Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 10
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Downstairs – The Mansion – Morning
Duane walked downstairs, still in his clothes from the day before.
Hazel was in the living room, scrolling through her phone. She looked up and screamed.
“HANDSOME BROTHER!”
She ran toward him and wrapped her arms around him.
Duane winced slightly but hugged her back. “Good morning, Hazel.”
“You’re staying! I’m so happy!” She pulled back and looked at him. “You should have stayed in my room. That way I would have seen you first. My sister doesn’t deserve the gift of your handsome face.”
Diana walked in, shaking her head with a small smile. “Hazel, give the man some space.”
“I don’t want to give him space! He’s my favorite person in this house!”
Duane laughed. “I’m honored.”
He turned to Diana. “Thank you for letting me stay, ma’am. And thank you for yesterday. I appreciate everything you did.”
Diana smiled warmly. “It was the least I could do. You’re part of this household now, Duane. We take care of our own.”
He asked, “Where’s Mr. Bennett?”
“He’s gone on a business trip. He’ll be back in a few days.”
Ivory walked downstairs.
She was dressed in a black blazer and matching trousers. Her hair was immaculate. Her makeup was flawless. Her face was cold.
She didn’t greet anyone. She didn’t look at anyone. She just walked straight toward the front door.
Hazel rolled her eyes. “Good morning to you too.”
Ivory didn’t respond.
Duane followed her.
Ivory walked toward the car. She expected him to open the door for her.
He walked past her, opened the driver’s door, and got in.
Ivory stared at him through the window.
He rolled down the window. “Are you going to get in, or do you want to stand there all day?”
Ivory’s face flushed.
“What happened to opening the door for me?” she snapped.
“That’s not part of my job.”
“Everything is part of your job if I say it is.”
“Not this.” He started the car. “I’m your driver, not your butler.”
Ivory opened her mouth to argue, but he cut her off.
“If you don’t hurry up, I’ll carry you inside the car.”
Ivory’s mouth fell open. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me.”
She entered and she just sat back in her seat.
“This is going to be a long day,” she muttered.
“Probably,” Duane agreed.
The drive was full of aguements for the first few minutes.
Then Duane reached into his pocket.
“What are you doing?” Ivory asked suspiciously.
He pulled out an onion. A whole, raw onion.
Ivory stared at it. “What in the world is that?”
“An onion,” Duane said calmly.
“I can see that. Why do you have it?”
“New research says it gives sense.”
“Give sense to whom?”
“You.” He held it up. “I think you should try it.”
Ivory stared at him. “Are you seriously saying that I need to eat an onion to get sense?”
“I’m not saying it. Science is saying it.”
“Science does not say that!”
“How do you know? Have you read the research?”
“There is NO research!”
“Maybe not. But I think it’s worth a try.”
Ivory snatched the onion from his hand. She considered throwing it at his head. Instead, she took a deep breath.
“I hate you,” she said.
“You’ve mentioned.”
“I really hate you.”
“I know.”
—
Prestige High School – English Class – Morning
Hazel sat in her English class, staring out the window.
The teacher was talking. Something about Shakespeare. Something about metaphors. Something about themes.
Hazel didn’t care.
Penelope sat beside her, frantically scribbling notes. “Hazel,” she hissed. “Pay attention!”
“To what? The boring teacher?”
“She’s going to call on you.”
“Let her.”
The teacher looked up. “Hazel Bennett. What is the central theme of the passage?”
Hazel turned slowly. “Love,” she said flatly.
“And why is that?”
“Because every story has love in it. Even the sad ones. Even the ones that pretend they don’t.”
The teacher blinked. “That’s… actually correct.”
Hazel shrugged and turned back to the window.
Her eyes landed on Mitchell.
He was sitting at the back of the room, his head bent over his book. His hair fell over his forehead. His fingers traced the pages as he read.
He looked up.
Their eyes met.
He smiled.
Hazel smiled back.
– After Class
Hazel walked out of the classroom. Penelope was beside her, talking about something.
She wasn’t listening.
Mitchell was walking ahead of her.
Then, suddenly, Emilia appeared.
She blocked Mitchell’s path, her eyes gleaming with a calculated smile.
“Mitchell,” she said. “I want you to feature in my next livestream.”
Mitchell blinked. “Excuse me?”
“You have a nice face. You’ll bring in views. I’ll pay you if you want.”
He frowned. “I’m not an object.”
“Of course you’re not. But you’re an opportunity.”
A voice cut through the tension. “He’s not interested.”
Hazel stepped forward. Her eyes were cold. Her jaw was set.
Emilia’s smile faltered. “This doesn’t concern you.”
“Yes, it does. Because he’s my friend.”
“Hazel—”
“Stay away from him.”
Emilia’s face twisted. “You can’t tell me what to do.”
“I can, and I am. Stay. Away.”
Emilia looked at Mitchell. “Is this what you want? To be her little pet?”
Hazel answered for him. “He wants to be left alone.”
Mitchell looked at Hazel. For a moment, he didn’t say anything. Then he spoke.
“I don’t know what you want,” he said to Emilia. “But I’m not interested. I choose Hazel.”
Emilia’s face went red. “Fine. Be a nobody.”
She turned and stormed away.
Hazel looked at Mitchell. “You didn’t have to say that.”
“I wanted to.”
“You barely know me.”
“I know enough.”
—
MBS – Ron and Maeve’s Office – Morning
Ron and Maeve sat on their leather couch, papers spread across the table.
Ivy’s new design was selling faster than theirs.
And an award was coming up. The Best Designer of the Year award. In one week.
Maeve looked at Ron. “We have to win.”
“I know.”
“She always wins. She always gets everything.”
“Not this time.” Ron’s voice was calm. “You know what to do.”
Maeve nodded slowly. “I know.”
But she didn’t look happy about it. Her eyes were cold. Her jaw was tight.
Unbeknownst to anyone she had made a decision.
She would give her body to the person who gave the award.
And Ron was in full support.
—
Ivy Fashion Empire – Ivory’s Office – Afternoon
Miles read the schedule aloud.
“At 3 PM, you have a meeting with the design team. At 4:30, a call with the marketing department. At 6 PM, you’re supposed to visit your sister Abigail.”
Ivory nodded, but she wasn’t listening.
She was lost in thought.
Ron. Maeve. The betrayal.
Flashback – Creston University – Senior Year
The courtyard was packed with students.
Ivory stood in the middle of a circle, surrounded by her friends, her classmates, her future. They were all watching her. Waiting.
Then Ron stepped forward.
He held a single red rose in his hand. He was smiling. He looked nervous. But he was confident.
He got down on one knee.
“Ivory, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Will you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?”
Ivory’s heart had felt like it would burst. She had never been so happy. Her hands flew to her mouth, and the crowd erupted in cheers.
Maeve screamed the loudest. “SAY YES, IVORY! SAY YES!”
Ivory looked at the crowd. At Ron. At Maeve.
She said yes.
End of flashback.
Ivory blinked.
Her eyes were wet.
She quickly wiped them away.
I’m not going to cry. I promised myself I wouldn’t cry.
An employee knocked on the door.
“Ms. Bennett—”
“Get out.”
“But—”
“I said get out. You’re fired.”
The employee stood there, confused.
“Did I mumble? Get your things and leave. Now.”
The employee left.
Ivory sat back in her chair.
Her hands were shaking.
—
The Club – Night
Ivory finished work at 8 PM.
She walked out of the elevator, her face pale, her eyes tired.
Duane was waiting in the lobby. He stood up when he saw her.
“Where to?” he asked.
“Drive me to a club. I want to drink.”
Duane raised an eyebrow. “You want to go to a club?”
“Yes. Is that a problem?”
“I’m just surprised.”
“Don’t be.”
Duane drove.
They arrived at a sleek, upscale club. The lights were dim, the music loud, the crowd energetic.
Ivory walked past him, her heels clicking against the floor. She sat at the bar, her back to the room.
Duane sat at a nearby table and watched her.
Ivory ordered a drink. Then another. Then another. She was downing them like they were shots.
One bottle. Two bottles. Three.
Duane watched.
When she reached for a fourth bottle, he stood up. He walked toward her, grabbed the bottle from her hand, and set it down.
Ivory turned to shout at him. “What do you think you’re—”
But she staggered.
Duane caught her before she could fall. His arms wrapped around her waist, steadying her.
Ivory looked up at him. Her eyes were glazed. Her lips were parted.
“Duane,” she slurred. “You’re…”
“I’m what?”
“Annoying. You’re annoying.”
“I know.”
“You’re also… very ugly” sge lookdd at his cute face
“Thanks. For the compliment.”
She opened her mouth to say something else, then her eyes fluttered closed.
Duane sighed.
He lifted her into his arms in a bridal style. She was lighter than he expected. Her head lolled against his chest.
Her throat made funny sounds and before he could process the whole thing. She puked on him. eew. he threw her on the floor.
TBC
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