VALENTINO"What do you mean? Stop speaking in riddles, Valentino. I beg you," I asked desperately."It seems your friend didn’t give you a heads up. I am supposed to occupy Marie’s place. I mean her room since she won’t be coming back anymore," he explained, as if I was supposed to take the news calmly."What did you say?" I asked, blinking in an attempt to make sense of what he was trying to convey."You heard me," he replied with a cocky smile, causing me to stagger, as if hit by a stray bullet."I’ll be right back," I said almost in a whisper, and I moved away, noticing him standing up. "Sit," I commanded through gritted teeth and a tight smile, and he obeyed, watching me as I rushed outside. I fumbled to retrieve my phone from the back pocket of my pants and dialed Marie."Start talking, Marie. Don’t make me ask," I said immediately upon hearing the beep signaling she had picked up."Oh… yeah. He asked me not to tell you and–""Are you kidding me right now?" I shouted angrily, try
ROSE"As I tasted her lips, it did nothing to calm the hunger, the burning need to have her. The urgency only intensified as I held her close, nibbling, then locking our lips in a passionate kiss.“I won’t let you out of my sight again. I won’t,” I murmured, almost entranced, as I kissed her neckline, her soft moan encouraging me to continue.“Princesa…” I whispered as I did unpredictable things to her.“Hmm…” she replied absentmindedly, focusing on giving me enough space to take her, her hands delving into the fullness of my hair, effortlessly guiding me to herself.“What’s your choice?” I asked as she mumbled something in Italian that sounded like, “God help me.”I didn’t bother to delve further because I knew it was a done deal before I even arrived. She wouldn’t be able to stay away from me, even though her feigned harshness felt like it was for my benefit.“I couldn’t even imagine how I survived without you all these days, Rose,” I murmured against her lips as they drew near agai
VALENTINO“Never,” I strained the words, held her shoulder, turned her towards the door, and pushed her out.“Excuse me now,” I smiled sheepishly and closed the door in her face. Turning back to look into the room, I muttered to myself, “How the hell am I going to survive in this place? Did Valerio set me up?”I fumbled with my phone, dialed Valerio while pacing to and fro the barely managed compact room.“Did you set me up, you brat?” I seethed under my breath, trying to control the loudness of my voice. I wouldn’t give Rose the satisfaction of knowing how dissatisfied I was.“You sound angry, brother,” Valerio replied as Valentino chuckled to himself.“You’re making fun of me now, yeah?” Valentino asked with an outraged voice.“I did it for your good. Staying over there with her is the best thing you would ever do,” he replied.“Do you bloody know the state of this place?” I asked through gritted teeth. “I won’t be able to survive.”“Ah… I forgot. You’re the golden grandson of the c
ROSEI was so immensed in the kiss that I forgot every words exchanged from our previous banter. All that mattered that moment was him in my embrace.As he pinned me to the wall in my room, he kissed and explored those places in my body that he knew turned me on. And like an insatiable fool, I surrendered all over again.He stopped abruptly and looked at my face, his hair tousled as he smiled. I could also see how his eyes glinted.“Say you want me.” I said as our breath both ragged rhymed with each other, both staring at each other but rather have the other person’s mouth in theirs.“I need you, Valentino.” I said shamelessly as I raised my hand to his face.I just couldn’t say no. I could never tell him no.Those times I did in the past, it was all a facade.At first when I saw him at the door, standing there like a package sent for me for my birthday wish, I was dumbfounded. But then reality dawned on me that same moment.We would have a rough future together. He would.And as if w
ROSE"Valentino... I can't." I forced myself to stand up from the bed, guilt washing over me.He also sat up and looked beside him to see me trying to avoid his gaze, aware of how much I was hurting.“Why?” he asked as I glanced to the side.“I know you don’t care about my grandfather and stuff. Something else is holding you back,” he stood up and adjusted his pants while watching me intently.“It all still falls on Valerio,” he said, standing up.“No... it’s—”“It’s fine.” He took a deep breath. “I mean, situations like this frustrate me.” He muttered under his breath and walked out of the room, even as I made to run after him.“Valentino. Wait, listen to me,” I said when we got to the living room, as he was making his way to his bedroom.He stopped in his tracks and hesitated before turning to look at me.“What?” he asked sarcastically.“Valentino... I...” I started to explain, but suddenly it felt futile.“I won’t be able to live happily with you, knowing how much hurt all of you..
ROSEWe stood staring at each other for what felt like an eternity as I began to nod my head. “Fine, your anger and hate are warranted, but I won’t have you accuse me of throwing myself at you, Valerio,” I said calmly, trying not to sound desperate.“I didn’t think that you were,” he drawled sarcastically, tucking his hand in his pocket, his gaze fixed on me. “I mean, I don’t care what you do...” He chuckled bitterly. “I'm just pissed that my brother played some trick to bring me here,” he completed, pausing, seemingly waiting for me to respond with more hurtful words.“But he just ruined my mood by bringing me here,” he said, his eyes filled with disdain, leaving me swallowing hard.“Do you hate me that much?”“I don’t have time for this,” he replied, still staring at me, contradicting his words by his unwavering attention.“I did everything for your happiness, Valerio,” I started to say desperately.“I didn’t think you were an expert to decide what was good for me and what wasn’t,”
ROSE"Valentino. No... please don’t... Valentino!" I gasped as I sat up, waking almost immediately from my nightmare."It’s a dream. It’s just a dream," I reassured myself, taking a quick glance around the room where I lay, surrounded by all-white walls and a bed. I noticed the hospital clothes I wore."What the hell..." I felt a throbbing headache and instinctively moved to hold my head, realizing a drip was fixed to my hand."Valentino..." I muttered, the dream and the memory of the last call I had flashing back to me.As I placed my leg on the floor, the door opened, revealing Valerio walking in."Valerio..." I called, almost seeking comfort from him.He rushed towards me as I attempted to reach out."Valentino," I said, trying to catch my breath. "Where is Valentino? Is he fine? I need to see him. Please, I beg you. I had this crazy dream where..." I started to babble as he held my hands, looking at me carefully. I fought back tears, feeling stressed, hot, and irritated."How are
ROSE“Grandfather what is this?” Valerio asked immediately as he stared at the uniformed men.The chairman simply ignored me as he kept his gaze on me. “Arrest her!” He pointed angrily at me as I stared in confusion as they charged towards me but Valerio was quick to come in between us.“Stay back! What the hell grandfather?!” Valerio fired angrily at his grandfather while Vicente also moved close to me as if they were both my bodyguard who was rather die before letting the touch me.“Move!” The chairman fired angrily at them. “The both of you!” He seethed.“You have no right to arrest her, grandfather. Why the hell are you bent on oppressing her?” Vicente asked immediately.“You know nothing!” He retorted. “She is no innocent woman! She has been chaos since she came into your lives! Can’t you see?!”“You have no right to say that, Grandfather! And what charge are you arresting her for?” Valerio challenged this time, still standing protectively in front of me while I just watched the