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CHAPTER TWENTY
Last Updated:
2025-01-27 08:24:29
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Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
RIO POV After my father had steered Leo away from Mel with the excuse of discussing business, I had Angie escort Mel inside the house. I still don’t understand what that little show Leo made was about.But I was feeling very unsettled and the reason was standing not too far away from me.“I didn’t think he will show up.” I walk to the corner where Dante lounged, quietly watching the crowd.“Which particular he?” He asks. “Because there are a lot of hes I don’t wish to be looking at right now.”The music was very loud here. I could barely hear him. No wonder he picked this spot. “Kade.” I say, taking a seat next to him.“Oh, the masked Draco. Very bold of him to show his face or should I say mask around here.” He laughs and sits up. “But Leo came, so he had to be here.”“Do you think he doesn’t know that we are on to him?”“He knows alright. Kade is not that stupid.”“So, when are we going to tell Father that Kade is the one sabotaging the Russian deal?”“Simple. When I find concrete
Last Updated : 2025-01-31Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
MEL POV.“It’s pretty from up here.” I was sitting at the window in my room, watching the sparkling lights and listening to the beautiful music coming from the party below.“It sure is.” Angie says from the bathroom. “A pretty gathering of murderers, drug dealers and stuck-up rich investors. You know… the usual Italian party.”I turn to make a face at her when she walks back into the room. She had changed out her dress, but not into pajamas. “Oh, Angie. Please stay the night. Please.” I beg.“No, my darling. I love a good sleepover but even I am not crazy enough to stay here. Seriously, I admire your strength.” She walks around my room, picking up her things. “Can I take this?” She waves a bottle of unopened perfume at me.“You can take anything you want, if you agree to stay.”“Yeah, no that won’t work. You can keep your stuff then.” She throws it at me.“I’m just joking.” I throw it back.“Thank you.” She puts it in her bag. “Besides, I don’t want to interrupt the wedding night.”“A
Last Updated : 2025-01-31Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
RIO POVI lay on the bed staring at the ceiling, after a restless night of tossing around, listening to the morning hymn of Amazing Grace coming from the Chapel. Mel’s warm body was beside me, so close all I had to do was reach over and touch.But my mind was troubled.Did father really promise the position to Andre? Also, who the hell does Andre think he is? Threatening me? I have had enough of his bullshit, always countering me in every way and my father always taking his side.“Not this time, Mister.” I say aloud. “Not this time.” Mel makes a muffled noise as if disturbed and I stay still to avoid waking her up. She obviously needs her rest, especially after what she said last night. If I hadn’t been so worked up because of Andre, I would have been amused.She turns to me while making the noise even louder. I shift to the edge of the bed to give her more space.Then the strangest thing happens.“Let’s go back. Please, let’s go.” She murmurs with distress in her voice.The room w
Last Updated : 2025-02-01Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
MEL POV“Morning Nonna, Mel. Please join me.” Dante gestures to the empty seats as I and Nonna walk back into the dining room. “So, Mel how was your wedding night with your husband? Anything you didn’t like? I can get Rio to improve.”I take the seat that Rio had just left, across from Dante. “What just happened?” I ask, ignoring his annoying remarks. “Why were they fighting?”“I believe when I walked in, I only saw Rio and I don’t think he could be fighting with himself.” Dante says, shaking his head at me.“Don’t be rude, Dante.” Mama Agness warns, pointing her butter knife at him. “Mel, we don’t know what happened, so just leave it.”“But they were talking about someone taking over the position in the company that Rio is vying for.” I argue.“Listen to Nonna, dear sister in-law and mind your business.” Dante says, blandly.“I know I trained you better than that, boy.” Mama Agness scolds him.“Yeah, but sometimes boys grow up into stubborn men.” He gets up. “Thanks for the breakfast
Last Updated : 2025-02-02Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
RIO POV“Good morning, Mr. Rio.” Sandra shimmies her way up to me as I walk into the company’s building. “You are here.”“And so are you.” I step into the elevator and she follows.“I am just going to the top floor to submit some files from the financial department for the board’s meeting tomorrow.” She says, adjusting her very tight blouse.“That is supposed to be next week.” I turn to her.“Maybe it was moved.” She shrugs.“Hmm.” I nod in response. Another one of Jim’s plans, I assume. “So, I didn’t expect to see you this morning. I mean, you just got married yesterday.”“I have things to do. The wife understands.” I answer, rudely.“‘The wife’. Already getting bored, are we?” She giggles. “Well, if it were me, I wouldn’t let you leave our bed for anything at all. Nothing at all.”I spare her a glance and she flutters her long fake lashes at me. All it did was annoy me.The elevator stops on the third floor. I step out and turn to her from the passage. “Thank heavens, it isn’t yo
Last Updated : 2025-02-10Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
MEL POV“You have to move faster, Mel. We can’t let them catch us.” A voice in the dark yells to me. “Let’s go.”“I’m tired.” My little mouth cries out. “It hurts.” My little leg was tired and I’m struggling to drag myself through the field. “Mel.” The voice yells out again. “Wait.’ I stretch my hands out into the dark empty space but no one was there. “I can’t –Ahhhhhhhh!’ I scream while tumbling down and rolling in the mud.“Melllll!” The voice screamed. My eyes shoot open.I sit up, cross my legs and drag the bed covers up to my chin, shaking.“It’s a night mare. Mel.” I mumble to myself, while taking deep breathsBut this is different. Totally different. I look beside me. The space is empty and cold. Rio didn’t sleep here. I had gone to bed early, so I didn’t know if he came back after storming out yesterday morning.The clock on the bedside table says it is 5.20 am. That explains the “Amazing grace’ hymn blaring from the chapel.“Ugh.” I groan. It also means it was too early
Last Updated : 2025-02-10Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
MEL POV“Crazy running into you, especially this far from your new home.” Jack moves closer and I back up, bumping into a display of lipsticks.“Are you following me?” I murmur, looking around for Nick.“Nah. I work here.” He laughs. “C’mon little sis. Lighten up. Can’t big brother say hi.”“Hi. Now get out of my face.” I shift to move past him, but he grabs my arm.“Don’t touch me.” I shout at him.“Hey, hey, hey. Shhhh.” He lets go. “No need to raise your voice and draw attention. I just want to talk.”“I have nothing to say to you. Get lost.”“Mel, don’t be difficult.” His voice softens. “At least let me explain my side. Please, for old time’s sake.”Why exactly I am still standing with him, I don’t know, but the next words out of my mouth shock me. “Fine, say what you want to say.”“Can we go sit somewhere?” He begs.“As if I would willingly go anywhere with you.” I scoff. “If you can’t spit it out here, then good bye.”“You were always so stubborn. Nice to see marrying that man h
Last Updated : 2025-02-10Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
RIO POVI stroll into the company’s cafeteria in the afternoon after spending the night drinking at a bar with some associates and the morning, sleeping at my townhouse. Dante had called to check on me and I had told him of my plans for today.I am not sure if he was trying to be a good brother or its because he loves chaos, but he had been excited to listen.“Afternoon, Ignacio.” I greet the man at the counter.“Good afternoon, Mr. Rio. What would you like today?” He points to the menu. “Some pasta or pizza. Good for the soul.”“They sound good, but a cup of coffee would do.” It is a big day today and I need a clear head.“No sugar?” He asks and I nod. “Okay, Mr. Rio. Coming right up.”“Thanks.” I smile when he slides a piping hot cup in front of me. I grab my coffee and walk to an empty stool at the end of the counter, deciding to lounge around till 3pm when the meeting would begin.“I wasn’t sure you would make it today.” Andre slides into the stool next to me. He gestures to Ignac
Last Updated : 2025-02-10
Latest chapter
Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER FIFTY- FIVE
Mel POV“The smell of the blooming flowers in the spring is the perfect remedy for any aching nerves.” Nick grins, bringing a red flower to his nose.After a morning of Rio and his father arguing about me, Nick had suggested we spend the afternoon picking flowers to calm me down, since he was still on bed rest and couldn’t do much yet.“You can say that again.” I settle on the pavement along the wall. “It always hits the spot.” “I have missed this beautiful garden.” He sits next to me.“I have missed working in this beautiful garden with you, Nicky.” I give him my best smile. His face turns red as he tries to hide his embarrassment.“I have missed you too, Senorita.” He manages to murmur. I nod in response, happy with his reaction.Why can’t all men, Rio- fucking- Rafe in particular, be like my sweet Nick? I wonder. Why didn’t I fall for a nice, sensitive and charming man, instead of a freaking mad man?Fall? My body stiffens. How in the hell did I conclude I was in love with Rio?
Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
JACK POV“Get off me!” I yell at the bouncer as he drags me out of the club through the back door and pushes me to the floor. “Come on, Pavor. It’s good old Jack.” I try to appeal to the club owner who followed us out.“Go back to whatever hell you crawled out from and don’t come back.” Pavor warns, shutting the door in my face.“F*** you!” I curse. This is the third club I am getting kicked out from this night alone.What wrong with wanting a little boost for the night? After the shitty day I had, spending most of it in the station, a drink was the least I deserve.I just have the little problem of being broke, so I decided to hover around the local spots, hoping for some freebies, but it seems I have garnered some sort of bad reputation of being a debtor.“Shit.” I push my body up against the wall, holding my aching head in my hand. I really should go home, get some rest and maybe some food. My stomach growls in response to the image of a hot plate of my mum’s pasta forming in my h
Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
RIO POVI stood by the corner of the container, watching as Dante and Pascal hurdle over the computer, whispering about the information that they had managed to get out Rafeal, while his dead body was lying still, on the floor right next to them.“This will just be a minute more.” Dante calls to me.“Take your time.” I push off the wall and walk around the space. “Do you mind me asking how you purchased this container? Was it a gift or…”“My family runs a shipping business.” Dante“Of course, smart ass.” I shoot him a glare. “I just remembered a little detail. There is a serial number on this container, right? It should start with RF since the container belongs to the company.”“I don’t know.” Dante answers.“I do, sir.” Pascal says. “And it does. At the right end corner, outside.”“Exactly.” I clap in excitement. “Dante, the container in the woods had a serial number staring from IT. I remember seeing it on the contract and even in the pictures.”“And your point here is?” Dante stand
Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER FIFTY- TWO
MEL POV“So, what do we do now?” Angie asks as I drove her back to the Dancing Stars for her afternoon shift.“What?”“My shift doesn’t start till in the next hour.”“So…, I shouldn’t take you there now?”“No. Keep going.” She answers. “Just that I will be bored for that hour.”“I’m sure Steve will be glad if you decided to put in that extra hour.” I laugh. “How about you come inside for a little, huh? Say hi to the gang. Maybe flaunt that car key in Steve’s face, make him jealous.” She wiggles her brow. “Also, I’m certain Marty will be glad to whip something up for you. You barely touched your toast at the café, except when you were torturing it, of course.”“Marty still works there?” I ask in shock. Marty is the chef at the bar, but between him and Steve, it was hard to tell who was the boss and who was the employee. “I thought Steve would have given him the boot by now.”“Steve will need to summon up the balls to do that first.” Angie snorts as I park in front of the bar. “Besides
Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER FIFTY- ONE
RIO POV“Where exactly are we headed?” I pull down my window as Dante goes off the highway, we have been on for the past two hours and takes a turn into a small, dirty, one-lane road. “Are we going out of city?”“Not exactly.” He answers, with his eyes glued to the road.“I haven’t been in this part of the city in a while.” I say, looking around the slums and make-shift homes lined up on both sides of the road. “People actually live here?” I ask, marveling at the state of the environs.“Not everybody was born with a silver spoon like you brother.” Dante glances at my face. “What with the look of your face? Feel like helping the poor, already?” He laughs. “You were always too soft, brother. Most of the people here are drug addicts running from their debtors.”“Having a conscience isn’t being soft.” I shift on my seat. “Not everybody can be crazy like you.”“I am pretty sure your wife would disagree.” He jests.“F*** off.” I lean out the window when I feel a cold breeze on my face. “Are
Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER FIFTY
MEL POV“Changed?” Angie echoes my words. “Like you don’t dream of that night anymore?”“I still do… sometimes.”“And other times?” She urges me to speak.“I have been dreaming of my childhood, I think.”“You think?” She raises her brow.“Yes, Angie.” I reply. “To be sincere, I don’t really know. I haven’t been able to understand what it is.”“But you think it’s about your childhood?” She asks.I nod in response.“And what normally happens in these nightmares? What do you see?”“Myself, but so much younger. I look just like the little girl in the pictures, Mrs. Park showed me when I asked her about when I was little.”“Interesting.” Angie rubs on her chin. “And what?”“I can’t remember, Angie.”“Let’s try this.” She leans into the table. “Close your eyes. Just do it.” She insists when I frown at her.“You are being silly.” I reply, but still oblige her.“Breathe in. Breathe out. Good. Now just relax.” She takes my hands. “Nice. Now try to picture the image in your head.”“Really, Angi
Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER FOURTY-NINE
MEL POVIt smells just like him.Maybe taking Rio’s car wasn’t such a good idea, I realize. I was already having a hard time dealing with flashbacks of our night together, I really didn’t need to breathing in his scent. It is just annoying and very, very distracting.“Arggh!” I blast the horn of the car loudly, taking out my frustration on a black car that suddenly swerves in front of me to enter the next lane, right before we approach a red light stop. “Can’t you f**king see?” I roll down my window to yell at the driver. He, it looks like a man from my end, does not even glance my way, but stays put, even after the light turns green.“Now, you don’t want to go.” I shout. Still no response. “Asshole!” I roll up my window and continue driving.Few minutes later, from my left side mirror, I notice the same car again. This time, he is driving closely behind me, even though the other lanes were practically empty.Is he following me? He couldn’t.Panicking, I increase my driving speed and
Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER FOURTY-EIGHT
RIO POV“I thought you don’t let anyone into this room.” I mention when Dante leads me into his dark office. “Or have you finally gotten over your weird kink of not letting people touch your things?”Growing up, Dante had this weird possessiveness over his stuff, that he never let anyone, not even our mother nor Nonna, into his room, to the extent that he cleaned the room by himself. I strongly believed that he had killed people in there, since it was the only soundproof room in the house.“This is not my room.” He turns on the lights and turns on his desk’s computer.“I have never been in here either.” I mutter, looking through the stacks of CDs on a wall shelf.“Mel has.” He says casually, while pressing some keys on the computer.“What?” I glare at him. “You brought her in here?”“More like she fell in.” He murmurs. “Your wife is pretty nosy.”Not willingly to play his games again, I decide to ignore his words. “What did you want to tell me?”“That you were wrong. I didn’t spend al
Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER FOURTY-SEVEN
RIO POV She is staying.I don’t usually take bath, but the heat of the water soaking into my skin was definitely what I needed this morning.She is staying.I can’t figure understand why the fact that Mel chose to stay makes me… happy. Afterall, I have gotten what I craved.To have her in my bed. Then why do I feel this immense pleasure at her decision to stay, even after what happened this morning?I couldn’t actually… care for her. No, that is not possible. The sex was good, great in fact, more than what I imagined. So, it’s only natural I would want to her close by, with the hopes of it happening again.You will never touch me again. Mel’s heartfelt warning made me excited.I wouldn’t be who I am if I didn’t get turned on by a challenge.“If you are done moping about being chased out of your room, get out of the bathroom.” Dante bangs on the bathroom door, starling me. “We need to talk.”“Shit!” I curse. I thought I had locked the door. The last thing I need now is Dante’s snide
