The next day she was called downstairs to have breakfast with him. Her eyes caught him seated in his usual chair as soon as she stepped through the door. Even though years had passed he was still the same- brooding, distant and mysterious. She clearly remembered their first meeting. He hadn’t even cracked a smile, not even as courtsey when her dad had introduced them. His gaze had been as piercing and cold as the sharp edge of blade. His eyes lacked the warmth and spirit she had seen in boys of her age. It had felt like he was there to fix a deal. She had never seen a man more serious. Even her dad appeared jovial in comparison to him. She knew they were a mismatch right from the beginning.“Good Morning,” she greeted with a warm, friendly smile. He glanced up at her, muttering a quiet “morning” before his eyes returned to his plate. She pulled a chair and sat down in it.She took a slice of bread and began buttering it with a knife.“You said you are looking for a job. Any success ye
His frigid eyes locked onto hers with a menacing glare, making her smile fade instantly. She couldn't recognize the man but his venomous words had stung her."Sir brought her," the servant replied, his voice devoid of warmth. Many servants here harbored resentment towards her for what she had done to their master. She had gathered this much through their glares. She clutched little Vincent closer to her chest as he approached her. The hatred burning in his eyes unmistakable. "I've seen many shameless women but none like you. Even whore have more integrity," he taunted, not caring he was being too harsh. He stopped avfew steps away from her. "Shut up. You don't know me," Maya snapped, her cheeks hot with humiliation. No one had any right to question her character.The man stared her down in sheer contempt. She felt like some filthy worm from a gutter. "I know you well enough. You are a selfish bitch who manipulated my friend for her personal gain. A coward who couldn't face
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sight of Carlos marching out of the mansion. Standing at her window, she watched as he climbed into his car and wondered if they had continued arguing after she left. The way Carlos had stuck up for Dante, it was more than evident that they were very good friends. Reflecting on it now, she remembered Dante mentioning a friend during one of their date nights. She couldn’t recall the name, but she was now certain Dante had been talking about Carlos. They were best friends. Guilt would eat her alive if their friendship got ruined because of her. The unexpected sound of a knock startled her. She swiveled and waited for the person to come in but when no movement happened she asked the person to come in. The door opened a moment later, revealing him. Attired in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, he exuded an inescapable masculine energy. The suit hugging his muscular frame in all the right places. She drew in a breath. The man was so tall that if he st
"Hey," she greeted him, grinning nervously. The light in her eyes dazzled his vision, caused him to almost stagger in his strides. His heartbeat accelerated, mocking his earlier vow to Carlos. Dante strolled in, feigning indifference. Her smile faltered upon meeting his dry response but she quickly restored it. "Glinda told me you like Spanish food," she disclosed, nervously rubbing her palms together. "Sit," she urged enthusiastically. He sat down in his seat, prompting Maya to sit beside him. The maids came forward to serve the dishes.She watched him in anticipation as he took the first spoonful of her paella. Her eyes followed every move of his facial muscle as he chewed on it. When she failed to figure out his reaction, she asked, "how is it?"He turned his face towards her and gave a nod of approval, "It's good." Good wasn't even the right word to describe it. It was way way more delicious than that. He didn't know this Goddess could even cook. He was turned on. Only good?
As he walked into the room, his gaze gravitated towards her. She was playing with Vincent. The window behind bathed her in the soft, golden glow of the morning sun, enhancing her beauty. He paused, mesmerized by the sparkle in her eyes as she laughed freely. Her soft tendrils bounced tenderly with her movements. The sweet melody of her laughter wrapped around him, drawing him in, and accelerating his heartbeat. An intense feeling stirred within him, growing ever stronger as she suddenly tilted her head back, unknowingly revealing the curve of her neck to him. In that moment, the time stood still. The outside world faded away for him. He was enchanted. His pupils dilated in admiration, a longing to trace his tongue along the graceful slope of her neck burst forth within him.She absently turned her face in his direction. Her laughter dwindled as she spotted him standing in the doorway. She gave him a warm smile and said, "I am sorry I didn't notice you. How long have you been standing
"Isn't she Pablo's daughter?" Katty asked, her sculpted brows knitted together in suspicion. Dante exhaled a sigh, keenly aware of his father's sharp gaze upon him. "Yes," he answered, meeting his mother's eyes. They were in his room right now. He had brought them here to explain that whatever they saw was just an accident. Vincent had spilled the oil on the floor that led to it. However, his parents were more concerned about who they saw rather than what they saw. "What is she doing here?" Tony demanded, vexed. Katty looked equally upset. Dante shifted his gaze to his dad. "She is Vincent's babysitter," Dante revealed, leaving them reeling with shock and disbelief. They exchanged a confused glance with each other before fixing their incredulous gaze on him, as if questioning his insanity. "Have you forgotten what she has done to you?" Katty asked, reminding him of the past. "That girl ran away with her boyfriend. She has no character. And you want that characterless girl to rai
He looked over her shoulder and caught two dogs approaching them. He knew she feared dogs. She had divulged on one of their dates. He felt her going tense in his arms as a dog let out a bark. She buried her face into his chest and held onto him with all her strength. She didn't care how inappropriate she was being as her mind was consumed with fear. "Relax. They won't do anything," he assured her in a gentle tone. He knew these dogs and had even fed them during his morning walks. They only knew barking. The dogs recognized him too and began circling him, hoping for a treat. However, Dante didn't have anything on him right now. He made a mental note to reward them tomorrow morning. As they stood skin to skin- the heat of her body melting into his- his thoughts ran wild. He could feel her every curve pressed firmly against his, beckoning him to feel them with his mouth. The softness of her body was teasing his senses, intensifying the aching need that consumed him. If only she knew he
She kept glancing his way from under her thick lashes every now and then. The contents of her dream replaying in her head over and over again, filling her mind with inappropriate thoughts. Her face heated up as she gazed keenly at his lips. That delicious-looking mouth. She could still feel the torrent of excitement that had swept over her when his lips had crashed down onto hers. It had felt so real. Her skin tingled with a rush of goosebumps at the mere thought of it. "What's wrong?" he questioned, breaking her away from her thoughts. She glanced up at him and found him frowning. Her eyes wide as she struggled to come up with an answer. "Nothing," she replied, grimacing. He didn't look convinced but dropped the topic. ..........After dinner, she went to her room and decided to watch a movie to distract her mind. She managed to keep him out of her mind but when a romantic scene came up, he returned quickly. She felt her heartbeat picking up its pace as the man kissed the woman.
Seizing a handful of her hair, he wrenched her to her feet. Despite the excruciating pain, she held herself together, refusing to give him the joy of seeing her in pain. She met his gaze head-on- defiance blazing in her eyes as she spat, "Dante will make you pay for every second of this." The slap struck her like a thunderclap, snapping her head sideways. Dizziness washed over her, she would have hit the floor with a thud if he wasn't clenching her hair in his vice-like grip. He thrust his face closer, eyes dripping with poisonous malice as he gritted out, "You've got a big mouth on you now. Lose it before I make you lose your pathetic life." His spit landed on her as he issued the threat.A cruel smirk spread across his face before he slightly loosened his hold on her hair. "As for your Dante, let me tell you he hates your guts.." he broke the news to her. "No, he doesn't. He loves me," she shot back without missing a beat. She knew he loved her with all his being and no one co
She bolted upright with a loud gasp. Her wide eyes darted frantically, struggling to pierce through the darkness. It was too dark to see anything. The chilly air shrouded her shivering body and the icy touch of the floor beneath her hinted that she was in danger. Her instincts "Where am I?' she whispered both in confusion and dread."You are finally in my clutches," a familiar voice answered. The voice echoed loudly in the quiet space. Just then with a sharp click, a bulb burst to life. The sudden flood of light assailed her vision, forcing her to squint against the glare. Her mouth went dry as she noticed him standing a few feet away. "Paulo," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart. His nasty face twisted into a smug smirk, the jagged scar that disfigured his forehead catching the light. She stared at it momentarily, certain it was her doing. He took a predatory stride towards her. His aura exuded menace. "Did you really think you could escape me?
Eviana released a thick cloud of smoke into his face, her gaze dripping with disdain for his lower rank.Paulo coughed but dared not voice his objection."I should just kill you, shouldn't I? You've been more of a liability than an asset," Eviana remarked, her voice laced with boredom. It was evident she didn't even consider him a human. Paulo tensed up. A flicker of dread swept through his features before he lowered his gaze. "I have her in my grasp, ma'am. I assure you, you won't regret your decision," he assured her nervously. "You've been saying the same thing forever," she reminded him, raising a single brow. The man shrank back, her unwavering gaze holding him in place as she leaned forward over the table. "Your bitch is bothering me way too much. Put a leash on her or I'll give you a death your soul will never forget," she threatened, her voice low and menacing. Paulo nodded. Eviana got to her feet and left.Paulo glared furiously at the chair she occupied. His rage boili
"I can't come to work, I am sorry," she told Miguel over the phone, her voice heavy with grief. "Is everything okay?" Miguel asked, concerned. "Yeah, I just....I am not feeling well today," she said, hanging up before her voice could betray her. The woman let herself fall onto the mattress, her limbs refusing to hold her any longer.She is my bad Karma. I wish she hadn't been bornShe is going to be the reason for our deathThese were her dad's words. She overheard him telling them to her mother on the phone. Those biting remarks only cut deeper into her already wounded heart. Now even she couldn't understand why she was still breathing. Why endure so much pain when she can just leave it all behind and die? She should die. She had brought nothing but only pain and shame to those around her. Her father was right, she was indeed a curse who only bring bad luck to those who came near her. It would be better if she just ended herself. Dante. Life had been a merciless bitch, but it ha
Maya's phone buzzed and beeped, dragging her out of her slumber. With an annoyed groan, she rolled over, reaching for warmth that wasn't there. His side of the bed remained smooth and untouched, a silent confirmation that he hadn’t been here last night. She didn't realize when she fell asleep while waiting for him. Sitting up, she coiled her hair in a loose bun and reached for her phone. A crease formed between her brows as her eyes caught the slew of messages flooding her phone. She clicked open one to find a link inside. She opened the link. A wave of numbness washed over her as the video played. It was an intimate video of her. The video was mostly blurred except for her face. Only her face was clear while Dante's was blurred. She stared blankly, her mind struggling to process the unexpected blow. It was the same video they had shot on Dante's phone. The phone slipped from her quivering fingers, landing on her lap. Her chest constricted like a vice, denying her air. She gasped,
Maya steadied herself as a sudden wave of dizziness washed over her. It wasn't the first time, these spells had been bothering her for the past few days. She brushed it off, assuming it was just weakness, and clutching her bag, she walked into the upscale restaurant for the meeting. The delegates had not yet arrived, it irritated her as she had to cancel her date with Dante for this stupid meeting. Disappointment was evident in his face. She had felt so horrible. She was reviewing the clauses when she sensed someone sitting across from her. Assuming them to be the delegates, she looked up with a broad smile only to freeze in shock. It was him. Paulo. Sitting in front of her, looking right at her, flashing her his creepy grin. She blanked out. "Hi, wifey," he uttered, making her blood curdle. She was white as a ghost. "You've changed a lot," he assessed. His eye briefly flickered to her bosom, "have also gained weight..," he said, his eyes moving to meet hers. "Looks like you were
She stood over him, her hands moving slowly and deliberately over the firm planes of his back. Her fingers pressed firmly but gently, sliding in fluid strokes that followed the contours of his muscles. He let out a deep, guttural moan that sent a ripple of heat through her, her heartbeat quickening in response. A soft smile spread across her serene face, her hair tied in a loose, messy bun. A soft melody was playing in the background, creating an atmosphere of calm and intimacy."You've been carrying the weight of the world, haven't you?" she teased, her fingers pressing particularly into tense spots. He chuckled. "Feels like it," he murmured, groaning as her fingers worked magic over his shoulder. She felt him relaxing under her touch, the knots in his muscles coming loose. She smiled as she suddenly noticed the deep contrast in their color. Her porcelain hands gliding over his tanned back. The warmth of his skin under her touch and the peaceful quiet of the moment made the world o
She stared at him as he remained asleep. She was torn between her mind and her heart. Her heart was urging her to tell him everything but her mind was filled with doubts. How would she tell him that Paulo has her private pictures? It felt too shameful to share.After Paulo hung up on her, she called him several times again but he didn't answer. She was waiting for him to call her again so that they could trace her location. And the moment his location is traced, it will be over for him. She reached out with her hand and interlaced their fingers, her eyes never leaving his striking face. She knew she was way too rude with him tonight and the guilt of it sat heavily on her chest. Sin woke up to find her side of the bed empty. Sitting up, he ran his fingers through his messy hair while looking around for her. A few moments later, the door flung open, and walked in Maya, carrying a tray of coffee. Her face split into a wide grin as soon as her gaze landed on him. "Good morning," she ch
"Earth calling, Maya. Do you copy?" Miguel teased, waving his hand in front of her face. Maya blinked, her eyes refocusing as she snapped out of her thoughts. "Sorry, what?" she asked, meeting his amused gaze. "I was wondering if you've prepared the papers for presentation," he said, unfazed by her lack of attention. "Yeah. It's done. I'll share it with you right away," she replied. "No need. I want you to present it today," he told her. Maya shot him a look of confusion. "Your dad will be presiding over the meeting. So make sure you impress him," he advised her, an encouraging smile on his face. Maya felt a tightness gripping her chest as memories of that night surfaced. The rift in her relationship with her dad had deepened when she left with Dante the following morning. Her dad didn't want her to go back but staying away from Dante was excruciatingly painful. "Hmm," Maya responded with a small smile. Even with little preparation, the presentation was a success. She was, no d