Valeria’s POV‘He had to accept my report and the suggestions contained in the report this time,’ I thought, as Dimitri flipped the pages of the file I had just placed in front of him. Four times today, he had told me to make changes to things about the Rosy project I had been working on. Now judging by the scowl on his face, I would be going through that report the fifth time. Damian suddenly thrust the document away from him. "What's this, Valeria?" he said testily. "This is not good enough. Do I have to keep impressing on you how important the Rosy project is? What's this... tripe that you keep submitting to me? If not for the fact that you have been on this project from the beginning, I would have taken you off it immediately."I fought the surge of anger, the urge to yell at him and ask what the hell he wanted and why the hell he was acting like an asshole. With a lot of effort, I mastered my anger, remembering that I was supposed to act indifferent towards him. I wouldn't let
Valeria’s POVAs soon as I got to the hospital, Ivy spotted me. She extracted herself from a group of two nurses and a doctor and came hurrying towards me. "Thank goodness you're here, Val." She gave me a brief hug. "I'll let the doctor know you're here right away."She hurried away again. I didn't have to wait long. A nurse walked up to me a while later and informed me that the doctor was ready to see me. Worry knotted my insides as I followed her into his office. I hoped my baby was okay. A minute later, I was on the doctor's examination table."You said you feel pain," he said as he took my blood pressure. "Is the pain centered at any particular point?""No. It was generalized pain and I also wasn't just feeling well. The pain has stopped, but I can't help worrying. I wonder what caused it.""Hmm," said the doctor and wrote into a clipboard. He poked and prodded me for a few minutes more, then waved me over to the chair opposite his. "Ms Morre, from my examination, there is no
Valeria’s POVDimitri answered my greeting the next day with an ill tempered grunt and a glower."I sent you a couple of emails just this morning. Get to work and go through them right now. I want everything I highlighted in those emails worked on the next time I ask." Then he turned his back on me and began barking orders to a couple of the staff. It was becoming really irritating.Feeling deflated, I went back to my office. What had I been thinking? That he would soften towards me after last night? Even more than yesterday, I deeply regretted kissing him back. He had probably kissed me just to gloat at his power over me. I should have slapped his annoying face the moment his lips touched mine. That would have served him right. Instead, like a fool, I given in, shown him how much he still affected me. "Pathetic," I muttered as I sank into my chair, read through the emails Dimitri had sent to me while trying to remember what exactly I was to work on today. "Are you done yet?" I jum
Valeria’s POV The expression on Summer's face quickly changed from surprise to fury. She marched towards me. In a flash, I was out of the chair and had taken refuge behind Dimitri's desk. She still came at me, but he shifted slightly blocking her path. "You-" she growled at him. "Summer," Dimitri said quietly. "Summer, please calm down and listen to-" She turned away from him and fixed her gaze on me. Her fingers tightened convulsively on her bag as though she was itching to get them around my throat. "Listen-" I began. "Shut up!" she screamed, flecks of foam flying from her lips. "Shut your mouth, you tart! I should have known. I should have seen you for what you are. You're nothing but a low life social climber, a- a gold digger. You thought that you would be able to dig your claws into my man, right?" I shook my head and looked to Dimitri for help, expecting him to at least do or say something. "Dimitri," I said. "Tell her-" He just stood, looking on, looking glum. Apar
Dimitri’s POV Pregnancy suited her, I thought as she glared at me, temporarily speechless with rage. Valeria, always curvaceous, had become more filled out. Her breasts were noticeably fuller. Not even the very formal long sleeved shirt she wore today could conceal that fact. I wished we were in a less formal setting, that she was wearing one of those clingy dinner gowns that showed some skin and cleavage. I wanted to see her body for myself, instead of imagining what it looked like. It had been so long since I had her naked, beneath me, so long since I had held her in my arms. I missed those times. I wanted her back in my bed. My breathing grew harsher. My palms grew sweaty. More than anything, I wanted to take the few steps that would close the distance between us and kiss her lush lips. Then I would make short work of her buttons, baring her breasts, weighing them in my hands. I actually found myself leaning forward a little, but I stopped myself in time. It would probably be w
Valeria’s POV "You look a lot better today," Ivy said. "I'm guessing you're not having those pains anymore." I was about to reply, but then I noticed the faraway look in her eyes as she looked up ahead. I let the silence stretch and after a while, Ivy seemed to have forgotten that I was there. She had been acting all distant ever since I had come to see her today, but now I was sure that something was bothering her. I leaned close to whisper into her ear, "Want to share?" She jumped a little as though only realizing I was there. "What?" "What were you thinking about just now?" I asked her. "Nothing," she replied. I glanced at my watch and saw that Ivy was due back in the hospital any minute. My questioning her would have to wait, and then I had an idea. "Let's hang out later and get a couple of drinks this evening at the bar we went to last time. You in?" She smiled, nodded. "I'll meet you there. I've really got to go now." I watched her leave. Her shoulders were slumped
Valeria’s POV Ignoring the dirty look I was sure Sasha was throwing my way, I went past her to my office. She was idly flipping through what looked like a magazine. I didn't even bother glancing at it as I walked past her to my office but I could feel her malicious eyes boring into my back until I shut the door of my office behind me. When I emerged a half hour later to go and grab a bottle of water, she almost jumped out of her seat to make her way towards me. "Busy day?" she asked me with a wide smile that I didn't trust in the least. She handed me a bulky folder. Ever since Dimitri had begun treating me specially and had more or less ignored her, Sasha had taken up acting like she hated my guts, though she was careful what she said or did considering the fact that we were in an office environment. "Yes, it is," I responded a little warily. "Have you heard the news?" she said before I had finished talking. It became pretty obvious to me that this was what she had been dyi
Dimitri’s POV As soon as Valeria went out of sight, I stormed into the building. What did she mean Summer was in there, waiting for me? She had not told me she was going to drop by the office. I stared at my phone. Not a missed call from her. I threw open the door of my office and blinked at the sight that met my eyes. No wonder Valeria had looked as though one could fry an egg on her cheeks. Summer was sprawled on my couch, legs widespread, naked as the day she was born. Her hair fell over her shoulders and partly hid her breasts. A large trench coat lay discarded on the floor next to her. An odd assortment of sex toys lay scattered on the floor next to the trenchcoat. She had turned towards me when she heard the door open and a welcoming smile played along her lips. "Hi, baby," she purred. "I've been wondering where you were. Surprised to see me. Why don't you come on over here?" I was so furious that I couldn't speak for a moment. I shut the door at once in case anyone of my
VALERIAWith my hands on my hips, I took a step back to look at the decorations. After a few seconds or so, I had to admit that the decorators had done a pretty good job. I had as well. Jayden had his superhero theme decorations all in blue, his favourite colour. Jane had her favourite Princess whatsername theme also in bright yellow.I grinned, reflecting on how very different children's birthday parties were from those of adults. The entire living room area was a clash of yellow and blue, and then there were the balloons also, covering large sections of the floor."And what are you grinning about?"I felt myself relaxing at the sound of Dimitri's voice, leaning back against him until his arms went around me. He repeated his question."I was just thinking that the whole place looks like a rainbow exploded in it," I murmured."Mmm. I think I rather like the look of the place. It's an improvement if you ask me."I snorted. "Having kids have made you soft. There was a time when you woul
VALERIAIt was bone-chilling to see Amelia's expression when she realized the game was over. It was like she had been wearing a mask which had suddenly come off. Now I could clearly see what lay beneath the facade she presented to the world. The sight made me shiver and I unconsciously shifted close to Dimitri who gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. Amelia, teeth bared, kept looking around like a trapped animal searching for a means of escape."There's no way out now," Dimitri said, leaving the sofa to stand in front of her. "You can't escape so bury that thought.""Why?" I said, the question drawn from my lips before I even thought of it. Everyone turned to look at me but I had eyes only for Amelia, the woman who was my mother but had done things to hurt me more than anyone in this world. "Why do you hate me so much? Why... all this? How could you-""You know nothing!" she declared vehemently. "So don't you think you can sit there and judge me when you don't know half of what happ
DIMITRII let my suggestions about Amelia's and Alexis' eventual capture sink in. When I was sure it did, and that Valeria was in agreement with all I had said, I stood up to leave. Valeria's hand on my arm prevented me from doing so."Wait," she said. "There is something more."I slowly sat back down. "Tell me.""I want to be part of the capture."My response was instant. "Oh no. You can't.""Why not?"Funny she would ask. Even the thought of putting Valeria, especially in her condition, through any form of danger was so abhorrent to me it made me shudder inwardly."Valeria," I said in the most reasonable tone of voice I could muster. "There may be danger when they are caught. I have no way of knowing, true. But I can't take the risk of you getting hurt. Silas, Vance and I with all the others I will bring in to help can handle them. Trust me. It will be best if you stay completely out of it."Then I groaned inwardly when I still saw that stubborn look on her face, the look I knew so
VALERIAOne of Ivy's nurse friends from the hospital clapped her hand over her lips to keep in a giggle."Ssh!" said a friend of Vance who just had to be a bodyguard. His tall, muscled figure could be made for nothing else.The man was smiling himself."Sorry," the giggler apologized as she smiled up at him.I felt much like giggling myself, especially at the look I was already picturing on Ivy's face when she eventually realized Vance had brought a lot of his friends and her friends on their date."They are here," Dimitri whispered in my ear.Dimitri's words were whispered back and forth between everyone."Remember everyone. Don't make a sound when they come in," someone said.I looked straight ahead and saw Vance, lead Ivy by the hand into the private booth of the restaurant where we were all hiding."It's beautiful in here," Ivy said, looking around. "But it's rather dark, don't you think? Maybe a little more light will-"She made a move to touch the light switch. I stiffened, drew
DIMITRISilas, who was to all appearances lounging on the verandah outside while making some calls, met my eyes. For the last few days, I had kept him in and around the house, ostensibly running a few errands for me, being extra security for Valeria, but really he was around to keep an eye on Amelia.We had all come to the conclusion that since she felt herself entirely free of suspicion, she would make a move to contact Alexis or to put her plans into action soon. I felt that she was about to do either or both of these things now.Just this morning, Amelia had been acting strangely. Although she had tried to hide it, Silas and I had noticed her acting ill at ease, although Valeria had of course remained oblivious. Amelia had started acting this way after Silas, as he told me, had overheard her yelling at someone over the phone.A few minutes later, with her handbag slung over her shoulder, she had said very casually, "I'm making a quick trip to the store to pick up some things we nee
VALERIAAlthough it had seemed impossible at first, the endless hours after Grandma Reese passed became days. Days became weeks. The weeks eventually added up to a month, and then several months. Though I missed her terribly with each passing day, life went on. My pregnancy became advanced. The doctors told Dimitri and I to expect our child soon.That was the only happy thought that kept me going all through those months. That, and the fact that I had Dimitri at my side.The rest of the time, I was consumed by fear, fear that at least one archenemy was still out there. Dimitri had gently broken the news of Grace's death to me, but had confessed that he still had not found a trace of Alexis. I was terrified that he would one day make an appearance and attempt to harm my child and I. Whenever I voiced out my concerns, Dimitri was quick to assure me that he was still on the lookout for Alexis.And though I took a little comfort in his assurances, I never once forgot that Dimitri was not
AMELIAThey were fools. The lot of them. Stupid, trusting fools, but their stupidity suited me just fine. It was how I had stayed hidden all this time, after all.It was a shame about Grace, but it had to be done. She had been becoming a wild card, a disappointment to me. This early in the plot, she had shown that her emotions overruled her thoughts, and anyone who thought with the heart rather than the head was a liability, was expendable. This was why I had taken Dimitri and Silas to the spot where she was to meet with me. Grace was dead now and a lot of the future complications I knew she would bring had died with her.I glanced at the locked door of my room and continued pacing.I had to get word across to Alexis. Just calling him on the phone wouldn't do. I had to see him face to face in order to assure him that our plan was still on, and that Grace's death changed nothing.The only problem now was Dimitri wouldn't want to let me, a supposedly grieving mother, out of his sight. T
DIMITRIThe place where Grace had chosen to meet with Amelia was very like the place where she had kept Valeria captive. It was on the grounds of a building, a deserted one by the looks of it. The building was in a scarcely frequented part of the city.Silas, Amelia and I got there a full hour before Amelia's appointment with Grace. We chose good hiding spots where we could see and not be seen. Then we settled down to wait for Grace to show up.Thirty minutes before the time of the appointment, we all clearly heard approaching footsteps. A woman came into view. She was wearing a scarf that obscured most of her face and huge sunglasses, but I knew it was Grace. My hands ached with the effort of keeping them still and not going for her right there and then. Grace gave a sweeping look around the area."Get down," I whispered to the persons with me.Though I was sure we couldn't be seen by her, we all went down and peered at her from between the thick foliage of overgrown shrubs we were h
DIMITRI"I can't remember."Amelia had said this more times than I could count in so many different ways, but it still boiled down to the same thing. She still clearly could not remember anything about what Valeria's grandmother had said about her and her past."Why can't I remember?" she said again, with tears leaking out of the corners of her eyes.She glanced over at Valeria. Whenever Amelia had declared that she didn't remember, Valeria, with her head resting on the sofa, nodded mechanically and simply kept staring at the blank wall before her.Seeing that Valeria was more or less unresponsive, Amelia turned to me. "What is wrong with me? Why can't I remember any of what happened?"I gave her what I hoped was a reassuring look, patted her hand. "It's okay. Don't worry. I promise you that I will do everything to find out how your memory was tampered with and if possible, you will get your memories back."Amelia nodded and then just sat there, crying and wringing her hands. I sat by