Chelsea and Dylan exited the elevator and walked across the bar to the premises' exit. Hill stood waiting by the Urus with his hands clasped behind him. "Are the luggages insides?" Dylan asked Hill."Yes, Sir" Hill replied and opened the door for the duo, granting them entrance. Dylan appreciated the discretion of Golden Petals. If it were any other hotel or lounge, paparazzi and media agents would be crowning him right now, asking him all sorts of nosy questions. He sighed. The price for fame and status, I guess. He lampooned as he boarded the SUV after Chelsea went in. Before Hill closed the door, he noticed someone observing them from behind a car parked some distance away. He heaved as he sat, his eyes fixed on the car. Hill turned on the engine and soon they were en route to the mansion.They got home and alighted the vehicle. Chelsea proceeded to enter the building hurriedly while Dylan lagged behind. He engaged in a brief discussion with Hugo with his eyes fixed on her. He c
Joyce stood with her hands clasped in front of her, watching as Chelsea prepared for work."Is it his instruction that you watch me every morning before leaving for work?" Chelsea asked Joyce's reflection in the dressing mirror as she put on her earrings. Joyce smiled. Of course she always smiles. "It's just like I'll disappear into thin air or something" Chelsea continued. "I'm simply here in case you need anything" Joyce replied. "Oh please. We're not even in a relationship, talk more of being married. Just drop it, alright? The whole watching over thing. It's... suffocating" Chelsea gestured in exasperation. "He has made it clear to me that there is no escaping this property. Either the bullets get me or the wolves, either way I'm dead" she ranted as she put on the last pieces of adornments. She turned and saw Joyce still smiling at her."You look beautiful as always, Chelsea" Joyce said.Chelsea exhaled. "Thanks very much. Am I free to go now?" she gave an obviously fake sm
Chelsea facepalmed herself as soon as he left her office. She was showing her feelings way too much. And he wasn't helping matters either. Walking in, leaning so close to her with all those seductive fragrances oozing out of him was making her senses go numb. She felt a slippery moisture between her thighs and exhaled frustratedly. Why on earth was she getting wet!!! She cursed her body for losing its control. Then after some seconds she chuckled. After closing the Walmart deal she stood up and exited her office. She could see Dylan feeding his eyes off her body as she swayed elegantly, gently walking her way out of his office. She smirked but didn't acknowledge him. "Where to?" he called as she reached for the doorknob. She paused, exhaled and turned slowly to face him. Their eyes met and she immediately retracted hers. She didn't fail to notice the smirk playing at the corner of his lips though. How could she miss it? It had become his trademark ever since they went on a romanti
Selina gave a light gasp but quickly regained her composure. "Sir...I swear I wasn't stalking you. I was visiting a friend there" Selina shuddered. Dylan chuckled and stood up. "I pray it actually is what you say it is. As for the carelessness with the Cheshire deal, it better be oversight and it better not repeat itself again, ever!" He bellowed. "Yes, Sir. Thank you" Selina replied. "You may leave" Dylan ordered and walked back to his chair. Selina stood up, grabbed the files and exited the office. Dylan's voice called her back before she could close the door."One more thing" he said calmly. "Yes, Sir" she replied, bowing her head as she stepped back in."You better be very careful with your choices, Selina. Very careful" he said and gestured a conclusion. "Yes, Sir" she replied and exited the office. Tsk. Dylan sighed and swivelled in his chair as he waited expectantly on Chelsea. Not long later, she walked in, her face a bit sour. "What happened?" he asked her."Nothing"
The Urus got to the restaurant and they alighted the SUV. Hill stayed back with the vehicle while Dylan and Chelsea went in. They walked gently and elegantly into the premises, much to the admiration of onlookers. Dylan waved a few people, shook important ones and they were finally escorted to the VVIP section. They were the only ones on this section. It was reserved for Dylan as he has made a lasting impression as their number one patron. He frequented here also because of their discretion in terms with media publicity. They placed their orders and before long they were served. "Are you still interested in the jewelry business?" Dylan asked after they finished their meal.Chelsea looked at him thoughtfully. Truthfully, she had no intentions of starting a jewelry business. Even more so now that she had her eyes on the drug money from the cartel. But she had to play along."I'm still interested but I feel like I enjoy my assistance job more" she replied. Dylan smiled. "You enjoy bei
Dylan clipped the last buttoned on his shirt and threw on his suit jacket. He gently walked out of his room and headed to the living room. On getting there, he saw Chelsea standing and waiting for him with her hands clasped behind her. "Good Morning" she greeted with a smile."Let's go" he replied, not answering her greeting and walked away towards the door.Chelsea turned to Joyce who stood, watching with a smiling face. The motherly housekeeper nodded approvingly at her. She smiled and turned, walking out behind Dylan.They boarded the Urus and were soon speeding on the highway towards downtown. ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤At Cross Enterprises, Dylan called for a meeting with the executive board. He stood at the head of the table, waiting for each member to arrive. Chelsea sat by his right hand, her eyes fixed on the part of the table before her. Selina was the last member to arrive. Her face was sour and filled with dejection. Chelsea traced her eyes and saw that they were fixed on Dylan. Dylan h
Dylan got to the mansion and immediately alighted the Urus. He walked gently into into building, exuding the aura of a domineering personality. He walked steadily, his rage brewing as he headed for his destination, Hades.Hades was the torture room where the 7 Daggers cartel dished out gruesome punishments to defaulters. Any member of a rival mafia or anybody at all who disrespected or posed a threat to the Pope or the Daggers were captured and brought to Hades.As he stepped into the room, Dylan saw three well-built men chained in a crucifix fashion. Their hands were chained apart to the ceiling while their legs were chained to the ground. The chains on their hands lifted them above the ground so that their whole body weight hung on their chained hands. As notorious of the Daggers, they had beaten the three prisoners mercilessly. All six eyes had black all around them. Their bodies spoke of gruesome whipping, cruel beating and other services that left their bodies in anything but an
Chelsea placed the contact card in her purse and sat up on her chair. If he was playing a game, she would show him she knew how to play along good enough. If she could swindle moneybags and bigwigs what was a little back and forth game that she couldn't play?She opened her company Skype account and searched for Fred's contact. He had already sent her a message. She clicked and read the message. Truly, it was all about business. He was giving details of prospective deals and contracts that he had in store for Cross Enterprises. But every businessman had a bad boy button somewhere on them. She was about to turn on Fred's bad boy button. She typed a short but demanding response and hit sent. 'When are we meeting?' It read.Then she relaxed, awaiting a response. Before long, the notification dinged. She opened the message and saw a picture with a text underneath. The picture was a selfie. He was in a restaurant, sitting alone on a table, probably awaiting his order. Under the selfie he
Dylan got to the mansion alighted the Urus. His entire clothing was roughed up and covered in blood. He looked around and noticed the Bentley Continental missing. He immediately had a bad feeling and dashed inside the mansion. None of the guards asked him any questions. This made him even more worried. He got to Chelsea's room and opened the door without knocking. It was empty. He found the safe open and empty as well. His heart began racing. He dashed to his room but he didn't see her in there either. He felt his knees getting weak. He checked the study and all then rooms on the down floor but he didn't find her inside any. He got upstairs and checked the accessible rooms and halls in the mansion but still nothing. "Chelsea!" he yelled. His voice echoed throughout the entire hallway, back and forth. There was no response. "Chelsea!" "Chelsea!!" "Chelsea!!!" Dylan slowly came down from the steps. He got to the base of the steps and sat down on the last step. His face was deje
Chelsea shuddered on hearing his name. Was this fate playing games with her? Just when she had finally gotten a shot at a happy life. Just when she had decided to start anew. Now her past had come to haunt her future. Why was life cruel? Dylan continued. "He just attacked one of my warehouses. He has challenged me to come face him or he'll destroy my name with the evidence and proof he has on me. I never expected him to stoop so low but I guess Ceaza has always been a scumbag. "I've already made arrangements for Joyce and Derek to be taken to a safehouse. You'll be safer here. I'll be going to face him off at the warehouse now" he added. "Why are you going? It's obvious he just wants to kill you. Why not send someone else? You have capable hands" Chelsea fired. Dylan smiled. "No. This is a personal battle that started years ago. I have to finish it myself" he replied. "I don't want anything happening to you, Dylan. Please don't go?" Chelsea begged. Her eyes became teary. She trul
Chelsea was dumbstruck. She had been expecting it but it still came as a shock to her. There he was, Dylan Cross, the King of Miami, the kingpin of the most notorious mafia cartel, the leading businessman in the city, on one of his knees, asking for her hand in marriage. It all seemed so surreal to her. She was stuck in a blur that she didn't know when time flew by. She returned to reality and saw Dylan still positioned on one knee, his hands holding out the box that contained the shiny diamond ring in it. He was patiently waiting for her answer. She was still contemplating. Was this what she really wanted? Was this really her way out from the life she had been living? To be a wife and mother now? Her life events flashed before her eyes. It was a big decision. One that would change her life forever. She had to make the right choice. As she was still thinking about it, she heard a familiar voice behind her and turned. "Aunty Chelsea!" It was Derek. He wore the same suit as his fath
Decorations were at their most glamorous. The lighting, the music and every aspect of the hall depicted a billionaire's taste. The guests had already started arriving. And true to Dylan's words, they were really the most prominent and powerful people in the society. Business tycoons, politicians, powerful billionaire families, and people of equal calibre were in attendance. In the garage, there were no cars less than the best of the best. Most cars there were even the only pieces ever produced. Customized and special editions. Chelsea stood from the balcony above as she observed the guests. She had her hair done at the last hour and put on her special dress that Dylan had imported without her even knowing. It was a white gown with designs of gold on it. She didn't even know when he planned and organized everything without her having a hint. What even surprised her more was the hall. She never knew the mansion had such an enormous hall within it. There were places she hadn't explored
Chapter 144 - An Introductory Party Two Months Later Dylan and Chelsea were now a public item. The news, social and other media carried it in droves. It was a blast. Different stories rose up. Several hypothesis were raised and conclusions drawn. It was a highlight for the city of Miami and Florida at large. Both the public society and the underground world were taken by surprise. They went to parties together. They shopped and dined together. They went on trips together. They practically did everything a couple did together. Always holding hands as they walked. They shared kisses in public. Even on interviews, Dylan always mentioned her name and called her his partner. There was never a shortage of pictures and clips on the media. The news also transcended the borders of Miami, Florida and America, reaching far across the globe. Dylan's cell and inboxes were flooded with calls and texts from both old acquaintances and new. Some were subtle with their questions while others went st
Inside The Hades Room Dylan held Clara's body as it gradually turned cold. Her eyes still stared at him with pure hate and intense resentment. He gradually dropped to his knees, his eyes fixed on the face of his ex-wife. She was beautiful, there wasn't a doubt about that. She had to be beautiful to be Dylan Cross's wife of course. But she also had a darkness in her that was too contaminating, it eroded her beauty. He couldn't quite understand why she hated him so much. People tend to accept society as it is and live with it. But she had to go out of her way to hate him and want him dead. Not that it was possible anymore. But still, she was once his wife. "But... you could have at least shot her in the leg. You could have rendered her immobile. You didn't have to kill her, Victor" Dylan said gently. It was plainly obvious he didn't didn't her dead. Maybe he still had a soft spot for her. "I'm sorry Pope. But I doubted that would have stopped her. I'd rather prefer you lose your ex-
Clara opened her eyes and met Dylan's cold stare. She could see the steam from the nose if the pistol. Her ears still whirred a little. She turned slowly and saw a hole in the space beside he head on the chair she sat on. A bullet was embedded in it. A real bullet! He had deliberately missed her head. Even so, this was unexpected. Did he really just shoot at her? "Is that supposed to scare me?" she mustered up the courage to say. Dylan smiled. "It wasn't meant to scare you. It was simply meant to warn you. My patience is simply a thread. And like all threads, it runs out. I'd hate for you to be the person who makes the last pull" he said calmly. He was so calm that it sounded too dark and evil. Clara knew it was best not to provoke him further. She was already aware that he didn't love her anymore. All he had for her was just out of regard for her being Derek's biological mother. That aside, she was just like any other lady in his eyes. She knew how bad he was when he snapped. Sh
"What did you say?" Dylan's pupils were dilated. Victor immediately turned around and saw Dylan already up from his sit. He had grabbed Nick by the neck, lifting him and shaking him vehemently. "What did you damn say, Nick?!" Dylan screamed. Nick was still dejected. His face still dropped downwards everytime Dylan shook him. He couldn't look Dylan in the eyes. He couldn't look the boss he had betrayed in the eyes. "It's the truth, Pope. Madam Clara was the one who hired us" he replied quietly. Dylan gritted his teeth. He couldn't believe his ears. The same woman he had once called his wife had sent an assassin to kill him. The same woman who had born his child. It sounded rather inconceivable to him. True, he was dark and bloody. He had done many despicable things to people. But this one outdid him. To think that Clara would go this far. And Nick just said "us". There were more? "Us?" he gently asked, his teeth still gritting against each other. "How many of you did she hire?"
Dylan and Chelsea laughed and discussed as they ate and drank, occasionally having their little disagreements and fights until one conceded to the other, of course always Dylan. He knew Chelsea would never accept defeat. So if he didn't, the argument would continue. He wasn't ready for that. After much pleasant talks and exchange of passionate words, Dylan felt it was time to do the deed. If he didn't do it now, the date would drag on for long and Chelsea would grow even more suspicious. He had to quell her curiosity now while still stalling for time so the assassin would make his move. Just as he reached into his inner coat pocket, they heard a loud sound. Bang! It was a gun shot. If Dylan heard well, it was a sniper. That was it! The assassin had taken the bait. He stood up abruptly, much to the confusion of Chelsea. His hand dropped the ring case and took hold of his phone instead. He brought it out and immediately dialed Victor. "Vic" he spoke into the phone. "Already on it,