MONIQUE"...Monique," someone whispered.My heart was pounding before I even opened my eyes. The sheets clung to me, damp with sweat, as I struggled to remember where I was. I gripped the mattress beneath me, trying to steady my breathing, but the panic had already set in—raw and unshakable. My name echoed again, softer this time, cutting through the haze of fear.I jolted awake, like I'd been falling and had finally hit the ground. My eyes shot open, locking onto a pair of dark green eyes on a face that was vaguely familiar. I let out a scream. Loud. Desperate."Shh... shh, Monique, it's me. You're having a nightmare," Liam's cooed softly. But I stared at him—stared into the eyes of my parents' killer, the man who had ripped my world apart.Tears blurred my vision, hot and unstoppable, as the memories of the nightmare crashed down around me. The nightmare, the terror—it was him. And here he was, of all people, comforting me through the very nightmare he had caused.I trembled in his
LIAMWhat were these feelings?I wasn't used to opening up to anyone, much less a woman. No one knew about my past—except maybe Felix, but even with him, there were limits to how much I let him in. What the hell was happening to the barricade I'd put up?Why the hell had I told Monique my life story? What was it about her that made me let my guard down? I'd need to keep an eye on that. Monitor myself, make sure I didn't go too far.I'd never taken a woman out on a date. Never spent the night in the same bed with anyone—until her. From the moment I woke up after that first night and found her gone, I knew she was trouble. The way her mysterious disappearance unsettled me... I hadn't expected to be affected like that.Now, I was at a crossroads. I could either let her in completely, or I could cut her out of my life before things got out of hand. But the idea of pushing her away made my pulse race, and not in the good way. No, I wanted her close—too damn much. When she woke up, screamin
MONIQUEStanding in my hotel lobby, watching it thrive, gave me a rare sense of satisfaction. The place was bustling—guests flowing in and out, the hum of conversation and clinking glasses filling the air. I couldn't help but smile behind my aviators, a magazine in hand, blending into the scene as if I were just another guest.I took a sip of my coffee, pretending to be absorbed in the article, while in reality, I was taking in every detail of the operation. I had taken a break to meet Richardson, curious to see how the hotel ran in my absence. It was running smoothly, better than I could have hoped.For now, no one in the lobby seemed to notice me. To the staff and guests, I was just another customer, lounging at the café with my croissant and magazine, waiting for a ride or perhaps passing the time. Perfect.Richardson slid into the seat across from me, giving a brief nod before leaning in. "By the hint of a smile on your face, I take it you're quite impressed by the workings and bu
LIAMI wanted to ask her who the hell that guy was, but I held back. Not because I didn't care—I did.A lot.But the real question was whether it was even my business. I'd asked her once if she was sleeping with someone else. She never gave me a straight answer, and I didn't push it. Still, seeing her slip out of a man's car looking guilty made me wonder why we never talked about it again after that day.If she was in a relationship, then I had no business sniffing around her panties, and she had no business taunting me and flashing said panties in my face all day, everyday like she wasn't getting enough from her man.I've stolen, lied, and done whatever it took to get to the top. But I wasn't the type to take another man's woman. Yet, here I was, fuming and mad with jealousy. Because I wanted her, and I hated the idea of anyone else having what I thought should be mine.Seeing what I'd just witnessed only made an already bad day worse—all because of her. Felix had called me earlier w
MONIQUEWalking out of Liam's office, I felt a strange mixture of pride, relief, and confusion swirling in my chest. Pride because I was getting damn good at this. Standing there while he questioned me about the false intel, I had feigned ignorance and even a bit of self-reproach like a seasoned pro. My face didn't betray a thing, even though my heart had been pounding the entire time.The relief washed over me as soon as I stepped out. He hadn't questioned me about anything more serious, hadn't pressed me about Richardson, even. I'd been worried all afternoon that he was on to me, that somehow, he'd pieced things together and I was moments away from my cover being blown. I mean, with the strange way Felix had been staring at me when he came. But no. It had just been about the fake information.Why hadn't he brought up Richardson? I'd half expected him to corner me about it the second I walked in. I had already rehearsed some explanation, prepared to lie through my teeth. But it never
MONIQUEOver the weekend, I spent some much-needed time with Sophie, my only real escape from the chaos surrounding me. With Sophie, everything felt simple. She had this innocence that I clung to—a break from the manipulation and lies that filled the rest of my world. We spent the day having brunch and strolling through the park, and for a few hours, it was easy to forget about everything else.But then my phone buzzed, and reality came crashing back in. It was my reminder telling me about my regular visits with my godfather.After parting ways with Sophie, I made my way to Don Antonio's mansion. As always, the place was a fortress—an empire of wealth and influence.I found him in the garden, tending to his roses. He looked up when I arrived, his weathered face breaking into a broad smile. "Niña, my dear. Always a pleasure." He opened his arms, and I leaned into his embrace, a familiar warmth that reminded me of my father, no matter how hard I tried to suppress all memories of him.We
LIAMI always got what I wanted when I set my mind to it. And when I didn't, things got bad—not just for me, but for everyone around me.The two things I wanted most were solid deals, great business returns. And her.It didn't take long for me to realize how badly I wanted her. The wrong intel she'd fed me about the Queen of the West? It didn't matter anymore. People made mistakes, right? What bothered me was not knowing who that man was to her. That question gnawed at me until I finally let it loose.Was he a lover? A family member? I remembered she'd once mentioned having a brother. Even though I did my research after she told me her full name, all I found under "Monique Harris" in Midtown Manhattan was a middle-aged woman with three kids. No brother in sight. But maybe I missed something. Maybe she wasn't local to Manhattan after all. So, I let that slide.But now, standing in front of me after I'd asked about the man from the other day, she looked shocked—downright trembling. I co
MONIQUEThis was disgraceful. I had no control over my body anymore, every rational thought drowned in the heat of the moment.What the hell was I doing?The question barely had time to form before his fingers slid my panties to the side and found that tiny ball of nerves between my legs. A low moan escaped me, muffled by his mouth as his fingers began to move, stroking my clit with maddening precision. Each stroke was slow, deliberate, and sent waves of pleasure rippling through me. His mouth tasted of whiskey, and it intoxicated me more than the alcohol ever could. I drank him in, greedy for more. My body wanted more—no, needed more. He was unraveling me, piece by piece.I reached for his belt again, desperate to feel him, but he caught my hands, pinning them behind me. His lips pulled away from mine, his breath warm against my skin as he shook his head."No," he whispered, his voice rough and full of control. "Let me handle this."His fingers teased my clit again, and I whimpered,
MONIQUEWe kissed for so long that I started to become lightheaded, my breaths shallow, and the world around us seemed to blur. The terror of my nightmare nearly forgotten. My eyes fluttered closed again, lost in the sensation of his lips against mine, the heat of his body pressing closer. I just needed to enjoy this.Every kiss deepened, his hands sliding down my back, pulling me closer. I could feel the pounding of his heart in sync with my own, both of us on the edge of something we desperately craved.His fingers traced the hem of my sleep shirt, then he started lifting it, the fabric gliding over my skin in a slow, tantalizing motion. My body reacted immediately, a soft shiver running down my spine as his hands caressed the newly exposed skin. I raised my arms, letting him pull the shirt over my head, tossing it aside carelessly. His gaze darkened as he looked down at me, his eyes roaming over my bare chest, taking in every inch like he was memorizing the sight. The intensity of
LIAMI felt oddly relaxed. The day had been... something. The hike, the laughter, the lighthouse view—it all felt like a dream I didn't know I needed. But what made the day better was watching Monique. Her smile was different today. It wasn't her usual guarded smirk or the polite curve of her lips she gave when she had to. No, this was real. Genuine. She was excited, full of energy, and for the first time, it was like she let herself forget whatever demons she carried with her. That energy, that spark in her, was contagious. I found myself smiling more than I had in weeks, just because she was.As we settled in for the night, I drifted off easily, a sense of calm wrapping around me like a warm blanket. But the peace didn't last long.I woke up to a noise. It was faint at first—just some shuffling, then mumbling. I thought maybe Monique had gotten up, but the sounds grew louder, more frantic. A scream tore through the silence, jolting me out of bed. My heart pounded in my chest, adrena
MONIQUEI hated sharing such a personal moment like that with him.The kitchen incident replayed in my head, again and again, all night. Conversations over hot chocolate had always been my thing with my mother, a sacred ritual of sorts. It was our comfort, our peace—a symbol of warmth and love. And now, I had shared that moment, that intimacy, with Liam Sterling, the man responsible for taking her away from me. It felt like a betrayal, like I had given him a piece of my heart that he had no right to.I had gone to the kitchen to calm my nerves, to find some quiet in the chaos that always seemed to creep up on me when I tried to shut my eyes—nightmares and hallucinations about the past. The hot chocolate was supposed to ground me, to give me a moment of clarity. But instead, I ended up sharing it with him, the man I was meant to destroy.I hated myself for it.After that awkward exchange, I left Liam in the kitchen. I couldn't stand to be in the same room with him any longer. He was st
LIAMShe was right. I hadn't realized how much I needed this getaway until I was on the plane, staring out at the clouds below. Monique had been unusually adamant about the entire thing, practically threatening to toss my phone into the toilet if I kept trying to check in with Felix and my other men. The moment we arrived on the island, I called Felix, and she let me—for now."I'm out for the weekend," I told him, leaning against the railing of the ferry that was taking us to the Outer Banks. "Won't be very active online."Felix chuckled on the other end, but I could sense his concern. "You? Out of action for a whole weekend? Sounds like you've either been kidnapped and you're saying this under duress or it's a weird girlfriend order, Liam. You good?"I glanced at Monique, who was standing at the other end of the ferry, talking to one of the crew members about our arrival. The word 'girlfriend' played in my mind over and over. She wasn't even my girlfriend, yet here I was, playing alo
MONIQUERomano stared at me like I had grown a second head. He hesitated, his gaze flicking between Liam and me, before settling back on me once again with a raised eyebrow, twitching with irritation."No offense, but financial matters are for the boss alone," he said flatly.I kept my expression neutral, but inside, frustration was simmering. This was my shot to get a glimpse into Liam's financials, and Romano wasn't budging. "Liam's in no shape to meet anyone right now. I'm just trying to help."Romano glanced at Liam again, his features hardening. "I get that, but this? This is something I can't hand over. You know how he is. He'd lose it if he found out I discussed his financials with someone that isn't him." His tone was firm, but there was a flicker of unease beneath his words.I bit back a sigh. So much for Liam's trust. If he'd specifically instructed Romano to withhold financial information from me, it meant I was still being kept at arm's length. And that was a problem. I ne
MONIQUEI was a loving daughter, always eager for my parents' attention. But as I entered adolescence, their business consumed them. I remembered the hollow ache I felt when their focus shifted away from me, how I would sulk and brood, convinced they had stopped caring. There were days I wanted to throw a tantrum, scream at them for always being too busy, for not noticing how much I missed them.But one day, when I came home from school, Mother called me into the kitchen, her graceful figure perched on a stool by the counter. She looked perfect, as always, in a crisp white suit, sipping hot chocolate. Without a word, she passed me her mug, a gesture that I was used to. I took a sip, unsure of what was coming next.She smiled softly, her eyes warm, and said, "There is nothing in this world that will ever stop your father and me from loving you. And there is nothing we wouldn't do for you." Her voice was filled with the reassurance I hadn't realized I needed.She explained that their wo
LIAMDays dragged on, each one feeling heavier than the last as I anxiously waited for some kind of movement from the contacts on Felix's list. The buzz about my offer had been circulating for days, and yet, the return was a far cry from what I'd expected. A few potential clients had reached out, but their orders were laughably small—barely making a dent in the mountain of merchandise sitting untouched in my warehouse.I had just wrapped up a virtual meeting when a new message popped up on my phone. It was from a contact I'd already reached out to.Can we meet? I have some questions about the merchandise. The message read.My frown deepened as my heart kicked up a notch. This was a step forward, but I was playing this game anonymously. I couldn't afford to expose myself, especially with how risky things were. I wasn't taking any chances.I quickly decided to send one of my men instead—someone reliable, someone who wouldn't draw attention. But not just anyone.I couldn't use Felix for
MONIQUELiam Sterling was clearly a man who didn't like to lose. I'd seen him lose his cool when things weren't going his way. And I'd seen him act like the King of the world when things went his way. It was one thing we had in common.I was still weighing things and mapping out my plan. The clock was ticking and I knew I had very limited time before Liam sealed his deals.I dialed Richardson immediately I came up with a plan, my mind already working on the strategy. I glanced around to make sure no one was coming."I need you to do something for me," I said, the moment he answered."Name it," he responded calmly."We need to act fast with this, so listen carefully. I want you to use the same means we used to divert people from his hotel launch to mine. But this time, we'll plant false information about his so-called high-quality merchandise. Make it look like his product isn't safe, that it's compromised somehow."There was a brief pause. Then he hummed " I think I know someone who c
MONIQUEI spent the entire weekend trying to push thoughts of Liam out of my mind. But no matter what I did, he lingered. At least, by the time Sunday rolled around, I was in a better state of mind than when I stormed out of his office. My emotions weren't so raw, though they still simmered just beneath the surface. I knew I couldn't keep them bottled up forever. So, I decided to confide in Sophie.Of course, I left out the more dangerous details—like the fact that I was a drug dealer with an alter ego, working under someone else. I wasn't ready to open that part of my life to anyone. Instead, I told her the simpler version: that I had feelings for my boss, and it was getting complicated.Sophie had listened intently, giving me that warm, knowing smile of hers. After I finished, she had offered her advice."Monique, you're making it harder on yourself by fighting it," she said. "If you both feel something, why not let it happen? You've told me how intense it is, how undeniable. Maybe