GIANA POV
“Clean here too Giana, what are you? A princess?” one of the women mocks spilling a drink on the table. Thankfully the manager offered me a job after I approached him, he had wanted to ask me to join the strippers to earn my wages and my stay in the bar but he suddenly had a change of mind I was cleaning, and the other girls made sure to make fun of me for it. Weirdly they all saw me as some sought of threat, or something to play with while they were bored. “Fatty!!” one of the girls smacks my ass walking past me as I wipe down the table. “Don’t mind the girls, they will warm up to you soon, they are never friendly with new girls” the manager turns to me with a shrug I nod at him when the doors are pushed open, the night I got hired, there was a man here, he was protected by a lot of other men in black and gosh was he handsome, glorious even. His feet hit the floorboards, his honey-brown eyes shine in the low-lighted room, soon they land on mine shocking me to my core, he moves his eyes away taking a seat. “Who is that?” I whisper to no one in particular but one of the younger girls, answers me, “Handsome right?” she giggles, “That is Maximilian North, he owns this establishment and many more” She turns to me slightly “You don’t know him?” “Never heard of him,” I say my eyes following his exposed arms covered in layers of tattoos, his black beard shines in the room with a strike of white at the side. “How old is he?” I raise a brow at her mopping as I go, music piping right behind us, girls dancing on poles and men, drinks being served like every other night. She smirks “Way too old for any of us, the older women have their claim on him” she shrugs hugging her drink, she hands me another cup I shake my head in a no-gesture “I'm the only woman who has been friendly to you since you got here, if I say drink, you drink, or your life will remain a living hell here for as long as you're here,” she says her voice hard and serious like I insulted her “And it won't get you drunk” she rolls her eyes, “It’s apple juice” she shrugs passing the drink to me. I nod taking the drink from her grasp and turning everything down my throat. “Good” she smiles walking away I frown, hoping I dont get myself in trouble, I have a comfortable room here, a job that pays well and I will be out of here in a month if I save up well, they feed me, and cloth me, even if it's not the best of things but it’s comfortable, it’s mine and Dante can never take this one from me. My fingers wrap around the mop stick, last I heard, Dante and Piper were getting married this weekend, so quick, so fast, no remorse or regard for me. I bit my lip my vision going a bit blurry, I shook my head standing up. “Giana!!” the manager calls my attention to the bar. “I'm coming sir” I yell over the music rushing to meet him, he hands me a tumbler and a delicate jug of Rum. “You see that man at the edge?” he points over to Maximilian, “Go and serve him his drink,” he says, the girls giggling with each other at the corner “Me?” I frown turning to the manager and back to Maximilian, “But I clean the floors” I reply. “You serve drinks now too girl, now go!!” he exclaims his voice sharp and intense. I shake my head my eyes blurry, my movements shaky but I make it across the room to the corner with the man, the lighting around his area is a darker blue, more private I guess. “Si..r” I stutter reaching the table, my blue eyes turn to meet his intense brown ones, his fingers intertwined and his tattooed knuckles on show “And you are?” he turns to me his voice heavy and deep, almost seductive. “Giana Sir..” I frown my eyes going blurry again as I pour the drink, I miss the glass. “Shit!!” his deep voice is loud enough for anyone to notice, for everyone to hear, “you spilled the drink on me!!” he says his voice as intense as before, not angry but annoyed, maybe irritated? “I’m so sorry sir, oh my gosh!!” I exclaim my hands reaching out to wipe away the drink but stop once I realize it's on his crotch “Giana!!” the manager walks up to me, “I'm fucking done for” “Sir, I'm so sorry, she's newly hired, in fact, go to the back Giana you are fired,” he says turning back to the man He doesn't say anything, doesn't defend me, he just accepts a wipe from one of the ladies wiping away the drink on his family Jewel's. “Sir please” I try to beg one more time, tears glazing over my eyes, begging for a listening ear but they turn away from me. It's fast and quick, the girls get my belongings so quickly, the girl from earlier who handed me the drink leading them. “Also yeah, don’t trust everything they give you to drink here or you won't last long” she whispers to me throwing my bag at me in front of everyone. Embarrassed I grab my belongings and leave the room just as I came.MAXIMILIAN POVThat was almost perfect, only my heart hurt a little when tears covered her eyes when she was thrown out of the bar, but it was working out better for me.I wanted to ask the manager to just fire her and I would find a reason to speak with her and make an offer to her but she did it on her own.“Her clumsy ass placed herself in my own arms” I mutter to myself“Are you okay?” Javier raises a brow at me.“I have to go change these trousers,” I say quickly to catch up with her outside before she disappears and I can't find her.I step out into the dark the streets which are crawling with homeless men and women, “fuck” I whisper to myself turning the other way and I spot her enter an alleyway I'm too familiar with.I immediately follow behind her, my guards following behind me, I stop them, if I'm going to approach her I'm not going to make it look like some threat.I enter the alley and I don’t spot her, the space is dark with a few fires lit with homeless men huddled up,
GIANA POV“Max” I moan my voice loud in the bedroomAs he pushes me to the wall“I see the way you look at me, with those seductive eyes” he whispers in my ears pulling back and our lips mesh together again, sealed in a passionate kissHis fingers trail my thighs almost like he wants to carry me around his waist but I halt him immediately,“You can’t,” I say my cheeks turning pink from embarrassment, Dante could never carry me due to my size and always ended up with me on the floor and being laughed at by him.He rolls his eyes, grabs me easily, and throws me over his back, he turns to the dark bedroom my squeals the only sound he can hear.He gently places me on the bed, “I've wanted to fuck you since the very first day I saw you enter that bar” he says his lips leaving trails of kisses on my neck.Tingles fill my body, my nipples rising and trying to escape my shirt, “Please Max” I moan as his lips move down to my neck, my shirt still covering my body.“Patience Giana,” he says swee
Chapter sixGianna's POV“Is this a joke?” Dante is the first to speak and I wanted the ground to open up and bury me. Why, of all the men in this world, did it have to be him?Maxmillan glances at me but I don’t dare hold his gaze. I let my eyes fall on the ground like it is the most interesting thing ever.“Do you have a problem with my woman?” Max's arm instantly wraps around my waist and my breath hitches. Something about the way he says it makes me melt.“Do I have a problem? That is my fucking ex-wife!” Dante exclaims in disbelief and my palms grow sweaty. Is it too late to run? I knew this was a crazy idea but why the hell did I still agree to it?I can feel their judgemental stares boring holes through my skin. These people barely know me because Dante always tugged me away in a corner like I was something to be ashamed of.Yet, of all the worse possible things that could happen, I was more worried about the way Maxmillan saw me. Will he change his mind and realise this is a m
Chapter Seven/-Maxmillian-/He is daring me.I don't want this to escalate to a fight but if he is asking for it, so be it. Gianna is mine and the mere thought of her being the same space with her ex makes me so mad.“Are you sure you want the answer to that question?” I ask coldly, stepping towards him. Something flashes in his eyes and he moves away from her.At least he knows better than to challenge me.“I don't know what you two are planning but be rest assured, it is not going to work!” He shoots us a glare before making to leave. I catch his arm just before he passes me.“Next time I find you in the same space with my wife, I promise you, you won't get to walk out with those legs,” I say in a low tone and release him. He looks like he wants to say more but on second thoughts, he decides against it and just walks out.I turn to Gianna who looks frightened out of her mind. The raw fear and unshed tears I see in her eyes make my heart clench. She doesn't deserve this.“Are you ok
Chapter EightDante's POVFuccccckkkkk!I smash my glass of wine angrily against the wall. Just when I thought things were going as planned, that fat bitch just had to show up and ruin everything!She ruined everything!Does she have any idea that my inheritance is at stake here? My fucking birthright was going to be taken from me!“Fuckkk!” I curse again, angrily clearing my desk. I didn't even care that my laptop hit the ground. That stupid bitch was about to cost me everything!”Dante?” I hear suddenly. “Are you okay in there?”Was I okay? Would I be breaking things if I was okay? When I didn't give a response, the door opened and Piper stepped in.Her eyes scan through the mess and she stares at me with a puzzled expression.“What happened?” She asks.“Gianna!” I hiss. “That's what happened.”Her expression immediately changes. “Your ex-wife?”“You mean my uncle's wife?” I retort and for a few seconds, she stares blankly at me.“I… I don't understand…”“Maxmillian brought her to d
Gianna’s povWe returned to the mansion late and tired. Personally, I'd say it was a bad idea. I would have preferred if we went back to his penthouse but for some reason, I was back to this horrid nightmare.Thankfully, I was tipsy enough to get my mind off it. Max took me to his room and the mere thought of the things we could do in here made my cheeks heat up.As soon as the thought crossed my mind, I cursed inwardly. I wasn't the type to think about things like that but just being in the same space with Max made my brain malfunction.He was at the bar, pouring me another drink. I didn't tell him I was tipsy already, nor did I reject his offer. I needed liquid courage for whatever was going to happen tonight.“Here you go,” he offered me a glass and I immediately accepted it from him.“Are you purposely trying to get me drunk?” I asked, sipping my drink. He chuckled.“I don't need alcohol to do the things I want to do to you,” he said, sitting on the couch just across the room. I s
/Gianna’s povI didn't want to go downstairs. Not after everything that happened last night. To make things worse, Max had to leave for an important meeting earlier so I was stuck here until he came back to fetch me.The initial plan was to hide away in my room until Max came back but my stomach didn't agree. My stomach grumbled loudly and by the time I checked the time, I discovered it was way past breakfast.The only option was to cook so I headed for the kitchen to make something easy but delicious for myself. I entered the kitchen and was stunned by the magnificence of it. It was even more beautiful than Dante's and a lot bigger.I moved to the cabinets, ready to explore it when I heard a voice behind me.“What are you doing here?”I immediately turned to see a woman I didn't quite know. She was most likely a sibling of Max or maybe Dante's cousin. I wasn't sure which one but she was one of the people that didn't like me.“I skipped breakfast so I came to make something to eat,”
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- /I should run.That was the reasonable thing to do but these men all had guns. Running would be suicide, especially when all they had to do was pull the trigger.My entire body froze. I wasn't afraid only of the gunmen that tried to take my life.It was the person holding me now in his hands, telling me that everything will be okay as if he didn't just kill a bunch of people before me. Who was Maxmillan North, really? Every time I think I know him, something comes up to prove me wrong.His world was dark. Ruthless.And tonight, I had seen it in its rawest, bloodiest form.I felt his heartbeat against my cheek, steady and unbothered, as if killing was second nature to him. As if the bodies littered around us were just another part of his day.I pulled back slightly, looking up at him. His sharp, unreadable eyes met mine."Max…" My voice was barely a whisper. It didn't even sound like my voice. I was shocked and beyond terrified even when the people that were trying to kill u
Maxmillian-/The drive should have been peaceful. With Gianna in my arms, all I wanted was a little peace but apparently, I wasn't going to get that.The first bullet hit the rear mirror and Gianna immediately jumped away from me.“Max…”She barely completed the sentence before the next round of bullets shattered the back windshield.“Down!” I barked, pulling her onto the floor just as the driver swerved sharply to avoid the gunfire.The SUV skidded, tires screeching against the pavement. Another shot rang out, hitting the side mirror, sending shards of glass flying.“Where the hell is it coming from?” I demanded, gripping my gun.“Three vehicles tailing us!” the guard in the passenger seat shouted. “Fully armed!”Of course, they were. This wasn’t random. It was a planned hit.Gianna was trembling beside me, her fingers clutching my arm. “Max—”“I’ve got you, baby,” I muttered, pressing a quick kiss to her temple before rising slightly to get a view.One of the black SUVs pulled up on
Gianna-/“Gianna, wait!” Max hurried inside the elevator before it slammed shut.I let out a sigh.“You don't have to apologise, Max. It wasn't your fault, you had nothing to do with it,” I told him but I could see the guilt dancing in his eyes.“She had no right to lay a hand on you. Off all the employees, she knows our true relationship. She had no right to disrespect you that way,” he said.“I am just glad you were there to witness it and not get a doctored report later on, else you would have blamed it on me,” I muttered and something shifted in his gaze.“Are you still holding that against me? I thought we were past that?” He muttered.Past him believing his sister's lies over my truth, yeah. I guess I wasn't angry anymore, but for all I know, today could have been a repeat of that if he wasn't present. His sister would have just turned the story to favour her and he would believe her.“I am so sorry, baby,” he said softly. “I’ll make this right, I promise.”I found myself meltin
Gianna-/I was back to the same boring routine. Meetings, seminars, break, more meetings and work.Despite all that, it was better than staying idly at home. Maxmillan was still in a meeting but he dismised me for lunch break and as much as I wanted to display professionalism, I was hungry.I headed downstairs to the company's cafeteria. As I walked to the cuisine to pick my lunch, I could feel the eyes on me, boring holes into my skin.No matter how hard I tried, I could never get used to the stares. Some were glares, others out of plain curiosity and then the judgemental ones.After picking my food, I turned, searching for an empty table with my eyes.I spotted one at the far back but even as I walked, I could feel the eyes follow me with hushed whispers. After what seemed like forever, I got to table and kept my head down.I was well aware of the rumors spreading. Everyone was worried about my closeness to Maxmillan. Some believed that I was seducing him to keep my job but Max wasn
Gianna-/The silence between us stretched as I watched the realization dawn on Max’s face. He knew he had messed up—badly.“Gianna, I—”I held up a hand, stopping whatever excuse he was about to make. “Save it, Max. You thought it was a good idea to bring her here, into our home, for dinner?” My voice was calm, but the fire in my chest burned hotter with every word.He sighed, dragging a hand down his face. “I didn’t think it would be a big deal.”I let out a sharp laugh. “A big deal? Oh, of course not. Having dinner with your ex-wife is completely normal, right? Maybe next time I’ll invite Dante over so we can all play happy little house together.”His jaw clenched at the mention of Dante, and I saw a flicker of jealousy in his eyes. Good. Let him feel something.“That’s not the same, and you know it,” he bit out.“Oh, really? Because from where I’m standing, it’s exactly the same.” I stepped closer, tilting my head. “Tell me, Max—what was the point of all this? What were you trying
/-Gianna-/When Max had me to dress up nicely and prepare dinner for three, I naturally assumed it was a work associate that was coming over.Nothing prepared me to face his ex-wife, Kesley. I didn't know whether to be mad or confused.To think he even went to pick her up and she looked God, like she was going on a date. Maybe she was.The moment I opened the door, Max walked to me and kissed me deeply on the lips.“You look gorgeous, baby,” he commented and despite the way I felt inside, I found myself smiling like an idiot.“You have company,” I noted,. letting my attention rest on Kesley.“Yes, she will be joining us for dinner. Kesley meet the love of my life, Gianna. Gianna, meet Kesley, my ex-wife,” Maxmillian introduced.I could have sworn I saw a glint of disappointment in her eyes when he introduced me to her. Another reason for me to believe that she had an ulterior motive.I forced a polite smile, even as my stomach twisted. “It’s nice to meet you.”Kesley’s lips curved int
Kesley-/“She is pretty, I give her that,” I said, stirring my coffee idly.“That is all you are going to say? Your husband is with a nobody and all you can do is give her compliments?” Isabel asked in disbelief. “Is that the reason you asked me to keep an eye on him? To compliment whoever he goes out with?”I took a sip of the coffee. “Where is this form? Coffee & Cakes? I could have sworn they make better coffee,” I said and she frowned.“No, this is from the office cafeteria but that is not the point. We're talking about your husband…”“Ex-husband,” I corrected. “Besides, I don't think you should be worried about her. Max doesn't take her seriously. He is still hopelessly in love with me.”Isabel looked at me as if I had grown two heads.“Are you being serious right now?” She asked me.“I saw him at the party, Isa. I saw the way he looked at me and I can confidently tell you that if I decided to go back to that man right now, that little girl he keeps by his side. What is her name
Dante-/“Are you sure of this? How much is the deal worth?” I asked.“It's half a billion dollars, boss. They have already finalized everything with Maxmillian and the goods will move on Saturday night,” he informed me.“I see and you are certain the Russian made this offer?” I asked.“Yes boss. Dmitry Ivanov met with him to make the offer himself. The initial offer was three hundred million dollars but Maxmillan wrote it off and wouldn't budge until it hit half a billion. The goods are currently at the Chicago warehouse, ready to be moved,” he continued.Wow!These bosses come over here and wouldn't even offer me up to a hundred million on anything and yet they beg Maxmillian to sign at half a billion.Annoyance and anher bubbled within my chest. This was the same fucking deal I was bidding for at fifty million dollars and somehow, Maxmillan, who didn't even show interest to begin with was offer half a billion?My grip around my phone tightened.“Well let's see who will be celebratin
Gianna-/It was hard to avoid the eyes at every corner I turned. Everyone was just looking at me in some kind of way and it made me feel extremely uncomfortable.I gathered everything I needed and headed to the counter. Maxmillian had a permanent scowl on his face, directed at the manager. He had a pleading look in his eyes. Like his job was on the line. Maybe it was.“I got everything,” I informed Maxmillian.“Please sir, I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. I had no idea she was your…”“You don't need to have an idea of who she is before you have basic courtesy. A card was declined, you try again or ask for another one, not declare her a thief and embarrass her before everyone!” Maxmillian said angrily and the man lowered his head with a flustered expression.“If there is anything I can do to fix this, sir. I honestly do not want to lose my job,” he pleaded.“Anything?” Max asked and I immediately knew it was about to go down.“Yes, please. Anything at all,” he affirmed.“Fi