Artemis PovWe filed through the door which was held open by two guards dressed in the eighteenth-century regalia. The wigs caught me the most. They looked exactly like the stuff I see in movies and museums from mostly the Elizabethan era.A lady emerged from a door sewn to the wall of the passage that stretched to the door ahead of us. she stood in our way and bowed her head to us. Aiden’s father was in the forefront, followed by Aiden and I.I noticed something in the lady’s dressing. It was an eighteenth-century fashion. Maybe Aiden has arranged a ball, like that in Lady Whistletown’s piece, the Bridgerton series.“No offence, sire,” she sounded refined, like the most brilliant figure picked from the past and brought to the present to block our way and tell us whatever she has in stock for us.“What do you wish for, woman?” Aiden’s father mimicked her tone. Everyone except me laughed. I was merely curious to figure out what luxury they have in stock for us this time.She smiled and
Aiden’s PovWe were the first to finish. Our clothes were a little too weird for my liking, but what choice do I have? I chose the event planner, and she chose her own sort of design.I joined my father at the mirror where he did the little good of checking out his newest attire. He was dressed like a duke, while I was dressed like a general of those days.“Your brother had been with us all the while until today,” his voice was deep and coarse, like he’d been worried all the while for Kane who didn’t show up—I didn’t intend to see him anyways.I looked at his dress. I could have looked better in the duke’s outfit, while father would have been better dressed as a king instead. But the clothing was good on him. and I wonder what sort of duke he’ll make if he was there in the eighteenth century.He could have been the most ruthless, I guess.“Looks good on you,” I remarked with a weak smile. I nodded and turned to me, maybe fully aware of my vices. What other way could be better for swa
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 POVI could barely sleep that night. I had kissed Aidan so hard and we had nearly even done it in that closet but suddenly he stopped and righted my clothes and told me “Let’s go”I had never had a male lover or boyfriend before because I was too busy rejecting them but I didn’t know what came over me when I kissed him. It was like I had been wanting it. But I hadn’t been wanting this, had I? I couldn’t recall. What changed?I had wrapped my legs around his waist and he had slammed me into a wall and I could feel his erection throbbing between my legs but he had stopped and asked if we could go.I was embarrassed after that but I didn’t regret kissing him. I wanted to kiss him again. His lips were intoxicating, I could still taste the cigar on them.I ran a hand down my leg as I stared at the mirror and imagined it was Aidan running a hand on my thigh.“Miss?” Someone said and I jumped. I covered my legs and turned. It was Daymon. “I was knocking and you didn’t responsibly I
Aiden’s PovWe were the first to finish. Our clothes were a little too weird for my liking, but what choice do I have? I chose the event planner, and she chose her own sort of design.I joined my father at the mirror where he did the little good of checking out his newest attire. He was dressed like a duke, while I was dressed like a general of those days.“Your brother had been with us all the while until today,” his voice was deep and coarse, like he’d been worried all the while for Kane who didn’t show up—I didn’t intend to see him anyways.I looked at his dress. I could have looked better in the duke’s outfit, while father would have been better dressed as a king instead. But the clothing was good on him. and I wonder what sort of duke he’ll make if he was there in the eighteenth century.He could have been the most ruthless, I guess.“Looks good on you,” I remarked with a weak smile. I nodded and turned to me, maybe fully aware of my vices. What other way could be better for swa
Artemis PovWe filed through the door which was held open by two guards dressed in the eighteenth-century regalia. The wigs caught me the most. They looked exactly like the stuff I see in movies and museums from mostly the Elizabethan era.A lady emerged from a door sewn to the wall of the passage that stretched to the door ahead of us. she stood in our way and bowed her head to us. Aiden’s father was in the forefront, followed by Aiden and I.I noticed something in the lady’s dressing. It was an eighteenth-century fashion. Maybe Aiden has arranged a ball, like that in Lady Whistletown’s piece, the Bridgerton series.“No offence, sire,” she sounded refined, like the most brilliant figure picked from the past and brought to the present to block our way and tell us whatever she has in stock for us.“What do you wish for, woman?” Aiden’s father mimicked her tone. Everyone except me laughed. I was merely curious to figure out what luxury they have in stock for us this time.She smiled and
Artemis PovI nearly jolted out of myself when the flowers moved. There’s clearly no wind in the garden. It looked lit was sealed from the outside, but I could breathe in it—I don’t why I could still breathe in this new word.I thought once again of Damon. He’s the one I should call—maybe before calling anyone I used to know. He’s the one I wished most to meet and at least, say sorry for letting him fight on that fateful night for my sake.“D—” something crawled on my leg and stopped three steps away in the flowers. I looked down and saw a pink nurtured rabbit with a red rose trapped in the grip of Its teeth.I went down on both need and took the flower from its mouth, sniffed it and remembered Aiden. The flower’s scent seemed to have been touched by his hands.“Aiden,” I whispered.This might be a stunt, or, the rabbit brought me gift from the human world—maybe the flower placed on the grave. I sniffed once again and let the scent sink into my head.It was full of him. Maybe full of
Aiden’s Pov“You nearly put me in shit, man,” I pushed Rusev’s chest and pinned him to the wall with my left hand. On a good day, I’ll punch shit off his face, but he’s a longtime no see friend, so, I didn’t dare.“Come on,” he gently shrugged off my hand. He probably knew what I meant, “I didn’t know it was not Hera—”He paused suddenly and watched me spare him a breathing space and free my face a little to catch up with the morning’s warmth.He exhaled and adjusted his shirt. “I thought she was Hera because she looked like Hera, and—maybe I just didn’t understand you when you said you don’t have no more shit with Hera.”“You saw her in the field with us and walked to the chamber with us, only to call her Hera—” I clenched my fists to punch his lying mouth, but I still held back. He raised his hands like he knew I could throw a punch at his face if he kept on tossing his lies to my face. I freed my clenched fist and gestured to the big balcony next door.He nodded and followed me in
Artemis’ povAiden, my man, is not the type that would drift to sleep in a matter of seconds, but with me in his warm cuddle, he snored like he’d never done before.I might be wrong anyways if I count it as success—the endless stress of being a core member of the Creeks is enough stress already, but I praise my patience for enduring till I heard him snore.I started with his heavy hands, he’d secured me with them, maybe to keep me from breaking into the night to search for clues of the name, Hera.I lifted his hand gently and slipped off, but I didn’t let it rest on an empty space. I replaced my warmth presence with a pillow and watched him for a while as he slept like a baby.I was tempted to touch his hair—to trace the lining of his nose bridge with the tip of my finger and press a kiss on his cheek before leaving him for my little adventure, but shunned the thought instead and made my way out of the room.First, I sought out his things. He didn’t check in with much—just his suitcas
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