Page 6 of Dirty Little Secret

Curiosity prickles at my skin as I step closer, peering into the dimly lit interior. Instead of Magnus’s familiar and comforting eyes, I meet the stern gaze of a strange man, perhaps in his late thirties, with impeccably groomed black hair and an expression that does not invite a smile.

"Tessa Mills," the man begins as he steps out of the car, his voice smooth like aged whiskey, “I’m Richard Collins. I believe you know my brother, Magnus."

A hundred questions whirl through my mind. Why would Magnus's brother want to talk to me? He’s never even mentioned a brother to me.

I nod slowly, confusion knitting my brows together. “Yes… Can I help you? Have we met?”

The man nods slightly, as if ticking off a checkbox in his mind before continuing. "My brother speaks very highly of you and your talents."

“Talents?” My abject horror makes it difficult to read between the lines. “What the hell does that mean?”

“Don’t be so shy. My brother has told me all about the things you do for him. I’ll admit some of the stories he’s recounted have made me incredibly jealous. If you ever find yourself in Chicago, I can offer you as much money as Magnus.”

Heat flushes my cheeks as Richard's crude words slice through the evening air. I step back, putting space between his leering gaze and my rapidly beating heart.

Richard laughs, a sound that grates against my nerves like nails on a chalkboard. "Oh, come now, Tessa. We both know Magnus isn't serious about you. Why not have some fun while you can?"

Anger flares up inside me, bright and hot against the chill of his insinuations. Yet beneath that anger, fear begins to coil tightly—fear of what Magnus might have said about me, and of Richard’s intentions.

"I'm not interested," I spit out and try to walk around him.

Richard steps closer, his presence looming like a storm cloud ready to burst. "You might not be interested now, but give it time. Magnus is careless with his toys. I’m not."

I feel nauseated by his analogy but manage to hide any sign of weakness behind a veil of indignation. "I am no one's toy," I assert firmly.

"Of course, you aren’t," he concedes with a tilt of his head, his tone dripping sarcasm as he steps back and gives me room to breathe. "Just think about what I said, Tessa. A smart girl like you should explore all her… options."

With that last insult, Richard turns and returns to the limo, leaving me alone in the chilling silence with the echo of his words hanging in the air. My heart thunders as I watch his car disappear into the night.

Shaken, I hurry home, my mind racing. The warmth of the apartment does little to soothe my rattled nerves as I lock the door behind me and lean against it for support.

Magnus is nothing like his brother.He can’t be.

"Tessa, what happened?" Magnus asks, his expression shifting rapidly from surprise to concern upon seeing my distraught state.

It takes everything I have not to fall apart on the threshold. But I need answers more than comfort right now.

"We need to talk,” I say, firmly. “Magnus Larsen, tell me the truth. Am I just your whore?”

magnus

. . .

I stand there,frozen by her words, the gravity of her pain anchoring me to the spot. The foyer, usually a passageway filled with the light clatter of our daily lives, suddenly feels as constricting as a confessional booth. Tessa’s eyes, wide and glistening, search mine for something that’s been there all along.

Panicked and desperate to make things right, I lead Tessa to the living room, where the early evening moonlight lazily spills through the floor-to-ceiling windows. My heart drums a nervous beat against my ribs as I turn to face her. She’s wrapped her arms around herself, a protective barrier that I ache to dismantle, layer by fragile layer.

“Baby,” I begin, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. “How can you think that? That’s a horrible thing to even think, much less say. I’m in love with you.”

Tessa looks up at me, her eyes shimmering pools of vulnerability. “But your actions, Magnus—they tell a different story. How can I trust this isn’t just another casual fling for you? We’re rarely seen in public together. I’ve never met your family, and my parents know nothing about us. I’m your dirtylittle secret you keep to yourself, a toy to play with whenever you want.”

The depth of her pain catches in my throat, tightening it until I feel like every word will be a battle. “I admit I’ve made countless mistakes,” I say, closing the distance between us with slow, deliberate steps. “But nothing terrifies me more than losing you because I failed to express how much you truly mean to me. I’ve been a coward, afraid people will judge me for falling for a teenager, but I’ve known I couldn’t keep it hidden for long. I’m dying to show you off and let the world know you chose me.”

Tessa’s breath hitches slightly as she meets my advance with cautious stillness. “I didn’t even know you had a brother. How can I believe you when you hide so much from me?”

“We both know this isn’t a fling, Tessa.” My hands tentatively reach out and settle on her arms, feeling the tremor that courses through her. “I want to build something real with you—something lasting. If you’ll let me.”

She folds her arms defensively, her lips pressed into a thin line. “Magnus, actions speak louder than words. You’ve never talked about the future, not really. And with your brother’s insinuations today… It makes me think maybe I’m fooling myself.”

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