—JENNIFER—I Twirled in front of the full length mirror and smiled seeing myself in the wine coloured bodycon dress. With another twirl, satisfying myself with my choice, I pushed open the door of the try room and headed to ask Christian if he feels the same about it. But my feet stopped the moment I stepped out of the room, seeing him in his explosive mood, ready to blast anytime. And the person under the danger of this explosion was his own mother, Lauren. The vein in his forehead was throbbing wildly, making me remember all the previous times when it was for me. But unlike my sacred self in these usual moments with my angry husband, that woman seemed to have a death wish. God, She was smirking, clearly challenging him about something. I was at enough distance from them to be unable to hear what they were talking about. So I decided to go and invade their explosive interaction. But then remembered that Christian had clearly told me to just avoid her wherever she is, even when sh
—JENNIFER—Giving myself a last satisfied look, I smiled and blew a kiss towards the mirror before heading out of our room. With a big grin, excited to see Christian's reaction after seeing me, I entered the living area thinking that he must be back by now. It was almost 8:00 PM and the party would be starting in a few minutes. Christia had asked me to get ready and wait for him as he had something important to get done before leaving for the party, so after getting ready early, he left. With my disappearing grin, I pulled out my phone and called him. The phone rang two times before the line went busy. I frowned, knowing that he had disconnected the call. Never in any urgent meeting, he had ever avoided my call, then what could be so important that he did this today? Contemplating, I called him again and he disconnected the call again. My frown deepened with the stress and some stupid thoughts that I tried to avoid. I paced in the living area, waiting for his phone call which
—JENNIFER—Leaving the inconvenience my husband caused me behind, I headed with him to the party thinking that It will change my mood. What I didn't know was that it was going to spoil my mood further. The moment we exited the car, The paparazzi blocked our way, we hardly managed to avoid their questions or any kind of interaction with the camera and as soon as we entered inside the party hall, the most unwanted face appeared in front of me.“ Hello Christian!!” The grin on her bitchy face annoyed the hell out of me and I couldn't stop myself from saying. “ You are worse than a chewing gum.” I scrunch my nose, expressing my disdain. The way she clenched her teeth, told me that she was angry but she tried to not let it be seen and covered it with a cunning smile. “ Why are you so late? Is everything alright?” She asked, making the most fake concerning face. I scoffed at the way she totally ignored my presence. She gave me a stink eye. “ I don't have any mood to bear your presence
—CHRISTIAN—“ Yeah. See you at 8:00 PM. Be ready.” With a big smile on my face which was screaming that now I don't recognize any goddamn thing except for my wife, I disconnected the call with Jennifer. “ These big smiles make me think if you are actually Christian or some alien disguised as him.“ Alex sighed, acting shocked. “ Says the one who talks about Cally in his sleep.” I scoffed, rolling my eyes at him. “ Yeah. But it's nothing to be surprised for me to act like this since I don't go around scowling and glaring at people for no goddamn reason and just out of habit.” He shot back, flailing his hands in the air to exaggerate his comment. “ You know so much, right?” I asked, sitting up in my chair. “ Yup!” He shrugged, sassily. “ Then you should know that I won't shy away before shaving your head?” I gave him no nonsense look, shutting him up before my phone started ringing. The mere look at the caller I'D spoiled my mood and my forehead creased with annoyance. “ Who's th
—CHRISTIAN—Knowing that unfortunately, I don't have any other option than taking her threat seriously this time, I decided to go and see what she has planned against me now. “ I'll also come!” Alex stepped behind me, falling into my step. “ No. And I'm not going to argue over this for a one fucking second. So just stay back.” Pinning him with a pointed glare, which he obeyed with a sigh, I headed out of my office.Their office building was twenty minutes away from mine and ten minutes had already passed from the time she had given me. Getting into my car, I waited for about five minutes before igniting the engine and hitting the road. Driving in an usually slow sleep, It took me about thirty minutes to reach their office. I strolled up into the building at a slow, nonchalant pace so that it would delay the time a little more. The last time I visited this place was the day when Lauren leaked our project and I came here creating a scene. The office was almost empty by now and the f
—CHRISTIAN—The shock in their eyes was extremely soothing. I knew they would be unsure about whether I would fall for their threat or not. And now that I've come here, they'd think that I did.It took them only a few seconds to recover from their shock and share a look of victory. Their eyes were shining with pride to make me come here. “ Finally, we got something to get you on your knees, Christian.” Rafael said with a smirk as he stood up from the couch he was sitting on with his mother on the other end. I walked towards them at a slow nonchalant pace and much to their disdain, I pulled out a chair before them and made myself comfortable on it with my one leg resting on the other knee. “ Did you?” I cocked an arrogant brow in mock, leaning back into the chair. The smirk on his mouth dropped the instant, seeing me facing them with all the coolness which they were not expecting for sure. What they must have been expecting would be that either I wouldn't come here not taking them
—CHRISTIAN—On my way back to the penthouse, I ran my head to think of an idea to get this situation under control and my mind suggested to me only one name. I dialled the number and put it on the speaker. The call was answered at the first ring as if he was waiting for it. “ Are you back? What happened there? Should I come?” I was bombarded with all the questions at one. “ Alex! I'm alive and unfortunately they are too.” I said in a lazy tone. “ Ah!! What an inconvenience from both the sides.” He replied as the sarcasm dripped off his tone. “ Now, Can we talk about something sensible?” I said, rolling my eyes even though I knew he couldn't see me. “ No! Let's rant a little more.” His playfulness had me huffing. “ Alex!” I warned him. “ Christian!” He mimicked me. “ I want Catherine under our control before morning.” I said, ignoring his playfulness and getting on the point. A long silence prevailed on the other side of the call as I waited for the response. “ Are you out
—JENNIFER—I turned back and snuggled into Christian's naked chest as the morning sun peeked through the window, disturbing my sleep. “ If you keep on doing this, I don't think I would ever be able to leave this fucking bed.” Christian's heavy morning voice had me opening my eyes slowly. “ That's exactly the intention, Mr. Brown.” I grinned up at him through my blurry sight. “ I'd love to work on that intention of yours, Mrs. Brown but not today, not now.” He groaned, forcing himself to get up. “ What's so special today?” I asked, removing my hold and letting him get off the bed. “ I've an urgent meeting with a new client. If this goes well, he’s going to invest for six new restaurants in different countries.” He said, taking out his clothes from the closet. I watched him for a second then a sudden thought clicked me and jumped off the bed and reached the bathroom door before he could turn back. “ Hmmm! Okay, And if this goes successful, what will you get for me?” I asked, lean
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