DELIA HERRERA POV Someone was touching and pulling on my arm. My eyes fluttered open as light filtered through my lid letting me know that the blindfold had been taken. I trembled all over, my body strung so tight, that I felt like I was going to get snapped in half. "Delia, open your mouth" Jason's voice reached my ear. His image was blurry. Was this another dream? My brain felt like it wasn't mine. Even blinking felt like a herculean task."Open your mouth, Delia" he ordered, his tone more insistent.I wanted to weep in relief to know that he hadn't left me to die after all, but I couldn't. I couldn't do anything but try to breathe and even that was difficult.Water splashed against my lips, and I gasped, opening my mouth to lap it in. The water hit my dry throat and I choked, but I didn't dare stop. If I did and Jason decided not to give me any more, I was really going to die. The water was like life flowing into me, and with every gulp, my heart rate started to return to nor
DELIA HERRERA POV "Were you that angry that I left you all by yourself, is that why you did this the first chance you got?" he said, pointing to his head. Blood dripped all over his face and down his chest while I gazed up at him in fear. He'd used a fucking taser and my head was still spinning from the bolt of electricity that had coursed through my veins. He moved closer, then leaned over me where I lay on the floor. I flinched as his blood dripped onto my face. "You begged me not to leave you alone and the first chance you get, you run away... Next time if you really want to go, then make sure there's nothing left of my head," he said and raised his hand. I clenched my eyes shut. His hand landed against my neck. I blacked out. ******"You need to feed her more. She appears to be malnourished Jason" An unfamiliar voice spoke and my eyes fluttered but I stopped them from opening. "She tried to kill me while looking like that.. imagine if she was well fed, she'd have probably b
DELIA HERRERA POV The cuff was back on my ankles and judging by the bag Zane had bought, I was sure there would be more. Didn't Jason say we were going to start all over so why I was still being restrained? Zane was not going to help me and judging from our conversation earlier, I would have a lot more chance of survival with Jason than him. 'You killed your grandfather' I jumped, my gaze moving around the room. "Who said that" I got out, then grabbed at my ears so that I didn't have to hear it again. Images of my grandfather's face as I gave him the drugs flashed in my head... But he'd looked so peaceful as he slept... Hadn't I been merciful? I did what I did to save him. I did what I did because I didn't want to hurt his feelings. 'no, you did what you did because you didn't want your feelings to get hurt. He was the only one who liked you and you hated for his love to change to disgust just like everyone else'"And is that so wrong to want just one person on my side until t
CELINE HERRERA POV SEVEN MONTHS LATER. "Thank you for visiting me. I thought you'd be done with me once the trial was over. It gets pretty lonely in here" Julie said and I waved her words off, shaking my head."You cooperated with the lawyers and made sure to tell the whole truth just as you promised, you also apologized to me after the sentencing, so, of course, I would be here" Julie nodded then sighed. "Do you know what I realized after spending time in here?" She paused, her gaze fixed on the holes in the glass between us. "Everything Delia said about me was the truth. I really was a bad person" Her gaze jerked to mine, and she smiled tightly. "Telling you sorry will never be enough Celine. When I get out of here, I'm going to do better. I'm going to make it up to you""And I'll keep you to that promise." She nodded quickly, her smile easier. "What about your cellmates, do they treat you well" Julie let out a sigh and then pressed her lips together tightly. "Is it that bad""
CELINE HERRERA POV I was brimming with anticipation when I got to the mansion. Belshar wasn't back but I knew he would be home in an hour or two. His message on my phone was burned in my head, and no matter how much I tried to calm myself down I couldn't.Dropping my bag on the table, I glanced at the message once again. It was eight simple words, 'Do you want to play hide and seek' to which I had replied 'Game' at a point during my meeting with Zane."Ugh, this is going to be a hell of a night" I got out then blushed as I recalled the last time we'd played hide and seek. "I should probably freshen up" I got out. I also needed to relieve some of the stress from work. I rushed to the bathroom, prepared a bath, and immersed myself in the sweet scenting tub of soapy water. It was refreshing and I relaxed fully into it with a satisfied smile on my face. Just fantasizing about what Belshar was going to do to me had me giggling to myself and splashing at the water to create more bubble
CELINE HERRERA POV "Come out come out, wherever you are" Belshar's voice bounced off the wall as he walked around in search of me. It was filled with dark intent, but instead of scaring me, it just made my heart beat faster and for delicious tremors to spread through my overheated skin. His voice had come from the lower part of the house, so I knew I was quite safe where I was in the meantime. It was when he came to the top floor that I needed to worry.It went quiet for a while and I waited with bated breath, my lungs burning when I forgot to breathe for the stretches of time I thought he was getting nearer to where I was. I was hiding under the desk in his home office. It was the same spot I'd hidden in, the last time we played the game. He'd caught me of course, which was why I chose to repeat hiding out here.Belshar wouldn't think I'd hide in the same place twice, would he? Was he upstairs already? I couldn't hear anything from the drumming of my heartbeat in my ears. I clut
CELINE HERRERA POV I woke up wrapped around Belshar, his warmth the right amount of perfect. I pressed a soft kiss on his throat, my body aching deliciously in the best of ways. Belshar eyes flickered open, The little move I made waking him up. Our eyes met and I watched mesmerized as his lips lifted in a smile. "Kiss me again. Right here" he pointed to the center of his chest where I knew his heart was. "I quite like the feel of your lips against my skin," he said and I glanced down at his chest, then leaned my head down. Pursing my lips, I pressed a kiss to his skin, then laid my palm against his chest, my eyes widening when his heart started to beat faster.I glanced up at him to see that his gaze was fixed on mine."That's what you do to me, Celine. You make me feel alive" I smiled, my face heating up. Belshar's palm cupped my cheek, his thumb rubbing back and forth against my face."I'm sorry about last night. I was too rough with you. You passed out" he said with a smirk tha
CELINE HERRERA POV "Do you know what I think?" I said, my finger steepled beneath my chin. "I think Mr. Stakov does not really want to invest in our company" "You are right, but we also don't really need his investment at this time so... ""We don't, but it would help us with the expansion project for next year. Having extra money is always good" I got out with a sigh and then sat back. "So what is his complaint this time"Karen glanced down at her tab. "He said he went over the agreement with his team and they want to add a few more things to the contract" My brows dipped. "What the hell does he think this is? A game. How can he agree to our terms and conditions one minute and In the next, he wants to add new conditions" "If you want my honest opinion, I don't think we should work with them at all" Karen got out and I met her gaze. "Why" I asked, wondering if Zane Stakov had also rubbed her off the wrong way. "I just don't like the vibes I get from him, Celine. Mr Stakov makes
CELINE HERRERA POV The shot was a warning and Delia flinched, getting distracted for a second, but that was all I needed. I shoved at her hard and she fell to the floor, a gasp escaping her lips. The gun skidded out of her hold and she crawled after it. I got it before she could, then I kicked her in the face with my leg. She grunted, her head smacking against the hard concrete. She slumped to the floor, blood seeping out of the cut on her head. The cops lying in wait all rushed up to the roof, then they swooped in and grabbed her by the arms, handcuffed her hand, and dragged her to her feet. Delia looked around wildly as her shock wore off, and then her gaze met mine in disbelief. "How... How" she stuttered but I felt no pity for her. I'd always wanted her to pay for her crimes and now that it was happening, It felt like a breath of fresh air."It was pretty easy Delia. You are not as sly as you think you are" Once I was sure they had her secure, I walked toward her and wasn't s
CELINE HERRERA POV "I'm so glad you are here Grandma. I thought you wouldn't make it" Grandma held my face In her hand, a smile on her face. "I would travel over the seven seas just to celebrate you, my child.""Aww, that is so Sweet. I am so sorry for the stress though. It must have been exhausting for you""You don't have to apologize. I should be able to do this much after everything that happened" I frowned. "Didn't we say we were going to forget about that, Grandma?" "Oh right, we said that. I'm sorry, I keep forgetting about that. You look so beautiful by the way. You're so pretty, it's making me tear up" she said and I laughed "You're going to make me cry too, Grandma"She patted my head and then looked around. "Where is Belshar. Why isn't he here by your side? He's been gone for a while hasn't he""I'm sure he'll be back soon," I said, glancing around. The music suddenly got louder and the DJ encouraged everyone to get on the dance floor."See, he should be here with you.
DELIA HERRERA POV Celine was smiling and moving through the crowd. She looked so happy that it made me sick. I watched as she spoke with some group of people, the happy smile on their faces making my fist clench. Bunch of people pleasers. I was sure most of them didn't even like her. They were all just pretending so that they could get something out of her. It had been annoying to find out that despite all the money I'd siphoned out of the company, she'd still managed to rebrand it and keep it running. Then she went on to change the name, erasing Herrera from it. She destroyed my very legacy. All the time that I suffered, she'd spent it in achieving great things and being happy with Belshar.Tremor racked through me all of a sudden and I swayed on my feet. My hand trembled and my body grew hot. I knew exactly what I needed. The darn pills that Zane had gotten me addicted to. Why hadn't I taken the stupid pills? I thought I could survive without them but now as I shook like I was c
BELSHAR NESSAR ABED The party was in full swing. My gaze stayed on Celine as she laughed and mingled with the guests, and I couldn't help but fall deeper in love with her. She was so damn perfect, she made my heart ache. As if attuned to my gaze, she glanced up and our gaze clashed. Her eyes brightened, then she blew me a kiss. I made a show of catching it then grinned as she grinned bashfully and put her hand over her heart.I mimicked her gesture and then gave a nod back. Celine's smile widened, but then she pressed her lips together and pointed with her chin that someone was behind me."Belshar" My expression hardened as I turned to face Kail. It was one thing that Celine had invited him to the party but that he was shameless enough to come was another. "Thanks for inviting me..." "Don't bother with that Kail, I didn't invite you. I am also sure you know how I feel about you being here. Didn't I warn you to stay out of my sight" He blanched, then stepped back. "I just wanted
DELIA HERRERA POVZane was right about everything and I hated that he was. His words rang in my head, driving me Insane.Wanting to get rid of those voices In my head, I reached for the bottles of pills, my hands trembling as I uncapped them. I glanced inside it and noticed that there wasn't much left Inside. I frowned, wondering just how many I'd used up in two days, then recalled that each time I felt even the slightest discomfort, I'd drowned the pills as if they were the solution to all my problems... Maybe they were. I didn't feel as shitty when I was high on them.I picked out two of the pills and then stopped as I brought them to my mouth. Was I really going to do this too myself? Was I just going to watch everything crumble like dust around me?I couldn't. Throwing the pills away, I capped the bottle shut and got up from the bed.A quick shower helped to reduce the tremors in my hands and also helped clear my head."You are Delia Herrera, Delia," I told myself because it was
DELIA HERRERA POV "You said you wanted to watch me kill Celine. It's been three days now and you still haven't told me how that's going to happen. Are you stalling because you're having second thoughts? You've also been spacing out lately. Are you thinking about her " I asked unable to keep it in.After the last sex we had on the day he arrived, he hadn't touched me and it was driving me Insane just thinking that it was because of Celine. It was infuriating and recalling his words about how he was going to let me kill Celine because he couldn't have her made it worse."Are you not going to answer me" Zane glanced at me from across the table then sighed, before flinging his spoon to the wall. "Can you stop? You're fucking ruining the romantic atmosphere, Delia" he growled but I was too pissed off to care about his anger."You're so fucking delusional. There's nothing romantic about this setting" I screamed then dragged my hand through my hair, before clutching at it tightly and pull
CELINE HERRERA POV "I think I am going to take some time off work" I got out and Belshar's gaze jerked to mine in surprise as he stopped pacing.He'd been walking in circles for a while and at first I just thought he was agitated from excitement, he was, but he was also worrying and I could see it on his face.Belshar was damn perfect at hiding his emotions, so if he was so expressive this time, it meant he was really stressing over it."You are" he asked, his tone disbelieving. Deep down I knew he was throwing a fist in the air. "Are you sure about that" I gave a quick nod, then smiled. "Yes, I'm sure. I think Karen should handle things in the meantime. She's really the best at what she does. I'm sure she'll be able to handle things in the office without me, Besides, I feel like if I don't stop working, You're going to pace a hole into the ground" I joked, then narrowed my eyes "Tell me the truth, you were trying to come up with a reason to make me stop going to work, weren't you"
CELINE HERRERA POV "Congratulations, Celine. You are approximately four weeks pregnant" the doctor announced and I jerked into a sitting position, my eyes widening as I looked from the doctor to Belshar whose jaw was literally on the floor.He'd stepped inside the room just in time to hear the news and It was a miracle that he didn't drop the glass of water he'd gone to get."I'm pregnant?" I asked dazedly.It was quiet for just a second and then Belshar threw a fist in the air. "Yes! That's what I am talking about" he grinned as he rushed at me and engulfed me in his strong arm, then he proceeded to pepper kisses all over my face while I struggled to shove him off. "Oh my god, Belshar" I groaned even as I laughed. "You're suffocating me" I got out and he quickly let go of me. "Are you alright? I didn't mean to hold you like that" he asked as he looked me over, worry written all over his face. "Will you cut it out? I am perfectly fine. Stop fussing already" "You're carrying a ba
DELIA HERRERA POV "A present," I asked, my heart thudding hard against my ribcage. Zane nodded. "Yes, I did. " He said and pointed to the shopping bags he had dropped beside the bed. It wasn't what I was curious about but I forced a smile to my lips. I've learned that if I was patient enough with Zane, he would eventually tell me what I wanted to hear."Thank you so much, Zane," I said and picked them up, my hands trembling. Zane noticed it and my breath hitched in fear when he frowned. He grabbed hold of my hand and I held my breath, waiting for him to hurt me. "Have you been skipping out on your pills You're shaking so badly" I let out a gasp of air. "There are only two pills left and I didn't know what day it was. You've been gone for so long..." "I was gone only for a weak" I fidgeted. Had it really just been a weak? It felt so much longer. "You never let me go out of the house, so I can't tell how long it's been" "Are you saying you want to go outside""No of course not