It took me a couple of hours to go to Safe Haven, the factory where I usually spent my time. Here, I could think well, coordinate with my men well, and focus well. It was a three-story wide building with wide parking space in front and a big cafeteria for my workers at the back. There's also some gazebo, five to be exact, where my workers and my men could take some rest during their break time.As I parked my car just in front of the main door, two of my men came rushing in to greet me. It had always been like this every time I arrived. Leon, the masculine guy and Enzo, tall and skinny, bowed upon seeing me getting off my Lamborghini."Boss! Buongiorno! (Good morning)" they both chimed in."Buongiorno!" I answered back. "Com'è andato il funzionamento dei peluche? (How's the operation of the stuffed toys?)" we spoke in Italian most of the time, for there was some confidential information we couldn't just disclose with the female workers. These workers had no idea that me, their boss, w
Dakota POV . . "A*shole!" I murmured, talking to myself while inside of an Uber. The driver shyly looked at me in the rearview mirror. "Don't mind me!" I just told him, and his eyes went back to his driving. Who would not get mad? First, he forced me to come with him. Second, he...forced me to have s*x with him. Then lastly, he left without even leaving a note. It was a good thing the assistant whose name was Lanie, helped me call an Uber for I wasn't able to charge my phone, and I didn't have time to do it this morning. "We're here!" the driver nudged my thoughts. I gave him my card and he swiped it right away. I got out of the car and strode straight to the building where my unit was. However, upon reaching the entrance, a guy, probably in his late 20s approached me. "Excuse me, miss. I'm new to New York, especially in this area. I'm looking for this flat!" he showed me a brochure of the newly built tower just two blocks away from my building. "Oh! The Sitara Tower? J
I tried to get up after about 30 minutes of that intense quickie Martin, and I did. I remembered I promised a new friend lunch and now it was too late. I charged my phone first while choosing a simple dress for a fine three-o-clock snack. Ocean blue, sleeveless turtle neck maxi dress with a side slit. At least it covered my hickeys. I took my white knee-length boots from the shoe rack and paired them with a small white purse. I gave my brunette hair some volume as it cascaded down my back. With a minimal touch of make-up and light red lipstick, I was ready to go. "Oh! Shoot!" I almost forgot my phone on the bedside table. Checking my missed calls and text messages, I gasped in horror. 50 missed calls from Martin and 10 missed calls from an unknown number. I could guess that must be Harry, and I was right for when I checked the messages, he introduced his name there. Harry: Hi, Dakota! Ahm! It's me, Harry, the Sitara guy. This is my number, by the way. Are we still ok with the lunch?
Unknown POV..I began with the first step, and it seemed to be going well. I thought I would travel a rocky road or climb a stiff mountain, but it was the exact opposite. I went back to my temporary abode to update my boss about the happenings today, and I couldn't wait to hear his praise.I took my phone from my pocket and called a number. The line rang three times before somebody answered it."Who's this?" his voice was thunder, firm, and stern."It's me, godfather!" I uttered as I ambled to the open window of my unit. The terrace was overwhelming. I was on the 50th floor of this single tower in the heart of the city. It was almost dinner time, and the sky highlighted the fiery hue of the sunset. A thin smile crept on my lips, what a beautiful scenery it was."Report now!" my brows furrowed at his tone, but I was used to it. I was thankful he was on the phone. It would be worse if he was in front of me. He was an average-level, well-built man, but he looked like a giant to me."I'
Dakota POV..The early bird catches the worm, people would usually say. Not for me, my energy usually kicked me best at night. I was a party pooper when I was at the university, a partygoer when I graduated, and a woman who never turned off the street lights at night when I settled in New YorkAnd now, it was just 7 in the evening, and my feet were aching to kick out and have a blast. After my coffee time with Harry, I went to the mall for a while and bought some clothes.Before, I used to shop with my bestie, Amy Leah. But now, she had her new priorities - be a housewife slash CEO of de la Frontela Group. After their second wedding, Desmond gave Amy Leah back her dad's company. He also took back my BFF's mansion from her evil stepmother, who was still on the run.I thought for a while about whether to disturb her or not, but who knew, she also wanted to go out tonight. So, I took my phone and called Amy Leah."Kota!" a cheerful voice chimed in right away."Babe, I'm bored to death.
"Sit down!" he pushed me down to the couch, I saw Shantel smirk at my sorry state. "What are you doing here?" I was irked in pain at the impact of the push."What I do with my life is none of your business, Martin. I can do whatever the h*ck I want!" I spat out. He was furious, I was enraged.He was about to raise his hand, and I flinched at his gesture when Shantel held his shoulder in a flirty way."Tesoro mio (My darling), please be gentle with her. She didn't mean to upset you!" her filthy hands were looping around his arm.I could hear Martin's rapid breathing, he was controlling himself. He shoved Shantel's hands away and turned around. I was just staring at him. If Shantel didn't hold his shoulder, he could have hit me. A drop of tear was beginning to appear, and while no one's looking, I wiped it with the back of my palm."Ahhh!" he screamed, frustrated. I jolted at the loudness and intensity of his voice, even Shantel jumped on her spot. Luke and Enzo just bowed their heads.
Martin POV..I had an important appointment with one of my partners in the club, and I needed Shantel to accompany me. We had dinner first before we went to Luminous Lounge. I was going to meet Derick here.Before that, I told Luke to cover for me if Dakota would ask about my whereabouts. I needed her to stay close to me to protect her. I had an inkling that Yvan was not in Russia. He was here in New York, lurking around and waiting for the opportunity to cut my head off."Martin, what if we give Derick additional benefits?" Shantel suggested.We are in the VIP room on the 2nd floor of my club. The lights were minimal, but clear enough to see each other's facial expressions. For now, Derick wasn't sure if he would agree with my plan about the new shipments coming or not. Since the previous one was seized by the cops.I turned my gaze to Shantel, who was sitting closely beside me. She had a point. We had to convince Derick quickly and close the deal now."Don't get me wrong, Martin,
Dakota POV..Inside the car, Luke kept glancing at me in the rearview mirror while I spoke to Harry. But I didn't mind. He could tell his boss for all I care."Yes, sure. I'm actually free these days!" I told Harry while putting on my best smile. "Well, no job at the moment!" I chuckled. "I'm at the mercy of my parents' inheritance!" I laughed out. To mess with Luke's imagination more, I turned on the speaker and Harry's voice sprouted like mushrooms."That's great. We're a little bit in the same boat. I'm also dependent on my dad's pocket!" we both laughed, making Luke furrow his brows."So, the next day, you say?" I asked and winked at Luke, who was startled and coughed a bit. Caught eavesdropping, huh?! He then focused his eyes on the road."Yeah! I have a client meeting tomorrow, so the next day is better. Where are you now, by the way? Are you at your place? The weather is cool. There are lots of people strolling in the park at the moment!" Harry uttered, inviting me in silence
Dakota POV . . "Martin?!" Paul repeated with a question. He glanced at the door but there was no one there. "Kota, are you alright?" "Huh?! Oh! Yeah! I am absolutely alright!" Who was he to stop me? He broke up with me after everything that I had done to him. So, who was he to control me now. "Paul, let's dance!" I placed my hands on his shoulders. "Now? Where?" Paul was confused and thought I was just kidding, but when he saw my serious look, he sighed. "You mean on the first floor? Sure, you want to have fun tonight, huh?!" He smiled and intertwined my hand with his. "That's why we are here for, Paul. To have fun. Besides, we're both leaving this place soon, so let's put a lot of memories here, shall we?!" I winked at him, and he just chuckled. We both went downstairs after closing the VIP room and talked to the server to just place our order on the table. Some of the people from the other VIP rooms did the same thing. The music was at its loudest, and the cheers
Dakota POV . . "Why are you leaving? And where are you going?" He clasped my hand that was resting on the table. A sullen look laced on his face. "Dakota, is there something wrong?" "Paul, Martin and I broke up!" I confessed. I pursed my lips to restrain the tears that were about to leak. "I am going back to London. I miss my life there. Also, I want to help Warren run our business!" It was also one of the reasons why I had to go back to my country. I called Warren the other day, and we talked about it. He said he was always swamped with the tasks and responsibilities of running Liam's company, The Bailey International. Aside from having a major in fashion design, I was also interested in marketing. I had a double course when I was studying. It was a grind to the bones, but I could say it was worth it. "Well, what can I say? So, I shall see you there then!" His smile was off the roof, and I was also stunned at his response. "What do you mean? Wait, are you also going t
Dakota POV . . "Are you sure about this?" My best friend, Amy Leah, asked me for the nth time. I planned to leave New York for good. I would like to go back to London and just help my brother with the family's business. Warren was now the CEO of Bailey's Enterprise. The business company that was once led by our cousin Liam, Amy Leah's deceased husband, a long time ago. "Yes, Ams, I am very sure about it. And please don't tell your husband about my whereabouts. Although I know for sure that Martin wouldn't mind, I just want to play safe here. Desmond's family is my enemy and Martin... is one of them now!" I took a deep sigh, thinking about everything that happened in my life since I met that gorgeous-looking but as*hole mafia god. Amy Leah sighed. "I think I can't stop you anymore. I'm going to miss you, Kota. Please keep in touch, okay?!" She hugged me tight, and this time, I couldn't help but be emotional. I told myself not to cry in front of her, but I guess that wasn't e
Dakota POV . . I tried to sleep and just forgot everything that I saw that evening, but heck, who was I kidding?! I had already rolled on the bed many times, but still, my mind was wide awake. "Huh?!" I jolted on my bed and sat up, staring blankly at the darkness. There was only one dim lamp serving as my light in my room. Although there were light posts outside the villa, and they were on from the evening till the morning, the navy blue curtains were blocking them from penetrating my room. I wiped the sweat on my forehead and planned to go downstairs to get some water. I remembered I skipped dinner, and now it was past midnight. However, I couldn't feel any hunger at all. I guessed I lost my appetite because of the two annoying jackas*s in the house. Where were they now anyway?! I stealthily crept downstairs and headed to the kitchen to get a bottle of water. I was about to open the fridge when suddenly somebody clamped my mouth and hugged me from behind. I was restrained
Dakota POV . . It had been weeks since I had never spoken to Martin since I found out he also f*cked that female member of his gang. Also, it had been a week since I had never seen him in person. He was always with that Shantel. "Hello, Miss Weasly!" Mariana called me from the kitchen. "What brought you here?!" She was cutting some carrots on the island. "Drop the 'Miss Weasly' Mariana. I told you many times that you can simply call me Dakota!" I sighed, making Mariana glance at me and her face form a thin smile. I took one baby carrot and crunched it in my mouth while staring at the different vegetables on the island. "You are cooking a lot for the evening!" I shifted my glance at her. She continued chopping the baby carrots while her smile was glued on her gentle-looking face. "Don't you know? Boss will come home this evening. He told Luke about it. Luke told me to prepare his favorite!" "Hmm, I see!" Nonchalantly, I just shrugged my shoulders and sat on one of the to
Chatny POV . . The h*ll this as*hole had the nerve to insult me after f*cking me. Who did he think he was? And what the h*ck was he doing in this motel, in this place, in this countryside? I was here simply trying to escape from Shantel, who had been bossing me around. I had a great life in Italy. My job as a fashion model was doing well until my sister dragged me into this freak show she and my father started. If only she didn't have something that could blackmail me, I would never obey her. Shantel and I may be sisters, but we were water and fire. We couldn't get along. She was the businesswoman and the brain in the family, I was the cheerful, easy-go-lucky one. I was the wallflower in the Zaborowski mansion; never noticed, never cared, but always there. "Miss, we are here!" My Lady guard arrived just in time. She was with another guy, who acted as my driver and bodyguard. "Please get rid of him. Throw him outside or in the trash, I don't care!" I pointed at Yvan, w
Yvan/Harry POV . . I had been thinking about what to do with the beauty in front of me. It had been almost an hour since I came into her room, and she hadn't finished taking a shower yet. Until a devilish plan came up in my drunk thoughts. I hastily took off my clothes and entered the bathroom. Due to the sound of water, the naked lady couldn't hear me coming in. Aside from that, she was singing nonstop. It hurt my ears, but I focused on the curves in the right places, standing in front of me. I was already out of my mind, not thinking of the consequences of my actions. She would never know me, I told myself. So, before she would turn around, I had already grabbed her. I clamped her mouth with my palm and wrapped my strong hand around her flat tummy. "Hmp!" She whimpered and struggled, but I was too strong, she couldn't move at all. "Scream, and you'll die!" I whispered in her ears, and she stopped moving. "Let me taste you, my love!" I began nibbling her collarbone, the
YVAN / HARRY POV . . I had been drinking here at the bar for almost three hours now. I escaped the company of my gang for a while to bask in the glory of being alone. Since Dakota had left with Martin last week, I was a mess. I tried everything that I could do to keep myself tied up, to forget about her. However, everything seemed to be going to waste as always! "F*ck!" I roared. The people around me glanced in my direction. The bar was not the normal bar where drunk people would actually spend their time and be crazy with the ear-deafening sound of the music. This bar was different. It was quiet and only a few customers were inside. "More brandy, boss?!" The bartender asked while wiping a glass on the counter. I nodded my head and raised my index while holding an empty glass of brandy. "Here!" He poured a new glass and put it in front of me. "It's on the house!" He added, smiling. My glassy eyes smiled back at this, in my observation, teenage bartender. "Aren't you
Dakota POV . . "I'm bored!" I complained while changing the channels of the TV in the living room. I was sitting alone here on this luxurious five-seater Italian leather couch. There were three kinds of snacks on the table that were meant for my stomach, but I only tasted a bit of each. "Life of the well-off is killing me!" I whined in the air. "Miss Weasly!" Mariana called me from the entrance of the dining room. I just glanced at her, then turned the channel to a boring talk show. "Do you like to go out for a while?" She asked, excited. "Like where Mariana? Martin told me to stop going out for a while. Also, I don't want to go out with lots of people following me!" I stomped my feet on the marmoleum floor, making Mariana smile. "Then how about let's find something to do in the mansion? By the way, what is your hobby?" I lifted my head, thinking about my dead hobbies. "Hmm, aside from designing clothes, I like horseback riding and karate!" My eyes gleamed at the idea o