~ 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
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ I closed my bedroom door and for the first time today; I was alone. Whatever that drug was, it still ran through my body, and it’s not fair. I groaned as I felt how much I wanted to feel David’s touch again. It’s not only about his touch. There’s more to it. Damn it. I wanted him to take me, and I didn’t want him to be gentle, either. My bare thighs clenched together, pressing against my needy core. Alone now, I could cradle my throbbing mound and touch my desperate clit. I ignored the sound of my purse as it landed on the carpet beside me, and I moaned as I tried to calm the ache with a simple touch. It wouldn’t be enough. I knew that. The drug ensured my prolonged dissatisfaction. It’s not insidious. My satisfaction would only come from David’s lack of satisfaction. He’d drunk from the same glass as I had. I picked up my purse and headed for my bed. I walked out of my shoes as I headed there. My dress slid down my body o
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ I bathed and changed. Upon exiting the bathroom, Josy stood there wearing shorts and a T-shirt. She stood there and looked at me. “What do you have to say?” Josy resisted and held her thoughts. “What makes you reluctant?” I switched the playlist and played a playlist of soft classical music. The list benefits from deep thinking and planning. I always found it calming and helped me focus. “Jake called me. He’s told me a few things.” She broke her silence and admitted why she’d been so long. “What did he say?” I was of two minds about this. I felt I needed to know everything I could. “Maria, why didn’t you tell me someone was still tampering with Belgrave Tech?” Josy asked, as she sat on the bed beside me. “Are you feeling any better?” “I thought you knew. A small improvement. The night will be long. I still felt the drug pushing through my body, making it crave a man. It’s not fair. I felt wea
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ “I don’t believe that Maria. He’s got an ego I want to smack out of him. David wouldn’t have kept you around if he didn’t feel something for you. He wouldn’t want to keep you around after he got married if you weren’t important. David would have shown you the door if you were nothing.” I looked at Josy. How was I supposed to argue that? ‘That’s not what David said.’ Or perhaps, ‘He said he could replace me whenever he wished.’ Those sounded like immature excuses to defend my stance. It’s becoming so tiring. I seek the truth to trust the words I hear. “Fine, his father tried to pay me to disappear. Now he’s insisting David must keep me around. Would you feel safe if you were me?” Josy shook her head to my question. “His family knows about me and that they can somehow profit from me. It’s the only reason I can see why they’ve changed their opinion. Well, I won’t be used. They can screw around with questionable contracts and
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ “David, I don’t believe you understand. This isn’t a negotiation. I’m not going to talk with you tonight.” This was one of the hardest things I’ve said to David. I’ve never been so self-conscious as I was now with his eye watching my face. It’s as if he was searching for a tick or twitch that would give him some detail or piece of insight that would give him the edge again. “I’d like to say I’m sorry and sure. But here is the problem Maria, I can’t. Both you and I are aware of my inability to fulfill that. Currently, we’re engaged in something about to become highly intricate. David’s hand rose to brush a strand of my hair back from my face. When he desired, he could display gentleness. Let’s talk about the past and the future. I’m not sure you comprehend all the difficulties you’re facing. You can’t do this alone. You need friend who can help you.” “Don’t you have a party to host? Aren’t you missing a perfect time to net
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ I kneeled before Maria and watched her as we spoke. She was being so stubborn and foolish. When she gave him details about her past that matched yet conflicted in with everything Jacqueline and Sabrina said to him about her. Maria told me why she was being a brat. She didn’t trust me. Jake noted my key mistake. The key mistakes. Maria’s words and actions are her response to what she knows and what she’s experienced. She doesn’t know everything. I told her some of it. She didn’t trust me, so Maria didn’t believe my words. Now, she expected me to assist her in recovering Belgrave Tech and then take possession of it from her. After that, she expected me to leave her alone with nothing. I never intended that to happen in any scenario. “What is in my e-mail?” “Something you’ll need to deal with Sabrina.” Maria shrugged, even though she looked over his shoulder. “Maria. What did you find?” I couldn
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ His shocked expression as he fought his emotions made me shudder. I’m unsure whether he’ll end up angry, regretful, vengeful, or something else. She was uncertain about her future whereabouts. How could he think I would believe his lies? Considering his behavior towards me all these years. No, I can’t accept that he would change like this overnight. This conversation proves my point. He’s putting on an act to get what he wants. When he bought it, I’d be nothing to him again. It didn’t matter if he believed he wanted to keep me around as a lover afterwards. He won’t need me at some point. Set it aside. Kicked out. Thrown away. Put out with the trash. I’m aware of what that was like already. I would not walk into that position again if I could help it.Fate’s sick twist made the man I despise, also the man I desire. My mind redefined love, equating it to hate as two sides of a coin. I swear this man left men wanting to scre