Millionaire Girlfriend

Chapter 8: Chapter 8 - in the game

One month later.

Or, more precisely...

Four Wednesdays later.

"What?..." Ashley said, throwing a piece of popcorn at Clara.

"Stop looking at me like that!"

The two of them were watching a movie in the private cinema room Clara had installed two weeks earlier.

The room was enormous, with comfortable seats, a massive screen, and everything needed to make it feel like a real theater. It was the kind of place where someone could easily forget they were still inside a mansion. The lights had been dimmed, leaving the room illuminated almost entirely by the glow of the giant screen. A powerful sound system filled every corner with crystal-clear audio, while the thick carpet absorbed nearly every sound they made. A large bowl of popcorn rested between them, surrounded by empty cans and snack wrappers that had accumulated during the movie. Every detail of the room had been carefully designed for comfort, making it easy to lose track of time without ever wanting to leave.

"It’s weird that you keep looking at me like that after trying to drown me just a few hours ago," Ashley teased.

"For the hundredth time, I wasn’t trying to drown you."

"You know I love you," Clara replied, wrapping an arm around Ashley.

"Oh my God. I told you to stop saying that," Ashley complained, immediately covering her face.

"No. That’s impossible. I’m going to say it as many times as possible so you never forget."

Clara leaned closer and kissed Ashley’s cheek.

After four dates that technically weren’t dates, Ashley had slowly gotten used to Clara’s constant affection.

The way she always stayed close. The way she casually touched her. The way she said those words so naturally.

Clara never seemed to hesitate. Every gesture came effortlessly, whether she was resting against Ashley’s shoulder, reaching for her hand, brushing a strand of hair away from her face, or simply sitting close enough for their arms to touch. None of it ever looked forced. It had gradually become part of the way Clara behaved whenever Ashley was around, as though showing affection had always been the most natural thing in the world.

But even after all this time, Ashley was still embarrassed every time Clara said them.

Because Clara was the first person who had ever said those words to her.

"What do you say about staying the night?" Clara suggested, still holding onto Ashley.

"Absolutely not," Ashley refused immediately.

"I would only feel comfortable sleeping in my own bed."

"Hmm... then maybe I could sleep at your place instead," Clara suggested, playing with a strand of Ashley’s hair.

Ashley turned toward her, studying her expression to see if she was actually serious.

"My bed isn’t big enough for both of us."

"And besides, we’ll see each other tomorrow in class. I don’t understand why you’re insisting so much," Ashley added.

"I don’t know. Maybe I’m in heat," Clara replied instantly, staring directly into her eyes.

"Okay, move away from me. The last time you said you were in heat, you almost tied me up so I couldn’t leave," Ashley said as she stood up.

"Come on, Ashley. We’re only going to sleep, I swear," Clara insisted.

"What exactly are you swearing on? And I don’t think you’ll actually let me sleep. You already kept finding excuses to kiss my cheek during the movie. I’m leaving."

Ashley grabbed her bag and headed toward the door.

But before she could reach it, Clara quickly ran after her, locked the door, and took the key.

"Ashley, please stay," Clara begged as she ran away with the key.

"Stop messing around and give me the key back," Ashley said, holding out her hand.

But Clara only continued moving farther away.

Soon, Ashley found herself chasing her through the enormous room. Clara ran around the rows of seats with surprising speed, laughing as she slipped just beyond Ashley’s reach every time she came close enough to grab her. The spacious room gave her plenty of room to escape, forcing Ashley to change direction over and over again. More than once, Ashley almost caught her, only for Clara to dart away at the last second. By the time they reached the large bed at the back of the room, both of them were breathing a little harder than before.

Clara quickly hid under a blanket.

Ashley grabbed the blanket and tried to pull it away, but Clara held onto it tightly.

"Give me the key right now. Do you want me to call the police for kidnapping?"

"Go ahead. I don’t care if you call the police," Clara replied.

"Okay..."

Ashley turned around, preparing to leave.

That was when the blanket suddenly moved.

Clara jumped at her.

"You fell right into my trap," Clara announced, now sitting above Ashley.

"Ha. Ha. Very funny. Now let me go," Ashley said, struggling.

"Never."

Clara leaned closer, bringing her lips toward Ashley’s.

Their lips were only a breath away.

But Ashley quickly placed her hand in front of her mouth.

Clara stopped.

She didn’t force anything.

Instead, she simply rested her forehead against Ashley’s.

For a few seconds, neither of them moved.

The room remained completely silent except for the faint sound of the movie continuing to play in the background. The light from the screen shifted across their faces as the scenes changed, briefly illuminating them before fading again. Neither of them tried to break the stillness. They simply remained there, close enough to hear each other’s breathing.

Then Clara finally pulled away and let Ashley go.

Ashley took the key from Clara’s hand and unlocked the door.

But before she could leave...

"Hey, Ashley!"

Clara’s voice stopped her.

"I love you!"

She said it with as much emotion as she possibly could.

Ashley’s heart skipped a beat once again.

I love you.

No one had ever said those words to her before.

She looked into Clara’s eyes, searching for something...

Anything that would suggest she wasn’t sincere.

But she found nothing.

"Good night," Ashley finally replied before closing the door.

That night, Ashley couldn’t stop thinking about those words.

More than anything, she kept remembering Clara’s expression every time she said them.

That same night, Clara kept calling her and sending her messages.

But Ashley didn’t answer, like she usually did.

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