DIANA I stared at the black box tied with a red bow at my doorstep. There was a card beneath the bow, and it reminded me of the same one that came with the flowers. Did he send this? I picked up the box and stepped into the apartment, plopping myself in the sofa. What could be in it?I picked the card and opened it, and my heart skipped a bit as I read it. “I want to see it on you tonight. I’ll pick you up by 9pm.” I opened the box and it was a dress, a long black dress with a jewel neckline and long sleeved - it was so beautiful. Not a moment after, my phone rang. “Are you home?” His smooth voice rang through the phone, causing an involuntary tingle in my belly.“Yes, I got back not too long ago.” I replied, “Do you like it?” “It’s beautiful,” I admitted, a smile creeping up my face as I looked at the dress, “you didn't have to.” “I saw it and thought it would look better on you than the mannequin.” He said, his tone laced with amusement.“I’m not so sure about that.” I m
DIANA “Diana! Diana, wait!“ I didn’t look back, blinking away hot tears angrily as I pushed the door open. I increased my pace as I heard heavy footsteps behind me, my heels clicking on the paved road as I walked. But I wasn’t fast enough. “Diana!!” He grabbed my hand, pulling me toward him in one fellow swoop . “Let go of me!” I gritted out, trying and failing to pull my hand free. “What is wrong with you?” He let go of me with calmly, but the look in his eyes told me he was fat from calm. “What’s wrong with me?” I nearly gasped, my voice coming out like a strained whisper, “Do you know the condescension I had to face today??” I let out a breath, squinting as I stared hard at him, I didn’t even care we were standing on the sidewalk. I didn’t care if I made a scene, I was just done. “All because I was seen with you!” His jaw clenched at my words, something flashing in his eyes as he moved closer. “I understand you’re upset - “ “Do you really?” I cut him off. “Huh?? Bec
DIANA I could barely sleep. My blurred vision was fixated on the ceiling all night long, teardrops planting themselves on my pillow. When I tried to close my eyes, hoping to be enveloped by the numbness of the darkness, I’d see him, and the look in his eyes made my heart ache terribly. But it was for the best. The pain I felt now was trivial compared to the agony my soul felt when Kevin left me. I couldn’t put myself through that again. I wouldn’t survive it. I glanced at my phone for what seemed to be the hundredth time tonight… but there was nothing. A part of me broke even more. What was I expecting??That he’d text me? Call? Show up at my apartment? I stood up from the bed and went to the kitchen to get a glass of water, the pills in my hand. When Kevin left, sleep walked out of the door with him. So the only way I could sleep peacefully was with the help of sleeping pills. I hadn’t needed them in so long… until now. After I took the pills, I went back to my room, and
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DIANA I arrived at work a lot earlier than usual. We were having the final meeting for the event. Gosh, it was just two days away. I watered my lips as I looked over the files, cross checking the itinerary, calling the warehouse for the decor. This had to be perfect. It meant a lot to me.The day passed like a heavy blur, documents and calls taking up most of my time. I hadn’t taken a single break, hadn’t even had a snack. I was literally soaking myself in my work.I’d do anything to take my mind off him.I’ve completely abstained from his floor, avoiding the elevator like a plague. I didn’t want to stumble upon him, didn’t want to see him. I couldn’t take it.“Miss Diana, I think that’s all there is to the finances.” Anne turned to me with a smile. She was a real gem, handling all the finances for this event. “Dare I say, we’re done?” She raised a brow as she stacked her files. I stared round the room, holding my breath as the other staff watched me. This was it. I thought to my
DIANAThe blonde lady barged in, her eyes in a squint as she stared at us. The secretary rushed in immediately after, an apologetic look on her face as she tried explaining.“Sir, I told her you were in a meeting but she didn’t listen” She stressed, pushing a loosened strand of her bun to the side.I stepped away from him immediately like he’d burnt me, he didn’t even look fazed by my actions, or that we were nearly caught in a compromising position.“It’s fine.” He waved the secretary off. “You can leave.” The secretary stared at the woman with furrowed brows for a moment before walking out of the office, and shutting the door behind her.I stared at the woman, her golden hair and porcelain skin was hard to forget.How could I forget a woman that perfect.She was the one I’d seen with Jerome the day I had left the hospital. Her eyes narrowed as she gave me a once over, before returning her gaze to Jerome.“Jay, you haven’t picked my call in days!" She nearly whined, walking closer
DIANA The blood surged violently through my veins as I watched them, my fists clenched tightly. The way he held her, like she was oxygen to a dying man, like her lips held the antidote to his poison… like she was everything to him at that moment. Like he loved her. In ways he could never love me. I dug my nails into my palms, as I took a deep breath, trying to kill the urge to fling a knife at his head and watch him bleed out. Then Anne opened her eyes, catching me staring, her eyes widened as she detached herself from Kevin, adjusting her button up as she cleared her throat.“Uhm, Diana, y-you’re here.” She stumbled over her words, smiling awkwardly as she stared at me. Wow.“I just met with Mr. Leota-” I kept my voice calm, bellying the anger brimming under my skin. “-and he-” My words were cut off in my throat as Kevin suddenly grabbed Anne by the ass, pulling her to him with a wicked grin.Anne gasped, “Babe, behave.”Babe?!I held back a scoff, my brows raised.Babe?!“Why?”
JEROME It hasn’t even been ten minutes and her presence already haunts me.The way she felt in my arms, it was as if they were molded just to hold her. It just felt… right.I huffed as I stared at my computer screen, looking at the documents displayed, yet I was not seeing them, my vision and mind was clouded by something else instead… someone else. Why can’t I let her go?I thought to myself as I scrolled through the files, the memory of her in front of the restaurant imprinted in my mind. All the things she’d said. How firm she held on to her belief.Why do I keep going back?It was highly unlike me to be this persistent, to be this… troubled because of a woman. The last time this happened… No. I won’t let it get to that point. Never again. My train of thoughts were put to a halt when the door to my office was opened suddenly, Jasmine barging in with a pout.“Jay what’s happening to you??” She frowned as she began her ranting. “You’ve been avoiding me.”“And yet here you are.”
DIANA The kisses were cold, the ones the wind left sporadically on my skin as I stood by the window of my apartment. A heavy sigh left my lips as I watched the sight before me - it was nothing like Paris. The streets of Paris would have brought out the artist in me, if I had stayed a bit longer. I would have filled pages with the unmatched charm they had to offer. I would give anything to go back there…To him. Was Paris really beautiful, or was it just him? The way he made me feel? The way everything he did made me believe I was special? That i was the only one he’d ever do those things for? Then there was a knock on the door, that pulled me out of my thoughts.I walked over to the door, wondering who it was when I opened it.My eyes widened as I came face to face with Kevin, my heart skipping a beat at the two figures behind him, their faces concealed with masks.“What are you doing here?” I felt utter fear at the sight, but I held my ground, staring Kevin dead in face.“To pu
DIANA What was he doing here??? I stopped in my tracks when I saw Kevin outside the restaurant, his back turned to us.“Dee, don’t engage, let’s just leave.” Lily shook her head frantically as she pulled me away.“Can’t I have one day-” I scoffed in irritation. “-Just one day free of this asshole??” “Don’t let him ruin your day Dee, let’s go.” Lily held my hand, her eyes pleading as she led us away. I frowned at her, my eyes lifting to Kevin’s figure ahead.“Were you asking me to leave because of him?” I scoffed, staring at her with a scowl.“What, no! That’s not it ,” She turned to look at Kevin. “I’ll explain when we get to your apartment, but I don’t want a scene.” She stressed, leading us away.“You think I’d cause a scene?” My lips parted in disbelief.“When you and Kevin are in the same room? Yes, the both of you will cause a scene-” She pursed her lips, staring round. “-and we can’t have that with your current situation.” She shook her head.“What do you mean?” I took a step
The flight back home was beyond soothing.It was just me in the jet, with the exception of the flight attendant and the pilots, but that was okay. I rested my head against the soft seat, staring at the departing city of Paris with a faint smile.I can’t believe I just traveled to Paris.For a date. I shook my head, turning back to the empty space of the jet, still in disbelief.My gaze wandered a bit too many times to Mr Leota's seat opposite mine, and I bit my inner cheek at the empty seat. I’m already missing him..I sighed, leaning back as I thought about everything that had happened. How chaotic can one date go? We traveled, he bought a freaking mansion, we had a date on a boat, I nearly drowned, we had another date at a restaurant he completely booked, and now..Now I’m here.On my way back. Alone.What was so important that he couldn’t come back with me?I didn’t want to know the answer, staring out the window as the buildings shrank as we flew higher, and eventually the smoot
DIANA I gaped at him in disbelief. He couldn’t be serious.“You booked the whole restaurant???” I stared at him wide eyed.“Don’t you like the privacy?” Mr Leota cocked his head to the side.“That’s not the point, Mr. Leota!” I let out a breath, staring at him in disbelief.“This soufflé is really good.” He said calmly, taking a spoon into his mouth, completely disregarding what I said. “Are you always like this?” I chuckled, shaking my head slightly.“Charming? Yes, all the time.” He smirked as he sipped his champagne.“I meant do you always go above and beyond for a woman?” I rolled my eyes, leaning back.“You think this is above and beyond?” He raised a brow. “If this isn’t, then what is?” My brows drew together to a slight frown.“Something I can’t pay for.” He said, his voice was low as he stared at the dish.“And what’s that?” I couldn’t stop my curiosity when I asked, raising the spoon to my lips.“Something I do not have to give.” He sounded guarded as he revealed, meeting
DIANA My eyes were stuck to the window, watching the buildings pass me by as we drove.I couldn’t even look at him.Why was I feeling this way? Like I wasn’t in his arms the night before.The last time I’d slept that peacefully was when he slept with me in my apartment , and for some reason, I thought I’d never experience that again. And yet here I was..I turned to him, watching him quietly as he drove, how his hands gripped the steering wheel… how much I envied the steering wheel- DIANA! “What happened to the driver?” I swallowed, tearing my gaze away from his hands.“I fired him.” Mr Leota said plainly.“Why?” I stared at him in shock, my brows drawn together. “Did he do something? “His services are no longer needed.” Was his inly explanation.“I see…” I mumbled, but i couldn’t help thinking that he only fired him because of that incident. “Is it because of what happened last night?” I asked, blurting out exactly what I was thinking.“It’s safer not having a third party arou
JEROMESince I’d woken up I haven’t been able to stop staring at her, snuggled in my arms, her face buried in my chest.She looked so beautiful, so at peace…I clenched my jaw as I gazed at her, my hand stroking her face lightly.She looked so serene when she slept, I furrowed my brows as I remembered how she’d looked at the bakery… she was disguised, ever so poorly.Her life has become so chaotic with just being involved with me.She would be so much better off without me..So much safer. My phone rang from the bedside table, and I reached for it, careful not to move too drastically, so she didn't wake up.“What have you found?” I asked as soon as I answered the call.“We interrogated the stewardess and the driver, and their statements correspond.” The investigator announced through the line.“So which one of them did it?” I turned my gaze to the window as my jaw tightened.“None of them, sir.” “How can - “ I was about to raise my voice when my anger rose, but then I paused, turnin
DIANA The second after he locked lips on mine, he lifted me in his arms and carried me up the stairs. His eyes were fixed on mine, dripping with a desire we both shared. As he got to my room, he kicked the door open, and dropped me on the bed, climbing on top but careful not to put all his weight on me, joining with my lips once more. My eyes closed shut, as I wrapped my arms around his neck, urging him to come closer, diving deeper into his kiss. He placed his hand on my breast, giving it a tight squeeze, causing a moan to flee from my throat and instigating a stir in my lower belly. And immediately I felt his hand move to my back, I froze. Suddenly my hearts dropped to the very depths of my belly as his fingers play with the zipper of my jumpsuit on my back. I couldn’t let him see my body. If he did, he’d never be interested in me, with all my scars. Then I closed my eyes, and all I saw was Kevin, the look in his eyes when he saw me for who I was… what I’d become. And sudde
DIANA It didn’t take long before we reached the house, or maybe it did - I was too lost in my thoughts to notice.The driver opened the door for us and as usual, Mr Leota held his hand out for me, and helped me out of the car. I gave him a tight smile as he led me into the house, his hand firm on my waist, like he was afraid I’d leave and end up in the water again. He placed me on the couch gently, “Wait here.” He said and went into the kitchen. I clasped my hands together tightly as my mind raced. Why would someone try to kill me?I mean, I understood people stalking me, taking pictures of me. But murder?? That is not something I envisioned would happen. Mr Leota came out of the kitchen with a mug in hand, walking over and sitting next to me. “Here,” he said, handing me the mug in his hands, the smell of coffee immediately hitting me. “Thank you.” I gave him a small smile, and I took a sip of the coffee. It burnt my tongue a little, but I didn’t mind. I was freezing, the he
DIANA It happened so fast. I was already beneath the waters before I realized what had happened. As I sunk deeper and deeper, like there was an anchor dragging me to the depths, my eyes caught their figure.It was blurry, rippled by the surface of the waters, but I could tell someone was there.Hope filled my lungs along with the fresh water, as I raised a hand in a plea for help, to be saved. They gazed at me for a moment too long, and they left. They left me to drown. To die. Once I realized this, I began to struggle, my limbs moving frantically in an attempt to get to the surface.I only sunk faster, and the piercing pain in my lungs was almost unbearable, but not as the thought of dying.Lost in the middle of a lake in Paris. It truly took my breath away. It was my throat that tightened first. I felt my lungs squeeze under the pressure of the lake, the blood that flooded to my head as I struggled felt like fire beneath my skin, it was funny because now that I paused to consi