[Juliette’s POV]The door closed and the lock clicked. This is expected of Randy Virtus's household—maximum security and zero humanity. I scanned the room and realised that it was the guest room—the least important room of all rooms in a rich man's mansion—and sighed a helpless sigh. I’m in big trouble. There’s nothing here that I can use. The room is almost empty except for the furniture. And I can’t leave. Plus, I have to finish cleaning or they’ll be suspicious. One mistake and you leave. No pay, no coming back here. Humph! That dull expression of the housekeeper, a large lady with breasts the size of two pumpkins stuffed in the most boring black dress (black again). That grey expression can zap the fun out of a lollipop.Let’s see… let’s start with dusting then. I still remember it, Margaret. Dust, change the sheets then vacuum. I took the feather duster and started at the row of cabinets next to the main exit. There are no drawers… no shelves… no books… no photo frames…. Je
[Juliette's POV]'You followed me?' I hissed, not hiding my annoyance. 'Count to twenty then leave,' he snapped back. Though it was a soft whisper, his frustration was still clear. 'I'll leave the door unlocked.'Did he know about my secret plan to slip in as a maid to check on Jewel? Or was it a simple coincidence? If it was, then is he here for Jewel? If it wasn’t then how did he get in here? Many questions burst into my head, but, in the mix of emotions, I only managed to utter three words. 'Wait—why? How?' 'Not now,' he grunted and was gone. I didn't even get a good glimpse of him! Goddamn it! What if it wasn’t Ralph? What if it was Randy or the butler? He would grab me once I came through the door. But then he could’ve just grabbed me and thrown me in there with Alfeo—that’s Alfeo, I’m sure—the hair, the ghostly complexion, the lanky physique. It’s definitely Ralph. Damn, I’m in trouble. (Nine… ten….)*****The McLaren zoomed furiously down the road that cuts through the ba
[Juliette’s POV]‘Absolutely not.’ The Don’s glare was like a gun at my head, warning me to stop suggesting stupid stuff and quit taunting danger. ‘But, Ralph, you know that it’ll help!’ I grabbed his hand on the dining table and held it to my lips, begging like I was to papa for that pink Barbie school bag. The ex-Mafia King yanked his hand away and stood angrily, his chair pushed back with a sharp drag. ‘Jesus Christ, Juliette, who the fuck do you think you are? Why doesn’t it get into your thick skull that you’re gonna get killed? Do I really mean nothing to you?’ He roared, his voice pounding the high walls of the dining area, shaking any glassware. Despite the fearful looks of the staff and Margaret, I couldn’t stay down. I bolted to a stand, gripping the edge of the table to muster the strength, and blasted out my thoughts. ‘You mean everything to me, you dumbass! That’s why I want to do this!’ He shook his head with a dry chuckle. ‘Oh no, you don’t. Not this time, Juliett
[Ralph’s POV]I watched her chew with a cheery face and felt curious—and a little jealous. Who made her smile like this? Have I ever made her smile this way? The masticated meat in my mouth slid smoothly down my throat and I laid down the knife and fork to fetch my glass of wine. Swirling the contents, I asked, trying a casual tone, ‘What’s the good news?’ Those purple eyes looked up with a beautiful sparkle that deepened the sour feeling in my chest and lit the fire in my heart at the same time, and her sexy lips curved up in her enchanting smile. ‘I was just thinking about Filipo—.’‘Jesus Christ….’ I picked up the glass to my lips and took an extra sip. That again? She wouldn’t stop talking about it on the way here, blabbering on about the kid and his PA, and how she felt that something good was going to happen between them. Is she a fucking matchmaker now? And when was Filipo ever interested in girls and romance? That purple gaze turned mischievous ‘Aww… jealous are we? Cut
[Juliette’s POV] Two days later… I entered my office at the Virtus HQ building and on my desk, in front of the keyboard, was a box of chocolates with a ribbon slapped in the middle. It startled me. Given my popularity here, the chocolates must be laced with poison. I sat on my chair and stared at the innocent looking balls of dark brown sweetness, planning my next move—keep or eat? Then, I glanced at the dustbin beside my desk. ‘It’s not poisoned, damn it.’ I jumped up with a fright then saw Filipo at the door with both hands tucked in his pockets. His face had its usual frown but it somehow felt less hostile. ‘Why?’ I had to ask. ‘What does it look like?’ Filipo’s face turned grouchy. My gaze bounced between the gift and him, and then I said, ‘A bribe?’ He shot a surprised and annoyed look at me then stepped into my office and snapped, ‘Christ—it’s a thank you gift!’ Oh… I mouthed and looked down at the neat rows of chocolates. This signified a huge step. This mean
[Jewel’s POV]‘What the fuck is this shit?’ The director, the princess of the ex-Second in command of the Virtus clan, stared in disbelief at the page of fainted words, slanted by the old cursive style. We started the feud… she thought in dismay. The old ledger clearly says so. Numbers may not be the Virtus’s game, but that doesn’t mean she’s dumb in it. She’s as good as that Lux whore. And smarter. She slammed the book shut and threw it on the carpeted floor of her bedroom with a huge disappointed ‘humph!’So what if they were the ones who started the feud? The feud has happened and it’s still rooted deeply in many members of the Virtus clan, especially the younger ones who adore and look up to the older ones. ‘I can twist things around. Easy peasy.’ She snickered and lifted the corners of her mouth. ‘All I need is a token to start the machine rolling.’ Her pretty lashes fluttered as she glanced at the phone lying quietly on her bed. That dumbass Marco is taking too long. Donk
[Juliette's POV] His hand slammed over my tied wrists and grabbed it as an anchor to ram in another, stronger and deeper than the one just before. A hard moan of extreme pleasure screamed from my throat. 'Deeper, Juliette?' His husky voice sounded in my left ear, the darkness amplifying his sexiness and the thrill of his promise. Oh, fuck yes… I want it. But will it tear? He's larger than usual, for some reason, and it feels even better, I'm not gonna lie… 'Deeper it is,' he grunted and slammed in another, striking the same spot twice as harder. Burst. His name tore from my throat as I was seized and everything shook like a 10.0 earthquake. 'Fuck, kitten,' he grunted and plunged in another one—and another wave of intense euphoria gripped me. 'Ralph!' I sobbed. He stiffened, his own pleasure spilling in low, sexy groans, and then relaxed again. And then a caress across my forehead and then the binds came off. Followed by the blindfold. I winced from the glare as hot
[Juliette’s POV]I wiped the smile off my face and straightened my back. 'Right now, I'm the HR Manager of this place. You're fighting the battles, I'm just doing my part to help you win.' The large guy shifted in his seat with pride in his hard gaze. 'I respect that.''And I respect you.' I leaned back slightly and asked, 'So where do I search?' The hesitation was reasonable: should a Virtus let a Lux search through his things? Can he trust a Lux?But it also revealed his desperation for his claims to be approved, just like an average member of an organisation. He sighed in relent and shrugged. 'My folder. It's in the intranet. I'll give you the password.'I beamed with relief. 'I'll let you know once I'm done and you can make a new password.''Yeah, whatever.' He stood and was out of the conference room. That actually went well! I can't wait to tell Ralph! *****[Marco’s POV]It was sheer luck that he came upon the piece of news. He spoke to so many people, sent his private i
[Chatri’s POV]The EMERGENCY sign was still lit up. Chatri couldn’t tear his gaze away from it, making sure the light doesn’t go out Across him, seated on the row of plastic chairs, nestled safely between his wife and his mother, his precious fourteen-year-old daughter was praying hard for her saviour too. It was near his heart. Guilt burned the back of her eyes. Ralph-kun… I blamed you for destroying the peace that we’ve paid with our blood and sweat to get. Yet, you did not leave me alone. You fought by my side. You kept your word. With your life. Is this the root of your men’s loyalty? Three hours ago, when they got to the van, her daughter was a crying mess, her almost naked body would have been in full display if it weren’t for that bloodied jacket. Ralph Virtus was sprawled at the van’s entrance, hanging on by a thread. Chatri had to get in the chopper. Footsteps snapped him back to the silent hallway. The ex-mob leader turned to them and Ralph-kun’s right-hand man was mo
[Juliette’s POV]“My father has brought us to the next level—there’s no doubt about it. But as you can see, the charts do not lie. Lux Corp will not survive the casino’s first quarter if we sit back and do nothing.”I gazed firmly around the room. These so-called shareholders of Lux Corp. I need to break their resistance and knock some sense back into them. The oldest one of the group cleared his throat and muttered in a haughty slow pace, “So what you’re saying is: remove Harold Lux as Chairman and put you in charge.” Another guy quickly added, “We don’t do this sort of thing.” Then, the third man snorted in derision. “I’m actually surprised that you gathered all of us here today without the Chairman. If he gets wind of this—.” “He won’t if none of us talk about it,” I snapped, frustration in my throat. What’s with the surprised looks and frowns of disapproval? Aren’t they as much of a businessman as Papa? Can’t they see the signs? The fucking obvious signs! Suddenly, Papa’s de
[Sarah’s POV]She can’t believe it. The unbeatable, ever invincible Don Ralph—the monster in the devil skin; a heartless murderer with the killer sense of an Olympic shooter; king of the world’s most ferocious mafia groups—is completely useless against an infant that’s less than an hour’s old. If it weren’t for Sarah’s fierce insistence and fearsome glare, he wouldn’t even hold his own child. ‘What if I break his neck?’ whispered the poor man, his eyes unable to stray from the tiny creature in his frozen arms. ‘Stop it,’ snapped the caretaker. ‘Sway gently, and you’ll be fine.’ She glanced at the bed and Juliette, who was sleeping soundly, and then back at the man, who would probably feel as though he’s on top of the world right now. Is he going to cry? ‘So what’s his name?’ asked Sarah, swiftly diverting those tears from crystalising. Without looking up, he muttered, ‘Milo.’ Then, he glanced at his sleeping wife and a proud smile appeared. ‘Milo Virtus. The first of the many.’
[Juliette’s POV]‘I am not selling anything.’ Papa’s eyes were filled with so much distaste, I felt ashamed for calling myself his heir. ‘I’m surprised that I have to remind you of the rules now. You wanted a vacation, and I gave you one. Now, you can’t even remember the simplest thing.’ My mouth opened, my explanation ready like a debate team, but I clamped my lips tight. He doesn’t want to hear anything right now. Right now, he only wants to vent. We’re losing money fast since twenty of our suppliers had suddenly asked for a price review.‘I do remember them, Papa,’ I murmured sourly. ‘Then why are you even suggesting that we sell off our least money-making businesses?’ he demanded angrily. Because that could stop more money from going out! My mind was screaming like a child being blamed for something that she didn’t do. Isn’t it common sense? When things get rough, tighten your pockets! Or is this yet another test? But I’m so done with all the tests! With the baby about to co
[Harold’s POV]SLAM!The sixty-ish fist slammed on the antique desk with the strength of a forty-year-old boxer. Even in his experience, there’s a limit to how much he can take. How did this happen? How did it slip by him unnoticed? The casino. He’d lost track. Damn his old man’s genes. They’re so useless, they made him useless as well. ‘You had no problems with the price for decades. Now, out of the blue you want—not one percent, not two—but a three percent hike?’ His knuckles were paling, bearing all the rage which only kept spiking. The calm voice at the other end of the phone irked Harold further. ‘My apologies, Mr. Lux. But you know how this works—we can’t hold down the price for any longer,’ replied the thirteenth supplier. ‘It’s been three decades since our last review. We hope you understand.’ Everyone wants his understanding. What about theirs? He’s cash strapped! Whose fault is it? If he didn’t build the casino for these bloodsuckers, he wouldn’t be stuck! If they weren’t
[Juliette’s POV]And then it crashed onto me. Like a boulder. I observed those golden swirls in his eyes burning with hurt and that hurt clenched my chest. Utensils down and my mouth wiped, I reached across the table and covered his hand with mine. ‘Growing up, I imagine the Virtuses as cold-blooded monsters,’ I began. Those brown irises dilated with fury, and I slipped my fingers through that large hand and rubbed my skin against his to calm the fire. ‘Because of all the stories I’ve been fed—we’ve all been fed.’ To his tensed jaw, I muttered softly, ‘I must speak for everyone, Ralph.’ ‘You’re not telling me that your father was fed the same story. He came to me with the aim of stealing my family’s land, Juliette.’ ‘I’m not saying—.’ ‘Stop defending him!’ Ralph jerked his hand out of my grasp, fuming. But his eyes never left me, which was a good sign. So immediately, I leaned forward and pleaded, ‘I’m not defending him.’ ‘Then what the fuck are you doing?’ ‘I’m trying to te
[Juliette’s POV]I smiled at the man gently resting his hand on my belly, so careful, so timidly, I almost couldn’t recognise him. Is this Ralph Virtus, the Mafia King? The one whom everyone calls The Devil? The handsome beast with the wits of a chess master. Those cold, fierce eyes were filled with so much fear that I wanted to hug him and squeeze those bad thoughts out of him. Those same golden brown eyes now widened in amazement as they swung up to me. ‘It moved.’ I chuckled and covered his hand with mine. ‘Of course it does, silly.’ He gazed at my stomach, his pupils dilating some more. ‘It’s kicking.’ He looked up, worried. ‘Does it hurt?’ I shook my head. ‘My chest just feels tight when it happens.’ Then, his ears were on my belly, listening intently. As amusing as it was watching his face change colour every second, I can’t help but worry that the next second something will happen to destroy this peaceful moment. As though he read my thoughts, his attention was back on
[Ralph’s POV]‘D…Did you just—I knew it.’ Her eyes were shaking with such low confidence, I almost couldn’t recognise them. ‘You find me annoying now….’ Her hands slid off my chest in defeat. Is this what a baby does to a woman? ‘I did not say that.’ As soon as I heard my voice, I froze again. Shit—that was cold. Quick—correct it. ‘I mean—I don’t mean what I said.’ I tried to grab her hand but missed it. ‘Juliette….’ Her shoulders were shaking too. ‘Jesus… you’re not crying now, are you?’ What? No. That came out wrong again. What the fuck is wrong with me? She spun around in full rage. With tears gushing down her steamed face, she jabbed a finger at my shoulder. ‘YES! I’m crying like a clingy pathetic woman! And whose fault is it? Who put this thing inside me?!’ She pointed at her round belly protruding proudly through her skirt. “WHO?!”I laughed. It was unplanned. Before I knew it, I was already holding my waist to steady myself. My shoulders were shaking, my chest was rumbli
[Ralph’s POV]I blinked at the Hong Kong mob leader and his voice returned. ‘... do you think?’ What were we discussing? Something that reminded me of Juliette and the baby. Of my fears. Of the baby dying inside Juliette’s stomach… or Juliette dying with the baby—yes. We were talking about that old fox and his shady business. My finger stopped tapping. ‘I’m closing all of it down.’ ‘No offence, nong Ralph.’ The Thai leader burst through. ‘My elders love khun Lux. It won’t be easy to shut them down.’ Chinh was frowning too. ‘You close down one, another will pop up. Who’ll say no to money?’‘Money and power,’ mumbled Andrei. ‘I’ve told you before. Harold Lux is well-connected. I can’t have the boys going against me. There are many who’ll have my head and you said that you’ll handle it. So all I have to do is focus on protecting my family from the ollies.’ ‘And this doesn’t change that,’ I repeated firmly. ‘I failed to see how,’ muttered the cool and collected Isamu. ‘Harold-san gi