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Chapter 2. Exclusive Party

Her blonde hair aunty always yelled out every morning in the kitchen. She was just being so noisy when she wanted to remind her about one simple thing. It was all for money.

Sienna had just changed clothes after she had taken a shower. She wanted to drink a hot coffee late comfortably. But her aunty always appeared so annoyingly every time. It was kind of disturbed her mood, it was first thing in the morning.

“Can you not be screaming? You don’t have to remind me all the time, Aunt,” Sienna shouted out at her across the dining table. “I know my job. And I know how to make us survive while living here in Manhattan.”

But then she stared down at the table and muttered to herself, “Yeah, I wish I could live somewhere else easier…”

“What did you just say?” Aunty Milla barked again. She rested her hands at her greasy hips and looked at her right in the eyes.

Sienna glanced at her awkwardly. She didn’t think her aunt would hear her quiet chatter.

“I… I mean…” She was anxious.

“You think I want to live here with a burden on my shoulders? I have to look after you for your dad, who has not come back from his stupid overseas workload…”

“You? Look after me?” Sienna chuckled cynically. “You are not, Aunty. I’m the one who has been making money for the three of us here…” then she nudged her chin at her cousin, who was sitting on the sofa in the living room. “I mean, just look at there, your dear daughter. She should have been helping us paying bills… considering you two have more bills to pay than I do.”

“Oh, look at here, this little brat talking!” Aunty Milla shouted peevishly. “You’re such an inconsiderate little child! After your mom died ten years ago, who do you think has been taking care of after your arse, huh? What about your school tuition? Your stupid ballet class that ain’t going anywhere…”

Sienna immediately grabbed her purse on the table and muttered, “Wow, you’ve crossed the line, Aunt. I’m outta here… I just don’t want to deal with you right now…”

“You need fresh air, Cuz!” Estelle shouted out, teasing her.

Before Sienna walked out of the door, she glanced back at Estelle. That twenty-two-year-old girl was watching a runway fashion week on TV while eating popcorns. That had been her regular activity anyway.

Sienna shook her head for a second, feeling peeved. She rolled her eyes as saying, “Whatever you say.”


Early in the morning, Sienna had to visit the local library in the city. She worked there as a local librarian. The payment was not that great, but it was kind of helping her to pay the bills. She couldn’t just depend on being an independent florist. People didn’t buy her flowers all the time. She couldn’t make enough money just by sitting at home, decorating fancy bouquets.

It was Saturday. Normal people should have taken a weekend as leisure time, but not with Sienna. She wanted to be a hardworking girl while her dad was away in London.

And her mom had passed away ten years ago while she was still in high school. She died from a heart attack. But life had to move on, Sienna couldn’t be stuck thinking about the past anymore.

She was just hoping that her dad would come home soon. She felt tired having to deal with her annoying Aunty, Milla Moss. And her self-idealistic daughter, Estella Moss. They both didn’t treat her like a relative should be. Sienna felt like they only lived under the same roof as her; to treat her as their money machine. It was surely such a disappointing thing to hold on to.

There was a thought that came hovered on her mind. If she could find her true love, she could finally break free from her aunt and her cousin. And yes, she already had a romantic relationship with Jonathan.

The only person that was so caring for her, apart from her dad, was just Jonathan. She thought Jonathan might be the one for her. He was the only one who ever loved her so purely. And in the end, she just wanted to be happy. And Jonathan Brown, he was soon-to-be her fiancée.

During the lunch break, he came to pick her up as usual. They had lunch together in their regular favorite western restaurant. He bought her a yummy steak and chicken soup. She sometimes felt like he was too kind for her.

He was a school teacher, but lately, he learned how to be a stock trader. Sienna thought it should be a good thing for him. Especially when he spilled the bean, of why he wanted to do it.

While he was cutting the beef steak with a silver knife, Jonathan told her, “You know, I just want to earn more money for us both. I should be prepared to be your future husband…”

Sienna giggled. She was amused by his energizing vibrant.

“Oh, hon… you don’t have to be this keen… I can also make money, you know…” She said.

Jonathan rolled his eyes at her. He giggled back.

“Yes, but a woman should stay at home, and let the man works for her,” he was such a gentleman when he said that. Sienna looked amazed by his wise words.

“I’m sure you can do the best that you can. But remember, don’t push yourself too much. I don’t want you to get sick. You still have to be a good teacher for the children at school,” Sienna reminded him alertly.

He glanced at her, slightly grinning. “Ah, you’re right, darling. The children will miss me.”

And then they giggled, enjoying this warm moment together.


At night, around nine p.m., Jonathan picked her up at her house. Just like he told her, she should be wearing a party dress while he wore a formal suit. And here she wore a knee-length black dress and black heels. It was such a long time she had not dressed in fancy clothes.

She was glad that her aunty was sleeping when she sneaked out. Aunty Milla wouldn’t be noisy in asking where she wanted to go. While Estelle knew, but that girl seemed busied watching marathon a romantic TV series in the living room.

Once she got into his sedan car, he drove fast to the city.

About thirty minutes later, they arrived at an exclusive pub. The place looked extravagant with the bright purple neon lights and wide glass windows. He parked his sedan car among other expansive cars in the parking lot.

For a second, Sienna stared up at the high building after she walked out of the car. She suddenly felt not confident.

“Uh, Jon… I don’t think I’m ready…” she had a sudden change of heart.

Jonathan slammed the car door and glanced bafflingly at her. “What do you mean, honey? We’re here already…”

“Yeah, but look...” she nudged her chin toward the people that entering the door. There was a big black bouncer, guarding the entrance.

Slightly, Jonathan also looked lacking self-esteem.

“The people that come here, they seem super rich!” Her confidence level felt undermined with the superficial competition over there.

Jonathan narrowed his eyes at her, still baffled. But he could relate to what she felt.

“Hey, I know, but…” he said while walking toward her. Then he gently took her hand and caressed it, “You said this is a good thing for me. I can meet many investors and other stock traders there. They can be the golden gate for our financial aspect in the future.”

Sienna took a deep breath and finally nodded. “Ah, you’re right.”

“Good, let’s go before I have a second thought myself,” he giggled.

Jonathan soon showed an invitation card to that frightening bouncer. As they were accepted, the bouncer let them entered the entrance door.

Many people came to this party. Sienna was right, they looked superficial and rich. Their clothes looked sparkling and glamorous.

At first, Jonathan looked confused about who he should greet first. There were many men in a black suit like him, while others wearing a casual shirt.

He tried to appear in full confidence as he greeted the people sat in the mid-room.

“Hi, everybody! I’m Jonathan Brown. I’m still new in a stock exchange business…” then he glanced at Sienna, smiling widely. “And this is my girlfriend, we will get engage soon!”

“Oh, wow, congrats for you both!” A woman in her forties, and dressed in her sexy transparent red dress shouted out at him. She gave him big applause to welcome him in, while the others giggled at his geeky manner.

They needed to mingle with others for a while to adapt to the new environment. Soon, when Jonathan met a group of senior stock traders, he went to meet them.

Sienna was always right behind him. She was still feeling nervous being in this neon pub.

After a while, Jonathan and Sienna heard people talking about a rumor. They said, there would be one mysterious man that coming to the party. Everyone feared him, while most women seemed to adore him so much.

That woman in the red dress shouted out, “I don’t even mind having a one-night stand with him! It will be worth my time! Ahaha…”

Sienna narrowed her eyebrows in disbelief. She thought that woman was so cheap to be able to say such a disgraceful thing.

Once the man of interest appeared in front of everyone. They started competing for his attention. Some women shouted out hysterically for him.

When Sienna saw him in the eyes, it was as if she got slapped by thunder. Something about him looked so familiar.

When his eyes looked around in the room and found Sienna, so suddenly, the electrical jolt snapped her whole nervous system. His stare looked sharp and dark at her.

Sienna regained her senses again once that woman in a red dress exclaimed loudly, “Daniel Wilson! Oh, my! Welcome to the hot pub, dear!


Author's Note:

Hi, thank U for keep reading Cruel Desire! The next chapter will be coming.

Follow my Instagram for more info @keeferd

Sincerely, Keefe R.D

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