You might have wondered who sews pockets into dresses but did that not come in handy? Mara had always had unconventional fashion ideas; it was why she became a fashion designer and why she was always so sought after. The pocket on a dress idea had been one she had always had since she was a child and wanted to take cookies home from a party but had no place to stuff it so it wasn’t seen by anyone till she got into the safety confines of her own room.If they had pat her down, they definitely would have felt the bulge of the phone against her dress but siting in the dark right now, Mara’s mind spurned as to how she was going to get in contact with Lucien. If there was anyone who could locate her, it was him.She did not want to be caught, her face was still smarting from where Alexander had slapped her twice but if only she could turn on her location, Lucien would definitely be able to find her. She lifted her dress a little bit hoping there wasn’t any camera monitoring her movement or
The fucker had put a bounty on my head, Alexander thought as he stared incredulously at the paper in his hand.In Italy, the word bounty was always sought after especially when it involved someone like him. He had to admit that he never thought the Rodrigues could pull off something like this and because of a girl; he wasn’t one to believe in love, it was kind of an abstract concept to him but judging from how much Lucien had put into the location of Mara Sinclair… they were in love?“Motherfucker!” He bellowed, slapping the paper down on the table.Mara flinched as she observed him; she had been taken back to the den where she was first brought in and although he had unbound her hands, he moved the chains to her legs. She sat quietly hoping to disappear into one of the furniture but even that wasn’t possible. Whatever he must have seen in that paper was getting him worked up and she could only imagine it had something to do with her.A phone rang in the background, jolting her from h
Mara opened her eyes to a white ceiling. She noticed two things almost immediately, that she wasn’t in the basement or the den and she was lying down.“I can see you are awake” A voice said, alerting her to the fact that she wasn’t alone.“Who are you?” Mara moaned as she tried turning.The pain from her ankle shot up to her spine and she could barely move“Do not try moving for now. That ankle is in bad shape and I have given you something to lessen the pain so you must be feeling groggy.” The man saidHe was a doctor which means they had docked somewhere“I have been kidnapped” Mara started to say but stopped when the doctor pinned her with a stare.Of course he knew she had been kidnapped“I will give Alexander some drugs for your leg and you should be better in no time, miss Mara” He said.This was him trying to let her know that he knew exactly who she was and how she was here on the yacht.“Thank You” Mara muttered, her eyes darting around the room.He nodded and left her alone.
EPILOGUE“You are lucky he was brought in immediately and the bullet missed his brain by inches” The doctor told a bloodied Mara.“Will he be alright?” Mara asked“Yes but I must warn you, the shock trauma to his brain would make it recognition hard but hopefully his brain will pick up in time.”After the shooting, they were discovered by the others. Alexander was already dead by the time they had gotten to the hospital but Lucien was immediately operated upon and was stable at the moment although he had yet to open his eyes. Elizabeth and Lucien’s mother were on their way to the hospital and Mara refused to leave Lucien’s side, she wanted to be there when he opened his eyes.She must have dozed off because there was sudden pressure to her hand, the one she held his own in.“You are awake” She screamed, bursting into tears again.Jason nodded to his brother, relief flooding his veins.“I feel like shit” Lucien muttered“You will be fine, the doctor says you will probably begin experie
BONUS CHAPTER A YEAR LATER“How does a person disappear from the surface of the earth? Are you that utterly incompetent that you cannot locate her?” Lucien was heard screaming into his phone.Ever since he got his memories back… painful memories of himself and Mara, he had been trying to locate her but to no avail. It was like she was running from him, like she did not want to be found.“Any news?” Elizabeth asked. She was carrying Mara Jnr in her arms who was gurgling with content at being fed“No, nothing” Lucien sighed, collapsing on the chair behind him.“I am sure she will turn up. I have sent series of messages and have even informed her of your regaining your memories” Elizabeth said, trying to reassure him“I have to find her” Lucien mutteredHe was feeling lost without her and he was angry at himself for not remembering“I am sorry, Lucien” Elizabeth whispered softly.She wasn’t about to tell him that Mara had indeed replied her message about him regaining his memory and s
CHAPTER ONEDIANABeing the only daughter of the Rodrigues family has been exactly what it was… thrilling and not to mention the fact that I was always spoiled silly by my brothers and parents which did nothing to help the manner in which I grew up. I would admit I am spoilt and who wouldn’t be when you have the world at your feet and everyone literally dying to be in your circle. I am a Rodrigues, being the richest family in all of New York and also insanely popular as my brother Jason has made his mark as the owner of one of the biggest clubs in New York; club forte and my other brother; Lucien was an artist and the very best as the New York times have clearly stated numerous times so why am I not feeling as fulfilled as I should and why is there like some hollow in my chest waiting to be filled by some achievement of my own. Till next time, dear diaryI
CHAPTER TWO DIANA I wasn’t heartless and although I hardly approved of my brothers choices of partners, I was in love with their children and it was for them I put on a smile as they approached. I wasn’t about to ruin their childlike mood with tantrums and besides there was plenty of time to do that later and to show my mother that I wasn’t about to back down from my request to leave home. “Diana!” Small Anthony of four screamed and rushed towards me as I braced for the impact of his little body against my ready one. “It is Aunty Diana to you, Anthony” I admonished jokingly and flipped him up in the air while he cackled in delight. Camilla walked to where I stood holding her brother with a frown on her forehead. She had always been a jealous child and wanted all the attention to herself. “Come here, big girl” I said and grabbed her while she tried to run from me, a smile tugging at her upturned lips. After I had sufficiently hugged the shit out of them, I set them down and watch
CHAPTER THREEDIANAI know they want the best for me but they have to understand that I also want the best for myself and the best is finding my own path away from their stifling presence and many achievements. I don’t want to always remain the girl who was born into the Rodrigues family and always known for my parent’s wealth. I want something more and even if they cannot understand it now, they will later. I don’t know exactly what…A knock interrupted my musings in my diary and I closed it immediately and sat up.“Come in” I said.Mara’s head poked in as she surveyed my countenance before walking towards me in slow measured steps. She sat beside me and held out a hand, waiting while I placed my hand in hers with my eyes brimming with unshed tears“I want you to know that I know how you feel and I will support you finding your own path away from all this” She told me“Nobody seems to understand that this is not another tantrum throwing and I really do not want to be just the daught
CAMILLAAfter the previous day encounter and the kiss… I wasn’t sure I wanted to be on the same team with Nathan.In all honesty, I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted.My lips still tingled from the memory of Nathan’s kiss, and yet, the feeling did NOT settle in the way I expected. It wasn’t the passionate rush of desire or the warmth of something more. No, it was an unsettled ache, a reminder that whatever this was between us was anything but simple.I stared at the ceiling, my mind spinning in a hundred different directions. My thoughts kept circling back to that kiss.Why had he gone and kissed me?The last thing I needed was to get caught up in Nathan’s mess, in whatever internal struggle he was going through. I could not afford to lose myself in him. Not again. He had kissed me, and now I had to decide whether to let it go or pull back before things went any further.I dragged myself out of bed, staring at the clock—7:00 AM. My meeting with Nathan was at 9:00, but I had a hundred t
NATHANI was stalling.Her apartment had grown quiet except for the rhythmic ticking of a clock on the wall, but I stayed seated at her table, watching her stack dishes in the sink. My car was fixed. My excuse to linger here was gone. Yet I couldn’t bring myself to leave.She moved with a confidence that was uniquely Camilla. She wasn’t trying to impress anyone…least of all me…but damn, she did. I traced the curve of her spine with my eyes as she walked back into the living room, her bare feet soft against the floorboards.I should have been thinking about Eleanor. About Trish. About Alicent. About the cold-blooded satisfaction I would feel when the truth about Eleanor’s death finally saw the light of day. But all I could think about was how Camilla and how I should be apologizing to her.“You’re awfully quiet,” she said, sitting across from me, tilting her head to study me.“I have been accused of worse.”She rolled her eyes. “You are always like this. Mysterious and brooding. You wou
CAMILLA “Good morning.” I started at him, unsure of exactly what I was looking at. Then it hit me: the smell. Warm and savory, the scent of something cooking drifted through the air…eggs, maybe toast. It was so out of place… he was out of place here. I moved, the motion sending a fresh wave of pain through my skull and a queasiness to my stomach. I groaned again, slower this time, trying to steady myself. “Morning,” I mumbled hoarsely, my voice barely more than a croak. He was standing by the stove, his back to me, a pan in one hand and a spatula in the other. His shirt was untucked, the fabric clinging to his broad shoulders in a way that made him seem even larger than usual. In my tiny kitchen, he looked impossibly big, like he didn’t belong there, yet somehow…he fit. “What are you doing?” I asked, my voice weak but laced with confusion. Nathan glanced over his shoulder, his profile catching the morning light. His hair was a little messy, like he hadn’t bothered t
CAMILLAIt was useless feeling sorry for myself, I thought.The lighting in the club was low as I stepped in with my friend, Bella.“Not bad” I murmured.“Told you” She responded triumphantly. “This is what you need to get over him. Nathan Clark is an asshole and should dump him in the dust where he belongs”I wanted to correct her that he wasn’t an asshole, he was merely disturbed but I did not.I was not here to sympathize with him or even think about him. I was here to have fun and that is what I am going to do.I was putting on a red dress and it complimented my eyes way more than I thought it would.“Come on, we should get a drink” Bella pulled me to the bar.The bartender winked at both of us and then asked what we would likeIt was at the tip of my tongue to say nothing but I was at a club, wasn’t I?“Sex on the beach” I announced.Bella turned to me, surprise in her eyes. I was pretty sure she thought she would have to force me to drink.“I would have the same” She told the ma
NATHANThere was nothing to say as I dropped Camilla off at her home.I waited until I was sure she had gotten in before I headed in the direction of my mother in law’s house.I pushed in Christian’s number, my teeth gritting as it rang.I was furious.I did not want to admit I was more furious at myself than anything.“How did your date go?” Christian’s asked as soon as the phone line clicked.“Send me the name of the witness” I grunted.“What is wrong?”“Send the name, dammit”“You need to calm down, Nathan. Where are you going?”“To settle this once and for all” I told him. “Now send the damned number to me”I hung up before he had the chance to say anything or convince me to back away because I would not.I drove way above the speed limit, stopping only when I had gotten to the mansion’s gate.It brought back memories of family dinners where I had to defend Eleanor over and over again. Where snide remarks about the reason I was with her reached my ears and she said nothing about
CAMILLA“I did not think I was ever going to see you again, Camilla” Sarah smiled as soon as I entered the restaurant.She wagged a finger in Nathan’s direction, shaking her head at him.“With the kind of food you sell? I will be coming in here for a very long time” I smiled back.Nathan and I took our seats and waited.She had a queue as usual and I could not help the smile as I glanced around.“You would have watched your father kill me” Nathan commented.“I admit that would have made me feel better for a bit” I told him.He appeared shocked but I could tell from the way his eyes twinkled with delight that he thought it hilarious.I had not expected he would go over to my parent’s house especially seeing as I wasn’t there in the first place.My father however had called me when he arrived with a gun to his head and asked if I wanted to see him. I had hesitated just for the fun of it“I deserved that”“Yes you did” I agreed.“Thank you for coming here with me”I nodded once.Sarah dr
NATHANI was pacing like a fucking clown.I was expecting Camilla at the office today to discuss the project that we were involved in together and I could not help the restlessness coursing through my body.I wasn’t one to be this nervous about anything.“Deep breaths” I told myself, trying to go along with my instructions but to no avail.So much so that when my receptionist announced her presence, I had worked myself into a frenzy.My breath caught in my throat as she walked in, her eyes taking the room before settling on me with stark clarity.What had I been thinking? I thought.Starved of attention?Who was the blithering idiot now?“You look well” She commented, taking the seat in front of me.“You look beautiful” I murmured.She paused, her eyes meeting mine.Sparks flew, that was for sure.“How do you feel?” She asked instead.“Much better. Thank you for attending to me yesterday. For even accepting the phone call from me”“Of course, I am not a demon even though I do hate you
CAMILLAI stared at my ringing phone with Nathan displayed boldly as the callers ID.What the fuck did he want?I however put it to my ear, my heart jumping at the sound of his voice“Camilla, I know you can hear me” He rasped“What do you want?” I asked.“To talk” He answered.His voice appeared tortured… like there was something wrong with him and for a minute I was concerned before my head overrode my stupidity.“Concerning the project-” I began“Not concerning the-” He sighed, his voice trailing off.“I need you” He muttered softly that if I had not been paying attention, I would have missed that simple statement.“Mr Clark” I stopped when I heard his labored breathing.“Is something wrong with you?”“No, its nothing… I just need to speak with you”“Nathan, what is the matter? You sound distressed”He chuckled and then I heard him cough in the background“You are not concerned about me now, are you?”“This is not a joke, what is wrong with you?” I asked again, feeling panicky.He
CAMILLAMy father drove us straight to the house and I did not argue nor say anything when we arrived and my mother enveloped me in a hug.“Oh baby” She crooned.“I am okay” I reassured her“Come on in”I inhaled the familiar scent of home, my muscles relaxing.“I am going to bed” I announced.Their words fell over themselves as they agreed immediately to my request.My eyes closed as soon as I fell on the bed. I did not want to think of anything, I did not want to begin to analyze the anger in my heart directed at one person in particular.When I finally opened my eyes, it was noon.I made my way downstairs and was met with the searching eyes of both my parents.“Are you okay, baby?” My mother asked.I took a seat beside them.“I am not some fragile child you have to be worried about always, mother” I said.“You are my child and I have every reason to be worried about you” she countered.“I am going to be fine” I told her.My father said nothing but I turned to him anyways.“I have d