/-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-/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- /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