STRANGER IN THE ELEVATOR.~LAUREN’S POV~I tossed my phone onto my desk and leaned back in my chair. Rubbing my temples.Alexandro was infuriated.Smug, arrogant, and too damn aware of the effect he had on people—on me. He knew exactly how to push my buttons, and worse, he enjoyed it.And now, thanks to last night, I had the media turning my life into some soap opera.Just perfect.A sharp knock on my desk pulled me from my thoughts. But before I could respond. Rosette closed my laptop, causing me to look up from where I sat.Beside her stood the same man who had pulled me from the reporters earlier. I stiffened slightly, my brows drawing together.“Morning, Rosette,” I greeted flatly.Rosette folded her arms, clearly not liking my tone, but she knew too well than to cause a scene or accuse me of anything in front of everyone.“Deal with him,” she said, not even leaving room for more explanation as she turned on her heels and left. I stared at her, confused, before turning to look at
CHECKMATE.~ALEXANDRO’S POV~I chuckled, dragging a hand through my hair as I tossed my phone onto the desk. Stubborn little thing. She was learning—fast. I thought the press would crush her, thought she’d cave under the weight of the headlines. But no, she held her ground. A little shaken, maybe, but not broken. I underestimated her. A mistake I wouldn’t make again. “I can’t decide if you’re still just playing with her or if you’re starting to believe your bullshit.” Mario’s voice dragged me out of my thoughts. He was sprawled across my couch, a glass of scotch in one hand, a cigar in the other. Casually watching. Always watching. He set his drink down, picked up a magazine, and skimmed through it like it was the morning paper. “What happened to keep her at arm’s length?” he asked, not even bothering to lift his gaze. I smirked, making my way to the bar in the corner of my office. The half-empty bottle of aged Scotch stared back at me, a gift from an old associate i
THE WHISPERS ~LAUREN’S POV~ I moved through the office like a shadow, slipping past curious eyes and muffled whispers. I had mastered the art of invisibility, but today, it felt like everyone’s gaze was on me. I tightened her grip on the stack of files in my arms, focusing on the hum of the Air conditioner above. Anything to drown out the world around me. The break room door was ajar, and despite my instinct to keep walking, a familiar voice made me pause. "...still can't believe she's with Alexandro now.” Patrick’s voice was filled with disbelief. I froze. My pulse quickened as I ducked behind a corner. “Yeah, right. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I’d call it bullshit.” Malcolm responded, a dry chuckle following his words. “That night at the gala... I was her partner for the coverage, you know? Never thought I'd see Lauren wrapped around a man like him.” “So, you’re telling me she’s with Alexandro now?” A third voice joined in, one of the junior reporters. “Didn’t she
OUT OF CONTROL. ~LAUREN’S POV~ ‘I can't believe that I actually slapped Patrick.’ I muttered under my breath. ‘And now, the news of the slap was everywhere.’ My phone buzzed incessantly in my bag, but I didn't bother to check it out. It was obviously the office group chat, lighting up with notifications. I didn’t need to look to know what they were saying. I could imagine it—memes, jokes, a play-by-play of my humiliation. The same colleagues who’d whispered behind my back were now finding fresh fodder in my anger. I stepped into the cafe down the street. The reporters who’d caught wind of Alexandro’s name being dragged into office gossip were outside with their cameras ready. I slipped through the side entrance, desperate for a moment to breathe. I placed an order for a cup of caramel latte, and when it arrived I took a few sips before setting it down. I should have just ignored Patrick. I should have let him drown in his own drama instead of giving him the satisfaction of a re
MORNING AFTERMATH~LAUREN’S POV~Pain. A deep, throbbing, merciless pain pounds inside my skull, making it nearly impossible to pry my eyes open. But I do—slowly, hesitantly—blinking against the soft light filtering through sheer white curtains. I stare at the ceiling above me. Cream and gold. A chandelier that probably costs more than my rent. Furniture so pristine it looks untouched like it belongs in a museum instead of a home. This isn’t my apartment. This is… “Oh, God.” My voice is barely a whisper as last night slams into me like a freight train. The bar. Rosette’s forced team night out. The drinks. The endless drinks. Ethan. His unexpected defense. And then… Alexandro.I sit up way too fast, the room tilting like I’m on a boat lost at sea. My stomach churns in protest, and I squeeze my eyes shut, willing the nausea away. Where the hell am I? I don’t even need to ask. The answer is written in every luxurious detail of this place. This has Alexandro Castello
~A Game I Never Agreed to Play~~LAUREN’S POV~Alexandro held up his hands in surrender. The universal sign of ‘please don’t murder me.’"Alright, alright. That was a bad joke," he admitted, his voice softer now. "I just got back, okay?" I narrowed my eyes at him, searching for any hint of mischief. But for once, he looked... sincere. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, forearms were dusted with just enough dark hair to make him look like the kind of man who knew how to fix a car but would pay someone else to do it. He didn’t look like the trillionaire I had Googled. He looked normal. "Really?" He nodded, stepping back. "Get dressed and meet me at the beachside lounge. We need to talk." "Talk?""Yes. Unless you’d rather I join you in the towel-clad fashion show you’ve got going on." My mouth fell open. A sound—somewhere between a gasp and a growl—clawed its way out of my throat. His lips twitched, and then he chuckled, stepping out and pulling the door shut behi
MARKED BY DANGER ~LAUREN’S POV~The man in the suit moved fast. Too fast. He barely touched the ground before he was at Alexandro’s side, leaning in, murmuring something low and urgent. Whatever it was, it wiped the smirk clean off his face. His jaw clenched. His grip tightened around the edge of the lounge chair, knuckles turning white. The muscles in his neck pulled taut, his sun-kissed skin stretched over something harder, something colder.I felt it before he even looked at me. That shift. Like the entire atmosphere around him had changed. The playful, arrogant man who had been teasing me just moments ago had vanished—replaced by someone else entirely. His gaze snapped to mine. Something dark flickered behind those unreadable eyes. Something sharp. Something dangerous. "I’ll explain later," he said, voice like gravel. "But for now, keep playing your part." I opened my mouth—to argue, to demand more than these cryptic half-answers, to tell him I was done preten
UNMASKING ALEXANDRO ~LAUREN’S POV~A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE BALL:A few minutes after Alexandro disappeared with that mystery man, I stormed into the house, still burning from the way he spoke to me. Like he was in charge. Like he had control. Like I was just some game piece he could move around at will. I stomped down the hall, ready to slam my bedroom door shut and pretend none of this was happening. But just as my fingers curled around the doorknob, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I sighed, pulling it out without much interest. It was a message from Rosette in the office group chat: “Patrick and I are officially inviting everyone to our engagement party! Can’t wait to celebrate with you all! ”I scoffed. Seriously? Sliding my phone back into my pocket, I shook my head. I did not care about Patrick and Rosette. Not anymore. But they just had to make sure everyone was watching. It was pathetic. For fuck’s sake, they were already engaged. Why the grand announcement? Why
SHADE OF THE PAST ~ALEXANDRO’S POV~The name on the screen sent a slow, burning rage curling through my veins. Father. Luca’s father. Which meant one thing—he knew.Mario and I exchanged a look, assumed understanding passing between us. He breathed out sharply, running a hand through his hair. Julio, ever unfazed, simply knelt beside the body and plucked the phone from Luca’s pocket with a gloved hand. The ringing stopped. “What do you want to do?” Mario asked, his tone quieter now. I turned to Lauren. She was watching. Frozen in place. Her hazel eyes—wide, glassy, too full of emotions I couldn’t afford to deal with right now. I’d thrown her into this world without warning. Without preparing her.That was my mistake. I stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair from her face. My fingers lingered against her cheek, feeling the way her breath hitched. “Amore,” I murmured. “Go with Julio.” She shook her head. “No.” “Lauren.” My voice came out rougher than I intended.
DEATH~ALEXANDRO’S POV~I move like a predator—silent, calculating. My fingers grip the gun, safety off, aimed directly at the head of the poor bastard on the other side of the door.The handle turns.The second the door cracks open, I raise my gun."Cristo Santo!"(Holy Christ)Mario freezes, his hands flying up in surrender. A cigar dangles between his fingers, his signature cocky smirk playing on his lips.“Sei impazzito, fratello?” (Have you lost your mind, brother?) he drawls, amusement laced in his voice.I exhale sharply, lowering the gun. My pulse is still a hammer against my ribs.“Mario,” I growl, shoving the gun back into my waistband. “You picked the worst fucking time to show up.”Mario grins, stepping inside like he owns the place. “And yet, here I am. Alive and well.” He takes a slow drag of his cigar, exhaling a cloud of smoke before flicking his eyes past me.That’s when he sees her.Lauren.She’s standing in the dim light, her body stiff, her eyes still wide from the
THE ATTACK~ALEXANDRO'S POV~Lauren tastes like champagne and sin. Sweet and intoxicating, like something I’ll never get enough of. Her breath hitches as I slide my fingers deeper, stretching her open, pulling soft little moans from her lips that I want to claim as mine. She’s gripping the tablecloth like it’s the only thing tethering her to reality, but I know she’s already lost. Lost in me. In this. “Look at you,” I murmur against her thigh. “So beautiful. So fucking perfect.” She squirms, a flush blooming across her chest, and I know she’s still fighting it—still holding onto some fragile thread of control. But I want her to let go. I want her to shatter for me. “Ride me, Amore,” I whisper against her heat, my tongue flicking over her clit, my fingers pressing deeper inside her. “Take what you need.” And she does. God, she does. She moves against me, her body arching, her moans growing louder, rawer. I grip her hips, guiding her, pushing her higher, until her muscles
YOUR TASTE~LAUREN’S POV~His laughter vibrates against my skin, low and rich, and I hate how much I feel it. How much I want to drown in it. I push at his chest, but he doesn’t budge. Doesn’t even flinch. Instead, he just tilts his head, those green eyes studying me like I’m something fragile. Something breakable. I hate that look. “I asked you a question,” I say, my voice quieter now. His laughter fades, but the smirk remains. He brushes his fingers over my cheek, tracing a path down to my jaw, then lower, to where my pulse thrums against my neck. His touch is barely there, but it sends a shiver straight through me. “You’re jealous,” he says. It’s not a question. It’s a statement. A realization. And the worst part? He’s right. I press my lips together, refusing to answer. His thumb brushes my bottom lip, and I swear he’s about to kiss me again, but then he stops. His smirk shifts into something softer. Something almost… reverent. “Mi amor,” he murmurs, his voice d
CRACKED. ~LAUREN’S POV~He was giving me a choice. Stay. Or walk out and pretend this never happened. I could do it. I could stand up, turn around, and leave this all behind—this world, this man, this moment.But my body betrays me. My legs refuse to move. My heart slams against my ribcage like it already knows what my mind won’t admit.Alexandro watches me, his green eyes steady, waiting.I reach for my glass, wrapping my fingers around the stem like it’s some kind of lifeline. I take a sip—too fast, too deep. The champagne bubbles burn my throat.Alexandro chuckles.And just like that, my annoyance flares.“What’s so funny?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.“You, Princessa.” His voice is smooth, teasing. He drags a thumb across his bottom lip, slow and deliberate, and my stomach tightens. “You’re overthinking again.”I shift in my seat, forcing my gaze away from him, trying to focus on anything else. The soft music is in the background. The suffocating silence between us.“Well,” I mutter
DINNER AT EIGHT~LAUREN’S POV~I stared at my reflection in the mirror like I was waiting to recognize myself again. Same girl. Same long, wavy black hair. Same hazel eyes that never quite gave away enough. Same cherry lips that trembled more than they smiled lately. I was still me. That’s what I kept telling myself. But no one tells you that sometimes you can look the same and still feel like a stranger inside your skin.I let out a shaky breath, grabbing the towel from the rack. I wrapped it tightly around myself as if the pressure could somehow hold me together.Dinner.I laughed under my breath. The kind of laugh that doesn’t mean anything at all. It wasn’t just dinner, and we both knew it.I unlocked the door and stepped out, stopping dead when I saw him. Leaning there, casually filling the doorway like he belonged in every space I entered. His arms crossed, ankles relaxed, but his eyes… His eyes were anything but casual. They were steady. Focused. On me.“I thought you
POWER SPEAKS~ALEXANDRO POV~My fingers tapped against the oak table in a slow, planned rhythm. It was the only thing keeping me grounded as my gaze swept over the polished, greedy faces of the Castello partners. Wolves in tailored suits, each one waiting for an opportunity to tear into flesh that didn’t belong to them. They pretended to be civilized. Men of honor. Businessmen.But I knew better.I could smell their desperation, their hunger, the festering need to take more than what was offered. It bled from their pores, thick and cloying, and I welcomed it.Let them feed on scraps while I carved out my empire, piece by ruthless piece.Mario sat beside me, comfortably stretched out in his chair like he had no care in the world, watching them devour each other with amusement dancing in his eyes. His fingers toyed with the unlit cigar between them, his smile sharp and cutting. The bastard was enjoying this.“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” I muttered, low enough that no one but hi
THE POINT OF NO RETURN ~LAUREN’S POV~I sat there, completely still, my legs curled underneath me as if they might give out if I tried to stand. The TV in front of me kept playing, but I wasn’t watching it anymore. I was watching him. Alexandro. His voice echoed in my head. Not the deep, smooth one he uses when he whispers things that make my cheeks flush, but the one he used on that stage. Calm. Commanding. Ruthless. “She is my future. And she’s off-limits.” My heart stuttered against my ribcage like it was fighting for space. Off-limits. Future. Me. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to laugh, cry, or crawl inside myself and hide. Because it’s a nice thing to say, isn’t it? It’s every girl’s dream to have a man like him claim her in front of the world like that. But when did we go from pretending to…whatever this was? When did I become his future? I don’t remember signing up for that part. My hand covered my mouth before I could make any more embarrassing sounds. “God,”
BURN WITH HER ~ALEXANDRO’S POV~Mario’s pacing was a steady rhythm against the ticking clock mounted on the wall. It grated on my already-thin patience, but I didn’t look up from the documents spread out in front of me. The ledgers were clean now—on paper, at least. The cargo had been accounted for. The Russians thought they were clever. Thought they could steal from me and walk away unscathed.Idiots.I had already made an example of the ones stupid enough to stay behind. Their blood was still fresh on my knuckles this morning. I’d washed it off, but I could still feel it. Still smell it.They keep trying to paint me as the devil.Maybe I am. But the devil doesn’t touch what’s his without consequence. And Lauren? She’s mine. Even if she doesn’t know what that means yet.I loosened the tie at my throat, my jaw clenching as my thoughts drifted back to last night. Her lips parted under mine. Her body was soft, and pliant, offering everything and asking for nothing in return. I should