I met Tatiana, the twenty three year old fashion blogger with over millions of followers on all social platforms, at our new warehouse that evening. With a striking ginger hair that made her stand out in a crowd. Her energy was infectious, and it put me at ease immediately. As we shook hands, I could tell she was excited about the tour. I was too. It wasn't every day that we got to showcase our hard work to someone who could help us reach a wider audience.We started the tour in the main production area. The large, open space was filled with rows of tables where skilled workers were cutting and sewing fabrics. I explained the layout and how each section had a specific role in the creation of our clothing line. Tatiana was attentive, her eyes bright with curiosity as she jotted down notes and snapped photos and made videos with her assistant/cameraman. “How do you ensure the quality of your materials? If you don't mind me asking, but I'm sure fashion obsessed people like you and I wou
Victor? Really?An inexplicable excitement bubbled up within me. I felt a sudden urge to rush into the house and greet him, but I stopped myself just in time, realizing that there were other guests inside as well.As much as I wanted to hurry in and see Victor, I had to remind myself of the risk. Meh, the entire family was there, so I wasn't planning to take any chances. Instead, I asked Zara to prepare me a bath and pick out an evening dress for me for dinner. She nodded and led the way inside.The sound of cutlery clinking filled the dining room as we walked in. I bowed slightly to the guests, making sure to avoid eye contact with the one person I was excited to see. I began making my way upstairs. Halfway up, I heard my name.“Since you're back, freshen up and join us for dessert.” Yeah, of course it was Catherine. Who else would it be?“Sure, give me some minutes,” I replied, not looking back. I just nodded and continued up to my room.When I entered, Zara was already in the bathr
I went through the month's catalogue for Luxury, flipping through the pages filled with high-end fashion designs. The bed was covered with design idea papers, sketches, and notes, all scattered around me. Among the mess were a few invites to a high-profile charity gala. I'd hit the jackpot, no doubt, but the work that came with such luck was overwhelming. If I were fully human, I'd probably be overdosing on painkillers from different brands. Yup, you read that right.The sheer volume of tasks that was still undone was staggering. From finalizing designs to coordinating with suppliers and ensuring everything met the exacting standards of Luxury, it felt like there weren't enough hours in the day. My phone buzzed constantly with emails and messages, each one demanding immediate attention.I sighed, rubbing my temples. The excitement of seeing my work featured in such a prestigious publication was blocked by the heavy workload. I glanced at the invite to the charity gala, a brief flicker
Dinner continued, but my appetite had vanished. The rest of the family seemed to accept Catherine’s announcement with minimal fuss, of course they would, it their sister and it's Damon's mother, continuing their conversations as if nothing significant had happened. I took another gulp of wine.---Penelope stared at the bloodied letter on the desk in the middle of her sitting room, chewing on her nails and drowning out the angry, cursing voice of her mother upstairs. Just what kind of mess had she gotten herself into? She wondered, sniffing. Just what did her greed get her into?The ping from her phone pulled her out of her sad reverie. With shaky hands, she picked it up from the table, careful not to drop it. It was a message from ‘X’ again, with threats to keep her mouth shut. The familiar wave of fear washed over her, making her heart race. Suddenly, a loud shatter from behind startled her, and she could swear her heart almost jumped out of her chest. All her attention had been o
I stared out of the window from my room that overlooked the back of the house, wondering if my senses were glitching. It wouldn't be a surprise if they weren't, though, because lately, Penelope had been on my case and tail. The scent I had perceived a few minutes ago was definitely hers. It had to be.The full moonlight cast a soft glow over the backyard, highlighting the trees and gardens. It was full moon, soon you'll hear the men going out for hunting like they do.I sighed and turned away from the window, pacing my room. My thoughts kept circling back to Penelope. The last few times she came to me, she seemed on edge, constantly looking over her shoulder. I knew she was hiding something, that something was wrong, but whatever it is, it was her mess, her problem, and the last thing I wanted was to get involved with her, ever again.The last time I did, I left with my heart in my palm, so no more trusting.A sudden tap on the window startled me, making my heart race. I turned back q
I woke up the next morning feeling weak. My body ached, and the lingering effects of the nightmare made it hard to shake off the dread that clung to me. With effort, I dressed and got ready for work.As I went downstairs, I noticed something strange—no one was at home. Not even Zara, which was weird because Zara never left the house before me. The absence of the usual morning bustles and yells made the house feel empty and eerie.I weakly did everything I could to prepare for the day. I could only manage to make a sandwich for breakfast. My hands trembled, and I felt dizzy, but the fear of falling asleep and having another nightmare kept me from going back to bed. The entire house was empty, and the silence scared me a bit.Catherine was a full-time housewife and never left the house, even when she was with Victor. She was always around, making her presence known in one way or another. Damon was an exception; he wasn’t always at home. The other women must have left with Catherine, but
The sound of the doors being pushed open with force sent a jolt of fear through me. I could hear them entering, their footsteps heavy and deliberate. My heart pounded in my chest as I darted into a small storage room, barely big enough for two people. I pressed myself against the wall, trying to make myself as small as possible.The clanging sounds of weapons hitting metal echoed through the warehouse, each strike making me jump. The noise was terrifying. I could hear them stalking closer, their movements methodical and unhurried, as if they were enjoying the game.My hands shook as I fumbled with my phone, dialing number after number. I tried calling everyone I could think of—Victor, Zara, Elizabeth, Jennie, even Damon—but every call went straight to voicemail. My heart sank with each failed attempt. "Please, someone answer," I whispered desperately, but there was only silence on the other end.I furiously prayed to the moon goddess, begging her to wake me if this was a nightmare or
I soon tried to crawl away, but my limbs felt heavy and unresponsive. My head was spinning, and I couldn't focus. Suddenly the bulkier intruder's footsteps echoed in the small room as he approached. The other three blocked any possible escape route, their menacing figures casting long shadows in the dim light, was there even light? I could barely see a thing at this point.The bulky intruder reached down and grabbed me by the arm, his grip like iron. He yanked me to my feet, and I cried out in pain. My vision blurred with tears, and I felt like I was going to faint. "Shut her up," one of the others snapped. The bulkier man raised his hand, and I braced myself for the impact, but it never came. Instead, he shoved me against the wall, holding me there with one hand while he brandished the axe with the other.My mind raced, trying to think of anything that might save me. I couldn't shift, I couldn't call for help, and I couldn't fight back. The panic was overwhelming, and I could barely
Leo’s POVShock couldn’t even describe how I felt when Michael and Greg were in the same room as us. It was hard not to show my displeasure as I watched them sit eagerly, rubbing their palms at the delicacy presented to them. While Michael was just interested in whatever this was, Greg cast furtive glances at me, but I paid him no attention.The least he could have done was to have informed me beforehand that my best friend had offered him an invitation to have dinner at the house. I could have told him to decline. If he had, Michael would have done the same, and I wouldn’t have had to watch Lila so uncomfortable.She squirmed in her seat, not looking up from the table. Her plate was empty, as she had yet to take what she wanted. But she had already been accosted, so I doubted she was interested in whatever was in those dishes.“This is amazing,” Michael gushed like a child who had just been handed his favorite candy. “I’m sitting in the same room as Leo and Armani. I can’t wait to te
Ana stepped into the pharmacy on her way to Victor's, with a sense of urgency. She made her way to the counter, her eyes scanning the shelves until she found what she was looking for. Birth control pills. She grabbed a pack, paid for it quickly, and left the store, her mind already focused on the night ahead. Hoping no one's attention was in her.Once outside, she took a deep breath and fished the packet out of her bag. She popped a pill into her mouth and swallowed it dry, anticipating her arrival at the mansion. She could feel the excitement building, a mischievous smile playing on her lips as she imagined what was to come.Arriving at the house, she let herself in with the spare key he had given her. The house was quiet, save for the soft hum of voices coming from the dining room. She walked in and found him sitting at the dining table, engrossed in a live Zoom call. His laptop was open in front of him, and two businessmen were visible on the screen, discussing some important matte
After getting the things he needed at the store, Carlos' uncle, Frances decided not to drive straight home if maybe not. Instead, he took a detour to a dimly lit tea shop. He parked in front and walked on foot to a bar a bit farther away. It might be calculated move on his part, a way to throw off anyone who might be following him.Entering the bar, he found a secluded corner and settled in, ordering a few less alcoholic drinks. He knew he needed to stay awake, and nit get drunk. As he sipped his drink, he kept an eye on the door, waiting for his contact to show up. He was told this bar sold cookies, and despite the unusual setting, he couldn't resist ordering some.An hour passed, and there was still no sign of his contact. He ordered another drink, more out of a need to maintain his cover than a desire for alcohol. The bar was a typical dive, with dim lighting and the smell of stale beer hanging in the air. He tried to stay calm, but the wait was beginning to get to him.After wait
Ana spent the rest of her morning and early afternoon in blissful solitude. She played games on her phone, The hours slipped by unnoticed, and soon she felt the heavy pull of sleep. Without bothering to change, she curled up on her bed and napped.When she woke up, it was late afternoon. The house was quieter now, the bustle of the morning's chaos having subsided. She stretched and took a moment to reorient herself, then decided it was time to freshen up and shake off the remnants of sleep. She wanted to make the most of her remaining free time before the annual packs' meeting.She dressed up in a casual chiffon dress, applied a little makeup, grabbed her bag and left her room, moving quietly through the house. She tried her best to avoid any lingering annoying family members, not wanting to risk another confrontation or forced interaction, or even an insult regarding her choice not to get pregnant. As she stepped outside, the cool afternoon air greeted her. Smelt like summer was just
The girl jumped, her face paling as she stammered an apology and quickly scurried away. Ana watched her go, irritation still simmering. She put in her key, twisted until she heard a click and then shd pushed the door open, entering her sanctuary. She took a moment to breathe, willing herself to calm down. The last thing she needed was to let anyone down there see her rattled.She freshened up quickly, splashing cold water on her face and running a brush through her hair. She changed into something more presentable, even though the effort felt wasted. These breakfasts were always the same—forced smiles and shallow conversations, or just them plainly trying to piss her off Descending the stairs. Damon was seated at the head of the table, with Catherine by the left, there was someone else by the right and he gestured the lady to move when he saw me approaching.Well, let's just not start on the part where he just acted nice and weird, like he's been doing lately.Victor, predictably, wa
The next morning, Ana lounged in the living room, munching on popcorn while Zara massaged her feet. She watched as Catherine, always the attention-seeker, prepared an extravagant breakfast. As usual, Catherine had invited almost the entire Pierce family for a feast without bothering to inform anyone beforehand. It was such a Catherine thing to do—spontaneous, inconsiderate, and utterly exhausting for everyone else involved.The kitchen was a chaotic mess of clattering pots and pans, the smell of cooking food thick in the air. Selene and the other maids bustled around, trying to keep up with her relentless pace. Ana watched them with detached amusement, knowing full well that any call for help from Catherine would be met with thinly veiled disdain.Catherine, in her own world, directed the maids with sharp commands, her voice carrying over the noise. Ana knew better than to engage. She had learned long ago that nothing she did would ever be good enough for Catherine, and she had stoppe
In the dimly lit warehouse, the men lounged around, a sense of nonchalance hanging in the air. The men were taking a break from their gruesome duties, their faces reflecting a mix of boredom and tiredness and maybe a bit sleepines. The smell of sweat, smoke, and faint hints of blood filled the room."Hey, you got another one of those?" one of the men asked, nodding toward a cigarette as he sprawled on a worn-out couch."Sure," another replied, tossing him a pack. "We're gonna need something stronger if we have to go back to work soon.""Tell me about it," the first man muttered, lighting his cigarette and taking a deep drag. He exhaled slowly, the smoke curling up towards the ceiling. "I’m tired of babysitting that old woman. shouldn't we just clear her. I wonder why she's here.""Seriously man, but orders are orders," the second man shrugged, leaning back and closing his eyes. "Besides, we’ve got that other guy to keep things interesting."In the corner of the warehouse, their other
Ana woke up early the next morning, the soft morning light filtering through her bedroom window, she was driven home last night after dinner by Jules under Victor's order since he refused to let her hail a taxi. She stretched, shaking off the remnants of sleep. Today was the day she would prepare for the annual packs' meeting, an event that required her to be both presentable and versatile. The meeting was a significant occasion, filled with formal discussions and various activities, and she needed to look her best, but to beat the gossips and also build her confidence.As she dressed after freshening up, her thoughts turned to her wardrobe. Many of her clothes seemed dull and uninspired, and so was the ones she bought earlier for the meeting. She decided it was time to update her collection. Grabbing her phone, she made a quick list of the essentials she needed: a few new dresses, some casual outfits, and accessories to match. She also noted that she might need a couple of versatile
Lucas stood up, pondering her words. He exchanged a glance with the leader of the men, who gave a slight nod."You did the right thing by telling us, Maria," Lucas said. "We'll make sure your grandchildren are safe. But you need to understand that if I find out you lied, your grandkids wouldn't be safe in my hands either"She nodded vehemently, tears streaming down her face. "I swear, everything I just told you is the truth. Please, just protect them. They’re all I have left."He gave her a small, almost pitying smile, that to a normal eye would look a bit forced. "Very well then. We'll do our best. Remember, Maria, trust is a fragile thing. Don't give us a reason to break it.""I promise, I'm not lying"As they left her alone in the warehouse, her heart sank into a deep pit of despair, her mind racing with thoughts of her grandchildren. Outside, Lucas walked briskly to his car, which was parked just outside the warehouse. He climbed into the driver's seat, leaving the door open for a