Author’s Pov“You don’t mean it,” the man said with a toothy smile. Kane raised his brows and gestured at the limo down the aisle. Some of his girls were there already, waiting for him. This time, Aiden picked interest in looking though he hadn’t wished to do such earlier. The scene was nothing far from what he had seen and done in the past. It was nothing tempting, so, he felt the fella might as well turn down the offer. “Nice girls you got there, but I’m not up for some pussy,” the man said with a shrug, “I’m out here hunting for something deeper and bigger than a ride with girls and a big guy.” Aiden chuckled. The men who check in often in the Creeks crib will never fall for such fantasies. It’s that common among them. Kane smiled. He seemed to understand just why the fella had to turn down his offer—Aiden was there and no one would like to hurt Aiden to favor Kane. “What if I introduce you to my new business plan and make you part of—”The man slung his ball bag across his
Aiden’s PovI nearly pushed my finger’s to Rusev’s lips, but I didn’t because Artemis could be watching from the room. He’s not to be blamed anyways. No responsible man can skip such question, and if anyone should, it can never be Rusev.“She’s no more,” I masked the shock that braced my face with a sudden smile.Rusev raised his brows. I thought of blinking my eyes in quick signs but he seemed not ready to yield. Maybe because he must have ready of me in the dark web where I was portrayed as ruthless.Being ruthless might mean I might be so rash I could talk of my past even in the presence of my wife to be—that is if he understood Artemis’ place.“What happened to her?” he asked curiously, “is she dead?”I waited thoughtfully before I answered him. “Maybe, just not sure.”He nodded and turned once more to my mother’s picture. I knew why he’s so obsessed with my mom. She hid him and his siblings away during the dark days of the scandal that tossed his father’s life in the hands of the
Artemis’ PovFirst, Aiden didn’t see me when he stepped into the bathroom thinking he had the privacy he probably wanted from the prying eyes of his friend in the open chamber, and probably mine, but he didn’t know he walked in on me.I was done cleaning the restroom when he entered, and I didn’t bother to disturb him, not until I heard him chant the name Hera twice in the phone with tensed voice, and now, his friend asked if I’m Hera.Who the heck is this Hera of a person that got almighty Aiden so pissed he couldn’t even check well before snarling at the name.“Hera?” I raised my brows, “I am—”“Artemis,” Aiden didn’t let me finish, “my wife to be.”The fella blinked twice. He seemed to realize he’d said the wrong thing at the wrong time, and he should have knocked before badging into someone else’s toilet.“And why are you donning such apparel?” the fella pointed out.Aiden called him Rusev earlier, so, I thought I should call him the same and ask him to let me be. I can’t stand ge
ARTEMIS POV I eyed the golden watch on the table, pretending to be interested in something else while inching closer to the table. I knew it was wrong to steal but I couldn’t help it. I was hungry and I didn’t want to die.I imagined the funeral poster would read thus, ‘Artemis Vincent, died of hunger because she didn’t want to take a watch that some rich dude left behind.’I shook my head. Gosh, I needed therapy. Why would I even think that? I eyed the watch again while cunningly looking around. When I got right to the table, I snatched the watch and shoved it into my pocket.'You did it Artemis. You can buy burgers from Starbucks... you can....'“THIEF!!” Someone shrieked and I turned to see a huge oaf of a man charging right at me. He was dressed in a black suit and wore dark sunglasses. My survival instincts kicked in and I beelined for the open window.‘If they catch you, you are dead. Fucking run, legs.’I pumped my legs faster and easily slipped into the window and outside th
Aidan Creek?ARTEMIS POV Now where had I heard that name? I must have seen it in a newspaper somewhere. I couldn’t remember, but from what I gathered he was one the richest men in Florida. Why would he want a thief to be his mistress?“It sure seems like you must be over in your head. I ain’t marrying you, I’ll marry a pig first,” I said, huffing angrily.But Aidan stared at me for a full minute, creeping me out, then he finally nodded.“You’ll go to jail then, I’ll make sure you get it hard there. Trust me you don’t want to see what they’ll do to you there,” he said and I shot him a fierce glare. He was right. He had influence, I was a nobody. I would be molested there and forgotten.“Why won't you let me go?” I asked and he raised his brow. That elegant brow.“You stole my watch woman” he growled. I gave him a stubborn look. It took all my willpower not to poke out my tongue.“That watch is not one percent of your net worth sir. So just let me go” I said and he nodded.“Take her aw
ARTEMIS POV It took me almost a while to find where Aidan was. Daymon didn’t even tell me where to find him. Eventually, I wandered to the gardens and met him there waiting... probably. “Hi,” I said and he turned. How could someone look so hot and cruel at the same time? The afternoon breeze blew his dark hair, making him look more... handsome. “So here’s what I wanted to tell you before we meet my parents,” he started, going straight to the point and I shot him a glare. “Can’t you reply with ‘Hello’?” I retorted and his eyes darkened. I watched the light go out of them replaced by cold dangerous anger. “Watch how you talk to me,” he sneered. But I didn’t care. I wasn’t scared of anyone or anything, not even the icy chills of his voice. “And you don’t treat me like a piece of shit too,” I replied sharply. Aidan growled, he grabbed me and shoved me to a barn wall. “You don’t understand. You have to get this or I’ll lose all I have worked for to my brother,” he seethed and I sh
ARTEMIS POVThe rest of the weeks were just a blur of activities. Me, trying to keep up with the lies and Aidan being grumpy as ever. We even had to pretend for the camera. It wasn’t what I bargained for and being in front of stubborn paparazzi was beginning to tell on me. Every click of the camera gave me paranoia.Aidan had told me not to worry that it would still stop but I was getting wary. I was a small-town girl and wasn’t used to all this glamor and paparazzi. It wasn’t funny at all. The other part of this deal that made me uncomfortable was having to sleep on the same bed with Aidan. It wasn’t so before, I had my room but his father had insisted on it.I peeled my eyes open now watching Aidan sleeping. Even with my resentment I couldn’t help but admire how perfect he looked. In his sleep, I couldn’t find the cynical circles around his eyes. He looked young and at peace, and his hair. I had always wondered how they were so black, like midnight. They cascaded his face and I rea
ARTEMIS POVI was lost, stage five lost. I had no clue of anything. The large office with the tainted glass that showed an impressive view of the city suddenly felt like a cage. I was seated beside Aidan. Daymon stood behind us, I could tell he had a gun because the face-off going right here was scary and I didn’t even have a clue why Aidan brought me.“Mr Creek. I have come up with a proposal. One I hope you like,” he said and Aidan cocked his head to the side, making his dark hair fall and giving him those Greek rogue looks.“I don’t always like your proposals, Hernandez. Let’s see what’s on the plate,” He said and Hernandez's gaze rested on me.“Is that your wife?” He asked. Aidan didn’t look one bit bothered. He lounged in his chair and shrugged. “Not yet. We fuck a lot. Quite a lot, she should be pregnant by now. Don Carlo needs a grand heir,” he said and I blushed furiously. How was he able to say that without choking? Now that he mentioned it, silly images filled my head and
Artemis’ PovFirst, Aiden didn’t see me when he stepped into the bathroom thinking he had the privacy he probably wanted from the prying eyes of his friend in the open chamber, and probably mine, but he didn’t know he walked in on me.I was done cleaning the restroom when he entered, and I didn’t bother to disturb him, not until I heard him chant the name Hera twice in the phone with tensed voice, and now, his friend asked if I’m Hera.Who the heck is this Hera of a person that got almighty Aiden so pissed he couldn’t even check well before snarling at the name.“Hera?” I raised my brows, “I am—”“Artemis,” Aiden didn’t let me finish, “my wife to be.”The fella blinked twice. He seemed to realize he’d said the wrong thing at the wrong time, and he should have knocked before badging into someone else’s toilet.“And why are you donning such apparel?” the fella pointed out.Aiden called him Rusev earlier, so, I thought I should call him the same and ask him to let me be. I can’t stand ge
Aiden’s PovI nearly pushed my finger’s to Rusev’s lips, but I didn’t because Artemis could be watching from the room. He’s not to be blamed anyways. No responsible man can skip such question, and if anyone should, it can never be Rusev.“She’s no more,” I masked the shock that braced my face with a sudden smile.Rusev raised his brows. I thought of blinking my eyes in quick signs but he seemed not ready to yield. Maybe because he must have ready of me in the dark web where I was portrayed as ruthless.Being ruthless might mean I might be so rash I could talk of my past even in the presence of my wife to be—that is if he understood Artemis’ place.“What happened to her?” he asked curiously, “is she dead?”I waited thoughtfully before I answered him. “Maybe, just not sure.”He nodded and turned once more to my mother’s picture. I knew why he’s so obsessed with my mom. She hid him and his siblings away during the dark days of the scandal that tossed his father’s life in the hands of the
Author’s Pov“You don’t mean it,” the man said with a toothy smile. Kane raised his brows and gestured at the limo down the aisle. Some of his girls were there already, waiting for him. This time, Aiden picked interest in looking though he hadn’t wished to do such earlier. The scene was nothing far from what he had seen and done in the past. It was nothing tempting, so, he felt the fella might as well turn down the offer. “Nice girls you got there, but I’m not up for some pussy,” the man said with a shrug, “I’m out here hunting for something deeper and bigger than a ride with girls and a big guy.” Aiden chuckled. The men who check in often in the Creeks crib will never fall for such fantasies. It’s that common among them. Kane smiled. He seemed to understand just why the fella had to turn down his offer—Aiden was there and no one would like to hurt Aiden to favor Kane. “What if I introduce you to my new business plan and make you part of—”The man slung his ball bag across his
Author’s PovAiden returned to the hall and met the noise and the fella nestled at his seat with his face riddled with disgust. His eyes met that of Kane who seemed eager to see either him or his masked lady returned.He made to his seat and tugged at Benny’s suit. Benny turned with his eyes red with tears that refused to spill through his eyelids.“You asked me to recite my poems to her,” Benny’s voice met Aiden’s ears in the midst of the laughter. Don Carlos was now seated, but his friends now resorted to one thing; mock and mimic the fella they thought mad and nothing else.“Sorry—” Aiden urged him to leave the seat with his eyes. Benny left the seat and Aiden sat. “You can go grab another seat over there.” Benny followed Aiden’s gesture. It was the tail of the table. Someone had just rose from there, and the person would surely return. That would be a second batch of trouble for Benny.“Okay,” Benny said and walked off from the hall.Artemis on the other hand was done with her m
Artemis’ PovI could have asked Aiden where he was off to, but I chose to play nice and let him have his way. Besides, wherever he ought to have gone wouldn’t take much time, but I was wary of someone, the woman in mask.It’s been a game since we arrived at the table. It’s been a game from yesterday during the dance. Kane had his eyes on me like I had something of his he wished to reclaim, and the lady had her eyes on Aiden like he owed her, so, I couldn’t help my curiosity as it piqued.I looked up from my plate and saw Kane. First, he was a little too crafty. He’s shoved a word at Aiden at will, though he knew Aiden would say nothing to him. And when their father showed up, he accused Aiden of saying shit about the old man.Thanks for the Don’s personality. Well, that’s by the way. The problem now is Kane still has his eyes on my skin. It felt it sting like a scorpion’s sting. I needed Aiden so bad at this moment, but he wasn’t anywhere to be found.It was then that a broad hand gl
Aiden’s PovI could tell she wanted to have a word with me, maybe to threaten me of what stunt she would pull up next, but to me, it was a close chance to pin her to the wall and snare into her face.I felt Kane’s eyes follow me as I left, but I was crafty enough to choose the south door, so no one would suspect I had gone to meet with Kane’s masked lady when I had mine.The south door was the one that led to the restroom, but he had a link to the north, a quick link at that. I charged through the link.Maybe finally, I’ll get my hands on that sickly whore. I was sure she was the one that dared dance with me last night in the mad party.Yes, she wasn’t the one I saw when we arrived at the mansion and saw Kane by his car. She might have switched with the second lady, or she was probably hidden in the car by the devil that brought her as one of his demons.Her footsteps echoed through the hall way, not just hers, though. That of the servants who used the same walkway did the same, but i
Author’s PovThe day broke gracefully with the two lovers cuddled over each other in the massive bed of the chamber. Aiden’s eyes slowly popped open. He took a long breath and yawned with his left hand placed over his lips. Artemis on the other hand clung tightly to his chest, but Aiden slowly freed himself of her arms and rolled out of bed. the curtains in the room were big and thick enough to keep the son out for good and the grandfather clock in the room was at a distant corner.Aiden made to the window and pulled at the curtain but it was heavier than the regular ones he’s had to pull in other places he’d visited so far.He returned to the bedside and picked the remote on the bed drawer.“Good morning, darling.” Artemis greeted sleepily, her voice almost stuck withing her throat. She wriggled over and smiled a week smile at Aiden who answered her greetings with a grin and a nod. “Come back to bed—”Aiden chuckled and pressed the remote. The curtains shrugged to the other end of t
Aiden’s PovI looked Artemis in the eyes. she was anxious—anxious to leave the hall and have her peace in a secluded room that is void of the sea of eyes settled on us. I could tell she’s most irritated by Kane’s presence, but the big bad thing is we can’t decline my father’s order.I took my hand off her waist, and with a reassuring smile, I took her hand and led her into the center of the hall. The hall formed a circle around us and watched us as we danced. I did my best to guide Artemis’ steps in the dance.She’s not fond of such classic dance as we ought to do, to entertain father and his old friends who wished to have us entertain the hall the way they did in their own days.I didn’t loot for the smile on their faces while we danced, I was focused on Artemis’ face. She seemed not to believe she’s the one in the center of the hall, our bodies stretched out in a dance that looked easy but required energy.“Come on, call in the ladies!” father ordered and the internal exit door popp
Artemis’ PovEverything seized to exist for a moment. Silence stole the noise that had swallowed the room earlier and the hall seemed to melt into oblivion. It seemed it had not been recorded anything time in history that the massive door of the Creeks’ Hall was busted open amidst meeting.At this point, I could see the men with their cups raised were merely startled and expectant of whom it was that had dared to interrupt their meeting with such rascal attitude. But there was nothing to see as the door remained open and without trace of anyone.“Maybe, it’s the wind,” Aiden’s father brought the hall back to life with a mischievous smile on his face. But someone snapped from the distance and cleared his throat.“It’s definitely not the wind, sire,” Benny announced on his feet. We all turned to him, and like he liked the attention he’d dragged to himself, he tugged at his suit and pointed towards the door with a proud smile on his face. “It’s another son of the Creeks.”Everyone turne