POV: ELISABETH
I spread soap on my arms, keeping my eyes fixed on his. Patrick seemed strangely troubled by his past, which set off alarms in my mind.
“Just a man with no direction in life...” he replied, lowering his gaze and taking the sponge from my hands, kissing the tips of my fingers. “Let me help you.”
Turning around, Patrick pulled me between his legs. I leaned my head on his shoulder, allowing myself to feel his gentle touches caressing my skin, which shivered wherever his fingers passed, massaging.
“We both try to hide our past.” I sighed with my eyes closed. “I understand you don't want to talk, but I hope you understand that I have fears about not knowing who you are completely... Loving you, giving myself entirely, and being so hurt that I can't piece myself back together.”
“Lis, I would never hurt you; I would never raise a ha
POV: PATRICKI was mesmerized by Elisabeth, naked, and captivated by the TV rising from the floor. She was the most beautiful sight, so I pulled her onto the bed, dominating her from above. My heart pounded with a strange certainty, and an absurd idea came to mind.“Just marry me!” There was so much conviction in every word that I was surprised by the proposal myself.It made sense. We had only recently become involved, but I had always respected the professional boundary. That never lessened my interest and curiosity about this woman, who always intrigued me. Everything changed after that discovery. Since then, living behind masks no longer seemed fair!Elisabeth had the ideal profile I had been seeking. She was trustworthy, dedicated, loved what she did, and still nurtured a passion in her heart: to be a writer.There was no one better than her for this. I wanted her in my place,
POV: ELISABETHI lazily woke up, trying to regain my consciousness, reaching out to the side in search of him, but I was disappointed to realize that Patrick had already gotten up. I replayed the recent events in my mind: being in my boss's bed with a crazy ex-boyfriend, ready to destroy everything and everyone around me.Furthermore, I sighed, checking the time on the clock. I needed to pull myself together and get ready. I wasn't sure what to do, but I couldn't hide in his huge bed with its soft, expensive sheets forever. I did my personal hygiene, prepared perfectly for work, checked my grandmother's room, which was empty, and went downstairs in search of any sign of them.“Security?” I called to the man in a black suit standing at the entrance of the living room. He turned, eyeing me from head to toe, which made me uncomfortable. “Have you seen Mr. Morgan?”“Mr. Morgan left this m
I crossed my arms, staring at him, waiting for him to start the conversation.“You have ever been in a fight before?” Greg leaned against the side of the ring, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. I wrinkled my nose when he offered me one, but I just shook my head.“No, I always wanted to learn, but never got around to starting any training.” I kept my eyes narrowed at him. “Why do you ask?”“It's intriguing, considering your ex,” he exhaled, eyeing me coldly. “You'd think you'd at least seek out some self-defense.”“It's hard to learn anything when you're on the run.” I shrugged, uneasy.“But you enrolled in a writing course and finished your degree.” Greg looked at me suspiciously.“Even if I had learned self-defense, I've seen that monster take down trained men ef
“Greg is like a brother to me,” he replied, his eyes steady. “I don't want to put you in danger; I don't want you to suffer. That's why I'll prepare you to escape from his grasp. We'll implant a tracking chip under your skin so we can know your whereabouts. I'll train you in every way possible to get away. I know you're scared...”“I agree!” I raised my hand, cutting him off. “You're right, that monster will never stop hunting me. It's inevitable that he'll catch me at some point. I don't want Patrick or my grandma to get hurt because of this. Your conditions seem like the best option right now.”Greg sighed and sat beside me, nudging my shoulder.“You're a strong woman, Mrs. Elisabeth, with a kind heart,” he grinned wryly. “You make him happy; you should accept his proposal.”“You knew about this and agreed to this madness
POV: ELISABETH“Damn it!” I yelled as the tight handcuff squeezed harder on my wrists, hurting them. “Hell, how do you expect me to escape with this thing so tight?”“And do you think your ex-fiancé would leave it loose to make it easier for you?” Greg adjusted my hands, assessing. “Come on, apply the technique I taught you; twist your wrist to get free and escape.”“This hurts too much.” I whimpered, uncomfortable.“Mrs. Elisabeth, this pain is nothing compared to what he'll do to you and to Patrick if they catch you!” He stared at me sternly, then stepped back, standing in front of me. “Come on, you're not just trying to escape; you need to save those you love; free yourself.”“Easy for you to say.” I retorted nervously, squirming and gripping one hand with the other, trying to twist. But a
The training days with Greg were intense, especially when I managed to escape from the plastic handcuffs. He taught me self-defense techniques, like unlocking doors and freeing oneself from cloth and tape bindings, and he constantly reminded me:“You don’t need to be stronger than your enemy, just smarter and faster!”Greg repeated this while taking me to the floor of the mat several times, insisting that I get up and try again.“I’m starting to think you’re the one who wants to kill me.” I clenched my fists, bringing my broken nail to my mouth. “Dignity? We don’t have that anymore.”He laughed at my comment and replied, “Better a broken nail than a broken bone, don’t you think?” He extended his hand to help me up. “Does the chip in your skin bother you?”“No, I actually forgot it’s there.” I smiled awkwardly. “Are you sure it’s working perfectly?”“Yes, my team has been monitoring your every move and sending me detailed reports.” Greg nodded, indicating it was time for us to step back
POV: PATRICKMy phone kept ringing relentlessly until I entered the company, where Heloise and her brother, Celdric, were waiting for me in the meeting room. The new assistant, with wide, lost eyes, approached me.“Good morning, Mr. Morgan. I'm Melissa, your new assistant,” she said, stopping by my side and handing over various papers and folders. “I was instructed to give you these contracts for review.”I kept my gaze on the glass-walled meeting room; she followed my gaze, shivering nervously.“I'm sorry, Mr. Morgan, I couldn't prevent them from entering; they were very. insistent!” Melissa fidgeted anxiously. “Do you want me to call security?”“Mrs. Melissa,” I said impartially, putting my hands in my pockets and staring at her, wishing my sweet yet daring Elisabeth was in her place. “Two people entered my company demanding m
“And how exactly do you plan to do that?” I clenched my jaw nervously, watching her enjoy my reactions.“Oh, my love, I own 50% of the shares, remember?” she hissed, amused.“40% are yours; your brat has 10%.” I gritted my teeth, enraged, restraining the urge to lunge at her neck and snap it.“Didn't your secretary inform you this morning?” Putting her hand to her mouth, feigning surprise, she walked over to the desk and sat on the edge, subtly spreading her legs, letting the business skirt ride up a bit, revealing her thighs. “Celdric transferred his part to me!”“That changes nothing; I don’t need to accept your presence in the merger. We have professional mediators for that.” I ignored her, feeling my phone vibrate. Seeing a message from my sweet Lis, I smiled slightly.“I see, there's someone
POV: GREG“Are you sure you need to leave? You could stay with us, you're the best grumpy security guard,” said Elisabeth, her eyes sparkling with happiness.Seeing Elisabeth like this was a relief. Since Patrick's departure, she had buried herself in work, trying to avoid the pain of loss. The impact had been devastating. It wasn’t fair how the CEO told her about his illness, and even less how he left, leaving a void that was hard to fill.Everything changed the day my phone rang. Patrick Morgan had defied death. Against all odds, he had achieved remission, and his prognosis was surprisingly positive. He was getting better, almost miraculously. Excited, I rushed to get him and bring him back into our lives. I had sworn I lost my best friend and brother, and I felt aimless if it wasn’t for the constant presence of his apprentice, who kept me sane and focused.When I saw Patrick coming down from the jet, emotion overwhelmed me. I ran to him and hugged him tightly. “Patrick, you idiot!”
The pain of your absence was constant. In the garden of the house, lying in the hammock, the book rested on my lap. A lot has changed since your letter ten months ago. I took over the publishing house with praise, and we prospered increasingly. The merger with Forbs was a success, and soon Celdric became one of the active CEOs in decision-making.Greg was my right-hand man, responsible for legal matters, security, and investigations. I couldn't believe it. Whenever I came home, I had the feeling that he would be there, waiting for me, with a glass of wine, half-naked, and his mischievous smile on his lips.“You are missed, Patrick.” I whispered, closing my eyes as the breeze caressed my face. I hadn't been able to read the book until that moment. It seemed that reading your last words would be a farewell I was never prepared to say.I hesitated for a while longer, then opened the book. In the dedication, my eyes filled with tears:“For Mrs. Eva, for having raised and loved the sweetes
I stared at the envelope, afraid to pick it up, fearing what was inside... Reluctantly, I opened it and found a hardcover book with our photo from our honeymoon, smiling happily in Cuba. In the image, Patrick was whispering something silly in my ear while hugging me from behind, making me blush and provoking a genuine smile. At the bottom of the envelope, there was a letter addressed to me, written in his elegant handwriting:“My sweet Elisabeth, if you received this letter, I'm afraid my time has come. You will probably hate me for how I chose to handle this, but I need you to know that I never wanted to hurt or upset you. In a cowardly and selfish way, I decided not to tell you my biggest secret. You had already suffered so many losses and so much pain that it didn't seem fair to put you through another turbulent time.”“What is Patrick talking about?” I bit my lip, growing nervous with every word, and continued reading.“I hid the truth about my joining the army. In reality, I disc
“Who else would take care of that arrogant and conceited CEO?” I looked at him, amused. “I already told you, Patrick Morgan is my idiot.”“Seems fair.” Greg laughed, and I joined him. Together, we walked to the designated chapel. It was a simple ceremony, just Patrick’s platoon and us.I entered the church, hearing the soft sound of the violin in the background. At the altar, Patrick Morgan stood out in the wedding setting with his imposing presence. He was tall and dark-haired, and he exuded charm and elegance in his tailored suit. The dark fabric enhanced his skin tone, and the white shirt contrasted with his complexion, creating a sophisticated and attractive look. His brown hair was impeccably styled, and his deep blue eyes seemed to pierce my soul, locking onto mine. His sculpted body showcased his good physical shape, confirming his sensual aura. He smiled seductively when he saw me, subtly biting his lips with mischief. I blushed instantly, reprimanding him with a frown, which
POV: ELISABETHMy body still throbbed with pain, echoing the overwhelming impact of what had happened. The relief of knowing Greg was alive, fighting to recover, barely dissipated the anguish consuming me. As I put on the black mourning clothes, my reflection in the mirror revealed a profound sadness, where the eyes of that little girl who had lost her parents so long ago resurfaced in my gaze. My only family, my entire world, and my best friend, mother, and confidante had left without me being there to comfort her in her most frightening moment. The guilt for not being by her side tore at my heart. The most important person in my life was taken from me, leaving an unbearable void, an overwhelming loneliness. Then I felt his warm hands on my hips and his gentle kiss on the top of my head, a gesture of comfort amidst the abyss of loss.“Are you okay?” Patrick looked at my reflection in the mirror with understanding. “I'm so sorry for your loss, Lis.”“So am I...” I bit my trembling lip
“It's okay, Lis; don't cry; everything will be fine.” I smiled gently at my apprentice, extending my hands for her to fasten the wristband. “Remember, I always come up with something in the end.”“What?” Elisabeth frowned before closing the wristband. Quickly, I pulled her behind me, and we all crouched as John, dragging himself, sat up injured with a gun in his hand, shooting five times at Pavel. He hit Pavel's leg, shoulder, arm, and neck.I pushed the wristbands off my hands, threw a knife to James to free himself and Robert, and went towards Pavel, who tried to raise the gun at me. I kicked his hands, pulled his body, and began landing several punches on his face.“You bastard, this is for torturing her for so long.” I punched harder, hearing the bones in his face crack and blood mixing on his face.“Is that all you got?” Andreev smiled with blood-stained teeth, diabolically. “You're too weak to protect her.”“This is just the beginning!” I smiled darkly when Lis came up behind me
“Damn it!” I threatened to rush in, but Robert held me back, shaking his head.“The gun is too close to her head; he'll kill her before you get close.” Robert kept me in place.“I can't stand here and watch him hurt her like this!” I clenched my fists, consumed by fury.“Major, your emotions are speaking. Think like a soldier. What would you do in this situation if we were at war?” John kept his tone low and calm. “He's just another enemy we need to take down.”I considered his words, looking back into the warehouse and thinking about what to do.“Robert, you and James go to the other side of the warehouse and start a shootout to draw his attention. Andreev won't want to kill Elisabeth so easily; he's a damned torturing psychopath.” My fists were clenched, and my hands squeezed tightly.“He'll want to take her out of here!” John observed, and I nodded. “And what will we do?”“Did you see where his car was parked?” I smiled, my eyes burning with determination. “We'll wait for him there
POV: PATRICKI left the room, wiping my face, while my legs wobbled slightly. Robert and James supported me, looking at me with concern.“Did you take your medication today? Eat anything?” John approached, examining me. “You're pale and cold.”“I'm fine!” I pushed them away, walking out. “Today isn't an easy day, as you might have noticed.”“We understand, Major, that's why we're here.” John stepped closer again. “But we need our commander to be well to proceed. We won't be able to save your fiancée if you're not well.”“John is right. I'll go to the kitchen to get a shake for you and fetch your medication.” James started to say when I punched the wall, shouting.“We don't have time for this! Elisabeth is in danger, and Heloise is extremely unbalanced. She killed her own son, what do you think she'll do to the woman she considers my lover?” I panted, breathless.“We know that, but if you're not well, how do you intend to save her?” Robert placed his hand on my shoulder, squeezing firm
I ran, stopping to hide behind the enormous crates, desperately searching for something I could use as a weapon. I spotted an iron bar on the ground and pulled it, holding it tightly against my chest, ready to use it if necessary.“You know, my Light, I always wanted to play cat and mouse with you. It always excited me to see your need to fight for survival.” Pavel pushed some crates aside, looking for me and shooting at the spot afterward. “Can't you see we were made for each other? We are perfect together.”He laughed, moving to another part of the room. I walked slowly to the back, trying to hide even more, trembling nonstop.“When you left, it destroyed me. I realized where I was wrong—my light.” Kicking other crates and shooting, Pavel continued. “I wasn't giving you the necessary attention because of work; now I understand that. But it will be different; I bought a deserted island, and now it will be just you and me; no one else will interfere.”I covered my mouth, feeling the t