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So here I am standing at her door, an orchid in my hands hesitant to knock as I hear movement around the place. Aidens words stuck in my head... You are Christian Callahan and that means anything to me in this moment. But he was right about one thing, I needed to be determined, I needed to be sure of myself... that is the only way Love could be sure about my feelings. I need to prove that to her. So I knock on the door and the inside suddenly goes quiet, I stand there for a moment, waiting, heart racing in my chest. The sound of Charlie barking only adds to the tension building in my veins. It's almost like the dog knows I'm standing outside.I have to say... learning that Charlie was a dog was a huge relief, I hated the thought of a man being close to her, close to something I have in some way already claimed as mine.A second passes, maybe two, and then the door creaks open."Yes." She’s there, standing in front of me, looking as effortlessly beautiful as ever. Love's face seemed fr
"Then why are you here?" She asks, using the kitchen island as a barrier between us. I wanted to see you, it's as simple as that. "I wanted to say thank you... for Sebastian. He told me he accepted to see the doctor again, thanks to you." She leans slightly against the counter, crossing her arms, but it doesn’t feel closed off. "You dont need to thank me, that's why I'm there, after all, to help him." Is that really all you are after? Is there anything else that you may desire along the way? "I should be thanking you." Love says and my eyebrow shoots up in suprise. "Why?" I ask. "Please, Christian. I know you did something to help us get this apartment." My heart skips a beat at her words. I wasn’t sure how she knew about my involvement, but the realization that she does make everything feel... exposed. I take a slow breath, steadying myself before speaking. "I dont need you to acknowledge it or anything... I just wanted to say thank you and that you will be lowering my payche
Love's POV"What did we just walk into? Were you... was he about to kiss you?" Tamara asks, still frozen in the same spot as she was standing when Christian left."That is exactly what we walked into," Mira says as she walks towards the kitchen, leaning on the island she looks at the orchid. "So are you... what are you doing?" Tamara asks confused. "I thought you said.." "It's complicated." I cut her off, forcing myself to meet her eyes. "It getting harder and harder to resist him, but it's also getting harder to lie, to avoid his eyes... Everything is just a mess." Tamara’s eyes narrow slightly, trying to make sense of what I’ve said, but she doesn’t press me for more, not yet. She crosses her arms, a protective stance."Any idea on how you plan to get out of this mess... or at least when you plan to get out?" Tamara asks as Mira smirks and I look at her, eyebrows raised."Sorry... it's just... The only way out, where there is for good or bad... is the truth. Otherwise, he is not l
I had no idea how was I going to face Christian today after what happened... well what almost happened yesterday. He was so close to kissing me, and I was so close to letting him. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies that were wreaking havoc in my stomach. The way he had looked at me yesterday, with his gaze intense, his touch was inviting, scent intoxicating... I had many weak spots but he was without a doubt the most sensible of them all. And now? Now, I was faced with the daunting prospect of seeing him again and trying to act like nothing had changed, even though I knew everything had. I now knew that I had no more willpower to resist him and that my time was running out... I won't be able to pretend for much longer. Yesterday was a silent confirmation in itself. "Miss Bennett?" The driver pulled me out of my thoughts at the same time as the fresh breeze caressed my cheek while he held the door open for me. "We are here." "Yes, sorry," I say as I slowly get out of
"Actually Carlos, take us to "Quake" first. I suddenly have a desire for their pear dessert." Grace says, her tone light yet her posture seems ten. This sudden detour seems odd to say the least. "I thought you needed to pick up your dress," I ask as an uneasy feeling sets in my chest. Something was happening, I just didn't know what. "We will, you just need to try one of Summers' desserts, it's difficult to catch her in the kitchen after she gave birth to her son so an opportunity like this one can't be missed. Her husband is the grandson of an old family friend, Anthony, a great chef." I've heard of "Quake" before, it wasn't soon after it opened that it became the place to eat yet I've never managed to get a reservation. A Callahan however didn't have that problem. The tension in the car is palpable, though Grace’s casual demeanor does nothing to alleviate it. She’s still looking out the window, fingers tapping lightly against her knee. "Grace..." I start, unsure of how to voice
The air around me seems to thicken, every word she speaks driving deeper into the pit of my stomach. I want to react, to defend myself, but the weight of her knowledge keeps me frozen in place. The fact that she already knows everything about my past, about my deception feels like a crushing blow. "I was in a tight spot, I had everything to lose, and when the opportunity came... I took it. So yes, I admit it... I used you... but I also helped. Everything that I did... I did with the intention of helping Sebastian, not once did I mean to hurt him or you." My heart races as I try to hold her gaze, bracing myself for whatever comes next. Grace leans back in her chair as she looks at me. Her expression softens slightly, but there’s still that underlying steel in her gaze. "I know, Love. Amongst all the things I've learned about you I know that you are a good person, otherwise, I would have never let you stay with my family, and I would have never hidden the things I found out about you
The words echo in my mind, a jumbled mess of confusion, desire, and fear. Grace’s offer, so carefully presented, seems both like an escape and a trap, a solution, and a deception. I look at her, trying to read the sincerity in her eyes, but it’s hard to see anything but the quiet certainty she radiates. "Do you really think I have any chance of building a future that would be based on lies? Such foundations are destined to fall apart."Grace doesn’t flinch at my words, somehow I feel like she reflects on my words."You would be surprised... some walls can only be held up by a lie... I would know." Grace, who had always seemed like the polished matriarch, suddenly seems more fragile, for lack of a better word, more human."You said Christain would never forgive a lie, so why would you risk joining in on one." I still couldn't believe I was having this conversation... looking her directly in the eyes for the first time."You said it yourself, it's a risk... one that I'm glad to take bec
"What are you doing home?" Mira asked me as she stepped down from the ladder where she was hanging up Christmas lights, her eyes landed on the bags I had just set down on the floor leaving a loud thud. "What are those?" "The dresses Grace wants us to wear to the party." Along with the expensive accessories and beautiful masks. Hopefully, it will be enough to cover the dread on my face. I walked past Mira and sat down on the couch... it looked more like if I let myself fall down onto it like a sack of potatoes before placing my head in my cold palms. "Love, are you ok?" No, absolutely not. "She knows, Mira," I say before slightly lifting my heavy head. "Grace knows that I lied... she knows I'm not blind." Mira froze for a moment, then she placed the ladder against the wall, the Christmas lights now forgotten in her hands. "How? How did she find out?" Her voice dropped, low and careful, as if she was afraid of what came next. I leaned back into the couch, trying to steady myself.
"This is getting ridiculous, how much longer are they going to follow us?" Mira asked about the bodyguard that walked behind us in the mall. It was safe to say she didn't like to feel watched, and to be fair neither did I. I spend all of my time pretending while in the house, and now I have to continue doing it outside. "Christian doesn't want us walking around alone, he doesn't think it's safe. I dont know if he is right or not yet somehow I'd rather be safe than sorry. And so should you." But she pretends she is above it, about the worry, about everything that happened."Well if he wants to keep you under wraps, taking you to the high-profile party isn't the best course of action," Mira states as we walk into a high-end dress store."Actually he thinks that being in the eyes of the world would make me safer, and besides it's his birthday party, as his girlfriend I have to be there. And now so do you." Mira gave a resigned shrug and walked deeper into the store, clearly still harbori
Love's POV"Where do you think he went?" I ask Mira as she pulls some things out of her suitcase while Charlie explores the new room. I still couldn't believe everything that happened. I was attacked, but what I find worse is the fact I wasn't the target, Mira was."I dont know, police maybe. Whatever he thinks will help." She says as she stuffs some things into a dresser drawer. "You don't think the police would help?" I ask her. "You think Vincenzo...""Vincenzo didn't do this." Mira cuts me off. "Trust me, Love. He wouldn't hurt me." I can trust she thinks that but is it really the case?"If you say so," I say as I look down at my hands, playing nervously with my fingers so she comes to sit down next to me."I'm sorry, Love. I really am, this... this should have happened to me, not you. I helped the wrong person it seems and what's worse I think they now want me because Vincenzo protected me." Her blue eyes looked distant as if she was seeing something beyond the room, beyond us.
"Christian, don’t do anything reckless," Aiden said with caution. "We need to be smart." He could be smart all he wanted but right now I was furious and for the first time in a long time I would act in an instant, not planning ahead. Besides this wasn't a negotiation that needed a tactic, this was going to be a statement. "I’m done being smart, Aiden," I snapped, the words leaving my mouth before I could stop them. "He came after Love. He hurt her. And I’ll make sure he never lays a hand on anyone I care about again." The words felt like they were coming from somewhere primal, somewhere deep inside me, a place where reason had no say, only the instinct to protect."Did we find him?" I ask Aiden as he waits for a confirmation on his phone. He was able to track down Love, now my people are breaking many laws to find him... it's only fair, even if I never thought I would need to use my name in such games. "We have him... ironically or not, he seems to like the same places as you," Aid
Christian's POVI paced around the living room while Mira took Love into her room so she could put on some clothes. I did my best to control my temper around her, but with every passing second, I wanted to go find Vincenzo and smash my fist into his face until it became flat. But I couldn't do that until I knew Love was alright and that she was safe... She can't stay here, so even if I have to carry her out she is coming to live with me so that I can watch over her safety. After all, I am the reason this happened to her. I stood up to him and she paid the price.The feeling of helplessness gnawed at my insides, making my fists clench involuntarily. I needed her to be safe. I could feel it deep in my chest, the relentless desire to protect her, to make sure nothing like this ever touched her again. She was mine, no other could touch her wherever it was with a feather or a finger, hell no one was allowed to look at her, they didn't deserve that privilege.I could hear the faint sound of
"I'm calling the ambulance," Aiden says as Christian sets me down on the living room couch while I hold my robe tight."No, please dont. I'm fine." Was I? Absolutely no, between the fear and the now piercing pain in my head I was the furthest thing from fine. But an ambulance in this case would also mean the police and I can't risk it, not without knowing more about the man who broke in, and for that I needed Mira."You say that because you can't see yourself," Christian says as his hand gently examines my neck. "You are very hurt, the bruises on your neck, the blood on your head... they cut open your lip..." Christian listed my injuries, his voice getting more furious by the second.I shake my head, wincing slightly at the pain that shoots through my body. "I’m not calling the ambulance, Christian. Mira should be home any minute now, she can take care of me." The words come out more strained than I intended, but I need him to understand. I can’t risk this becoming bigger than it alrea
I blink in shock, sprawled out on the floor, my robe hiked up and my hair over my face as Charlie barks wildly, his tail wagging furiously, clearly not understanding the situation. For a second, I just lie there, trying to collect myself as I hear quick footsteps through the chaos. I removed the hair from my face just in time to see a man grab me by the throat and pull me up to my feet as my scream was silenced with his hand over my mouth. My heart races in my chest, and panic surges through me like a tidal wave. The grip on my throat is firm, too firm, and I can barely breathe. My vision starts to blur, my head spinning from the force, but I fight to stay conscious. The hand over my mouth muffles my scream, and I'm helpless in his grasp, my body frozen in shock.Charlie is still barking, but the man doesn't seem to care. His eyes are cold, and calculating, and I can't make a sound, can't fight back. He’s too strong, and I can feel the pressure building in my chest."Hey man, stop. Th
Love's POV"Dont forget the sexy pajama set, although I think Christian will be fine with you sleeping naked... covered in sweat and glued to his skin," Mira says as she stands by my bedroom door and overexposes her words with body mimics. "Mira, stop it. I don't even know if I should go there," I say as I sit on my bed. I don't know how much longer I will be able to keep pretending." I don't want to keep pretending."Love, come on. Relax and go, enjoy your time with him. Be happy." She says. But what she wants is for me to leave, she doesn't want me here, and I do not want to leave her alone. Especially now that she got bad news at work and will be stuck here thinking about it alone."How about you join us and we all do something together, perhaps it would be good for you and Christian to get to know each other better.""Yeah no, I won't be a third wheel. Besides I have to go take Charlie for a walk but first I need to buy a new leash because he chewed through the one we had." And sh
A sharp edge slices through me, sharper than the anger I’m trying to keep in check. My mind flashes to Love, her smile, her warmth, everything she represents to me. She’s not just some pawn in this game, she’s everything. And for him to drag her into this... my chest tightens with a simmering fury. I push forward almost making Aiden stumble back as I look at Vincenzo dead in his different colored eyes that aren't cold but are filled with fire."You stay away from Love. Dont name her, dont even think about her." Vincenzo doesn’t flinch as my fists are clenched, but I force myself to remain still, to keep control...just barely, just enough.He tilts his head, his lips curling into that signature smirk that always seems to make my blood boil. "Oh, Christian..." he murmurs, his voice oozing with malice. "You shouldn't show your week spot so openly, not if you want to stay in the game." His words hit like a slap to the face, but I don’t back down. I’m past playing nice with this bastard."
Christian's POVLove left with my Mother and Seb and I had to come back to work. Today was an important meeting to settle our transporter for the gold if we wanted the shipment to arrive on time for production. It took some time to look over possible firms, Aiden isn't happy until he makes a thorough investigation and that is exactly why he is my right hand and my best friend. It doesn't matter all the money he has and his own obligations with his family companies he makes sure not to leave me alone, the same way I do it for him, whenever he needs me."Mr.Callahan, the meeting is about to start. The representatives are already seated." My assistant says as she enters my office."Is Aiden there," I ask."I'm sorry but I think he is not in the building, his card wasn't registered yet. Do you want me to hold the meeting for a few minutes... stall a bit?" She asks as she looks down at her tablet."No need, Im comeing." I stand up, straightening my suit as I head toward the conference room.