POV Lisa.I remain a moment tetanized by what happens under my eyes. I am facing my ex-fiance, the man who betrayed me and abandoned me when I needed him the most. My heart swells with anger, I've never been so angry as I am at this very moment. Should I ignore him? Or should I spit the truth I've been dreaming of spitting in his face all these years? Suddenly, I'm worried about my appearance, I don't want the image he kept of me to be reflected again today. Three years ago, a scared little girl ran into her boyfriend's arms hoping that he would help her. But he pushed her away, completely away. "Gee baby do you remember her? " How could I be friends with such bitches? Profiteers who wait for you to turn your back so they can throw themselves at your boyfriend! And that voice, she's getting on my nerves with her babies. But the answer I'm waiting for is Brian's. Come on dare to tell me you forgot about me, tell me you forgot about the girl you and your family made fun of. "Of cou
POV Drake.I watch Lisa walk out of the meeting room as if she had the devil on her tail. What happened? I thought she had gotten over the embarrassment after the spanking I administered. But I guess not. She didn't get over anything or there's another problem. I would go with the second option, something or someone here made her uncomfortable and the only person here who would have been likely to hurt her is this man, he is the one who made her uncomfortable. I let out a sigh and turned to him, I looked him up and down, his blond hair was cut short and he had a budding beard, he didn't introduce himself and neither did I, but I guess he was the investor. "You are? " "Brian Moncrief, vice president of Moncrief Companies and you? ""Drake Lancaster. ""Oh Mr. Lancaster, it's nice to meet you. " He said as he held out his hand a second time. "I've heard nothing but good things about you, your grandfather, would be proud of you. "He did his homework well the guy, trying to brush me of
POV Lisa.Ending the evening snuggled up in his arms is exactly what I needed. I needed his presence, his arms and his warmth, basically I needed softness. And that's exactly what he offers me. I smile against his skin? I feel happy despite what happened. When I got home a few hours earlier, I was brooding and I still am. I didn't want to talk to anyone, especially Maddie, she would have gone to the Lancaster offices to put Brian in his place. I can't believe I kept silent again, I should have told him how much I despised him and how pathetic and cowardly his behavior had been. But once again, I kept my mouth shut. When will this all stop? When will I finally be able to face all those old demons from my past that I just can't seem to shake off? Drake runs his hand down my back, reminding me in the process that it's just the two of us in this room and who cares about the outside world, does he know? "You think way too much. " He says as he places a kiss on my forehead. I smile again
POV Brian Moncrief. Three years earlier. I park my new car in the parking lot, get out and grab my backpack, before locking the door behind me. As I stand up, I notice a small stain on the bodywork and I clean it with the sleeve of my sweatshirt. Damn this car, I'm proud of it! I can't wait to show it to Li, we'll go for a ride with the wind whipping our faces. I can't believe that within a year we'll be done with our year and we can finally get married. This is what we both always wanted. To finish school and start a family. We've known each other since we were kids, our parents are really good friends, so we run in the same circles, so it was a no-brainer that she and I would end up together. It wasn't always smooth between the two of us. Mostly because of her being too nice. What happens is, my little darling doesn't realize the realities of this world. It is divided in two, the rich and the poor. We are part of the elite, the cream of the crop, and therefore we cannot mix with a
POV Drake"If we keep this up, we'll be late. " She moans. I do not listen to her and I continue to cover her neck with kisses, I assume that if she really wanted me to stop, she would not let me. For the second time since this morning, I unzip her dress, put my hand on her back, she arches her back and puts her head on my shoulder. "I'm the boss, so I can arrive whenever I want. ""Yes, but not me! " She says, pushing me away with much more force this time.She crosses the room and goes to grab her earrings from the dresser. I let out a sigh and sit down on the bed to put on my shoes. "What do you mean you don't? "She lets out a sigh and suspends her action, turns to me and sits on the dresser. "You may be the boss, but I'm not. I'm an employee like the rest of them. ""You're not an employee like the others. " "Why, because we sleep together? " "To hear you talk, it sounds like an insult. ""No it doesn't. " She lets out a sigh and approaches me. "I love what we both do, but
POV Lisa.I've been finding Drake's attitude strange for the past few days. He's been much more attentive to me before and I really think our dominant-submissive relationship is taking a new turn. Yesterday, for example, he took me out to eat at a fancy restaurant, he had a whole space reserved for us to be alone together. And when he spilled tartar sauce on my throat during the meal, only to come and lick it off in the next few seconds, I realized that it was anything but innocent. I loved this evening, this little interlude that brought us even closer. I know I shouldn't, but his way of being, the gifts and all that, only increase the love I have for him making me hope that one day, he can tell me those words I've been dreaming of hearing for a few weeks now. This closeness also increases my feeling of anxiety, what will happen if he never feels the same as me? That I was totally wrong and that all he was trying to do was to please me? To make me feel better after my fight with Madd
POV Brian Moncrief. I can't look away from her, it's impossible and I think I'm not the only one. All the men and women around us keep looking at her. The truth is that I don't blame them, in fact how could I? Lisa is beautiful. If there was a word to describe her I think it would be perfect, she is absolutely perfect. The only thing that doesn't fit is her arm around this man's arm, I hate seeing them together, I especially hate the look that throws me. I understand then that my suspicions were founded, there is indeed something between these two. Considering how possessive he is with her, there is absolutely no mistaking the relationship they both have. "Welcome to our modest home. " I say while greeting Mason.I see Lisa shudder at the mention of the word our, I understand it perfectly. This mansion was her family's, I was surprised when my father told me he had bought it, I was surprised not many of my father's actions. But I could never say anything for fear of losing everythi
POV Drake. Scarlet and Mason lead us to the table, we're sitting pretty and Tony Moncrief keeps introducing me to his business partners as the new investor he's going to work with. I'm having a lot of fun with this whole thing and I can't wait to tell him to his face that he won't be able to work with me because of the disgust I have for him. I am especially anxious to be able to prove to the whole world the malpractices of which he is the author and of which I am sure that Lisa's father is not his only victim. I look for Lisa with my eyes, where could she have gone? I saw her go out and go on the balcony and since then I don't know where she could have disappeared."It's me or the atmosphere of this evening is totally gloomy? "My sister asks.What I love about Scarlet is without a doubt her frankness, she says things as she feels even if it pleases or displeases."Yes my love, Drake doesn't like these people much. ""I must admit he is not the only one, did you see the look of this
POV Drake.I watch Lisa sleep and stroke her belly, she's gorgeous. I bury my head in her hair and breathe in her scent. I do this ritual every morning, to be sure that what I am experiencing is real. This happiness that I live with her seems so sensitive to me that I myself would not believe it if someone had told me. I leave a last kiss and I go down to the kitchen without making a sound. I decided to cherish the beings I love the most, namely my wife and my daughter who is still in her womb. Sometimes I think back to what happened that evening and I tell myself that if things had turned out differently, I would never have found the woman I love. …After Mason told me that Ryan had committed suicide, I didn't know how to react. I was sad, I never wanted him dead. Ryan was my brother and even though he didn't believe him, I loved him. I loved my brother and I wanted him to be a better person. I had at this moment a succession of emotions which mi
POV Lisa.I pretended to pass out to buy some time. Time why exactly? I do not have the faintest idea. I am paralyzed with fear, but I will probably not give this man the pleasure of seeing me cry. He untied me to lie on a mattress on the floor and left to do I don't know what else. I rub my ankles and wrists which have turned purple from being tied up for so long. I then put my hand to my belly, as if it could save my little baby from feeling all the stress I was feeling right now. My God what am I going to do? How am I gonna get out of this shit? I'm only sure of one thing, I have to get out of here. I have to find a way to leave before he comes back. I get up and walk to the window, it's way too high for me to see anything. I look around for something to pull myself up to the window. I finally see a chair a little further. I go get it and climb on it. I look through the glass and see nothing but black, it is dark night and in the distance I can even see the mountains.Where did thi
POV Drake.A week after my conversation with Mason, I hosted a family reunion at my parents' house. I needed answers, I needed to hear why Ryan did everything he did. He almost ruined my company, I would have lost practically everything if Mason had not discovered in time everything that was going on. I take my head in my hands and breathe. Everyone is present, of course Ryan is not there yet. I isolate myself in the library and try to reach Lisa. When I turn on my phone, I see that she tried to reach me, I call her back. His phone is out of service. I sigh, I really need to hear his voice. Damn, I need her right now more than ever. But it's complicated to be able to talk to each other and even more to see each other lately. She has a lot to manage on her side and me too, so much that we absolutely have more time for each other.When I try to get out, the light in the library comes on and I see my father sitting in the back of the room, a glass of whiskey in his hands." Dad ? What ar
“Miss Simon? “I jump when a hand lands on my shoulder, I raise my head and meet my mother's gaze, who is looking at me with a worried air. "Are you alright sweetie? “I smile at her reassuringly and she gently presses my hand to infuse me with her strength. I take a sip of water and look at the lawyers in front of me. I feel Brian's gaze on me, but that's the last thing I can really worry about today. I can't believe his bitch of a mother called a fucking conciliation meeting, as if that could solve the problem between us. Right now, I'm so on edge that I'm able to get on that table and rip his head off.“I'm sure we can find an agreement. ” She said in her sour old voice. “I can't believe you can even think of this possibility! I said banging hard on the table. “You can't just show up and take everything that belongs to us! Brian's mother continues. “You mean the money your husband stole from mine? ” My mother said.“Things didn't happen…” “Shut up! I told him in a surprisingl
POV DrakeI watch the cars go by from my office window, it's crazy how much I miss these moments. My office, my employees, everything, absolutely everything. I decided to come to work today. I needed it after what happened this weekend, I needed to get out of the house and think about something else that wasn't related to our personal problems. First, there's the most important thing, which is this thing with Lisa and Moncrief. After receiving the briefcase, we went to the police station the next day to lodge a complaint. What was supposed to be handled discreetly ended up in the media spotlight, triggering a media frenzy. Moncrief managed to escape, but his son and wife are under investigation to find out whether they were also complicit in his actions. Personally, I think there's no way this man could have done what he did without telling his wife or even his idiot son. Their businesses have been suspended and they too are under investigation. I hope we can nail the bastard soon. Wi
POV LisaI receive a blow in the face, roll onto the bed and land on the floor, hitting my head. "Damn it! "I muttered. I get up with difficulty and rub the back of my head, looking at Drake lying on the bed and not stopping gesticulating in his sleep. I let out a sigh and walk over to him, lay down and place a kiss on the top of his head. Then he does something incredible, unconsciously lifting his leg. I'm so surprised that I stay in shock for long minutes before realizing what's happening. Drake has just lifted a leg, unconsciously yes, but he's done it. I know it's because of this horrible nightmare he's been having for a week now, sometimes I'd like to get inside his head to find out what's causing him so much torment. I take a handkerchief from the dresser and blot his forehead, then press myself a little tighter against him, so he can feel my presence. I want him to know that I'm here and that I would never let him down. The love I feel for this man is something indescribable
POV DrakeI hang up and put my phone in my jacket pocket. Zack has just confirmed that Lisa is now safely with him, which means I can get on with something else. When he told me that she'd just run out on him to go I don't know where, I had to ask the doctor to stop the therapy because I couldn't have gone on if I hadn't been reassured that he'd found her, especially as she was unreachable, and when he finally did find her, she was in this café with this guy and I asked Zack to wait for her to finish before taking her home. Home, I can't believe I'm finally ready to let another woman into my life after all these years. Me, who'd been through the ordeal because of a woman. The idea of opening the door of my home to Lisa seems so obvious that I wonder how I didn't think of it sooner. "Are you reassured, Mr Lancaster? " "Yes." I say, shaking my head.I roll my chair to the center of the room and look at the clock. "Is it over yet?" "We still have thirty minutes. "I remain silent fo
POV Lisa.I hang up with a sigh, beginning to wonder if what I'm doing is really a good idea. Brian is really driving me crazy! With his calls, his messages full of love. Not to mention the looks Drake gives me every time my phone rings. Just this morning, he called me while I was having breakfast with Drake and Drake almost put my phone in the coffee pot. If I hadn't held it back, I don't know what would have happened. I get up and grab my purse to head out the door, thank goodness Mason isn't here to hold me accountable. And with Ryan at the head of the company, it's become something else, he too comes to work when he feels like it, which creates an incredible mess. Drake really needs to come back and take this company back in hand. I have to admit that being away at the moment doesn't make me any different from anyone else, but I really have to get to this appointment. Knowing Brian as well as I do, he might well be able to barge in here and create a scandal. I head for the elevat
POV BrianI tap my foot on the floor, hang up for the fifth time since this morning and throw the phone on the bed. Why doesn't she answer me? Why is she avoiding my calls? I've been trying to reach her for two bloody days without any success. My thoughts begin to wander and I start to imagine everything and anything. Who could she be with? Is she with him? Is he putting his hands on her again? I don't want him anywhere near her! I think back to our conversation, to the moment when he clearly told me Lisa would never be mine. I tried to kill him, I threw myself at him with a butter knife, I wanted to stick it in his neck, if only that bodyguard hadn't interfered. I don't want anything to disturb this reconciliation between Lisa and me. Especially not now, after all these years, I've finally found her and I've no intention of losing her. I close my eyes and think back to that day when we were at university, I'd just had an argument with my father and I was at my lowest ebb. Once aga