Erling and Jude (7)

The silence in the enormous Manchester mansion was broken only by the turning of the pages of your book and the distant echo of the gym. Spending the winter holidays together was a relief after months of alternating two weeks in Madrid with Jude and two weeks in the UK with Erling, maintaining the relationship through video calls.

All around you, luxury was absurd; even their most basic clothes cost over €100,000. Every day they showered you with incredibly expensive gifts that you tried to refuse, but their persistence forced you to accept them out of sheer obligation.

Suddenly, the gym doors opened. Erling and Jude appeared, sweaty from their cardio session, radiating the energy of elite athletes.

"You should have trained with us," Jude said with a smile, drying his neck with a towel. He sat down next to you and placed a small velvet case on your lap. "I saw this and thought of you."

You sighed, looking at the expensive detail.
—Jude, I told them I didn't want any more presents. I really did.

Erling sat on the armrest, looking at you with a spark of amusement.
—You know how this works. You're not going to say no. Open it.