Cassandra Salvatore~•~Christmas passed by in a flash and so did New Year's and I had to say those were the best weeks of my life.For once in my life, I didn't have to stress about anything.I'd underestimated therapy but two months of it had been bliss and had helped me greatly. I didn't have to worry about bills or my father or my crazy stalker ex. All I had to do was go to work, come back, and spend time with my siblings.The best part was that I finally had my dream job! Yes, that's right. I got signed with an agency right before Christmas and it prompted some Christmas-themed shoots.It also meant my schedule was flexible but it was also very tight. I didn't have the weekends to myself again, so I had to squeeze out time randomly to spend with my boyfriends, friends, and family.It was exhausting but I didn't mind. Have I said it was my dream job?I was finally a full-time model and it was unreal. Unlike others, I didn't have a break for the holiday. It was work all through a
Cassandra Salvatore~•~"What?" She was confused."You thought and thought and thought. You never actually cared to know what I wanted. And the truth is even after the hell you put me through, I wanted you to come back because you are my mother." I snapped, feeling tears gather in my eyes.I tried to blink them back because I couldn't be crying before a shoot.She was quiet for a long time and we just stared at each other. "Do you—" she paused and cleared her throat. "Do you still want me?"I knew the answer to that question but saying it would be pathetic and I wasn't ready to forgive her. "I don't know. Just because I searched for you online doesn't mean I suddenly want you in my life.""I get it. I'll try to earn your forgiveness. And if you searched for me, it means you must have seen…""Your other family." I completed it for her when she trailed off and she nodded. "Your husband and your three kids.""The eldest is my husband's kid. But I'd like you to meet them all nonetheless."
Rowan Valentino~•~I blew out a breath as I collapsed on the chair. For once, my brother and I weren't working.Ever since Cassie stopped working for Matteo, he had been busier than usual as he had been unable to find a perfect fit for his personal assistant, which meant the weekends Cassie didn't spend with us, we spent it working.It wasn't like we weren't proud of her. We were but we missed her.It was quite silly to admit considering she just left our house a few hours ago, but we had gotten used to her and it would take a while before we adjusted to her new schedule.I sneaked a glance at my brother, who had his head thrown back on the couch as he took deep breaths."Long week, huh?"He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. "You have no idea.""It's that hard without Cassie?""I'm still trying to adjust. Work is demanding without someone to take some of the burdens off. And with the holidays that just passed, I have a lot to catch up on.""Why don't you find a new assistan
Cassandra Salvatore~•~My head was pounding.I groaned in pain as my eyes fluttered open. For a brief moment, I closed them back before blinking them open again so I could get used to the harsh light.My neck ached and I realized that it was because of the awkward position I was in.I was tied up in a wooden chair.My eyes went wide as I recalled the moments leading to this. I left my mom in the coffee shop and drove to a convenience shop. I thought I was being followed so I sent the plate number to Jules.While I cleaned up my face, I got hit on the head and fainted.I was fucking kidnapped.By who, was the question.I could feel my heart start to pound as I looked around the empty room. There was nothing in it except for a small window that even Justina couldn't fit through.I tried to stay calm. I really did, but when I looked down and realized I'd been stripped down to my underwear, I screamed."Help!" I shouted, this time my voice was stronger. I didn't even know if anyone would
Cassandra Salvatore~•~I gulped, only settling down when he put the knife away. He pulled a chair from the side and sat in front of me, crossing his legs."You know I lost my job a while ago, right?"I wasn't surprised. Rowan and Matteo found out he was linked to my father and my father had been embezzling."And that's because your little boyfriends did their research on me.""They must have fired you for a reason.""Nothing tangible that I know of. I cover my tracks pretty well, unlike Daniel." He shrugged nonchalantly. "They just hate me because of you. What did you tell them?""I didn't tell them anything. I don't talk to them about you. If I did, you would have been fired a long time ago.""Watch your mouth." He warned, glaring at me. "They would never have known about me if I wasn't involved with you. It's all your fault."My mouth dropped open at his audacity. "Close your fucking mouth. I know you suck dick pretty well, especially if those billionaires are willing to keep you
Matteo Valentino~•~I was angry as fuck, but I was worried as well. Who knew what had happened to our girl?It was now past eleven and we still didn't know where she was. Eleven wasn't an unusual time to be out in New York but this was Cassie. She never went anywhere except for work alone.She liked having someone with her. She liked having company.My brother was quick to file her as a missing person. Usually, the police would never agree but money and power could solve a lot of things. His assistant tracked the car we bought for Cassie and it was found in the parking lot of a convenience store.It made me worried as hell. It meant that an accident didn't happen. Someone took her. We just didn't know who.That led us to track the car whose plate number Cassie had sent to Jules. We had given it to the police and they said they would have a location by tomorrow morning.The convenience store was closed which meant we'd have to visit the next morning as well.There wasn't much we could
Rowan Valentino~•~Damon had always been a force to reckon with. He had this natural dominant aura that when he spoke, things happened.He was intimidating. His voice was deep and hard. It made people cower, so I wasn't surprised when the cashier started moving as soon as he heard Damon's words.The cashier immediately called another worker to replace him behind the counter and he led us into the backroom. We stood by the side impatiently as he went back to yesterday's footage.He was shaking as his hand maneuvered the mouse and I couldn't even blame him.Three men were demanding something he wasn't supposed to give out to people other than the cops. While Damon was intimidating, Matteo's anger was something no one wanted to be part of and he was glaring at the man.I tried to be the level-headed one even if the worry was etched on my face and smiled at him a few times when he looked my way. That didn't help him in any way.We would have left it to the police but those people were fu
Rowan Valentino ~•~I shared a look with my brother, Damon, before I picked up the call."Hello?" I called out tentatively."Ah. If it isn't the famous Valentino brother.""Who are you?" I demanded, even if I was certain I knew who was behind the phone."I have your precious girlfriend.""Rafael," I growled out, my face forming a scowl even if he couldn't see me. I had seen him only once; the day I took Cassie and Jules to see their new house but I hated him with every bone in my body.What exactly was his deal? Was it that hard to let go of his ex? Was it that hard to accept that Cassandra didn't love him anymore? Why the fuck was he stalking her?"How did you know it was me?" He asked, amused."I am not playing around. Where is she? Is she okay?""Of course, she is.""She was unconscious when you took her." I reminded him. The sight of her in his arms had broken my heart because who knew what he did to her? Was she still unconscious? Was he capable of killing her?Rafael chuckled an
Cassandra Salvatore~•~I took a deep breath as I heard the announcer's voice, calling out for the models.I was nervous as fuck, but it had nothing to do with the fact that I was about to walk on the runway. It was not the first time I was doing it. However, it was the first time I was doing so in a foreign country with news only I knew about.I was in Rome and I'd only arrived here two nights ago which meant I hadn't gotten the time to tour the city. Besides, I was terrible at their local language and I could get lost easily.I stood in place as the models left one after the other.My hand was shaking but I willed myself to be strong. I saw the last girl leave and I walked closer to the curtains. As soon as she came back, I took one last deep breath and started my strut.The applause was instant and I was certain it came from my family who were seated in the front row.Keeping my poker face on and careful not to break into a smile, I walked down the aisle, stopping at the edge to st
Cassandra Salvatore~•~Matteo gave us an unimpressed look. "Really guys? You're fucking in a fucking storage closet?""We didn't fuck." Rowan spat at his brother, glaring at him. "Cassandra was horny and whiny and I did something about it.""Whatever the fuck you were doing, you didn't think to lock the door? What if Mom opened it instead?"I blushed in embarrassment, at the same time, grateful that it was Matteo that opened the door and not someone else. It would have been much more humiliating.Rowan rolled his eyes, not bothered. "We were on our way out anyway."He shouldered past his twin and as I was about to leave as well, Matteo held me back. "I know my brother thinks with his dick sometimes, but you ought to be responsible."I smiled sheepishly. "I was tipsy.""Course you were." He sighed, closed the door, and put his arm around my waist as he led me away from there. "We're back on the shore and I had to look for you guys everywhere."I said goodbye to Tash and her friends be
Cassandra Salvatore~•~The party was a blast. It wasn't the usual style of throwing parties but I was certain Jules would have loved it here. I made a mental note to introduce the birthday girl to her soon.Tash had been ecstatic that she could finally consume alcohol without faking her age.Well, she did not tell her parents that. They thought she was just happy to be able to consume alcohol.Her mother still appraised me with watchful eyes, but I tried not to let it get to me. I'd just have to convince her I'm not the gold digger she thought I was.I was interested in one of her sons before I found out they were filthy rich.Under the constant glare of their mother, I could not go through the party sober.I was drunk and horny and it amused Rowan.Matteo was off somewhere doing God knows what while I sat down on a couch with the older twin — I didn't even know where we were.For the umpteenth time, my hand tried to sneak down his boxers, but he caught it before I could go further.
Cassandra Salvatore~•~My eyes went wide as the older couple fixed their gaze on me.However, I was relieved when Rowan concurred. "They've always been like that. You'd like her university friends more." I didn't know what to say so I just kept mute as Matteo dragged me to his side, putting his arm around my shoulder. "Mom, Dad, this is Cassandra. Cassie, these are our parents."The woman had bright blonde hair which none of them seemed to inherit. They only took her blue eyes. The man's eyes were as dark as his hair. Both pairs of eyes were settled on me. I plastered a smile on my face. "It's nice to meet you both. Your son has talked a lot about you." I was lying. Matteo and Rowan barely mentioned their parents. They avoided it for as long as possible.They weren't looking forward to introducing me to their parents because of how intense they could be but we couldn't escape it forever, especially as their mom kept demanding to see me."Cassandra Salvatore?" She asked and I nodded
Cassandra Salvatore~•~I'd never been in a sophisticated place like this in my life. I didn't know how the decorators managed to make it sophisticated yet casual.Apart from the times they bought me expensive gifts, I often forgot how rich these men were. This party was a huge wake-up reminder. It was crazy how much money they had.What was crazier was the fact that funding this party wouldn't dent anyone's pocket.Rowan had revealed to me that Tasha had made everyone pitch in to celebrate her party.Since she was the youngest and the baby of the family, she received a monthly stipend from all three of her brothers, as well as her parents. She hadn't started working yet but she was a millionaire already!However, she didn't spend a dime of her money on this party. She knew how to bend her brothers to her will.There were a lot of high-class people at the party, even some celebrity singers. Matteo and Rowan were used to this kind of environment but I was like a wide-eyed novice.I had
Matteo Valentino~•~"How would this work anyway?" Cassandra asked, stepping into the vehicle.She looked absolutely breathtaking with a red satin dress wrapped around her body and pearls hanging down her ears. She looked delectable.I took the present in her hand and placed it beside me before placing a kiss on the corner of her red-painted lips."Honey, you'll get married to us one day. You'll have to get used to things like this." Rowan was seated opposite me and Cassandra sat beside me, her thighs touching mine. The slit on her dress was high. I just hoped my mom wouldn't have anything to say about it."That's true."I was so glad she wasn't freaking out at the idea of marriage.When I first saw Cassandra, I didn't know I would be thinking of marriage, but after spending a few weeks with her, I knew she was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.I didn't know how she would take it though. Being in a relationship with two men was one thing. It was fun. It was thrilling.
Cassandra Salvatore~•~Once again, my face had been plastered all over the internet.And so was Rafael's face when the police finally took him. The difference was that his face was bloody, almost unrecognizable. That could only be Matteo's work.Rowan had taken me to my house because he knew how worried Jules had been."Did he do anything else to you?""Why does it matter?" I sighed, not wanting to recollect the events of the past twenty-four hours. I was grateful I didn't spend more time there and it was all because of my brave men."Because the police would want to know. The more things he does, the more time he spends in jail." He explained slowly, taking care not to come across as rude. "Well, he assaulted me. He cornered me in the ladies' room and hit my head." There was a bandage on the place Rafael hit. He was sensible enough to take care of the wound, knowing it could be fatal if left unattended. "I fell unconscious. The next time I woke up, I was tied up. He tried to kiss m
Matteo Valentino~•~I scrunched up my face as Damon pulled over at a small house. It was a house that looked like it had been abandoned and when I saw the brand of the car the police had described to me, I knew Cassie was finally going to be safe."He's sloppy." My brother commented. "Probably because it's a one-man job.""It's a good thing he is. Makes it easier to catch him."I sent off a text to the police, telling them to start coming to the address. I needed a few moments of having Rafael to myself before handing him to the police.I needed to make it clear to him that he had no right or audacity to challenge me ever.As we got down from the car, Rowan walked toward us. "So what exactly is the plan?""No plan. We walk in there. We get Cassie and we leave." Rowan stared at me blankly. "And maybe, rough him up a little.""Now, you're talking." Together, we approached the door of the house carefully. We just assumed it would be a one-man job. I was hoping we were right.The door l
Cassandra Salvatore~•~I didn't get to step a foot outside before Rafael's hand wrapped around my waist in a firm grip and pulled me against his chest.He closed the door and locked it.I tried to hit him again but he quickly held my hand and turned me around, backing me up against the wall."Are you fucking stupid?" He roared out, face full of anger."Fuck you." I spat out, trying to escape from his grip but he was too damn strong.Soon enough, he relaxed his hold on me but I felt the cold metal on my head, daring me to make a move.I froze, my chest rising and falling at a fast pace. His eyes dropped to them and he licked his lips. I felt too exposed. He could see the swell of my breasts in my bra.Why the fuck did he even strip me out of my clothes?I didn't care if I was going to run out of here naked. All I knew was that I had to run."You look hot when you are feisty." Before I could process what was happening. Rafael had his lips on mine. I couldn't move.He bit my lip harshl