CHERRY ON TOP

Chapter 1: The Encounter

Baltimore had a pulse, a rhythm that never stopped—sirens wailing in the distance, laughter spilling out of corner stores, and the steady hum of traffic on streets lined with rowhouses. It was home. And for Cherry Davis, it was also the stage where she played two roles—the loyal wife and the woman who wanted more.

Cherry wasn't unhappy. Not exactly. She had a good life—a stable one. Married to Maurice for six years, she had the security every girl from her hood once dreamed of. He was reliable, a nine-to-five man who came home at the same time every evening, kissed her on the cheek, and asked about her day like clockwork. He paid the bills, treated her well, and kept her safe. But he was also... predictable. A man of routine, of structure.

And that's why Aiden Dior was a problem.

Aiden was the opposite of Maurice in every way. Where Maurice was measured, Aiden was reckless. Where Maurice was calm, Aiden was electrifying. He was the kind of man who made Cherry's pulse skip when he walked into the office, flashing that dangerous, easy grin. They worked together at an up-and-coming real estate firm in the heart of Baltimore, selling million-dollar properties to clients who couldn't care less where they came from. But Aiden never forgot.

"Wassup, Cherry?" Aiden's voice slid over her like silk, his deep brown eyes lingering just long enough to make her shift in her chair.

She glanced up from her laptop, already regretting it. That smile was her kryptonite. "What do you want, Aiden?"

He leaned against her desk, smelling like dark cologne and sin. "Damn, ma. Can't a man just say good morning?"

She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling now, and they both knew it. Aiden had a way of making her laugh even when she didn't want to. He knew he was fine, and worse, he knew she knew it too.

"You make it hard to get any work done," she admitted, shaking her head.

"Me?" He placed a hand over his heart, feigning innocence. "I'm just here minding my business, looking good, and blessing you with my presence. That's all."

Cherry exhaled, pressing her thighs together under her desk. She hated how easily he got to her. Hated how, every night after another painfully mechanical round of sex with Maurice, she found herself in the shower, head resting against the tile, fingers between her legs, whispering his name instead of her husband's.

She fought it every day. She swore she wouldn't let this go too far. But as Aiden winked at her and strolled away, confidence dripping from his every step, she couldn't shake the feeling that this—whatever this was—was only the beginning.

And that scared her.

But it turned her on even more