~~~~I was still in my room, unaware of the commotion outside or the fact that Eric was heading straight for me.“Well, I look beautiful in this outfit,” I thought, admiring myself in the mirror. “I should take a picture.” Just as I bent down to grab my phone, the door was suddenly pushed open with a strong force, and then bam… it slammed shut.I spun around in shock, my hair whipping around me. Eric stood in the doorway, his intense gaze locked onto me. My heart thudded in my chest.“What are you doing here? You’re not supposed to be here..." I snapped, knowing that Diana was somewhere out there, probably waiting for him—or coming after him.“This is my house,” he replied calmly.“Well, this is my room, and I’d like to be alone in it,” I shot back, trying to mask the unease that was creeping up on me.He remained silent for a moment before speaking again. “How are you feeling?”“What do you mean? How am I feeling? Why wouldn’t I be feeling okay?” I responded, irritation rising.“I do
~~~~Eric pulled Mary closer, his arms wrapping around her, pulling her tightly against him. Her chest pressed against his, and she could feel the heat of his body through their clothes. Mary's eyes fluttered, half-lidded, as the world around her seemed to slow down. His lips looked small from afar, but now that she was this close, she could see their fullness, their shape—perfectly sculpted, inviting.She could feel his breath against her skin, warm and steady, as he nudged his nose against hers. It was as if the space between them was no longer important; it was just the two of them, locked in this fragile moment. Their mouths met softly, lazily, as if the kiss was more of a question than an answer.Her eyelids grew heavy, the weight of them almost too much to bear. She wanted to open her eyes, to take in everything—the intensity in his dark eyes, the mess of his hairline that seemed to call out to her. She wanted to remember it, to savor it, becau
Continuation~~~~~~Eric's mind was still clouded as he drove Diana out of the mansion at her request. “You seem happy,” she remarked, her voice dripping with curiosity.“Should I be frowning?” he asked, his tone irked.“Of course not,” she replied, but then her gaze sharpened. “But why were you in her room, Eric?”Despite the fact that Diana had been outside the door, she hadn’t heard their moans as they kissed. Good. He wasn’t about to let her know what had really been going on. “Nothing… I just needed to talk something out with her,” he lied, though not entirely. He did talk to her, but their lips did most of the talking. A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.Diana wasn’t buying it. “Then why did you have to lock the door if you were just talking? You should have left it open.”Suddenly, Eric slammed on the brakes, bringing
~~~~~Later that day, Eric stormed into my room, his eyes blazing red like a wildfire. I gasped in shock as he hurled his phone against the wall, smashing it into pieces.“What the hell, Eric? What happened?” I asked, my voice trembling with worry as I rushed to him.He was pacing back and forth like a caged animal, his fists clenched at his sides. “I can’t believe she’d pull this off! How dare that—” His words cut off as he trembled with uncontainable anger, struggling to find the words to express himself.“Eric?” I reached for his face, forcing him to meet my gaze. “Take a deep breath and calm down,” I said softly, though my heart raced at the sight of him like this.He was like a raging bull, veins bulging as his chest heaved. Gently, I took his hand in mine. “Come with me,” I said, leading him to the sofa.Once he sank into the cushions, I offered him a reassuring smile. “Better?” I asked, keeping my tone gentle.“Only if you kiss me,” he replied, a weary smirk tugging at his lips
~~~~Eric was shocked at the question because he wasn't expecting it, but... Placing his cup down. “It’s not just that. There’s more to this… and it’s all tied to why I can’t just pack up and leave for New York.”“Oh! Now that we are talking about this, I do remember your mother mentioning something about that. So, I’ll need to show myself in order for him to believe us to be a real couple, right?” I asked."Yes... seems so,” he replied.I stood up. “Well, that means our honeymoon is also coming to an end. Seeing that his return is sooner than expected, we need to pack,” I told him.He hastily grabbed my hand as I attempted to walk past him and pulled me close to him. In this position, with me standing and him sitting down with his head close to my belly, he looked up at me. “You are not mad at me?” he asked.“Eh? Why would I be?” I said as
~~~~From the very first time I saw this man, I knew him to be a man of his word.A man who never joked with promises or declarations, not unless he didn’t mean it,But with him, I had to question every word, every promise. After all, what could I really believe in a man who had been tangled in a web of lies and duty, especially when his heart still seemed to belong to someone else? I’d seen him care for Diana, and I wasn’t foolish enough to ignore the depth of that connection.But in this moment, standing before him, I couldn’t ignore the vulnerability in his eyes. The heaviness of his words hung heavy in the air, and for once, I wasn’t sure what to think. He was offering me something, but was it real? Or was this just another role he was playing?I reached for his face, my hands trembling slightly, not knowing if I was reaching for reassurance or if I was afraid of what he might say next.Slowly, I kissed him,
~~~~~“I was afraid of this day,” Mrs. Lola said absently, her voice soft but filled with melancholy.“What do you mean?” Mrs. Nora asked, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly as she turned toward her.Sighing deeply, Mrs. Lola glanced away, her hands clasped nervously. "Well, out of all the women Sir Black has ever brought to this place, this is the first time I’ve ever felt truly appreciated and cared for.” She hesitated before adding, “No offense.” She cast a quick, apologetic glance at Mrs. Nora.“Hahaha, none taken, Lola,” Mrs. Nora replied with a light laugh, though a curious expression lingered on her face. “But why did you say it like that?”Mrs. Lola turned to her, her gaze thoughtful yet firm. “Because she’s different. She’s nice, caring... With her here, I’ve never felt like just a maid. It’s as if I’m part of the family
~~~Turning to her son, who was still groggy from sleep, Mrs. Nora quickly replied. “Nothing, dear,” she said, her voice sugary sweet. “We were just having a little girl talk.” She even added a smile, as if that would erase the stiffness in the room.Like hell it’s nothing, I thought bitterly. I almost blurted it out but swallowed the words, too pissed to even form a coherent sentence.Eric’s brows furrowed slightly as he glanced between us. “Hmm.” He rubbed the back of his neck, his voice skeptical. “That didn’t sound like a girl talk.”He turned his attention to the maids, who were still packing my things. “Are you done with that?”“Yes, sir,” Mrs. Lola responded quickly.“Good. Leave us alone,” he ordered his tone firm as he climbed off the bed.“Yes, sir,” Mrs. Lola replied, bowing slightly before leading the other maids out. The door clicked shut behind them, leaving the three of us alone in a silence that felt like it could explode at any second.Eric ignored his mother and turn
~~Continuation~~Shit. Now what? I didn't even know that was how I sounded. I scrambled to correct myself. "No, of course not," I said quickly. And that was the truth.I exhaled, choosing my words carefully. "I’ve seen Diana. I’ve seen the way he behaves with her. And despite me not trying to win him over or fight for something that never belonged to me, he still looked in my direction. He chose me. Isn't that a sign that, despite his feelings, Diana was never truly what he wanted?"Big Joe exhaled sharply, then leaned back in his chair."Huh," he muttered. "What a strong faith you have in your beliefs."I forced a small smile. "All thanks to my parents," I replied, though my palms were already sweaty.Shit. Is it over now? I wondered, my heart hammering in my chest.He didn’t move or speak at first—just stared at
~~~~~I took a deep breath as I stepped into Big Joe’s so-called "chamber of interrogations." The name alone sent a chill down my spine, but I forced a bright, fake smile onto my face."Good morning to you, sir," I greeted politely.Big Joe barely glanced up from the large newspaper in his hands. "Ah, good morning to you too. I see you finally stopped running," he said, his voice deep with amusement.I let out a nervous chuckle. "Ha-ha, running? No such thing. I was just… taking my time. You know, I really love spending time with you," I added with an exaggerated smile, lying through my teeth."Ah, that’s good to know," he said, finally lowering the newspaper and eyeing me with a smirk."So, can we start now?" I asked, eager to get this over with.Big Joe let out a hearty laugh. "Hahaha, relax, dear. I’m not about to put a knife to your throat."Easy for you to say."Of course," I said, forcing myself to stay composed."Well then, let’s get on with it," he said, finally setting the ne
~~~~Eric rubbed his temples as he sat up in confusion. The room reeked of alcohol and regret, and the scattered clothes on the floor told a story he couldn’t piece together. Letting out a sharp breath, he dragged himself out of the bed, his body aching as if it carried the sins of the night before.He stepped into the cold shower, hoping the icy water would snap him out of this daze. As the water hit his skin, he clenched his fists, letting the chill wash away the haze of frustration. "What the hell happened last night? And why can’t I remember a thing?" he muttered angrily.After drying off, he picked up his crumpled clothes from the floor, pulling them on piece by piece. His movements were deliberate, almost mechanical, as if grounding himself in the routine could help him regain control. Once dressed, he ran his hand through his damp hair, trying to shake off the haunting confusion.His gaze shifted to the bed. Diana lay there, her face peaceful, her hair sprawled across the pillo
~~~~"Hello? Eric, is that you?" Nora asked as she recognized the slightly out-of-breath man on the other end of the line."Yes, who is this?" Eric replied, his voice a little sluggish."Hmmm, it's your mother, Eric. Don't you have my number?" She asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise. "Are you okay?""Oh, yes! Mother, sorry about that... I feel a little tipsy," he responded. "And I just woke up from a rather long sleep," he added, sounding like he was trying to gather his bearings."Oh, that's funny. You're not one to drink yourself into a stupor. What happened?" she asked, in curiosity."I wish I had the answer to that," Eric sighed, his tone heavy. "Anyway... you were supposed to call me the moment your plans landed in New York. It's been three weeks, almost a month. Why haven't I heard from you guys?" He questioned; the frustration in his voice was unmistakable."I don't think I'm in the best position to answer that," Nora replied
~~~~Back in New York"Shit! What should we do now?" I burst out in frustration as I sat across from Mrs. Nora, her white hair gleaming under the sunlight streaming in through the window. She looked maddeningly calm, as if this whole ordeal was a minor inconvenience."I don’t know, Mary, but whatever you're thinking, don’t do it," she said, her tone measured but firm. "You need to think this through. I know Joe; he can spot deception from a mile away.""No kidding," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. My nerves were shot. It had been three long weeks, and I still hadn’t figured out how to handle Mr. Joe's relentless curiosity. Every day felt like a countdown to some interrogation scene I wasn’t prepared for.I wanted to leave—desperately. But one wrong move could unravel everything. The problem was, I didn’t even have the answers he was demanding. How did Eric and I meet? Why did we decide to get married?
~~~~~---- But seriously, am I expected to just dive into this right now? I mean, I just got here. Shouldn’t I at least be allowed to take a breather? A rest, maybe? The thought circled in my mind as I turned to Mrs. Nora, my eyes silently screaming for help.She caught on instantly. “Hmmm, Joe...” she began, her tone light but pointed. “She just spent an exhausting amount of time on the flight. Don’t you think it would’ve been better to let her freshen up first before diving into the interrogations? You’re not in the force anymore, you know.”“What? I beg your pardon,” he shot back, his tone defensive. Then he turned to me with a smile that didn’t quite mask his annoyance. “Ignore her. I’m just excited to see that beyond the Lockwood name, there’s someone else.”He paused, forcing a chuckle. “Okay, maybe that was a little too much.”Y
~~~~ Mrs. Nora continues staring at me. “Why are you surprised? Even though Eric failed to tell you, this is the most important aspect of your job, and one you can’t afford to fail,” She explained, with a calm and calculating tone. “You see, the man we’re going to meet is the one in charge of my late husband’s will, and you must do everything in your power to convince him that you and my son are truly married. I believe the two weeks we’re spending there will be enough to get the job done.” She finished her little speech and got into the car, leaving me frozen on the spot. My legs refused to move as her words settled in. The stakes had just gotten higher, and my carefully laid plans for my parents were now on hold, yet again. Mrs. Nora rolled down the window, her expression now filled with impatience. “Well, hurry up and get in. We don’t have all day,” she snapped, punctuating her command as she opened and close the car door with a loud slam. “This cannot be happening,” I muttere
~~~~~Earlier?What is she talking about? I paused for a moment, unsure of what she was referring to. Then it clicked—"It’s alright, Mrs. Lola," I said with a reassuring smile. "I know there wasn’t much you could do. So, it’s fine."I glanced over and noticed Eric talking with his mother. Turning back to Mrs. Lola, I added, "Just help me look out for him, okay? If you notice anything wrong, call Mrs. Nora or me. Alright?""Okay, Madam. You can count on me," she said firmly, with a determined expression, one that made me wonder if I made the right decision.But then again. "Thank you," I replied with a nod.I walked towards the car. As soon as Eric spotted me, his face lit up with a smile, and he reached out for me."I’m going to miss you," he whispered. Before I could respond, his lips captured mine in a kiss—bold and unapologetic, right in front of everyone, including his mother.
~~~~His lips trailed over my exposed breast, taking it into his mouth, sending a jolt through my body. I gasped again, my breath hitching as his hands explored me in places no one had ever had before. His lips worked magic, igniting sensations I’d never experienced."Eric," I managed a whisper between gasps and moans. "Stop... we can't." My voice cracked, trembling with both fear and desire.He sighed deeply, his warm breath brushing against my skin. “I see you’ve come back to your senses,” he murmured, pulling his mouth away from my breast and lifting his hand from my core. But even then, his body remained pressed firmly against mine, his groin still holding me in place.My entire body trembled, the aftershocks of pleasure leaving me shaken and disoriented. I stared at him, wide-eyed and breathless. Confusion swirled in my head, the unfamiliar sensations overwhelming me. I didn’t understand what was happening to my body, nor could I process the strange pleasure it had just felt."Eri