Breathless: A Short Story

By Yvette M Calleiro

What if the fairy tale kiss that always awakens the damsel in distress takes a sinister turn? What if prince charming’s kiss no longer produces a happily ever after?

Silena’s infatuation with William hits a speed bump when he rejects her. After all, she is just a maid, and he is a young, rich aristocrat in the 1920s. Why would he have any desire to waste his time with the help?

On one particularly lonely day, Silena calls upon her magic to transform into a sexy flapper for the night. Her dream to enjoy one night with William is finally in her grasp, but her magic comes with consequences that neither William nor Silena could ever imagine.

BONUS! This short story is followed by a preview of a book written by the author.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Yvette M Calleiro
• Release date: Nov 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005633370

Yvette M Calleiro

Yvette M. Calleiro is a heavily addicted reader of both young adult and adult novels. She spends most of her time pseudo-living in paranormal worlds with her fictional friends (and boyfriends). When she’s living among real people, Yvette M. Calleiro is a middle school Reading and Language Arts teacher. She’s been sharing her love of literature with her students for over twenty years. Besides writing about the various characters that whisper (and sometimes scream) in her head, she enjoys traveling, watching movies, spending quality time with family and friends, and enjoying the beauty of the ocean.Yvette lives in Miami, Florida, with her incredible son who has embraced her love for paranormal and adventurous stories. She also shares her space with an assortment of crazy saltwater animals in her 300-gallon tank.

Book preview

Breathless: A Short Story

By Yvette M. Calleiro

Copyright 2020 Yvette M. Calleiro

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this e-book. This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. If you enjoyed this book, please return to where you purchased it to discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Breathless

About Yvette M. Calleiro

Connect with Yvette M. Calleiro

Other Works

Acknowledgements

Sneak Peek

Dedication

For those who feel fairy tales should come with a twist…

Breathless

Silena watched William from a distance as he placed another poker chip on the table. Lustful women hung all over him. They laughed at his jokes and kissed his fingers for good luck. His moves were predictable. She recognized every version of his laugh, from the hearty chuckle he shared with the men, who degradingly discussed the women of the night, to the sly giggle he shared with said women. He attended her employer’s festivities often, and she couldn’t help but be mesmerized by him, even though she was twice his age.

Silena wasn’t the only one. Both men and women alike flocked to him. His charisma was undeniable. That charm made men believers in luck and encouraged women to want a few private moments with him. With his perfectly styled, rich brown hair and strong jawline, he was the epitome of confidence. Lashes that looked almost feminine framed his deep green eyes. His lips, tempting to even the most sacred nun, weakened every woman’s knees. His smile could unravel any woman, and Silena was no exception.

She knew better. Her observations had shown him to be a cobra that would charm a woman into submission only to strike her with his venom when his needs were met. Time and again, she had seen it happen, and yet, no one ever told the tale of his misdeeds. Those flappers were most likely too embarrassed, or perhaps, they had felt privileged to have had just one moment with him.

Silena had seen it all. No one ever paid attention to the hired help. Until that day…

William sat at the table with his friends, chatting it up and playing cards, while the radio played the newest jazz. Silena served him a sidecar, his favorite drink, and was dismissed without a second glance. Wearing her black maid’s attire and her white apron, with her hair pulled back in a bun, she expected nothing less. Still, her proximity to him sent her