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
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
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
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: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
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:The image came through at 2:47 AM.A single, grainy photo is attached to an unknown number.I had been awake, my thoughts restless, my body strung tight with tension, but nothing could have prepared me for the sight of Kai’s tear-streaked face staring back at me through the dim glow of my screen.He was sitting on the floor of what looked like a warehouse, his little arms wrapped around his knees.His cheeks were stained with dried tears, and though he was clearly terrified, there was something else in his eyes, defiance.That look alone was enough to tighten my grip on the phone, my knuckles whitening.Then I noticed it. The timestamp is in the corner. This wasn’t an old image. This was fresh. Tavon was making sure I knew Kai was still alive, for now.My blood ran cold as I forced myself to look closer. A half-eaten plate of food sat near his feet, untouched. The message attached to the image was short and deliberate.“Come get your son, Dominic. Before I change my min
Suzanne's pov:I stood frozen, my heart pounding in my chest as I stared at Dominic. He was silent, rigid, his phone still clenched in his hand. The air between us was thick with tension, and the weight of his hesitation pressed against my chest like a warning.He wasn’t going to tell me.The realization hit like a punch to the gut, making my breath hitch. I had given him every chance, to be honest, and to trust me, but instead, he was standing there—calculating. Guarded. Lying with his silence.My fingers curled into fists at my sides. “You’re not going to tell me, are you?”Dominic’s jaw clenched. “Suzanne, it’s complicated.”I let out a sharp, humourless laugh. “Of course, it is. It’s always complicated with you. But you know what’s not complicated? Trust. And you’re making it very clear that I can’t trust you.”He took a step closer. “It’s not like that.”“Then tell me the truth.” My voice cracked, frustration bubbling to the surface. “What was on that phone?”Dominic exhaled slo
Suzanne’s pov:“…What more?”Stella was silent on the other end, and that silence said everything.“Stella.” My voice was sharper now. “What else?”She inhaled, shaky. “We… we think someone’s been watching him.”My heart stopped. “What?”She continued, her voice low and quick, like someone afraid of being overheard. “Desmond got a message. A photo. It was Dominic—taken through the office window before he collapsed. There was a note too. Just five words.”I was already locking the door behind me, breath coming fast. “What did it say?”She hesitated.“Tell me.”“Your king is falling next.”I didn’t realize I’d dropped the phone until it hit the porch step with a crack. My hand stayed frozen in midair as my other clutched the edge of the railing for support.‘Your king is falling next.’That wasn’t a threat. That was a promise.The world tilted for a second.I forced myself upright, snatched the phone off the ground and got into the car, the engine roaring to life with a jolt.I didn’t
Dominic’s pov:I didn’t realize how long I’d been sitting in that chair.The office was dark now, painted in shadows, the only light spilling in from the city skyline beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.The once-busy hum of staff had long since faded.Phones stopped ringing. Emails went unanswered. Even the steady ticking of the antique clock on the wall felt like it was echoing louder than it should.I hadn’t moved since the ruling.My fingers were still clenched around the edge of the armrest, knuckles bleached white. I felt detached from my body, like I was a ghost hovering above myself, watching the slow unravelling of a man who’d never been allowed to lose before.My heartbeat thudded in my ears like war drums, but everything else was quiet.Too quiet.The courtroom played like a reel in my mind, frame by brutal frame.Linda’s entrance is like a queen returning to a throne that never belonged to her.The judge was already in her pocket.The smug politicians, their loyalty boug
Dominic’s pov:The courtroom wasn’t unfamiliar to meI’d been in and out of them for years, lawsuits, zoning battles, acquisition disputes.But this one was different. This wasn’t about money, or concrete, or blueprints.This was personal!!!I walked in, flanked by Peter Black and Ford.The weight of tailored silence followed me.My presence was enough to make heads turn and mouths shut. Cameras lined the marble corridor outside. Linda wanted the media circus. She wanted the public eye. She was probably somewhere smiling already.My eyes scanned the room.She was already seated, radiant in a navy pantsuit that hugged her curves like sin, her golden hair pinned in a deliberately messy chignon that made her look effortlessly powerful.Her lips curled when our gazes locked like this was a game and she had the upper hand.I didn’t blink. I didn’t give her the satisfaction of a smirk or a glare.The judge entered, an aging man named Harold R. Linley.I’d met him years ago. Back then, he w
Dominic’s pov: The envelope wasn’t hand-delivered. That would’ve been too loud. Too messy. Too traceable.Instead, it came folded in thick ivory paper, nestled inside a black leather folder and passed to me by Desmond, who looked as if he’d seen a ghost.“It’s from her,” he said grimly. “Linda.”I took it. No expression. No words. The weight of it was heavier than the folder itself.I cracked it open, my hands steady even as my heart slammed against my ribs.A formal letterhead. A lawyer’s name I recognized was Greaves & Hanley. One of the most vicious corporate litigation firms on the East Coast.I scanned the first page. Then the second. My jaw tightened with every line.She was filing for administrative control over Khan Architectural.Citing “neglect of fiduciary duties,” “executive mismanagement,” and “shareholder endangerment.”Bullshit. Crafted, polished, and loaded with legal jargon, but still bullshit.Desmond was already pacing behind me. “She’s aiming for a hostile takeo
Linda’s pov:The rooftop bar was empty, private, exclusive, and overlooking the glowing skyline.The kind of place reserved for power plays and whispered betrayals.A steady wind tugged at my silk coat as I crossed the deck toward Tavon, who sat alone in the corner booth with a glass of whiskey in hand like a man planning a revolution.I didn’t sit immediately.I stood at the railing, overlooking the city as if it were mine to command.In a way, it still was. These buildings, these men, these stories? I’d been part of their foundations long before they started pretending I didn’t matter.“Took you long enough,” Tavon muttered, not even glancing up.I finally turned, sliding into the seat across from him like I owned the night. “I had to make sure I wasn’t followed. Dominic’s hounds are everywhere these days.”He smirked. “That’s because he knows someone’s playing chess with his life. I crossed my legs, fingers toying with the gold chain at my throat. “He will soon.”“What’s this meet
Dominic’s pov:The conference room was silent, eerily so.The only sound was the soft hum of the AC and the occasional click of Desmond’s fingers flying across his laptop as he mirrored the contents of the flash drive onto the secure screen.Everyone watched the black window flicker to life, revealing what looked like simple folders. Just names. Some were labelled “Suzanne.” Others, “Dominic K” One was marked Contract in bold.My jaw clenched.Desmond’s eyes narrowed. “Something’s wrong.”Ford stood from the corner, arms folded. “It’s too clean. Too organized. This wasn’t put together by Linda.”Desmond nodded slowly, fingers halting over the keys. “It’s a decoy.”I stepped forward. “Open it.”“I’m not sure that’s a good—”“Do it,” I ordered. My voice echoed in the room, hard as steel.He clicked.At first, the folder opened like a normal file.A few documents popped up, screenshots, edited contracts, and old bank records that meant nothing. But then Desmond’s entire screen flickered
Dominic’s pov:The boardroom was filled with chatter, screens glowing as Ford gave his report. I sat at the head of the table, my gaze unreadable, jaw tight, arms crossed.The room buzzed with low voices, papers rustling as updates rolled out, but my mind wasn’t fully in it.Not after the message Desmond forwarded earlier this morning, an anonymous tip about a possible breach in our private server.I’d already ordered the team to trace the source. My gut told me it wasn’t random, not with how quiet Tavon had been lately.And Suzanne… the way she looked last night, wrapped in my sheets, clinging to sleep like it was her only safe place… I couldn’t get it out of my head.She hadn’t said much this morning, but her eyes said everything. She needed peace. And I would burn the whole world to give it to her.“Dominic?” Ford asked, catching my attention.I blinked once. “Continue.”The glass windows overlooking the city reflected a pristine skyline, one I had built, piece by piece. Brick by
Suzanne’s pov:I was curled up in the armchair beside the balcony doors, one of Dominic’s throw blankets wrapped around my shoulders… The soft rumble of distant waves rolled through the partially opened doors, the morning sun casting faint golden streaks across the marble floors.I wasn’t reading. I wasn’t scrolling. I was just… sitting. Letting the quiet be enough.Everything about last night still lingered, his hands, his breath, the way he looked at me like I was the only thing in the world that made sense.After everything that had shattered between us, something felt stitched back together, like some part of me that had gone numb was warm again.Still fragile, still trembling at the edges, but healing.My fingers traced slow circles over the fabric on my lap.I hadn’t spoken to Dominic yet this morning.He’d gone to handle some business, or so he’d said when he left our bed at dawn.But he didn’t leave like a man escaping. He kissed my forehead, tucked the blanket around me, a
Tavon’s pov:The text had come at dawn. No name. Just a number I hadn't seen in months. But I knew that tone. Sharp. Calculated. Dangerous.“We both know how much your pride matters. But if you don’t pick up my call, I’ll send your precious videos to your mother first. Then your church group.”Fiona.I stared at the message for a full minute, my mind still foggy from the restless night before.The audacity. She really had the nerve to crawl back from whatever cave she’d vanished into, after ruining everything and leaving me like a fool.I let the phone ring twice when she finally called. Just to let her wait.Then I answered. “You got some balls, showing up now.”Her voice came in cool, unbothered. “You always did like my balls better than your own.”I chuckled bitterly. “Still a bitch, I see.”“And you’re still a fool. So nothing’s changed.” She didn’t laugh. “But let’s not waste time with banter. You know why I’m calling.”I slumped deeper into the leather seat of my rented apartme