The Contracted Stripper

Back at Ryan’s house, Iris was trying to concentrate on her new sketches. She knew she had to finish them in time for the promotional exam, but her mind kept wandering.

The memories of her lost sketchbook haunted her. Each sketch in that book was a piece of her heart, and the loss felt like a wound that wouldn’t heal.

Ryan, on the other hand, was grappling with his thoughts. He had been harsh with Iris, and the guilt gnawed at him.

He couldn’t shake off the feeling that he was missing something important. The tension between them was palpable, and he knew it wasn’t just about the lost sketchbook.

As Iris was working late into the night, Ryan approached her room again. He stood outside the door, listening to the sound of her pencil scratching against the paper.

He felt a pang of regret but didn’t know how to bridge the gap that had formed between them. After a while, he turned and walked away, leaving Iris alone with her thoughts.

Iris sat on her bed, her phone in hand as she scrolled through her contacts. She needed to talk to someone, and there was only one person she could think of who would understand everything she was going through, She dialed the number and waited for her friend to pick up.

“Hello?” Skylar’s familiar voice answered.

“Hey Sky, it’s Iris,” she said, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Iris! How have you been? It’s been a while!”

“I know, I know. I’m sorry I haven’t called sooner. How’s everything? How’s Mom?”

“We’re both fine,” Skylar replied. “The money you’ve been sending is taking care of all her bills. But Iris, she wants to see you.”

“I want to see her too,” Iris said softly. “But things have been so crazy here. I have my promotional exams coming up at the fashion school, and I lost my sketchbook. It’s been a nightmare.”

“Oh no, not your sketchbook! Did you look around the house carefully? Maybe someone took it?”

“I don’t know, Sky. I just can’t find it anywhere. And with Ryan… things have been complicated.”

Skylar sighed. “I wish I could help more. But hey, let me tell you about my mess of a love life. You remember Mr. Right? Turns out he was a cheater and a womanizer. We broke up.”

“Oh Sky, I’m so sorry to hear that. You deserve so much better.”

“I’ve given up on love, Iris. I just can’t trust anyone anymore.”

“Don’t say that. Love will find you when you least expect it. Promise me you’ll keep your heart open.”

“I’ll try, Iris. But enough about me. When are you coming to visit?”

“After the exams. I promise I’ll come see you and Mom.”

“After the exams. I promise I’ll come see you and Mom.”

“Good. We miss you. And remember, check everywhere for that sketchbook. It has to be somewhere.”

“Thanks, Sky. I’ll talk to you soon.”As Iris hung up, she felt a renewed determination to find her sketchbook and ace her exams. She owed it to herself, her mother, and Skylar to keep pushing forward.

In a dimly lit room, an unknown man sat, puffing out smoke from his cigarette. His phone rang, and he answered it with a gruff “Hello.”

“Her fashion school is hosting an event. She’ll be there alone. Ryan won’t go with her,” said the voice on the other end.

“Good, good. I’ll make arrangements. Update me if there is anything else,” he replied, hanging up the phone. A sinister smile played on his lips as he contemplated his next move.

Meanwhile, Bella and Ivy were hard at work on Ivy’s designs for the Beth Fashion House.

They were determined to make a name for themselves in the fashion industry.

As they worked, Ivy couldn’t help but remember the good news Bella had mentioned.”Bella, you didn’t tell me about the good news, the one that was for the good of our families,” Ivy said, curiosity getting the better of her.

“Oh Ivy, you never forget things, do you?” Bella chuckled. “Well, I’m pregnant with your brother’s child.”

“What?! Pregnant? For Ryan? How? When?” Ivy stammered, her mind reeling.

“Calm down, dear,” Bella smiled. “Is he aware?” Ivy asked, still in shock.

“Not yet. I wanted it to be a surprise,” Bella said.

“Congratulations, Bella,” Ivy said with mixed feelings. She didn’t know why, but she felt a pang of hurt. She quickly waved the thought aside. “It also means that good-for-nothing Iris will be kicked out of my brother’s life for good.”

“Ivy, are you okay? You seem lost,” Bella observed.

Jerking back to reality, Ivy replied, “Yeah, I’m fine. I was just thinking about the show and hoping it goes well.”

“It will, don’t worry,” Bella reassured her. “Meanwhile, let’s celebrate. Your cousins and nephew are on the way.” Bella stood up to get a bottle of wine and two glasses.

Just then Ivy’s phone rang.

She picked it up and saw it was her mom.”Hi, Mom,” Ivy greeted.

“Hi, honey. How are you doing? I haven’t seen you for days now. Are you okay? You didn’t even stop by the house to check on me and your father.”

“Sorry, Mom. I’ve just been so busy. I promise I’ll stop by today,” Ivy assured.”Alright, baby,” Mrs. Rose began, but before she could continue, she heard Bella’s voice in the background.

“Celebration time!” Bella exclaimed, holding up a bottle of wine and two glasses.

“Is that Bella? What is the celebration about?” Mrs. Rose asked, curiosity evident in her tone.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

“Uh, yes, Mom. Bella is here. We’re celebrating… well, Bella’s pregnant,” Ivy said, feeling a mix of emotions.

“Oh, that’s wonderful news! Congratulations to Bella, I wish it for Ryan” Mrs. Rose said warmly. “But Ivy, you need to come home soon. We miss you.”

“I will, Mom. I promise. I’ll see you later today,” Ivy replied before hanging up.

Bella poured the wine, handing a glass to Ivy. “To new beginnings,” she toasted, her eyes sparkling with excitement.”To new beginnings,” Ivy echoed, clinking her glass against Bella’s.

Despite her mixed feelings, she smiled, hoping that everything would turn out for the best.

*************************************

The days flew by, and the Beth Fashion School event loomed closer. Iris found herself spending more and more time with her new friend, Maya, whom she had met at the fashion school.

The two bonded over their shared passion for design, and Iris taught Maya some advanced sketching techniques that greatly improved her skills.

“You’re a natural, Maya,” Iris said one afternoon as they sat in a cozy cafe, their sketchbooks spread out in front of them.

“Thanks to you,” Maya replied, her eyes shining with gratitude. “I can’t believe how much I’ve learned in such a short time.”

“You’re a fast learner,” Iris smiled. “And it’s been fun sharing ideas with you.”

Their friendship extended beyond the classroom. They went on random outings, exploring art galleries, attending workshops, and even visited fabric stores to get inspiration.

Meanwhile, Ryan had been dealing with a storm of issues. His father continued to refuse to hand over the family empire, and Iris’s cold demeanor and focus on her fashion school only added to his stress. He had been conducting investigations and finally discovered that Iris wasn’t cheating. The man in the picture was simply her colleague’s husband.

Yet, there was still the mystery of the intruder who had tried to kill him. The CCTV cameras had gone blank that day, leaving him with no clues. Bella’s constant disturbances didn’t help either, and he had been avoiding her as much as possible.

One evening, after another fruitless search for Iris’s sketchbook, Ryan sat in his study, deep in thought. He had instructed the maids and workers to search every corner of the house, but it remained elusive. He knew how much it meant to her and felt a pang of guilt.