**Valerie** Wow… Was Adam really willing to divorce Karen and backstab his in-laws just to be with me? Me? The fat and ugly Ashley? An amused chuckle left my lips before I could stop it. I stared at his face a tad longer, and there was no sign that he was joking. He was actually serious? Taking over and divorcing Karen? Seems like I won't even have to do much since he was on the path of self-destruction. Then I smirked. "Well, I guess we'll never know.” With that, I walked away. What was he up to? Either way, it sounded exciting. An hour later, I was at the knitting club. A wave of warmth washed over me. There, by the window, sat Grandma and Frances, their heads bent over their knitting projects. A smile spread across my face as I approached them. “Hello,” I said with a big grin as soon as I was standing in front of them. "Valerie!" Grandma exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "Good to see you; I almost thought you wouldn't make it.” “Uh, I finished working late. You look a
**Lucas**“So anything on why Adam wants to make work difficult for Valerie?” I asked Calvin.I couldn't just ignore what I heard him say to her, Adam was a complete jerk.“Apparently, Mr. Smith likes Mrs. Thorne,” he answered.My brows raised as I turned to look at him. I wouldn't put cheating beneath Adam, and Valerie was a very attractive woman.“So, he wants to date an employee?” I scoffed. “And not even minding that his wife works in the same company too?”“Turns out Mr. Smith is quite the womanizer,” Calvin chipped.My jaw clenched and my grip on the window rail tightened. Turns out he really fucking was. At least, now that he thinks Valerie is my girlfriend, I expect him to back off. But still, I wouldn't take chances.“Make sure a close eye is kept on Valerie; I want to know everything that goes on with her in that place,” I instructed. And I assume Karen would not be too fond of her.“Yes, sir,” Calvin said before heading out of my office.Thoughts of her kept running in my
**Adam**Anger surged through me when I saw that damn Lucas wrap his hand around Valerie's slim and slender waist. That waist is mine. She is mine! Mine!!The scene replayed in my head for the umpteenth time. The way she looked at him... She has never looked at me that way.It was supposed to be me, not that self-satisfied prick. And the fact that she had managed to catch the attention of Lucas made her even more desirable. Ruffling my already disheveled hair, I paced the length of my office again; her words kept echoing in my mind.*He's more handsome, caring, richer, and, of course, faithful, seeing as he doesn't have a wife but you do.*My fists clenched, my knuckles turning white, and I punched it hard against the wall without thinking. The sharp pain that coursed through me was a welcome distraction as I leaned against the wall, my eyes closed, trying to calm my racing heart. Oh Valerie… I will have you, no matter what it takes.First, I needed to take over the company comple
**Valerie** It was lunch break already and the office was empty, except for me and Tessa. Just then, my phone buzzed. “Hey Valerie, how are you doing?” Lucas's voice rang through the receiver. “I'm good, how are you?” I replied, gritting my teeth to suppress the smile forming on my lips. “It's your lunch break, maybe we should have lunch together?” “Uh, I'm already eating with a colleague,” I replied. “Okay then, I'd wanted us to meet and talk?” “Talk?” I echoed, my cheeks turning red as my lips curled into a cheesy. The past few weeks have been crazy, the last thing Lucas asked for us to meet in my house, I was pinned against my kitchen counter and fucked shitless. And the same thing happened the last four times before that. Not that I was complaining though… I subconsciously bit my bottom lip as my mind wandered. It was clear that there was a strong physical attraction between Lucas and me that we couldn't ignore. Anytime we saw each other, there was this strong urge t
**Third person** Wednesday evening, Adam headed to his bedroom with his travel bag in hand and Karen trailing behind. “How was Chicago?” Karen asked as soon as they stepped in. “Fine,” Adam hummed tiredly, slumping into the bed. She studied his face for a moment before speaking. “You don't seem too pleased, did the deal go well?” “It was fine, I'm just tired.” His voice held a tint of irritation as he placed the bag on the floor without even glancing at the woman beside him. Sighing, Karen plopped down beside him on the mattress. “Dad said that Italy was a dead end,” she announced. “Oh, tell me about it,” he thought, his eyes rolling in frustration. “I wonder where Ashley could have hidden all that money,” Karen added. “Wow, I wonder too,” he finally said in a monotonous tone, taking off his shoes and then his socks. “You don't seem too surprised?” Karen pointed out, searching Adam's face. Of course, Adam knew firsthand that Italy was a dead end; he'd gone t
**Third person**“Maybe you should tell Miss Thorne how you feel about her,” Calvin suggested, causing Lucas to glare at him. “And how do I feel about her?” Lucas raised a brow.“Considering you booked a weekend getaway for both of you and then lied that it was your mother,” Calvin paused before he continued, “it means that you love and care about her.”Lucas folded his arms around his chest and defended himself. “It's not that deep... I just wanted her to take a break from work.” “But why tell her that it's your mother?” Calvin asked, a playful glint in his eyes. “You know, she might appreciate your thoughtfulness if she knows that this was all your doing,” he suggested.“Then she might not come,” Lucas sighed, his hands falling back to his sides. "I don't want her to think that I have ulterior motives.”Calvin's brows raised, and he smirked. “But don't you?” he teased.Lucas furrowed his eyebrows and squinted his eyes, feigning anger. “You should leave,” he scolded playfully, and
**Valerie** It was already evening when we arrived in Paris. I called in sick to work today. I wasn't entirely lying though, especially after last night at the bar. The villa was more beautiful than I'd imagined. It had a big garden, a pool, a waterfall, sculptures... Name it. “Do you like it?” Lucas asked, standing behind me. My lips curled into a smile. “I love it.” “I'm glad it's to your taste.” He grinned. “I'll show you to your room then,” he offered, leading the way. Stepping into the well-furnished interior, I let my eyes roam, taking in the lights, the walls, and the floor. They were all impeccable. We were standing in front of a door now. Lucas opened it and gestured for me to go in, while a man brought in my bag. “You should freshen up," he suggested. "There's a local bar not far from here; we could have dinner there.” “Sounds nice,” I nodded, settling into the large mattress. “Great, I also have a lot planned out for tomorrow…” He paused. “I mean, my mom has a lot
**Lucas**The night was a blur of laughter, drinks, and more...After the dance floor, I couldn't wait to get home. I couldn't wait to hold Valerie in bed. I couldn't wait to kiss her and hear her moan my name while I fucked her hard.She gets me aroused in ways I can't explain. After walking her to the exit, I hurried back to take a leak.As soon as I was done, I stepped out, and that's when I saw them - A couple stood by a nearby wall, their bodies pressed together. The woman's face was obscured by the man's, but I could see the way he held her, his hands gripping her neck with a force that sent a chill down my spine.***Twenty years ago***From my room, I could hear the sounds. Banging sounds… Sounds of the wall being hit... or the door perhaps.I dropped the G.I. Joe that I was playing with and headed to the living room where my parents were playing, I guess.My heart pounded in my chest when I saw my mother pinned against the wall, tears streaming down her face as my father kiss
**Third person**Inside the hospital, Angela kept pacing around the waiting area. She couldn't let Lucas do the DNA test on her baby, else he'll find out what she was hiding.Is it even possible to do a DNA test this early in pregnancy? She thought.Valerie and Lucas were seated on the same bench, but Val had made sure to put enough distance between them. Calvin stood behind Lucas.Lucas's phone beeped, and he stepped away to answer the call."Mrs. Smith finally woke up, but briefly," Elliot reported.Lucas nodded thoughtfully, still confused himself at why Valerie had chosen to help Karen."Okay, there's no need to inform Miss Thorne now," Lucas instructed. "Maybe you can call her by evening."'Call me selfish, but I didn't want anything that'll take Val away from what we were doing here,' he thought to himself."Okay, sir."He hung up and then signaled for Calvin to come over.While Calvin and Lucas were away, Angela looked at Valerie. "So is this what you want?" Angela hissed, her
**Lucas**I'd been waiting all morning for Valerie to show up. Then I saw my competition—Matthew— arrive and my jaw tightened. But it immediately loosened when I saw Valerie arrive.Even all that had happened on her yacht, she still looked stunning. She had her hair packed up in a ponytail, and she was clad in a pink tank top and free jeans.I didn't want to approach them now; it'll only make me look bad if the guy and I get into another altercation.When she came out with Matthew, and he got into his car, I felt relieved. I'd thought he was going to spend quite some time there.Valerie's eyes met mine briefly, and she increased her pace. I did the same too and caught up with her.“Please just give me one minute of your time. Just one,” I stared at her, my eyes pleading, “no more than that.”Her eyes met mine, and she studied my face without saying a word.“I'll tell you everything,” I added. “No lies, okay?”She just pressed her lips into a thin line and let out a defeated sigh.I to
**Valerie**I walked quickly to the bathroom, the cool tile beneath my feet a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing inside me. My crying came out as sobs until I was standing in front of the mirror, my hands clutched to my mouth to prevent myself from wailing. He was right. I was a fucking weakling, and a dumb one at that.My hands pressed my aching chest to suppress the pain. It hurt so much, I didn't know what exactly, but he hurt. Maybe it was the realization that he was right."God, why am I so weak?" I shrieked, my voice echoing off the bathroom walls.I didn't even want to dwell on the fact that the anonymous person knew what happened. It could be anyone; crew members, my colleagues, security, or even this mysterious guy who didn't want to share his name. Or maybe someone who wasn't even on this ship, but had an informant.Then I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection; puffy and red eyes, running nose, smudged mascara that made me look like a panda."You fool," I
**Third person**Valerie let out a gasp and shuddered as soon as she heard the splashing sound that the water made when Karen's body hit it.The screams and gurgling sounds from the water filled Valerie's mind and she pressed her palms against her ears to shut it out. Adam moved away from the scene with the men, his face a mask of satisfaction and joy.Valerie’s chest tightened and she struggled to keep her eyes open. Slowly, the darkness creeped in until she lost her consciousness and slumped to the ground.Elliot, who had been keeping an eye on her from a distance, rushed up to her. “Ma'am?” His hand tapped Valerie and she opened her eyes. She looked and saw that she was on the ground. She must have passed out after witnessing what happened, she thought. And almost immediately, she reached for her phone and stopped the recording.She glanced at Elliot confused, but recognizing him. “How long have I been out for?”“Barely a minute,” he answered.Her head was spinning but she stood
**Third person**Back inside,“Move!” The man dragged Valerie. Her heart sank as she peeped at the dining area to see everyone asleep.Was this a repeat of last time? She'd thought that this arrangement was meant for Karen, but why was this strange man pulling her away?“You've got the wrong person,” she yelled at the man.The masked man kept dragging her until they were outside in the yacht. The night breeze made the scent of the ocean fill her nostrils. A scent she'd once loved, but now she loathed.Valerie noticed that the man was trying to pull her to the edge. Her heart hammered even harder against her chest. “No, no, no,” she cried. “Not again.”She began jumping and struggling vigorously against his grip. It was just two of them, and seeing what he wanted to do made adrenaline course through her veins.Val bit the arm of the man hard. “Argh,” he groaned in pain. He swirled her hair around his fingers and pulled her mouth away from his skin.If he felt any more pain from what sh
**Third person**Adam had told the organizer that he had some urgent things to attend to, but that wouldn't have mattered if Valerie had given him even the tiniest bit of her attention.After playing a few other games, everyone headed back to their cabin. They needed to rest and then begin to prepare for the anniversary tonight.At 7pm, the lounge was abuzz with laughter and music as everyone gathered for the celebration. The area was beautifully decorated. Not the typical way you'd decorate a hall for an anniversary, but it'll do just fine since they were on a yacht.It was adorned with strawberry-red roses and white lilacs dripping at the arc of the entrance to give the venue an elegant look.Different well-decorated tables with glasses and cutlery were scattered across the hall. Each of them was a table for three.At the end of the hall sat a buffet spot with a variety of foods that had the air filled with an exotic aroma while two servers walked around with wine.Valerie had just
**Valerie**The next morning, we all gathered in the cockpit by 9am.“Hello, so we've decided to organize some fun games here. At least to make our stay here worthwhile.”The employees cheered.“Hey, how's that leg?” Gabriel asked, appearing beside me.“It's all fixed,” I smiled, stretching a leg forward to show him.“You're going to pair yourselves in groups of twos. Your left leg will be attached to the right leg of your partner and vice versa.Noise filled the air—murmurs, cheer.“Then you and your partner will make a stop at three different places. There'll be a timer, and the team that reaches the finish line within the time limit wins.Gabriel leaned over to me and whispered, “I'm sure we'll kill it, girl. We make a great team.”I nodded, a bit excited. It's been a while since I allowed myself to engage in these types of activities. I also think I needed the distraction from my loud thoughts.Thank goodness Adam or his wife isn't here. It's obvious that the employees feel freer
**Third person**“I've told you, call me Adam,” he said with a soft voice.Valerie's eyes immediately snapped to the door. She was sure that she'd locked it after Gabriel left, before drifting off to sleep.The cabin with its plush carpet and elegant furnishing seemed to close in on her. “How did you get in here?” She questioned. The daggers her eyes shot at Adam was hard to miss even with the dim lightning in her cabin. Adam smirked before lifting a bunch of keys and jingling them at her. “Spare keys.”She groaned inwardly. Seems she'll have to start bolting the door from inside to prevent scenarios like this, Valerie thought.“Please, leave. I was sleeping before he came in,” she tried her possible best to keep her voice calm and polite. Adam was still her boss after all. She'd ask him first to leave calmly and if he doesn't, then she'll have to take drastic action.But her anger slipped into her tone as she spoke.“Val, don't you think that this is long overdue?” He adjusted on th
**Third person**Everyone was settling in the yacht. Valerie was the only lucky one amongst the selected employees who had a room to herself.She had just unpacked her things from her box into the wardrobe. A casual pair for later tonight, a dinner gown for tomorrow night, another casual cloth for before dinner, and then the clothes she'll leave with on Sunday.Then Val arranged all her cosmetics and makeup into the cupboard. The yacht was huge, with about six luxurious cabins, a master suite—where she assumed Adam and Karen would be staying—and then a VIP suite.They probably paired the employees two-to-one room, and since they were an odd number, that's how she ended up alone, Valerie thought to herself.The yacht was one of those expenses she had made on herself before marrying Adam. She had decided to splurge some money on herself for working hard, so she didn't spare a dime when purchasing it.Later, when she got married to Adam, he had berated her for it, saying, What kind of wo