Sophia's POV.The only response I got was my echoing voice in the room."Alessandro," I cried softly, banging my hand on the door.I glanced around the room and could tell that it was empty. The way my voice echoed made it obvious, and when I attempted to walk around, there were no obstructions like furniture."I already told him the truth. Why does he keep punishing me like this?" I cried, running my fingers along the wall.The wall felt decayed, I could feel bits of debris."There's no window here," I murmured, clutching my chest. "How am I going to breathe when the oxygen runs out? I thought Mary was going to talk to him.""Why has he done worse to me?" I questioned, my heart sinking to my stomach. "If he's doing this to me, does that mean he has hurt my father too?""No," I panicked, rushing back to the door. I began pounding my fists on it, but it wouldn't open. "Alessandro, please...open the door," I begged."I can't stay here. Please stop doing this to me," I sobbed, my heart a
Alessandro's POV.She fell back instantly, her eyes, but then her hand reached out to me again.I could have resisted, but in a split second, I grabbed her hand, pulling her up."Ooh!" She whimpered, gripping my shirt with her other hand like her life depended on it.Her face flushed, her boobs pressed against me. Her chest heaved up and down with each heavy breath that escaped her lips. As she looked up at me, there were traces of tears in her eyes that made her look so innocent, and pure. For a moment, I felt worse than the devil for almost letting her fall. But I refused to fall a second time for her pretense.I released her harshly, pushing her away. She stumbled back, barely keeping herself from falling to the floor."Did you feel scared?" I asked, my tone icy. "How did it feel to have your life almost slip out of your hands?"That was how I had felt when every part of my gut twisted, and my lungs tightened, leaving me gasping for air. I'd never felt anything close to fear before
Alessandro's POV.I got to my room, but I couldn't stop thinking about everything that had happened. Anything concerning Sophia refused to release its hold on my mind. I kept trying to convince myself, over and over, that I wasn't wrong in punishing her. But a part of me kept doubting it.She seemed almost too innocent, too naive, to attempt poisoning me. Besides, it would have been a foolish move, with so many risks involved. Why would she take such a risk?And where did she even get the poison she supposedly used? She was visibly shaken by what had happened with Micheal's men. I had saved her, and she'd seemed genuinely grateful until she had to ruin it with that sharp little mouth of hers.Poisoning me somewhat made no sense, but no one else had entered the kitchen when she was there. I even recalled her mentioning something about allergies, but I hadn't taken the time to verify anything with my doctor after hearing it was food poisoning. I simply dismissed him."Fuck!" I cursed,
Sophia's POV. My cheeks grew hot at his question. How could he ask something like that?"Answer me," He growled, taking his thumb down my throat.I swallowed hard, my body still shuddering from the intense orgasm. I had never experienced anything like it, and yet, with his presence, I could feel my body heating up again.Why was he doing this, especially after almost killing me earlier? He seemed so irritated at the sight of me this morning. "I...don't know," I stuttered, my lips quivering. "I have...never..." "You've never sucked a man's cock before?" He smirked, clearly amused. "So, mine will be your first.""Yes..."I stammered. "And it'll be your last," He said coldly, his words sending chills down my spine. I couldn't understand him. One moment, he was drawing me into this intense pleasure and the next, he was threatening me. Why was he so confusing?He unzipped his trousers, letting them slide down to his thighs. My eyes widened as I saw his hardness through his boxers. It l
Sophia's POV."Yes, my name is Micheal, and like an angel, I'm here to save you," He uttered, his voice lacing with mischief.My eyebrows furrowed in suspicion."Micheal..." I muttered, finding the name a bit familiar. But I couldn't recall where I had heard it. "I don't know anyone named Micheal. I think you've got the wrong number," I said nervously and tried to hang up."Sophia," His voice boomed through the phone's speaker. "I know you're suspicious and nervous that someone is suddenly offering help. But I genuinely have a way to save you from the hell you're experiencing.""I know what Alessandro is putting you through. That man is a monster," He said, spite dripping from his voice."How do you know Alessandro?" I questioned, refusing to let my guard down."I am a victim of his evil. I know the horrible things he's capable of," The man replied, his voice shaking with anger. "What...did he do to you?" I stammered."He...he killed the love of my life," He revealed, sending shiver
Sophia's POV.A chill ran through my spine at the sound of his voice. When did he get into my room? Why was he even here?"I asked a question," His cold voice resounded, his approaching footsteps now audible.I removed the phone from my ear, quickly swiping the number and deleting it. My fingers fumbled slightly, but I managed to get rid of it in time. I hoped he hadn't seen or heard anything. I turned to him, and his tall, muscular body towered over me. His piercing gaze made my throat tighten. He was so close that I could feel my heart hammering in my chest and sweat forming on my skin. "I...was talking to...a friend," I lied, my voice shaking and unconvincing. "A friend?" Alessandro scoffed, his voice filled with doubt. "Whose phone is that?" I glanced down at the phone in my hand, and stuttered, "It's one of the maid's. But I'm not going to tell you who lent it to me." "What friend were you talking to? And what were you talking about?" His sharp tone made my stomach churn. I
Alessandro's POV.As I left Sophia's room, I paused outside her door, staring.I was certain I'd heard her say Micheal's name. And the only Micheal I knew was that fool who's been a thorn in my side for years. Her excuse about calling a friend was nothing more than a weak cover.Why else would she and Micheal be in contact unless they were plotting against me? Was it revenge for everything I had done to her? Or had he convinced her to help him take me down? A bitter thought suddenly crossed my mind. Had everything that happened at the mall been an elaborate act?With a sharp sigh, I pushed my thoughts aside and headed for the mansion through the back door. My mind raced with questions as I walked. Was she planning to betray me again? How far was Micheal willing to go to see me fall?As I stepped into the house, I spotted Mary stepping out of the elevator."Alessandro, where have you been?" She questioned, her voice tinged with concern. "I just came from your office."We must hav
Alessandro's POV.My fists clenched at her response. I shouldn't be surprised, but I thought that her innocent face wasn't just a front—that she was truly honest."Damn her. I'm going to kill her," I sneered, my hand reaching the door."Yes, I want to poison him," her voice echoed suddenly, shaky. "But I can't. I won't." Her words made me pause, my grip tightening on the door as I listened. "He's been awful to me, to a lot of people. I understand that he deserves to die, but I can't make that decision.""Why? Your little conscience can't withstand the death of that monster?" Micheal retorted, his voice sharp. "Yes!" She snapped, her voice trembling. "I can't bear taking a life. What would make me different from him?""Sophia," Micheal began, his tone almost pitying. "I was once like you. I was scared of challenging him, but when he ended the life of my lover, I lost every bit of—""Micheal, stop..." She interrupted softly, silencing him. "I'm sorry about what happened to your love
Author's POV.After ending the call with the spy, Angelo returned to the drink table to get a glass of whiskey. The night was looking up but his mind was not at rest yet. It seemed like there was something he was forgetting.“Fowler? Fowler!” he had to yell because the music was too high. “Yes, boss!” He moved the girl on his lap off him, running to Angelo's side. “You called?”“Our plans have been pushed forward,” Angelo told Fowler about Alessandro's plans to pick up his shipment and Fowler grinned.“That's good news, boss. If you can capture Alessandro yourself, you will no longer need Marcus'" help.”Marcus! That was what or who, rather, he had been trying to remember.“Speaking of Marcus, it has been a while since he and I spoke. What's going on with him?”Fowler paused in the act of refilling his glass, surprised that Angelo had not heard about what happened to Marcus.“Boss, Marcus is very sick and has been hospitalized for almost a week. The rumor is that he may not survive i
Author's POVAngelo went through the videos, his sleazy grin growing wider with every one he reviewed. Laura stood in front of him nervously, twiddling her thumbs and managing a smile whenever he looked at her.“This is good, very, very good material indeed. Finally, I can deal with Alessandro as I always wanted to.”Laura cleared her throat noisily and Angelo paused in his musing, sliding his eyes towards her.“Deal with Alessandro how? I was hoping we could use the videos to extort from him or to force him to do anything we want.”“We? Who is this 'we' you speak of?” Angelo lifted a scarred eyebrow and let out a bone chilling laugh. “There is no 'we' in this. There is only me but don't worry. I'll pay you a token for your part in my victory.”Laura went pale, rubbing her sweaty palms against her skirt. “What are you going to do to him?” she eyed the scary bodyguards hanging around Angelo and suddenly wished to be anywhere but there.“Alessandro? Oh, that's an easy question. I'm goin
Author's POV. Sophia swallowed hard as she did not know what to answer Alessandro. How was she going to tell him that she did care that was why she had been acting the way she was to him."Well, I guess you don't have any answer to that," Alessandro snickered.Sophia swallowed hard because of the lump in her throat. She knew he was hurting which was why he was acting that way towards her but she still had to try even though he believed that she did not care for him."Alessandro, it's..." She tried explaining but he cut her off."I don't know why you are suddenly acting like you care when you won't so please leave me alone if you don't have anything meaningful to say and stop toying with my emotions," Alessandro said and walked away.Sophia almost crumbled at the weight of his words and actions but she refused to break down."No, I will not be weak at this point. I will not allow him to intimidate me into not stopping him," Sophia decided.She concluded that she was going to stay back
Sophia's POV. I clutched my phone tightly in my hands and my knuckles were almost turning white. How in the world did Laura know I was here? I had only spent one night here and she already knew? It felt suspicious. It was either she was monitoring me from outside, or she had someone in Alessandro's house."I hope you understand that I do not make empty threats," Laura's voice came in again."Please Laura," I whispered, my voice raw with emotions."Please, just give me a week, I swear, I will figure something out, I will look for a way out, please, don't do this," I begged her as my body trembled.On the other end, I heard Laura sigh but there was no sympathy in her voice."Fine! One week Sophia, just one week, and if you stay there even a minute more, I will hand over the evidence to the enemy without a moment" She replied."Yes, I understand, thank you so much," My stomach twisted.The call ended with a sharp click but not before I heard Laura's mocking laughter.I stood there, fr
Sophia's POV. I couldn't help staring at everything in awe. “Sophia, you've been staring long enough. Say something, anything,” he prompted me and I noticed how tense his posture was. He was actually anxious about what I would say. “Is this it? Is this all of it? Am I supposed to be impressed or something?” I remarked, brushing imaginary dust off my shirt. “You don't. . .you don't like it?” He was surprised and the only problem was that I did like the painting studio, maybe even too much.The studio was the definition of perfection, my own heaven on earth. I was surrounded by artwork that dated back to before I was born. Just being in the presence of such genius was enough to prompt inspiration to paint. The inner me was screaming and jumping with ecstatic joy but Alessandro could not know that or he would think he had found a way to win me over.“It's nice, I guess,” I faked a yawn, slapping a hand over my mouth. “Can I go to bed now?”“To bed?” He checked the time on his watch
Sophia's POV. I gritted my teeth as Alessandro's grip on my wrist tightened.The words he had spoken earlier still rang in my ears.He was not going to let me go nor was he going to annul the deal and worse, he going to take me back with him.I was furious with him. Furious that he was using my father's mistakes against me and that he still had his grip over me. But then, I was also angry with myself because deep down, I knew that a tiny part of me wasn't against the idea of going back to me instead, I was fighting myself not to feel happy about it.Gosh, I had missed Alessandro, I missed him so badly but then...I turned to glance at my father who was looking both guilty and terrified.Was this why he was insistent on me marrying Ray? Because he knew that Alessandro was already in trouble. Trouble that he had orchestrated with Alessandro's enemy. That was why he was talking about security and all because he knew that Alessandro was in danger.My father bent his head in shame. I gu
Alessandro's POV. “What?” I exploded, letting my hand on Sophia's arm fall away. “You are getting married to Ray?” I was getting fed up with the drama surrounding Sophia and her father.“No, wait. Alessandro, it's not what you think. How could you tell him that, Father?” Sophia asked Marcus, who was glaring at me from his pitiable state.“Because it's true. You promised me that you would marry Ray so, what is this criminal doing here?” Marcus questioned.Sophia shook her head vehemently to challenge Marcus' claim. “No, Father, you made me promise to marry Ray and I agreed just so you would feel better. I don't want to marry Ray, Father.”“What are you. . .” he coughed, cutting short his words briefly. Marcus' was not looking good, more like a living ghost. But I didn't really give a damn. Sophia was never getting married to Ray, not while I was still breathing.“Change of plans,” I announced and yanked Sophia by the hand, pulling her to myself. She fell against my chest, gasping when
Sophia's POV.I sat frozen in my seat where I was seated close to my father as Ray's words rang in my head.I should meet up with Alessandro and fix a day when we can talk and call all deals off.My fingers tightened around the strap of my purse.It had been two weeks since I last saw Alessandro, two weeks since I shattered his heart and mind and now I was supposed to face him again?Ray kept on talking and yapping about logistics and how we should meet in a public place and all but I was not listening anymore. My mind was filled with different emotions and thoughts as a feeling of dread settled in my stomach."You are quiet," He observed."But you will do it, won't you?" He asked.I swallowed hard and looked at my father who was staring at me with expectations in his face."Yeah, I will do it." My voice came out smaller than I had intended.It wasn't a lie, I was going to do it because I had no choice but that didn't mean that I was ready to do it.---It took me a week before I fina
Sophia's POV. I sat outside my house, waiting for Ray to get there. I had to take Father's clothes and some food to him but I had no money on me to take a taxi. Ray's car was my only hope to get to the hospital. He blew his horn when he got to the gates and I rolled my eyes at his obnoxious behaviour. There was more than one reason why Ray and I could never be together again, despite what I promised my father.I grabbed my bags and headed outside, Ray opening his car door to let himself out. He reached for the bags but I withdrew, keeping them out of his reach. “I just want to help, Sophia, nothing more. You are overreacting. Come on, let me help you with the bags.”“Just open the door for me, Ray. The bags are not that heavy and I can carry them.”He stood there staring at me for a full minute and I met his gaze squarely. When he realized that I was not backing down, he held open the back seat and I dropped the bags in there. “I got you something to eat,” he broke the silence aga