KIERA’S POVAs I followed Linda to the kitchen, I marveled at the space. It was too luxurious for an office—marble countertops, sleek stainless steel appliances, and an air filled with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee. But the atmosphere felt tense, like a storm waiting to break.Linda glanced at me, a smug smirk playing on her lips.“You sure you can handle making coffee? It requires a level of skill I’m not sure you possess,” she said, sarcasm dripping from her voice.I forced a smile, choosing to ignore the jab, “I appreciate your concern, but I think I’ll manage.”Linda leaned closer, lowering her voice as if sharing a scandalous secret. “Just remember, this isn’t your playground. You’re stepping into a world of real professionals.”My jaw tightened, but I maintained my composure, “Funny, you’d think a ‘real professional’ would encourage teamwork rather than throwing shade.”Linda’s eyes narrowed, “You think you can just waltz in here because you’re Gabriel’s what? His pet?
ELISE’S POVI got back from shopping right on time for dinner.“Where’s my husband?” I asked, throwing a look at Joe.“He’s in the dining room ma’am,” Joe responded.Perfect! What better opportunity to bond with my husband than over some delicious food? I had so much I wanted to discuss with him.Miguel was already munching on his food when I entered the dining room, my shopping bags dangling on my arm.“Hey, babe,” I called out, trying to inject some warmth into my voice. “I had the most amazing day ever,” I said, attempting to spark a conversation, but silence wrapped us like a thick fog, and it stung even more when he didn’t look up.I dropped the shopping bags onto a nearby chair, the sound echoing like a gunshot in the stillness.“Take these to my room,” I instructed Hannah, one of the maids.“Are you really gonna ignore me?” I pressed, my pulse quickening. “I thought we could chat over dinner,” I said, slumping onto the seat beside him.“Not now, Elise,” he muttered, his voice l
GABRIEL’S POVThe flight lasted two hours, the hum of the engines a dull backdrop to the storm brewing in the cabin. Kiera had been uncharacteristically quiet, her glare fixed on the window, as if the world outside could offer her some refuge from whatever was nagging at her.I was sure it had to do with what she asked me earlier, but I wasn’t sorry for confronting Damien. I didn’t like the idea of him lurking around her and seeing her as his next meal. He does more harm than good to women.With the two of us alone, no guards, no distractions, I felt the weight of unspoken words between us.As the private jet touched down in Marion City, I could see the sprawling lights of the city twinkling like stars. We were greeted by a sleek black Porsche, and taken straight to Ibiza Hotel, just a stone throw from the beach. However fun was the last thing on my mind.Linda had made prior reservations, booking two rooms, Kiera’s directly opposite to mine.“Freshen up and meet me in my room. I need
KIERA’S POVThe venue of the meeting was a rooftop restaurant exclusively for people who have money pouring from their pockets. I would have much rather stayed back at the hotel, but Gabriel wouldn’t take no for an answer.While we waited for his business partners, we were served a bottle of Gout de Diamant champagne, but neither of us even reached for it.The last 48 hours had been a whirlwind, and I was barely trying to keep my head above water.Having that conversation with Gabriel yesterday lifted a bit of the weight that sat in my heart. I just wanted him to know that I appreciate all he had done for me, nothing more. I had already steeled myself not to be emotionally attached to them. Although I still feel a tad nervous around Gabriel, I will gradually overcome it, and see him as nothing but a friend.I've been so worried about my Papa, and I really wish I could go see him. That’s what I wanted to say to Gabriel yesterday, but he cut me off before I could get it out. I didn’t wa
ELISE’S POVI had just finished having lunch, and I casually strolled to the bedroom, trying to shake off the feeling of emptiness that lingered. It was becoming a habit for Miguel to skip not just dinner with me but lunch, too. For the last two days, he had chosen to sleep in another room, and I felt a growing sense of devastation creeping in.As I stepped into the room, I locked the door behind me and walked to the bed, feeling a wave of loneliness settling in like an unwanted guest.Listening to my body, my little button down there was restless, craving to get satisfied. I swept my dress off my body, laying bare on the bed, as I slightly arched my back, spreading my legs wide apart.Dipping a finger in my mouth, I snaked it down my belly, until it rested on my cl*t. I start rubbing my cl*t gently, taking in all the pleasure little by little, and a shaky breath stuttered across my lips. My body felt hot as I cupped my b**b with my other hand, catching my nipple between my index and
GABRIEL’S POV“I assigned Lewis to represent the company in court regarding Mark’s case,” Damien conveyed through the phone.“Good, I trust Lewis to handle it perfectly. Mark messed with the wrong people and the son of a b*tch will pay dearly for swiping from the company,” I responded, keeping an eye on the road for any sign of Kiera.“Oh and by the way, Elise texted Caleb’s phone,” he added.“And?”“Well, I couldn’t just leave it hanging. She called a few times, and I ignored them, but then she texted. I didn’t want to raise any suspicions, so I replied as Caleb, saying I was out of town for some family stuff,” he explained.“Solid move. Let her keep thinking that she has the upper hand.”“Were you able to get Mr. Gavin to sign the contract?” Damien inquired.“I don’t know. Kiera’s been in there for almost an hour and I have no idea what’s going on,” I blurted out before realizing.I guess I was so nervous that I couldn’t mask it any longer.“What do you mean Kiera’s been in there fo
GABRIEL’S POVI excused myself from the loud-blasting speakers to take a call from Linda. She was being annoyingly persistent, bombarding me with irrelevant questions and I ended the call without warning. I was in no mood for her shenanigans. Linda was breaking the one rule I put in place before we got involved—no meddling in each other’s affairs and gradually, it’s getting freaking irritating.As I went back into the club, I saw a cocky guy seated face to face with Kiera, his hand, slightly touching her thighs like he owned her, and my head almost exploded. I should have known better than to leave her alone.Who the hell does he think he is to lay his goddamn hands on her?“Hey!” I thundered, striding over, my voice slicing through the chaos. “Get your f*cking hands off her.”Kiera turned, surprise etched across her face, but I didn’t care. The guy’s smirk faltered as he flicked his gaze between us.“Relax, bro. We’re just talking,” he replied, trying to brush me off.“No, you weren’
MIGUEL’S POVAfter meeting with our inside guy, he confirmed that the shipment was indeed in the custody of Don Pablo. For almost a week, we've been planning on how to get back our shipment from the South Coast cartels—one of the deadliest.Joe wasn’t present, I guess he was still on Kiera’s assignment.The dim light of the basement flickered ominously, casting long shadows across the cluttered table at the center of the room. Papers lay scattered, weapons glinting in the low light, and half-empty glasses sat like forgotten sentinels. I leaned over the map, the weight of our situation pressing down on me.Don Pablo wasn’t playing nice, and I wouldn’t let him get away with it. I could feel my heart pounding, anger running in my veins for the fool he tried to make out of me.“The shipment is ours for the taking,” I said, my fingers tracing the route to the docks.Javier’s voice cut through, “What about Joe? We can’t commence without him.”I waved a hand dismissively, “We’ll fill him whe
GABRIEL’S POVThe morning light streamed through the curtains, casting a golden glow over the bed. My eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the soft golden glow. The first thing I saw was her—Kiera, lying beside me, her face serene in sleep. In that moment, I was struck by her beauty. She was stunning in a way that made my chest tighten. Her hair tumbled in soft waves around her face, and her lips, slightly parted, looked so inviting. Watching the rise and fall of her chest was hypnotic, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away.For so long, I had held back my feelings for her, but the incident with Linda had pushed me over the edge. I had confessed my feelings without thinking, and ever since, Kiera had been acting a bit awkward around me.I knew she wouldn’t be thrilled about sharing a room, but I craved the closeness, the intimacy of just being in the same space. When Abuela suggested it, I felt like I had hit the jackpot. I pretended to argue against the idea, but deep down, I knew there was
DAMIEN’S POVI tossed and turned, the sheets twisting around me like a noose. Kiera’s face haunted me—her laughter, her touch, the way her eyes sparkled, her smile. But that wasn’t what kept me awake all night. No, it was the thought of her with Gabriel.I couldn’t shake the image of them together. The way he looks at her makes it seem like she is the last drop of whiskey in a dry bar. What if something happened between them last night? Did she look at him the way she looks at me? Did she touch him? The mere thought made my stomach burn.I flung the covers off and swung my legs over the side of the bed. Do I trust Kiera? The two of them in the same room felt like dangling cheese in front of a mouse—an invitation to disaster, too tempting, too dangerous. Even if Kiera held her ground, I knew that smooth-talking bastard Gabriel could charm the skin off an apple.Just as I was about to drown in my thoughts, a knock echoed through the room.I barely had time to collect my thoughts when Be
KIERA’S POVAfter dinner, the room felt like a chamber in hell, simmering with unspoken words. Gabriel and I barely spoke to each other, and I could tell she sensed the tension in the air, but she said nothing, her silence almost deafening.Gabriel eventually retreated to his room, leaving me across from Abuela, who was diligently knitting a scarf, her needles clicking like a clock.“Mrs. Vanessa?” I finally ventured, my voice almost swallowed by the silence.“Oh, come on, dear. We’re past the formalities, aren’t we? You’ll soon be my daughter-in-law, so you might as well start calling me Abuela,” she replied, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips.I forced a smile back, the warmth barely reaching my eyes, “Okay, Abuela. Thank you for the amazing meal. It’s been a long day, so I think I’ll call it a night.”Her gaze lifted, eyes sparkling with mischief that sent a shiver down my spine, “Rest well, my dear.”As I nodded, my heart raced with a flutter of anxiety.Upon our ar
ELISE’S POVI blinked rapidly, trying to process Hannah's words, “What did you just say?” I leaned in closer, my brows knitting together like two angry caterpillars.“Umm… Miss… Miss Freya is here,” Hannah stuttered, her confidence crumbling under my glare.“Are you stupid?” I bit out, my voice climbing an octave as I raised my hand, nearly striking her across the face. She flinched, stepping back as if I were a live wire and I halted mid-motion, catching myself just in time.I took a deep breath, my lips tightening into a thin line as I let my hand drop, “Where is she?” I demanded.“She’s, um… she…” Hannah cleared her throat, her finger awkwardly pointing toward the stairs as she scratched her neck, a nervous gesture that made my irritation flare.“Speak up already, you moron!” I snapped, my impatience palpable.Her eyes widened in fear, and she blurted, “She’s in the living room!”I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, my nails digging into my skin as I fought to keep my composure
ELISE’S POVI lay sprawled across the bed, feeling like a marionette whose strings had been cut, my body still throbbing from the wild, brutal passion of the previous night.The clock on the nightstand read 10 a.m., but the weight of my exhaustion kept me anchored to the sheets. Miguel had transformed me into his sex toy, exploring his dirtiest darkest fantasies. I knew I desperately wanted to be fucked, and touched by him, but I never signed up for this.Last night, he had bound all my limbs to the bedposts. The ball gag he used stifled my cries, rendering my protests useless. He fucked me till I almost passed out.When he was done, I tried to voice my discomfort, but he simply asked, “Are you tired of being in this marriage?” I didn’t need an encyclopedia to decipher what he meant. I realized then that I had only two choices: accept this new reality or contemplate the unthinkable—leaving him. But escape wasn’t an option I could entertain; I had too much to lose. So, I buried my feel
ABUELA’S POV“Catherine, would you be kind as to fetch my phone?” I called out from the backyard, the relentless ringing grating against my peaceful mid-morning.I took a deep breath and sipped my mango juice, feeling its coolness wash over me while I waited for her to arrive.“Here you go, ma’am,” she said, her voice warm as she handed me the phone.To my surprise, it wasn’t Gabriel’s name lighting up the screen but Rafael’s.A smile blossomed on my face, genuine and bright. I glanced at Catherine, a conspiratorial grin breaking free as I mouthed, “It’s Rafael,” followed by a soft giggle.“Hi, Mom,” he said, his voice like a soothing melody that instantly warmed my heart.“If I didn’t know you better, I’d swear you’ve forgotten all about your mother,” I teased, though my heart ached a bit as I said it.“Mom, that’s not fair! I’ve been swamped!” He replied, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his tone.“Swamped, indeed, but surely not too busy to give your mother a call? It’s been o
KIERA’S POVThe next thing that followed was a chortle of laughter, uncontainable until I was practically doubled over.Gabriel squinted in confusion, clearly thrown off as I continued to laugh maniacally, clutching my stomach.“O… OmG… that..” I gasped, still pointing at him as if he were the punch line to a joke.“That’s the most… the most hilarious thing I’ve ever heard.”But as my laughter began to fade, I noticed the serious look on his face, and suddenly my giggles felt inappropriate like I was laughing at a funeral. An awkward silence settled between us, and I was left fidgeting with my hair, my lips pressing together as I cleared my throat, avoiding his piercing gaze.“You.. umm.. you’re not joking?” I finally managed to ask, my eyes flitting around like a trapped bird looking for a way out.“Why would I want to joke with something as delicate as this?” He replied, his voice steady, almost too steady.My heart tumbled into my stomach, it was as if he’d thrown a grenade into my
KIERA’S POVI sat in the car scrolling absentmindedly through my phone yet my, fingers drummed nervously against my thigh, each tap a countdown to my rising anxiety.Every few moments, I shot a glance at the entrance, hoping to catch sight of Gabriel, but time seemed to stretch endlessly. What could possibly be taking so long? Was Linda okay? Or worse, was Gabriel in trouble? My stomach twisted, and I shifted restlessly in my seat, feeling like a lion trapped in a cage.Just then, my phone buzzed, jolting me from my spiraling thoughts. I looked down to see a message from Damien.[Hey]I replied almost instantly, my heart racing.[Hey][Are you okay?]His concern dripped through the screen, and I typed back rapidly, desperate for the connection.[Kinda][If it’s about what I said earlier, I’m sorry for catching you off guard, but I’m not sorry for telling you how I feel about you.]A smile broke through my worry, warming my heart. I could almost picture him, those charming eyes glintin
GABRIEL’S POV“Are you kidding me? You want us to tell her we met at a club? What would she think about me?” Kiera asked, her eyes wide, a mixture of disbelief etched across her face. “Or maybe we could say we bumped into each other at a coffee shop and you spilled coffee on me,” I suggested.“Abuela must know that you never get your own coffees! Besides, why must it be me who spills coffee on you? What happened to you spilling coffee on me?” Her tone was a dramatic cocktail of sincerity and jest.“Fine, let’s toss that idea. How about we tell her I was in some sort of trouble and you saved me?” she countered, trying to keep the tone light.“Abuela would want details, and we wouldn’t want to give her the slightest hint about how we really met,” I shot back, noticing her brow knitting together as she pondered.I sighed heavily, resting my head against the car seat. My thoughts were a chaotic storm.“Wait, what if we say we met on a dating site? It seems realistic and doesn’t raise any