[Juliette's POV] The ground shook violently. I saw my hand, stretched out in sheer desperation at the Mafia King holding his gun at the merciless angle, its shiny barrel pressed on mother's forehead. I couldn't hear what they were saying. But I knew that mother was in peril. I need to get to her. "Mother!!!" My head screamed in panice terror. "Ralph, no!!!" The ground shook more violently. This time I heard the deep voice calling my name. "Juliette! Wake up!" I shook my head at Ralph who was now looking at me, an evil smirk on his handsome face. The face I've come to adore. He pulled the trigger. Mother's head did the jerk of death, and her body crumbled to the ground like a lifeless doll. NO!!!! "JULIETTE!!" The deep voice bellowed. "Goddamn it, wake up!!" Wake up? My eyes flew open and the same handsome face hovered above me, blocking out the lights. Gone was the evilness. Instead, a very concerned and angry face was in its place. "Jesus Christ, babe.
[Juliette’s POV] The following morning, at the office… I was staring at the final draft of the marketing campaign for HFE-10 on the computer screen, but my mind was on the meeting with the mart king, which would be happening in the afternoon. Ralph and I went for a stroll with Tommy last evening and we had a light-hearted chat about the mansion. Then, we made passionate love again and he whispered many things in my ears that still rang in the back of my mind. And this morning, I woke up feeling guilty thinking: I shouldn’t go behind Ralph’s back and gather evidence for his eviction. He doesn’t deserve such betrayal, not after the ones he’d suffered from his biological family. I should warn him about the company’s board. Ha! The voice in my head chided. You think you’re doing him a favour? Don’t be silly. Ralph will find out about your secret mission to have him removed as CEO, and guess what he’d feel when he does? I bit my thumb nervously. Moreover, it’s his job as the CE
[Ralph’s POV] “I still can’t believe she tried to have sex with you. You’re her son-in-law-to-be, for heaven’s sake!” “WERE.” I hastily corrected Ben. “It’s because I’m no longer her daughter’s fiancé, she finally made her move on me.” The voice in my ear sighed. “Yeah. Remember the way she looked at you and licked her lips whenever we met at the old man’s study…That old slut. We always thought that there was something going on between her and that demon.” I was only nineteen. And that woman was twice my age. I might be at an age of raging hormones, but cougars were never my cup of tea, especially the ones involved with that sick demon of my father. My stomach started to flip and a lump of disgust formed in my throat. “I gotta go. I have a meeting with old Clifford.” “Alright. I’ll keep you posted on Luke,” replied Ben and he hung up. I plonked onto the chair and bowed over, gripping the edge of the desk to steady myself as I inhaled swarms of air to cool my raging heart an
[Juliette’s POV] Thank goodness, Mr. Clifford was ten minutes late—fashionably. For a man of late fifties, he was still keeping up with the latest trend of suits and ties. It was amazing how Ralph could still focus without a trace of what we had done a few minutes ago; I was still in a slight daze after that glorious climax when he was presenting both proposals to the mart king. The presentation, of course, was flawless. I knew because old Clifford was hanging onto Ralph's every word, his smile kept growing until every tooth was out on display. And at the end, he was absolutely impressed. “I like this very much, junior.” The mart king gave a friendly slap on hulkish back. “You are a man of his words.” “Only if they are worth keeping,” replied Ralph. “Right, Juliette?” The sudden attention made me tongue-tied. Ralph glanced in my direction with a teasing twinkle in his eye. And, instantly, for some strange reason, my cheeks got caught in another flush. Damn it! I looke
[Juliette's POV] I glanced at the computer screen and then back at Luke, and a surge of joy came over me. I finally have someone to share this good news with! "Papa's email account! We managed to retrieve it!" I hopped closer to my childhood best friend. "Isn't it wonderful?" "Wonderful?" Those golden features fell into an expression of disgust. "How is that wonderful, J?" His words stung me. I swallowed to push down the lump of humiliation in my throat, but it wouldn't budge. "I-I don't understand…," I whispered in a small voice. I summoned a smile to try to salvage my pride. "I thought this was what we needed—what we wanted—to investigate Papa's accident." "This was what YOU wanted, J!" He grabbed my shoulders in agitation. "I was never part of the investigation even though you said you'll let me in!" "But you are!" I scanned around and hastily pulled him aside, to a blindspot of the CCTV. Then, I lowered my voice and defended, "I always see you as my partner in this
[Luke’s POV]The elevator slid to shut and the metal box glided downwards. The concerned expression across the attractive features melted away into a relieved smirk. Luke couldn’t believe that his little lie worked. Once again, he won: his little bunny would never abandon him—she loves him too much, even more than that pathetic pseudo husband of hers. Something buzzed in his hand. He lifted his phone to sight, saw the caller’s name and spread his lips into a knowing grin as he pressed the answering button and slapped the phone to his ear. “What is it?” “I was right, weren’t I? Ms. Juliette was alone today,” Melissa chirped. Luke chuckled and whispered in his charming voice, “Yes, you’re right. I’m so proud of you.” “Ooh Luke baby, that’s turning me on.” “Great.” Luke tucked his free hand into his pocket and added gently, “I need my slut tonight. I wonder who’s available?” “Me! Luke baby, pick me! I’m your favourite slut!” Melissa purred. “Alright.” Luke pretended to give in.
[Juliette’s POV] Holding my eyes, the CEO said firmly, “Here at Lux Corp, decisions are made based on calculations—not wild guesses. Am I right, Ms. Juliette?” He was hinting that I had no proof, and he hit the bull’s eye—I really have none. Shit. He got me. I drew in a silent breath but refused to look away. “You said we can’t rule out all possibilities so we have to keep an eye on you too, Mr. Ralph.” The atmosphere was stifling as the rest of the team watched in awkward silence. Ralph sank in relaxation in his chair and flashed a nonchalant expression that made me look like an idiot. “By all means. If it’s for the greater good, I’d be happy to share the details of my schedule and names of the people I met.” Surveying his audience, the Mafia King added, “Until there’s proof that I’m behind these complaints, we have a potential food poisoning case to tackle. So far, I heard that no one was hurt.” All of a sudden, some tension left the faces. It seemed that we were too c
[Juliette’s POV]The Mafia King’s version of ‘deskbound’ is as mafia as anything I’ve seen. Looking up from the iron cuffs around my ankle, I stared in shock at Ben. “You gotta be kidding me!” The man snapped the other end to one leg of the desk and stood with a huff. “The boss doesn’t do kidding. You know him.” “I don’t think I do.” I crossed my arms in vexation. “I thought you said, he can’t make you do anything you don’t want to.” Ben shrugged. “Well, I’m on Ralph’s side for this one. Seriously, Juliette, why would you think of him like that? He loves Lux Corp more than anything.” I jerked my gaze away and asked sourly, “He told you?” “Honestly, it wasn’t hard to guess.” He glanced at the door to the CEO’s office as though Ralph was standing there. “I’ve got you to thank for that—.” He shifted closer and lowered his voice. “Your complete lack of faith in us.”The clown does know when to bite, and he bites like a fucking cobra. But I’m not a fucking sheep either. I snorted a
[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
[Juliette’s POV]”Jesus Christ….” Ralph stared in wide shock at the truth revealed in Elizabeth Lux’s handwriting. His shock was as good as mine. I realised my mouth was agape and closed it, my shock finally ingested in a gulp and an inhale. I found my voice and muttered, “She had his baby.” I turned to Ralph and swallowed again to maintain my voice. “Milo’s not the first.” I grabbed Ralph’s sleeves and shook him out of his daze. “Milo’s not the first to have the Lux and Virtus blood! Do you know what this means?” The swell in his throat finally came alive, bobbing nervously between the collar of his freshly put on shirt, and he murmured with heightened worry. “This means Milo is in grave danger.” I felt my face fall deadpan. That wasn’t what I had in mind. “No, silly! Milo isn’t the first. That means he’s safe! Daddy wouldn’t mind having him.” I pointed at the journal. “Daddy knows this all along—.” “And he hates it.” Ralph’s fierce gaze bore into mine, trying to make me see what
[Ralph’s POV]And I slid my fingers through hers. I pinned her hands above her wonderful expression of bliss to sink deeper into her. She wrapped around me unconditionally while I stroked her the way she wanted, stretching her desires beyond that cliff so she’d want—no—burn for that tip. I pushed in further, driving her body to the brink of madness as our lips almost touched, my nipples pressing hard against hers, grinding, yearning for her the same ways her blood boils for me. “How badly do you want me, kitten?” I licked her quivering, intoxicated upper lip. I knew the answer, but I couldn’t help but tease her. My damn, damn pride. Her insides were hot like lava, twitching fiercely with a need for me to move. But her slender thighs were wedged securely between our warm bodies so she was completely immobilised, afraid that the slightest touch would take away everything, and she didn’t want that. So she resorted to hiking that sweet voice of hers. “Ralph, please!” I seized her
[Juliette’s POV]“Don’t worry, Miss Julie!” Thomas’ voice rang as the car bolted forward. “No one will know a thing!” Outside the window was pitch darkness. Even the headlights were off so that they wouldn’t be spotted. “You’ll be killed if Papa finds out,” I murmured, my heart racing as fast as the car. Thomas chuckled. “I’ll be fine, Miss Julie. There’s one thing I know for sure about Master Lux: he doesn’t care about small fries like us.”I felt my lips curled up in a smile. That’s true. Papa wouldn’t even know of Thomas’ existence. “But he’ll know when a car’s missing.” I sighed. “We’re so fucked. We’ll be discovered. And we’ll both have to pay for it—.” God, I’m whiny. “This is a gift, Miss Julie. From Mr. Ralph!” Thomas proudly patted the steering wheel. “The old Master hasn't visited the garage since his return. I bet you a hundred dollars, he doesn't know about this baby. Besides, it’s mine. I don’t put it with the other cars he used. So he’ll never know.” So this is wh