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Selfish motive
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2024-10-29 19:42:56
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Got Too Close Creaking walls
Elena's POV.He entered the manor in the middle of the night, parked the car, pushed open the booth, and brought out a black bag before carrying it in, leaving the booth Open.Damon was right, he wasn't okay, and he had a little limp on his right leg.I shut the curtain and sat back on the bed, making my decision and wondering if it was the right thing to do. Go to him? A lot had been said the last time we saw, and his knowledge about Alessandro made it even harder to decide.Maybe he was right, Anybody but Alessandro. But then he had been my only option, and we were supposed to be divorced, right?Besides, his adversary had offered to help me, and then when I was dependent on him, he gave me a ring, and the chaos followed.That Nico's daughter was in the middle of the mess, I knew Nico might not make it easy for me to get out of the blame.So I sat on the bed, lost in my thoughts, giving up, when my phone rang.Staring at the screen, I frowned when the name came into view; that was N
Got Too Close Ally
The kitchen was at a standstill. As the atmosphere became tense, Nico, whose frame looked suspended, was staring at the woman, his fingers twitching in anxiety.The woman's expression revealed nothing, her shoulders straightened and chin up, her eyes locked with the President's; she knew what she was doing to this poor man.Then finally, she shifted her gaze until it fell on me, and the brightest smile I had ever seen spread across her lips, the beautiful green pupils sparkling.She walked to me, reaching down, drew me up, and engulfed me in a tight warm hug, "Elena, I waited so long for this day,"It was the way she snuggled into me, caressed my hair, then continuously kissed my face that had me. Her scent was every shade of motherly, and I felt loved; in just a few seconds of being with her, I wanted to hold onto her forever.My voice left me, my head was empty for a response, and my throat suddenly felt rough and dry, so I smiled instead.She pulled back, her slim hands on my cheek
Got Too Close Ally (2)
Each moment passed, and she proved that my perception of her wasn't wrong.Mia on her lap had her attention on Matteo, whose eyes darted from the floor to the walls, looking shy and trying not to be awkward to the woman who had swept him off his feet in a hug the moment she walked in.Correct that I had felt sorry for Nico at first, but after staying with her and being smothered by her sweetness, I was mad at him again. This woman needed to be protected at all costs."He's a quiet one," she whispered, staring directly at Matteo, who, although hearing her, pretended he didn't.I laugh, "Doesn't give a doubt on who his father is, right? Nico is the worst."She squeezed my palms warmly, directing my attention on Matteo, who walked to the edge of the room and picked up his bat and ball, and began to make his way to the exit door."No pools," I yelled after him, noticing Mia jumping down Maya's body and following her brother outside."I had a clue he'll be bringing the kids," she smiled at
Got Too Close Switching sides
He watched her hands as she sank the needle into his skin and pulled it out calmly; the rage on her face told him that if he did as much as breathe a little too loud, she would jab it into his head.The moment sent him back to when they were little; his mother had always been their nurse for minor injuries, well, if you could call it that.But the next thing, they were stuck on a chair in her room, knowing they would be spending the night in her cozy embrace while the others watched on, jealous.Milo was most likely to occupy the chair anyway, ending up with stitches he'd show off like a trophy, and their mother perspiring with worry behind him."Keeping such injuries to yourself? What did you do? Walk into a den?!" she muttered fiercely.If he told her what happened, there was a high chance he would be getting whooped. As long as she didn't call him President or Nikolai, he was just fine."Clara was available; you could at least walk up to her, but nope, it's all about suicide."He sm
Got Too Close Being Nikolai
The next four days, the kids and I had the best times of our lives with Maya while Nico sorted and went through statements with his father.At the pool, I was surprised to find out she could catch with Matteo; although she was a little slow at running, it awed me until she explained Zayne had her do this too.When it was time to leave, I felt like a child being torn from my mother's arms, wishing I could hold onto her but knowing I couldn't. We bade our goodbyes in the house as she still refused to see Nico.He blew a kiss to her where she stood at the window before he got into the car, and I after giving the older Don a hug and waving at her, I joined Nico.I thought I was okay, I thought it was, well, going to be okay, but I felt lost sitting beside Nico, with Noah in the driver's seat. Suddenly I was not too fond of the quietness.I turned to catch a last glimpse of her, but she was already gone; how could a few weeks of being here be one of my best experiences?Nico was speaking i
Got Too Close Can't help myself
"Do we have to begin today, Ma? can't we stay one more week?" Matteo asks; good thing he did that while choosing his bat, already knowing my answer, but I gave it to him anyway."No, baby.""If Dad was home, I'm going to have more luck with him," He groaned.If only he knew Nico was home. After a couple of days being away, being busy, of course, I was in the sitting room when his car rolled in, and I traced out his figure from the window and flew up the stairs back into the room.It was a case of not wanting him to know that I was having less sleep without him being there, and so in the room, from my window, I could see him speaking to Noah. Poor Noah was always available when needed, even deep into the night. However, I knew it was more of a Don and an assistant relationship instead of an Employer and his employee.When he began to walk into the house, I got under the sheets, my eyes closed, waiting.But he never came in, not even once, to get clothes or shower, so I was under the
Got Too Close Stealing his spotlight
"Is it me, or is Nikolai getting tired of you?"It was a sentence, but it was everything I was scared of, and having someone I detested as much as the question pointing it out to me, felt like hell.I downed the contents of my glass to give myself a little time to think of what to answer so I didn't give out anything.But then why did I even have to answer him? How was it his business with whatever I did with my life? He didn't have control over me, at least not anymore.Alessandro wasn't just anyone either. He was a manipulative freak; having been with me, he knew his way around. He knew how to get to me."Too bad," he sucked in his breath. "To be used and tossed aside again, it's okay to see that it wasn't my fault."It had to be the liquor or the weeks spent with Amara; there was a high chance her wits had been passed on to me, for without thinking, I had a brow raised, turning to him, "Is it me, or that didn't happen? Alessandro, I dumped you."I saw his jaw clenched, and a fain
Got Too Close Sharing his spotlight.
And just like that, in a second, my doubt evaporated, and what remained? A heart turning gooey, holding unto him.His palm was at the back of my head, pushing me into him as he savored me like it would be his last. Pleasure and hunger messing with my head in just a single kiss.His tongue was possessive, demanding entrance, and like everything that had to do with him, I let it.Heartbeat thudded against my chest, and my fingers trembled; I curled them around his shirt, above the tuck, and pulled him further into me, my back crashing against the wall.I knew I was going to leave crumpling; I knew my lipstick would be smudged, but then I didn't care. This was my little chance to have him for the night.But when his fingers moved to the zipper of my dress, alarm seared past my head at the reminder that we were in public. My zipper moved down, and I caught my breath. Should I say something? His lips trailed further down my neck. My reaction was spontaneous; throwing back my head and par
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Got Too Close Oops
"Is that it?" Gianni frowned when I finished. "You've got to be kidding me." Midway, I had almost burst into tears, explaining in as much detail as I could that the men's beachwear collection, which would have been next week, had to be postponed because of the lack of models."You don't get it." I sniffled, dabbing my cheek. "It's bad for business. Bad publicity goes a long way, and the investors...""Hey," Maya says, wrapping her arms around my shoulder, shooting Gianna, still sitting, a glare. "There has to be something we can do about it." "You've got to be kidding me!" Gianna retorts again, "That's why you're crying?" "I'm so sorry," I sobbed. "I don't know why I'm so emotional; what's wrong with me?!" "Oh, I know." Clara mumbles."Gianna!" Maya's tone is laced with a warning tinge. "Be nice." But she was right. This was nothing to cry about; I was a grown woman. It was shameful that once they thought I was the epitome of strength, but now they knew I was just a crybaby."Do
Got Too Close Reunion (3)
The next few days we spent indoors; still, it was hard to see Nico. The air in Calabria was hearty, the laughter infectious. It wasn't hard to notice that Nico and Zayne still stayed away from each other. They had tried to hide it, but they didn't try hard enough to take off our suspicions.Milo, sometimes in the middle of a conversation with the whole family, set up opportunities for them to exchange a word two, but like two peas of the same pod, we found them, mouth full and chewing slowly until the attention was taken off their back."You want me to do it for you?" I asked Nico when we were alone in the room, watching his face as I applied my lipstick, "I could talk to Zayne, Nico. It doesn't have to..." I wasn't done when his arms curled around me, flattening his opened palm against my stomach, sending my heart racing, and then he kissed me, shutting me up briefly.When he broke it off, sending me breathless and wanting, he searched my eyes and murmured, "It's all right. It's my
Got Too Close Reunion 2
Authors POVElena didn't look back as she walked away with the others, Milo staring at the top of her head with amusement as he pushed Gianna out of the sitting room.Nico didn't like that look in his eyes. It was the same look he held for Gianna, and now, whenever Milo was around, Zayne had to work for a bit of time with his wife.He pulled his eyes off the door they just walked out of, and when he turned to Zayne, who continued to give Matteo audience, his countenance a mixture of pride and sadness, Nico felt his stomach churn.He wasn't prepared for this, wasn't ready to be knocked down from the truth he believed in. He thought that Zayne would let the children die, all for petty malice, but all this while, it had been him who did nothing to help.Then why did he hide it? Why did he go through all that only to give all of the praise to Milo? Was that why Milo distanced himself for so long? Suddenly, he felt like he wasn't part of a family he had always known."How are your injuries
Got Too Close Reunion
Author's POV.Matteo continued to chatter, "...He said you were coming for us, Dad, and you came." his innocent smile didn't match the struck expression on his father's face, which also mirrored mine."Can I say hello?" He askedSeeing Nico couldn't say a word, I took charge, "Of course, Matteo, go tell your uncle Hi.""My uncle?" His eyes widened, "Cool Ma," before he was running off towards his sister and Zayne, who, on seeing him, seemed unsure at first, but then slowly, he went on his knees and wrapped his arms around my son.That first hug held a lot of warmth for someone who had ensured he avoided Matteo initially."What's going on?" Maya asked Nico, "Why is everyone so quiet?"Nico, appearing utterly helpless, felt his tense muscles relax as he gazed ahead, overwhelmed by guilt and discomfort. Without even making eye contact with his mother, he softly responded, "Yeah, just surprised," his voice almost trailing off, "Mia doesn't talk to strangers."Although Maya wasn't entirel
Got Too Close Who again?
He returned to tell the kids they could move before he was gone again.After a bit of fun with them, to which half my attention was not in, I left them an hour later, only to discover Nico was gone.Out of the Manor, no information, just like that, disappeared into thin air, making me wish I had stayed long enough at work, for in my head, I was running wild, helpless, and perspiring.The deja vu kept coming repeatedly; it hit me out of the blue. Standing there, watching her get into his car, his chin up, refusing to spare me a glance as she planted her thumb on his chin.My stomach churned as I let out a bitter laugh. Adding to the already complicated situation, I was pregnant. It felt like the only missing piece to complete that agonizing scene from years ago was walking into his office and discovering the papers on his desk.But I wasn't going to do that; I folded my fist against the window pane, and neither was I going to cry; that girl was gone, and in her place was a grown woman
Got Too Close Unbreak my heart (2)
"You're so choosey." Joey huffed, biting into a doughnut, the chocolate toppings sticking to the tip of his nose as he narrowed his eyes at Charlotte."Well, I'm sorry for wanting to make everything perfect instead of just picking out anything my lazy ass tells me to," Charlotte retorted, shuffling through the pictures on my desk, "And believe me when I say, I still haven't found that perfect model."Joey sipped noisily from his coffee cup, and when Charlotte narrowed her gaze at him, he rolled his eyes at her.Seeing this made me wonder how La Belle had endured two people who would fight about everything, including what toppings they wanted for their doughnuts.If I had come to La Belle with the hopes of finding everything for the launching of the men's beachwear project finished, then no surprise, it wasn't even half done.With all of the models unappealing to Char's taste, everything was left on standby.Remembering I left all of the work to them for weeks, the least I could do was
Got Too Close Unbreak my heart
"Can't believe you're giving her thirty million, Elena," Noah huffed, "There are a million reasons she doesn't need it but wants to see your pride smolder."Complaining was never Noah's thing until I came to him that morning, cheque in hand, and explained everything that had happened while he was away.His reaction made me understand why Alexa demanded he didn't come alone.I did feel as if my pride was smoldered, but the feeling was nothing compared to how it would have been if she had eventually waltzed back into Nico's life.Nico had written the cheque immediately after he walked into the room, even before he strolled into the bathroom. When I entered the room, while the showers still gushed, it was sitting pretty at the edge of the bed.The first action I took when I picked it up was to inhale it, proving my desperation. The unbelief was gone. In its place was a dripping heart that he was bent on proving me wrong on all of my beliefs.He hadn't asked. Yet I had been digging up a l
Got Too Close All good.
Nico and Noah were unavailable for two days straight until, watching the news, I discovered the campaign for this year's election was about to commence.There he was, the smile on his face giving the aura that he had no problems, shaking hands with his shoulders straightened and chin held high.The control he exhibited standing right on that platform, the mic close to his face, talking to crowds was unnatural, and although I was just behind the TV, it was as if he was staring straight at me.I spent most of the time in the sitting room, losing my attention at the slightest distraction. 'That's a small sum for the two people that mean so much to me.'When I told Clara, she didn't look as affected as I was; instead, she frowned, "I'm surprised you don't have that amount on you right now."It dawned on her immediately, "Really, Elena?"At first, the decision to be financially independent had come from a place of keeping up my esteem; I mean, being paid to be a wife was low enough. Or t
Got Too Close Falling apart
"What did you just... What?!"The sterile white walls and the scent of antiseptic were starting to affect me, along with the news that Clara had just uttered in the most awkward imaginable.She knew this wasn't good news; she knew how much this would ruin my life. I didn't need something like this now! Not when I wasn't sure I could even hold myself up..."You're six weeks pregnant, Elena," she repeated, the papers in her hold; she seemed to be scared of my reaction had to explain why she was a safe distance away.I clutched at the buttons of my shirt, fighting to breathe, every damn passionate night returning to me.That was what the morning sickness was all about, the emotional roller coaster that had me weeping my eyes out with every bit of provocation.I thought it was stress, the children's abduction, and now the fear that Nico would leave me.And here I was, within the four corners of a hospital that I and Clara had driven to, with Noah waiting in the car.Nico had been called t
