[Ralph's POV] Damn it! They're taking off with their stuff! Stop the runners first! I must get back the cash! I aim the gun at the boat's motor and—. SWING! Mmph! I avoided a flying punch. I looked up and one of Alberto's bodyguards was about to swing another fist at me. "Urgh!" he cried. I lowered my upper body to dodge and shot back up to jab my right fist at his jaw. PUNCH! And the man crumbled to the ground, unconscious. Huh? Ben is going after the runners—SWIPE! Urgh! The other bodyguard came at me. In the corner of my view, Alberto was sliding into his car. I jolted to my left to avoid a punch then uppercut the fucker. "Urgh!" He flew away from me. I dashed towards the limousine—and the dark blue sedan was shooting down the hill like a bazooka, heading for the slope's opening. No, no, no…. They are going to crash. JULIETTE! I halted and aimed my gun at the car—. Not the tyres—the car will skid and slam against the sedan. I need to slow down the l
[Ralph’s POV]She drew in a sharp breath and settled on her knees, arms stretched to grab the back of the couch on each side of my shoulders, then lifted her breasts to my face. I stared at them, gripping my hands into tight fists to stop my tongue from sticking out to lick those cute tiny buds. When there was no reaction from me, she drew in more stuttering breaths—probably to kill the embarrassment—and moved the tip of her breasts forward, kissing my lips with them. Surprise widened my eyes. Goddamn fuck… A gasp of delight slipped from her and she started rubbing those warm pearls along my lips, teasing and begging at the same time. “R-Ralph…,” she whispered. “P-Please…..” She pulled back slightly to look down at me, her breathing heavier than before. I stared up at her and asked, “You want this?” Not looking away, I drew her nipple into my mouth and sucked on it, earning a soft moan from her, and then I released it to make my point. “Mmph…,” she whimpered. “Yes….” “Make me
*WARNING: This chapter contains details and imagery of violence which one may find disturbing. [Ralph’s POV] Ten days later… I stood before the pale creature cowering in the corner, in shivers. Sweat had soaked through his shirt, sticking to his skin, revealing his entire skeletal frame, as sniffles and whimpers of yearning echoed in the cold, dimly lit space of the cell in the basement of the Virtus HQ building. “Can he still understand me?” I asked Ben, who was beside me, also watching the creature who still resembled the Alberto we know by his shirt and hair. Ben nodded. “I still think we should send him to rehab.” “He doesn’t want to go there. Says he’ll meet Sandy and be enticed again,” I replied quietly. “Fucking hell….” Ben tucked his hands into his pockets. BANG! Alberto gripped the steel bars of the gate that was caging him in the cell, his trembling fingers strangling the metal rods with superhuman strength that could only be possible of an immense craving.
[Ralph’s POV]“So you’re saying, we’ll no longer be called ‘Second Tiers’,” repeated Gerardo Virtus, the eldest son of the newly retired Second Tier Liandro Virtus, descendant of the First Sergeant of the fighting force of the old government of U.R.T. “Instead,” his cigarette eroded voice added, “We’ll be known as ‘Directors’.” I stared firmly at him, seated on my left, on the white leather couch in front of my desk, and said, “Director Gerardo, yes. That’s what I said.” I tapped my finger on the glass surface in a slow, steady beat and elaborated, “I’d like to offer you our media business.”To his squinted gaze of caution, I inhaled sharply and explained, “You have a degree in communications.” “Yes, I do.” “And you’re active in the grapevine.” The twenty-five year old grinned with a twinkle in his eyes. “So you’re the best in the family for the job,” I concluded. “What’s in it for me?” Smart boy. I drew in another silent breath and stared at my tapping finger and replied, “Yo
[Juliette’s POV]“Yes….” I sighed and gasped. He was sucking the pulsating skin below my earlobe as his finger slipped in. I closed my eyes and leaned back, propping on my elbows to stretch my neck wide open for his better access, and he gladly took it, kissing and nibbling the curve joining my neck to my shoulder. “The whole time I was there…,” Ralph breathed, his warm breath tickled my skin and a shudder coursed through me. “I thought of you….” Another gasp slipped from my lips—another finger had just slipped in to caress my insides. “I thought only of you, kitten…,” he whispered against the base of my throat before kissing the skin there, then shoved my keyboard and files aside and gently pushed me down on the table.I admired him through hooded eyes as he watched me. His finger continuously stroked the slick velvety folds beyond the swelling lips between my thighs, eliciting streaks of pleasure up my spine and forcing whimpers of pleas through my lips. His free hand cradle
[Ralph’s POV]As I’d guessed, her head popped in like a curious child, staring at me. “Ralph? What are you doing here? And why’s everyone here?” She came out from behind the door frame, frowning with jealousy at being left out. “Are you discussing the wedding ceremony?”“No,” I replied curtly, trying my best to sound casual. She was walking towards the couch when she heard my reply and halted. Then, a pout surfaced. “I’ve interrupted something, haven’t I?” “Nonsense, Julie!” Agatha chirped cheerfully like a songbird. “We were just having a fortnightly meeting with Mr. Ralph.”“What for?” And there it is… her questioning. I was smiling inside. Outside, I was frowning as hard as I could. So I wouldn’t give myself away. She glanced at me and then dropped her gaze like a wounded kitten. “I shall stop with the questions. Ralph’s upset. I’ll… I’ll head back to my room.” It was then I realised that she was still in her nightgown. And I knew that she would change out of it. Immediat
[Ralph’s POV]The curtain opened and she stood before me in her white gown and I couldn’t stop staring. My legs acted on their own and I slowly came to a stand as she sauntered towards me, those purple sapphires beaming shyly at me. When she arrived in front of me, she whispered softly, “I look weird, don’t I…?” I found my fingers stroking her cheek lightly as a hoarse voice slipped into the air. “You look beautiful, Juliette.” That feathery skin tinted slightly and she looked down as her hands reached out to touch the collar of my tux. “I like you in midnight blue,” she breathed. A smile touched my lips. “Are you talking about the tux I wore at the church?” “Yes,” she sighed, her eyes on my mouth. “It made my insides tingle. Back then.” Fuck… when did she become this sexy…. Everything that comes out of that sweet mouth just turns me into a sucker for her. She finally looked up at me. “What about me? Do you prefer this dress or the one I wore at the church?” I gazed into the
[Juliette’s POV] Routines were thrown out the window—that was the first major change in the Virtus household. Which felt strange. As soon as I passed through the iron gates that guard the Virtus grounds from outsiders, I felt like a soldier reporting for duty. Immediately (even though I was away for months), I remembered the exact timing for each meal and the chores I was supposed to do at each particular time of the day. However, this time, I was told that I had no schedule at all, just as my life had been all these years at the Lux mansion. Ralph took me to the ends of the plain field—which Margaret had already showed me. But I didn’t mind seeing it again; with Ralph, it was more fun—the way his thick brows knit whenever he saw the stretches of barren land beyond his property, it exuded the alluring charm of a man with great ambitions. That fierce gaze seemed to say: one day, every inch of this flat terrain will belong to the Virtus—just as every inch of the terrains surroun
[Juliette’s POV]Before the door came to a close behind me, Pauline said—-or whispered—beating me to the first word, “I think your father made it very clear over the phone yesterday, Juliette.” Here goes. I grabbed the iPad tightly and lifted my chin, not responding to a word until I sat down, and I took the seat next to Papa. The more Pauline spoke, the softer and more scratchy her voice got, which pains me to listen to it. I had to fight the urge to wince in sympathy. “So, here’s the deal, Juliette. Hand over the evidence you have, and we’ll back you up as CEO of Lux Corp.” I was stunned speechless. This was totally unexpected. Instead of giving me a laundry list of excuses, or berating me for scaring away all the investors, Papa is asking for the evidence I have at hand. He only wants the evidence? But—. “I don’t get it,” I blurted, completely taken aback. “I’ve shown it to you before. But you still chased me out.” My anger had swarmed in. “YOU THREW ME UNDER THE BUS.” Paul
[Juliette’s POV]The thought of dancing under the moonlight, amidst the warm sea breeze, has never crossed my mind until Ralph suggested it. “You’re such a bore.” He smiled with a teasing gaze as I did two twirls. He caught my waist at the perfect moment and pulled me close, snuggling my curves against his frame. That proud toothy grin of his made my heart lose its rhythm, and I lowered my chin to hide the heat in my cheeks. Hooking his elbow around my waist, he leaned in and whispered into my ear, “Why are you blushing?” “Because you’re handsome,” I whispered back and felt a shudder up my spine. Damn, that’s cringey. Thank God, he laughed at the right moment, or I’d have blushed harder. I grabbed more of his back to snuggle deeper and let my left cheek rest on his chest of muscles. Then, very naturally, a sigh of peace and relief left my lips.And very naturally too, he chuckled softly before planting a kiss on the top of my head. “Phase 1 over, kitten.” I closed my eyes to savo
[Juliette’s POV]Things turned out according to Ralph’s prediction. Papa’s gold mine got the news of my findings about Lux Corp and raced against time to meet me. Since there were over a thousand of them, from every corner of the world, Ralph suggested that I meet them all at once. With the help of an ally, we managed to rent a private island that was off the grid and had everyone gathered there for my presentation. It would be a massive one as I would be talking to thirty at a time. Am I nervous? Of course, I am. Even with Papa’s training, the nerves were still there. “You’ll be fine, kitten.” Ralph kissed my fingers, then brushed a loose strand behind my ear. “Numbers are your game.” “I know.” I checked the cue cards for the forty-first time. “But that doesn’t take the nerves away. It’s all your fault. You’ve turned it into some fucking TED talk.” Ralph chuckled. “Even if you cursed out there, it’ll be fine.” An hour later, I was done explaining to the audience of fifty ultra
[Juliette’s POV]“Those VIPs of his casino?” I asked, still in disbelief. He flashed a nodding grin, and I jolted upright, a surge of admiration and awe to my face, and I beamed, grabbing his hands in excitement. “That’s what you’ve been up to?” Then, logic jetted in. “But how? Papa and I are the only ones with that list. And those ultra rich don’t listen to anyone but Papa.” “They listen to the one who leads the people doing their dirty jobs.” I stared speechless at the man who once saved me from a drug lord, and tried to sever all ties with the mafia, get his clan members cleaned up, and reform his family business. This man had done his best to go against the impossible, push the flow and ride the currents. Never once did he bow to failure, except to learn from it. Now, he’s back in the shadows, unable to shake off the darkness and his past, yet he shines far brighter than anyone. Papa may be standing in the light, but he’s as shady as a shady businessman can get. He was study
[Juliette’s POV]I woke up to the most handsome face and the scariest pair of eyes staring at me in the fiercest silence. “Ralph?” I grabbed my throat. “Damn, what’s wrong with my voice? I sound eighty years older.” A glass of water appeared before my eyes and a low, sexy voice gruffed. “Drink.” The cool rim wedged between my lips and the sweetest water carefully slipped in. I sipped hungrily, emptying the glass with a sigh of satisfaction, and a Kleenex pressed the corners of my mouth. “Why did you put sugar in water?” He laid my head cautiously on the pillow. “I put nothing in the water.” “But it’s sweet.” My eyelids felt heavy. “Sleep.” My eyes flew open. It was my turn to stare at the beast till he asked what’s wrong, and I told him. “You’re upset.” “Because you were sick.” “Was I?” I checked myself for scars, and memories of the past forty-eight hours swiftly slotted back into my calendar. Ralph worry-stricken face calling my name repeatedly, stroking my face to get a
[Ralph’s POV]Robert’s gaze shot a warning that was the same as mine: it’s a trap. I held a finger to my lips—an instruction for him to not be heard—and he solemnly nodded. Then, I said, “Why?” “It’s Juliette.” The voice sounded secretive and rushed. “I can’t explain anything. But I’ll get her out. You have to take her away.”It was then I smelled danger and shot forward in my seat to the desk where the phone rested. Still, something feels off. “Why should I trust you?”There was a pause and then a sigh. And then the same voice lowered and exhaled. “Her child needs her, doesn’t he?” Fuck. Fuck that dumb Ben. Fuck that smartass lawyer. The fact that he knew about Milo set off all the red alarms. I sprang into action, like the pathetic Ben who had lost that darn phone and leaked all the secrets. The desperate rush to fix everything right. Oh, her crying had weakened. I rubbed her back in a comforting way, the way her housekeeper always does whenever she’s upset. She pulled back and
[Juliette’s POV]Way to go, Juliette. You fell for your father’s old tricks, and then you fell for some stranger’s weird tricks. Just because he knows your name and says it out loud, you got into his car. Great. I’m going to be trafficked as a sex slave. Milo. I’m never going to see him again. And Ralph. A clean tissue entered my view. My view was misty, so I blinked to clear it, and then realised that I was crying. Quickly, and embarrassingly, I grabbed the offer and dabbed my eyes. The man cleared his throat and repeated my name, and I gave a cold chuckle. “Yes, my father sent you, didn’t he? To get rid of me.” Both open palms waved frantically. “No, Miss! I mean, Madam. I mean, Dona.” “Who the fuck are you?” I wailed. “Just tell me. I can take it!” God, I sound pathetic. But I can’t seem to stop. “W-wait—.” His phone was out, slapped to his ear, and it rang once, then a voice came on, loud and clear. “Yes.” That deep gruff. I spun around like a deer caught in headlights.
[Juliette's POV]Paul caught a glimpse of his bleak future and plonked onto his seat in a pale face. The shareholders around Paul shared his misery while others stared puzzled at Harold Lux as he moved towards the throne at the front of the conference table. He moved past me as though I had never existed, and cold guilt stabbed my chest. “Young people.” Papa sighed. “Give them one tiny piece of candy, and they think they own the entire formula.” Everyone ignored Papa’s invitation to return to their seats. Then, Uncle Jerry stepped forward to deliver the King’s instructions. “The contract is in your email.”“What contract?” I jolted a curious look at Pauline who was reading off her mobile screen, her brows growing closer with surprise and anger. . I felt a crack in my hope and made a lunge like Paul’s.“Don’t sign it!” I yelped, desperation clawing the air. “If you invest more money, Lux Corp would pop like a bubble! The debt’s too huge—we’d be bankrupt before the casino’s ready!”W
[Jewel’s POV]This idiot. She glared down as the baby drank quietly. How dare he ignore my calls! Is he an idiot? We can’t even tell how long those two idiots are going to take, and he wants a baby now? Her finger tips caressed those tiny plump cheeks, and her mouth curled up in a loving smile. It’s not that I don’t want a baby. Heat of worry and anxiety swarmed to the back of her eyes and knocked her eardrums. The Virtus princess perked up with vigilance. Hugging Milo closer to cocoon him from danger, her gaze bounced between the main door and the bedroom door, her Virtus mind calculating and reciting the drill. Bedroom, lock door 1, bathroom, lock door 2. Two knocks. Three knocks. One knock. The Virtus code. Jewel crept closer to the tiny slit between the main door and its frame, and a familiar voice hissed through. “Peach.” Instantly, she unlocked, and the door flung back—only to shut tight. She was in the arms of the man who’d never stopped loving her since they first met. D