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The dining room was exquisite. The walls were covered with a shimmering gold paper and in the middle of the ceiling above the carved oak table was a candelabra.
My legs automatically moved inside while my pupils noticed everything minutely. From the look itself, I can confidently say that my boss must have spent millions of dollars on this villa. But sadness dawned on me because it was barely used. He hardly stayed here, only during his trips to Milan.
It was assured that he travelled too much. And I wondered how many such beautiful Villas were built for him but never used for a permanent stay!
I stood beside the table and trailed my fingers on the wood. Down the centre of the table was a runner with Celtic design woven in gold and green into the fabric itself. At the end of the table were floor to ceiling French doors, left slightly opened to let in the scented summer air gush in and brush the faces o
Colour drained from Stella's face, when she heard a cracking grasp leaving his lips and hands loosening his hold around her wrist, she eventually stopped and tried to stare his face in the darkness. Her body stilled and face colour totally drained as white as a slice of bread, white as a ghost, white as a sheet. She forgot to breath. The moment seemed to have stopped after he loosened his hold. Stella's body rigidly rooted to the spot, she froze. Her clammy hold on the sculpture loosened and it fell with chiming noise on the floor. "M-max!" she fearfully uttered his name. Cold sweat ran down her forehead. Her body was shaking while her tongue stammered, she was unable to speak. Wide eyed with realization Stella edged backwards. Her blood froze as she could not feel any movement coming from his side. Did she, did she kill him? Isn't he breathing? If he is breathing, then why doesn't h
Two days later**The Milan Villa, Afternoon, Stella's point of view.... "Miss Miller, your lunch is ready, should I bring it to your room or will you come down at the table?" the lady with big fat specs asked me in her as usually firm and polite tone.I was looking out of the window when she addressed me, "No thanks, Mrs. Black, I am not hungry now. You can leave the food in the kitchen, I will eat it." And I continued to look out of the window only when I replied her.However, after my reply, she did not move. I can sense her lean tall figure standing beside me while I sat down on the window sill and stared out. I can feel her eyes watching me silently, with her lips quivering to tell me to move out of the room and to the lunch table with her. Because I have not touched a grain of food after that night."Oh Miss. Miller, you have not eaten anything fo
'I am sorry!''I am sorry!''I didn't mean to disappoint you, sir''Please take my call. I want to clarify myself to you'I typed and sent the message again and again.However, like previously they were left unseen. His last seen was hidden too and so, I can't even get to know when he was online and when not.It sounds irking that I am trying to ask for an apology from my boss whom, I first doubted and attacked. I guess any other women would do the same if they were in my place. I believed the news and media way too much however, I never knew Max was not how he was shown.I thought he was really like my father, a man with bad intention. But no. He was not.And now I feel pathetic of myself.I don't know what do I want from him? Love or care! Or simply, to have him stay away from me?
Third person's point of view... Stella uncomfortably moved in the bed. She shook her wrist and then her entire arm. Max who had been sitting next to her bed ever since she was brought here, batted his lashes several times as he noticed the movements in her body. His lips curved into a smile, and he immediately placed a hand under her back before she opened her eyes from the day's long unconsciousness. "Stella!" Stella blinked her eyes a few times, she almost gasped finding a face so close to hers that she freaked out until she realized who it was! It was her boss who had been avoiding her lately. There was worry written all over his face. The way he was leaning over her body, it showed his protection, even though he did not mean to convey that, Stella still took it as the same. She smiled while her lips slowly whispered, "Yo-you came!" "Oh lord, finally you are awake, Stella." He spoke near her face as he made
Kevin opened the door for his boss, who was helping Stella sit inside the car. "Carefully, don't hurt your head."Max cautioned her as he held her hand and made her sit properly inside the car. "Be quick, sir. The media is outside, we need to move before anyone finds us here." Kevin said. Today was the third day of Milan fashion week. Max had just reached the venue with Kevin when he received a call from the security staff of his villa. They informed him about Stella and her accidental fall. He became so restless that Max took a U turn and drove his car off right when the media approached him for pictures and question. His move was suspicious and a few vans of news channels chased him up till the hospital. Although Max avoided them through out the time he stayed in the hospital. And now when it was time to leave, Kevin suggested them to take the rear exit as the reporters have crowded the main gate. Having
Mrs. Black encountered Max with a bewildered face. She held her breaths and her entire body trembled watching Stella in Max's arms. She was on the verge of busting into tears when he informed her, "She is fine, just a bit tired. Don't worry Mrs. Black, she is just sleeping." She sighed urgently. Her fingers trailed around Stella's cheeks while relief filled her lungs. "Oh, you almost freaked me out Stella, I thought she is..." she purposely paused not wanting to finish the sentence. The time passed so rapidly that now even the twilight was up. The twilight stole away the colours of the day until the world looked like an old black and white movie. The vestiges of the setting sun disappearing over the horizon, the copper hues giving way to a dusty purple scattered with the occasional glitter of a faraway star in the garden before the villa. The distant skyline stood silhouetted against a velvety sky and, the golden dusk
30Stella's point of view... Two days later, Five days, it has been five days that we came to Milan and believe me, never have I ever felt soo happy in all these days. Yeah, I was happy. Happy because Max, who was my boss few days ago have now become my boyfriend!It is shocking, I know that. I was shocked as well when he proposed me but it was as beautiful as a fairy tale. The moment he sat on his knees and proposed me, I can't stop my tears from falling. I have seen way too much pain in my life. From my childhood to my adulthood, I only embraced pain. Having fled away from my house did not good as it led to another level of physical and mental pain as after that I met with the financial crisis and the problems of accommodation. Megan did come as my saviour in my life, yet I could not get over the affliction that I felt in a
31Well to be honest I have read about this place in the morning only after he disclosed that we were visiting it. However, I wanted to know more from his mouth. Just wanted to know how would he reply. Much to my astonishment, he only laughed, "Lovers? And suicide? What the heck? You really believe all those tales were true!" he remarked. I nodded my head in yes. I have read about this place and Wikipedia clearly said that. But I don't know why was he feeling so curious about it. Rather I should say, he was making fun of me. " Oh Stella, that is all fake. You see this place and its surrounding..." he pointed his spoon across us while I nodded. "It is a perfect location for opening restaurants or same buildings. But the local people you see, they don't want tourist industry to flourish here or let any builder take over this place and build any restaurant or hotels... So they spread rumours about the lov
Five months ago,Stella opened her eyes with a yawn. She felt suffocated and something heavy resting upon her body. Her lips tiringly smiled travelling her fingers over her chest and caressing the face of her husband, "Max," She roamed her fingers in his hair. It was Max sleeping on her chest hugging her body.Yes, Stella and Max were now married. They were happily married for three months now.After that ungrateful night, Stella took her own time getting over the affecting loss of her father and brother's death. No matter how cruel and scary they were, they were still her family. She never learned how to hate people or else she would also have hated them for being themselves!Never mind, it was now in the past. What stayed in the present was her life now.She ran her palm on his bare back. Max stirred in his sleep. He moved his head and inched forward near her
78Max's POVWe entered the mansion quite secretly without having the guards know about it. Malik, with half of the people, stayed back at the entrance of the second floor as I covered the further distance with the remaining people. It was my war and that being the case, I moved forward.We encountered three guards on my way who were handled by my people while I walked further. Stella was kept in the third room toward the end of the corridor from that side, so I was supposed to rush from this end to the other end, "Stay back," I eyed one of my mates as I leaned against the wall and surveyed the scene across us.I was left in shock when I found the area clear as heck. There was no dog as said by Kevin guarding in the corridor at all. It was totally clear."Stay here, I will go and see..." I hurried my steps going toward the door belonging to the roo
Saturday,In the morning,Along with a team of trusted men, Max left for the New York Airport. He disguised himself as an old obese man with pepper and salty hair. His stubble was completely shaved and a fake mustache put on. The others have disguised themselves too, that is because from the police officers to the security guards at the airport had links with the mafia boss. Max could not risk himself to be seen by them.They sat in different corners in the waiting lounge until their flight was announced. Although Malik could use his private jet but he preferred to play the fair game as there was a chance that the mafia king's secret spies would be keeping an eye on him and all the other strong personalities in the underworld in order to know who was their friend and who was the enemy. And since he was playing the role of the mafia Lord's friend, there was no way he would come in front of him as an enemy.
Max's internal body clock and the full moon shining its light through the massive window of his bedroom told him that it was the middle of the night. He was past that feeling of being insecure and scared for Stella's whereabouts and condition. He was tired but not sleepy. His eyes silently stared at the dull and yellowish pale looking ceiling between his soundless respiration.He was thinking about their future. His future, his sister's, Stella's and obviously Kevin's. They have come a long way ahead now, and there was no going back either. After years of struggling, he was finally getting the chance to meet the bastard boss of the underworld who was now as weak as Voldemort was toward the end of the Harry Potter series.Lucifer Miller was powerless. Everything from him was snatched away. He was just left a boss in name!Max blinked his eyelids thinking about th
Friday,In the night,"You bitch!" Lucifer Miller shook in anger, he elevated his right leg and kicked his shoe hard on her nose. "How dare you!" The kick made Stella dizzily blink her eyes before she fell back on the floor along with the chair and her eyes closed.The camera ripped off from her fainted body and focused on the cruel Boss's face, "Max Stokes... Nice game. I am impressed by your come back but I am afraid my daughter's treason has fueled up my anger, so if you don't want me to hurt her, come out of your shell and see me. Let's talk it out— face to face." Lucifer Miller pressed the tip of his shoe on Stella's cheek. He let out a satanic laugh and spit on her face doing everything that would enrage Max. ***" This video was shot on Wednesday, we got it today though! " Kevin announced looking in the direction of the couch."A
Stella's point of view...*I was walking on a lonely road that was fogged with smoke. Nothing could be seen except a narrow path that stretched forward. I walked and walked unless I came across a spot, and gasped.I saw myself engulfed in Max's arms. We were standing right at the spot where I shot him in that silent and empty area."Max, no! Please don't make me do it." It did not take me a moment to realize that I was taken into the past to watch the same scene where I lost him forever.He smiled pressing his chin on my head and whispered, "Do it Stella. You will have to do it. Remember, it is for the good." As soon as he finished that statement, *shot* I gasped holding my mouth as his head fell back before he detached from my body.I was rooted to my spot. Neither could I move nor take a breath. I wanted to go there and save M
The days kept rolling by. Stella's condition kept falling and worsening with each day. Nelson who was taking care of her in his mansion completely went off track. He could not concentrate on his own company, let alone the management of Array & Thrice.The shares of his business kept falling in the market, there was no one who was willing to invest in his company nor help him in this time of crisis. Even the ones who were investing in Lucifer Miller's companies and businesses raised their hands and backed out."This is ridiculous! Within my rule for thirty years, I never faced this situation. I am losing my grip in the underworld one by one. If this keeps going on then we will be bankrupted within no time." The most feared mafia lord spoke like a helpless damsel in distress.His head adorned creases of worry while the three important men around him looked at the very files spread on the cir
Nelson's POV"Nelson please, don't go. Just stay with me. Please.""I am here with you, Stella. Let me just go and see your father. I swear I will be back soon." I put her to bed and covered her with the blanket.I don't want to say but honestly this crap has got on my nerves now. Stella and her visions are pathetic. After Max Stokes' death she has drastically fallen sick, and everywhere she just hallucinates him."Please be back soon.""I swear I will be. Just give me a minute." I had to force a smile even when I didn't feel like smiling at her.This was really something I was doing against my will. Having kissed her on the forehead, I moved out of her room, "Jeeez!" as soon as I was out, my mouth twisted and I cursed my ungrateful destiny.I thought after Max Stokes' death I would be able to enjoy my life wit
2 MONTHS LATER..."What the heck is this Mia, haven't I told you not to bring up his topic again!"... Throwing the cup of coffee over the poor secretary's white shirt, the new boss screamed, banging his hands on the table."He is DEAD. Now I am your boss... Nelson Mendez is your boss. So just do as I say and dare I hear his name in this organization again." the new boss fumed in exasperation."I am... I am sorry Sir... I will get the changes made. Excuse me"... Poor Mia, Max's once beautiful and talented secretary spoke in low tone sprinting out of the glass door.After she left Nelson huffed a sigh and looked at the file in his front.It has been two months to Max's death. Ever since then, everything he owned was transferred in the name of a new boss, Nelson Mendez, who was none other than the mafia king's one of the doggie-like loyal