“Yeah. Mr Gracias is here. Not sure when he came home but I think he might have been the one to chase away the hooligan. Although I was already coming up to check up on you, he asked me to request your presence if you’re feeling up for it. He probably wants to make sure you’re doing alright. Nothing to be worried about.”“Oh, I’m not worried about him,” I brushed off her concern with a wave of my hand. It was just….didn’t Armonica say he wouldn’t be back until Saturday? What was he doing here this soon?Not that it was my business to mind. It was his home. He could leave and arrive at any hour of the day. How the hell did that matter to me?“Are you willing to come?" pulling me out of my thoughts once again, Susan asked. "You don’t have to if you don’t—”“No. It’s fine. I’ll come with you," it would be rude to not show up if he had asked for my presence. After all, it was because of him I was able to avoid Maddox until he was gone and I got more time to get out of this contract situat
[ZARA]After the absurd encounter last night, I couldn’t wait for the next morning to arrive and get the hell out of there. Maybe it was my luck having a bad time these days. What else could explain this series of unfortunate events?The man who attacked me last night turned out to be Zachary Gracias—dammit, who would have thought? He was the older brother of Armonica. Obviously, to tell her what happened between me and her brother wasn't an idea I was willing to attend. She had the kind of personality whom you wouldn’t want to hurt.Perhaps I would give Zachary a rebate this time. It could have been an honest error. After all, he clearly had mistaken me for someone else…some Rodriguez…not that it made his actions any less grave. The man was still a jerk! The best way to avoid him and this situation completely was to leave right away. I already had Maddox Richmond to make my life a living hell. There was no need for me to invite another.If I had assumed right, Maddox would have flown
[MADDOX]“This makes no sense,” staring at the unlocked door of Zara’s apartment, I frowned to myself.“Maybe she left in a hurry?” Jade supplied from behind, although it wasn't hard to hear the uncertainty in her voice.“She would never leave her door unbolted like this. She isn’t that careless.” Zara was anything but careless. She was smart, guarded, and cautious. There was no way she would do something so stupid.“It’s possible she only went to some nearby place. Groceries?”Now, that was a possibility worth considering, but something still didn't add up.“Still doesn’t make sense. The second Danny sent me the location, we drove straight here. There’s no way she came home, did what she needed, and left in ten minutes. Something is not right.”“You’re thinking too much into this,” I heard her sigh, before she walked past me, grazed her manicured fingers at the new lock Zara had installed and looked around. “Ah, there it is,” she pointed at the CCTV cameras near the elevator. “We sho
[ZARA]“You didn’t tell me your boyfriend could be so intimidating,” Finn sighed, his back pressed against the door as he held on to the grocery bags for the life of him. His eyes fell shut in relief as he took a minute to calm himself down.Poor thing just had a small encounter with Maddox Richmond and he already looked on the verge of pissing his pants.I felt bad for him.But that did nothing to stop me from frowning and looking away in exasperation. “He’s not my boyfriend.”“Are you sure?” was his immediate reaction.Sitting on the edge of the couch, I turned to face him. “You think I’m lying?”“No!” peeling himself off the door, he walked over to the open kitchen counter, placing the bags down and peering into it. “But people could be ignorant of their feelings,” he paused, lifting his gaze to meet mine. “Or of others.”I frowned harder, not sure what he was insinuating. “Do you always talk in riddles?”“Not always,” he said, turning to face me and leaning his side against the co
The grin plastered on his face was as charming and diabolical as it always had been.But that wasn’t the reason my jaw had literally dropped to the floor.Fuck! What was he doing here? Didn’t he leave a while ago? I saw him with my own eyes.Wait. No. I only saw his car. I—dammit!He tricked me again.“What are you doing here?” I snapped, fingers curled into fists.Instead of being annoyed, he simply arched an eyebrow curiously. “To finish what we started.”“Do you have no shame?” I bristled. God, he made me mad. So mad. I wanted to throttle him. Why couldn’t he just leave me alone? Why was he so stubborn? “Why do you keep showing up after every time I cast off all your ridiculous proposals? Are you empty on the head? Have you lost your fucking mind? What the hell is your problem?”Silence fell over for a damn long minute. None of us even moved. The grin on Maddox’s face had disappeared—being replaced by a nasty curl at the corner of his mouth—but I wasn’t sure if that was a good thin
[ZARA]I didn’t have to look at those papers to know what was written on them. It was the same marriage contract. The one that I stupidly forgot to burn. I should have. Why didn’t I? Maybe I should now. Was it too late?As if he would let you! My conscious snorted. And even if he does, what makes you think he doesn’t have copies?Point. But that didn’t mean I would do as he asked. He didn’t own me. No one did.“I won’t!” I grounded my jaw and glowered up at him. If he thought he could make me sign those papers by playing this ploy of intimidation, he was wrong. “I’d never sign them. Take them away!” Clutching the file, I flung it back at him. He caught them just in time before they could have scattered to the floor.If he was angry earlier, now he was livid.Wiping my cheeks, I tossed my legs to the side of the bed and stood up.His intense gaze stabbed through me.My knees threatened to buckle. But I held myself together. I had to. I couldn’t let him win. Not again. Not ever.“Don’t
- PART II -*A Month Later*[MADDOX]“How’s she doing?” I asked, focused on the files on the table while mindlessly twirling the pen between my fingers.“The same!” Jade responded sternly with a poker face.Perhaps she was annoyed at me, too. Not that her being annoyed made any difference to me. But Zara hadn’t spoken a word to me ever since she signed the contract. Even though we live under the same roof, I hardly saw her. She wouldn't leave her room as long as I stayed. It wasn't like I didn't try, but no matter what I said, no matter how nicely I asked, the door of her room would remain closed on me.Obviously, she was angry. And if I were being honest, she had every right as well. I did cross a line. Forced her to sign that contract despite being aware that she was neither prepared nor willing. Perhaps that was the reason I decided to let her be for the time being. As long as I knew about her whereabouts, I was happy to give her as much space and time as she needed to come to term
[MADDOX]I never felt so awkward before. It was my first. And now that I got some time to think about it—really think about it—it’s impossible to say how I feel.Approximately ten minutes ago, Zara walked out of her room and I had been deliberating ever since if planning this family gathering was a good call or just another trap I was willingly walking into.No. Don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t holding her responsible for making me doubt my decisions. Deep down, I knew I called this upon myself.I should have known she could pull off a white just as fine as she did with all the black, blues, and reds.God dammit. I knew she was gorgeous. I had known this fact since day one when she walked into my office. But tonight…in that satiny white gown that hugged her curves in the way I was reminded of all the times I got the chance to explore them with my own hands…she looked extravagantly beautiful. Truly so. A pure angel. Her long white hair curled and lifted in a simple up-do. Thin ringlets fra