not disable it" a command from Jayvion, which I'm so used to now.
I stared at both phones. Two worlds clashing together. Why is everything getting complicated?
With trembling hands, I texted Felix back.
"I don't have that kind of money. If you dare release those pictures, I'll ruin your life. You'll regret ever messing up with me. I'm not the girl you once knew" I hit the send button. My eyes were wide with panic. It was a bluff-- A writer's desperate foolish bluff. I was calling his bluff. He was the one trying to ruin me now. But what if he's not bluffing? What if he really release the pictures?
"Alright love. Let's start with your lovely bestie. How will she react if she sees the her best friend's true self?"
He replied almost immediately. No...not Freya. Freya will freak out. She'll be disappointed. She'll never look at me the same.
"Don't you dare involve Freya into this!" I typed back, furious and desperate.
"Dare me, love. $50k or the world sees who Aurelia Blackwood really is"
I sat on the couch, dropping the phones beside me. What should I do? Who should I ask for help? Involving the police is definitely not a good idea. He'll release the pictures before they follow due processes.
24 hours. Already, thirty minutes were gone.
A sob broke free, and the tears I'd been holding back began to fall. This is too much. Everything is too much. I can't handle it. It's hard. I can't!
I lay on the couch and wept for what felt like an hour. I hugged the pillow and watched as the clock ticks. I'm tired of crying. $50k, where can I get such amount of money?
A knock came at the door but I ignored it. It came again, this time more urgent and nonstop. I reluctantly got up and went to open the door.
There, at the door was Freya. She stood there, staring at me with an expression I couldn't name. It's either worry, annoyance or disappointment.
She held her phone up to my face, the nude picture Felix sent me visible on the screen.
"Aurelia" she said, her voice dangerously quiet.
"What is this?"