Irina Warren hopped from his chair upfront and met Esmeray with a fatherly proud hug. Every single soul in the conference room was impressed with her proposal. They were clapping their hand, quenching Esmeray's thirst for validation. I bolted out of the conference room with Philo walking right behind me. “Esmeray stole your proposal, Ms. Irina. How did she get her hands on it?” She inquired as we finally set our feet in the office. I was boiling in anger and it was finally on my brink. I scraped every file of my table and screamed out my anger. I narrowed my furious eyes. Philo stepped back as I sauntered towards her like a predator.“You tell me. How did that little ogre get her hands on my proposal.” “It's not me. Were you implying that I ratted your proposal to her? Why would I do that? I was the one who convinced you to present it.” “And you're the only one who has access to that, Philo. I entrusted it to you.” “I didn't do it. I'd never betray you.” Tight-lipped, Philo's j
IrinaAlonzo wrapped his arm around my body even more. Tears continuously flew from my eyes down to my cheeks. My voice broke and I was breathless as I sobbed in his arms. Alonzo's hold of me was the only thing that kept me on my feet.Alonzo cupped my cheeks, "Baby, what is it? Hmm? Tell me what happened to you, Irina." He demanded but his voice remained soft.I tilted my head to gaze at my room, but looking back at that place only brought me fear and so, tears flooded my eyes again."D-Damian.... h-he's inside and he tried to t-touch me. H-He tried to rape me." Alonzo's eyes darkened into oblivion of anger. He was ready to bust the door and beat Damian up, but I clung to his arm and broke down even more, halting him to join me on the floor."Don't leave me, please. Don't go. I need you here. Alonzo, don't leave," I said repeatedly while my hands were tightly clutching his dress shirt.Anger burned brighter in his eyes. Alonzo took out his phone to call someone while I buried and hid
AlonzoA deafening silence took over my car as we drove back to the hotel from the courtroom. In the corner of my eyes. I could see Irina playing with her wedding ring, while she ran her hand on her neck now and then, an indication that she was feeling uneasy.I held the steering wheel tighter and ang pressed my upper lip to the lower one even more."Damian was sentenced to ten years in prison. Tomorrow he'll be brought to the city jail. It's not so bad." Irina finally said something."Not so bad? Are you trying to console me or yourself?" I asked. I didn't mind hiding the annoyance in my voice."Ha? No, I mean, all of this is so much better compared to what I expected, Alonzo. Do you want to know what's running on my mind these few weeks that we're coming back and forth to the court?" She asked me. Irina's voice cracked and I felt like an asshole for having an outburst.I should have kept my cool and thought of what she was feeling instead of letting my bad temper take over."I was n
Alonzo"I can't believe that we're standing here watching Damian's cock get burned by a raging fire," Kaius commented. I stopped musing and turned my eyes to him. Kaius darted an inquiring look and then his lips slowly rounded up as he mumbled, "Oh." "Yeah, you did ask me to do something. I might have forgotten to report the details to you, but it's done. Our private security is scattered all over the hotel. They are trained to be discreet. Irina would never notice them.""You better be sure of that, Kaius." "I am, Leandro." My eyes who were gazing at him darkened. "Irina isn't around. She won't hear me call you by your real name. You can't hide your real identity from her forever, Leandro." "I know!" I spat irritably, "But I don't want her to hear it from someone else so you better shut your mouth Kaius, or else." "Or else what?" Kaius provoked. "You'd cut me off and stop being friends with me?""If my relationship with my wife fell apart because of your mouth then yes. I'll cu
IrinaMy forehead creased to absolute confusion as I realized that Alonzo's office in the hospital was locked. I gripped the paper bag filled with homemade food that I learned to cook over the weekend because I wanted to send him a packed lunch as a peace offering. I twisted the doorknob for the second time and it had remained locked. "Ms. Irina?" A female nurse came up to me with another set of confusion spiraling in her eyes. Her orbs rolled down on my hand. "Is Alonzo in the middle of an operation?" I gazed back at my fake husband's office. "Can you open his office for me? I have something that I want to personally give him. I don't mind waiting, so just please open the door for me. Can you do that? Are you allowed to do that for me?""I can do that for you, Ms. Irina if Dr. Waldorf is indeed in the middle of an operation," she said meaningfully that held back the smile on my lips."He was not?" I asked."Dr. Waldorf has not been coming to the hospital for a few days now. He wa
Irina I was busily and mindlessly playing with my wedding and engagement ring as I watched the divorce lawyer open her lips and discuss the steps to filing the divorce paper. I knew she was talking, but for some reason, I couldn't hear her words. All that my head was capable of at that moment was to replay the scene that I saw at the restaurant and sulk at the fact that Alonzo, a man whom I deemed was the closest to being the man of my dream was a cheater too."Irina." Eve gently tapped my arm. I blinked my eyes and looked at the fountain pen that Atty. Archimedes was offering me. "H-Ha?" I asked, still soaked in my confusion. "You have to sign these divorce papers, Irina. Here, in this spot," Atty. Archimedes said as she pointed at my name printed on the paper. I took the fountain pen from her hand and was about to sign my name on it when my lawyer spoke again. "If you need time to thoroughly think about this. It's fine too, Ms. Irina. You can send the papers to my office after
IrinaStanding in queue to pay for my groceries. I was musing and zoning out, mind out of my head when I noticed a tall man standing up front. Alonzo is way taller and has a more intimidating and domineering frame compared to him, but by the standard of most, this man was attractive too.He smiled shyly and scratched the back of his head."H-Ha?" I asked bemusedly."Oh, you didn't hear me the first time?""Yes, sorry. I was out of it, but you were saying.""I'm Ethan, and I own that small café across the street. Care for a cup of coffee?" He said straightforwardly.I reached for the strap of my flap bag to adjust it on my shoulder. His mouth formed a circle."I'm sorry. God this is embarrassing. I-I didn't know that you're married."My eyebrow twitched a little."How did you know that I'm married?"His eyes narrowed down on my fingers and I was instantly reminded
Irina"Oh, I'm sorry about the late introduction. I'm Alonzo Waldorf, Irina's husband." I struggled to keep breathing as I could feel my family's eyes directed towards me. All of them are waiting for me to confirm whether Alonzo is indeed my husband, or not."Irina, who is this man and is he telling the truth? You're married to him? Who even is this?" Warren asked in a small voice. We are in a public setting. He'd never dare raise his voice here and show the public the real him.Warren slowly panned his eyes to Alonzo, "Who are you?" He asked. Alonzo laughs mockingly, but his eyes are gentle. He doesn't look like he's mocking my father even when I know that he is."I believe that I had just said who I am, Sir," Alonzo replied sarcastically, but still with a gentle tone shrouded in his voice."I'm not asking for your name. I'm asking from what family you came from. You may find it hard to believe but for rich people. L.A.
IrinaScreams and gasps filled the place. Leandro jumped a punch at Damian. Lucio ordered Kaius and Hyunjin to break the two from each other while I was left zoning out at the portrait."Let go of me! I'll kill that man. I will fucking end him. How dare you go near my wife ha?""Leandro!" Lucio's warning call bombed the place. The hard-headed Sterling stopped struggling to get the freedom that he wanted from both Hyunjin and Kaius's grip."Leandro you know better. Places like this have rules that no one can break even if you're the patriarch," the old man reminded his grandson. Leandro shoved his best friend and Hyunjin.Leandro reins in my cheeks. He looked at Damian who was being helped to stand back on his feet."Did he do something to you? Did he touch you?" I shake my head at Leandro."If you don't believe me. A DNA test is a great resort to prove that I'm not lying to you." Leandro throws a cold sta
IrinaThe necklace was a bit heavy, the heaviest out of all the diamond necklaces that I wore. Having the Sterling around my neck made me aware of every breath that I took and let go."Ahvi is it safe to wear this at the auction? What if this got stolen from me? What if I got kidnapped because they wanted to take this necklace from me?" Ahvi panned a wide grin at me."This necklace is worth millions. This will be a hot item for thieves," I said again. Ahvi missed the chance to respond."The place was secured like it's the U.S. military base. If that wasn't enough to assure your safety, we have our own security tailing us, the best out of their litter, and Leandro will be next to you at all times. Nothing will happen.""How are you sure? How can you be so sure?""Because when I turned eighteen and until last year I was wearing that necklace in every event like this auction. Nothing happens, except for people staring at me
Irina"Hi." It took me a good minute to process whether what I was seeing was real."It's a miracle that you're here and aren't stuck in one of your important meetings," I replied genuinely, and yet it sounded like I was being sarcastic towards him.Leandro sipped on his coffee while he was at it. He pulled a chair for me with ease."I asked the staff to serve your favorite," Leandro spoke the obvious. I stretched my arm to pat off the foam of his cappuccino from his upper lips."You said that you'd let me think thoroughly before I decide whether I'd join Dark Society or not.""I did. I remember telling you that last night," he said meaningfully. I know that he remembered something else from last night."Then what's all this? You're lurking around, Leandro.""May I know why I can't look around? You hate it when I'm busy and not around. You hate it too when I am around. Nothing that I do pleases
IrinaLeandro locked the door. I was already wagging my hands to escape his grasp, but none of my attempts succeeded.Once he was sure that I wouldn't be able to leave the room through the door, he let me slip away from his hand."You were holding me too tightly, it hurts!" I whined like a five-year-old finding a way to find fault with someone else even when it was my fault, while I slid straight into this trouble.Leandro stands proudly. His eyes were ablaze with both lust and impatience."Kneel, Irina." His voice was laced with patience carefully sewn and attached to it, yet Leandro still sounded like he'd burn the world with me if I didn't follow him."Are you letting me repeat myself, Irina? Kneel now or I'll have you chained in that fucking bed and overstimulate you until you pass out."I was feeling a little goofy. I wanted to cross more of his line and see when and how he'd snap at me."Leandro you know h
Irina I've already seen Kaius dragging his feet towards me, yet I acted like I didn't notice his presence. He breathed deeply and scratched the back of his head frustratedly."To you, everything we do all boils down to us being a heartless murderer. Believe it or not, we have a reason why we do what we do," Kaius started to explain and I stopped pretending like he's a ghost I can't see."Rufus' father betrayed Lucio, Irina. Lucio almost died in an ambush because of his father. I admit, at that time, Rufus had nothing to do with this. He shouldn't have suffered.""He's a collateral to his father's betrayal. Rufus's father brought that fate upon himself and Rufus did the same thing to himself.""It's so stupid of them to think that DS and the patriarch wouldn't retaliate to their actions."Kaius stuck out his tongue to wet his lips."There is no way we could spare Rufus's life. If we give him the position that he want
IrinaThe door opened. A sigh of disappointment escaped my lips as I saw a maid with my food enter the room."It's dinner time, Mrs. Sterling.""Wow!" I scoffed sarcastically, "I'm Mrs. Sterling now.""The patriarch's real surname was Sterling, and you are his wife. Mrs. Sterling was the right way to address you." I snapped my fingers and a life jolted in my body with the thought that I found a hole out of this hell."Tell Leandro to come here. I need to talk to him.""The patriarch will come up here when his time allows it. The patriarch is currently in the middle of an important meeting." I stood up and sauntered to the table where she put my food. I snagged the steak knife from the plate and placed it near my wrist."Leandro might quickly find a time to come up here once he hears that I slit my wrist." I was internally whimpering in pain as I cut through my wrist but was forced to keep a straight face
IrinaTears were falling from my eyes. It was unstoppable. My tongue got stuck inside of my mouth. It went numb, all of my other senses shut up as fear ruled over my head."Please, let me go. I don't want to die. I'm a Hayes. I'm Irina Hayes. I'm from a powerful family too! I can help you hide from Leandro and the Dark Society!" I pleaded with a quivering voice."For you to say all of this means that you don't have an idea just how absolute your husband's power," Rufus said to me. He chuckled manically in my ears."I would love to see that cocky man's world fall apart as he hugs your bloody body, begging for you to open his eyes. I want to hear him scream that he'll do everything too to fear your pulse again!" The anger in Rufus' voice was stern and firm, it was cold."Rufus, let Irina go. I'll give you everything that you want. Money, a way out of this place, even a spot in the organization."Rufus hand loosened, b
IrinaI called Lucio. I wanted to know right away what he meant by that, but he had seen this coming. His phone was off and I couldn't get to him. I took a sleeping pill to aid me sleep, but even after I had it, I still found it hard to relax and fall asleep."What does he know about Alonzo that I need to know?" I asked myself after I was done with my lipstick.I fondled my chest and helped calm my emotions by exercising a breathing technique for anxiety that I learned from a therapy that I had in the past."Good morning... oh, you're dressed up nice. Off to somewhere? You didn't tell me that you have plans today," Alonzo commented. He hugged me, it took me a while to hug him back. Alonzo was keen on details. He didn't speak more about his hunch, but his eyes watched me carefully."It's a sudden one. It'll be done quickly. I'll head straight home after that.""How about, Eve? You two still didn't make up." I sighed.
Irina"Cater to me and my needs, Irina. Fuck me every time I want to be fuck. That's my offer in exchange for the yacht and my house. Trust me, this requires effort just like any other job."My mind shut down as my cunt had a dripping blast after I heard it from Alonzo, an indecent-sounding proposal, but an exciting one too.In a situation like this. I'd call Eve right away and ask her to help me decide, but because we're still not on speaking terms, I have to find a way for her to forgive me. Here I am stuck in the bathroom.Notification of an email from Harley that popped on my phone while I was zoning out on my reflection in the mirror made me realize that I still have someone that I can consult too.I leaned against the counter. A weight was lifted off my chest after Harley's voice took over my ear."I just sent the revision of the contract, Ms. Irina. You're done reading it? Please, I worked on that for four hours, is ther