Chelsea took another sip from her glass and emptied the glass this time. She was subconsciously getting carried away and she was loving the feeling. She smiled at Omar, finding him more and more adorable as they engaged in several unrelated discussions. She knew she was getting under the influence but she couldn't stop herself. No, she was enjoying it too much to stop herself."So you moved to Miami what, two years ago?" Omar asked, smiling right back at her.It was this same mysterious smile of his that kept on attracting her and making her glued to him and keeping her in the converstaion to the extent that she was letting go of herself. She found his smile both mysterious and mischievous at the same time. And she loved the feeling of both. It made him all the more adorable."Yea. Two years ago" she replied in a soft voice. Now she was sounding alluring. Her vision had started getting blurry. She needed to get a hold of herself. She had let the drink get to her. She had originally w
The elevator dinged, announcing their arrival at the private suite. The doors slid open, revealing an environment pleasurable to the eyes. They stepped out of the elevator and walkes into the hallway that only led to the private suite. Omar went ahead, heading for the only door ahead of them.Chelsea followed behind him, taking her time to observe the environment. It was really amazing and we'll adorned. Exotic paintings hung at several places while ornamental plants adorned the ground. The entire entrance to the private suite had the qualities of a top notch environment, exuding the feel of a penthouse. An Arabian's penthouse.Omar opened the door, revealing the private suite. Chelsea elegantly walked in, taking her time to observe the interior and adoring everything her eyes observed. Several golden items were placed here and there, clearly affirming that it belonged to an Arabian. The entire theme was predominantly white. It was a spotless ocean of white.Omar closed the door behin
Chelsea woke up to an entirely strange environment. Themed white all through and adorned with a touch of golden items here and there, the room was totally foreign to her. She felt a light throb on her forehead and gently caressed it, stroking the side softly.She gently sat up and looked around. She slowly began recollecting the events that took place last night. She looked beside her on the bed and saw her mask unlaced from her face. She sighed as the pieces began arranging to form the big picture. She remembered leaving the bar area of the hotel with Omar after emptying her Bourbon bottle. That was when the influence began taking its toll on her. They both went to a private suite via the elevator. Then she and Omar made out in the entrance room of the suite.After making out, they both went into the room and took things to the next level. She must have been put out in the middle of the sex between her and Omar. That was probably when he took her mask off. Of course she was too into
Chelsea gasped in shock as the words on the piece of paper embedded in her mind. Did Omar drop the note? She looked around to see if there were traces of any other person but she saw none. She immediately put on her mask and tied the lace behind her head. Something was not right in the air. And to make it all worse, she didn't come with her gun. She now realized her mistake. She had let down her guard last night by drinking more than she was supposed to. Then during the sex she had been put out by it.Then she heard a ding on the door and gently walked out of the room towards it. Omar had to have an explanation for the note. She turned the knob and opened the door. She was greeted with the face of a hotel attendant. Of course, she should have known. Omar would have his access card and wouldn't need to knock."Room Service" the attendant said with a smile and handed her a delivery bag with The Echelon's logo printed on it."Alright. Thank you" she smiled and took the bag from him, clo
Chelsea got to her room and collapsed on her bed. Things were really getting strange and troubling for her. She just couldn't understand anything anymore. She had left the mansion yesterday with a troubled heart and a worked up mind. The only reason she had the drink with Omar and even agreed to getting intimate with him was because she wanted to clear her head of the thoughts and emotions that tormented her. Though she was successful at the initial stage, it seemed as though everything had returned to the way it was. And this time, it seemed worse. First, she had the torture of guilt and regret after the sex with Omar. She felt guilty of betraying Dylan's trust and confidence in her. She felt like she had both gone against the ethics of her assigned job's description and also cheated on Dylan. Even though they weren't a couple yet and Dylan hadn't even acknowledged his feelings for her, she felt like they had already established an unspoken relationship, one that demanded faithfu
Exactly ten minutes later, Chelsea arrived at the balcony facing the back of the mansion. "You're here" she heard the woman call without turning back to look at her. As expected, she saw Joyce sitting down on a reclining chair with a book in her hand as she looked over the estate behind the mansion. There was an extra chair beside her this time. Chelsea understood it was for her. "Yes, Ma" she replied and walked up to the chair, smiling as she gracefully sat down. "You said you needed to talk but didn't have anything to talk about right?" Joyce sought an affirmation. "Yes, Ma" Chelsea nodded as she replied. "Well, like I said earlier, I have something we can discuss about" Joyce smiled. Chelsea was all ears. She kept mute in expectancy of what Joyce had to discuss. The elderly woman turned to her with a knowing smile on her face. "Let's talk about Dylan" she said gently. Chelsea's pupils dilated. She wasn't expecting such a topic of discussion at all. She never expected i
Cross Enterprises Dylan walked into his company with a blank expression on his face. Immediately he entered, murmurs erupted and the staff tried their best to control the clients who struggled to approach him. He simply headed towards the stairs, not paying any attention to either staff or client who motioned for his attention. "Good Morning, Sir" "Excuse me, Mr. Cross" "Welcome, Sir" "Mr. Cross!" Several greetings and calls, both from staff and clients alike flew at him from all directions. But he paid no attention to any. He simply ignored all of them as he proceeded upwards on the stairs. Then he heard a familiar voice. "Please, dear clients, I implore you to be patient with Mr. Cross. He's just returning from a very important meeting and would like some time alone. Our staff are more than capable to tend to your various needs, requests and businesses" Selina announced from the upper floor unto the ground floor where the clients were seated and attended to. Her words had a
As Dylan scrolled through the chats, he saw several messages from different managers, executive personnel and business owners of different companies. These messages weren't business related at all. Most of them were invites to dates, some included alluring details while the rest were basically unofficial complimentary messages. He saw those of Fred Martin, even after he had threatened and warned him. He saw some from other men too. Now, these didn't shock him at all. What shocked him was her responses to each of the messages. The one she wrote to Fred read: "I'm sorry, but I can't accept your offer right now. I already have someone I'm deeply in love with and I wouldn't want to be unfaithful to my heart. Even though he hasn't confessed his love for me yet, I believe he loves me as well but is too scared to admit his feelings to me. But I'm sure he'll confess his feelings to me soon and I don't want to hurt him then. "And also, as a professional of both our respective fields and
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,