Iris POV:"Really?" I said, shocked.Susan chuckled and took a sip of her drink. At least, she said it was juice."Yeah, Aiden proposed to me in front of my family when we were 11 years old," Su burped."I thought he was joking but... boy, he wasn't," Su pinched my cheeks lightly."Wow! That's so cute," I smiled, looking at her.She hummed in agreement, and we both stared at the ceiling, lost in thought.I was at Susan's house because Aiden had gone to Russia for some work. My college had graciously given me a holiday. Yay!And Ace wouldn’t be home until the evening. Sadly.After that night, I couldn’t look Ace in the eyes without my cheeks turning pink and my kitty being wet. Dirty Iris.So, I stayed over at Susan’s place. Just the two of us in the house."How's everything going between you two?" Su asked, sitting up and leaning on the headboard."Good," I said, licking my lips nervously."And how about your physical relationship?" she inquired sincerely."I don't want to talk about
Ace POV:"WHAT!" Hudson's booming voice reverberated through the room.My brows furrowed as his word rang inside my ear."Another fucking son""Antonio, are you out of your mind?" Alex questioned, his tone filled with controlled anger."I realize the gravity of my actions and the impact they have had. That's why I need to come clean," he admitted, his voice tinged with regret."Why the sudden change of heart?" Liam, usually composed, couldn't hide the chill in his words as he probed further. "There are personal reasons that have held me back, but the time for secrets is over." His admission of guilt lingered in the room as he continued, "I understand that this revelation may come as a shock to all of you."As the tension mounted, Antonio finally disclosed his decision, "From this point forward, he will take on the responsibility of managing our deals and projects.""You can't just drop this bombshell without proper consideration. This involves our business." I couldn't help but voice
Iris POV:The class groaned happily when the teacher finally left. For the past two hours, the teacher had not stopped teaching.I glanced at the clock and saw it was 4 in the evening. I am addicted to Ace. Especially the things he does. I didn't know I can be this dirty too."Is something going on between you and Edrick?" Ali asked as she stood in front of my desk."What! No!" I blurted out in surprise."Then why is he talking to you more and not to me?" she said bluntly.I shrugged awkwardly, hoping to brush off her question. "I don't know."Because he's Elijah, not Edrick. I hurriedly exited the classroom, feeling flustered after my awkward exchange with Ali. The excuse I used—“I want to poop”—was embarrassingly lame.My eyes wandered around the classroom, sneakily. Student's were chattering and laughing. God, where is he?When I finally spotted him, his intense gaze was already on me, causing my heart to skip a beat. I waved casually and mustered a nonchalant smile, gestur
Iris POV:"How about a suit?" I suggested while sipping my orange juice."No, he has tons of suits in his closet, but that idiot insists on wearing jeans and shirts every single day," Hudson grumbled.I laughed. "What about a wallet?" I asked.Hudson shook his head, and I slumped back in my seat. Liam's birthday was coming up, and we couldn't decide what to buy for him. He has everything.Ace gave me a card and told me to use it, but I prefer to use my own money. His exact words were, "Buy whatever you want, don't worry about spending too much, love."Should I be happy about it or sad? I just feel guilty.Hudson and I are out shopping for Liam's birthday gifts. Everyone else gave Hudson a list of what they wanted to buy, but I wanted to choose a gift for Liam myself. Their exact words were, "If he shows up on his birthday, that would be a bigger surprise than a stupid gift."They're all buying gifts out of formality. Since they had other important things to do, they handed their
Iris POV:I leaned my hand on the table and yawned loudly.Alex and I were at Hudson's company because Alex had some work and needed to hand over some files to Hud.It had become second nature for one of the boys to pick me up, leading me to the waiting room where I'd spend hours and only to be dropped home once their tasks were done around 6 p.m. I wasn't complaining. In fact, I was happy that they did it willingly, not like it was a job. As I leaned back in my seat, my hand palmed my face as the memories from the previous night flood in my mind, causing a blush to creep up on my cheeks. Ace and I talked about our physical relationship. I was always on edge, feeling uneasy and occasionally nauseous, while he appeared more composed and serious, never mocking my hesitance or shyness. He gave me time and encouraged me to talk about it. Communication is very important in a relationship. Thank God, I got a shameless man who likes to talk about it instead of someone who doesn't. M
*Mature*Ace POV:I lowered myself down to gently place a soft kiss on her delicate belly button.I could hear her surprised gasps mingled with the sound of her rough breaths and the rhythmic thumping of her heart.Continuing the tender caress, I ran the tip of my finger slowly from the curve of her belly up to the valley between her breasts."Let me take care of you, Mini. Si?" I whispered.Her response, a meek "S-Si."I can do anything now.She couldn't see me, just hear and feel me."Beautiful than any flowers" I murmured, siding her shirt with my fingers.Her body quivered, her belly rising and falling with each deep, calming breath she took."Relax, bambi" I assured her, shifting to kneel in front of her and gently grasping her legs.Lifting her left leg, I tenderly pressed her feet against my chest.The soft glow of the gold anklet adorning her ankle caught the dim light, casting a mesmerizing sparkle."I love it, what you did that day. So fierce," I said as a playful grin sprea
Iris POV:I grumbled in annoyance and laid back on the hard bench. Sleep. I want to sleep. The teacher abruptly departed the classroom due to an emergency.It was English class, so most of the students were outside or bunking. The clock showed that it was 11 in the morning, the time passing painfully slowly. Ali was I don't know where she is? Maybe with Edrick Or with her so-called friends. It became apparent that Ali was avoiding me. I don't know why and for what. It's not like I am sad but she helped me through my studies.Well we were just a hi-bye friends.She is avoiding me but in a polite way. If I tried to talk to her she would make an excuse or any reason. "Iris"A startled yelp escaped from my mouth and I found myself abruptly sprawled on the tiled floor beneath me. Startled and disoriented, I lifted my gaze, shooting a sharp glare at whoever called me. My eyes widened in recognition as I realized it was not who I had initially expected— it was Erick...no, it was
Iris POV:I anxiously scanned the room, feeling the weight of everyone's attention shifting towards us. "Ali, let's go and talk somewhere else" I pleaded, my voice tinged with urgency. "NO! NO! " She screamed as it dripped with a mix of frustration and fury. "Let everyone see what type of girl you are and your INNOCENT FACADE! " She gripped my arm tightly. My ears felt hot as everyone looked at me. "Ali, you're drunk, please..let's talk privately" I interjected, perplexed by Ali's sudden outburst and aggressive stance. Startled by the sudden appearance of someone blocking my way, a surge of shock coursed through me. What the hell! What is Ares doing here? "Stay away from her, girl," Ares' voice, low and authoritative, cut through the charged atmosphere like a blade. Of course, Why would the guys leave me without a bodyguard? How sweet."Fuck off!" her anger surged forth, her futile attempts to push Ares met with unyielding resistance.He was made of steel. He didn't even mov
*MATURE* Without another thought, I slid down from the counter, the movement quick and precise, my eyes never leaving hers. She took a step back, startled by the sudden intensity in my movements.“I have to cook,” she stammered, her wide eyes locking with mine. She could see it— darkness, lust, raw and unfiltered, burning in my gaze. She knew exactly what she had done to me, temptation and hunger, a need so deep it felt like it might consume me.“Oh~ you should have thought about that before you started that little show of yours,” I growled, my voice thick with desire as I advanced on her, my steps quick and purposeful.She tried to run away, but there was nowhere to go. In a matter of seconds, her back hit the counter, and she stumbled slightly, regaining her balance by gripping the counter’s edge. Before she could react further, I was there, looming over her, trapping her between the solid counter and my body, so close that our chests brushed together with every breath. I lea
Ace POV:Even with the tension building in the room, my focus stayed on the phone in my hand.The screen lit up, displaying the contact details of the one person who made me rethink everything.Iris. Her name seemed to burn into my mind.For the past half hour, my finger hovered over the dial button, hesitating, refusing to move forward.Yesterday morning, I'd been a fucking dick to her.The way I treated her, the words I spat out—they still gnawed at me, but nothing haunted me more than the look in her eyes. The hurt. The disbelief.She'd always been the one person I never lashed out at, the one I protected from the ugliness of my world.And in one moment of misplaced anger at Agostino, I'd turned that ugliness on her.She had always looked at me like I was more than the monster everyone else saw.I hated how her pain lingered in the back of my mind.I deserved it, every bit of it, but now... I was afraid to call her.What if she taunted me?What if she threw those same words back in
Ace POV:"I mean, really?" I muttered, driving the knife into the table with a heavy thud, the sound echoing through the dimly lit basement.My chest heaved as I caught my breath, the adrenaline slowly ebbing away.The man lying on the floor, once so full of defiance, now barely had the strength to whimper."That eyepop literally looked me in the eyes and then turned around, snuggled into her cheeks like it was nothing!" I exclaimed, the disbelief in my voice masking the seething anger that still simmered beneath the surface.I turned to the lifeless form on the floor, eyes narrowing in frustration.His screams had subsided into faint, muffled groans, his life slipping away with every shallow breath."Shh... Can you like keep your fucking voice down? I'm talking," I snapped, as if he could still hear or care.His head lolled to the side, the last traces of life fading from his bloodshot eyes."Snacks knows he makes me jealous," I muttered to myself, pacing back and forth as I recounte
Ace POV:The door creaked open with a suddenness that made Mini jump in surprise.Hudson strode in, carrying a file, his face set in an expression that could only be described as serious.Mini, perched on my lap just moments before, scrambled to her feet with a haste that betrayed her flustered state.Her cheeks were a bright pink, a mix of embarrassment and shyness flushing her face as she quickly buttoned up her shirt.She offered Hudson a shy, somewhat awkward smile, her eyes darting to the floor as if unsure where to look.Hudson's gaze swept the room, and his eyes fell upon Snack, the tiny gerbil who was now perched on the edge of the table, his little feet twitching with curiosity.Hudson's face twisted into an expression of disbelief, mingled with a hint of amusement."What the fuck is this?" Hudson's voice cut through the room, carrying a blend of incredulity and faint humor. He stared at Snack, clearly not expecting to find a eyepop in the middle of whatever business he had w
Ace POV:I took a final glance in the mirror, scrutinizing every detail of my reflection.The fight had been brutal, and the adrenaline still pulsed faintly in my veins, but I couldn't let Iris see any of it.With a deep breath, I again sprayed more cologne, hoping the scent would mask the faint, metallic odor of blood that clung to my skin."Boss," a voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned to see one of the guards standing behind me, breathing heavily like he'd sprinted to find me.His chest heaved, but he maintained his posture, extending a pendant and my phone towards me.I nodded, a small smile forming as I took the pendant. Without it, I always felt off-balance, like something essential was missing.Clasping it around my neck, I met Ares' eyes and gave him a curt nod.With one last adjustment to my shirt, I picked up the bouquet of flowers and ran a hand through my hair, trying to tame the mess it had become."Mini," I called out as I stepped into the hall, my voice echoing throu
Ace POV:There was a thud beside me, followed by a collective gasp from everyone in the shop.I straightened slowly, my hand instinctively moving towards my concealed weapon.The man who had been standing beside me was now sprawled on the floor, blood pooling around his head.In one fluid motion, I gripped Edrick by his collar and started to drag him deeper into the shop."Move!" I hissed, shoving him ahead of me. His eyes were wide with terror, all his earlier bravado evaporating in the face of real danger.The air erupted with gunfire. Screams filled the shop as customers and staff alike scrambled for cover.Bodies fell, some diving for safety, others crumpling lifelessly to the ground.The sweet scent of flowers was quickly overpowered by the acrid smell of gunpowder and fear.We took cover behind a table stacked high with flowers, the blooms now a flimsy barrier between us and whoever was trying to kill us.I scanned the shop, looking for any avenue of escape.The front was out of
Ace POV:"Liam!" we both exclaimed, frustration evident in our voices.He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly and flopped down on the couch, looking completely unconcerned.We both laid there, breathing heavily. I backed away from her and we sat up on the couch as she adjusted her dress, pouting.Within moments, all my friends had gathered around the couch.Felix, Aiden, and Alex had clearly been roused from their beds, evident by the fact that they were only wearing pajama pants. The others were dressed but looked just as groggy.They all looked like they might fall asleep here if I let them."Why the hell did you call us?" Susan asked, laying her head on Aiden's lap, her eyes half-closed with sleepiness."I specifically told everyone to meet me here at 9 sharp, and it's already past 11. Motherfuckers!" I snapped, gritting my teeth in frustration.I noticed Iris glancing around at everyone with concern as she sat beside me. Her cheeks were flushed with shyness while Liam alternated b
Iris POV:I got off the bike with a sense of urgency and swiftly reached for the cake from Leo. My movements were precise and careful."You're really dramatic," Leo said with a puzzled expression as he removed my helmet, his fingers brushing my hair away from my face."No. The way you drive the bike is disapproving," I said, my tone laced with concern. "The cake could have easily fallen off and been ruined if you hadn't been careful."I took a quick peek into the box to ensure that the cake was still intact.Thankfully, it appeared to be unharmed, its frosting and decorations still perfectly in place."Sweetie, I do bike stunts all the time," Leo replied with a playful smirk, his confidence evident. "You think I can't handle a cake that was literally placed in the gas tank of the bike?""A cake is like a fragile newborn baby," I said with exaggerated seriousness. "We have to handle it with the utmost care. You wouldn't be doing stunts if you had a newborn baby with you, would you?"Le
Iris POV:We both jolted at the sudden sound of a voice from outside the door."Iris!" Aiden's voice cut through the silence, causing Liam to let out a weary sigh."This boy," Liam muttered under his breath, "is such a brat. He'll bicker with you like a stray dog but can't stay away for even a moment."I couldn't help but giggle at his words. "I suppose today has been eventful enough. I'll fill you in on the rest of the story later," Liam said, rising from his seat to open the door.I sighed deeply, giving my cheeks a few quick smacks to wake myself from the flashback.The door swung open, revealing Aiden with a mischievous smirk, followed by Susan, Felix, and Hudson as they filed into the room.Susan immediately flopped onto the bed, resting her head on my lap as she cheerfully munched on a chocolate bar.The group's curious eyes darted between Liam and me, their expressions laced with suspicion."...What happened?" I asked, trying to clear the dryness from my throat as I addressed t