"Good Morning, Glinda," Maya regarded the old maid with a warm smile as she descended the stairs. Glinda wished her back but her smile quite didn't reach her eyes. Maya caught on to that. "Is everything okay?" she questioned, approaching her. The old lady looked hesitant for a moment. "Mr. Martinez has given orders to dismiss the kitchen staff," she disclosed. Maya was shocked to hear that. "All of them?" she asked, perplexed. "I informed him about how they treated you. He got furious and told me to fire them first thing tomorrow morning," she explained. Now it made sense. She wasn't pleased to hear it. "But I can't bring myself to fire them. Most of them are the sole providers of their families. Lily bears the expenses of her three kids, Jenny has an ill mother," she shared her concern. It was wrong of them to mistreat Maya but being snatched of their livelihood was a bit too much. Maya agreed. She understood where they came from. Their loyalty towards Dante had caused them to
Eviana moved towards her, her gaze sweeping over her with a curious appraisal."I haven't rescued her," Dante answered, slightly irritated. For some reason, he didn't like the statement. Eviana didn't respond. Maya grew self-conscious as she noticed her eyes linger on her scars. The woman smiled when their eyes met. Maya reciprocated the smile, her steps languid as she descended the stairs. "I am Eviana, Dante's childhood friend and his first-ever girlfriend," she beamed, drawing Maya into a hug. Maya shot a glance towards Dante, who responded with a shake of his head. She shifted her gaze back to sparkling Eviana. Her golden locks echoed her radiant personality. Her green eyes "Maya," she replied, gently stepping away from the hug. "I know, Katty told me about you" Eviana responded, smiling. Maya's smile faltered at the mention of Mrs. Martinez. Eviana took her hand and offered her a comforting smile.She said, "don't worry, I don't believe in everything I heard. I prefer kno
"It's a funny story," he answered before kissing the top of her head. She was curious now. "A boy in our class was pressuring her to get into a relationship with him. To dodge him, she asked me to be her pretend boyfriend. We acted the part until she had to leave for London," he explained. Understanding dawned on Maya. "Did you ever confront that boy?" she asked. "Not really. I saw him talking to Eviana a few times but he never bothered me," Dante replied. Maya hummed quietly. For some reason, she wasn't convinced. Something was lurking in her eyes when she said she was his girlfreind, something that made her instincts prickle. However, she knew she had no right to be jealous. What they had was still nameless. It was more than just friendship but less than a relationship. There was no confession or declaration..................After taking a shower, she concealed all her scars and went downstairs for breakfast. She spotted Eviana and Dante on the table as soon as she stepped in.
"Welcome back," Eviana beamed as Dante entered through the door. Maya watched her scampering towards him from a distance. "Did you bring what I asked?" she demanded, excitedly. "Here is your chocolate cake," Dante extended the paper bag towards her, causing her to grin wider. She eagerly took the bag, bouncing in joy."And that's the reason why you are my favorite ex," Eviana chirped. Dante took her comment as a joke and proceeded towards his room. Maya turned around and left for her room. Their interaction had left a bad taste in her mouth. "Come. Have some," Eviana patted the spot beside her for him to claim. "I don't want it. You enjoy," Dante waved her offer off and headed upstairs....Maya leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes, feeling the weight of the day pressing against her eyelids. Every moment of their interaction played in her mind, each memory tightening around her chest, leaving her breathless. She hated to admit it but she was jealous. Her eyes fluttered
He skimmed the vibrator over her swollen clit. She moaned and he shushed her by placing his finger on her lips. "Not a squeak from you," he instructed in a hoarse whisper, peering deep into her eyes. She blinked at him, her eyes glazing over. He then proceeded to increase the speed and ran it along her pussylips. "Aaah," she moaned again, her body curling against the restraints. "What did I say about making noise?" he taunted, slapping her pussy. She gasped, startled by his move. He then proceeded to rub her tender flesh to ease the sting. She felt torn between the onslaught of pain and pleasure. "Have you ever tried this, sweetheart?" he questioned, pressing the running vibrator against her bundle of nerves. She shivered visibly, biting down on her lip. Amid the haze, the woman forced herself to shake her head. She had never tried a vibrator or any sex toy before. This was her first. "Innocent little thing," he smirked, slowly slipping the device into her wet hole. Her body
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
Submission isn't only for wars, love demands it too. And in love, when one surrenders, they gain the joy of belonging. To belong to someone is a blessing wrapped in love and trust. Just like the moon belongs to sky, rivers belong to oceans, she belongs to Dante. Only family and friends were invited to their wedding as they wanted to keep it low profile. She stepped out of her room to find her parents waiting. Mr. and Mrs. Diaz froze at first before gentle tears claimed their eyes as they saw her ready to start a new chapter of her life. "How do I look?" she asked sheepishly. Her wedding gown was stunning, she didn't know if she was doing justice to it. "Beautiful," Mrs. Diaz replied, approaching her. "Then why are you both crying?" Maya asked, her eyes drifting to her dad. "You'll understand the day you'll wed off your daughter," Mrs. Diaz told her while adjusting her neckpiece. Maya understood. Seeing their children start a new life must be an emotional moment for parents.
A faint cry of pain slipped from her mouth as she woke up to a crushing headache. She blinked against the harsh white light piercing her vision. "Maya," her mother called. Maya slightly turned her head to find her parents seated beside her. "Where is Dante?" she asked in a whisper. Anxiety etched across her face as she remembered the last night. They had met an accident. Dante had covered her with his body. That's all she remembered. "He is fine," Mrs. Diaz assured her. Maya searched her eyes for any lie but there was none. "My baby?" she asked dreadfully. Her heart began to hammer vigorously against her chest. She didn't know how she would endure if something had happened to her child. "Baby is fine too," she told her. Her eyes blurred with tears of relief. "Ssshh..my child. Everything is fine now," Mr. Diaz consoled her. "I want to see him," she implored through her tears. She had to make sure he was fine. She was not able to recover from the horror they experienced last ni
"We did it," Maya exclaimed, bursting with joy. The thrill lingered until the biting chill of the air nipped at her skin, causing her to tremble. Just as the cold began to seep deeper, a sudden unexpected warmth engulfed her. Startled, she turned to see Dante gently wrapping a scarf around her shoulder. His eyes filled with tender emotions.She pulled the scarf together, her heart swelling with tender love."City looks so beautiful from up here," Maya said, dazzled by the sight of lights glimmering across the hillside. Smiling, Dante stepped forward. "But this is not why I brought you here," he revealed, confusing her. She turned to look at him. He raised his hand and pointed a finger towards the sky. Her breath caught as her eyes widened in awe, her gaze drinking in the breathtaking beauty of the glittering night sky. He stood behind her, his chest touching her back. "Ain't they beautiful?" he asked softly. She nodded, caught in the beauty of the sky. He couldn't help but marvel at
Maya locked eyes with Katty. A maid had told her that Mrs. Martinez was waiting for her in the living room. She had no idea why she wanted to see her but she had a hunch that it was related to her pregnancy. She had decided she would refuse outrightly if she asked her to abort her child. Mrs. Martinez offered her a soft smile as she rose from the couch. Maya reciprocated with a hesitant smile of her own. "Since Dante isn’t around, I thought it was the ideal time to meet you." Katty started, deepening her sense of unease. "Why..why did you want to see me?" Maya asked, her guards up."You are glowing," Katty noted before adding in a friendly manner, "Pregnancy does that to you." Her eyes drifted to her belly where her grandkid was growing. The warmth in her gaze didn't escape Maya's notice."Thank you," she replied, smiling genuinely. She was glowing not because of her pregnancy but because of him. Her son was the reason behind her happiness. Dante was on cloud nine since he heard
She yanked him closer. Her hands moving with an urgency as she began undressing his chiseled frame. She traced the hard contours of his chest with her palm, the beats of his heart sending a fluttering sensation through her core. He was fascinating- sculpted like a statue. Perfection. The sexual attraction she felt for him was insane—the aching need to have his body wrap around hers. He ripped open his shirt, the buttons scattering across the floor with a sharp clatter. After that, he grabbed the fabric of her nightdress and tore it open with a ripping sound that mimicked her urgency. They both were burning in the inferno of desire. Gripping her wide hips, he drew her against his erection. With a titillating grinding motion, he moved it against her pulsating tender flesh. She moaned, her senses unraveling with need. Desire overwhelmed her to the point she wanted to cry. "Dante," she moaned breathlessly, he was teasing her relentlessly. "What do you want, baby?" he demanded in hoars
Dante charged forward, closing the distance between him and Paulo in threatening strides, his fists clenched tightly, veins taut with the promise of violence. Paulo gazed up at him in terror as Dante seized his collar and roughly hauled him to his feet. The tycoon's eyes were blazing with unrestrained fury, his face twisted into a feral snarl. Maya remained rooted to her spot. She had never seen Dante this enraged. He reeked of bloodlust- aura so intense and vicious that it made her stomach twist. He was entirely a different man.Dante’s fist collided with Paulo’s face in a sickening crack, the force whipping Paulo’s head to the side as blood sprayed from his mouth. A guttural groan escaped Paulo’s lips, but Dante didn’t stop. His knuckles slammed into Paulo’s jaw again, then his ribs, each blow delivered with merciless precision. Paulo’s body sagged under the onslaught. He struggled to get away but Dante didn't let him. He drove his knee into his stomach, doubling him over with a cho
Just then the phone was snatched from her hand. Her heart sank as Paulo emerged into her view. Standing over her, he resembled a furious storm ready to tear her apart. His glare piercing her like a blade as he cut the call, snuffing her only hope. A lone teardrop escaped her eyes. "Do you think I'm an idiot?" he snarled, his voice a low, dangerous growl. Panic surged through Maya. Her instincts took over as she scrambled backward, her wide eyes remained on his, anticipating his next move. He took a threatening stride towards her, his jaw locked tight. His features twisted. "Stay back," she warned despite the terror wrecking her nerves. She was scared for her life but she was scared for her unborn child. Her words only fueled his rage, hitting him in his head. With a violent motion, he threw the glass against the wall, the crash reverberating through the room. She flinched by his sudden outburst. "You will follow MY orders," he gritted out, eyes blazing with murderous rage. Maya did
The door slammed against the wall as it opened tremendously, startling her. Dante strolled in, his oppressive aura filling the room. Hope glimmered in her eyes and she rose to her feet, her robe slipping to expose her voluptuous curves. Each stride he took sent a ripple of tension through her, anticipation gripping her like a vice. He couldn't resist her. Hint of a smile danced over her lips as he drew near. He was a control freak and she loved that about him. She craved him to spank her, manhandle her, treat her like a whore. Her smoldering gaze traveled over his massive frame, enjoying the view. She was ready for the rough press of his body and the heat of his kiss but had not expected the sudden grip around her neck, his fingers tightening as he choked her. Shock seized her features. Fury- blazing in his eyes- cut through her flesh as he growled in her face, "Where is Maya?" Eviana's brows furrowed in confusion, "Maya? How would I know?"He choked her harder, his nails digging
Even though Dante knew it already, hearing the words spoken aloud sent a cold spike through his chest. A wave of anxiety gripped him. She was in grave danger. Why didn't she share it with him? Did she not trust him enough? His heart clenched painfully. Why did she embark on this dangerous path all alone? He couldn't realize when she slipped away from his protective embrace. One moment she was safe in his arms and the next, she was gone. He wouldn't be able to live if he lost her again. "Who took her?" he asked, freaking out from inside. "The kind of person who’ll do anything to keep you two apart," Peter replied, making Dante frown. "As surprising as it may sound, the video was taken from Maya's phone," Peter revealed, stunning everyone. "Someone stole the video from her phone and circulated it," he added. "Who?" Dante demanded, his body coiling with tension. "I am trying to trace it back to the perpetrator," Peter revealed. Dante clenched his fists, his face a dark