I sank further into the hot water of the tub, letting the soothing heat work its magic on my sore muscles. The tension from the gruelling training session began to melt away, though my muscles still throbbed faintly. I sighed in relief, feeling a little more like myself, even if the soreness lingered.I really have to buy some groceries, I thought, the thought of relying on Alaric for everything starting to gnaw at me. He’d done more than enough already, and I didn’t want to keep burdening him.After a while, I finally felt well enough to get out of the tub. As I opened the door, there he was—almost about to knock."Oh, hi," I greeted, surprised to find him standing there. "I wanted to see if you were hungry," he said, holding up a takeout bag. "The food’s here."I smiled at him, the first real smile I’d given him in a while. His eyes widened slightly at the unexpected warmth, as though he hadn’t expected to see me looking this... at ease."I should buy some groceries so we won’t have
The next day, I was determined to be ready. I had set my alarm for 4:15 am, giving myself plenty of time to wake up and get changed before Alaric showed up. It was a struggle to drag myself out of bed, but I was determined to prove I could do this.When he knocked, I swung the door open and announced, "I’m ready." He just gave me a quick nod, as if he expected nothing less, and walked straight toward the door. His commanding presence took over, and it hit me—he had expected me to be ready. Ugh, I had mentally prepared myself for his stoicness, but it still stung. I wanted to surprise him.The training that followed felt like a full-on assault. After half an hour of running—my legs screaming for mercy—we moved straight to the weights. I pumped iron like I was training for war, and I was the only hope this country had for survival. Every rep felt like my body was about to break, but I didn’t let out a single complaint. Not even when Alaric told me to take the stairs to our floor instead
For the past few days, Alaric has refused to go easy on me. Every morning, the training was brutal—early wake-ups, relentless running, endless weights. But, to my surprise, it was starting to feel… easier. My body no longer screamed in protest with every movement, and though my muscles still ached, I could feel them strengthening. My stamina was improving, my breathing wasn’t as ragged, and today—today was a victory.I didn’t collapse the moment I stepped into my room.Sure, I was exhausted, my legs wobbled slightly as I walked, and my arms felt like they’d been put through a shredder, but I was still standing. That was progress.Sinking onto the edge of my bed, I took a deep breath before forcing myself up to do the stretches Alaric had recommended. The first day, I had skipped them, thinking rest was more important, only to regret it when I woke up unable to move the next morning. Lesson learnt.By the time I stepped into the steaming shower, the worst of the stiffness had started t
"Hey, hey!" Ciara protests, laughing as I practically drag her toward the elevator. "Slow down! What is going on?"I don’t stop. Not until we’re inside the elevator, and I jab the button for the ground floor like it personally offended me. Only then do I let out a breath, my pulse still racing from what just happened.Ciara crosses her arms, eyeing me expectantly. "Okay, now will you tell me what that was all about? I had wanted to say hi to Alaric, but you dragged me out like a crazy person."I hesitate, but there’s no point in hiding it. She’d wear it out of me eventually.So, I tell her.I tell her about how I walked straight into Alaric, how he caught me, and how he looked at me like that—like he actually saw me for the first time. How his hand brushed my face, how he murmured that he liked my hair down, how he had almost kissed me.Ciara’s reaction is immediate.Her entire face lights up like a kid on Christmas morning. "You two like each other!" she squeals, practically bouncing
As we turned, a woman strode toward us, her heels so impossibly high that I briefly wondered if she had some supernatural ability to keep her balance. She moved with an air of entitlement, each step calculated, her manicured fingers already reaching forward—Only for Ciara to block her effortlessly."Well, you can’t have it." Ciara’s tone was sharp, leaving no room for argument. "We saw it first, and we’re just about to pay for it."Then, turning to the saleswoman, she smiled sweetly, "Go ahead and pack it up for us.""Alright, ma’am," the saleswoman said, giving a polite nod as she turned—But before she could take a step, that shrill voice sliced through the air again."Stop that! I said I want this!"I clenched my jaw, already feeling irritation claw its way up my spine."Do you even know who I am?" she sneered, her icy blue eyes narrowing.At this point, even I was running out of patience."I’ll get you fired if you give them that dress, you bitch!" she spat at the poor saleswoman
"Miss Ashford, duh!" Ciara grinned widely, clearly still riding the high of the encounter. "Eleanor Ashford. She’s the only daughter of one of the oldest and most aristocratic families in the capital. They’re close to the Sinclair family—close to Alaric’s family."My heart skipped a beat at the mention of Alaric’s name. So Miss Ashford—Eleanor—was somehow connected to him. How? I tried to shake off the thought as quickly as it came."Wow," I murmured, still processing everything. "She’s so... cool.""I know, right?" Ciara replied, her enthusiasm contagious. "But most importantly, we have your dress, and I’m starving. We need to eat!" She gestured toward the exit as if it were the most important thing in the world right now.Before we left, the saleswoman who had been attending to us earlier apologised again, handing both of us a sleek black card. The words Premium Lux Member were embossed in gold on the front."Wow," Ciara whispered, looking at the card in my hand, feeling a mix of aw
I can’t believe I kissed my boss. In his home. And I loved it.But it’s been almost a week since that night, and... nothing.After the kiss, after I had nearly melted into him, he had gently pulled away, his breath warm against my lips as he whispered, "I just wanted to make sure you had the perfect first kiss." Then, just like that, he bade me goodnight and left me standing there—still reeling, still breathless, feeling the ghost of his lips on mine.The next morning, everything had gone back to normal. Almost too normal. He greeted me the same way, his tone even, his expression unreadable, like nothing had ever happened between us.But I knew something had happened.Because I catch him staring. Not just looking—staring. With so much heat and intensity that it makes my skin tingle and my stomach twist into knots. It’s in the way his eyes darken when they meet mine, in the way his jaw clenches as if he’s holding himself back.And now, I can’t stop wondering. Why is he holding back?Ma
The moment we arrived at the venue, I knew grand was an understatement.The Sinclair Charity Ball was held at the most exclusive event hall in the capital—a place Ciara said rarely opened its doors except for occasions of the highest prestige. The exterior was a masterpiece of classical architecture, its towering pillars bathed in golden light, reflecting off the polished marble steps leading to the entrance. Luxury cars lined the curved driveway, each one more extravagant than the last, with valet attendants dressed in crisp black and white uniforms ushering guests inside.As we approached the entrance, chandeliers glowed warmly through the massive arched windows, casting golden ripples of light onto the pavement. The sound of laughter and classical music hummed in the background, a blend of sophistication and old money.The moment Alaric and I stepped through the grand double doors, all movement in the room seemed to pause.The venue itself was nothing short of breathtaking. The vas
After coming down from the intense orgasm, a heavy wave of peace settles over me, my eyelids growing heavier with each passing second and my body slowly succumbs to exhaustion. I barely register Alaric shifting beside me as he adjusts the blanket over my shoulders. His warmth is grounding, a stark contrast to the cold fear that had gripped me just hours ago.His voice reaches me through the fog, deep and soothing. "It’s okay. You can sleep now."I want to fight it. I don’t want to close my eyes. There’s still so much to say, so much left unresolved. But my body has other plans.The last thing I remember is the gentle pressure of his hand rubbing slow, comforting circles on my back, and then—darkness.----------------When I wake, everything hurts.My limbs are stiff, aching in ways I didn’t even realize they could. The soreness settles deep in my bones as a reminder of the hellish night before.For a moment, I just lie there, blinking slowly as the events of last night trickle back in
As our lips stayed locked, his hands roamed the entirety of my back, his touch leaving trails of fire in their wake. Then, without warning, he gripped me firmly under my thighs and lifted me effortlessly, pressing me against the wall. A gasp escaped me, but he swallowed it with another searing kiss, his lips moving hungrily over mine. His mouth left mine, tracing a path down my jaw, kissing and sucking at the sensitive skin near my ear. “I want you so bad,” he whispered, his voice thick with need. “I can’t take it anymore.” A shiver ran through me as he turned us around, still holding me effortlessly, his lips trailing down my neck. Before I knew it, I was being tossed onto the bed, the air leaving my lungs in a shaky exhale. Our eyes locked. Slowly, he reached for the hem of his shirt, pulling it over his head and revealing the body I had only caught glimpses of before. I thought I had imagined how beautiful he looked beneath all those tailored suits, but I hadn’t. His
After being treated, all I wanted was to go home and shower. Hospitals had always made me uneasy—the too-bright lights, the sterile scent of antiseptic, the hushed voices that carried an air of urgency, sadness and dread. I turned to Ellie, who was sitting beside me, scrolling through her phone. "Are you going to be fine alone? I would really like to head home," I told her, stretching slightly, my body still sore from everything that had happened. She looked up and studied me for a moment before nodding. "I’ll be fine. My parents just texted me—they’re close." Relieved, I gave her a small smile before I stood to leave. Alaric had been waiting outside, his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall, ever the picture of casual authority. As soon as he saw me, his posture relaxed slightly. "Ready?" he asked. I nodded, and together we made our way toward the exit. We had barely turned a corner when we spotted a couple walking toward us. They had an air of aristocracy abo
Ellie and I crept forward cautiously, our bodies still tense from the fear that had gripped us all night. The voices outside were getting clearer, but we couldn’t be sure if they belonged to a friend or foe. My heart pounded in my chest, my pulse roaring in my ears as we peeked around the rusted metal door. Then I saw them. Alaric and Damian. They stood near the cluster of black SUVs, heads bent together as they talked frantically, their expressions thick with worry. It was a rare sight—Alaric, always composed, and Damian, always carefree, now both looking visibly shaken. Before I could even process it, Ellie and I took a hesitant step forward. That was all it took. They spotted us. Their expressions shifted instantly, pure relief washing over their faces as their eyes locked onto us. They broke into a run. Ellie barely had time to react before Damian reached her first, yanking her into his arms with such force she let out a soft gasp. He buried his face in her shoulder, hi
We both froze instantly, our breath catching in our throats, unable to let it out for fear of making a sound. In the dim glow of the moonlight filtering through the warehouse’s cracked windows, I could see the same horror mirrored on Ellie’s face. “I swear I heard talking here,” one of the men muttered as two figures stepped inside. “They can’t have come this far,” the other scoffed. “I think you’re just imagining things." then silence "Fine, let’s just take a quick look.” Ellie’s grip on my hand tightened, and I could feel the faint tremor in her fingers. In the darkness, I saw her other hand inch toward her purse, reaching for the pepper spray canister again. Her lips barely moved as she whispered, “We need to leave. Slowly.” I gave a tiny nod, my pulse pounding in my ears. Luckily, the two men had wandered deeper into the warehouse, away from the only entrance. We moved cautiously, each step careful and doing everything to avoid making a sound. We were so close. Just a few
The car finally jerked to a stop after a few hours, its tires crunching over uneven ground. My heart pounded violently against my ribs as the driver turned in his seat and sneered, “Get out.”Ellie’s fingers wrapped around my wrist, and she leaned in close, her breath warm against my ear. “Remember what I said,” she whispered. “Don’t worry—I’ll be right behind you.”My panicked mind scrambled to recall her words. Run. She had told me to run the moment she gave the signal. it made me feel much better that she would be with me as I did.I swallowed hard and gave her the tiniest nod to show I understood.“I thought he told you two to get out!” The other man barked impatiently.As we stepped out of the car, I noticed Ellie subtly slipping her hand into her purse, fingers curling around something small and cylindrical. The dim lighting made it hard to see exactly what it was, but I knew better than to believe it was anything harmless.After getting out of the car, we faced our captors, the
The car ride started off peacefully, with the engine's quiet hum and streetlights' soft glow flashing through the tinted windows. Ellie had been laughing just moments ago, still chuckling over one of Damian’s ridiculous dares. But as soon as she asked the driver how long it would take to take me home, and he replied, her posture changed.She tensed, her fingers suddenly latching onto my hand with surprising force.I turned to her, confused. “Ellie—”“Where’s the usual driver?” She interrupted, her voice still smooth but noticeably sharper.The man didn’t even flinch. “He had an emergency,” he answered. “I’m his replacement.”My stomach twisted. Something about the way he said it, so casually, so unconcerned, made my skin prickle with unease.Ellie didn’t respond right away. A second passed. Then another. Her fingers twitched slightly against mine, like she was weighing her options. I heard the tiniest, almost imperceptible intake of breath before she slowly reached for the door handle
Anna’s POVAfter Alaric left, I decided to take full advantage of the free day ahead of me. I changed into something comfortable—an oversized sweatshirt and a pair of soft shorts—then grabbed a blanket and plopped onto the massive sectional in the living room.With the remote in hand, I scrolled through streaming options before finally settling on a show I’d been meaning to catch up on. The enormous flat-screen was a luxury I had always looked forward to using, and I sank deeper into the couch, fully immersing myself in the fictional world playing before me.Hours passed in a haze of binge-watching and snacking. It was the most relaxed I had felt in a long time, and for once, I didn’t let my mind wander to things like fake engagements, intimidating fathers, or the fact that I’d told Alaric last night that I wanted him to kiss me. Nope. Not thinking about that at all.Just as I was about to start another episode, my phone buzzed beside me. I grabbed it, squinting at the unknown number
As I drive toward my parents’ estate, my mind is already running through all the possible things they might want to discuss. My engagement. Why I didn’t tell them. And most importantly, why my fiancée is my assistant. I sigh, rubbing a hand over my face, already feeling the weight of the conversation before it even happens. My mother won’t be too difficult to deal with. She’s always been the more understanding one, even if she had her own hopes for my future. Since we were young, she had subtly pushed for me to marry Eleanor, since she was the daughter of her close friend turned sister. A perfect match in her eyes—elegant, poised, well-connected. But I never saw Eleanor that way. Maybe because of my distrust toward Damian back then. Maybe because I had no interest in a marriage of convenience. Either way, I never considered her as an option. Despite her wishes, I know my mother well enough to believe that, at the end of the day, she would put my happiness first. Even if she might