***Kimberly***

My heart pounded loudly in my chest, and numerous beads of sweat rolled down my forehead.

I clutched my black velvet gown nervously and let out a deep breath as I awaited the declaration of the winner, anxiety overwhelming me.

As the firstborn of my late parents, winning this award and prize is a must.

It's my ticket to caring for the two people I treasure the most—my fiancé and my younger sister, the only family I have left.

My phone beeped from my low-budget designer handbag, and I quickly reached for it.

I smiled, it was a text from my fiancé, Alex.

"Wishing you good luck, my queen," I read the text with a big grin dancing on my lips.

Alex has been my boyfriend for seven years, and last week he proposed to me. My joy knows no bounds.

Even though my friend Olivia thought it was crazy to accept such a low-budget proposal, I didn't care.

Alex proposed to me in the most inexpensive and popular parking lot with a cheap $3 ring. Olivia thinks it's giving low effort, but to me, it's the best proposal ever!

I love Alex a lot and have been dreaming of being his wife, and thankfully, the universe heard my prayers, and I said yes!

"And now we call on the author of the year, Miss Kimberly Paisley!" My heart dropped.

Did I hear that wrong?

"Miss Kimberly Paisley, are you here with us?" The host's voice echoed loudly through the speaker and across the dimly lit event hall.

No! I wasn't mistaken, that was my name. I'm Kimberly Paisley! I screamed in my head, excitedly beaming with a smile.

Gracefully, I stood from my seat and walked towards the high table. As I approached, my heart continued to beat more loudly. Carefully, I adjusted the crease of my gown while my red bottom heels made a sharp clicking sound against the stairs leading to the high table.

Once again, I'm Kimberly Paisley, an author, and today my bestselling book titled "Auctioned In The House Of Pleasure" won me an award as the author of the year.

I gracefully approached the high table, graced with the formation of popular authors whom I have been dying to meet. I bowed slightly to them and went straight to the podium beside the host to receive my award and prize of twenty thousand dollars. I'm rich, ain't I?

"Hello bestie! You can't believe it, I won the award?!" I screamed loudly into my phone's mouthpiece. I'm sure the noise I made is enough to deafen Olivia wherever she is.

"You silly girl, are you planning on receiving the most loud author of the year too?" She asked sarcastically with a tingle of excitement in her tiny feminine voice.

"I'm proud of you, bestie. I know you would win, that book is muah! It's top-notch. I can't get over it, I'm definitely going to read it for the sixth time," she laughed happily.

"Thanks, babe. Thanks for always supporting me," I whispered, my emotions getting the best of me.

"Hey! You weak nutjob! You need to stop acting weak every time like the female leads in your books!" My friend scolded me as she noticed the usual change in my emotions. Immediately, I quickly shoved away those rushes of emotions, I can't afford to be scolded by Olivia today. I smiled softly.

"Did Alex go with you?" Olivia inquired, and I know exactly where she's driving at, she just dislikes my fiancé right from the start, and I still don't understand why.

"No, he said he has some office work to complete so he couldn't make it," I quickly defended him.

"Busy? That jerk! I don't like him!" She scoffed annoyingly through the phone.

"I'm planning on giving him fifteen thousand dollars out of the money I won today, for our wedding and for him to start a business," I announced even though I knew Olivia would get mad at me.

"What!" Her screaming resonated from the phone speaker and directly into my eardrum. I flinched slightly.

"You stupid pickmesha! How dare you work your ass off and give the reward to a dusty man like Alex? Is it not enough that he's squatting with you since two years ago? Is it not enough that you are feeding and clothing him, now you want to give him eighty percent of the money you won. I'm highly disappointed in you, Kimberly," and with that, she ended the call.

I could feel the disappointment in her voice, but I don't really care, she's always like this whenever I talk about Alex, so I'm used to it.

I was supposed to sleep over at her place so we can celebrate and get high all night, that was the plan.

But now that she's extremely angry and disappointed in me, I guess I'll just head home straight.

I dialed Alex's phone, but he's not picking up, maybe he's asleep already after all it's already 9 pm.

I rushed out of the hall, which was located close to the busy main road.

"Miss Paisley," a masculine voice called out to me from behind, and gently I flipped my blonde hair and turned to see who it could be.

Omg! It's Steve Irwin, the bestselling author since ages, his books are literally the best.

He flashed a gentle smile at me, and I blushed shamelessly at his handsome face.

"I'm so proud of you, keep it up."

"Thank you, Mr. Irwin. I'm so honored," I giggled and gave him a quick hug.

"I have something for you, Miss. Paisley," he announced and quickly rummaged through his briefcase. After a few seconds of his ultimate search, his hand fell on a wrapped package, which clearly looked like a book.

"Here," he mumbled and handed the book to me. I giggled happily and immediately tore open the wraps.

It was my book with the "New York Bestseller Of The Year" clearly written boldly on it. I was shocked, this is my dream, and finally, I accomplished it. I couldn't be more grateful, tears welled up in my eyes, and I quickly tried to push them back.

I lifted my head, and to my disbelief, he's gone.

I glanced around looking for him, but he was nowhere to be found.

"Damn! I couldn't get to say thank you," I lamented while staring blankly at my book, which I held tightly in my hands with so much compassion.

I should announce this great news to Alex, I thought, and quickly flagged down a cab, happily heading home.

_______

"Oh yes! Give it to me harder, you're the best, don't stop baby!" I chuckled slightly as I heard those moans coming from my neighbor's room.

She's one hell of a harlot, always changing men every day.

"Ouch!" I screamed in pain as my legs hit the stairs. In frustration, I removed my heels and let out a breath of comfort as I finally got out of the annoying heels. I climbed the stairs leading to the entrance of my house and gently pushed the doorknob without making noise.

Alex hates noises whenever he's working or asleep, so I'm used to doing things quietly around the house so I won't annoy him. After all, he's my sweet baby, I giggled.

"Yes, fuck me, baby," the annoying moaning of my neighbor continued as I headed inside the living room, and suddenly, my brain began to work correctly.

The moaning sound was coming from my house, specifically from my room, not my neighbor's!