I watched as Bryan made his way over to a tall sleek man who looked like he was in his late twenties, clapping him on the back and saying something in his ear.The man nodded in approval, looking like he was trying to make a quick escape. But before he could, Bryan grabbed the microphone again."And now, ladies and gentlemen," he called, "It's time to bring out the real entertainment."The room erupted into another round of cheers and catcalls as a group of strippers appeared from the shadows, dressed in lingerie and thong outfits. They made their way to the stage, where they began to dance and perform.I watched in disgust, feeling like I was trapped in some kind of bad dream. This was not the kind of place I wanted to be, and I definitely didn't want to be here with Bryan and his sleazy friends. It reminded me of the reason I avoided the VIP lounge on most occasions.But I was stuck there, at least for the rest of the night. And who knew what other surprises Bryan had in store for me
BRYAN'S POV I woke up to the sound of my phone buzzing on the nightstand. I reached over to see who it was, and I narrowed my eyes when I saw Quinn's name on the screen. I opened the message, and my annoyance grew as I read her words:"Are you okay?"That was it. Just three words. Like she actually cared. I thought back to what Jasper had told me - that he'd shared a kiss with Quinn. I can't quite get my mind over that statement that constantly got under my skin.I tossed my phone back onto the nightstand, feeling a surge of anger. Does she think she could just text me and pretend everything was fine? Like she hasn't been flirting with my friend all this while.I threw off the covers and got out of bed and started pacing around my room. I couldn't believe her audacity. Didn't she know that I wasn't someone to be toyed with? Or probably, has she forgotten?I stopped pacing and looked over at my phone. I was tempted to text her back, to tell her exactly what I thought of her. But somet
Tonight, I received an invitation to an exclusive poker game, and I decided to attend. As I entered the luxurious, underground location, I was greeted by the host, a wealthy and influential individual.I stepped into the underground, the air was thick with the smell of smoke and expensive cologne. The room was dimly lit, and the only sound heard was the soft hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses.As the city's youngest billionaire, I was no stranger to exclusive gatherings like this. I had built my fortune on smart investments and ruthless business deals, earning me the respect and admiration of my peers.I made my way through the crowd, nodding at the familiar faces and exchanging brief words of greeting. I was here to discuss a potential business deal with the location's owner, a man named Victor who was notorious for his shady dealings, but he's needed whenever you need to secure certain deals in the city. Because he was in charge of surging that happens underground.As I
MATT'S POVI stood outside the poorly lit street, a few inches away from the underground location. From the outside, you could never imagine such an exquisite location existed. I had my phone pressed to my ear as I waited for my boss to answer. I had just left the underground club in a hurry, my heart still racing from the close review with Bryan."Matt, what's going on?" my boss's voice came through the line, low and even."I was at the underground club tonight," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "And Bryan saw me. He tried to inquire how I got here?"There was a pause at the other end of the line, and I could sense my boss's tension.My boss's voice finally came through the line, firm but curious. "Matt, what exactly brought you to the underground club tonight? Because I didn't ask to see you"I hesitated, trying to come up with a convincing excuse. "I was just... uh... meeting a friend, we had a game together," I replied, trying to sound casual.But the truth was far more com
QUINN'S POV"Quinn! Quinn, come out here!" Eva consistently yelled my name.I jumped up from the couch, wondering what all the commotion was about. I rushed to the door and flung it open, and Eva grabbed my wrist, pulling me outside."What's going on, Eva?" I asked, laughing, as she dragged me across the lawn.And then I saw it. A brand new, shiny red Toyota Camry was parked in front of our house, with a big bow tied around the front grille. I gasped in shock, my eyes wide with excitement." You got a car?"Eva let out a squeal of delight and clapped her hands together. "Silly, your secret admirer did! Quinn!"I paused for a few seconds, trying to connect the dots."You mean to me?" I asked and Eva nodded. I just couldn't believe my eyes. I have been dreaming of owning a car for as long as I could remember, and now, here it was, right in front of me.The driver, a smiling man in a suit, walked over to me and handed me the car keys. "Congratulations, Miss Quinn," he said, with a bow. "
After school, I quickly drove off in order to conclude my painting. I picked up my phone and sent Jasper a quick text:"Hey, I'm at the painting studio on 5th Street. Want to meet me here?"I added a smiley face emoji at the end of the text, with high hopes of enticing him to come. I have been working on a special project, and I couldn't wait to share it with him.I put down my phone and returned to my painting, lost in thought as I mixed colors and added delicate highlights. A few minutes later, my phone buzzed with an incoming text from Jasper."Hey, I'm on my way. What's going on?" I grinned, my heart pumping with excitement. I couldn't wait to see him.I dipped my brush into the paint once again, carefully mixing the colors to capture the perfect shade of blue for Jasper's eyes. I was working on a painting of him, and I wanted it to be perfect.As I worked, the door to the studio opened, and Jasper walked in. He smiled when he saw me, and my heart skipped a beat."Hey, Love," he
During my shiftWhile I wiped the table tops of the customer that had just left. It was a Monday evening and the club is usually scanty on those days. I caught Matt's eyes and he smiled. I decided to approach him."Hey, Matt. I'm so sorry I didn't follow up on our conversation previously. Did you and Eva end up talking things through that day?" I asked, feeling a pang of guilt for getting carried away with those gifts that day.Matt's face broke into a warm smile. "Actually, yeah. We did talk things through. And I think we're good now."I felt a gush of relief wash over me. "That's amazing! I'm so glad to hear that."Just then, Eva approached us, moving over to Matt's side. Staring at me with a radiant bright smile on her lips. She slipped her arm through Matt's and gazed up at him adorably.Matt grinned at me. "We're more than good, actually. We're better than ever."Eva shook her head vigorously. "We're back on track, and we couldn't have been happier."I couldn't help but smile at t
BRYAN'S POVI have been following him up for over two weeks, studying his routine and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.I stood outside my balcony, feeling the cool night air on my face with my phone pressed on my ears as I listened to the voice at the other end of the line. "Great!" I said, a sense of satisfaction washing over me. "You know where to keep him? I'll be there soon. Just deal with him." I hung up the phone and slipped it into my pocket, feeling a sense of satisfaction wash over me.We had finally been able to catch Matt, and it was all thanks to my careful planning. I had been following him for weeks, studying his routine and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.It had come earlier that night, when Matt had left his apartment to meet up with his friend Karmal. I knew that Karmal was Matt's supplier, the one who sold him the cannabis he was so addicted to. And I also knew that Karmal's house was located in a remote area, far from prying eyes.My boys had wait
I woke up to an empty bed, my hands searching for any sign of Bryan. I had been so exhausted the night before, after showering and collapsing onto the bed. My body had been screaming for rest, and I had finally given in.As I lay there, I had felt Bryan come in later that night. He had pulled me closer to him, wrapping his arms around me and holding me tight. I had felt a sense of safety and security in his arms, and I had finally been able to drift off to sleep.But now, as I woke up to an empty bed, I felt a pang of disappointment. I had been hoping that Bryan would still be there, that we could spend the morning together.As I searched the bed for any sign of Bryan, my hands suddenly stopped moving. I looked up to see Bryan standing in front of me, a smile on his face."Good morning," he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement.I opened my eyes in shock, springing up from the bed. "Bryan!" I exclaimed, my heart racing with surprise.Bryan only laughed, his eyes crinkling at the cor
lSoon the driver arrived, and I got in, my mind still reeling from the event that had just happened.I pulled out my phone and started to dial Bryan's number. I was going to confront him but hung up on second thought.Maybe I should go to Eva, except that I didn't want to disturb her either. Besides, I'm not sure if she's ready to talk to me yet.I needed a distraction, something to channel this anger and frustration into. I spotted a small art studio nearby and quickly asked the driver to stop. I made my way inside. The smell of paint enveloping me, and calming my racing thoughts. It looked like a paint and sip recreational center, but it seemed quiet today.I settled in at a stand, picking up a brush and dipping it into a bright shade of blue. As I began to paint, I felt my tension slowly began to ease, replaced by a sense of calmness and focus.Just as I was getting lost in the creative process, my phone buzzed again. I hesitated, wondering if it was worth it. But as I looked ove
As I spotted her, I caught her eyes and nodded subtly towards the backyard. She nodded back in understanding as we both slipped away from the crowd.Once we were outside, Eva turned to me, her expression serious. "I've been waiting for you to resume work for the longest," she said as her eyes scanned me with a mixture of concern and curiosity.I let out a small laugh, trying to downplay the severity of my injuries. "I'm better, Eva. Just a few bruises here and scratches."But she wasn't buying it. She rolled her eyes, and took a step closer to me. "Are you ready then to tell me what's happening? Who did this to you?" she demanded, her voice firm.I tried to brush it off, resorting to the same excuse I had given them earlier. "I had already told you guys, I got into a fight..." But Eva wasn't having it.She cut me off mid-sentence. "Na-uh. You can tell that crap to Quinn, not me, Matt. I'm not daft!" She crossed her arms, her eyes flashing with annoyance.I raised my right hand in t
"Sir?" she called, poking her head into the room.I turned my attention towards her. "Yes? You can come in."She stepped inside, with a discreet envelope in her hand. "A courier just dropped this off, sir. It's marked 'urgent' and 'personal'."My eyes narrowed slightly as I took the envelope from her hand. It had my name typed on the front, but there was no indication of who had sent it or what it might contain."Thank you. That's all for now." I announced, dismissing her. She nodded and backed out of the room, closing the door softly behind her.I scanned the contents of the envelope, my expression darkened. "This is highly unacceptable. No, I wouldn't let her walk away from the agreement so easily."I picked up my phone and dialed my lawyer. "I need you to come to my office, right now.""Is everything okay, Mr Braxton?" His calm tone replied along the line."Well, if you get here now, you'll figure that out." I dropped the call.-----------------I spent the remaining few minutes pa
I finished gathering my belongings, rolling my box out of the house. Eva had the most pitiful face on. She wrapped me in a tight hug. "Promise me you'll often call and stay safe," she whispered, her voice trembling.I nodded, trying to reassure her. "I will, Eva. Don't worry."It's another morning, except that this is a not so bright one. I looked around Bryan's bedroom, my temporary prison.As I began to pack the few belongings I'd be taking with me. I was doing this. I was staying there, in this gilded cage, until I figured out my next move."I can do this," I said to myself, trying to sound convincing. "Maybe, I can stay here, play the part, and bide my time. It's not going to be forever. Just until I figure out what to do"But the truth was, I had no idea how to escape Bryan's grasp. He had eyes and ears everywhere, and if I tried to run, he'd find me. Underneath the moon and the stars, he'd find me.I shuddered at the thought, pushing it aside as I lifted the carton, moving it to
MATT'S POVI navigated through the crowded hallway of Eclipse, scanning the area for Eva. We needed to talk, and I'd been waiting for a chance to grab her attention.As I spotted her, I caught her eyes and nodded subtly towards the backyard. She nodded back in understanding as we both slipped away from the crowd.Once we were outside, Eva turned to me, her expression serious. "I've been waiting for you to resume work for the longest," she said as her eyes scanned me with a mixture of concern and curiosity.I let out a small laugh, trying to downplay the severity of my injuries. "I'm better, Eva. Just a few bruises here and scratches."But she wasn't buying it. She rolled her eyes, and took a step closer to me. "Are you ready then to tell me what's happening? Who did this to you?" she demanded, her voice firm.I tried to brush it off, resorting to the same excuse I had given them earlier. "I had already told you guys, I got into a fight..." But Eva wasn't having it.She cut me off m
I stood outside the sleek, modern building, checking the address on the piece of paper for what felt like the hundredth time. This was it – the office of Mrs. Stone, Jasper's lawyer.I took a deep breath, smoothing out my dress and mentally preparing myself for the meeting.As I pushed open the door, I stepped into an elegant lobby. The receptionist looked up from behind the desk, smiling politely."Can I help you?" she asked."I'm here to see Mrs. Stone," I replied, trying to sound confident. "I have an appointment."The receptionist nodded, typing something into her computer. "Of course, Mrs. Stone is expecting you. Please, take a seat, and I'll let her know you're here."I sat down in one of the plush chairs, flipping through a magazine I saw on the desk to distract myself. I came for something important – something that could change my entire life.After a few minutes, the receptionist called out to me. "Mrs. Stone will see you now."I stood up, taking a deep breath as I followed
QUINN'S POVI watched Matt.A million questions flowed through my mind. He was lying. I didn't know how, but my instinct told me he was hiding something.Seeing his battered body made me want to puke. Who could have possibly done this to him? I thought back to our previous discussion.Could it be Jasper... or Bryan?Just because his story wasn't adding up, it seemed too convenient and too rehearsed.He tried to speak, his voice low, almost coming off as a whisper "Concerning our previous discussion, Quinn... permit me to take that back?"I narrowed my eyes, my grip on the ice pack tightening. "What are you talking about, Matt?" Matt's gaze fixed on mine, his eyes pleading. "About... what I said. I was mistaken. I didn't mean to—"My anger boiled over. "Mistaken?" I repeated, my voice rising. "You showed me a picture, Matt. You told me things. What are you trying to take back?""I…I just didn’t want you to end up with him." He stammered, his eyes darting between Eva and I. "Yes, I got
MATT'S POVI slowly opened my eyes. Everything hurt. My body felt broken. I tried to move, but the pain shooting through me was unbearable.I remembered the beatings. I also remembered the sound of my bones cracking, the feel of my skin tearing. I was lying in a dark room, chained to the wall. I struggled to sit up, but it hurt too much."Jasper..." I whispered. I was angry, but I couldn't do anything.I waited, hoping someone would come and help me. But I knew I couldn't trust anyone. Not even myself.I slowly sat up, wincing in pain. One of the men soon stepped in, bringing me a bottle of water. "Hey, Man, you're finally awake? you've been out for days," he announced.I took the water, my hands shaking as I unscrewed the cap. I took a sip, feeling the cool liquid soothe my dehydrated throat.Just as I was starting to feel a bit better, another guard, Jake, spoke up. "I'll go tell the boss that he's awake," he said, as he made his way to exit the room.I shot them both a cold stare.