JENNIFER I slept in until almost noon the next day. It was the latest I’d ever woken up, but the previous day’s events had taken their toll. Even after a solid sixteen hours of rest, fogginess clouded my brain as I walked to the kitchen. Being drugged and kidnapped. Finding out my husband dearest has a brother about which I still have to ask him, Nearly dying, then getting rescued by Christian, and sort of/kind of making up with him. I’d had time to process, so it was easier to wrap my head around what happened, but yesterday was so surreal I still felt like I was walking on the edge of a dream. It was Monday, so I’d expected Christian to be at work. But when I entered the sun-splashed kitchen, I found him standing by the espresso machine, dressed in a black shirt and pants instead of his usual suit. I blinked with surprise. “You’re here.” I asked and he turned back swiftly as if pulled back harshly from another world. I guess I disturbed his thoughts. “It is my house,” he s
CHRISTIAN “Hello, Raphael.” I examined Jennifer’s stalker, who was strung up with heavy cuffs locking his arms and legs into a vertical spread- eagle position. Nails pinned his palms to the wall behind them, while black and blue bruises mottled his body like an obscene piece of abstract art. We were in the warehouse I’d bought for this specific purpose. Remote, soundproofed, and guarded enough that an ant couldn’t crawl across the floor without me knowing. Not all of my guys were okay with dirty work, which was fine. I only needed a few who were, and they’d done their job prepping the bastard for me. I couldn’t have him waiting too comfortably while I tended to Jennifer. My gaze flicked to the floor. A small pool of blood stained the smooth grey concrete. That was also fine. It will grow soon enough. Raphael’s face was so beaten up it was unrecognisable, but the heat of his glare made me smile. He had a bit of fight left in him. Good. That would make our session so much m
JENNIFER When I opened my eyes, my head felt heavy. It was hurting like someone had crushed it under a car wheel. With a wince of pain, I opened my eyes and the first thing I landed my eyes on was a pair of black eyes. Two moments of unblinking stare into those worry filled eyes before I took a sigh of relief. “ Christian!” I called out his name in my weak and hazy voice and saw him practically relaxing. As if a burden was taken away from her chest. “ Princess! You are awake.” His voice was filled with relief. “ What do you think?” I joked at his obvious question. A small sigh left his lips before a soft smile appeared as he bent down to kiss my forehead. “ You scared the shit out of me.” He murmured, straightening back. “ What? I don't remember anything?” I asked and he froze in his place. “ You don't remember anything?” He asked, repeating my words and emphasised on the last word. Now it was my turn to freeze in my place. I paused and all the events of the past
JENNIFER The next few days were spent with everyone celebrating my memory regaining and for our soon to be born child. Mom and Dad disclosed the whole truth about Catherine and I was just happy that they at least told me whatever it was. I was upset for being lied to but never angry. It eases their tension and we are back to normal. I looked at the clock and then towards the main door. With a sigh filled with disappointment, I had just turned back when the click of the door opening had me turning back again only to see my husband dearest entering with a bag in his hand. “You’re home.” I exclaimed, with a relieved smile while mentally thanking God. At first glance, he looked the same as when he’d left— black shirt, black pants, hauntingly beautiful face—but a closer look revealed the quiet storm brewing in his eyes. “You asked me to come home.” He watched, body still but gaze burning like an open flame, as I closed the distance between us. “So here I am.” His rough velvet
—JENNIFER—I was halfway to my house when I saw the crowd gathered on the side of the road. I don't drive too fast usually, that's why while passing them I got the glimpse of the man lying in the middle of that road. I couldn't help but stop the car near them and got out. Passing the crowd when I reached in the middle,I saw a middle aged man lying unconscious there. My eyes widened at seeing blood all around him. I looked around to find the people just standing and staring at his lying figure. "Someone please call the ambulance!! " Someone from the crowd shouted and I rolled my eyes while looking at the phone in his hand. "Get away!! " I pushed the people away from the man and sat down to check his pulse. It was slow but thankfully still working. With the help of some men, I managed to get the man in my car before turning to the muffelings of the crowd. One of them was holding a suitcase and trying to open it while others were watching him. I guessed that the suitcase belonged to
—JENNIFER —FOUR DAYS LATER I stood in the kitchen with blurry vision as tears continuously rolled down my cheeks hearing the conversation going on in the living area. " I'm not giving you any other choice Henry!! Get your daughter ready to marry my son, or start preparing for your life on the streets. You won't have this house and damned business by tomorrow if you defy me. " Matthew Brown's cold voice rang in the living area while my Mom and Dad kept staring at the man in disbelief. " How can you do this Mr., Brown?? What did my daughter do to get this kind of threat?? " My Dad asked with helplessness. " Nothing. And Why are you only focusing on the threat-thing ? Think about it Henry, Your daughter will be the wife of the richest person in the whole of New York. She'll live like a Queen. What else do you want?? " Matthew spoke again with his usual calm demeanour. I clenched my jaws, feeling utter disgust towards this man. If I would have known he was going to do this, I would h
—JENNIFER—Two days passed and finally mom and Dad accepted that this is the only way to lead our life peacefully. Though they aren't happy about it at all but trying to adjust.Matthew has called today and has invited us over for dinner at his house so that I and his son can meet personally. Excitement was nowhere near me as I dressed myself in a simple Knee length, Lavender skirt, matched with a white top.After a lot of effort I managed to cheer Mom and Dad up for dinner and we left at 7:00 Pm to Brown Mansion. We climbed out the car and my jaws scattered on the floor seeing a lavish Mansion in front of my eyes. I doubted if the Queen's home was more beautiful than this. A servant came forward and guided us inside the house. My eyes nearly fall out of their sockets seeing the interior and furniture of the house. The way it was maintained, it was screaming RICH RICH AND RICH everywhere. We reached the living area and a voice of clearing throat, grabbed our attention. I collected
—JENNIFER—I turned to look at her. Although I had unintentionally shielded her, there were some stains on her jeans too. But it was nothing compared to my situation. I again looked horrified at my favourite shirt. My favourite shirt!! And My books!! " No he didn't!! " I mumbled to myself horrifically then looked again at the car and shouted so loudly that all the people around turned their attention towards us. " Watch where you are going. You Fool!! See what you have done." Anger washed all over me, clouding my senses as I looked again and again at myself and my books. I was breathing so heavily that even my body was shaking with anger. "Leave it Jenni. This looks like some rich hot-shot. " Cally muttered under her breath,behind me but I was so engrossed in thinking of some more insults for this new found enemy of mine and ignored her totally. I'm going to strangle this man!! The car came reverse and stopped in front of me before the door was opened so harshly that made me eve
JENNIFER The next few days were spent with everyone celebrating my memory regaining and for our soon to be born child. Mom and Dad disclosed the whole truth about Catherine and I was just happy that they at least told me whatever it was. I was upset for being lied to but never angry. It eases their tension and we are back to normal. I looked at the clock and then towards the main door. With a sigh filled with disappointment, I had just turned back when the click of the door opening had me turning back again only to see my husband dearest entering with a bag in his hand. “You’re home.” I exclaimed, with a relieved smile while mentally thanking God. At first glance, he looked the same as when he’d left— black shirt, black pants, hauntingly beautiful face—but a closer look revealed the quiet storm brewing in his eyes. “You asked me to come home.” He watched, body still but gaze burning like an open flame, as I closed the distance between us. “So here I am.” His rough velvet
JENNIFER When I opened my eyes, my head felt heavy. It was hurting like someone had crushed it under a car wheel. With a wince of pain, I opened my eyes and the first thing I landed my eyes on was a pair of black eyes. Two moments of unblinking stare into those worry filled eyes before I took a sigh of relief. “ Christian!” I called out his name in my weak and hazy voice and saw him practically relaxing. As if a burden was taken away from her chest. “ Princess! You are awake.” His voice was filled with relief. “ What do you think?” I joked at his obvious question. A small sigh left his lips before a soft smile appeared as he bent down to kiss my forehead. “ You scared the shit out of me.” He murmured, straightening back. “ What? I don't remember anything?” I asked and he froze in his place. “ You don't remember anything?” He asked, repeating my words and emphasised on the last word. Now it was my turn to freeze in my place. I paused and all the events of the past
CHRISTIAN “Hello, Raphael.” I examined Jennifer’s stalker, who was strung up with heavy cuffs locking his arms and legs into a vertical spread- eagle position. Nails pinned his palms to the wall behind them, while black and blue bruises mottled his body like an obscene piece of abstract art. We were in the warehouse I’d bought for this specific purpose. Remote, soundproofed, and guarded enough that an ant couldn’t crawl across the floor without me knowing. Not all of my guys were okay with dirty work, which was fine. I only needed a few who were, and they’d done their job prepping the bastard for me. I couldn’t have him waiting too comfortably while I tended to Jennifer. My gaze flicked to the floor. A small pool of blood stained the smooth grey concrete. That was also fine. It will grow soon enough. Raphael’s face was so beaten up it was unrecognisable, but the heat of his glare made me smile. He had a bit of fight left in him. Good. That would make our session so much m
JENNIFER I slept in until almost noon the next day. It was the latest I’d ever woken up, but the previous day’s events had taken their toll. Even after a solid sixteen hours of rest, fogginess clouded my brain as I walked to the kitchen. Being drugged and kidnapped. Finding out my husband dearest has a brother about which I still have to ask him, Nearly dying, then getting rescued by Christian, and sort of/kind of making up with him. I’d had time to process, so it was easier to wrap my head around what happened, but yesterday was so surreal I still felt like I was walking on the edge of a dream. It was Monday, so I’d expected Christian to be at work. But when I entered the sun-splashed kitchen, I found him standing by the espresso machine, dressed in a black shirt and pants instead of his usual suit. I blinked with surprise. “You’re here.” I asked and he turned back swiftly as if pulled back harshly from another world. I guess I disturbed his thoughts. “It is my house,” he s
CHRISTIAN She’s here. She’s safe. I repeated the words in my head as I held Jennifer tight. Tiny shivers rippled through her body, and even though she was almost as tall as me, she felt fragile. Breakable. Fierce protectiveness burned in my chest. “It’s all right, princess,” I murmured. “You’re okay. You’re safe.” She buried her face deeper in my neck, her soft sobs twisting my heart like a wrung-out rag. Her hold on me felt like I was the only trustable and safe place for her. It felt like the old times, before her accident. It felt like I was holding her again for the first time in years, but this wasn’t how I’d wanted it to be. Not with her bruised, hurt, and terrified. Something struck my mind and my one hand automatically moved towards her belly. I felt my heart clenching in my chest at the thought of any possible harm to our child. The relief I’d felt at seeing her alive gave way to renewed rage. My cold gaze found Rapheal over Jennifer’s shoulder. He should pray t
Jennifer Lights washed across my vision at the force of the impact, but I didn’t have time to waste. I slammed my wrists down as hard as I could behind me until the frayed rope snapped against the protrusion. Luckily, Raphael hadn’t tied my legs, and I stumbled to the door. I almost made it before strong hands yanked me back. I hit the floor with a thud. Raphael pinned me to the ground and manacled my wrists above my head. “Let go of me!” I struggled against his hold. “You’re mine,” he said calmly, like we were at a picnic in the park and he wasn’t holding me hostage. “It’ll be so much easier if you give in, Jennifer. I don’t want to hurt you.” I couldn’t keep struggling forever. My energy was already fading, my muscles sore and my thoughts jumbled with panic. I turned my head a fraction to the right, and my breath hitched when I saw my purse lying a few feet away. My taser. I always kept it on me because since Christian forced me to do it. If I could only reach it… Raphae
JENNIFER A prickle of sensation dragged me from the dark, murky wells of unconsciousness. It started as a tingle in my fingers and toes. Then it was the hard press of wood beneath my thighs. Finally, it was the rough abrasion of ropes around my wrists and a pounding pain behind my eyes. I didn’t know what was going on. All I knew was, it hurt, and my throat was dry, and my head throbbed like someone had shoved a jackhammer or ten in there. Concrete anchors dragged down my lids. The darkness wasn’t soft and gentle like the gradual drift to sleep. It was endless and menacing, like the weight of the earth after being buried alive. I forced my lungs to expand past my rising panic. Breathe. Think. What happened? I struggled to sort through the day’s events. I remembered meeting my friends at the cafe. Morris running to the restroom. Nausea, dizziness, stumbling out for air…and the cold press of a gun against my ribcage. A voice, then blackness. Oh God. I’d been kidnapped. Th
JENNIFER A sharp stab of concern pulled my brows together. “Do you need to sit down? You don’t look so good.” Actually, I didn’t feel great either. My usual lethargy intensified and tugged at my limbs and eyelids. Morris’ face swam before me until I blinked the blurriness away. “Yes, I”—he gripped the edge of the table. “I”— his face turned ghostly white before flushing the crimson. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.” He bolted toward the bathroom. The door slammed shut. A second later, I heard the faint but unmistakable sound of vomiting. My own stomach twisted at the noise. I hoped we hadn’t gotten food poisoning, but something was clearly wrong. My vision blurred again. This time, blinking didn’t help. I stood, hoping the change in altitude would clear my head, but an instant wave of dizziness forced me back into my seat. What is going on? I’d only had tea and a pastry. Could you even get food poisoning from tea and pastries? Black dots danced in front of my eyes, and panic
—JENNIFER— As soon as our mouths collided, I felt colours bursting behind my eyelids, making them shut up automatically. Christian went frozen at my unexpected stunt and couldn't even move for a long moment. For myself, I was in shock about how the mouth of this cold man could be so warm and soft. I didn't give it any thought so I was as stunned as him at my own action and couldn't even move out of shock until I felt his hands coming up to grab my waist and he pulled me into himself. My body felt burns and chills at the same time where his fingers were digging into my skin in a firm but not painful hold. Suddenly I was too conscious about the things that his touch was making me feel. The pause we both took out of shock had me thinking for a moment that he would pull back but instead, he tilted his mouth and deepened the kiss with a sudden force that I almost lost my step. A gasp of shock couldn't find a place to escape me because of the way his mouth was perfectly occupying m