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CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE.
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Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER FORTY-SIX.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. The doors to the Penthouse eased open with an electronic beep as I typed in the pass code. I walked into the house, the sole of my sneakers pounding noiselessly as I made my way through the hall way into the open living room and kitchen. The air conditioner in the living room blew cool air into the room from its vents, giving the house a chilly but homely ambience. "You're home. Welcome." I heard Adrian greet as I stepped into the living room's thresholds. I turned to see that he was in the kitchen, strings of an apron tied around his neck and waist. His hands were busy with chopping carrots on a wooden chopping board, the sound of the knife hitting the wood reverberating in the room. "Good evening. I see that you're busy." I greeted. Adrian looked up at me, a sweet smile gracing his face as his eyes found mine. Meanwhile, his hands did not for a moment, stop their movements, chopping away at the big orange vegetable without a break. "You're going t
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. From deep within the abyss of my dreamless slumber, I heard the distant and muffled ringing of an alarm. The consistent beeping sound continued for a few more seconds before it finally stopped and restored the silence once more. I tossed around on the bed, the sheets rustling noisily as I wriggled restlessly on them, the alarm's beeping having broke the silence that enveloped me- allowing me to have a peaceful sleep ,and left me conscious of my environment. After trying and failing, severally, to fall back into the abyss from which I had been rudely pulled out from, I slowly pried my eyes open, but I closed them immediately as they caught the rays of the morning sun light that slipped through the curtains. I attempted to open my eyes once more, prying them open slowly and blinking rapidly until my eyes finally adjusted to the bright light. As I looked around the unfamiliar room, memories from the night before filtered through my mind, causing a blush to pa
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. "And with that last teaching, we end today's orientation program titled 'Navigating The World of Business'. I hope you all have learned a few things from the speaker, the one and only CEO and Founder of MacTech, the biggest electronic shop in New York, Mark Denver. On that note, I announce the end of today's orientation program. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day. I am, and will remain Doris Covington, the Dean of Students of this prestigious school, Leonard N.Stern School of Business. Goodbye and have a nice day." The sound of skin clapping against skin reverberated in the large room as my colleagues and I started a round of applause to usher the Dean of Students off the podium. Once she had exited the hall's large open doors, the hall broke into a turmoil as students, male and female alike, rushed to meet their friends and exit the hall. I, as per usual, remained sited in my seat until the uproar had receded and the hall was sparse with only a few student
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER FORTY-NINE.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. "Danielle Dawson is nothing more than a business venture to me." Adrian's voice echoed in my head. "You don't have to worry about anything happening between the both of us." His statement kept on replaying in my head like a broken record, the memory bothering me, and fueling the fire of my anger the more that I recalled it. What the actual fuck? I was speechless, baffled, gobsmacked- At that moment, I was feeling every synonym of the emotion 'surprise'. I was utterly astounded by the demeaning statement that I had heard Adrian Valentino say. What the hell? Just who exactly, did he think he was? I, Danielle Dawson, was merely a business venture to him? So, marrying me benefited the Valentinos? But how? How did my marriage to Adrian benefit the Valentino empire? I had no idea that they, the most powerful conglomerate in New York City, would be positively affected or impacted by a marriage alliance with my less prominent family. I
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER FIFTY.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. It is said that when we, as humans, mind wander, we take all the attention away from the atmosphere we are in and emphasize that attention entirely on our own inner thoughts. While we mind wander, we shift all our attention from one particular task to internal, personally relevant thoughts. It is also said that our minds do not wander randomly to what doesn't worry us. On the contrary, it usually wanders due to having numerous concerns and these concerns, in turn, distract us from our activities at hand, and instead force our minds to think about those concerns in any instant. Mind wandering occurs when thoughts unrelated to the task at hand and at a particular moment in time, are brought to the forefront of our attention. This stimuli induced phenomena can hinder what information is comprehended at a moment in time, and often we are not even aware that we have let our minds wander until we catch ourselves. Mind wandering also occurs with and in every in
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE.
CHAPTER FIFTY ONE. DANIELLE'S P.O.V. There are moments when time just stops. In those moments, it halts abruptly, and then, it lulls and slows down. It becomes a void in which one's emotions and senses are heightened while things and activities are diminished. For a short moment, as Doris Covington, the Dean of Students, invited him up to the podium in front of the hall in which I was sited with roughly two hundred other intending MBA students, time stilled. At least for me, it did. As I watched him walk into the room, my breath caught in my throat and my stomach started to clench painfully. I had no idea why my body was reacting the way it did, and I was terrified that I would forget how to breathe and die a sad death caused by the anxiety at seeing my husband. Even my wandering mind had stilled on my seeing Adrian step on to the podium, his strides proud and sure. Soon, the wheels in my brain started to unclog and roll. How was he here, in that hall? How
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. The reception was held on a yacht named Illusion. It was a 290 footed ship with impressive exterior areas that included two Jacuzzi pools, a touch and go helipad, and incredible social areas. From the main deck, the stunning double height atrium gave off the feeling of space on board. This feeling was further enhanced by the fifteen metre long plaque of its name 'Illusion' written in bold letters that beamed brightly. Azra and I, upon our arrival on the deck, collected flutes of champagne from neatly dressed waiters who carried trays in their hands and moved about the yacht's deck in search of empty handed guests. The aim of the reception, according to the Dean of Students, was to socialize with the various notable guests and impress them in hopes of getting connections with them for future purposes, however, impressing socialites was the last thing on my mind. So, when Azra excitedly requested I followed her on a tour of the luxurious boat, I followed withou
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. One, Two, Three minutes. The seconds of the black metal clock ticked into minutes, stretching the silence until it was long, uncomfortable, and stifling. My breath hitched in my throat, my hands trembled lightly, and my heart beat irregularly and fastly- so fast, that I thought it would go into overdrive and make me go into a cardiac arrest, or maybe that it would jump out of my chest. I had no idea why I was so scared, so terrified of Azra finding out about my relationship with Adrian Valentino. After all, I had committed no crime by being married to Adrian. The only crime I could agree that I was guilty of committing was keeping the truth about my identity a secret from my one and only friend in school. The fact that I had kept it a secret could be justified because I had not meant to keep it from her, it had just happened the way it did and I hadn't exactly had any chance to tell her about it. Although my brain had justified my keeping my identity a secre
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Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINE.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V I stirred from my slumber, my eyes blinking open reluctantly. The room was bathed in the soft glow of dawn and a lingering sense of unease clung to me. As consciousness found its way back to me, I felt the sting in my eyes which were heavy from a restless night. My eyes stung as I tried to focus on the familiar surroundings. A few remnants of the nightmares that had plagued my sleep replayed in my mind, their vivid images taunting me. A groan escaped my lips as I tried to sit up, the dryness and ache in my throat were evidence of the tumultuous night I had. The taste of fear lingered in my mouth, leaving me parched and exhausted. When I finally sat up, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I could still hear the faint echoes of my own screams and I took a quick glance around, half expecting to find shadows lurking in the corners of the room. The sheets clung to my skin- further evidence of my night which had been filled with restlessness. The room, usually a pe
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-EIGHT.
ADRIAN'S P.O.V. It had been a month since the storm called Chase Sinclair, had hit our lives, leaving destruction and doubts in his wake. The air hung heavy, in my office, with the weight of unspoken words as Omar Zayn, my lifelong confidante and best friend, sat across from me. His eyes, filled with understanding, met mine, as if searching for the turmoil that had etched its mark onto my soul over the past month. The weight of the past month lingered heavily on my shoulders, and I couldn't shake the guilt that gripped my conscience. "Omar, I messed up big time," I sighed, rubbing my temples. Omar leaned in, concern etched on his face. "What happened with you two, Adrian? Last time I knew, you guys were solid. Tell me everything. Maybe there's a way to fix this." Omar said, his expression empathic. In a flash, I recalled the doubts that had plagued me and the message that had led to my questioning Danielle's fidelity " I doubted Dannie's loyalty, questioned her commitment
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V I woke up with a splitting headache. The piercing pain that seared through my head dragged me out of the depths of unconsciousness. As my eyes fluttered open, I groaned, clutching my throbbing temple. The room spun and my vision blurred as I blinked. "Where in the world am I?" I muttered while trying to make sense of my surroundings. As I tried to sit up, the sharp pain in my head intensified, sending shockwaves through my body. It felt like a sledgehammer had collided with my skull and I could hear the faint echoes of my own pained groans. With my muddled senses, I struggled to make sense of my situation. I continued to blink rapidly to clear off the dizzy spell until the dimly lit room slowly came into focus. Suddenly, I felt restraints on my wrists and ankles. "What the hell...?" I muttered pulling at the ropes that bound me and restricted my movement. On seeing that they would not budge, undiluted panic started to creep into my bod
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIX..
DANIELLE'S P.O.V The weeks following my traumatic ordeal at the hands of Chase were a blur of hospital rooms and tests. I had also been offered therapy sessions, but I rejected them as the very last thing I wanted to do was revisit the torture I had gone through. However, I could not seem to run away from those days of captivity as even after I had long been discharged from the hospital, my mind was still trapped in the nightmares that had plagued me ever since that fateful day- the day Chase Sinclair had kidnapped me. It felt like I was trapped in a unending nightmare, unable to escape the memories of what had happened to me- memories of how my baby had almost been taken away from me. I was back in the safety of the mansion Adrian and I had gotten but the house which used to bring me so much peace now seemed as oppressive as it was comforting. I sat on the plush couch in the living room of our grand mansion, surrounded by my friends and family. Adrian was on a busi
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. The hospital corridors stretched before me, a maze of sterile white walls, distant echoes of life, and busked whispers. Their white walls were an unsettling reminder of the captivity I had endured for far too long at the hands of Chase Sinclair. Determination surged through my veins as I made my way towards the women's restroom, a small glimmer of hope guiding me towards the next step in my escape. I walked with purpose and my steps were fueled by a desperate determination to reclaim my life from the clutches of the darkness that Chase had surrounded me with. My footsteps faltered as both anticipation and apprehension coursed through my veins and each footfall echoed in my ears as I made my way to the restroom. Every step that I took felt heavy with anticipation and my heart pounding in my chest as I neared the restroom. It was a moment that held the key to my freedom; the key to reuniting with my family and escaping the clutches of Chase once and for all. As
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FOUR.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. Chase’s eyes bore into mine, and I could see the rage simmering beneath them. His gaze moved around the room, scanning for any signs of betrayal and then, suddenly, his eyes locked onto my shaking figure. A cruel smile pulled at his lips as he lunged towards me and on reaching me, he grabbed my hand with his grip tightening around my wrist. Panic engulfed me as he wrenched the phone from its hiding place under the pillow and he held it up, triumph gleaming in his eyes. “You really thought you could get away, didn’t you?” he sneered, his voice dripping with malice I stood there, transfixed to the spot by the fear that caused my heart to pound in my chest, my hands trembling. The stolen phone rested securely in Chase’s grip; a small but strong weapon that I had used against the man who had held me captive for far too long. Chase loomed over me, his eyes burning with a mix of anger and desperation. "You think you're so clever, don't you?" His voic
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY THREE.
ADRIAN'S P.O.V The walls of my office seemed to close in on me as I sat there, utterly drained from the dual onslaught of my demanding position and the storm raging inside of me. The dim lights seemed to intensify the shadows that had taken a place in my life recently and the air felt heavy as the weight of my tumultuous life burdened me. The office room felt like a prison of polished wood and cold steel and the distant hum of the city just outside of the office walls did nothing to ease the feeling of being trapped. The room that was usually a place of productivity and creativity, had. now become a battlefield between my professional obligations to the company and my personal emotions. Rubbing my temples gently, I tried to erase the persistent ache that clawed at my skull, but I couldn't seem to find relief from it. Weariness weighed heavily on my shoulders, and burden on my heart as I could not seem to get away from the shattered pieces of my broken life. The weight of my r
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-TWO.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. The days, weeks, or perhaps months, following my abduction felt like an eternity; I had lost track of time as those moments that I spent while being trapped in this desolate room passed in a hazy blur of fear and despair. Each passing moment was filled with fear, uncertainty, and a desperate longing for my freedom, every second spent in Chase’s clutches was a reminder of the very fragile line that separated both my life and death, every waking moment that I spent in that godforsaken room was tainted by the knowledge that I was at the mercy of a man I once called a friend; a man whom I had thought to forgive and let go of the hurtful things that he had done to me in the past; a man that had now turned into an obsessed captor; a man that had snatched me away from my peaceful existence. The room was always dark and even with the air conditioner, who’s hum served as the only other source of sound in the dreary space, it always felt suffocating as the only other me
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY ONE.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. I did not know how long I slept for, or how many days had passed by while I was in a state of unconsciousness; all I could remember when I slowly opened my eyes, the heaviness of sleep still lingering in my limbs, was that I had been taken against my will and the culprit of my kidnapping was none other than my former childhood friend and recently reconciled nemesis. As my vision started to clear, I found myself in a dimly lit room; it was not as small as the one I had previously woken up in, but it felt the same to me as I felt the sterile walls closing in on me. Panic coursed through my veins as the memories of the events leading up to my kidnapping flooded my mind. My heart raced and thumped loudly in my chest as the realization of my situation settled in once more. I would give anything to exact as much pain on the culprit of my predicament and source of my pain at that moment. Chase Sinclair! A name that I had once associated with friendship; a name that
