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'S POV “Madame Browne!” I heard a series of voices calling my name.My breath hitched in my chest at the sound as I turned my gaze steely to the direction the sound came from? Who was that?I arched my back sharply, clenching both my jaw and my fists as my grip on the frame tightened. I paced towards the door to my room, my heart racing erratically in my chest.Once I arrived at the door frame, I stared into the circular glass that enabled me to see who was approaching the room. Despite the glass lenses being dusty and blurry, I could still make out some of the figured of the people approaching the door.They were males— tall and heavily built.I tried to shift my eyes to other details that could help but there was nothing— nothing other than the blurry uniform they had on. I recognized it immediately, it was that of Jason's men.They were exactly the ones I had sent to deflate the tires to all of Xavier's cars. Why were they back?Worry seared into my blood as I swallow
ELLA'S POV I felt a wave of reassurance hit me the instant Xavier's lips pulled into a wrinkled smile. I could sense the hesitation in his breath as he stretched his hand, reaching forward to claim my hands in a handshake.As he did that, I smiled, but this time, my smile wasn't the same as his. Mine was different. My smile was edged with mystery and an unrelenting speck of mischief.The pains that tore through me weren't describable when it came to words. It felt like a knife had been driven into my back but at the same time, it left a haunting aftermath that lingered in me. I felt a malicious urge coursing through my veins as I sucked in a breath. There were times when I wanted to tear into Madame Browne and her husband but this?This was definitely the right time to do that.They could trespass with me but trying to ruin my husband's reputation?Nobody does that and goes scot free. I knew it was all another stunt of Madame Browne's when she walked into the kitchen. Her visit for
XAVIER'S POV My breath hitched in my chest at the sight of the incoming figure. Who was that? I arched my brows in fear as I prepared myself for what I was about to see.I shifted my gaze slowly, dragging it with remorse in the direction of the figure standing beside the maid.I wasn't sure who it was yet but for the first time in forever, I was curious.From the shadow of her figure I could already project the figure's sex. She was a female, dressed in a flay gown. My heart raced in my chest as I felt droplets of sweats cling to my oily forehead. Some rolled down my forehead while some clung desperately to my forehead as I finally summoned up the courage to stare at the person's face.I started from the shoes at first.I dragged my gaze over to the shoes and I was met with the sight of a flat pair of patent shoes that could have only been worn by one person in the entire Mckinney mansion.Ella.A wrinkled smile tugged at my lips and my eyes lit up as I opened my lips to speak but n
XAVIER'S POVThe rest of the run from the meeting room to the mansion was long. I recalled running out of the elevator and sprinting into the reception like a loose madman with just one thing in my mind.Ella.I couldn't stand to loose her.In as much as I didn't want to sound helpless, she was all I had and neither Madame Brown's tricks nor Rochelle's acting could take her away from me. My family wasn't going to be split apart by their baseless act.I was going to get back at Madame Browne for what she did to me.That was a promise. I would keep it dear.I sprinted past the office of the receptionist and her voice beamed from behind as I halted to a stop. “Mr Xavier!” Her tone was high pitched with an edge of worry and concern flashing in it. I turned steely with my chest heaving heavily as I stared at her. “What is that?” I prowled through gnashed teeth as I paced towards her. I walked all the way to the counter and banged my fists on the counter. “Speak up!” My voice thundered a
MADAME BROWNE'S POV I sat down on the chair near the snack table with a gleam of satisfaction washing through my veins as I gripped a nearby glass of wine from the snack desk.This was going to be fun.I could already tell.I watched the shareholders all gather around Rochelle like moths to a flame, feeding desperately on the flickers of lies she distilled. They were fools but it felt good to finally make them all my fools.A dark grin tugged at my lips as I raised the wine glass to my lips. My eyes were fixed on the scene, watching the one drama I'd prepare myself for beforehand.To the shareholders, this was a shocking revelation that urged them to have a rethink but to me? To me, this was like a drama, a scene I'd orchestrated for days. Everything went right, Rochelle did extraordinarily well and I gotta stay under the spotlight and so did Lucas.The shareholders had all fallen into our traps and all I had to do right now was to sit back and relax. Thin strips of malice lit up in
XAVIER'S POV I decided to do one thing before I allowed the shareholders to jump to conclusions. I could beat them at their own games, it wasn't too late yet.I moved to the other side of the room where the shareholders were gathered around the pregnant lady that stood her ground that I was in a relationship with her.She was crying, soft fake sobs tearing through the air as I smirked. The gazes of the shareholders flickered sharply over to me and I felt waves of shock trudged down my spine as I felt my body freeze rapidly. “Before you all jump to conclusions I believe we first have to go over the basics first,” I beamed and caught a glimpse of shock and anger in Madame Browne's eyes. I could've sworn I heard her grunt before she cut me off, “Oh what basics Xavier? Can't you just own up to your mistakes already and stop trying to turn the tables when we all know that you did all she said you did!” The tension in the air rose alongside the voices but I ignored them all, focusing m
XAVIER'S POVOh, I get it all now.Madame Browne was doing it again but this time around, the trick she had up her sleeves could ruin everything I thought I had.My reputation was about to be dragged through the mud and the thought of being tied to the spot was irritating even for me. I wanted to do something but it would only get worse.Madame Browne's paid actress was acting so good that anything I said or did wouldn't be believed by the shareholders. They'd all snagged up her words as she delivered them, delivering her lines with an Oscar worthy performance.I stayed frozen on the spot, holding on desperately to the last fading threads of restraint I had left in me. My eyes were flushed with rage and my fists were balled up like I was about to start a fight.I couldn't afford to have them trample over me like that. I had to do something— anything!I paced towards the shareholders, snagging the pictures from their hands as I inspected everyone. As I glanced at them, I felt a flush o
ELLA'S POV THREE HOURS AGO.I was doing the chores in the kitchen when I heard the door pull open. I ignored the sound thinking it was another kitchen staff stepping into the kitchen but It wasn't.I fixed my gaze on the cabbage I was cutting when I felt her presence. Madame Browne. She was here.I raised my hand immediately like someone in a trance as I flashed my gaze at her. She was standing proudly at the other side of the kitchen counter where I was chopping the cabbage. Her eyes loomed over me like a laser and I just couldn't help but frown in shock and confusion. What did she mean by what she was doing?Why was she staring?Madame Browne was never the one to stare at one, especially when I was doing a chore. The only times she stared at me was either with jealousy or disgust.But this time, she had a suspicious smile plastered on her lips. It haunted me, sending jolts of fear and panic into my veins as I missed a spot and sliced my finger.It was a low cut but it hurt as I pu
XAVIER'S POV If you think you're just as shocked as me right now, I recommend you check again because things are going haywire right now.The air in the room was bridled with tension that seared endlessly, my thoughts went wild for a moment and so did my heartbeat. The receding beeps I used to feel in my chest now faded off and I could've sworn I had an out-of-body experience with the lady.The raging sounds of gasps from the shareholders faded off and I felt myself loosen into a void, one where I'm stuck with the pregnant lady standing nearby. She flashed me a seductive wink and I stepped back in shock, adrenaline pulsing through my veins as my breath hitched.She was standing dangerously close. I could sniff her cologne from where I stood, it had a cheap air to it that turned my stomach. I tried to step back, hoping she wouldn't take another step closer but before I could do that, she pulled her head closer as if aiming to whisper something.“You'll know me very soon Xavier,” her t
XAVIER'S POV I could feel it in my veins.The president was hiding something from me and I won't stop until I find out what exactly it is. I clenched my fists for a second, following him with a thin gaze. I traced his movements down to where he arrived at the door where a masculine figure stood. Lucas. A wave of disgust crashed in me and I sniffed softly, the intensity of his gaze brushing through my skin. His eyes loomed brighter than any light I'd ever seen. His stance was a perfect replica of a predator, dark green eyes that burned right through me.The cold wind in the room crashed into me as I felt my neck hair stiffen. The room was silent for a while save for the soft screeches of the president's wheelchair.He was about wheeling out of the room when I opened my lips and called for him. “I’ll help you with that.” My voice tore through the fog of unspoken tension and I walked over to to where he stood.I stretched my hands and gripped the handles of the wheelchair before pushi