DAMIAN’S POV
I tapped my fingers impatiently on the steering wheel, glancing at my phone as it buzzed again. My father’s name flashed on the screen. I could almost hear his voice scolding me for being late to the “Event of the Century,” as he had called it. The man should be grateful that I lend him some of my time out of my respect for him. If it was left to me, I wouldn’t show up at all. It wasn’t my pleasure to be around his old business associates, who tend to be nosy, and my father’s snobby wife, Evelyn, my stepmother. The wench! I declined the call, knowing fully well that I wouldn’t need to answer his many questions if I didn’t want to. No one could make me do anything; I’m the one with exclusive power, not anyone else. And that’s the respect that comes with it. “Women….” I muttered under my breath, mentally cussing myself out for bringing Lexie to the house she had shared with her friend, Claudia, Jenny, or whatever. I still mentally scolded myself for making myself available to drop her off, she could come by herself anyways. She claimed she still had some of her things to pick up, certainly clothes because I almost never see her wear the clothes that were made available for her. I’d still have to tell her to trash the things she packed later; no wife of mine would wear clothes that seemed like they were shared at a bus stop. Not even a fake wife. I didn’t have time for this; the event was critical. It was the perfect moment to spite my runaway wife, Victoria. We were supposed to be getting ready to plan our marriage but then she vanished. She just left, no traces, she wouldn’t answer her phone or reply her texts. If she didn’t want the marriage she could just say it, why leave me hanging? She proposed to me after all… And I would be petty enough to pull her back here…. And to be frank, I never planned to go just to honour my father. I was going for other reasons known to me. Finally, the front door opened, and Lexie rushed out, fumbling with a large bag. She got into the car, slightly out of breath. “I’m sorry I delayed you.” she said, her cheeks flushed. I didn’t respond; I just pulled away from the curb and found my route back to the main road. My mind drifted to the first time I had seen her; she had been so innocent and so clumsy. The way she clung to the pole, I could see her dissatisfaction. She didn’t want to be there, but she wanted something and wouldn’t leave until she got it. She could hide her thoughts, but they’d still show on her face. She was different from the polished, calculating women I was used to. She was real, unpretentious. And that was a rare quality for me; she looked like she could defy me, and I wouldn’t be upset because no one dared to. Besides, she was perfect for the camera; she just needed a little touch-up. ********** The car came to a halt, which seemed to distract Lexie from the little sightseeing she was so engrossed in. One look at her, and I couldn’t help but be proud of myself. I had defiled her and deflowered her. It was my first time fucking a virgin; I never knew they were good, maybe too good even. “Is everything okay? I noticed that we stopped,” she asked. “Get down….” I answered coldly, A mental schedule was needed to remind me that she was sweet, but not sweet enough for me to fall for her. She was different, yes, but not enough. “EVE’S SECRETS” One of the most expensive boutiques in all of New York, if I wanted something perfect for her to wear, they’d have it. I opened the car door for her, and she got down gently. She was trying her best to keep her gaze from meeting mine. “Why are we here?” she asked. “You need a change of clothes... and that pile of nothing you call clothes isn’t coming home with me,” I answered and walked into the store. “Welcome to Eve’s secrets; how may we glam you?” The attendant asked with a broad smile, but when I turned to face her, the confidence washed down her face. She recognized me and said, “Mr. Valor, welcome, sir!” One of the managers greeted her, her voice practically oozing with deference. I waved them down slightly. “Bring out the best you’ve got. Make her stunning, and make all the dresses from a specific brand; I don’t want a brand I’m not familiar with. “You have twenty minutes.” The staff scattered, moving with a sense of urgency that I found mildly satisfying. If I couldn’t torture my snobby stepmother, I could as well mentally torture her staff. “If it’s not costly, I don’t want it." I walked towards a lounge area and sat down patiently on the couch, my legs crossed. “Would you like some refreshments, Mr. Valor?" The manager asked. “Martell Cognac…” “What about you, ma’am?” She turned to Lexie. “She’d have the same thing I’m having.” The manager picked up a small bell and rang it. Two other attendants who worked in the bar section of the boutique rushed to me. Did I mention that the boutique was large and had sections? “I don’t drink; I can’t handle liquor.” Lexie stated. “That’s why you would drink under my supervision.” It was as simple as that. She laid back against the couch gently; her expression quickly changed into an overwhelmed one, her eyes wide as racks of clothes and accessories were wheeled out. I was sure that she couldn’t make sense of what was happening and why they were rushing to my every order. “These are our finest collections, and they would look really stunning on you, miss.” One of the attendants, whose name was Elle according to her name tag, said this to Lexie. I signaled to another of the attendants; she came swiftly, and I whispered in her ear, then she left. Lexie reached for a dress—a simple yet elegant number—but I stopped her; my hand gently brushed hers aside. “Not that one,” I said, my tone firm. Lexie stood up and grabbed the cloth I had handpicked. Elle wrapped her arms around her shoulder and walked her into the dressing room. I sipped from the glass in front of me as my eyes took a quick glance at the Cartier on my wrist. With each minute that passed, we were getting even more late for the event. I couldn’t care less; I enjoyed the last-minute entry, a man of the hour. Two minutes later, Lexie walked out back with Elle, and I pressed a big red buzzer mentally. The dress was a no; she didn’t like it either, and I could tell. Why did it look better when she hadn’t worn it? “I don’t think it’s my style,” she said, shaking her head. “I don’t like red.” “We have various options for you to try; how about this casual bodycon bandage dress?” Elle held out a sleeveless, peach-coloured dress, and it was impressive. I selected a few outfits from the ones on the couch and handed them to her. I knew some would complement my own outfits when she wore them, and we stood together at the event. Her hesitation was evident, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she took the dresses I handed her and headed towards the dressing room. I followed, much to the surprise of the staff, but no one dared to comment. “I think I can handle this on my own, sir,“ she said, turning to face me at the door of the dressing room. “I don’t care what you think; now strip.” Her mouth opened to argue further, but the little growl from me silenced her. With a reluctant sigh, she entered the dressing room. I followed her inside and watched as she took off her clothes. The way her hands shook when she was searching through the clothes made me know that my presence made her nervous. There was a knock on the door, and the attendant I had whispered to earlier handed me the special outfit I requested of her. I turned to Lexie, holding up the black lingerie. “Wear this,” I said. She looked at it, then at me, confusion evident in her eyes. “Why? You can’t just make me do things; it’s not in the agreement.” She snapped, It wasn’t a surprise to me that she’d try to defy me. “I have no time to read you the agreement that you yourself signed without being forced.” I barked angrily, “And yes, I can make you do things, because my word is your law now.” I demanded. Her eyes widened slightly at my tone, but she nodded in defeat and snatched the lingerie from me. She put it on, and I watched in satisfaction. Then she wore one of the dresses; the rich, deep blue fabric clung to her curves, highlighting her natural beauty. She looked at herself in the mirror and then turned to me for approval. “So?” she swallowed. “Perfect,” I said, my voice low. “This is the one; you’ll wear this tonight.” She walked out of the dressing room, and I followed suit. I could tell that she was getting frustrated with me. She could defy me, and I wanted more of it. “Have you found the perfect dress, sir?” Elle asked. It is the event of the century after all, so why not make it count? “Yes, all we need now is the perfect mask.”LEXIE'S POV “Wear this….” Damian handed me an elegant red mask with an intricate design that seemed like it would complement my dress nicely. I took the mask; he wasn’t giving me the amount of information I needed. He had said we were going to a party, but where? Who were we meeting, and where the hell was the brief of our contract that stated the part where I would be left in the dark all the time? Mental anguish, as I fiddled with the hem of my dress, my heart kept pounding in my chest as the car sped towards the grand venue. Serious mental anguish is what I was going through, , and guess what? The marriage wasn’t even up to a month; did I want to leave? Heck yeah! But guess whose mom was going to die? Can anyone guess? Okay, I’ll just throw in the answer as a bonus, mine! My mother’s life was on the line if I couldn’t even keep up with half of what I was facing at the moment.Damian was too intense for him; he wasn't the kind of man you could handle because he would totally
He got up, and I felt confused and shy as Evelyn and Valerie turned to us. But he held my hand firmly and whisked me away. My heart raced as I moved through the crowd; Damian’s grip on my hand was strong, and I felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. He led me upstairs; we moved through the elegant corridors, each step echoing with the distant sounds of the auction below. We reached a door at the end of the hallway; he opened it and ushered me inside, then locked the door behind us. The click of the lock made my heart jump excitedly. He turned to face me, his eyes filled with so much intensity and hunger. Without breaking eye contact, he shrugged off his jacket and let it fall to the floor. “I-erm…” He cut me off; his lips crashed against mine. The kiss was intense, filled with nothing but hunger that left me breathless. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer until there was no space between us. His hands went down to cup my butt, giving it a rough knead. “Fabio
DAMIAN’S POV TWO WEEKS LATER I had just gotten back from my tiresome two-day business trip to Las Vegas; it was a sight to behold, and it indeed was the city of casinos, also filled with hot women that were ready to go down anywhere you wanted it. But my body just ached for rest, and my mind was all over the place. I barely got enough sleep on the jet; I just kept tossing and turning. Probably because I wasn’t used to the new jet yet. I originally had requested a change of pilot when I landed in Vegas, because the last one reminded me of someone I wanted dead so badly, and I bought a new jet because I wanted a change of interior. If not, I would have been home last night. But the jet got to Las Vegas this morning. As I walked through the door, my cook, Mary, hurried over with a warm smile on her face. She was gifted with retentive memory and smart enough to remember all my preferences. She had carefully prepared a cup of black coffee, just the way I liked it. It was like
LEXIE’S POV “If Victoria came back, where would that leave you?” A question that lingered on and on in my heart for the past three weeks I had been with Damian. “WILL THE CEO’S DAUGHTER TAKE OVER HER FATHER’S COMPANY?” Another video showed a woman speculating about Victoria’s imminent return. I settled on the couch beside my mom’s hospital bed. I had taken it upon myself to spend the whole day in the hospital. I couldn’t bear to stay with Damian for another day in that house after the heated argument between us yesterday. My mom had been moved to the VIP section on Damian’s orders and the agreement between us. The room was quieter and more comfortable, and she had private nurses attending to her. Everything I had busted my ass for but couldn’t get. I was grateful for this, but the sight of her still made my heart ache. Knowing that if she knew the conditions at which I got her these treatments, she would have preferred to die. “She can’t be away forever; the company w
VIEWERS DISCRETION ⚠️: This scene portrays abuse, violence and maybe fear. VICTORIA’S POV FLASH-BACK “Please. Please, I’m begging you.” A pair of strong hands grabbed me by my hair and threw me across the room. I crawled backwards on the cold floor that was already stained with my blood. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, tears mingling with the blood. “I…. I’m sorry, okay? Please don’t hurt me,” my breath shaky as I begged for my life. A cruel laugh echoed in the room. “You really are pathetic, aren’t you? Just like your mother,” he sneered, his tone dripping with so much contempt. I stopped crawling and looked up; my vision was blurry as a result of blood hanging in one corner of my eyeballs. His wristwatch had hit me in the eye when he slapped me with the back of his hand. He crouched down to my level; his eyes were glistening with satisfaction, while my whole body trembled in his presence. “I wonder what goes on in that head of yours.” He as
LEXIE’S POV It’s been four days since my heart shattered into a million pieces. Four days since I last saw him, as he wouldn’t come home. Four days since I realised that Damian couldn’t be mine, that I was nothing but a fleeting moment for him. It was just in the span of a few days that I understood, with a soul-crushing finality, that I was just a joke to him. I could leave; in fact, I was supposed to leave. Our contract ended earlier than it should, right? And I was supposed to sign the divorce agreement, isn’t it? But what if? What if I still had a chance with him? What if things could change? “He can still love me. I know it.” Jenny’s anger pierced through my thoughts like sharp arrows. “What the actual fuck is wrong with you?!” she exploded; her face was masked with frustration. I had been echoing the same thing over and over since I got to Jenny’s house. “I love him.” She exhaled heavily; her fingers ran through her thick blonde hair as she stared at me in disbelief.
VICTORIA’S POV “I don’t see you as my sister.” His voice echoed in my head, and I covered my ears tightly with my hands; it felt like I could still hear my own screams that came afterwards. What did I do to deserve this kind of treatment? Why wouldn’t he just treat me as his sister? I sat in my bathtub; the water felt warm and flowed in such a reassuring manner around me. My knees were pulled to my chest, my arms wrapped around them tightly, as I rocked myself slowly. If only that could help to ward off the chaos that was swirling in my mind. The sound of rushing but yet familiar footsteps echoed in my head, a constant reminder of the terror I experienced. “Why didn’t you just make a run for it when all of these started, Victoria?” I asked, with a throat dry. “You could have saved yourself the trauma; you’re the author of your own problems. Aren’t you?” I continued, but the woman in the full-length mirror resting on the bathroom wall just stared at me in silence. “Look at
LEXIE’S POV “This is E-Gossip, and we’re back with the latest celebrity gossip. Pictures circulating of the billionaire CEO, Damian Valour, and the millionaire heiress, Victoria Hayes, have got fans in a chokehold.” I stared at my phone; the screen glowed with the faces of the ones making my emotional state even more miserable. My heart sank as I heard the familiar buzz of the latest scandal; the blogs had been eating Victoria’s return back like hot cheetos. “The two love birds were spotted taking a romantic walk in the city yesterday. Which leaves fans wondering, are they officially back together? Should we be expecting a wedding?…… “The more challenging question was, What happened to his other woman? Was she a side piece, a potential scandal we could look into, or did they have a fal……” Before I could digest the rest of what was bad for me, Jenny snatched the phone from my hands and threw it across the room. It landed on the opposite couch with a soft thud. “Do you wan