DANIELLE'S P.O.V. A woman walked up to the podium. She was immaculately dressed in black suit pants and a navy blue wrap around blouse. Her short black hair was packed into a low ponytail at the back of her head and the sound her black heels, clicking and clacking, resonated in the now silent hall. "Good morning everyone." she greeted. Her voice carried loudly in the large room, indicating that she had on a microphone. "Good morning, ma'am." I greeted alongside the entire class; our voices blended into one and caused a powerful and loud riffle in the room. "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. There were some urgent matters that had to be dealt with." she said, "Now, let us start the day with introductions. I am Doris Covington, the Dean of Students." A loud applause was started by one of the students, I and the others following suit in the ovation. "Thank you." she said, ending the ovation. "I welcome you all to New York University, and most especially, I wel
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. "How was your first day, business schooler?" Sofia asked later that evening. "It was okay, I guess." I replied. "Our dearest business schooler here, got lost on her first day on campus." Layla said teasingly. "Why do you guys keep calling me ' business schooler?" I asked. Layla and Sofia shrugged. Janelle's arms were busy but I was sure she would have equally shrugged alongside them. "I'm not surprised you got lost. No offense Danielle, but you have no sense of direction. You're really lucky to be born in an era with advanced technology, or else you'd probably end up getting lost and having to start your life afresh in some distant land." Sofia said. "No offense taken." "You cried, didn't you. We all know how terrified you are of getting lost." Janelle said. "I didn't cry." I denied. "Oh, yes she did." Layla teased, causing the rest of them to laugh. "I did not!" I said adamantly. "She definitely did." Janelle said, jo
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. It would seem my day was, indeed, full of surprises as that same evening, the kitchen held another stunning image for me. I stood just outside the kitchen, on its thresholds where its floors blended with the living room's floors; I was transfixed by the sight in front of me, not quite comprehending it as exciting ripples of amazement suddenly licked their way through my veins. The source of my astonishment was Adrian- he who stood in the kitchen- and it wasn't only the fact that he was shirtless and chiseled, sweat glistening over his defined back and biceps; although, I quite enjoyed the sight of his bare back which ignited something low in my stomach, a fluttering that spread to my chest. The cause of my frozen state and inability to move from the spot I was standing on was the sight of Adrian- The Almighty Adrian Valentino wearing an apron, and cooking. His Majesty, Adrian Valentino, my snotty as hell husband, who acted high and mighty like he was
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. The days proceeding my first actual sit at home dinner with Adrian since our marriage, went by in a blur of Introductory classes, School tours, and surreptitious efforts at avoiding a particular blonde haired and hazel eyed girl. I was successful for the most part, having avoided situations that could leave me available to a conversation with her. Soon it was Thursday; the day that had been set aside for the girls and I to go shopping for our outfits to be worn to the gala. Thursday morning met me on my bedroom floor, perusing various Pinterest boards for the most suitable dresses to wear to Dad's event. I had not had any sleep the previous night as I was excited for my day out with the girls. Once the first rays of the morning sunlight licked its way through the parted curtains, I scurried into the bathroom, more than ready to and extremely thrilled about finally starting the day. I quickly took care of my hygiene and threw on an effortless outfit consistin
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. The first few hours of my day were spent idling about the house; I spent most of the day in the living room, binge watching some of the various series that I felt like watching on the television. Adrian made good on his promise to send me something to eat. About two hours after he left for work, the doorbell rang. His driver had stood at the door with a bag of takeout in his hand. I thanked Adrian's driver and excitedly opened the bag, offloading it's contents onto the kitchen island, and I sat down at the island to devour my breakfast of French toast, banana pancakes, waffles, and a box of orange juice. The gala was scheduled to start by 6:00 pm, so I had to be ready before 5:00 pm at least. Once it was 12:00 pm, I called for my hair stylist and makeup artist; they were to work their magic on me before the time allotted for leaving the house. By 5:04 pm, they were both done and had left me alone, once again, in the house. I went into to my closet and pi
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. Chase fucking Sinclair. There he stood, by the closest table to the ball room's entrance doors, in all his fucked up glory. "What the hell is he doing here?" Janelle asked, her voice laced with disgust. My thoughts exactly! He obviously could not have been allowed entry into the venue without an invitation card- he must have actually been invited. Surely, Dad knew better than to have invited Chase fucking Sinclair, the traitor and intruder, to his company's big event; he would not do that to me, would he? "I can not believe he is here." Layla scoffed, taking a sip from her champagne flute. Watching her drink from her flute made me realize how badly I needed a glass myself. Liquid courage was the only thing I could use to get through the night. "Your dad couldn't have invited him, could he?" Sofia asked, turning to face me. I shrugged, my eyes flickering around the room in search of my father. We had to have a conversation about his ch
DANIELLE'S P.O.V.The drive back to the Penthouse was silent. A stifling kind of silence laced with so much tension, you could see it and cut it with a pair of scissors. Adrian gripped the steering wheel tightly, his face set in a grimace, and I wondered just what had gotten him so angry.I looked out of the car window and watched as cars passed by in a blur, their headlights shining as bright as stars in the night. After a few more minutes of driving at a godforsaken speed down the road, Adrian pulled up the car at the front of our apartment building. He yanked open the door and basically threw the car keys at the valet on his way into the building. I gave the valet an apologetic smile and scurried after Adrian.What was wrong with this man?Who stuck another stick up his asshole again?I hopped into the elevator after him and held my sides as the doors closed, breathing heavily from the little running I had just done. I was seriously out of shape, and I decided I would be more inten
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. I stood tall, staring into Adrian's eyes, not once breaking the eye contact. Adrian pushed his body against mine, his erection grazing my lower stomach in the process. His gaze was intense and he looked so hot, causing my panties to wetten with my juices. "Danielle" Adrian whispered into my mouth while moving his fingers to the straps of my dinner dress. It was a slip dress with spaghetti straps that sat comfortably on my shoulders. "We both have some tension to be released with each other, hm?" he dropped the straps down my arms and pulled the top of my dress down to my waist, revealing my breasts in their sumptuous and voluptuous glory. His hands gripped my breasts, each in one hand, and he massaged them tenderly and slowly. "They're so beautiful." he commented, his mesmerizing voice and the cold air from the air conditioner caused my nipples to perk up, standing erect. He dipped his head, and cupped my breasts further into his hands. I watched his eyes
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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