NICHOLAS'S POV A knock came in my study room and the door slowly opened. I could already tell it was Odessa by the sound of her footsteps. My fingers which were clicking continuously on my keyboard paused, anticipating what she wanted to tell me."She's awake Nicholas and she's demanding to see you" Odessa reported, standing by the door. I only nodded and she left without another word. A few minutes later, I stood up and left. I paused at the threshold of the guest room, my eyes instantly finding her. She was up, moving about, touching everything like a curious child. I stood by, watching as her fingers brushed over the curtains, her brows furrowing slightly."Brocade" She mumbled, much to my surprise. "I see you're awake" I said breaking the silence. She flinched, her head snapping toward me. Her eyes widened slightly when they landed on me. They moved slowly, from my face to my top which hugged my body a bit, making my muscles bulge, down to my grey sweatpants. I noticed the way
ISABELLA'S POV I stood before the familiar building, my heart beating hard against my chest. It's been years since I last stepped foot into this place I once called home. As I entered the elegant mansion of the Sterlings, a nostalgic feeling washed over me, followed immediately by a sickening feeling. Nostalgia, because memories of my early childhood came playing. Sickening, because I knew, I remembered that despite growing up here, I was here welcomed. My existence was never acknowledged by the people I call my family. In the grand living room, they were all gathered. My father sat in his favorite armchair, with my mother perched beside him like the dutiful wife she always pretended to be. Daniel lounged opposite them. Christabella was the only one pacing, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor.Her head snapped up the moment she saw me. "You..." She stormed towards me."What stupid game are you playing, Isabella? Huh?" She stopped inches from me, her voice rising. "Wh
NICHOLAS POV TAPTap, Tap, Tap... My fingers drummed four times against the armrest of the leather chair in Dr. Fiona Clarke’s office.It’s been five days since Isabella moved in, and my mansion has been anything but the same. My once quiet, cold sanctuary now feels invaded, as if her presence alone is enough to disrupt the carefully maintained order in my life. Even Odessa has taken a liking to her. Five days ago was also the last time I saw her. That is how long I've managed to avoid her. It was out of cowardice, no. It was a strategy.I needed time to gather my thoughts together. Having her move in was a huge decision and I wanted to some time to myself. To figure what was happening to me when it comes to her and to regain control of my mind.Across from me, Fiona Clarke tilted her head slightly, studying me for some time before speaking up."What's with the sudden visit, Mr. Montgomery? We don't have a session today" She gave her usual warm smile. "I believe I can come wheneve
NICHOLAS POV I didn’t hesitate for a second—I knew exactly where Isabella must have gone. Gathering some of my men, I took off without delay.The car screeched to a halt as we arrived at our destination: the Sterlings' Mansion.As I stepped out and approached the gate, the guards stationed there moved to block my path.“Marcus,” I called sharply, and one of my men immediately stepped forward.“Deal with them.”It was a simple command, and with that, I strode through the gates, leaving the commotion behind me.I was entering the enemies territory and I wasn't about to take any chances. I wanted to come alone but after Odessa told me it's been hours since Isabella left and she wasn't answering her calls either. I didn't need to be told something was wrong. As I entered the majestic mansion, they were all there, gathered in the extravagant living room. The entire Sterling family. The air around them was tense and bitter. The moment I realised Isabella wasn’t among them, my fear solidif
ISABELLA'S POV Days flew by, and before I knew it, a week had passed since the incident. Since that day, Nicholas and I hadn’t talked about what happened. I wasn’t ready to face it, unwilling to relive the horror that gripped me that day, and he, as though he understood, didn’t push the matter. Things settled back into how they were the moment we returned home. We avoided each other—or rather, I avoided Nicholas because I couldn’t bear to face him after he’d seen me in that vulnerable state. He, on the other hand, didn’t seem to care much and didn’t press me. I didn’t expect him to. If anything, I was grateful he’d saved me, even if it was just to fulfil the terms of our contract. My reflection in the mirror stared back at me. The champagne gown I wore featured a deep V neckline adorned with fancy sequins and beadwork that shimmered under the light. The gown hugged my figure perfectly, cascading into a soft, floor-sweeping hem with a bold slit at the front. My hair was styled in a
ISABELLA'S POVLooking over, my eyes was quick to spot them among the crowd- The Sterlings. They were all glaring at me, waiting for even the slightest stutter in my voice.“We met at one of his tech conferences,” I instantly came up with a lie, my voice smooth. “I was there on a case, representing a client suing a rival company. Let’s just say our paths crossed… rather dramatically. It was kind of embarrassing” I chuckled, trying to sound like I was too shy to share our story.Nicholas was quick to pick up the lie “She walked into the wrong presentation and accused me of stealing her client’s ideas in front of an entire boardroom.”The woman gasped, then laughed. “Oh my, how awkward!”Everyone else laughed.Nicholas smiled, his gaze locking with mine. “Not really. I knew right then that I’d found someone who wasn’t afraid to challenge me. It was… refreshing.”"I tried to avoid him the best I could after that. I was too embarrassed to face him and prayed we wouldn't see each other agai
ISABELLA'S POV The world seemed to fall silent the instant Nicholas' lips met mine. I froze, my eyes growing wide, caught off guard by the warmth of his touch. His lips, soft yet firm moved against mine deliberately and gently. The faint scent of his cologne enveloped me, mingling with the sensation of his hand brushing against my back, pulling me closer. My body vibrated, heat running through my veins. I didn't mean to respond but my body betrayed me and I leaned into him, my hand instinctively grasping the front of his suit for support. But he pulled out almost immediately and his eyes met mine, intense and searching, as if he was trying to read every thought racing through my mind. My lips tingled, the feeling of his lips still lingering as I try to catch my breath. I swallowed hard, my voice failing me as I tried to speak. Nicholas leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear and sending a sensation down between my legs. "Your family is watching" He whispered. The sound of appla
ISABELLA'S POV Heat rushed to my face, burning like fire, and I could feel my pulse roaring in my ears. The air, all of a sudden, became too heavy, pressing down on me. My hands flew to my sides in a desperate attempt to cover myself, but the damage had been done.I slowly looked up at Christabella who was snickering, her grin wide enough to haunt me."Oh my God, Sis. Are you o..." She made to approach but I raised a hand for her to stop, glaring at her as I swallowed the burning bile rising in my throat. Before I could spiral further, Nicholas moved swiftly. Soon his jacket was off him and he covered me with it, shielding me from the eyes of onlookers. "My fiancee and I will excuse ourselves for a moment. Everyone, please continue with the party" He announced before gently taking my hands. "Let's go" His word made me tear my gaze from Christabella as he led me out of the ballroom. My reflection stared back at me, pale and shaken, as I splashed cold water onto my face. My body tr
DANIEL'S POVHow Dare She? The thought burned in my mind, searing hotter with each passing second as I stormed into the house. The door slammed shut behind me. My eyes darted around the lavish living room and landed on the vase perched on the fireplace shelf. Without a second thought, I grabbed it and hurled it against the wall. The porcelain shattered, it's fragments scattering across the floor but it did nothing to calm the fury boiling inside me.Isabella.That despicable, cunning woman.She ruined everything. My years of planning, years of hard work. She destroyed it all in one day!I paced back and forth, my fist clenched and jaw tightened. My mind reeled back to years back, when all of this started, the day I decided to charm my way into Isabella's life. It was never about love. The reason I approached her wasn't because I loved her in any way. It was all about power and control. She was a Sterling and the Sterling owned me everything.My father, James West, used to speak so hi
ISABELLA'S POV The air in the room was suffocating, the tension so thick, one could literally be choke by it. Daniel sat at the long table in Dominic Sterling's study room, his composure barely intact. His jaw clenched tightly, his hand trembling as he tried to contain his anger and frustration. Christabella sat to his right, her fingers fidgeting in her lap. She was glaring at Daniel, holding back the urge to slap him hard across the face. At the end of the table sat Dominic, fury radiating off him. I, on the other hand, leaned back in my chair waiting eagerly for the drama to unfold. I was present because Dominic had summoned me and even though I wanted to turn his summon down, I wasn't going to miss the opportunity to witness Daniel squirm. Dominic slammed his fist onto the table and everyone flinched, except me. "You better start explaining what the fuck just happened, Daniel! Explain to me how an entire room of potential investors just watched a video of my son-in-law dealing
ISABELLA'S POV The grand hall was filled with men and woman known for their power and luxury, the type of atmosphere Daniel had always wanted to thrive in. He stood in the stage, a proud smirk on his face. The air was alive with anticipation, marked by the clink of glasses and whispers.Today was Daniel's moment—the day he had long awaited. A turning point in his career: the launch of his stock exchange empire.Investors from far and wide had gathered, eager to stake their claims. The Sterlings were present too, their faces glowing with pride for their son-in-law. Nicholas was also among the attendees, though he’d never shown any interest in investing. I knew Daniel had invited him purely to flaunt his success and rub it in my face. Now I know what he has been using those millions from my law firm for.A few days ago, Anika, my former secretary, and Madelyn, my accountant, sent me an updated report on the firm. Even though I was no longer officially their boss, I’d instructed them to
CHRISTABELLA'S POV By the time the shoot was over and I was done for the day, it was dawn. I grabbed my phone and headed straight to my car with my assistant trailing behind me. I dialed Daniel's number. It rang several times but he didn't pick up. Not the second, third, fourth, fifth, or even seventh time. My frustration grew but I managed to keep a smiling face, even though the corners of my mouth felt like they would snap under my skin. By the time I arrived home, my blood was boiling. I still couldn't reach Daniel. My housekeeper, whatever her name was, greeted me at the door. "Welcome, Madam. What would you like to have for dinner?""Just make something light" I snapped curtly. I retreated to my room, slipped out of my designer clothes into a silk robe, and plunged into my bed. I rubbed my temples, my head pounding out of frustration. A knock came a moment later, and the housekeeper entered with my food. I barely tasted it, my thoughts still consumed by that video, by the aud
NICHOLAS POV I Touched Something Forbidden.Something that should have never been mine to claim. I tasted sin. The kind of sin that rips apart every ounce of restrain I've spent years building, the type that drags you deeper into an abyss you wouldn't want to climb out. And who could have known that sin would taste so goddamn intoxicating, like heaven wrapped in hell. The cold water poured over my head, drenching my hair and running down my tensed body as I stood under the shower. I leaned against the cold tiles, bracing my palms against the wall as my head dipped forward. My breath came out shallow and ragged, the heat burning inside me refusing to cool despite the torrent of water cascading over me. I squeezed my eyes shut to stop the memory but the image came playing vivid in my head. The way her lips had felt under my thumb was soft and swollen. And her body, Jesus Christ, her body... I groaned, my fingers curling into fits as memories of her body burned into me like a brand.
ISABELLA'S POV I froze the moment Nicholas pulled me against him, my chest colliding with his head frame. The heat the body seeped into mine, the familiar scent of him- ambergris and vetiver, wrapping around me and making relief wash over me. I tilted my head to meet his gaze and my breath hitched. Even behind the half mask, his eyes blazed with an intensity that stole the breath from my lungs. "Mr. Montgomery?" I whispered. His jaw clenched and his hands tightened around my waist. "Did you enjoy it?" His question made me blink in confusion. "What?""Did you enjoy him touching you?" His nostrils flared in disgust. I frowned "What are talking about, Mr. Montgomery? I was...""You were doing what?" he cut me off. "Letting another man touch you? Letting him put his filthy hands on you?" he glared. "It was part of the plan..." The words got stuck in my throat when his fingers trailed up my spine sending goosebumps down my skin. "Does the plan include you grinding against him, huh?"
NICHOLAS POV I Will Murder Daniel West. There are countless reasons why, but none are more infuriating than the fact that he dared to touch my wife.The plan was simple: Isabella would lure Daniel into confessing his secret by pretending to be a sex worker, with a hidden camera recording the entire thing. Meanwhile, I, posing as a VIP member, would infiltrate the club and plant small cameras everywhere.I had been against Isabella getting involved but that stubborn woman didn't even bat an eye when I tried explaining to her the huge risk involved. A lot of things could go wrong. What if she wasn’t assigned to Daniel? What if she ended up with some other despicable bastard instead?What would happen if she had to grind against these men, kiss them, just like every other sex worker here? What if any of these bastards tried to touch her or fuck her? No, rather, the real question was, what will I do if any of that happens? When the mere thought of it already twisted something dark insid
ISABELLA'S POV Calm down, Isabella. You can do this."Will you make it worth it?" I asked, letting my voice drip with seduction as I bit my lip. His pupils dilated instantly, his excitement disgusting."How about I help you take it off?" I added, letting my fingers toy with the buttons of his shirt.“Anything you want, baby,” he murmured, leaning into my touch."So, what's your name?" He asked as I unfastened the first button."Selena" I smiled "What's yours?"“Damian,” he lied smoothly, taking a gulp of his drink. "Selena, has anyone told you how sexy your voice is?" He asked "I'm imagining how melodic it will sound while you're moaning my name"Disgust burned through me. This bastard. Was Christabella aware that her beloved husband was nothing more than a cheating pig? Well, I'm not even surprised.With his shirt undone, I ran my hand down his chest, suppressing the bile rising in my throat when he groaned under my touch."You’re so ripped, Damian,” I murmured, my hand stopping jus
ISABELLA'S POV It took Nicholas only one day to secure VIP access to Club Vertigo. They say money talks louder than words. Not really but in Club Vertigo, that saying couldn't be more accurate. A few million slapped on the table was all it took for Nicholas to be ranked as a VIP and for me to sneak in as one of the sex workers. Our identities were carefully concealed.As I stared at my reflection in the changing room mirror, I barely recognised the woman looking back at me. The heavy makeup transformed my face, while icy blue contact lenses and a blonde wig completed the disguise. I was dressed in nothing but a sheer lingerie set paired with a short skirt that stopped right above my ass, barely covering anything. My hair was tied back in a high ponytail, and faux piercings adorned my lips and nose for the final touch.The woman in the mirror was a far cry from the person I truly was—but tonight, that didn’t matter.The thought of allowing Daniel to run his hands through my body made