Eva blinked after opening her eyes again, her mind was still sluggish from the lingering effects of whatever drug she had inhaled in the car. When she tried to move, she realized she couldn’t. Her arms ached, heavy with something pressing down on them. She turned her head slightly, wincing at the stiffness in her neck. Her wrists were bound to the arms of a metal chair. Panic shot through her. Her heart hammered in her chest as she tried to move again, tugging harder, but it only made the ropes dig painfully into her skin causing a hiss sound from her. Her wrists were bound, pulled tight behind her back, keeping her firmly attached to the cold metal chair beneath her. It took a few more blinks for her vision to clear, and when it did, the sight that greeted her sent a chill down her spine. The room was massive, cavernous, with steel beams crisscrossing above her like the bones of some giant skeleton. It was a warehouse, old and worn, with the scent of rust and dampness heavy i
Since no one has walked in through the door, Eva thought of using the opportunity. Her eyes darted around the room again, searching for something—anything—that could help her. There was a stack of crates nearby, just a few distance away from her, covered in heavy plastic sheeting. The walls were rusted metal shelves, half-empty but littered with old tools and bolts. She strained to see further, craning her neck to take in the shadows at the back of the warehouse, but nothing stood out. The place was almost unnervingly empty. “Shame. My purse isn't with me." If only her purse was somewhere in sight it would have been easier for her. But she knew that the men who took her would have rummaged through it, and the dagger she always carried in her person had already been discarded by now. They’ll be back soon, she reminded herself. She needed to be ready. With no other options at her disposal, Eva leaned back in the chair and waited. The cold metal beneath her was uncomfortable, pressing
Her plan was to act nonchalant despite the fact that she was growing wary. The weapons they had with them were to inflict a lot of pain, but not enough to immediately kill. If they were going to scare her to intimidate her, she knew she’d survive. But if they were planning on murdering her, they planned on doing so through an immense amount of torture. "To what pleasure do I owe your presence?" Eva asked calmly while surveying the masked men in front of her. “Well, well,” a voice drawled, smooth and unhurried. One of the figures stepped forward, removing his hat to reveal his face. He was the only one not wearing a mask. She was surprised to see someone so young be the leader of a gang. Unlike his burly comrades, he was lean and does not seem like someone who beat people up for a living. His appearance was well-kept and sharp-featured and he was actually wearing a black suit. But his eyes were a completely different story. She saw the bloodlust within his dark eyes that glinted wit
"Now that, young lady, is private information." He mused, watching her eyes scan his men. Despite seeing the metal bats, knives, and brass knuckles, she didn’t seem to shake or cringe back in fear. This was getting really interesting. "Hm, I assume you were requested to keep the exact number private. But can I get an approximate amount?" She was hoping to delay time or at least buy them out. "I’m afraid your little plan won’t work on me." The leader chuckled. " Come on, I'm offering you twice the money you were offered to take me and you're rejecting it. I've met people with the same profession as you and they never let such an opportunity I'm offering to you go to waste.” Eva raised a brow at the man. The leader took a step closer, leaning down slightly to bring his face level with hers. His expression was calm, almost amused, but there was a hard edge to his smile. “Let’s just say you’re a piece in a larger game.” Eva’s pulse quickened. A game? What kind of game? She wasn’t in
She panted, struggling to pull oxygen into her lungs, her body clenching involuntarily, bracing for the next blow. Every muscle in her core tensed as though it could protect her, but she knew how this game was played. They were trying to break her, not physically, but mentally. In situations like this, if she didn’t give them what they wanted, fear, pain, submission, they would only escalate, push harder, to make her scream. The only way to survive was to give him what he wanted and she had to play her part perfectly. And when the second punch came, straight into her stomach again, she couldn’t stop the cry of pain from tearing out of her throat. When the next hit came—this time aimed at her stomach again—she let out a cry of pain. Not too loud, but just enough to satisfy the man’s sick need for control. It wasn’t that hard really, especially when it actually hurt. Her body recoiled, and she felt a warm, wet trickle down her stomach. The skin had split from the blow. Her breath ca
The leader reached out, his gloved hand brushing against her cheek. The cold and rough leather sent a shiver down her spine, and she stiffened at the touch. Every fiber of her being screamed to slap his hand away, but she in restrain. Goosebumps rose on her arms, and she swallowed hard, biting back the surge of bile rising in her throat. "W...whatever...he paid you, I...I’ll double it." Her voice was barely a whisper, each word costing her. Breathing was becoming harder, her ribs protesting with every shallow gasp. “Hm," he mused, releasing her hair and stepping back. “Should I take that as an answer?” Eva asked. The leader chuckled darkly, a sound that made her blood run cold.He said you’d offer that. Very predictable." She watched as his long fingers toyed with the butterfly knife in his hand. The blade flicked open and shut with practiced ease, gleaming menacingly under the dim light. Her eyes narrowed as she followed the movement, and an idea formed in her mind. She wasn’t c
Evangeline’s mind raced. His words didn’t add up. The tracker was military-grade technology, a simple scanner would have picked it up, not even the advanced ones the black market can detect it. Whoever this man worked for had access to far more advanced technology than she had anticipated. “You know you really can't blame me for having that, right? I mean unlike you poor gentlemen who have to take others from someone, people like me tend to give orders. And someone as influential as me needs to have those kinds of things in hand for situations like this. It just so happens that you guys are not slow witted like I expected and you were able to find that tracker.” Eva casually explained with a shrug. " Bravo! You made a really good point, Miss and I'm really starting to love this entire situation.” The leader smirked at Eva. “Glad to hear that." Eva modestly nodded her head. The leader also nodded and tossed the crushed wallet behind him carelessly, letting it skid across the floor
The wooden chair cracked under the impact, and the man grunted in surprise, clutching at his chest where the blow had landed. She didn’t stop. Using her momentum when she felt a presence draw close, she used her entire body weight to jam the chair right into the man rushing towards her.. By heaven’s luck, it was enough to send him crashing to the ground. CLUNK! The chair was close to breaking when she hit the other man. For a brief, exhilarating moment, hope surged through her veins. Her eyes saw momentary hope that she was close to winning when suddenly, a bloodcurdling laughter rang throughout the air. What followed after the laughter was loud clapping sounds from the men surrounding them, but she didn’t waste any time. She knew it was to momentarily distract her so that the men could all pounce at her. She didn’t care about the noise as she swung her body again. This time, the chair connected with something else. Instead of another body, a hand had grabbed the leg of the chair
Kai leaned back in his sleek office chair, sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Elite Entertainment’s Miami headquarters. His phone buzzed, and the name “Mr. Carl” flashed across the screen. Sighing, he answered the call, already bracing himself for what was to come.“Kai speaking,” he said curtly.“Good afternoon, Mr. Breaker,” Came Mr. Carl’s smooth and measured voice. “I appreciate you taking my call. I wanted to discuss a matter concerning Evangeline.”Kai’s posture straightened slightly, his instincts immediately alert. “What about her?”“Well,” Mr. Carl began, his tone calculated, “as you’re aware, Christine Carter has been facing some challenges following her recent scandal. While BTG industry has done its best to contain the fallout, her reputation has not fully recovered. This has raised concerns for us at HB Industry, given her collaboration contract with us.”Kai’s eyes narrowed. He said nothing, letting Mr. Carl dig his own grave.“To address this,” M
---The next morning, the media was ablaze with photos of their romantic outing. Paparazzi had captured them at the amusement park, painting them as the ultimate power couple. In every image, Damien’s protective nature was evident—his arm firmly around Eva, his gaze never straying far from her.The headlines praised their chemistry, their undeniable connection. While most media outlets dared not mention Eva’s past, a few foolishly brought up her previous engagement to Mark and unearthed unflattering photos from years ago.Damien was swift in his retaliation. The companies responsible were swiftly dismantled, their employees blacklisted, and the malicious articles erased from existence. His actions sent a clear message: any attack on Eva would be met with swift and merciless consequences.Unaware of the media frenzy, Eva woke up to a flood of messages. Most were from her estranged family, whose sudden interest in her life only deepened her disdain.[Mistress]: Ungrateful child! Why did
Her words seemed to shatter the last of his control. Damien’s movements became more deliberate, his hands exploring her body with a confidence that left her breathless. She felt the heat of his touch through the thin fabric of her dress, and when his lips found the sensitive spot at the base of her throat, a soft moan escaped her.The tension between them built with every touch, every kiss, until it was almost unbearable. Damien’s hands found the straps of her dress, and he slid them down her shoulders, his lips following the path they left behind. She felt vulnerable yet safe under his gaze, the intensity in his eyes making her feel like the most precious thing in the world.Just as they reached the point of no return, the shrill sound of Damien’s phone shattered the moment. He froze, his forehead resting against hers as he let out a frustrated groan. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he muttered, his voice filled with irritation.Eva couldn’t help but laugh softly, her cheeks flushed a
She trembled at his words, their certainty sending a ripple through her. He spoke with such confidence, so assured that she would stay by his side for the rest of their lives, and to her surprise, she found comfort in it. There was something deeply reassuring about his unwavering resolve, about knowing he was the kind of man who would cross oceans and move mountains to keep her close—even if it meant chasing her to the ends of the earth just to bring her back."I never intended to run," she whispered, her voice soft but resolute. Her words made his heart race. He tightened his arms around her, unwilling to let go.Eva remained nestled against Damien’s chest, her breath steadying as his strong arms cocooned her in warmth. For a moment, the world around them seemed to disappear, leaving only the two of them in the magical ambiance he had created. The distant hum of the city and the lingering scent of roses faded into the background, replaced by the quiet, steady rhythm of his heartbeat
Okay, now remove your hands."Eva hesitated for a moment before doing as Damien instructed. When she opened her eyes, confusion flickered across her face. Darkness engulfed her entirely, so thick she could barely make out his silhouette ahead of her."What's going on—"Her words faltered as Damien pressed a button. In an instant, the oppressive darkness was replaced with a breathtaking display of shimmering lights.The scenery before her was magical, like something out of a dream. Majestic archways adorned with twinkling lights stretched as far as her eyes could see. Each arch was intricately designed with delicate white metalwork, interwoven with clusters of vibrant flowers. Fairy lights danced across the vivid blooms, their colors blending into a mesmerizing spectrum. String lights cascaded above them, adding to the enchantment.Her gaze drifted downward, and her breath caught. The ground was a carpet of roses—red, white, and pink—arranged in a heart-shaped pattern so intricate it s
Suspicious, Eva pulled out her phone and opened the camera. Her eyes widened in horror when she saw the glaring red marks on her neck—two perfectly visible hickeys."You!" she gasped, smacking Damien’s arm as he burst into laughter."You… you…!" she stammered, completely flustered. Her thoughts raced in a whirlwind of panic. ‘Oh my goodness! Has it been there this whole time? Is that why people kept staring at me?!’"It’s not funny!" she scolded, now using her purse to hit him, much to the amusement of his bodyguards."If it makes you feel better, you can leave some on me too," Damien teased, winking playfully. She retaliated by swatting at him repeatedly, but he was far too amused by her adorable expression to take her seriously. The mere thought of her leaving a mark on him filled him with excitement, his eyes glinting with anticipation and unspoken hopes."You wish!" she snapped, instantly crushing his hopes, though his smirk only deepened."Careful what you wish for," he murmured,
After the haunted house, Eva eagerly dragged Damien from one ride to another—towering roller coasters, spinning swings, and even a few kiddie rides. For her sake, Damien endured the sweltering heat and the endless lines. He’d thought a regular FastPass was fine, but Eva insisted they live like “normal” people for the day.He glanced at her flushed cheeks and noticed her eyes drooping slightly from the heat. With a sharp flick of his wrist, his bodyguards stepped forward. One handed him a hat while the other awaited further instructions."Get iced drinks," Damien ordered, placing the hat gently on Eva’s head.Her curious eyes peeked up at him, and she began to speak, but he cut her off with a sigh. "You're overexerting yourself, silly." Pulling out a pristine handkerchief, he wiped the beads of sweat forming on her forehead with surprising tenderness."But it’s so much fun…" Eva mumbled, reaching for his arm. To her dismay, he dodged her touch at first, only to surprise her by intertwi
Before she could respond, he kissed her with a fierce urgency, his lips claiming hers with an intensity that left her breathless. His mouth was rough and demanding, pulling her closer, but there was also an undeniable sweetness in the way he tasted her. Despite the forceful kiss, a warmth spread through her, igniting a growing heat within her body.A sharp gasp escaped her when he nipped at her bottom lip, the sudden sting quickly soothed by his tongue, the tenderness of his touch both punishing and soothing in equal measure. His kiss deepened, and as promised, her mind spiraled into blankness, consumed by the sensation of his lips on hers. His hand slid behind her, giving her a gentle but possessive squeeze that made her heart race.The soft sound of her breath hitched as he continued, kissing her mercilessly until her lips were tender and swollen. Her legs were barely holding her up, but he was there, steadying her, marking her with every kiss, every touch. When he finally pulled aw
“Don’t worry, Big Boss. If you’re scared, you can always hide behind me!” Eva smirked, seizing the rare opportunity to tease Damien. When she saw his face darken, the corners of his mouth pulling down into a displeased frown, her laughter bubbled out uncontrollably. The sound was like a melody that softened his rigid expression, a faint smile threatening to break through.“Oh, and here—” she extended her hand toward him, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “You can hold my hand too. Don’t worry, dear prince, This knight will protect you.”Her challenge was met immediately as Damien grabbed her hand, his firm grip tugging her toward him. He leaned down, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered, his voice low and husky, “Teasing me like this won’t end well for you.”Eva’s stomach flipped at the sensation of his breath on her skin, but she refused to give in. Smirking, she countered, “Not before I teach you who’s in charge today.” She was amused that, even though he was clearly scared, he