* Chapter 21 * " The file?" Xander asked for what seemed to be the umpteenth time. The lady he was referring to skipped out of fear from her daydreaming. She quickly handed the file sputtering apologies. Val was lost in thought regarding the controversy which will tag along with the release of her pregnancy report. It was something she wanted to keep private. However, this boss of hers had to ask for a fitness checkup as a requirement only at this time. They were in a board meeting with clients from abroad concerning the new bridge construction project in city Z. It was important to win over the project because it will earn hundreds of millions in return. Sam was giving a projection of brainstormed ideas to reduce the cost while sustaining the bridge quality for the citizens. The other board members including both clients from abroad began whispering to themselves. One client whispered" He should have hired brains not spread legs " It was so audible that Sa
* Chapter 22 * In the boardroom... Xander sat emotionlessly without saying a word. His AEs were confused about whether to go or stay so they just stood in the same position for an hour. The door creaked open as Jude came in holding a first aid kid. Sitting on the table he grabbed Xander's arm to treat his bloody knuckles. " Wow! You could not get a single scratch from beating Jeff to a pulp so you decided to punch the walls " Jeff scoffed with his gaze diverting to the stream of blood on the wall. Taking a glimpse of his friend,he scoffed " Did you come to treat my wounds or add more salt?" Jude smiled. " Both " taking his seat by his friend,he opened up a first aid kit. Xander sighed" Give that to me. I am not a baby, I can tend to my wounds . " he said while taking the first aid kit. Jude only stared at his friend. " .." He had a lot of things to say but did not know how to begin. Using hand gestures, Jude said, " All of you take a day off ".
* Chapter 23 * His conspicuous red Lamborghini quickly caught her eye. It shone as if it was just bought. " Are we taking that instead?" she asked pinning her hair behind her ears. She had the impression they would take the black Range rover. Xander nodded busily as he open the door for Val. Her face wiggled as she took a glance around. She wanted to avoid the rumors from growing. What will people think if they saw them driving around time add the Lamborghini was so eye-catching that it will make them the center of attraction anywhere they go. " What is wrong with this car? " She questioned pointing at the black Range rover. Rather than responding, he threw a question at her " I thought you were hungry? " he reacted as his face dimmed. She tossed her eyes draping her arms on her chest " I am fine. I will eat at the office canteen. You can go " " Really or conceivably you want to escape from treating me as you promised " Valeria's lips ma
* Chapter 24 * Her heart pounded as the policeman walked closer. She tapped on his shoulder in panic. " I don't have a license " A smile found its way on his cute pink lips. He wanted to tease her but gave up the idea when he saw her panic turning to anxiety. " Be cool. Just relax" his hand gently rubbed her shoulder. How can she relax when she was going to be caught? Valéry did not want to go to prison again, the first time was not pretty at all. " I have a plan " the latter interjected followed by silence. It felt like light finally penetrated her darkness ,she diverted her gaze to meet his green eyes " What's the plan ?" A wicked grin cropped on his lips causing her stomach to churn. This was not going to be good. The police officer arrived, and he tapped on the windshield with his baton. " Why did you stop suddenly? Let me see your credentials!" The car drove passed the policeman at speed. Valéria was on Xander's thighs while he wa
* Chapter 25 * He laughed running a hand into his fine thick ink-black jaw-length hair. " I won't " At this time, a tall straight figure in a waiter outfit rushed in sputtering apologies. When her eyes crashed with Xander's she shivered to bow instantly. Valeria took notice of this and just rolled her eyes. Being close to him at the moment, she could tell the aura he was emitting which will make anyone give him respect. " What will you have? " the waitress began in a super polite tone. Stealing a glance at Val,he proceeded " I will have a vegan salad and ... " Silently slumping on her seat, Val swallowed hard while the man ordered. ' On my god. Is he ordering all that food for both of us or what?' The waiter smiled as beads of sweat gathered on her forehead. She was afraid of missing any order from him. Heaving a sigh of relief,the waitress turned to Val " And you ma'am? " Val pupils dilated. She cleared her throat awkwardly.She began sweating e
* Chapter 26 * A boisterous bang echoed in the restaurant. Val sighted the waitress who served them on the floor and a pool of tears in her eyes. She sought, pity overtaking her, and opted to help the girl stand. She was pushed by another. Val fell,her hand subconsciously on her stomach. A surge of anger coarse through her veins. The others whooped with laughter. She ogled at the figure who strutted away. " Are you ok? " Val called into question. The waitress dried her tears while her lips quivered" I am fine and you? " Val creased her eyes brows as her she balled her fist" How are you fine with all those nail scratches on you? Who the hell is she? " Valeria could not take it anymore. She bossed to attack the woman who did this to the waitress but the waitress stopped her. " Please don't! She is an influential customer. She got angry because the coffee I was carrying tipped on her boots. She said they were more expensive than both of my kidneys "
* Chapter 27: Baby's Father * The car drove slowly and then came to a stop at the huge seige color gate. Utilizing the automatic remote, Xander opened up the gate and rode in. Once out of the car, he went ahead to open the door. Valeria sat lost in thoughts. A gentle nudge from him was not enough to jerk her back to reality. So, Xander waved his hand a couple of times yet she was still lost in her thoughts, her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. Then he snapped his finger which managed to bring her back. She looked at him, confusion apparent on her face before surveying her surrounding. " Oh! Are we home yet? "she blinked the tears in her eyes away, then darted them to her strapped seatbelt seeking to unbuckle her seatbelt. " It is stuck again!!" she grumbled, pinning her hair behind her ears then she concentrated on unstrapping the belt. The more she tried the more frustrated she got. Upon giving up, she raised her head and her lips brushed on Xander's lip. It
* Chapter 28 * That night, the streets were soaked with drops from the unseasonal rain without a cloud in the sky. The cold air blew into a particular window. The man standing by it, with wet hair and a simple t-shirt. He took a puff of his cigar the dabbed the ash of the stumb on an ashtray. He had a lot of conflicts hidden in those pretty green eyes of his. The misery which he had carefully hidden inside was on the surface once more while in fought his demons. ' Bang ' A stone came flying through the window landing on his bed. Flipping his switch he turned on security and the house was in total lockdown with the alarm system echoing through the halls. Xander picked up the rock draped with a white sheet of paper. It might have appeared blank but Xander was not born yesterday to be that gullible. He had a vendetta with one of the country's greatest Mafia. Yet he was not scared, his face expressionless as always. Stroking charcoal on it, alphabets and numbers st
* Chapter 13; Getting her out of my system* "It is the third warehouse they attacked today." Giovanni, dressed in a white shirt matched with grey torn jeans, informs me as soon as we arrive at the destination. We can't take a look at my drug warehouse, as it is littered with fucking cops. This is getting out of hand. With the outnumbered list of enemies due to my father's lust, I don't know who is behind this. If I had, we would have played dentist, and I would blow up every tooth in his fucking mouth. I watched him bleed away. Fucker. I flex my hands on my thighs, something I do when I am stressed. I don't like to act out of the moment. A sober action is the longest-standing and most satisfying one.
**Chapter 12; His baby?** Halting at his tracks, he smiles again and informs me in the most soothing tone, "Yes, Sunshine, you are very lucky to die by my hands." Before I could make sense of anything, everything goes dark, and a force pulls me from behind. He grabs me by my hair, thrusting me into a dark room. "Who are you? What are you going to do to me?" "Nothing," he tells me, faking an innocent expression. I look around the empty room, breathing heavily. I can't find anything but boxes in this room. They are all covered in dust. "He got rid of his last wife, and I will get rid of you." "What?!" My face goes pale as he pulls out a knife from the pocket of his black suit. His steps are quick and heavy towards me. It doesn't take any effort for him to pull me to
**Chapter 12; His baby?** Halting at his tracks, he smiles again and informs me in the most soothing tone, "Yes, Sunshine, you are very lucky to die by my hands." Before I could make sense of anything, everything goes dark, and a force pulls me from behind. He grabs me by my hair, thrusting me into a dark room. "Who are you? What are you going to do to me?" "Nothing," he tells me, faking an innocent expression. I look around the empty room, breathing heavily. I can't find anything but boxes in this room. They are all covered in dust. "He got rid of his last wife, and I will get rid of you." "What?!" My face goes pale as he pulls out a knife from the pock
**Chapter 11: "To Die by My Hands"** "I still can't believe you are married now," Aiah says for the umpteenth time. Since I returned to this room with my best friends, it has been really quiet. "The truth is I can't believe it myself. Guys, I am scared," I whisper softly, afraid that the walls may have ears. I am now a mafia's wife. "You better, Rosé," Bali reminds me using my middle name, simultaneously giving Aiah the side eye. It has always been this way with them. Bali has no filter, whereas Aiah lives to sugarcoat situations. "As advice, you should get him on your side. Make him fall for you." "Bali!" Both Aiah and I gasp, widening our eyes in response. How can she suggest that?!
Chapter 10: My wife Renzo POV "What do you think you are doing, Storm? You are acting out of character," Giovanni informs me,sitting across me in the waiting room. He called me by my nickname, meaning he was serious. I just announced that I am going to marry Sunshine today itself. I am acting out of character. I am a planner; everything I do is structured ahead of time. But with this girl, I am being spontaneous. "I am acting spontaneously," I say, deadpanning, flicking through the document in my hand. He laughs, shaking his head. "There is something more to do with this. Why are you in haste to marry this girl? Don't tell me you like her. Or is it because she called you an asshole?"
Sunshine POV Chapter 9: Getting married "This is very important to note, okay? Some of the family members on the husband's side are vegetarian, so we need to know what to serve. Also, make sure--" I stand in the kitchen with my mother, watching her give detailed instructions to the staff about the likes and dislikes of my future family. I zone out during her second lecture because my mind keeps going back to what I said to that man. I'm rambling uncontrollably, and now I can't help but wonder what he will think of me. "The real question is, why do you care what he thinks of you?" a nosy voice in my head asks, and I have no answer. I find myself feeling something for a man I don't even know, while preparing to marry another man for whom I feel nothing.
Chapter 8; The groom is an asshole. Renzo's POV: I watch as she stumbles, her long legs elegantly poised in high heels and yet somehow completely out of balance. She has her eyes fixed on a lady making a call from the balcony. I can see the admiration in her eyes. Her outfit is far from traditional, and yet it suits her perfectly. The white mermaid dress trails behind her, sweeping across the floor like a graceful swan gliding across the lake. The dress is long, and yet there is a daring slit that ran up the side, revealing just enough leg to tantalize. Her blonde hair is styled to perfection, soft curls framing her face, like a halo of light. She looks every inch the goddess she is, even if she seems uncomfortable in the attire. I move to aid her, and she
Chapter 7: We all want bad boys The bride's room is like a fairy tale, with high ceilings and gilded mirrors. I can smell the delicate scent of roses wafting from the vase on her dresser. The heavy brocade drapes are pulled closed, casting the room in deep shadows. It's seven in the evening, and I find myself pacing around in my room, biting on my lower lip. I am nervous. Why wouldn't I be when I am getting engaged to the biggest mafia clan in the whole of New York? Ever since my parents confession a week ago, it has been a shopping spree for the marriage. And I still don't know what my groom looks like. I refused to see a photograph of him until today. Is he ugly or handsome? I wonder. What will his hands feel like? Will my heart beat fast like it did at t
Chapter 6: You're my everything I wake up to the sound of my alarm and noises from downstairs. It can't be. Last night... That man... What happened? My head hurts as I kick the Mickey Mouse quilt to my feet. My stomach churns, and it does not feel good. How can I be back in New York? Who brought me back, and why? Turning to my left, I walk to my stand, hoping to find my phone. I find my charger coiled but no phone. Weird. The noises downstairs grow louder, and I hear a sharp, devasting scream. " Mom!" The scream leaves my mouth before I can comprehe