Lilian shook her head vigorously. She was acting weird and she knew it. Did she just openly flirt with her arch-nemesis? It seemed like she did and it was horrible. What was wrong with her? She needed to focus. She was going to escape tonight so she had to make everything she did count. She only had one shot at this. She headed to the kitchen and saw Antonio cleaning up the plates. He smile at her and continued washing the dishes."Still going to go ahead with your plan Miss Mendez?"Lilian looked at Antonio with an exasperated look. She didn't want him to bring it up, especially not now. She said nothing."I guess I'll take that as a yes then," he said while he scrubbed a pot. "You know, you don't have to do this, right? I can see a growing spark between you two.""What growing spark? Come on Antonio, he doesn't care a dime about me. If he wants me, it's because he needs sex, and if I want him, it's because I need sex too. Okay?"Antonio exhaled deeply. She really was as thick-headed
They pulled up at the event venue. It was glamorous and dazzling. Damian got out of the car first and opened the door for Lilian to step out. Lilian was surprised. Did he just open the door for her? He took her hand and helped her out. He then pulled her close and whispered harshly in her ear."Don't get used to this treatment."Lilian thought as much. It was just for show. She knew that he could never be this courteous. She walked beside him and flashed a dazzling fake smile. They walked inside and they were greeted by a wave of people. Lilian almost got tired of saying the 'good evenings' and 'how are yous'. Damian had already stopped and was just giving polite nods. He was thoroughly not enjoying this. He just needed to get through to the end and that would be the end of it. Lilian was kept close by his side. Escaping now would be foolhardy. She needed to get him to loosen up. Adam was at a corner of the bar having a glass of champagne. The waiters came around and offered Lilian an
Damian was furious but he kept his anger in check as the party was almost over. He delivered an amazing presentation and everyone was awed by his new business idea. As the evening dragged on, the guests began to leave one by one. By 12 midnight, the hall was empty apart from the security personnel, the waiters who were cleaning up, Adam, and Damian."What do you mean by 'she escaped'?!" Damian was seething. His green eyes glowed bright and hot. He was furious."I'm sorry Sir. She came up behind me and knocked me out." Greg was in big trouble. He had woken up with a bruise on his head. The guard that was in charge of watching the restroom she used was also very shaky.Damian looked at his entire security team. He tried to calm himself down but he was boiling."You mean to tell me that all of you were conned by a woman?! You all are more pathetic and stupid than I thought! I want her back here this..."Damian's phone cut him short. He was not in the mood for calls. He answered it and a s
Lilian was up but all she could see was a blurry face looking at her. She was woozy and her head ached awfully. She rubbed her eyes and soon found out that she was on a warm bed. She blinked again and was startled to find Damian sitting on a chair, wearing a suit and staring at her. She looked back at him, fear and fury were in her eyes. She looked around and found out that she was back in her room at Damian's mansion. She had failed. She wanted to attack him but her limbs were weak. Damian smirked at her and walked towards her dressing table. There was a bottle of whiskey on it. He poured himself a shot and proceeded to look at Lilian. His smirk had turned into a look of threatening seriousness. He took a sip and spoke, each word was said in an icy smooth tone. "Well well well. Isn't this a familiar sight? I don't know about you but I just got this feeling of deja vu." He smiled a sick and devilish smile. Lilian looked ferociously at him but said nothing. "What's the matter," he sa
Miss Rosé headed upstairs. She knocked gently on Damian's door and waited before she came in. Like Adam, she had witnessed some of Damian's office sexcapades. She was one herself. She heard a gruff 'come in' and she proceeded to enter. Damian was at his desk. His eyes were fixed on his laptop. He didn't need to look up to know who it was. "Miss Rosé." "Mr. Richards" "Been a while since I saw you." Damian looked up at her and closed his laptop. Miss Rosé's voice became light and foxy and her stare was seductive. "And I wonder whose fault that is?" Damian felt his blood pressure rise. He beckoned on her to come and she walked sexily up to him. She sat astride him and looked into his deep green eyes. "And congratulations on the event. You danced wonderfully and made an amazing presentation." He put a finger to her chin and pulled her face close. "Don't talk about the dancing. It was just necessary frivolity. Now, shut up," he said in a husky dominating whisper. "Yes Sir," she r
Damian got back from a great day at work. Everything was just perfect for him. He came in and was in a significantly better mood. The household was still tense but not as much. He called for his dinner to be brought upstairs and he headed to his room. After a long, warm bath he lay on his bed. He was at peace but then, the thought of Lilian hit his mind. Was she still alive in that room? Had she by any chance committed suicide? Damian waved the thought from his head. She was way too stubborn to have such a thought. He soon heard a heavy knock on his door. To his surprise, it was Antonio. He came in holding the dinner tray. Damian sat up. Antonio had never brought breakfast to him by himself."Mr. Richards, your dinner is ready.""Yes. I can see that. Why didn't you ask one of the maids to bring it?""They weren't immediately available. I suppose they were getting ready to go home. As I brought it up here, I didn't meet one and she volunteered to take it to you but I decided to do it my
Lilian woke up from her sleep. She didn't feel any jabbing pains anymore but she was terribly weak. She asked the maid to please bring her some water to drink. The maid left. The doctor's instructions were that she was to drink lukewarm if she got thirsty. Lilian desperately craved cool water but after drinking shower water for three days, anything else was way better. She was left alone for a few minutes and she thought about poor Antonio. He was probably lying helpless in bed and his wife was beside herself with worry. She somehow blamed herself for all this. If she had not attempted an escape, Damian would not have locked her up and Antonio wouldn't have had a heart attack. As she thought, tears came to her eyes. Soon she heard a knock and a click and she immediately dried her puffy eyes. The maid was back with the water. She looked at the clock, it was well past 2 pm. Soon the maid left again for her lunch break and Lilian was alone again. She closed her eyes and hoped that Antonio
Lilian woke up from her sleep. She didn't feel any jabbing pains anymore but she was terribly weak. She asked the maid to please bring her some water to drink. The maid left. The doctor's instructions were that she was to drink lukewarm if she got thirsty. Lilian desperately craved cool water but after drinking shower water for three days, anything else was way better. She was left alone for a few minutes and she thought about poor Antonio. He was probably lying helpless in bed and his wife was beside herself with worry. She somehow blamed herself for all this. If she had not attempted an escape, Damian would not have locked her up and Antonio wouldn't have had a heart attack. As she thought, tears came to her eyes. Soon she heard a knock and a click and she immediately dried her puffy eyes. The maid was back with the water. She looked at the clock, it was well past 2 pm. Soon the maid left again for her lunch break and Lilian was alone again. She closed her eyes and hoped that Antonio
Chapter 121Every day was filled with fear for Lilian as she waited for her week in the hospital to come to an end. Finally, it did come and she was filled with more fear than ever. Damian hadn't come to see her again and she asked Dr. Gray to take her home.Noon came and Dr. Gray signed her discharge papers and he took her to his car. She was weak but she managed to walk on her own. She got into the passenger's seat and Dr. Gray was at the wheel."Are you ready?" he asked her."No."Dr. Gray exhaled."Damian really has changed. For the better you know. He has been coming to therapy with me.""Can we just go?"Dr. Gray revved the engine and soon, they were on the road. Each mile they covered filled her with anxiety. She was nervous and unsure of her decision. They soon got to his place and the guards opened up. Gray drove into the compound and they were very surprised to see her. They had thought she died.They walked to the door but before they could knock, Damian opened the door. He
Chapter 120It was rolling into the third week and Damian went to see Lilian every day after work and then he would have therapy sessions with Dr. Gray. Rosé saw him constantly at the hospital and soon, they were able to smooth things over.The business was rising steadily and they had managed to secure the number two spot. Adam was really putting in a whole lot of effort and if he hadn't been on the ground, Damian would have been dirt broke.Every day, he felt his heart plummet. Lilian hadn't woken up yet. Damian was at work and was in a very important meeting. He had managed to get his investors back and was in a presentation, made by Adam about how they could increase company profits. The reactions were positive and there were a lot of nods. Things were actually going very well.Damian listened to Adam as he spoke and was very impressed with him. His phone soon rang and interrupted the meeting. All eyes were on him."I am so sorry. "He pulled out his phone and saw that it was Dr.
Chapter 119For an entire week, Damian couldn't go to work. he was home, a drunken mess. Adam was calling every day but he paid him no attention. He just wanted to be left alone. He had gone to the hospital every day of the week but he was never let in. Dr. Gray had told the security personnel to turn him out if they saw him. He feared the worst for Lilian. He didn't know how she was doing, whether she was dead or alive. He sat at his wine cabinet and took another swing of liquor. He e was dead drunk. He still hadn't found his briefcase and had questioned all the maids about it but none of them knew where it was. He was miserable. He took another swing and fell to the floor. His senses were all muddled. Everything in the room began to spin. Every now and then he would see a figure that looked like Lilian but when he rubbed his eyes, it was a coat or chair. Sometimes he would see Antonio but the smile on his face was a frown that intensified his guilt. Camilla had called a couple of
Chapter 118Lilian was in her room sobbing into her pillow. Her head ached and her body was weak. Suddenly, the door busted open and she saw a furious Damian at the door glaring at her. He looked around her room, throwing her things to the floor and pulling her drawers wide open."Where is it?!"Lilian was confused. Where was what? Damia looked at her and she was ill. Her eyes were only glistening with tears but he didn't care. He walked up to her and grabbed her long black locks and yoinked her out of bed. Lilian felt her scalp in terrible pain. She was dragged to Damian's room and he threw her roughly on the floor. She hit her face on the polished tiles and her lips began to bleed."Where is it?! Where the fuck is my briefcase?! You were the only one that saw me open it you keep it in my wardrobe. You are the only one that knows what is inside it!"Lilian began to cry. She had no idea where it was. She hadn't taken it."I don't know," she said amidst tears and sobs."Domain grabbed
Chapter 117The weekend was short. Sunday was busy for him and so was Monday. Tuesday rolled in and Damian was getting ready for work. He hadn't seen Lilian all weekend. She stayed clear of him and out of his sight. She only came out when she was sure that he had gone out or in the middle of the night to get something to eat when she was sure that he was asleep. He wasn't bothered, as long as she wasn't in his way, he was fine with it. His meals were made by his maids and they honestly did a good job though none of them were official chefs. He had put his search for a new chef on hold. It seemed he had bad luck with them. They were either crushing on his women or dying for some reason.Rosé was still mad at him for whatever reason and she was still giving him her sour attitude. He had released their pay cheques and was in his office enjoying a game of solitaire.Adam texted him. He was really grateful for the little increase in his already massive pay. He smiled at the message and co
Chapter 116Camilla and Damian were at it till late in the evening. Camilla was terribly worn out and Damian lay beside her equally breathless.She turned to him but he gave her no attention."So, what changed your mind? I thought that you were intoxicated with your sweetheart"Daman continued to stare at the ceiling."You can leave now."Camilla wasn't offended in the least. She knew Damian quite well and that this was how he worked but it was good enough for her. She had had wild nights with Sean but this night had to top all of them by the largest margin.She got up from bed and picked up her clothes and got dressed. Damian watched her and the entire time, she had a smirk on her face. Soon she was dressed and she picked up her handbag."I had a spectacular time Mr. Richards. I hope we can do this again."She winked at him and left his room. Damian took a deep breath and ran his hand through his ravaged hair. He looked at the clock and saw that it was quite late. He had asked his dr
Chapter 115Lilian was home alone and she was looking through his cookbook. She had asked the maids not to bother about breakfast for her and soon they left after the chores for the day were done.She wanted to make breakfast for herself using Antonio's cookbook. She saw a recipe for waffles and she was instantly down to try. She found some waffle mix and the waffle maker and set to work.She enjoyed herself while she was making the meals. She felt like the book was her only connection to Antonio. Whenever she used it, she could hear his voice gently guiding her to his thick italian accent. She wondered if Anna felt that way when she was at home.Soon, she was done but it was missing the berries. She wondered if the berries in the garden were ripe. She took a little basket with her and headed out the front door. She saw Dean and Dylan having an arm wrestling match. They stopped as soon as they saw her. Dean looked away a bit and Dylan noticed and stifled a laugh."Wher are you off to
Chapter 114Damian came home late and he found Lilian in the living room with the television on enjoying a bowl of pasta. He could smell the food and it smelled just the way that Antonio used to make it."How did you get that?"Lilian was started by his presence. She didn't know that he was home. She didn't even hear the car drive in."Anna came by and she brought me Antonio's cookbook. So I followed the recipe and made his famous spaghetti."Lilian was smiling. She hoped that Damian would like to have some. It would probably cheer him up but he simply gruffed and headed upstairs. Lilian was alone. she took a deep breath and continued watching her show. She was uninterested now and she sat there staring at the television and she couldn't hear a thing they were saying. Her phone beeped beside her. She picked it up and saw that it was a message from Rosé "I hope you are okay. I didn't see you at work today."Lilian smiled sadly. Rosé seemed to be the only person that was checking on he
Chapter 113Damian walked in and he seemed very angry. Lilian was nervous and she swallowed hard when she saw him. Rosé saw her fear and held her hand reassuringly.Damian looked from Rosé to Lilian. Rosé stared back at him unafraid. Damian looked at the pair and headed upstairs. Lilian breathed and Rosé looked really nervous and scared for her."Are you sure that you want to stay here? My offer is still open. You can stay with me."Lilian nodded."I'll be fine."Rosé couldn't force her and she stood up and left. Lilian sat at the dinner table unsure of what to do. She was terrified and scared. She finally decided to head back up to her room. As soon as she got upstairs, Damian called her."Come here. Now."She walked to his room and closed the door behind her. Damian was at his wine cabinet, drinking.She stood looking at him."I don't need you at work anymore. You can stay home. The maids will be brought back and you can stay at home. Now leave."Lilian left and didn't look back. Sh