As we exited the lift going to the Chairman's office, we heard a commotion in every cubicle. The staff was in their spare time gabbing about their bosses. Alden snorted and shook his head out of annoyance."Hey, you!" he then grabbed the shoulder of a male employee who was busy whispering with the other ladies. The poor lad clamped his mouth with his hand and jumped on his feet."Goodness! You're so handsome!" the male staff widened his eyes upon seeing my bodyguard. "Oh, my! Two gorgeous sons of Adam!" he added when he saw me making my dim expression darker.His female friends quieted when they saw how stern we were. Joking wasn't exactly our flavor of the day today. We needed answers!"Yeah! Save your adulation. Answer my question, son of I don't know!" Alden cut in. "What's going on inside the Chairman's office?" the press on the lad's shoulder had gone deeper making him wince in pain."Ahm! Mrs. de la Frontera and Mrs. Bailey are argumenting!" he twitched his lips, Alden had no in
I dropped her onto my wide couch making her wince in pain as she massaged her hips and me, earning a dagger stare and curses from her."You asshole. You pig. What do you think of me? A sack of apples? Damn you!" she tried to get up but her hips could have really been hurt.I touched the Italian leather couch and grimaced at its hardness. "In my defense, it's Alden who chose this couch so I didn't know that it's hard. Also, honestly, a sack of apples was the first thing that came to my mind when I threw you on my shoulder. So, congratulations. You've got the right answer!" I turned around and pursed my lips when a cushion hit the back of my head."Fvck you!" she yelled.I twirled back and angled my eyebrow at the glaring woman with messy hair and ruined makeup. At least, she learned to wipe her nose...with the hem of her blouse. Eww!!!"I'll add that to my bucket list. To fvck me as your request. Coz that's not gonna happen today, Señorita. I am exhausted!" I cringed my nose and shrugg
Leah POV..The day had come!Within just half an hour, I was going to be Mrs. Zaborowski. I inhaled and exhaled at the realization that would come to me. It could change my life for a year, it could be for the better or worse."Señorita, any nervousness?!" Elsa, who served to be one of my witnesses, nudged my wandering thought."Hmm! Not really. Just a little!" I replied as I glanced at her with a smile.She then clasped my hand and smiled back at me. "You're doing this not only for your father but for us. Thank you!" teary-eyed, she uttered."I'm always grateful to have you in my life, Elsa. You and Iñigo!" I couldn't hold back my tears as some leaked from the corner of my eyes."Ops! No more crying. You might ruin your makeup!" she also chuckled and gently wiped the tears on my cheek. "Where's Iñigo, by the way?" she glanced around and then stared back at me."You look beautiful!" she gazed at me from head to foot.My image was simple. I just tied my hair in a bun and left some st
A gentle knock on the door woke me up and as I opened my eyes, it was already dark inside my room. I groped my phone on the side table and checked the time."Oh, shoot!" I hastily got up and almost tripped when I noticed I was still wearing my shoes. It was already 6 PM and I was supposed to be preparing for Desmond's dinner. I immediately took off my shoes and opened the door."Yes, Donna. I know. I'm going down now!" I cut Donna off before she could even say a word."Okay, Mrs. Zaborowski. He's in his room now. He will go down after about 30 minutes!" Donna explained, I nodded right away and closed the door.I opened the closet that was next to the bathroom and took out a pair of white cotton shorts and a light pink shirt. Since my hair was tied in a bun, I just let it that way. I didn't have time to fix myself in the mirror, I only have 25 minutes left."Hurry! Hurry, Amy Leah! You still have to think about what to cook for dinner!" I mumbled to myself and strode to the kitchen. "H
Desmond POV..I was mad at her. Every time I remembered the photos that an unknown someone sent to me on the night before our civil wedding, I was fuming mad. I told myself, I shouldn't get affected but what was I doing?Those photos of her and my best friend, Adam, hugging each other in front of the bar, getting in her car together, going to their resort, and him staying there till morning, I felt like I wanted to punch him that night.But engulfed with hatred and probably, jealousy, I went to the bar that night and picked a random girl to vent my rage on her. I had a one-night stand with a woman named, Emily but when I realized what I had done, I left her at the hotel and went straight to Guinevere's place.I told her everything and she was, too, shocked and upset at my actions."Fvck it!" I swiped away all of the documents on my desk. I was in de la Frontera at the moment and since I already owned this place, I controlled everything around me, including the two assistants that Di
I woke up at 9 in the evening when I felt a cool breeze blow on my back, an indication that the man lying beside me was not there. I moved aside to see the space beside me was empty."He's up!" I mumbled under my breath.Would he get mad at me for disobeying his first rule? I stroked his pillow, his natural scent was left on it and I couldn't help but imagine him still lying beside me with a doting smile."Ah!" I got up abruptly upon realizing maybe he got hungry and that he was in the kitchen now. I already broke rule number 1 and didn't intend to break another rule.I strode to the kitchen and there was no one there. Of course, the dining room. He could be there, yet the place was empty. Where could he be I thought. I heard Donna's voice humming from the laundry room and I ambled hastily to ask about her boss."Hey, you're up!" she smiled at me. She was separating Desmond's clothes, from the white ones to the colored ones."Yeah!" I smiled back and took a glimpse at the collared whi
Desmond POV..Did I hear that right?It was just all right with her that I was going to have an affair. I was only planning to test her reaction but it backfired on me in a flash. Telling her that I had a one-night stand just the night before our civil wedding was just a shrug-off on her part. To think I was even expecting a full-dragon wife attack. Heck no!That meant nothing and what I received was an I-don't-care-about-who-you-fuck look. Damn woman! And she had got the nerve to flicker her eyes at me. Sh!t those palms on my chest, its spark was still there.I strode to the study room to continue my work. I had been reviewing de la Frontera's records for the past five years and some of it was leading me to Amy Leah's marriage with Liam Bailey two years ago. However, after that conversation in the dining room, I couldn't concentrate anymore. Earlier, I woke up feeling much better. But what stunned me was her hand wrapping around my neck and me hugging her possessively, her breathin
After lunch, we went straight to the department store where Guinevere's favorite brand was located. The guard in Dolce and Gabbana shop opened the door wide for us. Several sales clerks immediately assisted us and Gwenny couldn't hide her excitement upon seeing new items at the store. This D&G Store took half of the whole floor of this elegant mall. Opposite it was a jewelry shop owned by one of the finest jewelry makers in England."Des, you promised me. You will buy everything I choose today!" Guinevere uttered, her beaming orbs glued to me."Sure! You can choose anything. I will just sit here and wait!" I replied and she shortly asked the sales clerk to follow her.Guinevere was a former model and she just quit her job when I told her I was going back to New York. In basic terms, she quit her dream because of me. After about a couple of hours, she finally picked up three different types of outfits. A casual one-piece dress, stretchable slacks with an off-shouldered fitted blouse, a
After three months! . . It's spring! Flowers were blooming everywhere in the garden. The shades of red, yellow, pink, and white color the beautiful landscape Iñigo and Elsa had created. A tribute for their loyalty and care for me and my parents. We were still at Desmond's villa. I could always go back to our mansion, but the feeling of emptiness was still there. I felt like that big house was no longer the same home where I was born and raised. It was totally a stranger to me. I was watching the morning sunshine from the balcony of our room when a gentle knock disturbed my senses. "Come in!" that could be Elsa. "Señorita, we're ready!" indeed it was her. "Yes, Elsa. I'm also ready. This is it!" I gladly told her as I hugged her tight. Elsa was like a mother to me. She saw me grow up and she was also a witness of our love with Desmond. Speaking of my man, he must be waiting for me now. "Let's go then!" Elsa uttered with a smile. As we sauntered downstairs, we saw I
A soft warm peck on my lips made me moan as I opened my eyes and saw the person carrying me. I was like a baby lying on his lap. He was just staring at me, my man, worries were cleared on those mesmerizing orbs. "Hi?" I asked, a thin smile appeared on my face. "Hi!" he answered. "You scared me to death, you know that?!" then a sweet scolding. I chuckled at his cuteness, but he furrowed his brows at my response. "I'm sorry. How long was I asleep?" I asked not cutting my stares at him. "A couple of hours. Kota already left with Martin and Gwenny is with Adam. Everything is cleaned and fixed, sweetheart. We can go home now!" Desmond answered. I slowly got up as he gently held my back. "What about Donna, Elsa, Alden, and Dante?" I asked again worried something worse happened to them, especially Donna who had blood on the right side of her head when she shot Franco to death. "They're all fine. Donna is at the ward, resting. She's with the rest. Sweetheart, let's go home. You nee
I let out my loudest scream for help when the door banged open, followed by the figure of the man I would admit scared to see. It was Franco! His face displayed the darkest night I had ever seen. His eyes were flaming red to my vision, and his sneer was devouring me little by little. If there was a real face of a monster, it was him. "Don't come any closer, Franco!" my shock was cut in by Iñigo's deep voice. I could see the face of a man prepared to die with him. "Iñigo?!" I whispered with my trembling voice. I held the hem of his shirt as he moved forward, trying to shield me from the monster. "Old man!" even Franco's voice was scary. "You think you can frighten me with that lamp you're holding?" he laughed maniacally. I just noticed now, Iñigo was gripping the lamp he grabbed from the side table. I grasped his shirt tight, wrinkling the fabric, there's no way we could survive this dawn. Till I heard a loud gunshot and saw Iñigo's shoulder bleeding. I screamed, calling his
"You've failed me, Mrs. Amy Leah Zaborowski. You need to be punished!" he gritted his teeth while he was staring deeply at me. I shivered at the tension rising around us."Des, I- I""First, we have to get out of here!""But ~ But them!""Let Dante and the rest take care of the mess you've caused!" another sharp look before he pulled me up and led me to his car parked at the entrance.I glanced over my shoulder and saw Martin's men firing guns against Divina's goons. Screams and banging of furniture everywhere.It took us only an hour to arrive at Martin's villa. The way he maniacally drove his sports car was evidence that I was in complete trouble. He slammed the door after opening it ignoring that I was still inside."Desmond, let me explain!" my voice cracked as I followed him in quick stride. He wasn't just upset, he was mad.He aggressively turned around and yelled in my face. "You planned to deceive me by fucking me! You lied to me! What the heck were you thinking, Amy Leah?""D
Amy Leah POV.Months had passed....Everything was set. My plan to enter the lion's den was final. Over the past few months that I recuperated, I also asked Desmond to help me with some self-defense and how to hold a gun. At first, he was hesitant but I finally managed to get his approval. I told him it was for my own safety. The bodyguards he hired were not enough for me."Sweetheart, are you sure about this? Don't you really need us?" my husband asked after he rolled down beside me. We just had finished our lovemaking and I took control which to his surprise and satisfaction, he had no idea I could do it. Guess those months of training and building my strength paid off."Baby, I'm just gonna talk to Divina. The spy I assigned to the mansion is 100% sure she crept there every night once in three months to visit my dad's study room. There must be something important in that room that she can't get rid of or can't bring to her wherever she's hiding!" I confidently told him."All righ
"Ams, about that case, I can't help you anymore. I've been cut off!""I told you so!" Desmond interrupted making my eyes roll."Desmond, I need to speak with Adam alone, please!" I needed to get to the bottom of this. It was almost ten years and I couldn't wait for closure and justice. Justice for my father's name and George's death."No!" my husband urged."Desmond, please!""Amy Leah, you don't need to keep your talks with him a secret, okay? Remember, my parents were also victims of that fire...and my friend, Valerie!" the word Valerie came out only a whisper as he side-glanced at Adam who secretly took a glimpse of his reaction."Our best friend, Valerie!" Adam corrected."All right, no one wants to help me get closure. Then I guess I need to continue what I had originally planned!" I was losing my patience. I felt like I was left wandering alone in the dark wilderness."What?! No, Amy Leah. You almost got yourself killed!" Desmond uttered in a loud tone."Wait! I don't follow. Wh
I drove my way to where I was raised. The nest where I spent my childhood life. Although they were only strings of stories from my ex-fiance Warren and my best friend Kota, coz I couldn't still recall most of my memories, I had these weird feelings enveloping me upon stopping in front of this huge iron gate. Emptiness, grief, bliss, rage, and love. Most were love... I shook my head and bobbed it up and down as outlines of doodled past clouded my thoughts."Mom! Dad!" I whispered in the air.My eyes were deeply shut. My temples were pounding, and my head began to hurt like hell. Flashes of memories kept raging at the back of my head. Damn! I just wanted to scream and freak out.Till...A knock on my car window cleared my messy thought. I stared at the uniformed man deeply staring at me through the tinted window. He was checking who was inside.I removed my sunglasses and slowly rolled down the screen. Beads of sweat began emerging on my forehead and my breathing was unstable. But what
"Desmond, I thought you were working at home!" I immediately got my composure and strode toward him. I took a swift stare at the woman staring sternly at me. Martin's eyes were also fixed on me. These three were like, they were skinning me alive."Supposed to be but Martin told me you want to speak with him. Aren't you going to Dakota's flat?" Desmond's tone was flat and cold but beyond that I could feel rage."Been there and she told me that!" I shifted my glance at Martin. I needed to make a new lie. "Martin is blocked in their building. Is that true?" I questioned the mafia man.He cleared his throat first and nodded. The lady in the middle was stunned that her eyes would like to pop out."You're blocked? Martin, how could that be? Did that woman order the admin to do that!""FYI, her name is Dakota, missy!" I abruptly meddled glaring at her. She just stared back at me."Señorita, you might not remember me but we're friends. Well in a short while. I'm Guinevere Basile. Gwenny for s
Amy Leah POV.."Desmond, is that you?" the clock ticked 12, it was now midnight and Desmond just got home. Where had he been?"My bad, sweetheart. It's my fault. I invited Martin to have some drinks!" he hoarsely uttered.I could see his silhouette from the mounted lamp on the wall. His legs wobbled when he walked which only meant- he was drunk!I turned on the lights and the whole wide living room lit up. My man's shirt was a mess. His hair which was always combed well was disheveled. I rushed to his side when he was about to fall on the floor. Good thing his palm pressed the edge of the table by the door."Desmond, are you all right?" my worried voice made him lift his head and he was staring at me with unfathomable eyes. "Des!"He cupped my face, his thumb gently touching my lips. "I'm sorry for everything I've done to you in the past!" he uttered softly, I could feel the pain in his heart but I couldn't understand what he was saying."Des, let's go to bed, sweetheart!" I told hi