ELLA'S POV I was standing near the balcony, gasping for air and steadying my nerves. I could see the evening was coming and the charity event was in full swing, however, my brain was still spinning from the day's events. I needed a moment, just a few minutes of peace from the distress that had been going on in me since the day… well, since that kiss. But then I heard him before I saw him. Xavier. His presence was like a storm, which could be seen from miles away. The atmosphere around me was becoming a little bit heavier with his arrival. I didn’t turn around, nor did I acknowledge him, but he was not the kind of man you could easily ignore."So, you’re hiding now?" His voice was velvety, tinged with that arrogant charm he wielded with ease. "You know, it is not like you to run away, Ella."I took a slow, deep breath while my eyes were focused on the city lights through the glass. "I’m not hiding," I said, my voice steady. "Just… taking a break." He came nearer, filling the room wi
XAVIER'S POV I carried Ella into the mansion, her body heavy with drunkenness, though she wasn’t entirely out. Her head lolled against my chest, the scent of alcohol thick on her breath. As we stepped inside, I motioned for my men to help me get her up to my room. Her words were a jumbled mess, half slurred, but the challenge in them was unmistakable.I followed them as I walked past the tight security at the gate all the way to the main mansion. As we proceeded, several maids all bowed and offered greetings. Normally I would dismiss the greetings but today, I acknowledged them lightly with nods and slight hand gestures. With Ella being helped by my men, we entered into the mansion, it's tall walls hinting elegance upon every stare. The coloring were elegant, yet mature— just the way I wanted it to be. I continued in my tracks, veering and turning as we grew closer to my room.As we grew closer, my mind wavered back to the thought of Ella. If I hadn't stepped in back then, she would
ELLA'S POV "CAN I LEAVE NOW?" I managed to utter with a feigned arrogance. I stared at the his cold pair of eyes, his face was almost that with a warrior's mask. My body throbbed from the ache, I tried to rise up to the floorI slowly sat up in bed, finally feeling some strength returning to my limbs. The room smelled of him—fresh, clean, with a hint of something darker underneath. I couldn’t decide if it was comforting or unsettling. Either way, I needed to get out of here. At the same time, my head was beating with the loud noise of a hangover, however, I toned it down, and put my mind on the mission: leaving.The bathroom was just a few feet away, but amidst my steps there, I couldn't help but have seen the surrounding luxury. Everything about this place screamed wealth and power, from the polished marble floors to the massive windows that offered a breathtaking view of the city. It was all so... Xavier. When I entered the bathroom, I washed my face with cold water, but I hoped
ELLA'S POV I stepped out of the sleek, black car Xavier had organized to being me home as the evening breeze embraced my curls causing it to go in the air. Tugging some loose strands behind my ear, I stared back at the shady figure of my apartment. With a sigh, I continued in my tracks as I walked in the direction of the building,my mind flashing back to the thought of Ivy at Mr and Mrs Thompson’s.They had offered to help watch Ivy down till the night as I had told them I would return late since I had to supervise the event down till it's end. As I walked past the group of security at the gate, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread.My heels clapped against the hard floor as I made my way towards the door of my apartment. My plan was to enter, freshen up before going to pick up Ivy at the next apartment. But to my shock, when I arrived at the door, I felt a frisson of pure shock in my veins. A low growl escaped my throat as I stared at the unfamiliar lock. That bastard landlord
ELLA'S POV My stomach churned at her words as I felt a rush of anger searing in my veins. My gaze flashed back at the heart wrenching view of my college best friend, Maggie, curled up in the arms of Matt, my ex-boyfriend. The view of the two of them together made my skin crawl as I face twisted into a sneer of disgust. I froze in my tracks, the evening breeze sending cold shivers down my spine. Maggie flashed me a look of undisguised disdain as she said, “Guess even leftovers get reheated.” Her words fueled my anger even more as I felt an urge to tear into them, how dare she? Even after betraying me years ago, she still had to courage to throw insults. My jaw tightened as I masked my anger with a serious frown not hinting any emotions. “My mommy's not trash,” I felt Ivy's grip over my fingers loosen as she squealed in my defense. My heart burned as Maggie broke into a giggle, one that only ensued my anger. “Well, what do we have here.” She turned in Ivy's direction about to beg
ELLA'S POV "He’s my husband, Ivy’s father," I heard myself say, the words tumbling out before I could think twice. There was a breathless moment as if the entire room instantaneously held its breath and then the reaction spread through the crowd like a ripple effect. The words remained ringing in my ears, it was as if, someone else said them. But no it was me – Ella Rocci, who, with uttermost shocking surprise of my life, had just stated that the man besides me was her husband!Xavier didn’t flinch one bit. Without any flinch he then moved his arm around my waist and drew me close as if it was scripted. The contact with his hand at my hip made me sizzle and buck, and the feel of his fingers and palm connecting to my body was a comfort from the unknown that I hadn’t had in years. I could feel the eyes of every single person in the room shift to us, staring with shock intermingled with confusion. It took a few seconds, and by the look on Maggie’s face, she looked as though a light had
ELLA'S POV His eyes glinted with intrigue. “And what’s that?” I let out a shaky breath, steadying myself. “We do this on my terms, Xavier. No games, no manipulation. Just what’s best for Ivy.” “And to ensure a healthy financial background in front of Ivy, we are going to be staying in my apartment for the first three months of our marriage,” I let out my voice in a gasp as I tried so hard to hide all hints of fear from my voice. I could have sworn I saw his gaze harden, his eyes brushing my body hungrily. I was ready to take a huge step, one that included me playing a game with the almighty Xavier McKinney. Xavier’s smile was slow, confident. He knew he had me, but he was smart enough not to gloat. “Deal,” he said, his tone carrying a promise I wasn’t sure I was ready for. “Yay, I finally get to show daddy to my friends.” I heard Ivy yell in joy. I frowned my face slightly as I headed back into the party. When I arrived, the whole event was in full swing, the buzzing of the mu
ELLA'S POV My senses were ransacked by his presence. Xavier. There he was, standing just meters away from my body, the pulsating beats of the music playing steadying my nerves as I started back at him. His presence stroke wagers in me, shivers running up my spine.As usual, I masked my reaction with a facade that was almost slipping off. My connection with Xavier was intense, and despite my best efforts, he could always see through me. Xavier’s gaze held a dangerous edge as he leaned closer. “You know, Ella, I remember the woman I met at the club four years ago. The one with the fire in her eyes and that seductive edge.”I couldn’t help but shiver at the memory he evoked—those nights filled with reckless abandon and desire. He continued, his voice low and smooth. “You’re just this close to slipping into my arms again. I can see it.”My heart raced as he took another step closer, the space between us diminishing. The warmth of his breath on my skin made it hard to keep my composure.
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
LUCAS'S POV The neon glow of the city cast long shadows as I watched her disappear into the night. My cigarette burned between my fingers, smoke curling into the air like ghosts of the past. I didn’t move until she was completely out of sight. Only then did I snap my fingers as a signal.A huge tall figure emerged from the darkness, stepping under the pale streetlight. Matteo. He had been an old soldier from back when I was still young —one of the few old ones still breathing. He wasn’t a man of many words, but he was very useful.He was my eyes on the streets, my major source of information, and not for once had he ever been wrong.“Who’s running things now?” I asked, exhaling smoke as I observed his expression.Matteo’s face was lined with years of bloodshed, his dark eyes unreadable. “No one knows, boss. There's a man—he’s got a scorpion tattoo inked onto the back of his hand. Rumours have it that he might be the one.”That gave me pause. "A scorpion?"He nodded once. "We haven’t
MADAME BROWNE'S POV I sat before the gilded vanity in my dimly lit room, carefully applying a shade of crimson to my lips. The reflection staring back at me exuded power, cruelty—a woman who had long since abandoned the silly notions of weakness and kindness. Those were for fools and children. They were nothing more than shackles meant to hold me back, and I had no use for them anymore. It was a dog-eat-dog world, and I refused to be left behind.My eyes gleamed with satisfaction as I traced the outline of my lips, the colour rich like freshly spilt blood. It was fitting. Blood had been spilt before, and more would be spilt againThe world had always been my chessboard, and I had played and would continue to play my pieces well.The soft ring of my phone interrupted my musings and brought me out of my thoughts. I reached for it almost lazily, fully expecting it to be another one of my pathetic underlings grovelling for my attention. But I was surprised as I saw the name flashing on
LUCAS'S POV1 DAY AGO.When the car arrived at the front of my crib which was located deep inside an undeveloped area. I made sure it was unnoticeable. From the outside view, any random stranger would think it was some abandoned building when really it held secrets as dark as night itself.As I stepped out of the car, my men hovered beside me. When we got to the gate, the security guards who were standing at alert confirmed my identity and opened the gate for me to enter. I stepped into the compound and headed directly for the door.I made slow, casual strides towards it and as I finally approached it, I snapped my fingers and my men opened it for me. The door chimed open and I stepped into the soft scent of cherries in the air.I already knew where it was coming from.I darted my gaze in the direction of a lady standing on top of the stage with her body clinging seductively to the stripping pole. The other stripers continued dancing. I was the one who gave them that order. Even when
LUCAS'S POV 1 DAY AGO.“Is the ride ready?” I asked with a calm voice and my assistant flashed me a glance before he beamed, “Yes sir.”“Alright officer, I'll see you soon if you dare spill anything. Claim i broke out of the cell.” I ordered and got up from my chair and paced towards the door.When I got close enough, I grabbed the doorknob and pushed it open. It made a low chime as I stepped out into the hallway and without closing the door, I headed towards the door at the end of the floor. The D.P.O revealed the emergency exit that wasn't guarded to me and I was going to take that path.When I got to the other end of the door, I paused in my tracks and turned to one of my guards who rushed towards the door and opened it. The room I stepped in reeked of odor. It seemed like it hadn't been opened in a long while. I shifted my gaze to one of my men and ordered him, “Go check what's going on in there?”The guard stepped forward and took gentle strides into the room. I waited until he
LUCAS'S POV1 DAY AGOAfter making the call, I waited for a minute before I received another call from my men. They had arrived at the back gate of police station and were waiting patiently for my go ahead. “I don't want a loud hit. I want something low and coded.” I said into the speaker. “What about the people that are going to be ensuring the DPO gets the message clearly?”“They are here boss. We'll make sure he gets the message clearly.” I waited for a while before I thought about it for a while and snapped. “You know what? I'll do it myself.” “Get into his office, beat the hell out of him and then call for me. I'll do the confrontation myself.” I turned out and I heard a corresponding hum from the other end of the phone as I ended the call and turned my gaze back to the sight of the inmates in the room.They were all 3.Each of them had unruly mops of hair on their head, red eyes, shaky breath and a staggering stance. In short, they reeked of poverty, remorse, regret and fear.
President’s PovAT THE MCKINNEY MANSION I watched as my family sat down for breakfast, Madame Brown fussing each and every one of them.“Ivy, darling, do you like your pancakes?” She asked my great- granddaughter.The innocent girl beamed at her. “Yes, I do. Thank you.”“You're welcome, dear. I'll make more for you if you ask me, okay?”Ivy nodded, her smile shy. “Thank you.”The scent of freshly cooked food filled the dining room and teased my nose, but I barely glanced at the spread before me. Madame Browne had taken her seat near me, her hands clasped together, a soft but expectant look on her face. The dishes were warm, inviting, but my stomach twisted at the thought of eating it.I wasn't trustful enough of her to eat from what she had cooked.I made a pretence of drinking from a glass of juice before lowering it back down onto the table. I cleared my throat, picking up my walking stick. “Are you not eating, Grandfather?” Xavier asked and I smiled at him.He was ready dresses f
LUCAS'S POV1 DAY AGO.The air inside the cell room carried a heavy canopy of sweat, remorse and regret which oozed out of the bodies of my bloody inmates.Those bloody motherfuckers.They still hadn't taken their eyes off me for a long time now. Ever since I stepped in, they stole shaky glances at me and would turn the instant I caught them staring. It was clearly obvious they were scared.I mean why wouldn't they be.I had made it clear I was here for one thing. And that was just for the media. You see, the plan was simple. All I had to do was to pose for the media. I had to get them to all believe I was now in jail.I planned on waiting for a week but my sources recommended another week of waiting. Tonight marked the 13th day in this hell hole and the heat wave in there was like I was brought closer to the edge of hell. I knew I was going to go there anytime soon but since I wasn't there yet, I'd prefer it if Lucifer held his horses.The heat in the room licked at my sides as persp