ROBERT “Excuse me, Mr. Bradley.” I raised a finger, stepping back from the estate manager I was talking to. I walked away, bringing the ringing phone to my ear.“Any news, Natasha?” I queried sharply, not liking that her call interrupted a critical discussion.“Good day to you, sir.”“Good day, Natasha. Now get on with why you called. Is there anything important you want to tell me?” I interjected sharply, not wanting any of my time wasted. Luckily, she got the hint.“No, not at all, sir. I wanted to let you know that I got your mail last night, and I don’t understand what you asked me to do. I mean I—”“What don’t you understand?”“You said I should… As you said, aren’t you coming back to New York in a week?”Ignoring her last question, I said, “I told you to transfer most of the work files to my mail. Compile the list of everything I left, and send them to me. I’ll attend to them here and work at the Orlando office until further notice. Now, do you understand?”“What? I mean, sir.
RENEERobert sent me gifts again. This time the delivery included a sizable flower bouquet, an expensive Richart Chocolate box, and another note.In the note, he wrote that he missed me. And as Nicole had predicted, he sent the remaining numbers.To be precise, four numbers were written on the back of the card he’d sent, and I couldn’t help but wonder again what this man was up to.If he was in Orlando, why hadn’t he approached me yet? He knew my location. He knew where I worked. So why this cat-and-mouse game? Was he afraid I’d lash out at him? Is that why he’d chosen to watch me from afar or taunt me like this?Yes! I’d lash out at him for being a creep and watching me like he had some power over me. He’d also turned me into an emotional jumble. But then…“Oh, Christ.” I mumbled, placing my hands on my stomach as I continued to think.I was more than confused, and as I lay flat on my bed, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling, I knew I had to talk to him. I had to call him and tal
ROBERT “Good morning, Mr. Clarke.” As I entered the premises, the staff and employees at my Orlando office greeted me enthusiastically. I respectfully responded as I went from the reception to my office, my hands waving with a broad smile.The office set aside for me was roomy and precisely as I liked it. Similar to my office in New York, this one was opulent, with minimalist art hanging from the walls, a large desk with a laptop, and a few other items I needed. The office featured a spare bathroom and changing area, and as I looked around, I reminded myself to ask Mark to fill the wardrobe with some new, crisp clothes.I turned my head away from the changing area and turned to look at the office's beautiful glass doors and balcony. My lips spread into a grin.I always loved to hang out on balconies, because I cherished them so much. Perhaps in the late afternoon while sipping alcohol and gazing at a cityscape or structure. I treasured the activity because it gave me solace. I
RENEE“I'm coming.” I yelled as I dashed to the door to see who was knocking. “Are you certain it wasn't coming from the other apartment?” Nicole yelled behind me as I rushed to the sitting room, but I ignored her. I was eager to find out who the person was. Something told me Robert had finally sent me some gifts. With a smile, I dashed to the front door, taking hold of the knob and twisting it open to find... nobody! “Huh?” I muttered, my head poking into the corridor when I noticed someone standing at my neighbor's door.The knock had not come from here, as Nicole had suggested and my shoulders slumped. “Hello…” The blonde-haired man staring back at me waved, and I waved back, mumbling some inaudible greeting as I gently shut our door. “Not again...” I humped, disappointment filling me, and I didn't like it. It had been four days since Robert sent me a gift, and I was going insane. I rushed every time there was a knock on my door, full of anticipation. But I always returned
ROBERT My smile widened when I heard Renee cough on the other end of the phone. Of course, I'd affected her. She was surprised to hear my voice. Damn! She’d called. My plan had worked, and she’d succumbed to the urge to check in on me via phone just like I’d planned. My whole day was made with just her voice. I'd been busy earlier, glancing through my laptop, when my phone had vibrated with an incoming call. At first, I'd been unsure who the number belonged to, and knowing how I was avoiding Amanda's call, I'd been hesitant to heed the call.But after the second attempt, my subconscious urged me to answer. I swiped the answer button and froze for a second when I heard her minty sultry voice. 'Hello...' was followed by a gasp and murmurs from the background, and it clicked immediately. Renee called. She'd finally called, and my heart lifted with a broad smile appearing on my face. Fuck! This woman! She still had me wrapped around her finger even all these days. It’d been almo
RENEE“I appreciate the change, ma'am.” As I stepped out of the cab, the driver expressed his gratitude, and I smiled at him. My heeled feet were on the ground, and I straightened my hair sideways, brushing a speck of invisible dust off my shoulders. The taxi sped away, leaving me alone, and I began to take in my surroundings, staring at the grandiose restaurant Robert invited me to.Looking around, I noticed the grand, quiet street, with everything looking like it belonged in some magazine. The buildings surrounding the restaurant were tall and imposing, and although it was a business area, it appeared to be anything but. This place was serene and lovely, and all I could think was—this place belonged to the elite.I'd googled the restaurant before coming here, and the second Robert had sent me the address, I'd been blown away by the review I'd read and the added knowledge that it was a 5-star restaurant and the best of its kind in the city. As usual, Nicole was astounded and tem
ROBERT Hours later, I was sitting next to my girl, and damn if the sight wasn't spectacular! Renee was stunning. I couldn't take my eyes off her since she walked into the restaurant, her dainty frame wrapped in the sexy dress she was wearing. It’d felt like years since I'd seen her, not just weeks, and now I just wanted her glued to me. To every damned part of me, including my skin and soul. Both the bad and good. Absolutely everything.What was this woman doing to me? My body vibrated heavily as her smile shone brightly across the dimly lit building, her eyes glinting as she ate. I was already filled with desire and lust for her, but I needed to calm down. We were taking things slow.So slow, we'd spent the entire warm evening just talking and engaging in a healthy conversation, trying to get to know each other better. Thankfully, the age thing was no longer an issue, and she'd told me she wasn't bothered about it. She liked me and wanted this relationship to work out. 'It i
RENEEMy hands dug deeper into Robert's dark strands. My eyes closed, a whimper escaping my lips as our tongues melded. Damn! I missed him.“Baby girl...” I felt Robert’s hands at the back of my gown, fumbling with the zipper. He murmured in between our joined lips, his breathing erratic like mine.Before I realized what was happening, he’d ripped off my dress with a rough tug, the material quickly pooling at my waistline before falling to the floor. I stood half naked in front of him, my bare skin on display, shivering in pleasure, and a chuckle escaped my lips as I imagined his reaction when he saw the sexy red lingerie I'd worn tonight. The smile on my lips widened as I remembered the minutes before we'd gotten into his hotel suite, and my thighs tingled in anticipation of what was to come.From his flirtatious innuendos, crude words, and subtle affectionate touches beneath our restaurant table, I remembered how horny Robert had made me feel before sweetly lead me out of the bui
RENEEI had no idea where Robert was taking me tonight, and I didn't ask.He'd told me it was a surprise, and though I was used to him spoiling me, tonight felt different.Was it because this was our first date in months or because we had so much to celebrate? I couldn’t say.And so, when our vehicle stopped in front of a large, automated gate I instantly recognized from the first—and only—time he brought me here, I didn't try to hide my confusion."The hangar?!" I asked after we bypassed security, and the car crept forward to the main building.Robert got out, walking around to open my door. He held his arm out to help me down, but I ignored him and stepped out on my own."Are we flying out for this date?" I asked again as we approached the building, its massive entrance doors sliding open."Yes, we are, baby," he replied immediately, wrapping an arm around me from behind and guiding me through the doors.As we entered the hangar, which looked exactly as I remembered it, with its bri
ROBERT On the way home, my phone buzzed with a text. ‘All is set, sir,’ it read, followed by a wink emoji. ‘Congratulations in advance!’ The text was from Mark, who was to coordinate the surprise I’d planned for Renee tonight—the surprise marking the start of our new chapter. Smirking as I read the message, I quickly typed thanks, before sliding the phone into my breast pocket and taking a glance out the window. The car pulled into the driveway, and before the driver could get out to open my door, I was stepping out. The house staff warmly greeted me as I entered, and one informed me that Renee was in the backyard garden. Nodding gratefully, I made my way there. Sure enough, I spotted her. She stood near the daisies—her miracle flowers she called them. She once told me about a dream where she saw a whole field of daisies. And now she was determined to grow them everywhere in our garden. I smiled softly as I stood there, admiring and taking in every detail of her gorge
ROBERT I watched as the officers led Amanda out of the courtroom, her shackled hands clasped behind her back and her head hanging low. She looked broken. Defeated. And whereas she'd walked in confidently earlier, flashing a smug grin at me, now her feet dragged, and she didn't dare to look up. She couldn't, though, not after all that’d happened. Seeing her like this, knowing she finally got her karma, a bitter satisfaction curled in my chest. Finally, she got what she deserved. After the chaos, the wreck—the way she'd torn through my life, Renee's, and so many others—she would finally pay. This was her end. Her retribution. And it was brutal, yes, but it was also entirely fitting. "Yes," I breathed out, an invisible weight, one I'd carried for far too long, lifting from my chest. "Damn, I feel good," I murmured under my breath, and a smile formed on my lips. God! I couldn't wait to get home to Renee. I couldn't wait to tell her it was all over. That we’d won, and Aman
Your worst sin is that you have destroyed and betrayed yourself for nothing. ~ Fyodor Dostoevsky. ~•~AMANDA TWO MONTHS LATER Typically, a day begins when the clock strikes midnight, and the seconds tick.For some, it begins at seven a.m. or earlier. But today, my day began when the courthouse doors swung open and the bailiff ushered me and my lawyer into the courtroom. As we walked in, a hushed murmur rippled through the room, and for a moment, my stomach clenched—not in nervousness, but in anticipation. Which was strange given my crimes.Any prisoner convicted of murder would probably feel fear. Fear of their impending punishment, fear of the unknown consequences of their actions, fear of being executed. They'd also feel guilty, combine that with a sense of helplessness, and voila!But see, I wasn't just any prisoner. I was Amanda Clarke, and I feared no one. I feared nothing. As a convict who'd hired the best defense attorney in the country—my lawyer's record was pristine wi
RENEE "Look who's getting out of these four bleached walls today!" Nicole squealed with delight the moment she entered the room. She ran toward me, arms outstretched. "I'm so happy, Renee." She sniffled. "So fucking happy." "As am I," I said, hugging her with all my strength. "Where's Mom?" I asked. "She's at home, er, the mansion, preparing for your arrival," Nicole said. "I suspect you're going to eat a lot today, my friend," she added, and I laughed. "I can only imagine." I groaned and let go of her when Robert and the nurse assigned to check me out of the hospital arrived. She pushed a wheelchair into the room, signaling it was time for me to leave. As Robert turned to greet Nicole, the nurse, a petite young lady, attended to me. She introduced herself, asked a few questions, provided some healthcare instructions, and then it was time to fill out the discharge paperwork, which Robert quickly took charge of. As usual, he wasn’t letting me lift a finger. It’d been
ROBERTShe was awake.God, she was awake.I couldn't believe it, but as my legs carried me across the room and toward her, yes, Renee was awake. She was alive. She was conscious. And she was looking at me with teary brown eyes, muttering my name repeatedly. As I reached her bedside in a flash, and despite the doctor's warnings to take things easy, I pulled her into my arms and hugged her hard. Tight. Bone crushingly. The tears dropped faster than ever, and I cried. I sobbed. I turned into a blubbering mess, not caring about the doctor or nurses in the room. I just let the fucking grief out because it was about damn time. "Oh, God... Oh, Renee..." I mumbled, my voice breaking as I buried my face in her hair. "I... I thought you wouldn't make it. I thought I had lost you forever." My body shook violently as I spoke, but it didn’t stop my arms from tightening around her. I wanted to permanently hold her close. To never, ever let go of her."You didn't lose me." She whispered, her v
RENEE My dreams were a blur. I saw everything and nothing. I remembered everything and nothing. There was sunshine, and there was rain. There was light, and there was darkness. It was all so beautiful, but so terrifying. It was like time stopped, and I could do nothing about it. Everything felt surreal and I couldn't make sense of it. But then, suddenly… a feeling overtook me—a familiar feeling. The feeling of being alive. Of being whole. Of being complete. There was no more pain, blurry dreams, distorted visions, or anything else. There was only peace. And that peace woke me up. That peace made me move. That peace snapped me from my trance. Eyes fluttering open, the first thing I saw was a white ceiling. Then white walls and curtains. I blinked several times to orient myself to where I was, but the room appeared unfamiliar. It looked like… a hospital room. But why would I be there? I blinked slowly, trying to adjust my eyes to the sunlight streaming through
‘You’re my sunshine. My only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey. You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you… please don’t take my sunshine away.’The sky really was grey, almost black in its intensity. It looked like a storm could burst out at any moment and unleash its wrath on anything within sight. But he didn't care. Robert. He just stood in the field of daisies, arms crossed, staring up at the gray sky as if it were the most wondrous thing in the world. And he was singing. Singing with that bassy, beautiful voice of his. The one Renee had fallen for. That made her heart skip a beat and sent butterflies fluttering through her stomach. ‘When the sky is dark, and the clouds are thick, I will keep you warm through the rain. And I will always be with you through the wind and snow. I love you. I love you. I love you.’He kept singing, his voice carrying through the air and reverberating throughout the field, causing even the smallest flowers to sway gently to his me
ROBERT“…bad news, Robert. You need to get here. Renee… She was drugged. Or poisoned. I…I'm not sure, but she fainted. She’s in a critical condition, and her life is hanging on by a thread…”Nicole's words swarmed and raced in my mind like angry gnats as I rushed past the hospital's reception, the busy ER nurses and medics, and through the bustling hospital corridors to the VIP room reserved exclusively for the Clarke household.I could hear my heart thumping steadily, but the agony was nothing compared to the million terrifying thoughts flying through my mind. Every thought brought me back to that single word. Drugged. Or was it…Poisoned?Renee had been poisoned. Fuck no!This couldn’t be real. What I’d heard on the phone earlier wasn’t true, neither was this situation. It was a prank. Maybe someone, Nicole or Renee herself, was pulling a cruel joke on me.Yes. That’s it. And by the heavens, my woman was okay. She was at the mansion, and the party was still in full swing. She wasn’t