Chapter 12: “Rachel Is Out Of The Country”Dominic's pov:I stilt, my ears alert to what Desmond was about to say. “My team discovered that Stella had made a post on the day of your wedding day.”An awkward silence lingered on both sides before he continued. “She wrote that her bestie was now Mrs Khan.” my forehead creased and my jaw twitched in anger and disappointment. “I really thought there was a spy in your household, but thankfully there isn't.” He added.“Alright then, thank you for being competent and reliable once again,” I complimented him, and ended the call before he could say another word.I decided to take a stroll into the big garden in my courtyard. Walking out through the hallways of my mansion I heard a soft moan which made me halt.Taking a sharp breath I walked towards Suzanne's room, where I suspected the sound to have come from. When I neared her door I heard another moan but this time there sounded like sobs, so I pushed in without thinking about knocking.“Za
Suzanne's pov:I stiffened as a voice came from behind me.“What is going on here?”I turned sharply, my heart still racing from the secretary’s strange reaction. Standing there, arms crossed and watching me with an amused smirk was Desmond.“Desmond,” I breathed out, still trying to process everything.He stepped closer, glancing at the nervous secretary before looking back at me. “What are you doing here?”I squared my shoulders, forcing myself to sound casual. “I came to see Dominic.”Desmond’s smirk deepened. “Let me guess, this was Stella’s idea?”I let out a small laugh, shaking my head. “It was more of my idea. Stella just gave me the motivation.”He chuckled, shaking his head. “Figures.”Before I could say anything else, Desmond gestured toward Dominic’s office. “Come on, then. Let’s go see the boss.”We walked in together, still laughing at our little exchange, but the second I stepped into Dominic’s office and saw him sitting behind his massive desk, the laughter died in my
Dominic’s pov:As we stepped out of the office, the cool evening air barely registered. Suzanne was saying something, her voice soft, and casual, but the words blurred together, drowned by the storm in my mind.Why did I let the secretary go? Why did I listen to her?That wasn’t me.I didn’t listen to anyone. I didn’t bend. Yet the moment Suzanne spoke, something in me… hesitated. I should’ve been furious, should’ve made an example of that idiot for interrupting me. But instead, I let him walk away.Because she asked.My jaw tightened. I hated how easily she had swayed me. Had it been anyone else, I wouldn’t have given it a second thought. I would have issued the punishment without blinking. But with her? It was different.Dangerously different…I barely noticed when we reached the car. She slid into the passenger seat, her silk dress gliding effortlessly against the leather. I forced my eyes forward and started the engine. The low purr of the car filled the tense silence as I pulle
Suzanne’s pov:The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, bathing the dining table in warm gold. The air smelled of rich coffee, buttered toast, and fresh fruit. It should have been a comforting start to the day. But instead, an unsettling silence settled between us.Dominic sat across from me, his posture rigid, his movements calculated. He wasn’t reading the paper like usual. He wasn’t looking at me, either.I tightened my grip around my fork, pushing my eggs around the plate.It was strange.Last night, I’d seen another side of him, a man burning with a different type of desire, one who didn’t just take but gave. I had seen his hunger, his restraint, the cracks in his armour. For once, I thought I was getting somewhere.But now? Now, it was like none of it had happened.I swallowed down my frustration. Maybe I was imagining it. Maybe I was reading too much into things.I tested the waters carefully.“You look like you barely slept,” I said softly, my eyes on him. “Is ever
Suzanne’s pov:The rest of the day dragged on in agonizing slowness. Even after Stella left, her words lingered in my mind. Dominic was avoiding me. That was clear. But what wasn’t clear was why. Why was he reacting like this? What exactly had changed?I paced around the house, restless. Dominic still hadn’t come out from his study, and I refused to go knocking on his door like some desperate woman begging for his attention. I had my pride.By evening, I curled up on the couch with my phone, mindlessly scrolling through social media. That’s when I saw it.A picture.Dominic and a young woman.As I looked closer, my stomach dropped. It was Rachel.They stood close together, him in a sharp suit, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder. She was beautiful, her smile warm, her eyes gleaming with admiration.The caption beneath the image read: Rachel and Dominic Khan spotted at a private charity event overseas last year. The ever-elusive CEO has always kept his personal affairs private, b
Dominic’s pov:I watched her leave, her back rigid, her steps hurried as if she couldn’t escape fast enough. The door clicked shut behind her, and for a long moment, I just sat there, staring at the space she had occupied. My fingers curled into a fist against the polished wood of my desk.Damn it.The call I had been on cracked back to life. “Dom?”I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Yeah.”Desmond exhaled on the other end. “So, are you finally going to tell her, or are you going to keep up this act and let her drown in her own conclusions?”I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes. “It’s none of her concern.”“She’s your wife,” he countered. “Contract or not, she’s living in your house, in your life. You can’t expect her to sit in silence while the whole world speculates about you and Rachel.”I clenched my jaw. “I told her not to believe everything she reads.”Desmond scoffed. “That’s not enough, and you know it. If you don’t tell her, you lose control of the situation.
Suzanne’s pov:Guilt was a heavy thing. It sat in my chest like a boulder, suffocating and unrelenting. I had stormed out of Dominic’s study deeply offended, convinced I had been wronged and betrayed. But now, as I sat curled up in bed, staring at my phone, the weight of my assumptions pressed down on me.I had been so sure, so utterly convinced that he was hiding some grand, devastating secret. And yet, the truth had been something else entirely—something deeper, something that spoke of responsibility and loyalty, not betrayal.With a groan, I buried my face in my hands. I jumped to conclusions. Again.Before I could talk myself out of it, I scrolled through my contacts and tapped Stella’s name.She picked up on the second ring. “Well, well, well,” she drawled. “To what do I owe the honour of this late-night confession?”I sighed. “I messed up, Stella.”There was a pause. Then, “Tell me everything.”I did. From the moment I saw the article, to the confrontation in his office, to th
Dominic’s pov:The dining room was quiet except for the occasional clink of silverware against the delicate plates. I stared at the plate in front of me, my appetite conflicted with the weight of my emotions. Suzanne had cooked for me.I wasn’t sure how to feel about that. Normally I would have ordered her not to enter the kitchen. She sat across from me, serving Kaii small spoonfuls of mashed potatoes while stealing glances in my direction. I didn’t look at her, but I felt it—the nervous anticipation in her body language, the way she pressed her lips together every time I lifted my fork but didn’t take a bite.Finally, I cut a piece of the steak, speared it, and brought it to my mouth. The moment the flavour hit my tongue, I froze.It was incredible.Rich, perfectly seasoned, cooked just the way I liked it. I had eaten meals prepared by the best chefs in the world, but this… this was different. It was warm, comforting, and oddly personal. Before I knew it, my plate was empty, and
Tavon’s pov:The warehouse was eerily silent, the dim light casting long, jagged shadows across the concrete walls.The only sound was the faint hum of the generator in the next room, a low, persistent drone that filled the empty space.The air was thick with the scent of oil and rust, a perfect backdrop for what this place had become, a prison.I walked toward the small room where the boy was kept, balancing a tray of food in one hand.The metal door creaked as I pushed it open, revealing the little brat curled in the corner, his tiny body trembling but his jaw set in defiance.His big, watery eyes snapped up to me, full of fear, full of hate.Good. Let him hate me. Hate would keep him quiet. Hate would keep him obedient.I set the tray down on the old wooden table in the centre of the room.The plate held a simple sandwich, a bottle of water beside it. He was a child, and a child needed to eat.“Eat,” I ordered, my voice devoid of emotion.Kai didn’t move.He only stared at me, his
Dominic’s pov:After breakfast, I excused myself and made my way down to the private beach.The sand was cool beneath my bare feet, the waves rolling in with rhythmic consistency. It should have been soothing, but my mind was a battlefield. Every breath I took felt heavier, as though the weight of what I was about to hear had already settled over me.The waves crashed against the shore, their rhythmic roar drowning out the thoughts hammering through my skull.The sun was climbing higher, casting its golden glow across the vast, endless blue sea, but I barely noticed. My feet sank into the warm sand as I walked farther away from the villa, my grip tightening around my phone.I needed space. I needed control. Most of all, I needed answers.Pressing the phone to my ear, I waited for the line to connect. The second I heard the click, I didn’t waste time. “Tell me everything.”Ford’s voice came through, tense and clipped.“We’ve confirmed it’s Tavon.He intercepted Kai at school. Surveil
Suzanne’s pov:The morning air was thick with warmth, the scent of saltwater drifting in from the open balcony doors. Sunlight spilt into the room, casting golden hues over the tangled sheets and the man standing by the railing.Dominic.His robe hung loosely over his shoulders, his dark hair still mussed from sleep.There was tension in the way he stood, hands gripping the balcony railing, his shoulders tight, as if bracing himself against something unseen. He hadn’t said much since waking up, and barely even looked at me.A part of me wanted to reach out, to ask him what was wrong, but I hesitated. Maybe I was afraid of the answer.Instead, I forced myself out of bed, pulling the sheets around me before slipping into the silk robe I had discarded the night before.My body ached in places I had long forgotten. I hadn't felt this kind of pleasure, but more than that, there was an ache in my chest.A dangerous, unspoken thing that I didn’t dare give a name to.I stepped toward the ope
Dominic’s pov:The first thing I became aware of was warmth. A soft, steady warmth pressed against me, moving in sync with my breathing.Then came the scent, something light and sweet, a mixture of vanilla and the faintest trace of salt from the ocean air. It wrapped around me, pulling me from the depths of sleep.And then, I felt her.Suzanne was in my arms, her bare skin flush against mine, her body perfectly moulded to me as if she belonged there.The silken strands of her hair spilt over my chest, a few loose curls tickling my skin as she stirred slightly but didn’t wake.Her lips were slightly parted, her breathing slow and even, her fingers still resting lightly against my stomach where she had unknowingly held onto me throughout the night.I should move. I needed to move.But I couldn’t.I just lay there, my eyes tracing every delicate feature of her face.The soft curve of her cheek, the long dark lashes that fanned against her skin, the way her lips looked so utterly kissable
This chapter contains an explicit sex scene, with cuffs and foreplay. If you do not want to indulge in such, please skip this chapter.Suzanne's pov:“Come on,” he pulled me up and wrapped his hand around my lower back, while his other hand fixed into mine. He spun me around like he was dancing, then scooped me up to his shoulders.Soon we were in his room.Then he left me to stand in place. Standing in front of me, he removed his clothes, slowly. His eyes fixed on me, not shifting his gaze for even a second.Thrilling me with his tight abs and broad chest, he then unbuttoned his trousers and rolled them alongside his pants. His cock fell out at first but before I could blink, I saw it standing firm.My eyes widened, as I could see the veins lined across his big, long, firm cock. “Do you love it?” he grinned as he walked closer to me. “Take off your clothes. Gently.” I nodded, biting my lip unconsciously, my fingers found their way to removing my pyjamas. When I was left with my br
Suzanne’s pov:The sun hung high in the sky as Dominic and I boarded a sleek private boat, its white exterior gleaming under the golden rays.The sea was a dazzling blue, stretching infinitely, the waves gentle yet commanding as they lapped against the hull. The breeze played with my hair, whipping loose strands around my face, but I didn’t care.Every direction I turned, there was something breathtaking to see, the lush greenery of the island’s untouched forests, the secluded waterfalls tumbling into hidden pools, the pristine coves carved by nature’s patient hands.It felt like a dream.I lifted my camera and started taking pictures.I wanted to capture every moment, every stunning view. But every time I lowered the lens, I caught Dominic watching me. Not the scenery. Me.His gaze was unreadable, and intense, like he was memorizing me instead of the paradise around us.It made my pulse race, but I refused to acknowledge it.The staff had arranged for stops at various locations, an
Suzanne’s pov:The morning sunlight streamed through the massive glass windows of my suite, casting golden streaks across the lavish room.The rhythmic crash of waves against the shore was almost hypnotic, luring me outside. After tossing and turning all night, haunted by the way Dominic had looked at me during dinner, the fresh ocean air seemed like the only thing that could clear my mind.I stepped toward the grand wardrobe, running my fingers over the smooth handles before pulling it open.I trailed my fingers over the exquisite pieces, my mind flickering back to the boutique in Paris.He had made sure I’d have everything I could possibly need, down to the perfect fit of every outfit. A shiver ran down my spine, a strange mix of awe and something deeper, something I wasn’t ready to name.Pushing the thought aside, I reached for a red bikini with a sheer cover-up. It was bold, striking, and undeniably tempting. The way the fabric hugged my curves made my pulse quicken. This wasn’
Suzanne’s pov:The villa was unlike anything I had ever seen. It wasn’t just luxurious, it was intimate. A place designed for escape, not just opulence.Soft golden lights illuminated the grand space, highlighting the breathtaking architecture of smooth white walls, vaulted ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows that opened up to an endless view of the ocean.The sound of the waves was a steady, rhythmic whisper, making it all feel like some kind of enchanted dream.A staff member guided me to my suite, her polite smile barely concealing how well-trained she was to remain professional in a place like this. As she opened the doors, my breath caught in my throat.It was magnificent.The room was massive, yet it felt warm. A large four-poster bed with sheer white drapes stood in the centre, positioned so that the first thing I would see in the morning was the ocean.Soft ambient lighting bathed everything in a golden glow. A private balcony stretched out beyond the glass doors, the salty
Suzanne’s pov:As we taxied to a stop, a convoy of sleek black SUVs lined the runway, their polished exteriors gleaming under the golden hues of the setting sun.The moment the cabin door opened, warm, salty air rushed in, carrying the unmistakable scent of the ocean.It wrapped around me like a whisper of things to come, undeniably beautiful. Dominic unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to me with that same unreadable expression. “Ready?”I wasn’t sure what I was ready for, but I nodded anyway. Because whether I liked it or not, I was already on this journey with him.As we descended the stairs, my heels clicked softly against the steps, but my mind was louder than ever.My heart pounded in sync with the rhythmic crash of the waves in the distance.The convoy of SUVs stood waiting, doors already open, as if every step of this journey had been perfectly choreographed.A man in a crisp black suit gave a slight nod to Dominic before gesturing for us to enter the vehicle.Dominic barely ac