Gianna-/I didn't realize I hit her until she staggered back, clutching to her cheek.I stared at my palm in disbelief. I didn't think I had it in me to retaliate or defend myself.“I didn't mean…” I started but she immediately lunged at me.“Did you just hit me? How dare you?!” She growled, hitting me. I took the first slap because I deserved it. I should have just talked back rather than raise my hand on her.But then the second slap came and she claws going to give the third when I caught her hand.“That is enough, Melody. I was wrong to hit you but that doesn't give you enough reason to hit me thrice,” I told her, shoving her back. Her eyes blazed with fury as she stared at me.“You think two slaps is enough to erase the imprint of your filthy hands on me? You have another thing coming,” she said and stormed out of the kitchen.I stood for almost two minutes, trying to process what she just said to me.I cleared up the debts and walked out of the kitchen. I sat there in my room, w
Gianna-/“Hey.”I opened the door slowly.“May I come in?” He asked.“It's your house,” I muttered, walking away from the door. he entered the room with a tray of something I couldn't quite tell.He set it down on the table and sat on the couch.“I brought you breakfast,” he said.“Okay,” I said simply. Silence followed for a few minutes. “About last night…” he started. “I talked to my mother and sister. They are going to stay out of your way from now on and I hope you can stay out of theirs. We are only staying here for a few days and then we will move to my house so you don't have to deal with anything.”“Okay.”“Okay? That is all you have to say?” He asked.I looked at him. What else would be have me say? He already concluded without hearing from me and now he was talking like he was doing me a favour.“Yes.”He let out a sigh. “Are you mad at me?”I looked at him in disbelief. Was he seriously asking me that after everything that happened?“I don't have anything to say to you,”
/-Maxmillian-/“Boss, the shipment has been secured,” my right hand man informed me. I took the file from him and scanned through it. I shut the file and glanced at him.“Clean?” “Clean,” he confirmed. “Move it to the warehouse and get it ready for dispatch. Tell the boys to clear up RCee for tonight. Volkov will be there at 10, you all must be in position. I don't trust that son of a bitch,” I instructed. “Yes boss,” he bowed and made to leave but I stopped him. “Wait…” I opened my drawer and took out some big bundles. I tossed it to him and his expression shifted immediately. “You boys did good. Go buy yourselves a drink.” He tried to contain his smile as he bowed. “Appreciated boss.” “Hey, I said drink. I don't want any of you getting high on my shit. We have to be alert tonight. I need you in your right frame of mind!” I stated. “Yes boss."As he walked out of the office, Dante entered. I furrowed my brows at him. What the hell was he doing here and why didn't my secretary
Gianna’s povI finally finished bandaging my injuries and exhaled. I had to clean up the mess she made because arguing with her would only trigger another set of accusations I wasn't ready to deal with.Just when I thought I could finally rest, a call came to my phone. It was an unknown number. I ignored it at first but the person became very persistent until I got pissed and answered.“Took you long enough,” the voice made me freeze.Dante? What the hell does he want from me now? Didn't Maxmillian ask him to stay the hell away from me?“What do you want?” I asked coldly. He chuckled“Come on, sugar, there is no need to be in a hurry. You see, I just wanted to remind you of some things you seem to have forgotten…”My blood immediately ran cold. I didn't like this at all. Not in the least.I hated the fact that he had one singular mistake over me. A mistake that has ruined my life for years.“I already told you, Dante. I didn't know Max was related to you. If I did, I promise you, I wo
/-Gianna-/My heart stopped.Max stood in the doorway, his broad frame blocking the doorway as he took in the room.Oh, God! I am screwed. There is no escaping this! Then his gaze locked with mine and I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. Anything to avert this embarrassing moment.His eyes flickered from me to the half-dressed man groaning on the floor, and then back to me. The air in the room grew suffocating.His jaw was tight, his knuckles still clenched from the punch he had just thrown. Every muscle in his body was wound like a predator ready to strike again. He was not just angry, he was furious. Enraged.I swallowed hard. “Max, I…”“Not. A. Word,” he bit out, his voice dangerously low.My mouth snapped shut.The man on the floor groaned and tried to sit up, blood dripping from his nose. “Who the hell…”Max moved so fast I barely saw it happen. Another punch landed, harder this time, sending the man sprawling onto the carpet again.“Shut up.”Max’s tone was pure venom.
Gianna-/I waited for him to return that night. I didn't know what he was going to do to Adrian or how he was planning to handle it but I was worried.Adrian was a dangerous man. He was always in the news for one mishap or other, yet no one dared to arrest him.He has strong backing of some people in power and from what I heard, crossing him was like signing a ticket to hell.Which was why I was afraid for Max. He was dangerous in his own kind of way, but not enough to face Adrian. That man could kill him and not give a hoot about it.My phone rang and I ran to it, hoping it was Max. Even if he was pissed at me, I just wanted to know that he was okay. I needed him to be okay.I would never forgive myself if something happened to him.The unknown caller ID made me frown. It wasn't Max, of course. I answered the call.“Did you like our little surprise, sweetheart?” Dante's annoying voice sent me to a fit of rage.“How could you set me with a monster?! Even though you have been nothing b
-Gianna-/The sharp crack of leather against my skin stole the breath from my lungs. A strangled gasp escaped my lips as white-hot pain bloomed across my backside.I clenched my fists against the wall, my nails scraping against the surface as I tried to ground myself. My body trembled, not just from the pain, but there was also this sweet sensation that sent a trail of goosebumps down my skin."Count," he ordered. His voice was dark with a dangerous depth to it.I swallowed hard. "O-one."“Who do you belong to?” The deep possessiveness of my body trembled.“You.”Another lash. I tried not to squirm.“Keep counting.”"Two."Tears burned at the edges of my eyes. I didn't understand why my body was responding this way. I should be in pain, that is what he wanted right? But why did it feel like the exact opposite? Like he was going easy on me."Three."My legs wobbled. I bit down on my lip, trying to hold back the sob threatening to break free."Four."“Will you let that happen again?” th
/-Gianna-/I was sore. My legs were trembling and I could barely move from the spot where I lay.Maxmillian was nowhere in sight. Not in bed and possibly not in the bathroom. I would have heard the water running if he was.A small wince fell off my lips as I pushed myself off. The TV was on and as tired as I was, the news was the last thing I wanted to see this morning.“... Business mogul, Adrian Fedorov, found dead in his car this morning. While the possible cause of death remain unknown, everything else points to suicide…”My breath caught my throat. Adrian was dead.How was that even possible?I didn't want to think about the possibility of it. That Max could be a killer.But the look in his eyes when he came in last night. I immediately reached for the tv remote and turned it off. I didn't want to think that Max killed someone because of me.This had to be one hell of a coincidence. Just then, the room door opened and Max walked into the room dressed in a loose black shirt and ta
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
Maxmillian-/It was Arrica.I knew from the very beginning and those spiders were confirmation. I just couldn't let Gianna know that. She hates me enough, I couldn't give her another reason to hate me. Especially on this vacation.I had to leave it all to Zhang while I texted Marco, my right-hand. He was supposed to handle this before it got to us.Marco; I'm sorry, boss. We were still tracking her but we have her now.”The text was a little annoying but I had to put the distance into consideration.Me; Fine, but take care of her this time. I don't want her causing any more trouble for me. Fail and I would have your head on a platter.Marco: Yes boss.I hung up the phone and turned to Gianna who was now asleep. She had been so worried and restless. She needed the sleep.Her phone rang beside her and I picked it up to avoid waking her. The caller was unknown so I answered it. I didn't say a word and waited for the person to speak.The other end of the line was silent. The person was wa
Gianna-/It happened so fast that I almost didn't see it happening. One minute, a gun pointed directly at me and the next second, countless shots were fired.The masked man dropped to the floor and my grip on Max's hand tightened. Mr Zhang stepped forward to check it out.He took off the mask and it was no one special. I looked at Maxmillan and he didn't seem to recognise the man either.So he really knows nothing about this? A wave of relief washed through me. Maybe Max really had nothing to do with this. Maybe this wasn’t about him. Or me. Maybe we were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.Zhang kept examining the body for anything that could give us some form of clue, I think.By the time he lifted the man's shirt, he suddenly froze.“What is it?” I asked. Max stepped forward with me clinging behind it. It was a spider tattoo.Maxmillan's expression changed.“What's wrong? Why won't you tell me anything?” I groaned. I was too terrified to be kept in the dark right now.“Leave