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44|Brutal Ending
Last Updated:
2024-12-28 02:32:04
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Reckless Hearts 45|At All Costs
While one relationship ended in the presidential suite, another began at the Italian restaurant on the ground floor of The Castle. Despite their shaky beginning, and once the introductions and initial angst were out of the way, Andrei and Anton warmed up to each other. It helped that they had a lot in common. Both men were raised by single and demanding fathers. Their educational backgrounds were similar, too, since they had attended all-boys boarding schools. They also had the same mindset regarding business and would stop at nothing to win. Over a round of drinks and Cuban cigars, Anton took Andrei through a detailed presentation on Nexus and their shipping requirements. By the time they were done working out the surface details of their partnership, the restaurant was empty, save for a few patrons scattered around the dining hall. With their business concluded, they shook hands again, with Andrei promising to send Nexus the contract in a few days. "What are some good places to
Last Updated : 2024-12-31Reckless Hearts 46|All The Holes In His Plan
"Thanks," Andrei murmured as he entered the room, glad Holly didn't send him packing like he was so sure she would. His joy, though, was quickly replaced by a rage he hadn't felt in ages when his gaze fell on the ugly marks on her neck and the side of her face. The son of a bitch had roughed her up at some point after she left him at the restaurant. He never liked the bastard, but this…the bruises on her creamy skin were all the confirmation he needed that Cooper Stanton was a piece of shit. Following his line of sight, Holly quickly pulled up the collar of her pyjama shirt to hide the bruises from him. "Did you ask the receptionist for my room number?" she asked, looking mad as hell. "Would they have told me if I had?" he countered. "Then how the hell did you find me?" "Well, we all know you have exquisite taste, and nothing less than a presidential suite will do for the Anderson princess." "If you came here to antagonise me, you can leave," she snapped, pointing at the doo
Last Updated : 2024-12-31Reckless Hearts 47|This Hate That I Have
"Whatever happened, whatever Cooper did, I need you to understand it wasn't your fault, okay? You did nothing wrong," Andrei assured her. Holly shook her head, "It was my fault. Some of it, at least. I should have been clear about our relationship. I thought I was. But—Oh God—" Her words faltered, and her voice died off as she began hyperventilating. Andrei felt as useless as a glass hammer as he helplessly watched Holly fight through her panic, unable to think of anything he could do to bring her immediate relief. But before he could second-guess himself and overthink things, he pulled her close again, resting her head on his chest as he draped his arms around her shoulders. "I'm okay," she said over and over, her words muffled on his chest. "He—he—" "He hurt you," Andrei uttered the words Holly couldn't bring herself to say. "I told him I didn't want to see him anymore because seeing him hurts. I can't watch him live the life that I want. I can't be around anyone from the Ins
Last Updated : 2024-12-31Reckless Hearts 48|Pretend Girlfriend
When they were alone, Andrei pulled out a chair for Holly and made sure she was comfortable before pouring her a glass of wine. "You still like your steak bloody, I see," she murmured, swirling the glass in her hand. "Like my enemies," he flashed her a smile as he took a seat and reached for his plate. While she toyed with her wine glass, Andrei focused on his meal, cutting the meat into small pieces before swapping their plates. "Dig in," he said, topping up his whiskey glass. "You really didn't have to cut it up for me," Holly murmured, frowning at him. "I'm not as spoilt as you think." "That's debatable." "You're breaking my heart," she rolled her eyes as she placed her hand on her chest, feigning heartbreak. "What heart?" "Touché," Holly laughed as she shoved a small piece of steak in her mouth and closed her eyes in bliss when the scrumptious flavours hit her taste buds. "Is it that good?" Andrei asked, liking this side of her. He was so sure she'd whinge about the mea
Last Updated : 2024-12-31Reckless Hearts 49|Flowers Die In Her Presence
Andrei was so overcome with joy and relief that before he knew what he'd done, he already had Holly in his arms, twirling her around the room. "Put me down!" she said, squealing like a little kid. "You won't regret it, I promise," he smiled as he gently set her down, his gaze staying a little too long on her damn luscious mouth, and when she flicked her tempting tongue over her lips, it took everything in him not to give in to his caveman urges. "I still want the penthouse," Holly said, pulling away from him. "But I'm not renting it from you." "What do you mean?" "I mean, why the hell would I want to rent the place when I can own it? Sell it to me and you have a deal. I'll act like such a loving girlfriend, Papa Ivanov won't know what hit him. In fact, I'll be so convincing he'll want us married in no time," she replied as she sat down again and muted the TV. "Deal," he replied, plopping beside her. "Deal!" she smiled, grasping his hand in a firm handshake. And there it was ag
Last Updated : 2024-12-31Reckless Hearts 50|Desperate Times
When Andrei and his men got to the warehouse several blocks from the barbershop, Lev and the security team were already on the premises, hard at work, gathering whatever little evidence they could find. They headed to Denis' office in the back, and while they waited for Lev to finish up with his guys, Andrei finally plucked up the nerve to call Holly. "About earlier," he began as soon as she picked up, but she had no interest in hearing how sorry he was. "It's late, and I need to get some sleep. Send me the venue details for Monday night, and I'll be there." "So, we are still on, then?" "Of course. This is business," she assured him. "You want to trick your father, and I want my penthouse back." "Look, what I said was meant as an inside joke—" "Seriously, Andrei, I don't care," Holly snapped, icing him out. "Draw up the purchase agreement and send it to me by COB today, or the deal is off!" "It's Saturday," he said as he checked the time on his watch, unable to believe he was
Last Updated : 2024-12-31Reckless Hearts 51|Wilful Arrogance
Andrei quickly reached behind him for his gun and aimed it at Cooper. "Lock the door and shut the blinds," he said, motioning to him to get moving. Cooper was smart enough to do as he was told, reading the situation for exactly what it was, a nightmare that could end in a few minutes or last several hours based on his choices alone. "What is this? How did you get in?" Cooper asked, and Andrei had to admire his ability to remain calm even when his world was spiralling into chaos and the walls of his cookie-cutter townhouse were fast closing in on him. Had he not touched Holly, Andrei might have even liked him a little for trying to scare him off as he clumsily waved his phone around and threatened to call the cops if he didn't let go of his precious Chloe. "Relax," Andrei said dismissively. "I'm not a psychopath. I don't hurt defenceless animals. You know who else I don't hurt?" When Cooper remained mute, he continued as he set Chloe beside him, "Women!" "I don't know what you'
Last Updated : 2025-01-09Reckless Hearts 52|Follow The Trail
Andrei didn't have time to panic and stress over his countless mistakes with Cooper. He had a meeting with his attorney. So, when he got home, he jumped into the shower again and changed into a fresh set of clothing, removing all hints of his extracurricular activities. Adrian Blaine, heir to Blaine Inc, a law firm catering to Rock Castle's royalty, arrived soon after, and they settled down on the patio. Over a hearty breakfast, courtesy of Helga, they worked on the purchase agreement, oblivious to the cool morning breeze and the miserable view of the once-majestic Cape Dutch building across the road. Halfway through their meal, Andrei threw a spanner in the works when he asked Adrian to draw up a year-long marriage contract and a prenup agreement. "Excuse me?" the attorney choked on his coffee, panic flickering on his face as he coughed and gasped for air. "Did I hear you correctly?" he continued once his coughing fit had died down. "You want a marriage contract and prenup agr
Last Updated : 2025-01-09
Latest chapter
Reckless Hearts 66|Wounded Her
After their call earlier, Andrei wasn't expecting to hear from Holly again, but when Helga ran upstairs and crashed his meeting with his lieutenants, excitedly announcing Holly's arrival, he'd left his study faster than the Flash, eager to see her. So her cold reception—no, her rage simmering just below the surface—was the last thing he'd hoped for. "You are upset," he said, unsure if he should approach her. Holly followed his lead, staying put on her end of the room, her hands curled into fists, shaking at her sides. It was clear as day she was trying her damnedest to hold her anger in, and he wanted so much to take her in his arms, if only just to make her feel better. But her sharp intake of breath, followed by a fierce look, told him to stay the hell away from her. "What exactly do you think of me?" Holly asked just when Andrei began to think they'd spend the entire night staring at each other. "What do you mean?" "Do I look like some damsel in distress to you?" "Of course n
Reckless Hearts 65|Blindsided
"No," Holly whispered, gasping for air as the walls of her chest moved closer, squeezing her lungs. "He wouldn't do that." "He did, and right in front of Sabrina," Cooper said in a hauntingly calm voice. "I didn't realise you have a thing for psychopaths." "What the hell is he saying? He's not making any sense!" Liam said, glancing at Holly, annoyance and confusion flitting on his face. "Yeah, what does Andrei have to do with this?" Willow chimed in. "I'm so confused!" "For God's sake, Holly, tell me you are not involved with Andrei!" Liam said softly, disappointment and anger burning brightly in his eyes. "Oh, they are involved, alright. He was with her at The Castle the other night, threw his weight around like some hotshot," Cooper added fuel to the fire, fanning the flames of Liam's rage. "Is it true?" He demanded, turning all his anger on her. "Were you with Andrei a few nights back?" "I was," Holly admitted, nodding her head. "But it's not like that. He agreed to sell the
Reckless Hearts 64|Off The Rails
For once, the family dinner was going well, despite Holly being almost two hours late. They were all minding their own business and enjoying Nanette's four-course meal. They were all happy. Until Liam addressed the elephant in the room, asking about the marks on Holly's neck. When she made it clear the subject was not up for discussion, he doubled down, demanding to know if Cooper was responsible. Soon, Willow jumped on the bandwagon, and Holly knew she didn't stand a chance. So, after much badgering from the brother-sister tag team, she caved and filled everyone in on her encounter with Cooper and her subsequent protection order. As expected, her parents were furious, threatening all kinds of legal action against Cooper. Liam and Willow were equally enraged, but happy to settle the score with violence. "Honestly, you guys have nothing to worry about; I've handled it. The hearing is in three weeks, and I'm pretty sure the judge will rule in my favour and grant me a permanent o
Reckless Hearts 63|Ultimatum
Holly woke up feeling happier than she had in a while. How could she not be when she'd shared not one but several kisses with Andrei? She sprung out of bed and belted into song as she went about her morning, preparing for her visit with her parents. But, like all good things, her joy came to an abrupt end when Katherine pounced on her as soon as she stepped into the lobby hours later, as she headed to Glen Eagles to meet her folks and siblings. "What the hell is wrong with your phone?" Katherine demanded, grabbing Holly by the arm and pushing her towards the revolving doors. "I called you numerous times, and the imbeciles at the front desk refused to give me your room number. You have got to put the brakes on all this madness. The Institute can't afford any more negative press—" Katherine's wild appearance—from her uncombed hair to her mismatched outfit and the poorly done makeup—made her look as frazzled and agitated as she sounded. A complete opposite of the woman Holly had known
Reckless Hearts 62|Unravelling
"Earlier, in the elevator, you mentioned you had something to tell me," Andrei said, well aware he was trying to delay his departure by making meaningless small talk. "Right! I did!" Holly leaned on the doorjamb and crossed her arms. "I saw your father today. No. I mean, Pavel." "Where?" "At the Mediclinic in Linksfield." "Are you sure?" "Dead sure." She nodded. "He was in the neurology wing, and I chatted to a nurse…" She paused mid-sentence, shaking her head slightly, like she was trying to convince herself that whatever she saw was unimportant. But she'd certainly piqued his interest, especially since neither his father nor Pavel had mentioned any hospital visit. "What did the nurse say?" "Honestly, maybe it's nothing—" "What did she say, Holly?" He asked, his voice cracking with worry. "What did the nurse say? Is Pavel sick? Does my father know?" "It's not Pavel who's sick, Drei," she replied quietly. It took him a moment to make sense of her announcement, and when he
Reckless Hearts 61|Thin Line
Unable to look away, Andrei watched her vigorously dry her lush hair with a hand towel, the thin fabric of her nightie stretching over her barely-there chest, the exposed skin on her arms gently calling out to him, seducing him into breaking all his self-imposed rules. Andrei stood up, grabbed the throw blanket and draped it around her shoulders, averting danger and temptation, for the moment at least. "What is wrong with you?" Holly snapped, a stormy look in her eyes as she tried to shrug off the throw. "You'll catch a cold in that skimpy thing," he replied. But it wasn't her wellbeing he was concerned about. It was his own sanity and peace of mind. He didn't trust himself to behave in her presence, and if their heated encounter in the elevator was anything to go by, surely keeping his hands to himself was a challenge he was destined to fail. "You must be starving," he said, redirecting his thoughts to something banal, like food. Still focused on her hair, Holly shrugged, "Not
Reckless Hearts 60|Playing A Dangerous Game
On the other side of the door, in the living area, Andrei was battling his own struggles. The only difference, though, was that his were totally self-made. Levi had pounced on him as soon as Holly and Colleen locked themselves in the bedroom, demanding to know what he was playing at. But no matter how many times Andrei told him to calm down and let go of his not-so-farfetched suspicions, Levi wouldn't back down. "What the hell do you think Liam will say to this?" He asked for the gazillionth time, and Andrei closed his eyes in frustration, replying for the gazillionth time that he couldn't care less what Liam thought because nothing was going on between him and Holly. "How many times do I need to say it? There is nothing shady going on here. It's just business!" "What kind of business?" Levi pressed, following him onto the patio. Andrei shoved a cigarette in his mouth and lit it up, taking a long, angry drag as he weighed all his options. "So, what kind of business do you have
Reckless Hearts 59|A Constant Hunger
"Well, well! What do we have here?" Colleen, winking slyly at the two of them, was the first to pick her jaw up off the floor. Levi, on the other hand, opened and shut his mouth several times, clearly struggling for something to say. "Don't just stand there; grab her crutches and handbag!" Andrei instructed them as he scooped Holly up in his arms and stepped out of the elevator car. He paused mid-step, calling over his shoulder at Levi, to lead the way. "Excuse me?" Levi dashed after them, easily keeping up with Andrei's momentum by matching his long strides. "You heard me! Lead the way to your private elevator. We are not getting in that one again—" Andrei stopped and indicated at the lift they'd just vacated by extending his thumb behind him. "How the hell do we know it won't malfunction again?" He asked, glaring at Colleen and Levi. "Not to mention Holly banged up her knee badly because of your old, barely-maintained elevator!" "Drei, stop it," Holly whispered, wishing the grou
Reckless Hearts 58|Like Drinking Poison
Holly gulped at the intensity of Andrei's gaze, flicking her tongue over her suddenly parched lips as she rubbed her clammy hands on her pants. "You have got to stop doing that," he groaned, holding his head in his hands. Wide-eyed, she asked, "What? What did I do?" "That thing you do with your tongue!" "What thing?" "Forget it!" Andrei replied. "Just don't do it!" "Fine then!" Holly laughed, returning to the dull, throbbing pain in her knee. She'd banged it up pretty badly when they were thrown around the elevator earlier, and now Dawid's hard work had gone to waste. "So?" Andrei prompted her, jerking his head at her knee. "It's a little sore," she admitted. "But I'll live." "You should sue Van Holt Industries," he ranted, the ghostly torchlight on his phone illuminating his chiselled face. If 'golden ratio' was a person, it was definitely Andrei. His sculpted features created a perfect sense of balance and harmony— "—So you're okay with this? With being stuck here for hou
