Her mouth went dry as she read the article. Business Tycoon Dante Martinez Caught In An Extra-Marital scandal? Next to his picture was a picture of a silhouette with a question mark written over it. Her identity wasn't disclosed. "Someone must have told the media about you," Eviana explained, note sounding happy. "Who did it?" Maya questioned, feeling out of her depth. "Don't know. But this...," she sharply pointed towards the newspaper. "...will ruin his image to the dirt," she completed, her voice reflecting concern. Maya gaped at the paper, a heavy feeling settling upon her heart. She didn't need to be told how much a rumor could damage one's image. And it wasn't even a rumor. "Katty," Eviana whispered, looking past Maya's shoulder. Maya turned around to find Katty coming straight towards her. Her gaze was hard and face a mask of rage as she stopped a step short from her. Maya opened her mouth to speak but was silenced instantly by a hard slap across her face. She momentari
She drew back and connected her gaze with him."Are you.." before she could finish, his phone began ringing again. His face twisted with irritation as he looked down at the name flashing. It was his assistant. Maya stepped away, allowing him the space. "What is it now?" he practically barked into the phone. She flinched at the harshness in his tone. However, his expression soon turned from anger to shock to consternation as worry filled his features. "I am coming," he responded before hanging up. "What happened?" Maya asked, concerned by his paled face. He looked up at her, his eyes reflecting a sense of dread. "Dad is in the hospital. He had a heart attack," he told her. "I've to go," he said absently before starting towards the door. "I'll come with you," Maya insisted, knowing very well he was already spent and this news had drained him further. She knew he would still soldier on but he would need someone to lean on. He didn't protest and took her hand. They left together.
Dante knocked at her door but no response came from the other side. "Maya?" he called, his brows furrowing in concern. The door opened a moment later revealing Maya. "You woke me. What happened?" she asked, rubbing her eyes. Dante drew her into a hug, craving comfort in the warmth of her soothing touch. "I am tired," he murmured in her hair, voice laced with exhaustion. His confession was met with a brief silence until she broke it with her question. "How is your dad?" she asked."Better but doctors will keep him under observation for a day," he informed her, nudging his nose down the slope of her neck. "Have some rest then," she suggested, trying to move away from him. He, instead, squeezed her closer and sniffed her hair. "Dante?" she called when he didn't move or speak for a long moment. He hummed against her skin, sending shivers down her spine. "You should sleep," she suggested again. "Can we talk?" he asked. He didn't want to sleep yet. A lot was going on in his head rig
"How are you feeling now, Dad?" Dante enquired, assessing his father's face which appeared to have aged a decade overnight. He was still bound to the hospital bed but much better. "How's the company?" his dad asked instead. Dante hesitated, struggling to form an answer. The company had been going downhill since the scandal broke. His team was working tirelessly to find the source of the leak, but hadn't gathered much yet. He suspected their rival company was behind it, but without solid evidence, he couldn't make any accusations."It will be better," Dante responded solemnly. Even though he didn't like his dad much, his sense of responsibility towards him still lingered. He didn't want his parents to suffer because of him. His dad was visibly disappointed with the answer. He looked away from him and fixed his eyes on the white wall across from him. "Your mother and I were discussing it. The media isn't ready to drop it no matter how much we bribe them. But we've found a way to stop
"Maybe you should," came her unexpected reply. Dante glanced up at her, a frown creasing his brow."You want me to take a fiancee too?" he asked, his countenance hardening into a stern mask of shock. She averted her gaze, unable to meet his eyes. "That's the only way out," she explained, gazing blankly at the wall behind him. Dante clenched his jaw. His appetite vanishing in an instant. "Who says that?" he shouted, making her flinch. Wide eyes, she gaped at him as he seethed with barely restrained fury. This was the first time he had let his anger slip before her. But what could he do? The whole world was already conspiring to wrench them apart and now she was also advocating them. How could she be so cool suggesting that when he couldn't even imagine a moment without her? The ache of that possibility twisted in his gut, igniting an anger he couldn't contain. She swallowed, not having expected such an explosive reaction from him. "People will forget about the scandal if you presen
Dante was caught in a battle of emotions. She had somehow coaxed him into this but he was still not convinced. He didn't want to pretend to like someone else when she owned his whole heart. How would he even bring himself to look at another woman?"We have someone who can play your fiancee. She is perfect," Katty announced joyously. Dante frowned, not having expected them to find one so soon. "Who?" he questioned.Katty turned her face towards Eviana and flashed her a smile, "Eviana." After taking her name, she turned her attention to frowning Dante, "She is your childhood friend. People won't even doubt." Katty explained all smiley. It was beyond Dante as to how they even came up with such a shitty idea. "Have you lost it, Mom?" he questioned, his voice laced with sharp intensity. Katty's smile slipped followed by Eviana's. They both shared a confused glance before Katty asked him," "Why? I and your dad think you'll be most comfortable with her. She is..""Didn't you think about t
Today, he was taking Eviana out on a lunch date. It was a pre-planned move to hint to the world that something was brewing between them. Maya adjusted his jacket's lapel, looking a bit lost in her thoughts. "What is it?" Dante questioned, subtly gesturing with his eyes towards the tiny frown etched across her forehead.She shook her head. He lifted her chin with his finger. His eyes reflecting a mixture of curiosity and concern as he asked again, "What is it?" "It feels strange," she shrugged and added, "to help you dress for your date with someone else." Her tone didn't convey jealousy but she would be lying if she said she was not jealous. "I won't go if you don't want me to," he said, his voice laced with heartfelt sincerity. She smiled. "I want you to go," she replied, placing her palm against his chest. He leaned in to kiss her but paused abruptly as the door burst open. "Are you ready?" Eviana chirped, walking inside the room. Maya immediately backed away from him, takin
She cradled sleeping Vincent to her chest and squeezed her teary eyes shut. She didn't want to be bitter but she couldn't help it. Those pictures had inflicted excruciating pain on her heart. She felt as if her heart was being constantly contorted by a barbed wire, twisting tighter ith each painful thought. Opening her eyes, she glanced down at Vincent's tiny face and pressed a kiss on his bald head. No matter how much it hurt, she had endure it for Dante's sake.Tonight the Martinez' were hosting the announcement party to reveal Dante's engagement to Eviana. Maya didn't want to go and witness their fake love but her father insisted she be there. They wanted to see her. She stepped out wearing a simple pink dress. As she entered the living hall, she noticed Eviana and Dante engaged in a lighthearted banter."You can't even handle a hairpin. How are you handling a company is beyond me," Eviana playfully taunted as Dante struggled to put a hairpin in her hair. Her hairpin had slipped
"Stop. Anyone can come in," she stopped his hand that was about to slip into her skirt.Pulling her closer by her waist, he pecked her lips and murmured seductively against her soft lips, "No one's coming in until I am done with you." She had stopped by his office to give him his lunch but instead of focusing on food, he was planning to feast on her.The prey was caged between the desk and his solid body. "I've to go. I am already running late," she twisted in his arms to get free but his grip was as firm as of Iron."Not until I get what I want," asserting that, he freed his hand and cupped her warm core. She responded with a resigned sigh. He wasn't going to free her until he got what he wanted from her. "Do you never get tired of it?" she asked as he shoved his fingers into her panties. He smirked devilishly and pressed his thumb against her clit. "Can someone get tired of breathing?" he whispered against her lips, rolling the sensitive bud between his thumb and finger. She mo
Maya splashed icy water across her face, the sudden chill searing her skin. Closing her eyes, she leaned over the countertop, breathing heavily. His monstrous face flashed suddenly, sending a shiver down her spine. Her eyes snapped open, quivering with dread. With his face, rushed back all those horrifying memories that still haunted her nights. There were higher chances of that being a co-incident. Paulo was a common name. But still, she couldn't help but feel on edge. Only his name was enough to set her off into a whirl of terror.After spending a few moments in the bathroom, she came out and locked eyes with Miguel who was waiting for her. "You okay?" he questioned in concern as he noticed her paled face. She nodded in response while walking back to her seat. "Do you need something?" she asked, lifting the glass of water from the table. "Umm.... my friend's wedding is coming up and I am not sure what to gift her. She is a woman and you are a woman too. I thought I could ask you
She gave long, deliberate licks from top to bottom, hardening him even more. After teasing the head for a few moments, her wet, warm mouth closed around his gland, and just like that, the world fell away for him. His head tipping back, eyes closing on their own and his Adam's apple bobbing with a suppressed sigh. Lightly squeezing his ballsacks, she swallowed more of him, causing the man to tremble uncontrollably. On impulse, he grabbed the back of her head and thrusted it into her mouth. A satisfied sigh tore through his chest as he felt the back of her throat pressed against his cock. She was just the right kind of warm. Hell broke loose when she began deepthroating him. Up and down, her saliva thickly coated his shaft, dripping off its end. She then licked the base of his cock, her tongue teasing him ruthlessly. She let out a lustful moan that vibrated through his cock, making him unravel without warning. Her mouth flooded with his cum as he climaxed inside her mouth. She swallowe
"I believe her," he declared. His powerful voice cutting through the clamor. Maya's eyes moistened with gratitude and relief. A heavy silence settled over the air until Rosemary expressed her disapproval. "On what basis? We have evidence against her," Rosemary asserted. Dante turned his face towards her, his tall stature casting a formidable shadow, his steely gaze threatening to cut through the petite old woman. "Anyone can hide the bottle inside her room. That's not an evidence," he countered. "Why would anyone do that?" she argued, making it sound as if his explanation was utter nonsense. Dante's eyes darkened with calculated malice. "Exactly. Why would anyone do that?" he threw her words back on her, his tone suspicious as he advanced a step towards her. Rosemary backed away in response. She let out a sigh of resignation. "You are not getting it, child. No one has a problem with her but she has a problem with Eviana. She is jealous of her. You yourself heard her telling
"You do realize what you are saying?" Dante seethed, sounding enraged. The maid nervously clasped her hands together."I told you what I saw, sir," she murmured meekly, eyes locked on the floor. "I..I went to the kitchen. But I didn't do anything," Maya explained, eyes slightly tearing up. "Explain why you went to the kitchen then?" Rosemary enquired Maya, adopting an accusatory tone. Her glare unnerving. "No one will question her," Dante thundered, fixing Rosemary with an icy glare. Rosemary was taken off guard by his tone. "She can go wherever the hell she wants. I will not have you or anyone question her," Dante made it clear in strict terms. Maya had warm tears running down her cheeks. The way he came to her defense despite the accusation had moved something inside her deeply. "The maid has explained everything," Rosemary countered, clearly displeased by his rudeness."She said she was the last person to enter the kitchen. It explains nothing," he snapped. Rosemary's featur
"What happened?" Maya questioned, her gaze lingering on him—he looked like he was lost in thought, preoccupied with something."Someone poisoned her in our house. It had never happened before," he shared his concern. Maya was just as bothered by the revelation. She was utterly shocked to see Eviana lying out and cold on the floor. Her body had begun to turn blue, leaving no doubt about the virulence of the poison. "Who could have done it?" she wondered out loud. Every servant had a fondness for Eviana; she had noticed it herself. If there was anyone they didn't like, it was her. Poisoning Eviana didn't make sense. "I don't know but. But I have to figure it out somehow before something worse happens," he responded with a clenched jaw. He had to catch the perpetrator at any cost. "Maybe someone put them to the task," she guessed. There must have been a reason. Servants wouldn't dare take such a step without support. "Could be," he agreed before meeting her eyes and cradling her fac
"Mr. Diaz is here to see you," his PA told him, making him frown in confusion. There was no mention of his visit in his schedule. "Escort him in," he instructed the PA. The PA disappeared promptly and a moment later, Mr. Diaz showed up at his doorway. Their eyes met, exchanging silent acknowledgments. He rose to his feet out of respect and moved forward to greet him. Shaking hands, he uttered, "I wasn't expecting you but it's great to see you, Mr. Diaz." "I hope I haven't interrupted your schedule," Pablo responded solemnly. "Of course, not. Please, have a seat," he replied, gesturing towards the chair. Mr. Diaz murmured a thank you and lowered himself in the chair. Even though the older man carried a solemn demeanor, Dante knew just how fun-loving and exuberant he was. His daughter had fondly shared tales of his fun-loving side. Who could have guessed this stoic man once willingly fell into a pit only to spare his daughter the embarrassment of having slipped in first? "I learne
Maya paled as she met his seething eyes. He was mad. She remained frozen like a statue as he closed the distance between them and seized her hand in an ironclad grip. While Miguel struggled to recover from the blow, Dante pulled Maya away, dragging her out of the place. She teared up, realizing he had misunderstood the situation. "What you're thinking isn't right," she explained, her voice slightly trembling. He didn't respond and that fueled her already growing anxiety."Nothing happened between us. I was about to push him away, I swear," she swore as they entered her room. "Say something," she pleaded in desperation. His indifference was cutting through her like a sharp dagger. Her breath broke out in a gasp as he pushed her against the wall. His face surged forward filling her vision, a storm of emotions passing through his eyes. And the next thing she knew, his mouth was on hers devouring her vigorously.She didn't dare deny him access as his tongue prodded the seam of her li
"You dare talk back? I will tear off your tongue," Paulo thundered as he slammed her head against the wall. "Leave me," she whimpered, feeling dizzy with pain. He threw her to the floor and drew his belt. "A girl who didn’t stay loyal to her own parents, how could she ever be loyal to me?" he sneered as he swung the belt in the air. "No," she screamed, bolting upright in the bed. She was drenched in sweat, her eyes wide with horror. She quickly reached out and turned on the light. As her nerves began to settle, tears claimed her eyes. She broke down into sobs, scared to her core. Extending her arm, she grabbed her phone and dialed him. Just one ring sounded before he answered the call. His beautiful face popped into her screen, making her sob harder. "What's wrong?" he demanded, worry etched his features. "I..I had a ni..nightmare," she stuttered out, barely able to form words. "You are fine. You are safe," he assured her. The need to get to her gnawed at his insides. His helpl