Pieces Of Suffering | Read Free Preview

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Chapter 1

*Author’s POV* Gossip zipped through the air, dishing out juicy details of Leo Dudaev teetering on the edge of going broke. Despite Leo having a good reputation, being an honest man, and all that, his lack of financial brilliance became his family's downfall. Birch Rock, the family Bed and Breakfast passed down from many generations, would soon be looking for a new owner. When things got tough, Leo did the only thing he knew – he reached out to the tycoon Paul Ingram for help. If you didn't know, Paul wasn't someone you messed with; his words were like law, and his moves screamed powerhouse. The big question was whether Leo's gamble to save Birch Rock would pay off or leave his family drowning in chaos. The idea of handing over 40% of the B&B's shares to this big-shot tycoon, who's basically the finance king of the nation, seemed like the golden ticket. But, lucky for Leo, when he talked to Paul, it turned out Paul was in a pretty good mood that year. A stroke of luck that put a temporary band-aid on the issues looming over Birch Rock. During all this chaos, Sandra, Leo's eldest, kicked off her college adventure, totally clueless about how shaky the once-thriving family business was. She planned to waltz into Black Ball College, all pumped up for a two-year ride soaking in the world of fashion. And of course, her trust fund boyfriend Thodoris Cecani was right there with her, rocking that charm and wealth, the only two reliable traits of his character. They were eyeing horizons beyond Kisqui, getting ready to dive into the wild world of adulthood. Leo gave the green light for Sandra to date Thodoris mainly because of his ties with the Myletts, a prominent family in Kisqui. It was all about the money. Things seemed on track, with Leo picturing Sandra taking over the family business. But there was a hiccup – Sandra had her sights set on fashion design instead. In the current situation, should she lack interest in the business, it would be as good as the Ingrams. As the car rolled away from Maitland into the outskirts, Sandra silently waved goodbye to Kisqui, thinking of her parents in Erast. But before she got lost in her thoughts, Thodoris interrupted by handing her his cigarette to light. "Guess what, Babe? This is gonna be epic. I can sneak into your room and party all night without stressing about your folks," he grinned, cranking up the music and nodding his head along. Sandra, always the cool partner, grinned as she took in Thodoris's words. She decided to enjoy the moment, keeping the cigarette for herself instead of handing it back to its original owner. About halfway through, Thodoris playfully snatched it back from her, throwing in a wink, a highlight of their young and carefree escapade. The road stretched ahead, weaving through landscapes, and passing by fleeting towns. They took quick breaks for selfies, capturing the early moments of their journey. Freedom, like some irresistible magic for the young, tossed them into a wild wave of excitement, steering them away from their initial plans. Brixton, Thodoris's chosen pitstop to impress his girlfriend, called them with the charm of Café Lyt, totally changing up the direction. The cool and modern vibe was just what Sandra needed to make her agree to whatever Thodoris suggested. Rocking light blue jeans and a white crop top, proudly labelled "luscious," Sandra felt a tad underdressed. Thodoris directed her to a seat, sitting right in front of her. Grabbing both her hands, he whispered, “You're my favourite person in the whole wide world.” After putting in their order, he darted off to the bathroom while Sandra stayed glued to her phone, busy uploading pictures. A guy slid into the seat next to them, and the waiter swiftly brought his drink without him saying a word. Sandra didn't even glance his way, totally unfazed. Smiling and texting away, she caught the admiration of the stranger. The amazing smell of their delicious meals floated through the air, creating this magical dance with everything around them. As the mouthwatering masterpieces landed on the table, Sandra couldn't resist. She put her phone down, trading the digital world for a dive into the flavourful world of food. The dishes were decked out in lively colours and gave off this rich aroma that went beyond just taste. It practically begged Sandra to join in a feast that went way beyond the plate. Sandra snagged a couple of wedges from Thodoris's plate, snapping pics of their food in between. When Thodoris came back, he gave the table a nudge, his eyes fixed on the guy sitting next to them. Quick as a flash, Sandra grabbed the drinks and set them down. “Hey, everything alright? Did you zone out for a sec there?” Concern laced her voice. Thodoris nodded, motioning for Sandra to take a seat. Despite trying to hide it, he couldn't help but keep his eyes on the guy sitting next to them. "Did anything happen while I was gone?" He pushed to sound his usual self, but the croak in his voice spilt the beans. Playing with a stray strand of hair, Sandra casually answered with a "nope." Uncertain about Sandra's words, he pulled out his phone to shoot a text to Enzo. Thodoris, preoccupied with the guy next to them, found little joy in his meal, steering clear of casual conversation. Meanwhile, Sandra, oblivious to the tension, kept up her charming act, adding a touch of unease to Thodoris's sweat-soaked dilemma. "Come on, babe, dig in so we can split. It's getting late, and I don't want to drive in the dark," Thodoris, now sounding a tad annoyed, urged. A misunderstanding brewed between them, with Sandra thinking Thodoris was embarrassed to be seen with her in fancy surroundings. Tossing her fork down, she shot Thodoris a glare, declaring, “I’m done!” Spotting the half-full plate, he caught the lie. A frustrated sigh slipped out. "What the heck's up with me? Look, I'm sorry, alright. I got a text from Enzo, and it's just stressing me out. Enjoy your grub; I'll hang back," he fibbed. Tapping his fingers on the table without realizing it, he locked eyes in a silent showdown with the guy beside them. The stranger didn't waste a second when he was done with his drink, getting up and strolling away. Just as he stood behind Sandra, he shot a look right at Thodoris.

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Chapter 2

*Author’s POV* Heading back on the road to Beredes, an undeniable tension settled between them like a dense fog. The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the winding highway. Thodoris pulled over, the gravel crunching beneath the tires as he parked on the shoulder and sparked a cigarette. “Are you sure that guy didn't spill something on you?” he asked. Sandra, with a disinterested shrug and an eye roll, responded, “I've got no clue what you're on about. Who's this dude?” A swirl of smoke gracefully escaped Thodoris's lips, waltzing around his face in a sort of mystical haze. Before he could say anything, he let out a resigned sigh and attempted to clear his throat of the lingering smoke. The tension hung on his face, noticeable even through the fading smoke. “Dude's Sylvester Ingram, but everyone calls him Sly. He's got some beef with me, so I need you to steer clear, all right?” Thodoris stressed. Annoyance still lingering, Sandra gave a tight nod, arms crossed. Instead of delving into the Sly intel, she pivoted, launching an attack on Thodoris for not trusting her. Lucky for him, Thodoris was no stranger to handling that side of things. After three hours on the road and finally, hitting Black Ball's campus. The campus loomed in the fading twilight, the buildings standing tall as the shadows of the past. With the school app doing the check-in magic, Sandra and Thodoris headed for the office. The never-ending line winding around the place removed any enthusiasm they had gathered along the way. Finally getting to the front, they snagged their campus visas and room keys. First stop: room 204 on the second floor for Sandra. Her roommate, Carnie Balayan, had already set up camp. “Hey there!” Sandra flashed a smile, wrestling her lone bag through the door. The hallway echoed with the distant chatter of other students and the soft hum of LED ceiling lights. “Hey,” came Carnie's monotone response, setting the vibe for the roommate rendezvous. Facing each other, the roomies did the whole introduction dance, swapping majors and whatnot. Once Thodoris was done doubling as a porter, he tossed out a handshake to Carnie. “I'm the boyfriend,” he introduced himself. Carnie shot him a puzzled look, then headed for her desk, snagging the book she'd been into. “I need to go downstairs,” she mentioned, waving the book around. Sandra and Thodoris just stood there, almost holding their breaths, watching her leave. The dorm was bare-bones, with just two beds, desks, chairs, and some not-so-inspiring white walls. “Welcome home!” Thodoris cracked a joke. Taking in the surroundings, Sandra felt a sudden loss of energy. "I'll just deal with unpacking tomorrow," she mumbled, scrunching her face. Thodoris plopped down on her bed, testing the waters. "Do you think your roomie will mind me if I crash here for the night?" Grabbing his arm, Sandra stood her ground and said, "I do. Now, c'mon, we gotta get you settled in." As they strolled back to the car, they observed everyone else going about their business; most people were hardly concerned about unpacking their bags. The boys' hostel had a bit more of a wild vibe. They weaved through the crowded hallway, aiming for room 711. They skilfully dodged a few characters who seemed to have started the party without them. Finally making it to safety, Thodoris shoved his bags under the bed and checked out his roommate's side. "He seems tidy enough," he said, casually brushing the neatly tucked-in duvet. In a bid to make his girlfriend stick around, Thodoris pulled her into a tight hug, muttering words she couldn't quite catch. Showering her neck with multiple kisses, his real agenda surfaced. "Nice try, but we gotta be up early tomorrow. Charge your phone, okay?" Sandra rebuffed his advances. Undeterred, Thodoris swiftly attempted to outsmart her. "All right, help me find my phone," he suggested, even though he knew it was right there in his pocket. With a playful grin, he waited as Sandra started digging through his bag, malice dancing in his eyes. "Sure, it's not in the car?" she asked, noting his gleeful expression. "It's in my pocket," Thodoris admitted, his honesty laid bare. Sandra barely had a chance to respond before Thodoris cut in, "I want you to stay a little longer. You won't die," he pleaded a hint of desperation in his eyes. She stuck around for a bit, managing to unpack Thodoris's bags. Bending down to organize his shoes, Sandra could feel her boyfriend's sneaky hands making their move. "Tho!" "Babe, come on. Why are you acting like a virgin all of a sudden?" Thodoris playfully inched closer. "I'm tired. It can wait for tomorrow," Sandra said, gently evading his advances. Tilting his head up and counting the dust particles on the ceiling, Thodoris replied, "Now I'm only going to dream of you." "Good. Now, walk me back. I want to sleep," Sandra commanded, and off they went. Strolling through the hallway, they bumped into Phillip Webb. "Yo man," he greeted Thodoris, the two sharing a casual handshake. "See, you brought your wife along," he teased, nodding toward Sandra. "Room number?" Thodoris swiftly jumped in. "711." "See you, roomie. Just dropping off my girl," Thodoris said, finding the energy to pick up the pace as they continued down the hall. Sandra wasn't exactly thrilled about Phillip, but his timing was kind of handy. After a lingering goodbye kiss, Thodoris took off, leaving Sandra with some alone time. Carnie was already snuggled up in bed, so she perked up. “How long?” Carnie asked. “We are going for four years,” Sandra replied, hunting for her pyjamas. Dropping her head back on the pillow, Carnie chimed in, "I don't do commitments. If you need your space, just give me a heads-up. I've got the hookup game figured out.” Their chat stretched into the late night, uncovering unexpected things in common. By the time they wrapped up, Sandra's clothes were all sorted, and her outfit for the next day was good to go. Come morning, Sandra found a pink ribbon tied to her wrist. Now, Thodoris wasn't exactly the romantic sneak-into-your-room-at-midnight type, so it was a bit of a surprise. The dorm room had that chill early in the morning, so she covered her exposed shoulders with the sheet. A tiny tag dangled from the end of the ribbon, reading, "Nice to meet you." Carnie seemed a bit concerned about the idea and threw out the suggestion of getting their room keys changed, just to be safe. Since classes hadn't started yet, they figured they had some time to sort out this room security thing.

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Chapter 3

*Sandra’s POV* Strolling through the hallways, I could sense the liberating vibe of freedom coursing through my veins. Carnie and I hit up the office, tackling the paperwork for the key change. My eyes scanned the surroundings, a hint of hope for a familiar face, but alas, disappointment lingered. With a constant eye on my phone, I noticed no response from Thodoris. I attempted a call, but it rang unanswered. "Come on, pick up your phone," I muttered to myself. Carnie, catching onto my distress, casually remarked, "You gotta chill, girl. You're in college now. He's probably out somewhere, living his best life drunk or something." Gotta admit Carnie's wisdom hit home, and stressing wouldn't do me any good. The lady at the office grabbed our forms, assuring us a janitor would swing by our room later in the day. We split up, each on our mission to gather the necessary books and stuff. I decided to hit up some art student info sessions, thinking I'd loop Thodoris in later and ended up enrolling for the theory, go figure. Art wasn’t exactly popular in Black Ball. Stepping out of the renascence art class studio, I got bumped by some dude. He stopped, apologized, and said, "Sorry, man, missed the info session," in a friendly tone. I nodded, picking up the papers scattered on the floor. He handed me my book, and with a surprised look, he asked, "Art and Fashion major?" Before I could respond, he beat me to it, saying, "I'm Jake, in case you're wondering." Honestly, I wasn't thrilled about shaking his hand, so I just took the book and nodded. "Next time, watch where you're going, Jake," I said as I got up. Handing me a flyer, he said, "Happens every year to welcome the first years. You should come." I took the flyer and headed back to the dorm room. Separating our books and papers, the janitor knocked on the door. In less than half an hour, he changed the key, handing me the new ones. "You're all set," he said. Carnie walked in just as I was about to leave. I handed her the new key, and she handed me a flyer the same as the one Jake gave. "We're going," she declared, intentionally making it clear I had no choice. Walking towards the guys' hostel, I figured I needed more friends. I mean, Thodoris couldn't be my only go-to guy and Carnie, well, let's just say she's got a few surprises up her sleeve. "So, I'm into talking. Maybe I should join the debate team or something," I mused to myself, shaking my head. While I was lost in thought, a distant voice tried to grab my attention. "Hey, you never told me your name," he said, a bit out of breath. "Sandra," I replied, keeping it short and sweet. He nodded, and we strolled into the hostel together. Jake was tall, with thick, curly hair and smooth olive skin. Not bad at all, but he was missing a bit of that swag factor. When we reached room 711, I turned to him, "Thanks for helping me find my way here in one piece." I could see his face light up. "Can I buy you a drink tonight?" I asked, throwing the invitation out there. His grin widened, and I knew I was onto something. I swung the door open, only to find Thodoris and Phillip dead asleep. I gently laid the books on Thodoris's desk and left a cheeky note, "You totally owe me." With no clue about Thodoris's plans, I decided to roll with Carnie. I threw on a mini skirt and a tight white top, going for the classic hot chick look. Felt pretty good actually. Carnie, on the other hand, rocked a short, figure-hugging gold dress, and we both kicked it up a notch with some killer heels. She was like paper-thin but rocking the biggest rack you've ever seen. The place was alive with excitement as everyone geared up for the party. Hosted by one of the campus sororities, this party was the golden ticket to getting in to view the inside. According to Carnie, this first party of the year was the only shot you had. We blended into the crowd and made a beeline for the drinks. Scanning the room, I hoped to spot a comfy spot to chill. Carnie snagged my arm and led me to the living room, where a game of Pass the Orange, with a business card twist, was in full swing. The atmosphere was charged with laughter as the business card moved from mouth to mouth. A tall, good-looking dude strolled up with the card hanging from his mouth. As I got closer, the card slipped to the floor. "Oops," he chuckled with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Before I could react, he grabbed me with a passionate kiss. His hand slid to the back of my neck, tilting me over. The crowd roared, cheering him on to make the moment last. Amidst the cheers, someone called him Sly and then I gently pushed him away, avoiding eye contact, "That's enough. No need to get carried away," I declared loud enough for everyone to hear. Trying to slip away, I turned to find Carnie, but he snagged my waist, pulling me closer. "Don't leave," he whispered, his tongue teasing my ear in a sensuous play. Gotta say, his voice totally had me hooked. Concerned about what Thodoris might think, I faced him and asserted, "I'm not interested, Sly. I'm with Thodoris." His expression soured, but determination glinted in his eyes. The party was buzzing, all filled with that electric night energy, and then I casually slipped away from his grip. "Challenge accepted," he grinned before turning and strolling away. I darted out of the living room and spotted Jake sitting near the stairs. "Turns out the drinks are free tonight," I shared with him. He shifted his face away, handing me his jacket, "Your nipples are showing," he said shyly. Appreciative of his concern, I took the jacket and wore it. "Thanks, protector," I nudged him. "Come, let me get you a drink." Jake and I casually strolled to the kitchen, cruising past the dining room where some girl yanked him in. "Shots!" she hollered in his ear. I trailed right behind and got pulled in, ending up at the foot of the table. "Winner gets bragging rights," a dude in a red hockey top declared. He was just like everyone else, totally hammered. Jake and I geared up for the countdown. Sly casually strolled in, putting a pause on the festivities, pointing out that his shots weren't ready. We watched as the hockey top guy scrambled to make it happen. Just watching that scene made me jittery, and I was about to bail. "Scared you'll lose?" Sly tossed at me. The whole room echoed with playful ohs and ahhs, kinda convincing me to hang in there. "As if," I shot back, giving him a side-eye. But deep down, my hesitation wasn't all about Sly being there. It was more like my mental state doing a tightrope act. I'd been rollin' with Thodoris since we were 15, never locking lips with another dude after him. Sly's kiss? A whole different vibe, full of passion that I couldn't quite wrap my head around. Low-key, I kinda wanted a do-over, this time without an audience. "When I win, you give me a lap dance," Sly threw out there. "No way," I promptly shut that down. "Make sure you don't lose then," he mumbled, giving the signal to start the countdown.

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