Iris POV:As I waited in the café, the rain drummed relentlessly against the windows.The sky, dark and brooding, seemed to mirror my mood. It felt like winter was clinging on stubbornly, refusing to let go.It had been days since I last heard from Ace. He had left for Italy with no prior warning or explanation.The abruptness of his departure was jarring, a stark departure from his usual patterns.Ace always kept me informed about his whereabouts, but this time, he had vanished without a trace.Hudson’s reaction had been one of intense anger when Liam broke the news.The news had hit like a punch to the gut, leaving me reeling. Something is wrong.Despite my feelings of confusion and anger, the predominant emotion was concern.I should have been furious with him for leaving without a word, but instead, my worry consumed me.Why had he left so suddenly?What happened that he left abruptly?God, please protect him.The past few days had been a whirlwind of excuses and guilt. I had been
Iris POV:As I set the spaghetti with white sauce on the counter, my fingers trembled with nervousness. God! Stop shaking, Iris.The kitchen, bustling with activity, was a whirlwind of sounds and smells—a mix of sizzling pans, clattering utensils, and the fragrant aroma of garlic and herbs.The pressure of working in this unique café-restaurant hybrid was relentless. In the morning, it functioned as a cozy café with pastries and coffee; by 12 PM, it transformed into a full-fledged restaurant, only to revert to a café again by 9 PM.With a deep breath, I shifted my attention to the next dish: tomato soup and garlic bread. The soup bubbled gently on the stove, and I stirred it carefully, ensuring it didn’t stick to the bottom. I could hear the comforting sound of the soup’s simmering as it released its savory aroma. I placed the bread slices on the grill, arranging them meticulously to ensure they were evenly toasted.A sudden jolt against my back startled me. I flinched, nearly sp
Iris POV:I stood quietly behind the wall, peeking around the corner with the hope of staying unnoticed.The dim light of the living room flickered gently, casting long shadows as Hudson sat comfortably on the couch, engrossed in a conversation on his phone.His deep voice rumbled through the space, though the words were in Italian, that I couldn’t understand.He seemed completely absorbed, his attention fully captured by whatever business was unfolding across the ocean.Baddest luck.It had already been five minutes since I stood there, trying to gather the courage to move without drawing his attention.Unfortunately, Hudson was more alert than he looked, and sneaking past him was proving to be a bigger challenge than I’d anticipated.I rocked back and forth on my heels, my mind racing as I tried to come up with a plan.Looks like I can't go to Liam's room, sneakily.Come on, ninjity ninja you can do this.But just as I was about to make my move, he suddenly appeared right in front of
Iris POV:Wiping the sweat from my brow, I blinked rapidly as my vision began to blur, each breath feeling like a struggle for air. The imposing doors of the mansion swung open before me, revealing a flurry of activity and a long line of cars parked in front of the house.My legs trembled uncontrollably as I staggered into the house, my breaths coming in ragged gasps. I was certain I must have looked like a starving man, desperate and depleted.Suddenly, Ares appeared before me, his lips moving soundlessly as my ears rang with a deafening roar. I couldn't make out his words, my senses overwhelmed by the rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins and the burning sensation in my chest.With a forceful push, I swung open the entrance door and stumbled into the hall, desperation bubbling up inside me. My breath came in short, uneven gasps as I scanned the room, desperately searching for the familiar face I had longed to see for nearly a month.“What the fuck!” The exclamation tore t
Iris POV:I rubbed my face in frustration, feeling the weight of guilt bearing down on me like a heavy burden.Yesterday! Since yesterday, I've been weaving a web of lies around Ace, and it's starting to suffocate me.The stupid owner made me work until 8 in the evening yesterday, and when I finally got home, Ace bombarded me with a barrage of questions.Only I know how I managed him.But today, oh God! I've found myself tangled in yet another web of lies.I squeezed my eyes shut, pressing the phone against my ear as I stood by the entrance door, seeking solace in Su's comforting words."Su, I feel guilty for lying to him like this again," I confided, my voice heavy with remorse."Well, it's okay. Talk to him as soon as possible, then everything will be fine. Just say my friends were also there, so it took time to come," she murmured, her voice a soothing balm to my troubled mind."Okay," I murmured back, then ended the call, clutching a shopping bag that Su insisted would serve as ev
Iris POV:I scratched my hair, my frustration mounting silently as I lingered outside our bedroom door, wrestling with my thoughts.It was 4:15 in the afternoon, and for the past two minutes, I'd been at a loss for words.What on earth was I going to say to him?!Sorry, Ace, I left you with a painful hardness because Su saw my boobs hanging outside my top!! No!He's my boyfriend, for goodness' sake. A man who, by now, knows all the hidden moles on my body and moreMy ears perked up as the door knob moved, signaling his imminent arrival.Without a moment to spare, I darted towards a nearby pillar, seeking refuge in its shadow.Heart pounding, I covered my face with my hands and sent silent prayers to every god I could think of.The sound of the door closing reverberated through the hallway, and I released a relieved sigh.Phew. Saved by luck.Slowly, I lowered my hands and cautiously peeked towards the door, my curiosity getting the better of me.God! I am behaving like his ex- girlfri
Ace POV: As I struggled to loop my tie around my neck, a muttered curse slipped from my lips, echoing frustration.The morning has been nothing short of a chaotic mess.First, I woke up with a boner and I can't even fuck or make love to my Mini. Then, to add insult to injury, my secretary calls me with the news that some clients are backing out of deals.Just what I needed to start the day off.On top of that, it's the last day to ask Iris to a party, and I still haven't brought it up.If she saw her surprise then maybe she would come with me, happily and willingly. And as if that wasn't enough, there was an attempted attack on our weapons and drug containers. Thankfully, our security team handled it, but it's still a major headache to deal with and I have some fucking loss now! The door swung open, and there she was, standing in the doorway with a smile that quickly faded when she saw my irritated expression."It's already past 7. What are you doing here?" I asked, tossing my t
Ace POV:When I woke up in the morning, I felt like a complete idiot.I really thought I fucked anyone while drunk.But a relief flooded through me as I saw my Mini standing in front of the dressing table, scowling at the dogs in her usual manner.She then mentioned that I had come to her room last night, wanting to sleep with her.My heart skipped a beat at that information and I was grateful that I hadn't done anything to hurt her.After taking a long, cold shower to clear my head, I glanced at the time. It was already 7:50 in the morning.I hurriedly made my way to the hall, only to come to a sudden stop as I saw Mini sitting on the couch, calmly eating scrambled eggs with pasta.The sight of Mini there, safe and unharmed, initially filled me with a sense of overwhelming relief, but that feeling quickly dissipated when I noticed the rottweiler sitting calmly beside her, seemingly engrossed in the TV show they were watching together.Tom and Jerry. She loves that.But what bothered