And there and then, Genevieve settled on the decision to tell them the truth—even though it was only half. What if opening up meant giving she would be giving them leverage over her? If things went well, the opposite could happen and she wouldn’t just gain two friends—she’d have allies who could make her life in this dangerous world more bearable. And maybe, just maybe, when the time came to reveal the true reason behind her actions or she ever found the courage to trust them fully, they might even choose to help her.She took a deep breath, steadying herself before offering a small smile. "You're right. I didn't come here, or marry your father, by choice." That much was true. While she had expected to be bought by someone, she never could have imagined ending up in the hands of a man like Roberto Visconti."I was auctioned off to him last night," she admitted, her voice quieter now. "I... I'm sorry, but I can't share much about my life before that or how I ended up at the auction—"
‘’No, we haven't. However…’’ Annika trailed off as the door was opened from the outside by a guard. She continued, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. ‘’You need to get out now, Eve.’’‘’Wh—What are you doing?’’ Genevieve stammered, her eyes widening in fear.‘’Helping you. It's what we wish others would do to us if we ever find ourselves in the same position as you are now. Go now, Eve.’’ Annika was the one who replied, the smile on her face widening.Genevieve could not help the splutter of disbelief that escaped her lips, ‘’What do you mean? You can’t possibly be—’‘’Well, we are. And we don’t have time for emotional sentiments,’’ Aurora cut her off. She turned to the guard still standing at the door and ordered, ‘’Help her out.’’Bowing slighly, the guard obeyed the command, maintaining a firm but gentle grip on Genevieve’s arm as he pulled her out of the car.‘’What?!’’ she protested, ‘’You two can't possibly leave me here. Your fa—I mean, Roberto might punish you—’’‘’We
Genevieve was greeted by the scent of freshly ground coffee and warm pastries, as she stepped into The Whispering Cup. The soft hum of conversation blended with the quiet hiss of the espresso machine, creating an inviting yet lively atmosphere. Warm lighting bathed the space in a golden glow, reflecting off the dark wooden tables and the vintage brass fixtures that adorned the walls.Near the entrance, an elderly man sat alone by the window, his fingers slowly turning the pages of an old novel, a half-empty cup of black coffee beside him. A group of college students occupied a corner booth, their laughter occasionally breaking through the mellow jazz playing overhead. The café had the kind of charm that made it easy to disappear into; perfect for what Genevieve and her aunt had needed when they chose this place as their relaxing point after their morning runs. But in the end, no matter how well a pretty girl was hidden, she could never stay unnoticed for long. Behind the bar, a young
Genevieve craned her neck to look up at the maid."They aren't looking pleased? Surely, they aren't about to call off the banquet, right?" she probed."Why don't you find that out yourself?"They got to the second floor, and Genevieve remained quiet as the maid continued to pull her down the hallway and past her parents' bedroom."We just passed—" she started to say, when the door of the next room—her own room— opened, and not one, not two, but three smiling faces popped out the threshold.They were her father’s, her mother’s, and her twenty year older brother Vince's. Genevieve sighed in relief and broke into a smile of her own. It was obvious from her parents' expressions that the banquet hadn't been called off after all.Not only were they dressed for a party it, but they were also carrying small boxes which she presumed to be her gifts. The maid who had pulled her up here immediately released Genevieve’s collar so she could bow to the Master and Madam of the household, while the l
And then, just when Genevieve thought things were finally going well, all hell broke loose.Scattered throughout the room, several guests positioned at strategic points discarded their party attire, revealing dark clothing and bulletproof vests beneath. In a synchronized motion, weapons were drawn, their cold barrels gleaming under the chandelier lights. Tables were overturned, glasses shattered against marble floors, and the once joyous atmosphere erupted into chaos as terrified guests screamed in panic.The deafening applause and cheers that filled the hall hindered everyone from finding out, the exact moment things went amiss. By the time those on stage and the guards stationed around the mansion realized it, it was already too late.Up on the stage, Genevieve watched the chaos unfold as if she were trapped in a movie trailer, unable to make sense of what was happening. Her gaze darted to her brother, who wore an equally stunned expression. Letting out a nervous laugh, she asked,
And then, it happened; right before Genevieve’s eyes. One of the huge figures clad in dark clothing leapt onto the podium, the crack of a gunshot splitting the air. The voice she thought she had lost clawed its way up her throat, unleashing in a bloodcurdling scream.“Papa!”The world slowed for her and she watched the scene playing before her in slow motion. Her dad collapsing, and the way the white t-shirt he was wearing underneath his coat darkened with blood in the twinkling of an eye. The sickening thud of his body hitting the ground coupled with the unmasked sorrow in her scream was enough to alert her brother and mother on what had happened."Papa..." she cried out one more time.Sensing the raw pain in his sister's voice and knowing the cause of it, was enough to render Vince weak for a moment. He blinked back tears that came out of nowhere before sparing his father’s body a quick glance, just enough for him to see the man flash him one last proud but sad smile before another
The grand living room was not only eerily quiet, but also empty. Genevieve looked around and there was no sign of any maid, butler, or even a guard in it. Where the hell had everyone gone; and leaving everywhere in a mess at that? Knowing she had no time to dwell on it, she rushed toward the spiral staircase and began her ascent. The train of her dress tangled around her legs more than once, but she swiftly steadied herself, never pausing until she reached her door.Pushing the door open, she stepped in and was about to lock the door behind herself when her mother’s voice came, ‘’Genevieve!’’Genevieve froze, her breath catching as she peeked outside. It was indeed her mother, sprinting down the hallway toward her, a trail of blood marking her path.“Mama, where’s Vince?” she asked, her voice trembling. Her brother was nowhere in sight. She clung to the hope that her worst fear wasn’t true, but the sorrow etched on her mum's face and the tears brimming in her eyes confirmed the night
The next two years passed in the twinkling of an eye with Genevieve—or to be more exact—her aunt trying to track down any of the staff who had been working at the mansion at the time of the incident. From what she was told, Genevieve had realized that her aunt also had no idea what business her sister’s family had dabbled in that put them under the target of dangerous people. They spent each waking hours they had making research on the internet and monitoring news outlets for any suspicious news that might mention her family's name.But it never came until Anna came home one day with one of the guards who had been working in the mansion at the time of the incident.~Genevieve opened the door of the basement room she had lived in for the past two years, her eyes dilating in surprise when she saw that her aunt had company. She looked the man up and down, taking note of his amputated hand and built physique.He looked like a bodyguard, but it was impossible to work as a guard while mis
The smile on Alejandro’s lips disappeared at the dark look on his boss’s face. He immediately straghtened, knowing he had to say the truth even if it was going to land him in trouble.‘’Actually... I," he stuttered, "I already planned to test her even before I received the call from the Don. So i didn't do it because...'’Adrian chuckled dryly, sounding more eerie than amused.‘’You received a call from the Don, didn’t tell me shit about it, and went ahead to carry out his instructions before telling me, your immediate and only boss?’’ he asked, his rhetorical tone making it obvious he didn’t need an answer. Taking a step back, he kicked Alejandro in the knee, his face remaining expressionless even as his subordinate’s clenched in pain. ‘’Tell me, did you call him before coming in here to report to me?’’‘’I didn’t. And I do not intend to report to him,’’ Alejandro replied through gritted teeth.Adrian delivered another brutal kick to the same knee he had struck earlier, his fist slam
The woman’s face brightened as soon as she spotted Genevieve."Welcome, Mrs. Visconti," she greeted. "We weren’t informed in advance of your arrival, so we didn’t have much prepared. I hope our minimal refreshments won't annoy you."Genevieve shook her head.‘’No, it’s alright,’’ she instantly said, straightening.The woman set the tray down on the table, carefully lifting the single cup and handing it to Genevieve. She glanced inside and barely resisted the urge to hug the woman when she saw the rich, steaming liquid; hot chocolate."Thank you so much," she said, accepting it eagerly. "You have no idea how much I needed this.""Not at all, ma’am," the woman replied with a polite nod. "Boss Visconti requested it for you."Genevieve froze, the cup hovering just inches from her lips. Her head snapped up.Adrian?He had asked someone to bring this to her?The same man who was supposed to be cruel, cold, and unfeeling?Wait… now that she thought about it, had Adrian actually done anything
"Watch Porn," he deadpanned.Genevieve blinked, eyes widening in shock. "What?!"‘’Is that too much?’’ Alejandro pondered. ‘’Maybe read smutty books then. You don’t have to refuse or accept right now. I will send some recs to you; if you don’t want them, you are free to throw them away or do whatever you like with them. If you want more of them, you can find the mansion’s library and ask any of the blonde maids which is my section."Genevieve remained silent for a few seconds. She knew exactly what Alejandro was trying to do. Back her into a corner, making it seem like she had no real choice. He probably assumed she was too innocent or shy to voice her real thoughts.She wasn’t about to call him out on it, though. Let him think he had the upper hand. If anything, his little game might work in her favour too.Genevieve had always loved reading, but the books that lined the shelves of her parents' mansion were mostly academic and historical texts. They were dry and tedious, always faili
"No, you didn’t," Alejandro cut in flatly. "You only think you did."Genevieve's pulse quickened, but before she could press further, his tone shifted back to nonchalance. "Back to what we were talking about, you asked why I would want to teach you. Do you want the sugar-coated version or the plain truth?"She didn’t reply immediately, her mind still stuck on what she saw earlier. Alejandro had waved it off, but she was sure…Her thoughts trailed off, as the words from earlier echoed in her mind.‘You said earlier that what I saw up is the mildest of what I would see here…’He had been right, after all.First floor, explicit sex in the open. Second floor, casino with murder. Then what was she to expect in the rest of the floors?‘’How many floors does this place have?’’ she murmured in a low voice, though loud enough for Alejandro to catch what she said.‘’Just four,’’ he replied. ‘’Our destination is the ground or last floor where the offices are. Why do you ask?’’Genevieve shook
Alejandro took his time in answering her, stretching his hand over her head to press the elevator button.‘’Uhm… what can I say? I have done much worse than that.’’‘’What?!’’ Genevieve exclaimed. So shocked was she that even after the elevator doors slid open, she remained rooted to one spot until Alejandro chuckled and pushed her in, before stepping in after her.‘’Don’t tell me it shocks you that much,’’ he raised a brow, a hint of seriousness in his tone. When she turned to him with her still red cheeks and a sharp glare, he frowned. ‘’Wait… I understand that the Don bought you at a virgin auction but… you really are one?’’Genevieve didn’t answer him, maintaining her glare as if it would force him to apologize.‘’Wait,’’ Alejandro laughed nervously, ‘’You are what? 18? Even if you are really a virgin, surely you are knowledgeable in a lot of… things, right? Like other ways to pleasure yourself?’’‘’What does that have to do with what we are talking about?’’‘’Everything!’’ Alejan
A... sex club?! Gosh! She was speechless. The room was vast, bathed in a flurry of colors; neon blues, deep purples, and flickering reds that danced across the walls like liquid fire. It looked like a nightclub, but more intimate, more charged. The air was thick with the scent of sweat, perfume, and something darker, something she couldn’t quite place.Her gaze darted around the large room, taking in the surreal scene before her. Plush couches were scattered throughout the space, each occupied by figures lost in their own worlds. However, that wasn't what shocked her. Instead, it was the sight of a dark-haired young lady sitting between two men, their features sharp and shadowed under the dim light. The lady turned her head, kissing one man deeply before pulling away and leaning into the other, her movements fluid, almost rehearsed. Genevieve’s stomach twisted, but she couldn’t look away.Further into the room, other couples, or groups, were tangled together, their bodies moving in
Genevieve shook her head, trying to clear the absurd thought, but she kept coming back to it the next second. There was no reason not to believe her intuition. If these men weren’t going to harm her, why else would they bring her to a place like this abandoned house and not take her home? They were also ignoring her questions about where they had brought her, so she was sure her suspicions were valid and not unfounded.Her train of thoughts was cut short when Adrian successfully unlocked the door and pulled her inside with him, gripping her by the extra sleeves of her jacket. Alejandro stepped in right after her, and with one huge man in front of her while another huge man stood at her back, Genevieve’s fear skyrocketed.She had been pulled into a dark room, somewhere they were most likely familiar with, but which she knew nothing about. The perfect place to end her in. Unable to keep it in herself anymore, she blurted out, ‘’I’m so sorry!’’As if to make matters worse, none of them
"Where are we?" Genevieve asked as the bike rolled to a stop in front of a small building forty-five minutes later.Her gaze swept the area, taking in the towering trees flanking the house on both sides and the unsettling distance between this building and the next one, which was actually connected to a street."What are we doing here?" she asked again, a flicker of unease creeping into her voice. When she didn’t get an immediate response, her fingers curled slightly. "Adrian—""Take your helmet off and talk," Adrian cut in, his voice distant—nothing like the way it had resounded in her ears earlier.Realizing she was still wearing the helmet, Genevieve hurriedly removed it, her breath hitching slightly as she saw that he had taken his off too and had his face dangerously close to hers."Can you get off on your own?" he asked, his gaze steady."Oh, yeah! I can manage." She shifted, crossing her legs before jumping down, wincing as her wet sneakers hit the ground with a squelch.As soo
Adrian stopped dead in his tracks, a glint of amusement dancing in his eyes. Did she just… call his name for the first time? He was sure it was the first time. Even if he didn’t have a perfect memory, the feeling the sound of his name from her mouth ignited within him wasn’t one he’d have forgotten easily.And damn! It sounded like he was hearing his name for the first time. Another unexplainable sequence happening since this girl—or rather, her picture—came into his life. This was getting too extreme though. Maybe it was his problem after all. He should probably go see a therapist.But for some reason, he knew even going to see the best therapist on earth wouldn’t reduce the effect Genevieve had on him. Bacause the problem wasn't him. It had to be her. Her looks, her voice, her hair, her eyes… she was perfect. And since it’d been a while since he got laid, her perfection was probably calling out to him and causing the muddle in his brain.All this conversation went through his head