ARTEMIS POV“Calm down, I have no intention to hurt you,” Kane assured me, just when we were at the door to my room. ‘I don't know that,’ I screamed in my head.“I know that,” I replied to him, a frozen smile plastered on my face. “I'm actually sorry about what happened today.”That wasn't my fault but I needed to find a way to dismiss him because after what happened earlier that day, there was no way no way I was letting him into my room. “It's nothing but do tell me, who's she?” He asked, leaning against the wall just beside me. “I don't really know anything about her. That was the lady Aidan had been kissing you know when,” I replied, cocking my head a bit to the side.Kane didn't say anything, he seemed to be in thought and I took it as a cue to slip away. “Uhm, it's been a hell of a night, you know? I'm pretty tired now, why don't we continue this discussion in the morning?”“Okay then, have a great night's rest,” he replied mechanically. I didn't wait for him to leave before
Artemis POV “Fine, I respect whatever decision you make,” Kane said calmly, close to my ears. “ I will give you more time to love me,” he added. I could see the anger written all over Kane's face as he walked away; I was sure he wouldn't want me to notice that, but I did. ‘ I don't mean to hurt your feelings,” I whispered silently to myself as I watched you leave. I went back to my room without the glass of water I came to take downstairs. Rolling from one side of the bed to another, I couldn't get myself to sleep because the thought of what happened between myself and Kane flooded my head. A few hours later, I slept off. The next morning, I woke up to the sound of a bird chipping at my window. “What in the world is this damn bird doing at my window,” sleep still shivering all over my voice and my head banging like it was going to explode. I was feeling so weak and tired like I worked all through the night in my dreams. I summon the strength to pick up my phone on the side ta
Artemis POV “You look stunning and amazing,” Kane said as he grabbed my waist and moved me closer to himself. “Thank you,” I replied as I stylishly pushed him away. I grabbed my purse and we left for the car. Kane opened the passenger seat door for me to hop in as a gentleman would do. We drove to the party in silence, the tension between us was high. We got to the party a few minutes into driving, and Kane got down from the car and opened the other side of the car for me to get down. As soon as we entered the party, I saw Aiden at the other end of the room. He was sitting gently, sipping from the glass of wine he was holding. “ Care for a glass of wine?”Kane asked me. “Sure I do.” I quickly get myself together so Kane won't notice I am staring at Aiden. Kane got me a glass of wine and also got himself one. “Let's dance,” Kane said silently to my ear, pulling me closer to himself. I looked back at Aiden, who was now looking at me and Kane as we danced. Aiden continues loo
Artemis POV Before I knew what was going on, Aiden pulled me into a bathroom beside where we were. I wanted to compose and let him know he was not in the position to do what he was doing, but he covered my lips with a deep kiss which, deep down, I wanted so badly. I soon began to kiss him back. I was almost losing it when I remembered how he hurt me even at the party. I tried pushing him away, but his grip was so tight that I couldn't escape. “What in the world do you think you're doing right now?” I asked frowning and looking up at him to get a clearer picture of his face. Aiden didn't say a word, but instead, he wanted more of my lips, and he kissed me more. “Who did you think you are to think you can do anything you like to me whenever you want?” “I'm sorry, Artemis,” Aiden said out of his breath, his eyes looking all over my body like he was ready to devour me at any available chance he got. “ Did you just say you're sorry, Aiden?” I asked angrily with my eyes wide open. “
Artemis POV I stood there frozen as the sound of the slammed door echoed in my ear. I couldn't believe what happened. I wasn't surprised anyway; that's the great Aiden we all know. I adjusted my dress well, brushed my hair, brought out lipstick from my purse, and applied some on my lips. As I entered the party, I spotted Aiden dancing and flirting with every lady in sight like he was doing it on purpose. “This must be a joke!” I whispered to myself. Done Aiden was giving the ladies the chance, all of them saw it as an opportunity to flirt with him the way they have always wanted. I watched as Aiden spank one of the lady's asses, my eyes narrowed, and I saw him laughing and the woman he spanked grinning from ear to ear. A spark of jealousy rose within me, and my face heated up. “Why are you reacting like this, Artemis?” I asked myself. “I thought you said you were with this guy” I was confused as to the reason why I was having this feeling of jealousy inside me. I shook off t
Artemis POV “Do you even love Aiden?” Daymon asked a very deep question that I had to ponder for some minutes before answering. I remember the first day I met Aiden. I felt nothing for him, but as time went on, I began to fall for him. He was the first man I would ever love to the heart; with him by my side, it looked like I had the whole wide world to myself. I took a deep breath, my eyes drifted away from Daymon’s. Memories of Aiden and I occupied my mind. I wish we could go back to the old days, the smiles, the tears, the laughter, the passionate time we spent together and all. “Yes, I love him,” I said, my voice barely available. “I do love him with all my heart” “And why do you love Aiden ?” Daymon asked, trying to understand. I hesitated, trying to look for the right word to use; I was short of words. “Aiden was the first person to make me feel like a real woman; he loved me heatedly and gave me the kind of affection everyone would want; he is the best thing every woman w
Chapter 33: trapped in danger Artemis POV I decided to wake him up to go sleep in his room for comfort, but I needed to get myself some water to drink before going to wake him up. I went to the kitchen and grabbed a cup from the cabinet to drink some water. After I was done, I went back to the sitting room to wake Kane up as planned. I was about to tap him when I saw a white envelope sliding down his pocket. “What's this I asked myself?’ I felt the urge to check the content of the letter. I tiptoed towards him and slowly removed the envelope from his pocket. I opened It, and it contained a letter. “Should I just drop it or proceed to check the content?” I asked myself silently. I went ahead to open the letter and the content was driving me crazy… “I will transfer your balance to you tomorrow; you impressed me the last time I gave you a job but this time around, and I want you to do more. I want you to look for a way to sleep with him, if possible, rape him and make her catc
Daymon’s POV At this point, we need to do anything to survive and save Artemis, my boss's woman. I am more confused than a first-time mom who knows nothing about newborns. I steered at the lady beside me who was bleeding profusely like she was going to lose all the blood she had in her body. “I will do something now to save us,” I said to Artemis, who is now feeling so weak and tired. She nodded her head in response to what I said. I drove the car and parked the car beside the forest, almost going into the forest so nobody, not even Kane's men, would find out we were there. When I made sure the car was well hidden, I took my cell phone and some basic things we might need because we were going to hide inside the forest. Immediately after I was done packing, I tore a part of my shirt and brought out the small ointment I had in the car to help Artemis' wound stop bleeding. I succeeded after five minutes. “Hold my shoulder so you can walk well,” I offered Artemis. She wrapped he
Aidan POVThe next few days after Kane's threat began to unroll in a whirlpool of events -- within each minute the quiet strain between Artemis and I. We had decided on attending the charity gala, together, for the display of unity and defiance against the haunting shadows of Hera and Kane. I stood in front of the mirror, while adjusting my tie, pondering upon what I may have done, or not done of late, to have the weight of expectation hanging upon me. The gala would be where the most influential people would congregate. If ever there was a time for Hera to strike, it would be here."Are you ready?" Artemis called from the other room. She sounded almost haughty with a mixture of excitement and nerves. "Almost," I replied, forcing a smile. I had to be his strength. It was his entry into, a very new and dangerous world-and I had to make sure that it felt like a support.I was silent for a moment when she came out. She was wearing this lacey red gown that molded her body all the right
Artemis POVThe hallway, awash in chaos, found a frozen representation of me. Uncertainty had reduced the strength of my insides. Even as the adrenaline rush of Aidan's protection fueled my very being, my very fear of what would follow stopped my feet in their tracks. There were louder voices now: anger and indignation intermingled. I found myself rushing Aidan, heart pounding away. As I took the turn, he stood toe to-toe with various men, their faces illustrating how morally intense and confrontational the situation was. "Get lost," Aidan growled, barely above a whisper. "Aidan, you can’t just turn your back on this," replied one of the men, sharp-edged. He was the tallest, wearing a dark suit that announced authority. "Hera has powerful connections, and you have to be careful." "Careful?" Aidan scoffed, his temper flaring. "You think I’m afraid of some empty threats? I’ll handle this my way." I edged closer and heard snippets of their dialogue, which made my spine crawl at the
Artemis POVThe hallway, awash in chaos, found a frozen representation of me. Uncertainty had reduced the strength of my insides. Even as the adrenaline rush of Aidan's protection fueled my very being, my very fear of what would follow stopped my feet in their tracks. There were louder voices now: anger and indignation intermingled. I found myself rushing Aidan, heart pounding away. As I took the turn, he stood toe to-toe with various men, their faces illustrating how morally intense and confrontational the situation was. "Get lost," Aidan growled, barely above a whisper. "Aidan, you can’t just turn your back on this," replied one of the men, sharp-edged. He was the tallest, wearing a dark suit that announced authority. "Hera has powerful connections, and you have to be careful." "Careful?" Aidan scoffed, his temper flaring. "You think I’m afraid of some empty threats? I’ll handle this my way." I edged closer and heard snippets of their dialogue, which made my spine crawl at the
Artemis POVThe night air was cool under my feet as I stepped outside the garden, and everything was cast under a silvery glow by the moon. I could not shake the unnerving feeling pressing at my heart since dinner. Aidan's father and his expectations were hovering like a dark cloud above us, and I felt like a puppet in their great play. There was some magnetism in Aidan that drew me toward him, something I could not quite put a finger on. I found Aidan leaning back against a marble pillar, the phone still clutching in his hand. The air was thick with tension as my heart fluttered at the thought of going up to him. Did he feel it too? "Aidan?" I softly called, stepping closer. His head rose, and those piercing green eyes locked with mine. For a moment, everything ceased to exist outside this sphere that encapsulated both of us in limbo and yearning."Artemis," he said, his voice low and sultry, making me shiver. "What are you doing out here?""I needed some air," I swallowed, hoping
Aidan POVThe night hung heavily as we drove back to my family's estate, enshrouded in tension. The showdown with Kane had jolted us, and I could feel the pall of uncertainty over Artemis. I glanced at her: her jaw was set in a determined line, though fear, I knew, lurked beneath the surface. "You okay?" I asked after I parked the car, breaking the silence. "Just trying to process everything," she answered, her voice steady, but her eyes were full of worry. "What do you think Kane meant? That we were in over our heads?""Don't know," I said, raking my fingers through my hair. "But we cannot allow him to scare us. We are stronger together, and we need to focus on Hera."As we stepped inside, it was like suffocation; the grand foyer resounded with the silence of empty echoes. I felt my father's wishes bearing down on me as his wildest expectations presented themselves. I had gone against him, and I was wise enough to know that my father would not bear it lightly.''Let's go talk to hi
Artemis POVI felt each whisper of conversation thrum through the room. Every eye seemed to be trained on me in anticipation of what would unfold next. I noticed that Aidan's jaw clenched, trying to gain control over his anxiety. Hera walked further forward into the party and her smile lit up the room like a bolt of electric tension.“Aidan, darling,” Hera said sweetly, slicing every air with her voice. “I didn’t expect to find you with someone who looks so… so… different from me.” Her eyes shot over to me, and as they did, the rush of anger and insecurity combined in me."Aidan, is this the woman you have chosen to be with? I only hope she understands what she is getting into," she continued mockingly.Aidan spoke with a low but firm voice, "Enough, Hera. You have no rights to be here.""Oh but I do," She moved closer. "See, I came here to remind everyone of that little agreement." She pulled out a document from her purse and waved it like a trophy. "This says you owe me, Aidan. And
Artemis POVI felt each whisper of conversation thrum through the room. Every eye seemed to be trained on me in anticipation of what would unfold next. I noticed that Aidan's jaw clenched, trying to gain control over his anxiety. Hera walked further forward into the party and her smile lit up the room like a bolt of electric tension.“Aidan, darling,” Hera said sweetly, slicing every air with her voice. “I didn’t expect to find you with someone who looks so… so… different from me.” Her eyes shot over to me, and as they did, the rush of anger and insecurity combined in me."Aidan, is this the woman you have chosen to be with? I only hope she understands what she is getting into," she continued mockingly.Aidan spoke with a low but firm voice, "Enough, Hera. You have no rights to be here.""Oh but I do," She moved closer. "See, I came here to remind everyone of that little agreement." She pulled out a document from her purse and waved it like a trophy. "This says you owe me, Aidan. And
Artemis POVThe next few days rolled into a blur of work calls, meetings, and strategizing: Aidan and I finally reached out to our closest friends, determined to spend anxiety-ridden hours seeking out enough people to build a network of support able to help us resist Hera's power. With every discussion, one more layer of the web unfolded before us, and, with the feeling of growing tension as we neared the time of confrontation, I could feel the strands beginning to coil tighter.One evening we had gathered in my apartment. The air buzzed with anticipation, and Aidan, Emily, and Ryan comprising the rest sat serious in the living room discussing what would be the next move with me."I know it's a risky affair," Aidan said in a very firm tone. "But we've got to confront Hera directly. If we let her decide the narrative, we'll never free ourselves from her dictation."Emily nodded with her brow knitted in thoughts. "But what if she tries to retaliate? She has connections in places that ca
Artemis POVNights like these trail, having turmoil and kept whispers that swung clouds around Aidan and me. Hera's oculus, I could feel her weight, and every time I spotted her, a shiver disturbed my bones."Are you alright?" Aidan asked, coming closer and lowering his voice."I am fine," I said while forcing a smile, "just trying to grapple with all of this."With his expression raining, he answered. "I know it's quite some taking in, but remember, we have each other."As the gala went on, I tried focusing on the talks we were having, but my mind would attach itself to the topic of threat on us, as Kane's echoed himself in me. Somehow, it all felt like we were walking on a tightrope, one misstep away from disaster."Let's get some air," Aidan said, finding my hand with his.I nodded, relieved to get a moment away from the crowd. Together we stepped out onto the balcony where the coolness of the night air felt revitalizing against my skin. The sounds coming from the gala disappeared