XAVIER'S POV “Not now, not ever!” I watched as my uncle left the hall while still gripping Madame Browne aggressive. The tension that loomed in the air was as clear as the skies as confusion and uncertainty reeled into my veins.I had asked him why he started it but his response had me guessing. His eyes loomed with emotions that were extremely dark, greed, rage and malice glistening under the the green hue of his eyes. His stance and demeanor was heavy, filling my insides with fear.There wasn't a limit to what my uncle, Lucas, could do. From the proud smirk that graced his face before he turned to walk out of the door, I could tell he had a trick up his sleeves or were they many?With Madame Browne by his side, they were an heavy force to reckon with but I wasn't going to back down so easily. For whatever plan they had, I was going to supercede them all not because I looked to catch the interest of the shareholders, it was because I wanted to show them all who Xavier McKinney is.U
LUCAS'S POV When I got into my room, rage stomped into my mind as I collided into my chair. Following me was Madame Browne, striding casually like nothing happened.The proud smirk on her face only added to my anger as I raised my fingers and signaled over to her to come over to where I stood. She paced slowly towards me slowly, shaking like a winter leaf under the soft hues of the chandelier.She was scared— why wouldn't she be?She knew her offense and it was less nerving to realize she wasn’t hesitant to admit it. She made me receive the one thing I hated the most. Disrespect. I could have a person's tongue cut off if he/she disrespected me. Seeing Xavier publicly address me disrespectfully made me grumble slowly in rage.“Come here,” I mouth the words slowly a s she took the last step, still shaking. I raised my index finger and pointed to the floor, signalling to her to get on her knees.Slowly, I watched her go on her knees, lowering to the floor until I could reach for her hea
LUCAS'S POV I watched as my boys dragged her into the room, hearing her screams pierce through the air as I chuckled. This wasn't just going to be one out of the countless times I'd punished Madame Browne, it was going to be different.This time around, I'd make her wish she was dead.I waited until I could no longer hear the sound of her screams in the air before I turned, facing one of my men. “Get me a cigarette,” I said, watching as he rushed over to me with a pack of cigarettes.When he got to me, he bent his head in respect while I stretched my fingers and took one out of the pack cigarettes. After taking it, I turned back at him, “Where's the lighter?” I asked. The guards expression immediately changed immediately to shocked as he started shaking. I froze at the realization. He didn't bring along the lighter. “I said where is the god-damned lighter!” I yelled, watching as he started pacing backwards in fear. “I'm sorry boss.” He said, his words firm as I slid my hand into m
LUCAS'S POV Panic.That was the only word that could describe what I felt when I met the unwavering gazes of the lady in the tall red stilettos. They were just as red as the lipstick she had on, her eyes lingering over my blood covered fists.I had a lot of questions pulsing through my veins as I stared at her. Where did she come out from? Why did she kill the police officer? And most importantly, who was she? I tried to ponder on them but seeing that thinking wouldn't get me any where, I later resulted into just standing there for a moment. After some intensed minutes of staring at her, I decided it was best to cut off the suspense that lingered in the air.“W- Who are you?” I muttered, my lips quivering sofly as I moved my gaze to check back on the police officer that was sprawled on the floor.He layed cold, dead, skin paling out in seconds. Just as I was doing that, I felt her gaze on my back as I pulled my gaze back at her.She was dangerous.I began pacing backwards slowly, my
DISCLAIMER: This chapter contains scenes depicting physical restraint, included for narrative purpose. Reader discretion is suggested. LUCAS'S POV “What the hell?” I exclaimed, breaking into laughter as I stared at her. She had to be freaking joking. Marriage? Where the hell did she get the idea to ask me for such a thing? I never really saw Marriage as something that was worth investing in. It was all a baseless trap under a useless string called love. Unlike other people, I wasn't a fool.I was wise.Why have a lady for the rest of your life when you could actually bang as many hoes as you want while single?There were no logical answers to that question. It all resulted into baseless arguments and that usually makes my blood boil. My eyes darkened as I met Madame Browne's eyes. They stayed still, bubbling with unwavering determination. One look into her eyes and I could tell she was extremely determined. I could get her anything she asked for but marriage seemed to be far off
MADAME BROWNE'S POV “Let her go,” I heard a voice beam out from behind.The pain that revolved around my body was too firm to be overlooked. It pulsed through my veins, shaking my bones and feeling me with a nerving sensation that lingered. I felt like breaking down right there and then but then I remembered I signed up for this treatment I was receiving.That contract years ago gave him the right.I signed off my life to him.My master.His name lingered in my mind like a spell, replaying like a cursed melody. Upon his order, I heard the sound of his footsteps from behind. His men had fierce frowns on their face that spared no room for sympathy. They were all like this especially when on an order for their boss. They moved towards me and gripped the shackles that went round my wrist as they undid it casually.I heard their heavy breaths surging into my ears as the shackles clinged. The shackles on my wrist clattered as they pulled off, the pain that wrecked through the tissues in m
MADAME BROWNE'S POV “I want you two to go into the parking lot and deflate Xavier's tires.” I hushed, my voice low.Before continuing, I darted my eyes around the hallway just to ensure that no one was standing by. I couldn't risk having any one of the McKinneys overhear my words.I turned my gaze back to the stern figures of the two men in front of me. They were Lucas's men, the ones he gave the permission to follow my orders. “Hurry on,” I said and they turned swiftly moving into the hallways smoothly in the opposite direction.The sight of their backs reminded me of Lucas's words. He had given me one last order, and that was to give Xavier the right punishment. I wasn't going to do it all at once, I'd make it slow, deliberate in a way that'd make him regret ever crossing paths with me.I walked back up into my room, my feet gliding into the room that was reeking with tension. I searched all through it for a while, my fingers caressing the stress line that braced my neck.I moved
MADAME BROWNE'S POVI paced towards it— the frame.Even after decades of death, he still looked just as dashing as the man I once called mine. His green eyes stared back at mine and burned a hole in my chest.I fiddled lightly, tilting my head in the direction of the door sharply. No one was supposed to come in here. The soft silence in the room braced the erratic beatings of my heart in my chest as I turned my gaze back at the figure of the frame.My fingers leaped forward quite effortlessly, it's tips gripping the wooden edges of the frame. I felt the hollow feeling that soared through my chest on most occasions.The man in the picture was gone.The last memory I had of him was when Lucas ran his bullets into his chest. I watched him bleed away, alongside that slut, Mary, his wife.She was the one that took him away from me. I'd always loved David with all my heart but after we severed the bond at the end of college, I felt jealous ever since. I know the info I'm spilling must be c
MADAME BROWNE.A hot drop of sweat raced down my oily forehead as the police officer took his seat in front of me. “Good day officer.” I greeted him calmly but he ignored me. My heart raced in my chest as I heaved out a sigh.“So, Madame Br—” he paused halfway in his speech just to get a glance of my name on the file in his hand. He was writing my name on a file and as he raised his brow in my direction, I nearly stiffened on the seat as his gaze raked over my features.“It's Browne.. sir.” My lips quivered as I struggled to find the right word to use as the heat of his gaze braced my sides. “Okay, so Mrs Browne.” He muttered as he tilted his head up in my direction and I stiffened on the spot as my breath hitched in my chest.“I have some questions first,” The police officer said and I adjusted my back on the chair. I straightened my spine and dusted off some unseen dust off my laps as I stared right back at her.“What's that?” I mumbled as he glanced back at the file in his hands be
MADAME BROWNE'S If you thought I wouldn't get this plan through successfully, blink twice. I was almost done hatching this plan. Xavier had fallen. Ella had done the same and even the president that I thought would be a hard nut in the way had already given into my plan leaving me with nothing but full control over their minds.I could now control each and every one of their thoughts. They were all in my firm grip and I wasn't going to let go. At least not now. Not when my plan was reaching its climax and I was about to have the final say— well, Lucas was the one with the final say but still, I was the one who brought the plan to life.I was always the one who brought each and every one of our plans. I mean I was the brain behind each and every one of our plans but this particular was double crossing. Lucas didn't tell me the full details of the other end of the plan and I couldn't help but wonder what that bastard was up to.After he got out of jail, we lost communication and lack o
XAVIER'S POV.When the D.P.O stepped foot into the mansion, I was called aside by one of the president's private assistants. “Mr Xavier.” She called out softly as I turned my gaze in her direction. “Yes,” I responded slowly in anticipation for her next words but she didn't speak.Instead, she tilted her head in the direction of the door and signaled for me to walk to the other side of the room. Before I followed her, I made sure to glance at Madame Browne and the president first.The atmosphere surrounding them carried a heavy tent of tension. I could sense the president's doubts from where he was. I could tell that he was having double doubts about doing any of this but there was no time left to think now.We didn't have any more time left. If Lucas found out we were about to contact the police he could fi something bad and that was what I was afraid of. I couldn't have him going around free when we all knew he was a threat to not only my life but that of the entire McKinney family
D.P.O’S POV“Why did it take you so long to call, Lucas?!” The instant my finger tapped on the accept buttons displayed on my phone, I lashed out as my voice echoed against the walls of the elevator. The cold beams of my yell rolled back, slithering into my ears as rage spiked my veins. I clenched my fists slowly and pressed it to my side as I grabbed the phone with my right hand while the other was tightly clenched to my sides.The air in the room intensified as tension oozed in followed by nothing but the heavy puffs of heated air rolling out of my nostrils. My heart raced in my chest as I waited patiently, listening closely for a sound to confirm he was listening to me. After waiting for a few seconds, my voice roved out in a rough beam, “Lucas?!” This time around, I made sure my voice was louder and more authoritative than the last time and just before I gave up, I heard it. His voice. It was as rough as sandpaper and rocks yet it held an edge. A dangerous edge.“Stop.” One wo
D.P.O’S POV“Okay, Mr McKinney. I'll be there in a jiffy.” Cold sweats streamed down my face as the words glided down my tongue. The tension in the room intensified as my chest heaved and my fingers— my unresting fingers, grabbed a gun for comfort. The matte texture of the gun scraped against my clammy palms as my fingers wrapped around it even more.“That's good to hear. How long will it take you to get to the mansion?” The president's voice glided into my ears with a beam as my chest heaved and shallow puffs of air rolled out of my pursed lips.My heart raced in my chest as his words replayed in my head. Fear streamed into my veins as anxiety snaked in, edged with nothing but dark gleams of terror. If the board heard of what I did, I could lose my license, my post and my reputation. And worse still, that bastard, Lucas would run free while I received the backlash that would come when the entire world got to know that I, a reputable D.P.O orchestrated the escape of a dangerous crimi
D.P.O’S POVWhen I received the president's call, I was halfway into counting a wad of cash. My fingers paused in their calculative movements and I shifted my gaze in the direction of my phone. It laid on the table, quivering and vibrating as the heavy bass ringing tone blared into the air.I reached for it with deft fingers and just as my fingers brushed against the screen, it turned on and the caller id was displayed. Nothing in the lord's green earth could have prepared me for what was about to come.The president.He was the one calling and not just that, I felt my sixth sense engaging with me, offering shallow whispers of warning as adrenaline pulsed into my veins. My heart raced in my chest as I gripped my chin for a brief moment. Questions flowed into my mind gradually and the more I tried to counter them, the more puzzled I got.I wasn't expecting the president to call me— at least not so soon. I didn't think I could ever be prepared for his call. After the day he visited the
XAVIER'S POV I wasn't supposed to feel for her. The emotions I ended up showing crashed into me like a tidal wave. Even now, I still couldn't get myself to believe it. I was about to do it. I was about to do something I never believed would be possible.I was about to show Madame Browne sympathy. I was about to offer her the one thing she didn't offer me over the years. Sympathy. Even the thought of it I was nerving. I had to admit that. Hugging her was weird. Having her sob over my suit was weird and to say the truth, all of this was weird.Madame Browne wasn't the type of lady to cry. No. She was far different from that. She was the kind of lady who's character could be adapted into the role of a villain In a movie, a book perhaps. I was used to her being the evil person and this level of vulnerability was seemingly alarming.I couldn't bring myself to believe the one woman who single handedly made my life a living hell was about to confess to all her crimes to not just the police
THE PRESIDENT'S POV “What's the information she brought?” As Xavier said the words, my expression dimmed and I turned my gaze in Madame Browne's direction. I darted my gaze in her direction and as I caught a sight of her body frame, my face twisted into a tight frown.My jaws clenched and so did my fists. Something about all of this didn't feel right. But… I just had no choice but to believe her. Madame Browne stood at the other end of the room. Her legs were as shaky as a winter leaf and cold beads of swart clung to her forehead.Her eyes moved over to catch my gaze and as our eyes met, I tried to catch any glimpse of emotion but I found nothing. Well, nothing but the bright gleam of anticipation in her eyes. Something told me this was the beginning of a dark future. I could feel it but I just wasn't sure.Madame Browne was a trickster. It was in her nature and you never might know when she told the truth. I used to be able to read through all her tactics but this time around, it w
XAVIER'S POV I woke up to the soft warmth of Ella’s body curled against mine. For a rare moment, I allowed myself to enjoy the peace. The curve of her body against mine, the way her breathing remained steady—it filled me with calmness. But duty never slept, and neither could I.For a fleeting moment, time seemed to slow, allowing me to simply exist in the tranquillity of her presence. The delicate scent of her lavender shampoo clung to her dark hair, a familiar and soothing aroma that filled my senses. I almost didn't want to get up from her side, knowing she might be the only semblance of calmness in my life today, but I had to.Placing a kiss on her hair, I carefully untangled myself from her and slid out of bed. I headed to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and took my bathI was adjusting my tie in the mirror when a soft but firm knock sounded on the door. adjusted my tie in the mirror Who could it be so early in the morning?I padded towards the door, my feet silent on the lush