Amber A scream, escaped my throat at the intense pain I was feeling between my legs. Beads of perspiration adorned my face while the nurses encouraged me to push. “Push miss…you are almost there.” They’d scream at me and I was trying. I was trying to do as instructed but I could feel my strength slipping from me, every passing minute. “Push!” The pain… was something I’d never felt before. I wish the baby would come out sooner or I fear I may not be able to push any further. I could feel my hole tear to let the baby’s head through and a nurse confirmed it. “You are almost there.” She encouraged me while the rest parted my legs even further. I can’t…I can’t do this. The pain, it’s extreme and it’s something I wouldn’t want to wish on anyone. My pain. “Open your damn eyes and push! Don’t be lazy!” Clint, my husband growled at me. My heart skipped a bit as he glared down at me. “I swear Amber, if you lose the baby, we are over!” I could feel his grip on me, tightening. His nails d
I strolled into the company, all eyes following my every move, as I walked. Where was I headed? His office.I was going to return a favor back to my devil of a husband. I did everything for him…I worshiped the ground he walked and I was repaid with not only a divorce, but with the evidence of his sexual relationship with my best-friend.My heart felt numb. I felt like nothing. All I wanted was to get done with this and be freed. My lips parted as I mumbled but not even I, could grasp my own words.“Hello ma’am.” A soothing, yet authoritative voice cut me short, gaining my attention. Blue eyes stared back at mine, belonging to a lady on blonde. “Who are you looking for?” She asked, standing up from behind the counter.“I’m looking for your boss,” my eyes fell down at the tag on her shirt. “Cora.” “Who are you? Do you have an appointment with him?” She asked, her eyes falling down at the system as her fingers hovered above the keyboard.“I’m his wife and no, I don’t. I can’t see my hus
“You are fired!” Was what my last employer had said to me, after I had messed up again, during orders. It’s been two months since the divorce and though I managed to get some jobs, keeping them seemed way harder. I had run into Clint and Astrid a few times as well. They were doing well together and they’d feel relieved knowing that I was struggling all on my own. My family were also upset and had severed their ties with me, because of the decision I had taken.My phone rang, and I dipped my hand within my purse to retrieve it. My friend, belle, displayed on the caller Id and I took it.“Girl, how was the interview?” “I’m not there yet.”I was currently on a hunt for another job, at a company. I was going to apply as a cleaner as I heard they had a spot left. A cleaner’s job is not that bad and besides, I heard the manager was generous with paying his employees.“Please call me, after the interview. I hope you kill it.” A subtle chuckle escaped my lips. An interview for a cleaner’s
I stood frozen in place, my heart pounding relentlessly in my chest. Confusion and frustration swirled inside me, tightening my throat and making it hard to breathe. I had never felt so utterly out of place before, and the sensation gnawed at me. What is this? Some kind of twisted joke? Was this stranger following me around because he thought I was an amusing toy? My hands clenched into fists, my nails digging into my palms, but even the sharp sting didn’t pull me back to reality. “Daddy... you’ve found mummy.” The boy’s words echoed in my mind, pulling my focus to the small child still clutching at my waist. His innocent face radiated joy, but his declaration left me reeling. Mummy?Who was he referring to? My pulse quickened, the sound of my own heartbeat roaring in my ears as I turned my gaze back to the man at the entrance. His piercing eyes softened as they locked onto mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw relief wash over his features. He glanced between the boy in my
Ever heard of a “wife for hire”? Absurd, right? Well, it was a brand-new concept to me too. As I stared at the billionaire sitting across from me, one thought rang loud and clear in my mind. 'This man has lost it.' How did I go from interviewing for a cleaner’s position to this? An offer to “marry” a billionaire? The words had barely left his lips before I scoffed, unable to help myself. “Is this some kind of joke?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him, skepticism dripping from every word. He tilted his head to the side, his expression oddly calm. His brows lifted slightly as his sharp gaze locked onto mine. “Is something wrong?” he asked, his voice steady yet tinged with what seemed like guilt—or maybe embarrassment. “Did I offend you? If I have…” He trailed off, leaving the room thick with awkward silence. “No, no, no… it’s not that,” I interrupted quickly, shaking my head. Relief flickered across his face as he exhaled,
While I waited for my coffee to brew, my fingers toyed idly with the black card in my hand. The name “Curtis Black” was printed boldly in gold across the sleek surface. ‘Is that his name?’ I thought, intrigued and slightly mesmerized. He had told me to call him if I ever needed help. But I doubted I ever would or at least, I hoped it wouldn’t come to that. Accepting his help would mean feeling indebted to him, and that was something I couldn’t afford. With my phone in hand, I hesitated, his number already keyed in. My finger hovered over the dial button, and my mind raced. ‘What would I even say?’ Frustration bubbled up as I frowned, finally tossing the phone aside. Instead, I opened my laptop. If I wasn’t ready to call him, I could at least learn more about him. About his family. About the world I’d been asked to step into. A quick search later, the results left me staring at the screen, wide-eyed and speechless. The Black family wasn’t just wealthy, they were powerful.
Curtis I sat behind my desk, my fingers drumming rhythmically against the polished wood, a folder clutched in my right hand. My brows furrowed as I stared at it, its edges worn from my grip. It contained everything there was to know about Amber. A detailed report compiled by my private investigator. The folder sat heavy in my hand, not because of its weight, but because of what it meant. The possibility of uncovering something I wasn’t ready to face. I tossed it onto the table with a frustrated sigh, its contents still untouched. I didn’t want to look at it. I feared what I might find. A criminal record, a shady past, or anything that could make her unfit for this deal. But maybe it wasn’t just that. “What the hell am I doing?” I muttered under my breath, running a hand through my hair as I leaned back in my chair. The room seemed unnaturally quiet, the ticking of the clock the only sound breaking the silence. Perhaps it wasn’t Amber I was truly worried about. Perhaps
Amber I turned on the faucet, letting the water cascade over me as I stood under the shower. The warm droplets slid down my back, mingling with the soapy foam before disappearing down the drain. I rinsed out the shampoo from my hair, but even after I was done, I didn’t move. I just stood there, letting the steady stream rain down on me. My head was pounding, thoughts racing uncontrollably. I had just received an eviction notice. Not handed to me in person by the landlord, but left at my door, waiting like an unwelcome guest when I got home. [You have two days to pay your rent or vacate the premises. Failure to comply will result in immediate action.] “What do I do?” I murmured, my voice barely audible over the sound of the water. Even though I’d agreed to Curtis’s offer to become his wife, I was anxious for the contract to be finalized. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a gold digger but I was desperate for a roof over my head. Belle would happily let me crash at her place, but
AMBER Sweat dripped down my brow, but I didn’t wipe it away. My chest heaved up and down as I tried to control my breathing, my eyes not leaving the man in front of me. He was a professional fighter, one of the most dangerous I'd fought so far and the third I was fighting that night. Despite the cuts and internal bruises I'd probably gotten, it was exciting, and worth it because he was losing. He wiped his split lip, eyes burning with frustration. “You’re not supposed to be this good.” I rolled my shoulders, tilting my head side to side until I heard the satisfying crack of my neck. “Yet here we are.” He really knew nothing. Though he was bigger and physically stronger than I was, I'd been in more battles and dangerous situations than he had. It wasn't too difficult to predict his moves, though that didn't stop me from getting hurt. I took a step backward, sucking in a sharp breath at the sharp sting that shot through my legs. My leg still hadn't healed from the previous fi
CLINT A small amused smile crept up my face as I listened in on Curtis' and Cole’s conversation. Seeing as Curtis was leaving, I hurriedly made my way back to the VIP room. After three months of searching, I finally had something to work with. Since the night on the yacht, I hadn't relented in my efforts to find out what happened to Amber and how she suddenly became Curtis' wife. Even after looking into Marcella, the woman she claimed to be, there was nothing to find. If I hadn't been married to her and she hasn't admitted to being Amber, I might have thought she was just a lookalike. I clenched my fists, my fingers digging into my palm. The sharp sting was nothing compared to the humiliation and anger I felt that night of the yacht. She hadn't made any moves whatsoever but it didn't matter if she wasn't going to, I couldn't let her remain where she was. Amber couldn't have that much power. She was nothing but a discarded doll, though I had to admit she had become quite inter
CURTISThe heavy bass of the music shook the floor, vibrating up my legs as I stepped into the dimly lit club. The air was thick with the scent of alcohol, sweat, and expensive cologne—an overwhelming mix that made my nose twitch in distaste. Multicolored lights flickered and pulsed in rhythm with the music, casting erratic shadows across the dance floor where bodies moved in sync.Clubbing wasn't exactly my idea for unwinding or celebrations. But Clint had insisted on this place, claiming it had the “right atmosphere” for us to celebrate the progress of the Penthouse Project our partnership brought to life.It had been a little over three months since he took on the project and so far, everything was going without a hitch. Investors had been secured, funds were pouring in, and expansion was well underway.A few unexpected complications had come up, but he considered them minor setbacks, the kind that seemed like natural bumps in the road. It seems the friendship he believes we had m
AMBERCurtis had been quiet the entire ride home. He wasn't just quiet but sulking.It didn't take a genius to realize the dance-off was the cause; admittedly, it had been the highlight of my day. Never had I seen anyone with a body as stiff as his. It was almost unbearable to watch so I could imagine how he, the one who danced, felt.Dustin, still riding his sugar high, leaped out of the car the second we pulled into the driveway. He skipped toward the entrance, an excited bounce in his steps as he hummed some theme park jingle under his breath.Curtis, on the other hand, remained frozen. He just sat there, hands on the steering wheel, staring straight ahead.I wanted to bring up the kiss he gave me at the Park, but just the thought of it made my face heat up so I decided against it. For now.I unbuckled my seatbelt, watching him. “You’re really that mad?”He blinked, finally turning his head to look at me. “Mad?” His voice was calm, but his expression said otherwise.I tried not to
This time, I wasn’t gentle or careful. It was heated and deliberate, meant to overwhelm her.I pressed her tighter against me as my lips moved over hers. She let out a quiet, involuntary whimper against me, her fingers tightening around my shirt as though she wasn’t sure whether to push me away or pull me closer.My teeth grazed her lower lip before I sucked it lightly, savoring the sharp intake of breath she gave in return. Taking advantage of her momentary hesitation, I deepened the kiss.And then, she shoved me away, eyes blazing with fury. “You…” She trailed off and shut her eyes. After a few moments, her lips stretched into a smile and her eyes fluttered open, a strange calm in them. Without a second glance at me, she walked towards Dustin.That was it?I wasn't expecting anything in particular, but her unsettling calm caught me off guard and made me more worried. “It's time!” Dustin's squeal snapped me out of my thoughts and I followed them on the pirate ship, clearing my head o
Curtis’ PovThe scent of fried food and cotton candy filled the air as we stood at the ticket booth, the distant sounds of roller coasters clanking up their tracks and kids squealing with excitement echoing around us.Dustin was practically bouncing on his heels, his eyes scanning the brightly colored wristbands displayed on the counter. “We’ll take three unlimited ride passes,” I told the attendant, pulling out my card.As she scanned the bands, Dustin’s excitement bubbled over. “Can we all get the same color?” he asked, pressing his face against the glass counter.Amber chuckled, ruffling his hair. “You want us to match?”“Yes!” He nodded enthusiastically.Her eyes flicked over the options before she turned to Dustin. “What colour do you want?”Elated, he focused his gaze on the wristbands, brows furrowed together like he was making a crucial decision. Finally, he pointed at a bold red wristband. “This one! It’s so cool.”The attendant smiled as she handed them over. “A matching fam
I must have misheard. “What?” He crossed his arms across his chest. “Kiss, like you used to.” My mouth fell open, but I quickly masked my shock with a smile. My eyes flickered to Amber who was staring at me. Though she had a smile on her face, her eyes were filled with reluctance and confusion. Dustin's request was bold but he was right. Marcella and I never hid our love for each other—although we never went over the top in front of him, we showed our affection. From Dustin's perspective, it was only logical for him to assume things weren't good between his parents. The clock was ticking. If we hesitated too long, it'd only confirm his suspicions. “We were worried you’d have a hard time adjusting to us being affectionate again since your mother has been gone for so long,” I said, letting out a dramatic sigh. Shaking my head, I continued, “I didn't realize it would only make you worry abou
The warm scent of butter and syrup filled the kitchen as I flipped the last pancake onto the plate. The stack was arranged neatly with the fruit carefully placed on the side just the way Dustin liked it. I drizzled a thin stream of syrup over the top, allowing it to pool slightly before setting the bottle aside.It had been a while since I made breakfast myself. Usually, the house staff handled it, but I had promised Dustin and if I'm being honest, I really missed cooking.A soft patter of footsteps made me glance up to see Amber step into the kitchen. Her damp hair fell loosely over her shoulders, the faint scent of soap and something floral trailing behind her. She leaned against the counter, watching me as I plated the pancakes. “Didn’t know you were a pancake guy.”“It’s Dustin’s favourite,” I said simply. A proud smile crept up my face as I set the plate down, admiring the art before me.“His favourite? Isn't it steak?” She muttered, her voice tinged with disappointment and anyon
Curtis pulled up in the driveway and I immediately bolted out of the car. I leaned against the car, massaging my temple as I took deep breaths like someone starved of air. I still found it impressive how I managed not to empty the content of my stomach in Curtis' car with how nauseous the ride made me. Never will I go past my alcohol limits again. Seeing as Curtis was already heading for the door, I pushed myself off the car, slowly following after him. Too fast and the pounding in my head will turn into a full-on party. As we entered the living room, my lips stretched into a wide smile at the thought of Dustin jumping on me as he always did. It had only been one day, but I missed him so much. Maybe it was because I almost became a mother once and Dustin came during the period I was grieving, but I felt so much love for him that it unsettled me sometimes. It made me wonder if I'd be able to leave him without regrets. But it didn't matt