AMANIBut not for the loud music blasting from the speakers, the entire club would’ve heard my voice. Instead, the only people who are aware of our little quarrel are the people around us.I’m almost standing toe-to-toe with Bhyron, my chest heaving heavily with anger while he simply looks down at me with those icy blue eyes. Instead of apologizing, he looks over my shoulder at Richie, the millionaire tech. guy.“That was supposed to be a joke, Richie. But if you’d excuse me, I’d like to speak with Miss Amani in private.”“Of course. I understand.” Richie nods and walks away.Bhyron looks back at me, his sexy lips set in a hard, straight line.“Let’s go to my office. We need to talk.”Everyone has gone back to minding their business, but I can still feel some curious eyes on us. I fold my arms, lift my chin and stare him down.“I don’t hear an apology.”I fully expect him to brush me off or make some sarcastic remark. However, to my surprise, his eyes darken with a strange emotion an
WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS VIOLENT SEXUAL ACTIVITIES.***BHYRONI’ve been watching Amani through the CCTV footage on my iPad ever since she wandered off, not because I’m scared that she might figure out the secrets lurking behind the walls of this club, but because I’m obsessed.Red is the worst colour to ever exist in my opinion. The mere sight of it brings back horrible memories, memories I’d rather keep buried forever…but red on Amani is just divine. I’m slowly starting to realize that her aunt was not joking one bit when she said that Amani has changed. I observed her reaction during her short conversation with Sharon. The former Amani would’ve cowered and lowered her head in defeat. The new Amani is bolder, fiercer, more powerful. Her replies left Sharon stunned. I, on the other hand, was just pleasantly surprised.The old Amani wouldn’t dance for no reason as she roamed the empty halls of my club. The old Amani wouldn’t walk into a room filled with strangers without know
AMANI“I hate you…”Bhyron looks totally distraught. Despite the pain that has my back and thighs cramping, I slide off the table and fix my dress, tears of pain and shame sliding down my cheeks in torrents.I don’t say another word to him. I don’t even look at him as I make my way to the door. This was all my fault and I take full responsibility for it. It will never happen again. That’s a fact.I’m almost at the door when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I freeze.“Amani, listen to me…”“Get your hands off of me!” I screech, lunging away from him. “The next time your hand touches me, be prepared to lose it.”My teeth are gritted, my fingers are curled tight and my eyes are blazing with rage. But deep down, my heart is breaking. Deep down, I’m concealing my pain with anger.Bhyron Macaulay will never see my weak side. That’s a vow.“You’ve caused enough damage to last a lifetime, Bhyron. I’d advise you to stay away from me.”I turn to leave once more but he keeps following me.“Amani, I
BHYRONI fall on my knees and await my punishment, head bent. I can feel Duke hesitate above me, but I know he’ll eventually give in. He knows that this is the only way I can pay for my sins. The only way I know.“Can you at least tell me what happened?”I look up and hold his gaze; “I whipped Amani. I hurt her.”Duke lets out a low curse. “How? Why?”I shake my head and stiffen my shoulders. “I’ll give you all the details later. Just… do as I’ve asked. Please.”There’s a moment of tense, choked silence. Then Duke finally responds;“Okay, then. Since this is what you want.”I hear the “whooshing” sound as the whip flies through the air before it lands on my back. Pain erupts on my skin like a burning furnace, licking its way up my arms and penetrating my muscles.Duke whips me mercilessly even when I fall and writhe on the marble floors. I don’t make a single sound. I swallow the pain. I deserve it.The last time I made him do this, I had blood on my hands. I was guilty of a horrendou
AMANIFor lying to us and getting our hopes up only to end up doing us dirty like this, wherever Bhyron’s lawyer is right now, I hope his coffee is always cold before he even gets the chance to take the first sip.The moment Bhyron reveals himself, the atmosphere visibly shifts, becoming tighter, laced with electricity. He stands tall and powerful beside his car, looking down on us like we’re unworthy peasants at his noble throne.When his eyes fall on me, I’m pretty sure he expects me to look away, but I stand firm and hold his gaze despite my shaky fingers.What happened last night will remain in the past. It’s a brand new day and I’m ready to move forward. I guess.“Do you have my money ready?” He asks without mincing words. I open my mouth to speak but Aunt Ophelia pulls my arm, signifying that I should keep silent while she steps forward and addresses Bhyron;“Mr. Bhyron, please don’t do this. Give us a few more days, please. I promise we’ll have the money ready by the end of t
AMANI“Aunt, don’t even think about it.” I say in a warning tone three minutes after Bhyron leaves the premises.Aunt Ophelia hurries to my chair and scoots down on her haunches, grabbing my arm. “Look, sweetheart, you have every right to be upset with Bhyron. All I’m asking is that you give this a thought. It’ll take a magician and some serious black magic to come up with twenty million by noon tomorrow. Besides, the marriage is fake and it’ll only last for six months. By then, we would’ve paid off the ten million with interest.”I give her an odd look. “Sometimes, I wonder if you even love me at all.”Aunt Ophelia gasps, her eyes narrowing with hurt. “How can you say that? Of course I love you. Everything I have done until this time had been in your best interest. Can’t you see?!”I get to my feet, pointing a shaky finger in her face as anger unfurls in my chest; “no, I can’t see anything, aunt. If you loved me, you wouldn’t even think of asking me to go into any kind of relationsh
AMANI“… this is the woman I’m in love with. Her name is Sharon and we’re getting married in a month's time…”It’s been six years. Six full years and those words still ring in my mind like a death bell.Sharon taps her perfectly manicured nails against the table, her cat-like eyes firmly fixed on my face, gauging my reaction.“Hello, Amani. Welcome to Imperial Couture.”There’s a burning sensation in my chest that I cannot seem to get rid of.My anger should be focused on Bhyron for betraying me, but something about this woman just makes me incredibly bitter.“You contacted me? Why?” I ask bluntly, feeling my excitement drain away.Sharon frowns. “I don’t get it. I was looking for a perfume brand, I loved your portfolio and decided to give you a call.”I nod, my lips twisting in disdain. “Sure. And I assume you send a limousine to pick up all your intending partners, huh?”I knew there was something off about that limo. Sharon’s slight hesitation is all the answer I need.I take a dee
AMANIYou know that feeling when everything seems to be going great in your life, then suddenly, something evil sneaks up on you out of nowhere like bad juju? Yes, that’s exactly how I feel as I throw my robe on and make my way to Will & Julia Perfumety by two forty-five in the morning, terrified as a chicken that’s being led to the slaughter.I’m already halfway there when I realize that I don’t have any shoes on, but there’s no going back. I keep my teeth gritted to hold back my whimpers of pain as rocks jab into my feet on the dark street.Thirty meters away from the company, I can already see the thick cloud of black smoke in the air and a blurry line of crimson in the distant skies. My heart almost stops beating.By the time I arrive at the gates, I’ve gone into full panic mode. I called 9-1-1 but they’re yet to arrive. How can I be faster than the damn police?Aunt Ophelia was right. Only our factories, our main area of production is currently burning. The main buildings where o
AMANI God, everything hurts. The wild banshee in my brain is back, and it’s screaming at the top of its lungs. I feel like shit and I’m pretty sure I look like shit, too.My eyelids flutter open and I wince as the bright white light pierces my poor eyeballs.“It hurts.” I whisper softly. “The light’s too bright.” Then I hear his voice. It slips through the fog in my brain, calming me and soothing my aches like nothing else ever will.“She’s awake! Adjust the lights, Duke. Her eyes are hurting.”The lights are adjusted immediately and my heart beats frantically as my eyes rove the room in search of him.Bhyron Macaulay. My husband.Finally, his face fills my vision and I break into a loopy smile. “Bhyron…”“Hi, my pretty baby.” His voice, strong and husky and soft all at the same time wafts over me like a comforting blanket.Wait. His eyes are red. Was he crying?Even if it hurts like hell, I raise my hand and trail a finger across the wet tracks on his face.“Were you crying?”“Don
BHYRONEIGHT MONTHS LATER…“I’m sorry, sir, but your wife’s condition is extremely critical. She will not be able to push this baby. We’ll have to perform an emergency C-section if we want both of them alive and healthy.” Five hours ago, Amani’s water broke. We were having a mini family dinner with everyone in attendance when it happened. She was only eight months and two weeks along so it came as an unexpected surprise. I’d tried my absolute best to keep her healthy during the course of the pregnancy. I don’t understand where I went wrong. I’m pretty sure I read every pregnancy book on the earth’s surface. My wife is stubborn as hell but I always managed to keep her on a good diet and ensure she exercised daily. Right now, a part of me registers that I’m panicking. This is all my fault. Definitely my fault. I must’ve done something wrong. I didn’t take care of her properly. I missed a step. I overlooked something…“Mr. Macaulay, I’m still waiting for your response.” The doctor’s u
AMANII’m scared, shocked and shaken to the core, and I don’t think I’ll ever get over the cold expression in Mrs. Emily’s eyes when she spoke about her late sister. Grandpa Ayutthaya never mentioned that he had a daughter who died during childbirth. How strange.But the main reason for my fear is Bhyron.He hasn’t said a single word since we left Beauty and Roses. Not one word.I tried to talk to him, to cajole him into saying something…into telling me how he felt. But I got nothing. Nada. Zilch.He just urged me into the car, wrapped me in his arms, pressed his nose to my neck and remained that way until we arrived at the penthouse. Now he’s inside his office behind closed doors, and he’s been there for the past two hours.I’m gradually losing my mind.“Duke, I don’t know what to do anymore. I don’t wanna disturb him. I’m scared that he won’t speak to me. Help!!.”I’ve been on the phone with Duke for the past five minutes, explaining what happened.“Take him on a mini vacation, Ama
BHYRONThe past few days have just been a rollercoaster of revelations. It’s crazy how so many secrets can be swept under the rug for years. It’s even more appalling how lives can be ruptured by these secrets within seconds.I asked my mother for an urgent meeting and of course, she tried to come up with excuses. But I told her in a not-so-kind tone that we had something important to discuss. Then I hung up. I’m not sure if she’d actually want to see me, but something tells me that I need to speak to her. Today.I want to send Amani home but she’s feeling a bit nauseous so I’ve decided to keep her by my side. I need to keep a close eye on her.Right now, we’re walking through my mother’s clothing company, Beauty and Roses, Amani’s smaller hands firmly clasped in mine.“Oh, Mr. Macaulay. Your mother already informed me of your coming. She’s waiting for you in the office.” I nod at Carla, the receptionist. “Sure. Thanks.”Seconds later, I’m knocking on the heavy oak door. The door swi
AMANI“I want to see grandpa today.” I mutter excitedly as I fly down the stairs.I woke up an hour ago to an empty bed. Bhyron was gone, but there was a note on the bedside table that made my heart flutter.“Little Caramel,I prepared a scented bath for you. Soak in it so you can relax. Afterwards, come downstairs for breakfast. Your husband is waiting.”I literally swooned all the way to the bathroom.If anyone had told me that Bhyron and I would be together today, I would’ve probably laughed on their faces. But here I am, skipping across the penthouse, my heart giddy at the thought of seeing him again after I’d all but slept inside his skin last night.I love him so much. “Bhyron!” I squeal when I arrive at the dining room.My husband looks up and his whole face lights up when he sees me. God, this man is gorgeous. Too gorgeous.He’s clean shaven this morning and dressed in a blue sweater that does magical things for his eyes. I can spot black slacks beneath. Does this mean he’s n
AMANI“Duncan, get the car ready. We’re going back to the Hope Fortress in the next five minutes.” Bhyron’s voice swims like a fog above me, pressing into my tired brain as the sound of sirens fade into the distance. He swings me into his arms and I cling onto his neck for dear life, burrowing into his chest, breathing him in.God, he smells so good. I would give anything to slide under his skin right about now. “Baby, are you okay?” He whispers as he lifts me through the revolving glass door. “How are you feeling?”“Tired.” I mumble pitifully. My emotions are all over the place. Tears currently sting my eyes but I chalk it up to pregnancy hormones.I’m just glad it’s all over. I’m glad that King Murder is finally going to jail. I hope he gets a death sentence for all his atrocities. His death would never bring back the hundreds of children he kidnapped, sold and killed, but its a start in the right direction. A monster like him does not deserve any more chances at life.When we fi
AMANIBhyron hasn’t said a single word since Sharon announced herself. Beneath my palm, his shoulders are stiff as a rock. His gaze, cold and blank, is firmly fixed on Sharon. The bitch doesn’t even have the decency to look ashamed of herself. She pats her belly with a smug expression, holding his gaze head on.“Sharon.” He seethes. “Start explaining. Now.”She shrugs unapologetically and lifts her chin. “My explanation is simple, Byron. I don’t owe you one. I tried to get us married the first time and you abandoned me at the altar. I tried again but you kept choosing her over me!” She snaps, jabbing a finger in my direction. “You and I went through so much together after she disappeared. I was by your side while you tried to build your business. But the moment Amani returned, you tossed me to the gutters like I meant nothing!”She flicks a glance at her perfectly manicured fingernails and lets out a cold chuckle..“Did you expect me to spend the rest of my life waiting for you? I m
AMANIOkay, what in the actual fuck is going on here?!I turn around and panic grips my throat like a vice as I watch Zuri stumble backwards, her eyes wide and hazy with shock.“Zuri!” Without thinking, I pull away from Bhyron and lunge towards her, grabbing her before she falls to the concrete floor.“Zuri. Baby, can you hear me?” Fear slithers down my back when she doesn’t respond. Her eyes are wide open and she’s looking straight at me, but she seems distant, almost like she’s fallen into a trance.“Bhyron, she’s not responding!”A shadow falls over me and I look up to find Duke staring down at us — at Zuri — his eyes flashing with a deadly mixture of fear, worry and rage.“Give her to me.”It’s a command. Not a request.I don’t bother arguing. I hand Zuri over to him, my heart squeezing as I watch the big man delicately maneuver my best friend into the safety of his arms. He strokes a lock of her curly blue hair out of her eyes, lowers his face to hers and whispers softly; “Zu
BHYRONThere’s something very suspicious about this entire situation. After the disaster of our wedding, I went on a fucking rampage. I burned and destroyed every single last one of King Murder’s properties that came within my reach while he went into hiding. Thinking about it now, my blood heats with the fierce hint of violence.I have to give to him, he was wise enough to hide. Because only the devil would’ve been able to look at his body once I was done with him, if I’d gotten my hands on the bastard then. I hold Amani’s soft, smaller hand in mine, still amazed by her show of strength. Yes, I would rather she stayed back at the office and out of harm’s way, but there was something about the defiant spark on her eyes when she told me she’d like to confront King Murder that stirred my stony heart.I make sure to keep her behind me, shielded by my body as we make our way down the hall. I flick a glance at our joined hands and my heart beats a painful, comforting rhythm.She didn’t p