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,