[Juliette's POV]"Put me down!" I cried, and I was dropped on the bed. The second my back hit the soft sheets, my hands were pinned above my head, and my body was pressed against the mattress with his. My anxiety skyrocketed. "Get off me!" I pushed at him, trying to conceal the fact that his masculine scent and body heat was turning me on. Did he hit the gym after work? How can he be in the office the whole day and still smell of fresh oak and spice as though he had a run through the woods? And his handsome face irked me too! It made my insides flutter…. "You want me, Juliette…," he muttered hoarsely, his eyes boring into mine. "No, I don't! And let go of me!" I spat and tried to wriggle free to prove it. "Yes, you do. Your eyes betrayed you." His grip tightened. Pain shot to my elbow, numbing my cries, freezed my movements. In that brief moment, he pulled off his tie in one swift motion and twirled it around my wrists"What the hell are you doing?" I cried out in alarm, twisti
[Juliette's POV]I turned from the darkness beyond the car window to the Mafia King in the driver's seat."So we're going to a restaurant for food because we're not waking up the servants who are already paid to do so," I recited what I heard from him while we were dressing up thirty minutes ago. "Yup." Ralph stared at the road ahead. "Because…?"A weary sigh came through and then he explained, "I don't trust them, especially the other people that they served."I was confused. "But aren't they all your family?" "My family died when I was nine." The sudden admission was appalling and puzzling at the same time. Is he not a Virtus? I stared at him when he placed another hand on the steering wheel. "You didn't hear that," he ordered. "What did I hear?" I feigned ignorance. He glanced at me quizzically and then turned back to the road. "What?" I shrugged. "I'm honouring the bet I lost. I'm doing whatever you say." A brief awkward silence later, I asked again, "So you don't trust y
[Juliette's POV] That son of a bitch used me as a tool to test for poison! He waited for me to take a bite off my plate, saw that I was fine, which meant that my food wasn’t laced with poison, and then switched his plate with mine! I scowled at the empty chair beside me. Last night, after what he did for me, bringing me back to the places of my childhood and giving me a peaceful moment, I thought, maybe deep down he’s actually a kind person. Well, kind person my ass. “Madam, are you done?” Margaret’s stone cold voice pierced the air above me. Ralph had left thirty minutes ago so there was only Margaret and I in the dining area. I looked up from my own empty plate at her frosty face, then rearranged my features into a bright smile. “What is it, Margaret?” “It’s time for your chores, Madam.” Did I hear wrongly? “Chores?” I asked. The corner of her lips lifted wickedly. She stepped closer and lowered her voice to an almost inaudible range, “Being the Don’s wife doesn’t make
[Juliette’s POV] I couldn't believe my ears. Heat of solace seared the back of my eyes. This man spoke my mind. He should be my ally! But he still can’t be trusted. All Virtuses can't be trusted—not when one of them used me to test his food for poison and another took advantage of my ignorance. Let's see what he's got first. "Do you have any evidence ?" I crossed my arms with a defensive frown. "Of what Ralph did to me and my father." He looked surprised and then furious. "How can there be when he never leave a trace of his crimes, Miss Juliette!" Darn. This guy has nothing. "You can't expect me to believe you when there's no proof, Mr. Sandy. Goodbye." I turned from him. "So you're saying you trust Ralph?" He shouted after me. I halted and then turned back with the sweetest smile I could fake. "I'm his wife, Mr. Sandy. Of course, I trust him." "Well, you're putting your trust in the wrong man!" I knitted my brows, pretending to be offended. "Excuse me?" "You want to
*WARNING: This chapter contains explicit mention of violence.* [Ralph's POV] "Give me the goddamn algorithm, Edward!" I thundered at the man kneeling on the floor before me. "Or I'll blow her brains out!!" I nodded at Ben, and his lips moved to give the order into the phone. On the screen behind me, the masked man pressed the barrel of his gun at the back of the hostage's head. I watched as blood drained from the man's face. "Alright! I surrender! I'll give it to you! Let my baby girl go, please!" The senior engineer clasped his hands together, begging and shaking in raw fear. "Don't hurt her! She's all I've got! Please, Mr. Ralph!" I forced myself not to look at the screen—and that frightened fourteen-year-old, blindfolded and strapped to a chair. "You'll hand over the files for the algorithm, Edward…," I muttered quietly. "Yes, yes, I'll do it….I swear….," he sobbed. "And give me your word that you'll never speak of this to anyone, not even your daughter, then I give
[Juliette’s POV]Ralph sucked my lower lip long and hard. His yearning tore through me, paralysing my limbs. When he released my lips, I sighed a mixture of relief and delight, and he grabbed the sides of my face to lock me for another kiss. I shouldn’t part my lips. But his tongue kept prodding and his body kept grazing mine. It felt good. Very soon, I succumbed and he entered, stroking me leisurely and deeply. We kissed fervently for God knows how long. And somehow, his hands got under my blouse, skimming up my abdomen, fondling and caressing my skin like he was touching me for the first time. Streaks of shuddering impulses scurried up my spine, and my insides twitched with need. But the moment his fingers brushed the undersides of my breasts, warning bells sounded in my head. I tore my lips away as my palms pressed on his broad chest. “Enough, Ralph," I whispered, panting. "We need to stop." I couldn’t let him go on. He’d know that I lied about my cycle, and a catastrophe would
[Juliette’s POV] Ten minutes! I need to be quick! Jesus! Can his study room be any bigger?! It's twice the size of my bedroom! Ah! There must be something at that vintage military campaign desk. I rushed over to the other end of the room. Damn! It’s empty! Not even a speck of dust! As expected of a man with trust issues… he wouldn't want to have anything out in the open. I yanked open the drawers, one by one, and they were all empty. Goddamn it, Ralph! I arrived at the last drawer… and it was locked. Bingo. It's too easy to be true, yet it felt right—people don't lock up the things they want to share. There must be something in there.I surveyed the area for something I could use to break open the drawer. But there was nothing. Shit! I should've brought something along. What can I use to pry this thing open? I glanced at the closed door, anxiety was beating against my ribs. Time is running out! Forget it! I'll take this drawer another time! I turned around to the bookshel
[Juliette’s POV] Oh God.... He was embedded deep inside me as I straddled him in the middle of the enormous bed, our bodies locked tightly together, my arms around his neck and his around my back. My body felt so hot and numbed with electrifying bliss, I could hardly hold myself up and had to lean against him for support as we kissed long and hard. Finally, Ralph tore his lips away and pressed his forehead against mine. We gazed into each other's eyes as our warm breaths mingled. "Ralph…," I whispered breathlessly, barely able to form a sentence in my head, much less remember how long ago since he took my clothes off. "What is it, kitten?" he asked hoarsely. "Please…," I pleaded, not knowing what I was begging for. His gaze grew fiercer. "Shall I stop?" No! My mind screamed. But this slow pace is killing me! I need him to go…. "Faster…," I squeezed out a tiny sigh. "I can't, kitten." His gaze darkened. "You made me wait so long… It’s only fair that I savour every bit
[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