(Xander's pov) The busy party was winding down because it was already getting to the late hours of the night. Benjamin was trying to track Rico's car; I didn't have much hope of that though. By now they must have ditched the car or given Karis to another person. ‘ Why is it that whenever I take my eyes off my little red, she gets into trouble?’ I didn't bother going back to the party but just stayed in the security room relaying instructions to my men. I had already pulled off my jacket and tie, with my sleeves folded and my top buttons undone. Knowing the potential danger Karis was in made me restless. She could be getting raped now or being shipped to God knows where. The door was pushed open, and Ethan came in, but there was no Emma. My grey eyes stormed, and before I could question him on where I was Emma, he answered me. "Miss Reynolds mysteriously disappeared from the party." He informed me, and I slammed my hand on the table, making Ethan flinch back
(Karis's pov) There was this indescribable pain in my head. My eyes fluttered open but I found out my environs were dark. The ache in my skull would not stop. I tried to sit up but realized my entire body was limp with no sensation in my limbs, and I was lying on what seemed to be in a car booth. There was incoherent chatter from the back seat. It took a while before I got to remember everything that had happened to me. My heart started beating fast as panic watched over me. I was kidnapped. The body aches all over my body made it hard to concentrate on what they were saying but I could get snippets of the conversation. "Skyler has already been drugged so there is no way he will be able to hold himself back. This is what he gets for trying to send me to prison." I heard a voice very similar to Emma's. There was no way I could mistake her voice for another. "I didn't plan on taking drastic measures like this but Xander changed. If I am not careful he might e
(Karis's pov) Xander went stiff when my hot lips met with his. He was not expecting me to make such a move, and neither was I, but the heat I felt inside was driving me insane. The car was extremely hot despite the air conditioning. He protested, trying to fight my lips, but I didn't let him. I bit his lower lips until they bled to allow my hot tongue to explore his mouth. Just like more aphrodisiac was injected to me the heat increased tremendously as soon as I tasted his mouth. I moaned into his mouth, I didn't care if the driver was being affected or if he could see me through the rear mirror. He better not catch a glimpse because Xander was going to rip his eyes off. Xander exercised every power in him not to return the kiss; I didn't care, though all that mattered was drowning myself in the moment as I ravaged his lips like a starving beast. He forced our lips to part. "We can't be doing this Karis. You are not yourself." He said in between groans that rev
(Karis's pov) I continued torturing Xander the same way he has been torturing me. It was sweet torture and he was growing impatient. His member was too large for me to take in completely, and I was almost gagging my throat. I sucked, bit and twirled my tongue around like I was enjoying a lollipop making sure my actions were slow. Xander groaned and kept on cussing inaudibly for me to hear but it was working. I was driving him to the brink. I pulled away when I felt his member pulsate in my mouth and licked my lips grinning mischievous at me. "Bloody hell." I heard him curse under his breath, and then he grabbed my waist, straddling me around his waist. I had to bend my head for the car to accommodate us. Although it was a large Range Rover there was not much space for us. His hand pulled up my dress and yanked off my panties tearing it to shred. He didn't give me any warning probably lost in the moment and desperate for a release like me. Damn, my body was fuckin
(Karis's pov) Xander wrapped my legs around his waist and managed to take me out of the car while he was still inside me. He draped his coat over me but this was fucking embarrassing. I was too high on drugs to realize how embarrassing it was because I also didn't want to part with his beautiful dick. He carried me into the mansion. Luckily, we didn't come across anyone. It seemed Sam had informed all the staff to stay clear. We didn't make it to the bedroom as Xander stopped in the sitting room, placing me on a long couch. "It's time we get rid of that dress. It looks lovely on you but you look amazing with nothing on." Xander mentioned as his eyes were undressing me scanning my entire body. It felt like he was tracing his fingers on my curves. He started to move again in me, and the sounds of tearing fabric echoed in the dimly lit sitting room. He tore off my dress, leaving me almost stark naked except for my bra in front of his sharp grey eyes. I was lef
(Karis's pov) The window curtains rattled when the cool morning breeze blew into the room making goosebumps that crawled all over my body. ' Why is it so cold this morning? ' I thought as I snuggled closer to a source of warmth under the covers. It was so warm and comfortable, like hugging a teddy, only that this teddy didn't have fur and was enormous. It also felt like naked skin. It felt like I was also naked with my skin pressed against someone's skin. My eyes immediately popped open. It was then it dawned on me that I was snuggling close to Xander and we were both in our birthday suits. Bloody hell what happened last night. My legs were so sore it would be hard to move them. Every muscle in my body ached like it was crushed, which was not far from the truth. I was most likely crushed under Xander, I didn't need a detective to figure out what happened last night. "Darn it, Karis. You fucked up." I muttered to myself. I probably gave in to Xander, and we had s
(Karis's pov) Xander was in his study all day, and I preferred it that way; I was embarrassed and didn't want to face him after last night. Fucking hell, I swore before that I rather died than let him fuck me but that was far from what happened. Although things were not in my control and the drug could be blamed for it, I was the one who shamelessly threw myself at him and insisted we did it instead of going to the hospital. "Bloody hell," I groaned for the hundredth time this evening; I was trying to work on my current designers after sending them to Sapphire, and although she commended my work, there was a particular design that didn't make the cut, so I was working on it. I had a deadline to meet production, but unfortunately, Xander has been in my head all day. ' I wonder if he is thinking of me; get a grip on yourself; Xander probably cares less. Why did this have to happen to me?' My thoughts whined. God, I felt like crying. The annoying part was that I r
(Karis's pov) My tongue clicked after seeing Xander's message. It just reminded me of everything I wanted to forget all over again. I ignored the message. Luckily, I read it from the notification, so there was no read receipt. He should have fun finding me. The wind blew howling across me; it was getting colder here the deeper it got to the night, but I was not ready to head back inside. Then it struck me, Skyler, from what I heard, he was also drugged. How was he able to handle the situation? From my assumption, I doubt Emma was arrested or prosecuted for what happened; she is the perfect princess. I went into Skyler's DM, and from his active status, he was last online 30 minutes ago. Karis: Hey I sent a simple hey that double-ticked, indicating his Internet connection was on. To my surprise, Skyler came online immediately after the message was sent. Skyler: Hi, what do I owe this lovely occasion to that warrants Mrs De Marco to contact me first? I
(Xander's pov) I don't know why Vance and Val wanted to come out to play in the park when the temperature was freezing in December. Frost covered every branch, creating a dazzling white layer that sparkled in the fading afternoon light. The ground was frozen and crunchy underfoot, and the air was biting cold, nipping at my face. I sat on a chilly wooden bench, wrapping my scarf tighter around my neck as my breath from fogs in front of me. In the distance, Vance and Valeria played in the snow near the swings, their lively voices piercing and brightening the atmosphere. Vance excitedly called out to me, waving his arms to get my attention, his joyful sound warming the cold winter day. He had successfully built a snowman with Val and seemed to be having a lot of fun. It reminded me of when me and the boys did similar things during our childhood then Karis would want to join in to enjoy the fun. I wasn't particularly nice because I always stopped her from
(Xander's pov) Sky, that's what Ivan called him; it was amusing. There was a time when we were considered friends, Zed, Ivan, Kyle and Sky, but in the same way, I left my past as Zed, the same way Sky is dead to me. "When you call him that it reminds me of how much I hate that jerk?" I clicked my tongue and then moved to my desk, Ignoring them, but they were used to my attitude, especially this bunch that found pleasure in pissing me off. "You both know how to hold a grudge, so what's the plan, or are you so pathetic you have no way of explaining things to Karis? You were basically a living dead these past years with the only thing you did was aggressively doing business." Ivan sneered, taking a drag of his cigarette. He was awfully free for someone who ran a Mafia and had a wedding coming up. "You are very nosy, you focus on your life since you will soon be a married man. I am sure Bertha won't condone your habits, especially considering the fact she escaped death
(Xander's pov) When it comes to Karis, I always lose my reasoning. That's how I would describe it. It was foolish of me thinking that just by talking to her we would be able to resolve our differences and be a happy couple we were never in the past. That could never be the case; how was I going to explain that what happened between me and Emma was a mistake and I was drunk when Vance was in the picture? He was the proof that I was a cheating husband. One way or the other, Karis would come back, it isn't overconfident, but I know what I was capable of doing. She would have to fulfil her contract, and it just turns out that I was the only one with the stones unless she decides to choose for the black market, like how the scheming Skyler works. For obvious reasons, my dislike for Skyler grew by the day. I had to hold back myself from not breaking the arm he had on Karis's waist. She claimed that he was her fiance, but there was no ring on her finger. My little red
(Karis's pov) Xander must be delusion if he thinks I would ever go back to him. I rather die. Despite everything my mind was still thinking about what he said about Skyler. I knew Xander and Skyler had a history together, which I was curious about, but neither party was willing to share it. What was the main reason that made them enemies? From my guess, they were friends in the past because they seemed to have the same friend group. Something big must have happened and I had no fucking idea. ' Why am I even doubting Skyler?' the question popped into my head. Skyler had never done anything against me. He had been very supportive so far. "Was the negotiations a success?" Lavender asked me as we made our way out of the venue. I could still feel Xander's gaze on me. All he could ever do was look at my back because I was already beyond his reach. There was no going back from this point. "I rather not talk about it." I sighed feeling exhausted from talking to X
(Karis's pov) The Atmosphere was festive, with Christmas close by and there seemed to be a lot of blissful chatter in the room except my table. It was a face-down between me and my ex-husband, Xander De Marco, who was super delusional. Honestly, I had no idea why I was still here listening to Xander. He was driving me crazy. He was right, Xander loved making my life a living hell but not again will I let him have the last laugh. I wished he would just drop down dead and I could not control my emotions anymore. My eyes were glaring so hard at him they could almost pop out. "You are a narcissist and full of yourself. I am done with this conversation." I scoffed about leaving the table. It was better I leave here because I was certain Mr Santos was not coming back. "Letting your emotions control you isn't smart in the business world, dear wife. I thought Skyler thought you better, but then again, I am the best in the game, little Red." He placed his glass back on
(Karis's pov) My first instinct was to get the hell out of there; that would have been what Karis would have done in this scenario, but Karis is dead. Madam Esmeralda was not scared of an annoying ex-husband. "I thought as much." Xander chimed, still maintaining his annoying smile. I had a strong urge to smack it off his face. At times I wonder what goes on in that head of his. His smile made me sick to my stomach and, for a strange reason, reminded me of a lot of annoying memories I would rather forget. "I didn't know you know, each other. I hope you are not offended by Mr De Marco joining us. Since you requested further negotiations, I thought it fit he should be here since he is already my partner." Mr Santos explained. My smile stiffened, Xander had already finalized the deal. "We barely know each other Mr Santos," I said with a dry smile as I took my seat. Lavender excused us to go to an already booked nearby table. "Are you sure about that? To the best o
(Karis's pov) Today was a long day. I had several calls coming in, and a lot was generally happening, not to forget the fact I was all over the media. Honestly, everything was draining, and it was more than I had bargained for. "Maybe you should just take a break, and if you need my help, don't hesitate." I heard Skyler say over the phone. I just finished a quick Zoom meeting and was about to leave home for my lunch appointment with Mr Santos. Skyler called in to check up on me which was very thoughtful of him to do."I will take a break. There is no need to worry much, and if I need your help, I will contact you." I replied, knowing fully well I would only resort to asking for his help as a last card. I didn't want to depend on others to achieve my goals, and Skyler had already done more than enough for me, so asking him for more help didn't go well with me. "You promise to ask for my help." He mentioned that his Baritone voice sounded soothing to my ears.
(Karis's pov) The Reynolds family held 50 percent deciding power, meaning if all the other shareholders were against the idea, then the decision would be bounced off the table. "First of all, we have to make something clear here. Only shareholders can make a decision." I mentioned that plunged Emma and Dad into deeper confusion. I cleared my throat, and then my eyes darted among the shareholders. "Gentlemen, you can now leave. Thank you for your time," I mentioned. Then, to Emma's shock, almost every shareholder got on their feet and nodded at me before they left the room. "What's going on shareholders can't leave in the middle of a meeting?" Emma asked confused. There were just 4 people left in the room: Dad, Emma, me and Mr Floyd, who refused to sell his shares. "Isn't it crystal clear to you already?" I asked Emma, who was still confused, but I think Dad got the message because he released a frustrated sigh. "You bought off all their shares." Dad sighed
(Karis's pov) Miranda was seething in anger; if looks could kill, I would have been dead by now. "Karis, please let your mother sit down. She is rather old," Christian said with a very calm voice. I Arched my brow at him, then pouted my lips pretending like I was considering when my real intention was just to have fun with my family. "Since Miranda had to sit down due to her age, why didn't Emma give up her seat? After all, she is the youngest here and Miranda's daughter."I suggested which was very reasonable. But for some unknown reason, Emma didn't like the idea of giving up her seat for her mother. Her face twisted in ways I never knew it could with her eyes throwing daggers at me. Christian reached out to massage the space between his brows because this argument was not going anywhere. It's not my fault he has a problematic family and a daughter who cares less about her mother. "In my opinion, you shouldnbe the one to leave here; you have never been to a st