His Partner in Crime

He’d considered giving her memories. Just false ones—fabricated events, implanted milestones, things to “prove” she'd always been the type of woman who thought bullying was normal. That humiliating Diego wasn’t cruel, but fun.

But even in her softened state, there was risk in that. Her subconscious might resist. Rationalize. Push back against what didn’t match her emotional history.

So, he had a better idea.

He would walk her through it. Step by step. Memory by memory. From birth, not as Valeria Rivera, respected doctor and mother of a weak little disappointment—but as someone else entirely.

His best friend.

A cruel, mocking, wicked girl who had always been by his side.

Who loved seeing others squirm.

Who, more than anything, loved him.

He leaned forward, voice velvet-smooth, dripping with authority.

“Still with me, Valeria?”

“…Yes,” she breathed.

“Good. We’re going to climb back up now. I’m going to count from zero to nineteen. And with every number, you’re going to grow. Not into the woman you were… but into the woman you should’ve been all along. Strong. Sharp. Merciless. And mine.”

Another smile flickered across her lips.

“My best friend,” he murmured. “The one who always had my back. Who always laughed with me at the little losers who cried when we pushed them down. You remember her, don’t you?”

“…Yes.”

“Her name was Val. Not Valeria. Val.”

“…Val.”

Chase grinned.

“Zero,” he began. “You’re born. And you’re already stronger than everyone else. You don’t cry. You kick.”

She twitched slightly, her brows relaxing.

“One. You learn your first word. It’s not ‘mama.’ It’s ‘mine.’ Everything is yours.”

“Mine…” she echoed, dazed.

“Two. You learn to bite. You do it on purpose. Because it’s fun to hear them squeal.”

A soft giggle slipped from her lips.

“Three. You meet a boy at daycare. Blonde. Smirking. He steals your juice. You hit him. He laughs. His name is Chase.”

“Chase,” she mumbled.

“That’s right. Chase. Your first friend. Your only real friend.”

“Only Chase…”

“Four. You steal toys together. Push kids off swings. You laugh when they cry. That warmth in your chest? That’s pride.”

A faint grin tugged at her mouth again.

“Five. Chase calls you his favorite girl. You blush. But you punch a kid in the stomach so he knows you’re still tough.”

“His favorite,” she whispered.

“Six. You realise Chase is different. He gets you.”

“Just Chase…”

“Seven. Your teacher scolds Chase. You pour glue in her coffee. You both laugh for hours.”

“Y-Yes…Should’ve seen her face…” she mumbled.

“Eight. You shove a nerd into a locker. Chase says you’re ‘savage.’ You feel beautiful.”

Chase watched her expression—she was glowing now. Lost in the memories as if they’d always been there.

“Nine. You trip a boy and he cries. You call him a baby. Chase gives you gum and says, ‘God, you’re cute when you’re cruel.’ You feel butterflies.”

She swallowed, cheeks flushing faintly.

“Ten. You and Chase sneak into the teacher’s lounge. You dare him to steal the teacher’s mug and break it. He does. You like it.”

Val’s breathing deepened. Her head tilted slightly, dreamlike.

“Eleven. You start dressing for him. You love taking his opinion on your appearance.”

“Yes Chase…” she whispered, voice laced with longing.

“Twelve. You beat up a girl who calls Chase ‘ugly.’ You drag her by her ponytail and make her apologize.”

“Thirteen. You sit next to him during detention. You whisper how you’re gonna ruin the class nerd’s life tomorrow.”

“Loser deserved it…” she mumbled.

“Fourteen. You tell Chase you’ve never had a real crush. He smirks. You look at him for too long.”

“Fifteen. You start calling the nerd Diego ‘Lil Mierda.’ You make him carry your books and call you Queen Val.”

“Queen Val…” she echoed, proud.

“Sixteen. Chase kisses you behind the gym. You punch his chest, then kiss him harder. You belong to him.”

A soft, needy sound slipped past her lips.

“Seventeen. Diego cries when you snap his laptop in half. You and Chase laugh so hard you nearly piss yourselves.”

Valeria chuckled hard as she heard that.

“Eighteen. You tell Chase you love hurting people. That it makes you feel alive. That he makes you feel more than anyone ever has.”

She let out a warm, content sigh.

“Chase…”

“Nineteen,” he whispered. “You’re all grown up now, Val. You’ve always been this girl. My partner in crime. My best friend. And you’ve always had a thing for me, haven’t you?”

“…Always…”

“Open your eyes. When you do you will believe we were just fucking around and it didn’t work.”

Her lids fluttered.

And when they opened—those icy blue eyes didn’t hold confusion. Or guilt. Or remorse.

They sparkled.

“Ugh. Finally,” she said, stretching like a cat. “You really like dragging out the drama, huh? What was this shit supposed to achieve?”

Chase grinned.

“There’s my girl.”

Val smirked, glancing around. “God, your mom still keeps this place like a museum.”

Chase raised a brow. “Memory’s all intact?”

“Pfft. What are you on about? Was I supposed to forget something? I remember everything. Like the time we stuck gum in Diego’s hair and blamed it on the janitor. Or when we caught him crying after gym class and called him Princess Peach for a week.”

She laughed—loud, full, cruel.

Then her gaze softened, just a touch, as she looked at Chase.

“And I remember this. You. Us. God, I’ve missed this.”

Chase leaned in, brushing his thumb across her cheek.

“Then let’s make up for lost time.”

Val was practically in his lap now, her nails tracing lazy lines across his chest through his T-shirt, eyes smoldering with amusement and horniness.

“I still can’t believe you got grounded,” she purred, leaning in to nip at his jaw. “Over what? Some sniveling brat’s mom trying to act like a queen?”

Chase smirked, letting her tease. “Oh, I think you know exactly why I got grounded.”

Val giggled, leaning into his lips. “Why would I know silly? Don’t blame me for your stupid mistakes.”

“Well, I won’t then” Chase replied smoothly, letting her kiss him once—just once—before he pulled back slightly. His brows furrowed, feigning mild confusion.

“…Val?”

“Mm?” she murmured, lips still brushing his.

“…Why are you dressed like someone’s tired aunt?”

Val blinked.

Chase looked her up and down with exaggerated scrutiny. The beige heels. The sensible blouse. The knee-length skirt like she was headed to some PTA meeting. She looked… old. Not his Val.

She followed his gaze down to herself, finally seeing what she was wearing.

“I—wait. What the hell?” She pulled at the collar. “Why am I wearing this crap? I look like I manage a pharmacy!”

Chase chuckled, sitting back. “You look like you give bedtime lectures on supplements.”

Val stared down at her outfit in horror.

Chase made a face. “I think I can smell your old lady perfume too.”

Val yelped. “Okay, no. No no no—this is not who I am. What even is this skirt? Who bought this?”

Chase just raised an eyebrow, slowly standing.

“Oh, don’t worry,” he said, voice dropping into a soft, teasing murmur. “I know exactly how to fix this.”

Val watched him with wide eyes as he walked to the side table, picked up the large leather handbag—her handbag—and gave her a little wink.

“We’ll just use Dr Rivera’s purse; I stole it from Diego’s house yesterday” he said smoothly. “She won’t mind.”

Val burst out laughing. “Oh my god, stop!”

But she didn’t stop him. In fact, she leaned back on the couch, watching with delighted curiosity as Chase reached in and pulled out the wallet—her wallet. He flipped it open.

“Dr. Valeria Rivera,” he read aloud in a snooty voice. “How distinguished.”

Val cackled, crossing her legs. “Ugh, what a bore she must’ve been.”

“Don’t worry,” Chase said, fishing out a card. “She’s very generous. I bet her credit limit’s great.”

He found her license and held it up between two fingers, studying the smiling, uptight woman in the photo.

“So weird,” he said, flipping it toward her. “She kinda looks like you.”

Val smirked. “Ew.”

He grabbed the keys next.

“Come on, fashion emergency,” he said, already walking toward the door. “Let’s go shopping. I’ll drive.”

Val stood, tossing her hair with dramatic flair. “Ooooh, the doctor lets you drive her car now?”

Chase gave her a slow, knowing smile. “She’s not using it.”

Val laughed all the way to the door, heels clicking.

“I want something slutty,” she said brightly.

Chase opened the door for her, smug and silent.

So do I, he thought.

Chase opened the door for her, smug and silent.

She just got in the passenger seat and started talking about her elaborate plans for ‘messing with stupid losers’ as Chase drove her car to the mall.