Chapter 004

DERRICK

I leaned back against the couch, the leather cool against my skin, the weight of the day finally settling in. The glass of whiskey in my hand felt like a trophy, the amber liquid catching the dim light of the room.

I swirled it slowly, observing the way it clung to the sides of the glass before sliding back down. The taste was sharp, sooty, and perfect. Just like tonight. Just like everything I’d been working toward. Everything was working perfectly as planned and that gave me a sense of joy.

Vera curled up beside me, her body warm and familiar against mine. Her head rested on my shoulder, her dark hair spilling over my arm. I could feel the curve of her lips against my skin, that victorious smirk she wore so well. She was always like this after a win—confident,proud, and utterly intoxicating. I couldn’t help but chuckle, the sound low and satisfied.

“Well,” she uttered, her voice filled with amusement, “that was easier than expected.”

I tilted my head to look at her, my smirk matching hers. “She was too naïve to see this coming. Always so trusting, so… predictable.”

Vera laughed softly, the sound like music in the quiet room. Her finger traced a slow, deliberate line down my chest, her well trimmed nails scraping lightly against the fabric of my shirt. It was a gesture that was equal parts playful and possessive, and it always sent a shiver of anticipation through me. She knew exactly how to get under my skin, how to remind me why I’d chosen her.

“And you’re sure about this?” she asked, her voice dropping to a whisper. “About us?”

I turned to face her fully, my smirk widening. “You know me, Vera. I always land on my feet. Bridget was just… a stepping stone. A means to an end.”

Vera’s grin widened, her eyes glinting with satisfaction. “Good. Because now that she’s out of the picture, we have bigger things to focus on. Like our wedding and your new position at Atlas Corp.”

I took another sip of my whiskey, the burn of it grounding me. Atlas Corp. The name alone was enough to make my pulse quicken. It had been my goal for years, the pinnacle of everything I’d been working toward. And now, with Bridget out of the way, it was finally within reach. The thought sent a rush of adrenaline through me, my mind already racing with possibilities.

“Exactly,” I said, my voice steady despite the excitement bubbling beneath the surface. “With Bridget gone, there’s nothing holding me back. It’s time to focus on the future. Our future.”

Vera’s smile softened, her fingers still tracing idle patterns on my chest. For a moment, she looked almost… thoughtful. But then the expression was gone, replaced by that familiar glint of ambition. She leaned in closer, her lips brushing against my ear as she whispered, “You’re going to be unstoppable, Derrick. And I’ll be right there with you.”

I closed my eyes, letting her words sink in. Unstoppable. That’s what I’d always wanted to be. That’s what I’d worked so hard for. And now, with Vera by my side, it felt like nothing could stand in my way.

Vera had always been of help to me even before we started our secret affairs behind Bridget's back. She's the daughter of a wealthy business man who had multiple businesses. And to add to it, she's the reason I got into ATLAS CORP in the first place. She helped me secure the Job. Her father's name opens doors and with her I could climb up to the top unlike Bridget who was just a poor girl with no name.

The warmth of the whiskey and Vera’s presence brought some kind of peace and a sense of achievement but a part of me felt like I had made a mistake, My conscience speaking silently from within me as I recalled how I had rejected Brie and the baby she was carrying. But I told myself it was nothing, just the remnants of the day’s tension. After all, everything had gone according to plan.

Greatness requires sacrifice and ending things with Bridget who was a liability, to be with Vera who had helped me bagged a Job that'd changed my life was a small price to pay. I had gotten the job at ATLAS CORP. What could possibly go wrong?

I glanced at Vera, her face serene and confident. She didn’t seem to notice the thoughts creeping into my mind. Or maybe she did, and she was just better at hiding it than I was. Either way, I pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the feeling of her body against mine, the way her fingers still traced lazy circles on my chest.

“You know,” I said, my voice low and teasing, “we should celebrate. Properly.”

Vera raised an eyebrow, her smirk returning. “Oh? And what did you have in mind?”

I set my glass down on the table, turning to face her fully. My hands found her waist, pulling her closer until she was practically in my lap. “I think you know exactly what I have in mind.”

She laughed, the sound light and carefree, and for a moment, everything else faded away. The doubts, the plans, the future—it all disappeared, replaced by the here and now. Vera’s lips met mine, and I let myself get lost in the moment, in the taste of her, the feel of her.

Her breath was warm against my neck, her body pressed close to mine. The air between us was thick with tension, the kind that made every second feel electric. I held her face in my hands, my thumbs brushing over her flushed cheeks as she gazed up at me, her lips slightly parted.

“I need you,” she whispered, her voice trembling, her hands gripping my shirt like she was afraid I’d slip away.

“I’m right here,” I murmured, pressing my forehead against hers. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She let out a shaky breath, and then her lips crashed into mine. Not slow or hesitant—But desperate, hungry. I felt the need in her kiss, the way she poured everything into it, and I matched her intensity, deepening it until we were both breathless.

My hands roamed down her back unclipping her bra hook, pulling her even closer her pointed breasts meeting my exposed chest as if there wasn’t already enough heat between us. Her fingers tangled in my hair, tugging slightly, making a low groan escape my throat.

“I want to feel you,” she murmured against my lips, her voice laced with longing.

I guided her backward, lowering her onto the bed, my body following hers as I slowly pulled off her gown meeting her nudity.

My lips trailed down her neck, tasting her, feeling the way her pulse quickened beneath my tongue. She let out a soft moan, arching into me, her hands gripping my shoulders like she needed something to hold onto.

“Tell me what you need,” I whispered, my lips brushing against her skin.

“You,” she breathed. “All of you.”

My hands explored her, learning every inch of her skin, memorizing the way she moved beneath me. She responded to every touch, every kiss, her body arching into mine, her breath hitching as I traced the sensitive places that made her tremble.

“Derrick…” she moaned, her fingers digging into my back as I got down on her. I slide two finger into her wet pussy and out slowly as I sucked in those pointy melons.

Hearing my name fall from her lips like that sent a rush of heat through me. I wanted to make her lose herself in this, to make her feel as consumed as I was.

I pressed my forehead against hers, my breath uneven. “Look at me.”

She opened her eyes, and the intensity in them nearly unraveled me. “I love you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

I swallowed hard, brushing my fingers over her cheek. “I love you too. More than you’ll ever know.”

And then I gave her everything. I carefully and Gently slide my Dick into her dripping pussy causing her to let out a loud moan.

“Urrrhh, please don't stop” she moaned, her mouth and eyes widened in the heat of the pleasure as I stroked her Gently in a missionary position.

Our bodies moved together in perfect rhythm, the world outside disappearing until nothing existed except the heat between us, the sound of our breaths mingling, the way our hearts pounded in sync.

She held onto me like she never wanted to let go, and I kissed her like I could never get enough. Every thrust, every touch, every whispered word, every soft gasp was fuel to the fire burning between us.

Time lost meaning. There was only this, only us.

And when we finally collapsed together, breathless and tangled in each other’s arms, I held her close, pressing a lingering kiss to her forehead.

She traced her fingers along my jaw, a soft smile playing on her lips. “You weren’t lying when you said you weren’t going anywhere.”

I chuckled, tucking her against my chest. “Not a chance.”

And as she nestled into me, her heartbeat steady against mine, I knew—with her, I was exactly where I was meant to be. Vera’s head resting on my chest, I stared up at the ceiling, my mind racing. The future was bright, I told myself. Atlas Corp was within reach, and Vera was by my side. What more could I possibly want?

But as I closed my eyes, trying to push away the lingering unease, I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d made a mistake. If maybe, just maybe, I’d underestimated Bridget. If maybe, just maybe, the past wasn’t as far behind me as I wanted to believe.

I shook my head, forcing the thoughts away. No. I’d worked too hard, come too far to let doubt creep in now. Bridget was gone, and Vera was here. That was all that mattered.