I got home from work, the tension of the day still clinging to me. I dropped my bag on the couch as I spoke on the phone with Richardson. I had to update him on my progress in gathering information about Liam. I told him everything I discovered about his new hotel. Richardson also had new and valuable information about one of my father's leading and old suppliers from South America.After my parents died, Don Antonio had laid everything out for me—the business partners, the suppliers, the clients. He showed me who my parents worked with and who they trusted. But after their deaths, those deals vanished almost overnight. Most of the partners backed out, too wary to keep working with a family whose power had crumbled and were suddenly killed.For five of the ten years I spent under the Don's guidance, I studied those old connections. I learned who my parents' true allies were. The Don tried to help me rebuild, to regain some of the partnerships my family had lost, but it was a hard stru
LIAMBy the time the day had finally slowed down, most of my employees had already filed out of the building. I glanced at the digital clock on my computer—just shy of ten PM. It had been one of those days, the kind where the hours bled into each other, swallowed by meetings, calls, and decisions.I'd sent Monique home at the usual closing time. I knew if I kept her around any longer, I wouldn't be able to resist. There was something about the way she walked around, all businesslike and professional, that drove me to the edge. The casual way she acted like she didn't feel the heat simmering between us only made it worse. If she stayed past office hours, I knew how it would end—with her bent over my desk, that red dress hiked up, and all semblance of professionalism shattered.I wasn't ready to play that card just yet. I was still trying to figure her out—what made her tick, what she wanted, why she was really here. But one thing was certain: keeping her close was part of the plan. She
The rush of satisfaction as I watched Liam's jaw tighten felt good. His eyes flickered with a mix of frustration and desire. The way he looked at me like he was on the verge of losing control, made the teasing game I'd started all the more enjoyable. It was dangerous, I knew, but there was something thrilling about keeping him right at the edge, never quite letting him have what he clearly wanted.I had to bite back a smile when he leaned in, just close enough that I could feel his breath against my lips. His eyes darkened, and I knew he was about to kiss me—about to break that final barrier between us. But before he could, I glanced down at my tablet, lifting it between us like a shield."Oh, it's an alert from Mr. Romano, your accountant," I said, feigning innocence as I stepped back, glancing at the notification.Liam cursed under his breath, eyes narrowing as his hand clenched into a fist at his side. I knew he hated the interruption—especially during this—but business came first,
MONIQUEA few weeks passed in a blur of work and routine. Liam and I settled into a rhythm—one that felt almost too natural. But this particular day, the tension and heat between us had started over something small—a missed deadline, a minor setback in the tidying up of Liam's new hotel. He even criticized my work several times.By afternoon, everything felt more heightened as the minutes passed. His mood was something different, with back and forth calls with different people concerning the project. When his effort had begun to seem fruitless, he decided to go to the site himself and supervise firsthand. Liam was raging at the contractor for leaving out information about a snag in receiving painting materials and went ahead to urge him to sign licensing for an incomplete building. He blamed me for not keeping a close watch on the updates. Even though I had only been working closely with the project for a few weeks."You should have caught these delays and lies and informed me. That's
MONIQUEThere was a raging fire in my mind—a violent battle between reason and raw desire. My body screamed louder than my thoughts, overwhelming any sense of logic or restraint. Every nerve burned under the weight of his touch, and it was like I was losing control, inch by inch.My blood felt like molten lava, heating me from the inside out, boiling me alive—body and soul, both unraveling with each second. His lips were hotter than I remembered, firmer, demanding more from me than I was prepared to give. The taste of him was intoxicating—sharp and wild, a mixture of danger and something I couldn't name but desperately craved.That first kiss that night had been a blur of alcohol-fueled lust, but this? This was different. This was deliberate. Raw. There was no hazy excuse to blame it on now. Every sensation, every taste, every touch—it was clear. Searing.His scent enveloped me, rich and masculine, almost woody and cinnamony. It wrapped around me like a noose, drawing me deeper into h
I heard a ringing in my ears when he slammed into me, my body arching as the force of it left me breathless. If not for already being folded up on the desk, I was sure my legs would've given out entirely."Fuck... Monique." He breathed out my name, low and rough, as if he couldn't control the sounds tearing out of him. Each syllable sent a jolt through me, making the heat between us unbearable. He slammed into me again, harder this time, and I swore I saw stars."Please." The word slipped out of me, but I didn't even know what I was begging for. For him to stop? For him to never stop? For him to go faster? I couldn't think straight. My mind was lost in the overwhelming sensations crashing over me.Liam answered my unspoken plea by picking up his pace. Each thrust harder, more forceful, more determined than the last. I didn't know how it was possible, but it was as if he was punishing me and himself at the same time. Then came the sharp smack of his hand on my ass, the stinging heat ra
LIAMI sat at my desk, staring at Felix and Romano going back and forth about payments from clients, but my mind wasn't on the numbers. It was on her.Monique.I ran a hand through my hair, frustration creeping in as I tried—and failed—to shake her from my thoughts. I'd told myself it was just physical, just the thrill of the chase. But now, the high was different. She was different.The last time I'd felt this consumed, I had a line of coke in front of me. The rush, the immediate hit, the way it filled my veins like liquid fire. It used to make me feel invincible, unstoppable. And then it'd leave me in a wreck, crashing hard and craving more.Monique was becoming my new addiction.Every time I was with her, it was a rush—like that first hit, sending a jolt through me that I couldn't get enough of. But even when she wasn't around, she lingered in my system. The memory of her, the scent of her skin, the way she looked at me like she saw something beyond the surface, it clung to me. I c
LIAMI didn't exactly have a playful mind, and I never really enjoyed games and surprises, but when Monique pulled me with her out of my office and down to my car, I let her have her fun. I enjoyed her playfulness, how she whispered in the ear of my chauffeur to drive us somewhere. I had asked her what she was up to, and she flashed a playful smirk, teasing me with a flap of her lashes. She had said, "Relax, don't ruin the surprise."I could have asked my driver where he was taking us, but I decided against it. Soon, we were on the street of one of my clubs. Monique giggled and stepped out of the car. She came around to pull me out of my seat and dragged me to the front of the club."What are we doing here, Monique?" I asked. "Shh. Just come with me and stop being grumpy." She tugged at my hand.It was one of my most exclusive clubs. Monique led me through the back entrance. I hadn't expected her to bring me here, of all places, but as we passed through the dimly lit corridors towar
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
LIAMThe Sapphire Pillars—my newest and most luxurious hotel. I launched it with high expectations just a few weeks ago, convinced that success would follow swiftly.But reality didn't match my vision.Business was sluggish. The halls weren't overflowing with guests, and the rooms weren't fully booked like I had predicted. Worse still, the Queen of the West had her hotel thriving at the same time, right under my nose. I'd seen it firsthand a few days ago when I'd decided to check it out for myself. Her place was buzzing with life, pulling in my crowd—guests who should've been at Sapphire Pillars. It didn't make sense; there wasn't much difference in how we ran our operations, yet she was winning this battle, one that I thought I had the upper hand in.I sat in my office, the silence of the empty offices and halls around me. Midnight had come and gone, and everyone had long since gone home—including Monique—but I stayed, lost in my thoughts. My mind spun in circles, trying to figure ou
LIAMI knew exactly what I was doing to her. She tried to fight it, to resist the pull between us, but it was useless. Every time she pushed, I felt her falter, saw that crack in her armor, and it fueled something primal in me.She was intoxicating, and I reveled in the power I had over her. I could see it in her eyes, the way they darkened with desire even as she tried to pretend otherwise. I could feel it in the way her body responded, betraying every word she threw at me.I made her wild, unleashed something in her she probably didn't even know existed. It was more than just lust now; it was something deeper, something raw and uncontrollable. And I loved it.Every look, every touch—it was like I was rewiring her. She could pretend to hate it all she wanted, but the truth was in her trembling, in the way she clung to me when I pushed her to the edge. I had gotten inside her head, her body. I could see the look in her eyes before she bolted—panic, confusion, and something else. Some
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,
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
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
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
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
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