KAYLAI sat up suddenly and looked around the dark room. I wondered why I had woken up suddenly in the middle of the night when movement from my side caught my attention.“Fuck” I cussed as I recognised Ricardo sleeping beside me. I had been swearing a lot since I came here.I was still in his penthouse. How could I have fallen asleep in the enemy’s house? He looked so peaceful as he slept.The swelling in my ankle had gone down. I needed to leave so I shook him awake.“Ricardo, I have to go home.” His eyes snapped open, and he had up abruptly.“You are awake” He turned around to look at the time on the clock behind him. It was three am.‘It’s too early. Go back to sleep and I will have Enzo take you home first thing in the morning” I nodded my head, but I couldn’t go back to sleep.“Did you get the information you needed?” I asked. I had been so out of it yesterday that I had forgotten to ask if the little information I got from Luiz was what he wanted.I hope it was because I didn’t
KAYLAI woke up for the second time in his bed but this time it’s empty. I reached out to touch his side of the bed and it was cold. He had been up for a while and my head couldn’t help but race as I came up with all the things that could have happened with me asleep and him awake.My thoughts travelled back to what happened last night. I wonder what we were. For men like Ricardo, eating a woman out was something that was probably normal but for me, a billion questions in my head were asking who we were and what last night meant.I was ashamed to say it but he was the first person to go down on me and my first real kiss. Jaemin from high school didn’t count because the kiss was sloppy, and I ended up with more spit in my mouth that wasn’t mine when it was over.What I was certain of however was that he was sexually attracted to me, and he probably wanted to fuck me if I could jump to conclusions from last night and that was what scared me more than the mission itself.Call me a coward
RICARDOI watched my fiery doll stomp her way to the room with a smirk on my lips. I knew she expected that we were going to be done after the test, but I had no plans of ever letting her go.I wanted to keep her and that would happen until my little attraction for her faded like it always did with the others that were before her.The door to the bedroom closed with a loud bang, forcing a chuckle past my lips as I picked up the cup of coffee that had gone cold so I could toss the liquid into the sink and pour myself another cup.She passed the test like I knew she would but now I had to think of something to give her as work. I had made no plans when I decided to have her permanently work for me but there was no way I could let her go back to the club as a dancer the moment I claimed her as mine.Mine.I haven’t used that word in a long time, but it was fitting as I used it to describe her like the word was meant for her. “Mine” I nodded approvingly as the word rolled off my tongue a
KAYLAI walked back and forth in the room, glaring at the door and wishing that my eyes would magically become a lacer that could slice through the cold-hearted bastard who I left behind. The anger I felt bubbled violently in my stomach as I pictured everything that had led to this moment. I was unable to think clearly, and it only made my frustration towards the situation that I was in grow. How dare Ricardo think that he could just lock me away as though I were some kind of prize? My mind wandered back to the heated argument we had earlier. The room was larger than the tiny apartment I lived with Leila but at the moment, I felt caged and the walls felt like they were closing in on me. “Kayla?” Ricardo called, stepping into the room while I stopped my pacing, happy to be able to direct my glare at my intending target. This was the first time he was using my time, and I don’t know why but it only made me more irritated. I pursed my lips and crossed my arms over my middle as I wat
KAYLAIt’s been two days since I’ve been locked up in Ricardo’s penthouse. We didn’t talk and I wasn’t interested in the little conversations he tried to strike up with me. I had a lot of emotions pent up inside me and I was boiling to let them out.The reality of the situation I was in settled yesterday and I had still found no means to get a solution to the problem and how I could get him to let me leave. He wasn’t willing to listen to me.“Are you ready to go?” Ricardo asked, pulling me from my thoughts as he stepped into the room. He looked composed as he eyed me with an emotion I couldn’t quite place.“Go?” I asked, my brows raised in confusion as I had no idea what he was talking about. “Go where?”“To visit your mother” He answered as though it was something I should have been aware of when we’ve barely had a comprehensible conversation for the last two days.“Are you going to let me go after the visit?” I asked even though I already knew the answer that was waiting for me.He
I helped Leila sit on the chair that had been placed there before by the nurses to help her during her baths before checking the bathroom for listening devices as well. Extra? Yes, but with people like the mafias, there was no telling how far they would go.Leila arched her brow in question, and I shook my head to let her know there were no listening devices in the bathroom.Leila pointed at the tap, and I moved to turn it open so the water could begin to fill the tube.“What’s happening, Kayla? You were gone for days again. Did they get you again?” She asked worriedly, her frail voice cracking as she spoke.I heard from Miro that Leila was a formidable agent before she fell sick so seeing her worried like this made me forget that she had been on missions like this and knew the risk that was involved.I almost didn’t want to tell her the first time Ricardo got me but she put things together and confronted me so I couldn’t keep it from her any further.“Yes. I don’t know what happened
KAYLA “ Enzo?” I gasped as I stared right into his dark eyes. He glanced into the bathroom suspiciously. “ Why do you look stunned to see me?” He frowned. “ Wouldn't anyone be startled if they opened their bathroom door and met someone just standing right in front?” I regained my composure as I countered his question with a question. “ I decided to check up on you and since you weren't in the main room, I believed you'd be in the bathroom,” he said with his gaze fixed on me. “ Do you think I had plans of escaping?” I questioned. “ Maybe,” he shrugged. “ I believe they'd be no use in running away seeing how your boss would find me anyway. Besides, how exactly was I supposed to escape when this room is on the top floor?” I arched my brows. “ Hmmm,” “ And if I hadn't opened the door right now, did you plan to open the bathroom door just to confirm that I hadn't escaped?” I gaslighted. “ My job is to ensure that you don't do anything stupid,” he answered, the tension ge
KAYLA I stood by the pool side walking around. To think his penthouse had a pool that I had happened to chance upon while waiting for him. “ Is he intentionally delaying?” I cussed as I crouched down beside the pool. The full moon reflected with such pristine on its surface. I dipped my hand into the water to disrupt it and mess up my reflection - I was bored just waiting. Thinking back at my conversation with Leila, was I being overconfident? What if he really has just decided to leave me in his penthouse while he goes about doing his stuff? “ Does he think I'm some sorta house cat?” I frowned at the thought. “ Well, you'd make a very cute orange cat,” a familiar voice came from behind me. “ Ri…” in an attempt to stand up, I tripped on my own foot and came crashing down but luckily he caught me and by he, I meant Ricardo. “ See? You'd make a pretty good orange cat if we ignore the fact that you'd do anything but stay away from water,” h
KAYLA Just as I was about to respond, Lisa walked in after knocking. I hung up and tried to wrap my head around things. Why would Ricardo give a direct order that would benefit me? Last time I checked, he did anything but care or even pay attention to me so I'd have sworn that he'd be pleased if I lost my job or at least that it wouldn't concern him if I did. “ Kayla? Kayla?” Lisa shook me “ Huh? Yes,” I nodded my head, snapping out of my thoughts. “ I was saying something to you but you seemed so out of it,” she said. “ Oh, sorry. What were you saying?” I felt guilty for making her talk to herself. “ Never mind that. Did anything happen while I was gone?” She asked, placing down my glass of apple juice. “ Why would you assume that something happened?” I faked a smile as I picked up the glass. “ For days now, you've been out of it but it was more because you were broken… well, at least, that's how you looked but
KAYLA Four days later I sat down quietly watching as Lisa took off my bandages. I'm glad it healed quite fast. “ The ointment the doctor gave me really worked,” I said, stretching my hands as I stared at it. “ Yes, I'm glad you're alright now,” she sighed. “ Would you like anything? Like a drink or food or just something,” she asked. “ Maybe an apple juice? Yeah, probably that,” I nodded my head. “ Alright, I'll be right back,” she excused herself to get me the drink of my choice. My mind went back to what had happened five days ago when I had gotten back from the team dinner. Even when I had first been with Ricardo for the mission, I wasn't this afraid of him. The look in his eyes as he forcefully scrubbed me was a sight I wouldn't easily forget. It was scary seeing him like that and for a moment, I doubted my choice. “ Maybe I should have listened to Miro and Liliana,” I muttered but I couldn't leave now, not after fighting
RICARDO I sat down waiting in a restaurant with Enzo and Luca by my side. Luca was obviously not happy to tag along but it was necessary to have both of them around as the person I was dealing with was way more trouble than even clients we deal with. “ Couldn't you bring Enzo with you alone? Why did I have to tag along?” Luca had been complaining since we got here. “ You complain too much. I'm more stressed than you as it is,” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “ No, I'm more stressed. I don't get paid enough for this,” he went on and on like he had lost a knot or two. Just then, the door of the private room slid open and he walked in with my men behind him. “ Ricardo! Long time no see,” he smiled as he approached. Just seeing him felt like some years from my life had been taken away. “ Why are you suddenly back?” I asked, squinting my eyes, not concealing how badly I'd prefer him not to be here. “ You could at least pretend to miss
KAYLA It had been a few weeks now since I and Ricardo officially got engaged and i moved in with him. He was barely ever around and I had a feeling he was intentionally avoiding me. “ Kayla? Kayla?!” Hannah, my co-worker who sat right beside me called my name. “ Yes? Did you need me for anything?” I snapped out of my thoughts. “ You're always so lost in thoughts that it's making me worried, not to mention that you've been making minor errors nowadays,” she sighed. “ I'm sorry,” I apologized. I had decided to take up this job at one of Ricardo's legal businesses managed by Luca. It was boring at home and it always made me tense with how much Ricardo ignored me. It would have been better if he had thrown a fit after he found out that I was the one he was marrying. “ Maybe you're pushing yourself too hard?” She worried. “ Not at all, I'm alright,” I smiled warmly to reassure them. “ That's what she always says. Here,” Mrs Smith, who was
HAVEN I stretched out on the king-sized bed which has layers of white sheets. It was still very early and I knew I probably missed Iris’ call but it was worth it. All I had to do was come up with an an excuse or beat the time and the second option was still possible. I could make it home before dawn if I left soon enough. “ You weren't as bad as I thought you would be. I guess I underestimated you,” I smirked as I stared at Marco who was fast asleep. I propped my head up with my arm. He looked even more innocent when he slept, it made me wonder if this was the same passionate guy of last night. I touched his face, caressing his jawline and paying attention to the details of his face. The more I looked at him, the more handsome he appeared. “ I can't believe I slept with a random person. Not to mention that I've been saving it for Ricardo when next we meet but then again, I might have grown old waiting for that to happen so I believe it's safe to say you were the perfect
HAVENA week later… I picked up my phone and dialed a number I had previously thought I hadn't taken. It was about time we meet up. “ Yes, hello,” I greeted the moment Marco answered. “ I'm surprised you called me so suddenly,” he laughed awkwardly. “ Well, I nearly forgot that I took your number,” I admitted. “ Ohhhh, I'm not surprised,” he remarked. “ No, that's not what I meant. What I meant was I had forgotten that we had exchanged numbers because I was tipsy when it happened,” I confessed. “ It's alright, ” he dismissed and unlike me, I actually felt a bit guilty. “ So....” I hesitated. “ So?” He urged. “ I'm getting off work soon. Would you like to meet up?” I asked. I was at home but well, I didn't want it to look like I was jobless. “ Sure, I mean it's not like I have anything doing tonight,” he accepted. “ Where are we meeting?” He inquired. “ Same place where we met,” it was perfect for a second meeting and perfect for wh
A week laterHAVEN “ Wait, where are you headed and dressed like that?” Iris asked the moment I walked past her on black booty shorts with black net socks and a black corset topping it up with black boots and gothic makeup. “ Can't you take a guess?” I said twirling so she could have a closer look. “ Hmmm... Nope, don't see nothing,” she said after a while of peering. “ I'm out to a club to grab some drinks and party? Well, I guess that's the plan,” I shrugged. “ Are for real right now?” she scoffed. “ I didn't think you'd go partying in a place you're unfamiliar with. That's definitely unlike you,” she said. “ It's all because of that damned bride of Ricardo, of course. You know how much effort I put in to get dad to let us come to Italy alone, right?” I sat down on the papasan chair next to Iris as I narrated. “ You still haven't gotten over the fact that he's now engaged and planning his wedding?” Iris asked like it wasn't supposed to be a big d
KAYLA A month later I had managed to get dad to let me marry Ricardo and after much thought he accepted with a condition in place of course. The condition was that I would live with him for a while before deciding whether or not I could handle him. “ You look so gorgeous, Miss Leona,” my personal maid squealed as the make-up artists finished up with my makeup. “ I look so much prettier,” I smiled softly as I stared in the mirror. “ What nonsense are you spewing on such a special day?” She reprimanded. “You’ve always been gorgeous, young miss,” she praised. Today was I and Ricardo's engagement officially and it was being held in our family estate with different mafia families being present today. This also meant the big reveal. Ricardo was going to see who he'd be marrying today “ I appreciate the compliment,” I chuckled as she dismissed the make-up artists. “ And I'd prefer if you'd just address me by my name. No need for honorifics,” it
LILIANA Weekend I laid on the beach bed or rather pool bed since we were by the pool side. I picked up the orange juice on the table besides me and sipped from it through the straw. “ So our mission was successful? ” Nico lifted his shades to his hair and looked at me. He was right next to my bed. “ Yup, as expected. Our plans never fail, ” I smirked as I swirled the orange juice around in my cup. “ But there was this one time when you came up with a... ” “ Not now, Nico. Besides, that was just once, ” I adjusted myself on the bed, placing my hands behind my head. “ It was actually four times, ” he reminded. He was out to embarrass me. “ Okay, I get the point but what matters now is this one and all other of my plans excluding those four have been a success,” I said. “ You've still had a lot of messed up plans but I guess, you're free to do whatever floats your boat,” he intentionally got on my nerves as he sipped from his cup. “ If you're done talking, let's