Gianna-/It's been over a week.Over a week and I haven't made contact with any other human except my bodyguard. If I placed an order, he brought them to me. If we were out of groceries, he made sure to order them.He didn't leave my side, just the same way I wasn't allowed to leave the room.I was slowly losing my mind from all the isolation. I would sit by the window, stare outside at all the people passing by, just to remind myself that I wasn't alone.I tried calling Maxmillian. He was the only contact on my phone after all but he wouldn't answer the phone. Instead, he would call the guard to ask if everything was okay.There was simply no way to get his attention and I was sick of it.An idea came to mind. A ridiculous one if I might add but it was most likely going to work. I moved to the kitchen and picked up a knife.“Oh, God, please don't let me kill myself,” I prayed.With a deep breath, I pressed the knife lightly against my palm, just enough to break the skin but not enoug
Maxmillian-/“I can't stay here anymore, Max. I need to do something. I can't just sit here at home and stare at the walls, you know,” she said.My lips stretched into a frown. “I don't want you working. I can give you ten times your earnings in any place you chose to work,” I stated.“I don't care about the pay, Max. I can't continue depending on you for everything. I need my own money to do the things I want and get whatever I want…”“We're saying the same thing, Gianna. I don't need you to work. I'll give an allowance every week,” I interrupted and she groaned.“You are missing the whole point,” she muttered and I sighed.“Fine!” I let out a sigh. “You can work.”Her eyes lit up.“But there is a condition for it,” I added and her smile faltered. “You have to work for me. As my PA. I want my eyes on you all the time.”I know I was being controlling and overprotective but this woman was mine and I'll be damned if I let anything or any man take her from me.“It's either that or you s
Gianna-/It's been only three days sinde I started working with Maxmillian. I didn't think he could be any more infuriating.My first was just an introduction to what I was experiencing. He became strictly professional and overbearing. If he was having mood swings or any of his partners pissed him, I bore the end of that frustration.Not to mention, that his sister, Melody was here as well as the HR.I sucked in a deep breath and stepped into the office.“I got the files you requested for, sir,” I informed him. He was backing me, cigarette in hand.“Get over here, Gianna,” he said and I dragged my feet in front of him with the papers. “Drop them on the desk.”I obeyed and stepped into his line of sight. He didn't look too good. The stress lines on his forehead were enough proof.“Are you okay?” I asked.“No, baby,” he answered. “I'm very stressed.”The fact that he addressed me as baby told me that he needed me as a wife, not an assistant.“Do you want a massage?” I asked him.“No,” h
Gianna-/“You must be Gianna.”I glanced at the woman beside me in the elevator. I have only seen her once or twice. Even then, I didn't know what department she worked with.“Yes, I'm Gianna. You are?” I kept my tone as polite as possible.“Isabel,” she responded. There was this air of arrogance in her tone, like I was supposed to know her from the mere mention of her first name.“Okay.” I said simply and glanced at the floor number of the elevator.“You know who I am right?” She pushed further and I glanced at her.I frowned slightly. “Should I?”Her lips curled into a smirk, arms folding across her chest. “I work closely with Maximilian. We're partners and friends since college.”Ah.That explained the arrogance.I kept my expression neutral, though my grip on my bag tightened slightly. “Okay,” I said, keeping my tone deliberately flat.Her smirk widened. “That’s all you have to say?”“What else should I say?” I shot back.Isabel let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “I see why
/-Dante-/It's been days and I haven't been able to reach her. I could tell something was wrong because Gianna didn't have the courage to go against me.I was still debating on what to do when Piper descended the stairs in a mini dress. It barely covered her thighs and exposed a lot of cleavage.“Where are you going, Piper?” I asked.“Movie set,” she shrugged.“Dressed like that?” I asked and she raised a brow at me.“And what is wrong with that? Didn't you meet me dressed exactly this way?” She retorted.“Are you seriously using that tone with me?” I growled. A bored look crossed her face and my fists clenched.She was acting like a spoiled brat again. Gianna wouldn't even dare dress like this when we had home guests, talk more of going out with it. But here was Piper, audacious and annoying, challenging me.“What exactly is your problem, Dante? You think just because we're dating now, I'd change for you? You better think again!” She hissed.I exhaled sharply, rubbing my temples. Thi
Gianna-/“What is this?” I could barely contain the curiosity and excitement in my tone.It was weekend so I was staying home with Max, of course, but he went out earlier this morning, only to return with these.“Sit on my laps, beautiful,” he said and I blushed a little. I was wearing nothing other than his T-shirt, so when my ass settled on his lap, a satisfied expression crossed his face. He easily slipped his hand under my shirt.I shivered slightly as I felt his rough palm slowly move upwards.“I got you something,” he said out of the blue. To say I was surprised was an understatement. I didn't even want to feenIt was quite a small box, yet I could hardly control my happiness at the fact he gave me a gift.“Take it easy, sweetheart. It's not running,” Max snorted, stroking my back gently.I eventually opened the box and my breath caught my throat.“Diamonds,” I breathed.“Do you like them?” He asked. Was he serious? How could I not like them?“I love itttt!” I squealed, throwing
Gianna-/Maxmillan had an ex-wife?I mean, it was understandable, he was almost forty but he never mentioned anything about her to me.Having her in front of me, with him tensing up like this made my stomach churn. I couldn't help but feel like there was still something between them. Lingering feelings that were yet to die.“What are you doing here?” Max asked her. “This isn't a place for you.”Kesley raised a brow at him. “It's not? I'm guessing it is a place for your little girlfriend then .”I expected Max to correct her. To say I was his wife, not girlfriend but he didn't and my chest tightened.“We are solely here for business,” he went ahead to say, adding more salt to my injuries.Kesley's eyes wrecked through me and she snorted. Her eyes twinkled in amusement as if she knew something that I didn't.“I see you still haven't changed. I hope you have a lovely night,” she said simply and walked away. Max's eyes followed her until she was completely out of sight.“Max…” I called, m
Gianna-/“Tough night, huh?” Marco said beside me. He was a scary huge man that I saw once in a while with Maxmillian.He was almost never around but I knew he was some sort of second in command to Maxmillian. If I could call him that.“Yes,” I swallowed a lump.“I take it my boss is getting on your nerves, huh?” He chuckled and I shot him a look. There was nothing funny about this.“Champagne?” He asked, trying to ease tension.“Will do,” I shrugged.He got two glasses from the server and handed one over to me.I took a sip and stared at the bunch of classy hypocrites before me.“You know, the boss really likes you, Gianna,” Marco said and I rolled my eyes.“Yeah, that's what I think sometimes.”He chuckled but didn't say anything. I decided to ask him the questions that were bothering me, since he was rather eager to play defense.“Can you tell me about Kesley? What was she like and why did they separate?” I asked him and his expression changed.I already knew his answer even before
/-Gianna-/Ariel and I sat down to have lunch at a local restaurant nearby. The food was cheap but it was super good. “Hey, so tell me, what was your life like before Germany?” She asked. “I’m sorry if I'm prying. It's just that Mrs Heidi says you are a foreigner and you do sound like one.”There was no harm telling her, as long as I didn't mention Max or the mafia or that I was running away from my husband.“It's fine,” I smiled. “Italy is wonderful place afterall. I'd be crazy not to want to talk about it.” She looked even more excited than I was. “Italy, huh? You don't sound Italian but I'm all for the tea,” she said and I chuckled. “Really? What do I sound like then?” I asked her. “You don't have an accent so I'll say American,” she said and I shook my head with a smile. “You are very wrong, Ariel. I sound every inch Italian,” I let my accent accentuate the words and she gasped. I chuckled. “I just used to watch a lot of English and American movies growing up so I became ver
/-Gianna-/Life was so simple and ordinary. I resumed work and honestly speaking, I have never been so free and happy.Even though it felt like a part of me was missing, it was relatively easy to go about my day.Glamor was a pleasant place to work. They didn't have a flood of customers as other big hotels, but they still had enough customers to keep the place running efficiently.“Are you done for the day?” I heard a voice behind me suddenly. I jumped, startled by the sudden question. “I'm sorry, didn't mean to scare you.”I turned, surprised to see Manager Johann. I only met him once two days ago when Mrs Heidi introduced me to him. I didn't think much of him then, only that he was a nice man who took me in even though I barely had any qualifications.“Good day Manager Johann,” I greeted immediately. “It's a pleasure to see you here, Sir.”I kept my smile as bright as possible. He chuckled.“There's no need to address me with such formalities, Gianna. You can just call me Johann,” h
Gianna-/Germany.It felt like I was stepping into the world for the first time. I checked out my bags and headed outside the airport.I honestly wasn't sure where I would go from here or how to start over. My mind shifted to Max and guilt clawed my chest.Was this the right choice? Running away like this?I didn't have time to think about that. It was no use anyways. If I stayed with him, Dante would either kill him or his enemies would kill me and my baby.It was a hard choice to make. I didn't even have the audacity to ask him to leave the Mafia for me. I knew he wouldn't.First step, I needed to check into a hotel and get settled in, then start planing my life.I hailed a cab and got it. The hotel was nothing like I saw back in China. It was beautiful and exquisite in its own way but I couldn't stay here.It was way too expensive. I couldn't afford to throw money around like that.“Can you take me somewhere cheaper? Like very very cheap for an average person?” I asked the driver.
/-Piper-/Eric North was such a daddy. Tall, sexy and handsome. I could barely keep my eyes off him.We were having dinner at one of the most expensive restaurants in town and Dante… well Dante didn't seem too thrilled to meet his uncle.In fact, he was grumbling all the way here. He spoke about how Eric had singlehandedly murdered his brother's just so he could become Chairman of the North Group.Now, these were all allegations. No one has proof so he couldn't be charged. While Eric was bitter about that, I found it hot.“It's good to have you both join me,” Eric smile, eyes flickering to me. “And you are even more beautiful than the last time we met, Piper.”My cheeks grew red.“I see your husband is taking good care of you,” Eric smiled, but there was something behind that smile. Something that sent my body spiralling with heat.“Damn right I have!” Dante cut in. “Why have you asked to see us? What do you want?”“Always so forward, Dante,” he chuckled. “Is it wrong to have dinner w
Maxmillian-/She was gone.I returned to the suite but she was nowhere in sight. I check literally everywhere!From the room to the bathroom to the pool area and even the balcony but she wasn't there.The main reason I rushed back here was because of the alert I received on my phone. I know I gave her my card to buy whatever she wanted but I thought she would just order food since she was still weak.But seeing that amount, I was more than certain it couldn't be her. Gianna wasn't that reckless and extravagant. Not that I cared about the money she spent, I just knew she wouldn't allow herself to. She was too money conscious.I began searching the hotel itself, going floor by floor but she was nowhere in sight. The fact that she was sick made me even more worried.Where could she gone to in her condition? The thought of her passing out somewhere made me even more afraid.I tried calling her but for some reason, I couldn't reach her so I sent her a text, hoping she wasn't out cold somew
Gianna-/Run away.That was what my mind was singing for the last few days.I was going to, no doubt, but how to do it was the issue. I didn't have the finances, first of all.Yes, Maxmillian paid me as his PA, but it wasn't enough for me to just vanish. I would need food and shelter when I leave the country. I was going to be jobless for the first couple of months, I needed money to last me that long.Whicb was why I came up with this ridiculous plan, just in case I found my chance. Max always gave me the black card whenever I went shopping so hopefully, if I could just go shopping without him, I could withdraw as much money as I needed and vanish.A part argued it was theft but the other part reminded me that I was married to this man. Spending your husband's money is not stealing.“Are you going out?” I asked quietly. I was still in bed, tugged under my blanket, while Max was dressed in a shirt and tailored trousers.“Yes, but I'll be back shortly. Three hours tops,” he responded.
Gianna-/The doctor walked into the room just as Maxmillian was leaving to grab lunch.“How is she now?” Dr Morales asked.“Still throwing up but arguably better than last time,” Max responded. “I'm just going to get her lunch.”“Oh, that's good to hear. Go ahead, while I examine her,” she said and Maxmillian left the room.The woman walked to me with a very bright smile. Too bright for someone visiting a patient.Just before I could assume the worst, she broke the news.“Congratulations, Mrs North. You are four weeks pregnant!” She told me and I sprang off the bed in shock,. momentarily forgetting the fever.“What?!” I gasped. “You don't mean that, right? It's a joke…”Her expression faltered a little. I guess she was expecting me to be happy but how could I be? I was barely surviving with Maxmillian and now, I was about to dd a baby to the mix? I would be insane to be happy in this situation.“Unfortunately, it is not a joke, Ma'am. You are indeed pregnant and I believe it is a good
/-Gianna-/I felt sick.Throwing up constantly in the bathroom, not to mention the splitting headache that followed.I pulled the duvet over me, clinging to it tightly for warmth as Max was no longer in bed. I needed warmth.Desperately.My eyes burned and I could feel the fever creeping in. Where the hell was Maxmillian?Almost as soon as the thought left my head, he returned to the room.He was with a tray in his hand . He went to get breakfast for us.“Babe, are you okay?” He asked, joining me on the bed. I scooted closer to him, craving body warmth but afraid to expose my body to the cold at the same time. “You're cold?”I nodded.He picked up the AC remote and turned it off.“Why did you tell me that earlier, baby?” He muttered, wrapping his arms around me. As if he could sense it, his hands went to my neck and instantly widened. “You're running temperature.”Of course I knew that. I could barely open my eyes because of it.“You're going to fall sick, baby,” he said,. helping me
Dante-/They were out of the country?!Gianna had the audacity to leave the country after I gave her a timeframe to kill Max? She must really take me for a fool.Obviously, I have given her way too many chances, that is why she thinks it is okay to mess with me.She was testing my patience. Stepping on the tail of a tiger to see if it would bite, huh? I wasn't going to spare her this time!Piper's laughter snapped me out of my thoughts. I immediately shot her a glare.“And what is so funny?” I growled.“Nothing, just remembered that once upon a time, I said someone's plan was going to fail and they took it for granted. Thought I was just being a bitch. Now I can't help but wonder how that is working out for them,” she mused.Is she seriously mocking me in this situation? That fucking bitch! Sometimes, she makes me wonder how the hell I even ended up with her. She has been nothing but a thorn in my flesh. Always ready to laugh at my failures.I was about to reply her when a call came i