~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ I don’t think I could go any paler than I was already. If David wasn’t holding onto me, I might not be standing on my feet right now. The thought of what would happen. I can see in his eyes that David knows what would happen. He wants to hear it from me. David wants to hear me say I can’t look after myself. That I can’t manage the company. “Come on. Sugar, you know what will happen. Stop wasting my time. Must I set a time constraint? What’s the matter? Is reality too much for you? Last night, you assured me that my security people were unnecessary. Does this change your mind? I dislike how you’ve endangered my possessions. Since you own Belgrave Tech, and I own you. By default, I own both. Maria, can you see my point? I can’t trust you. Which means I need some assurance from you.” I couldn’t stop the gasp as I started into his burning gray eyes. What did he want now? Why couldn’t he rip the bandage off and tell me straight up what he wa
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ “Listen well Maria Belgrave you have a several things to learn tonight. First, you’re mistaken if you thought I would toss aside an investment. Second, it’s like you have some kind of racehorse breeding and special sought after traits. Yet, you hid that from me. Now I’m correcting that error. Third, for now you’ll be Maria Bell for your safety and my convenience. When the time comes, we’ll disclose who you are. If anyone finds out we’ve slept together you’re the slut Maria Bell with a sweet as pie pussy I love dipping into. Understand? You’ll sign an amendment tonight stating you’ll follow my directions to deal with the Vines family and Belgrave Tech issue. After that, you’ll grace my bed when I say, your security detail follows you everywhere including into your home. I, Jake, and the security detail will have full access to your home. Keys and codes. Staff information, schedules, deliveries, all of it. No, arguing. If I don’t authorize your clothin
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ My heart raced, and my legs threatened to shake. I could feel my stomach muscles tighten at the intimate feel of his warm touch against the cool, wet silk. My breathing had become ragged. “What the fuck did you do David? Why am I like this? Ah.” I couldn’t stop myself as I moaned. He made swift work of cutting my panties apart, leaving me exposed. He then removed them altogether and looked down at his unhindered view of my most intimate region. A region he considered he owned. “I’m glad to see you maintained here too.” The scissors disappeared and his hands caressed my inner thighs with no hurry. “What did I do to you? It wasn’t me. The man to thank for the roofie we drank was none other than Chris. I saw him do it and like I said. There’s one man who gets to use this and it’s me. Look at how much you need me. It’s been but a few nights without me diving into here.” David thrust three of his thick fingers into the depths o
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ “Oh my God. Dramatic much. What happened? Maria?” Josy asked me. Now in the car, Josy saw the physical and emotional state I was in. However, she had already abandoned the joke about being dramatic. I saw instant regret on her face and I’m sure Jake did, too. His face hardened, and he turned tail and ran into the house again. I lost my composure then. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. Tears threatened, grief and pain resurfaced. People, places, and all I’d lost. To gain it all, to lose it again. Overwhelmed, everything poured out in a torrent. Josy watched in horror; she’d never seen me like this. No one has done so in so many years that I cannot name them. I hadn’t cried like this since the night my father died, witnessed only by a cab driver. I can’t recall when I last cried like this in front of someone. Ridicule for ruining my appalling appearance didn’t lend well with calming down and ending the tears. Maybe. I am the c
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ Jake found me leaving my office and did one thing I didn’t expect him to do. He pushed me back into the office and closed the door behind us. “Jake, please step aside. I must...” “David I may work for you but I’m also your friend. She’s headed home and in an absolute state of fury. I’m unaware of your actions, but that wasn’t Maria as I know her. She all but ripped my head off when I suggested she should wait for her bodyguards. She also looked high or drunk.” Jake took a chance to breathe. He halted his pacing, glanced at me for the first time. “Do you have the same symptoms? What is going on?” “The asshole Skyler spiked her champagne with something, and I drank the last of it to piss him off. I didn’t know at the time he’d pulled the stunt.” I was feeling it too. My brain felt trapped, like an oversized balloon in a cramped space. I want Maria under me again. “The ass has some fucking nerve
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ When we returned home, I felt a little better. I remained angry and betrayed by every man in my life. “Alright, here you go. Anything else you need?” Josy offered me a glass of water. I shook my head as I accepted it. “Thanks. Soon, I’ll go upstairs to change, but I need a moment to relax.” I was unsure of my thoughts. What was there to think about? There’s no choice for me. David ensured her lack of choice, which irritated her. He hadn’t let her read that bloody amendment and she’d signed the damn thing. Why had she done that? “Why don’t you tell me what happened? Let’s collaborate on our response plan.” Josy had dropped her shoes on the floor by the front door when we entered. She dropped our purses in the kitchen when she went to get the water. “I’m not sure how he caught on so fast. But he’s the first to figure out that I’m Maria Belgrave and he’s using it against me. Davi
~ JOSEPHINE SOAPER ~ I watched Maria disappear upstairs. That bloody bastard. He couldn’t bother to poke holes in a condom. No, he just barebacked his way into her life to force her to marry him. Maria didn’t get it. David wouldn’t leave a child with her. Hell no, he’d destroy her by taking everything, including the child, from her. Leaving her with less than nothing. No home, child, business, family, husband, or life. I entered the kitchen and placed the glass in the sink. Grabbed my phone from my purse. Jake called me six times so far and texted me eight. There’re voicemails, too. I ignored all of it. If I didn’t, I might try to strangle him through the phone. I called the door sized person’s number. It rang twice before he answered it. “Finally, did you make it home safe? Or are you taking Maria to the hospital? David is with a doctor now.” “What? Why on earth would David require a doctor?” I thought he woul
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ “Well, Doctor, what damage might this medication inflict? I mean are there any kinds of medications it can conflict with? Or can anyone be allergic to it?” I asked the doctor, who finished bandaging my knuckles and removed my IV. “What are you trying to ask Mr. Hargrove? Are you experiencing something you haven’t told me?” The doctor asked me more questions. I could see he was trying to seek clarification of some sort. “No, uh, well, someone else drank from the same glass and I’m concerned they might not seek medical attention.” I felt concerned about Maria now that my head was clearing. She was furious, and she didn’t have a clear thought. I wasn’t thinking either. “Side-effects and allergic reactions are always possible. Researchers test general groups of medications, not individual groups. That person must seek medical attention if they have problems. I can’t diagnose them without seeing them.” The docto