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
MATT'S POV I spat out the metallic taste of blood that filled my mouth. "I'll tell you...how it all started," a tear dropped from my eyes. My breathing still tensed and ragged."Take your time!" Bryan ordered, sitting beside me, as he watched me immensely.FLASHBACK_I was sitting at the bar, nursing a bottle of whiskey on the rocks. It is a seedy place, the kind of joint where only the desperate and the downtrodden come to drink. And that's exactly where I fit in.I had just hit rock bottom. I lost my job as a bouncer, and I was struggling to make ends meet. I had no prospects, no future. I was just trying to survive.That's when I saw him. Jasper. He walked into the bar like he owned the place, with his confident stride and charming smile that drew attention from everyone in the room.He spotted me sitting at the bar and made a beeline for me. "Mind if I join you?" he asked.I shrugged, scanning his neatly prepped shirt and wondering why a man of his caliber wanted to drink with m
Chapter 3: The Debt Jasper did get me out of the streets, I had a new home, new job and basically a new life. But that wasn't all, because the guys I usually roll with in the street started tracking me like a hawk. They felt I was in a better place now, and I owed it to them. For every decent item I owned, they'd rip it off me, including the money I made from months of just carrying out Jasper's orders. Just like my father, I was no exception. I took to taking drugs for my sanity before I met Jasper. And I couldn't keep up with the payments, so a lot of the time I took loans just to satisfy my addiction. The money grew out of proportion and I just wasn't able to pay it back. It was a huge sum of money.I sat in Jasper's office, feeling like a weight was crushing me. I had been hiding my addiction from him for months, but I knew I couldn't keep it up anymore. I was in too deep, and I needed to come clean."Matt, what's going on?" He asked, his voice firm but concerned. "You've been
QUINN'S POVI had this weird feeling that someone was watching me all the time. It started a few days ago, and it's been getting stronger ever since. Everywhere I went, I saw this gray car parked outside. It was always there, whether I was at school, work, or even my own home.At first, I thought I was just being paranoid. I told myself I was just imagining things. But the feeling wouldn't go away. It only got worse. I started to feel like I was living in a big glass bowl, with someone always staring at me.I tried to act normal and go about my daily routine. But the feeling of being watched was always there, in the back of my mind. I kept looking over my shoulder, expecting to see someone hiding in the shadows. I was always on edge, waiting for something to happen.I didn't know what to do or who to talk to. I just knew I had to get rid of this creepy feeling.-------------------As I walked out of school today, I had that same feeling. I quickened my pace, my heart racing with every
BRYAN'S POV I stopped abruptly in my tracks with my eyes blazing with anger as I stormed into Jasper's office. After I let someone who had a track on Quinn stop monitoring her, it became harder to predict her destination. I had been searching for Quinn everywhere today, and Jasper's office was the last place on my mind. Not only was she with Jasper, she was sitting on his legs groping his face, locked in a hot and passionate kiss.Quinn!" I called, my voice echoing throughout the room.In an instance, Quinn and Jasper sprang apart, startled. Her eyes widened as she saw my furious face."Bryan, please calm down! It's not what you think", she pleaded, holding out her hands.But I was beyond speechless.She continued. "I only thought about bringing him food, since I...I cooked..."My anger boiled over, and without hesitation I charged towards them. Jasper didn't flinch, even when my fist connected with his jaw. He stumbled backward, his eyes locked onto mine, but he didn't retaliate.
I rushed out of the hospital as soon as I knew Jasper was in good hands. My anger was directed towards Bryan, and I couldn't wait to confront him. I hailed a taxi and headed to his estate, my frustration growing with each passing minute.When I arrived, the security guards blocked my path. "I need to see Bryan," I demanded firmly.The guards exchanged skeptical glances. "I'm afraid that's not possible, Miss," one of them said.My annoyance boiled over, and I raised my voice. "Let me in! I know Bryan's here, and I need to talk to him!"The guards remained firm, but one of them received a phone call. He listened for a moment, then nodded and hung up.After what felt like an eternity, the guards finally relented. "Okay, miss. You can go in. But please, calm down and get a hold..."I didn't wait for him to finish. I pushed past the guards and stomped upstairs, my heels echoing through the hallway.Bryan was standing at the edge of the staircase waiting for me. I stopped in front of him, my
Then, we both spoke at once."I think—" he started."You should—" I began.We both stopped, realizing we had spoken simultaneously. He smiled wryly. "You go first."I shook my head. "No, I think it's best I listen. Mine will come in later."His stares were becoming intense, so I lowered my gaze, unsure of what to say. He took a step closer, his eyes never leaving mine. I felt this pile up of emotions as he drew nearer.Without thinking, I reached out, taking his hand, feeling the spark of connection in my heart's pulse. Bryan managed to give my hand a gentle squeeze."My lawyer was able to recover my companies from Jasper," he announced. "Unfortunately, Jasper didn't put up a fight."I looked up at him. "That's good news, Bry."He nodded. "Yes, and I've also placed the companies in the hands of one of my trusted shareholders. He'll take care of them."I felt this sadness, knowing he wouldn't be there to oversee his business empire anymore. "How long will you be here?" I asked abruptly,
QUINN'S POVThe ride home was very quiet, the most reserved ride I’ve ever had. I couldn’t hear a dime. I might have been present, but everything about my spirit, soul and body was absent.It hurts so much that I blame myself for being so hard on him all this while. The times he’d drop gifts and letters at my doorstep consistently every day. It might not have been a great ride, but Bryan loved me more than anyone else in this world would have. No words, no whimpering, just my eyes flowing with unending tears. “Quinn, you need to stop crying,” Eva advised, breaking the silence.But I couldn't. "I will never get over this pain I’m feeling" I confessed. “He’s all that I have.”“Now I feel bad that you never acknowledged me. I’ve been with you through what? Thick and thin and Bryan’s all you have?” Her words struck me and I could feel the pain in her voice.“I’m sorry Eva, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that…." My tone turned apologetic but she quickly hushed me.“Shhh_ I’m here for
-----------------"Whose child?" Quinn pressed, her brow furrowed in confusion.Thornton hesitated before speaking. "Your father, Sutherland, had a romantic affair with his second cousin, which resulted in your birth."Quinn and I gasped in unison. "What?" we exclaimed, shock and disbelief laced on our faces.Thornton continued, his voice filled with sadness. "He did marry your mother, despite the families being against them. I suppose it's because he loved her. I found out about their relationship because my first wife was a friend of your mother's."Officer Maddie's eyes widened in surprise. "What in heaven's name is going on here?" she asked, her voice firm, but I could tell she was confused.Thornton's expression turned cold. "When I threatened to expose Sutherland's secret if he dared to speak a word about Braxton's murder, he was terrified. He feared for his reputation and kept quiet all these years."Quinn's face twisted in anger and hurt. "His reputation? That's all he cared ab
BRYAN'S POVWe walked into the police station, hand in hand, with Eva following close behind. "Excuse me," I said to one of the officers, "we'd like to speak with the officer in charge of Jasper Brown's investigation."The officer looked at us, obviously recognizing me, and asked us to wait. He stepped away for a minute before returning to escort us to a private room.Eva opted to wait outside, so we left her in the lobby. Inside the room, we met a lady who looked barely above middle age. "Hi, I'm Bryan Braxton, and this is _"Quinn Sutherland." She continued."We have information about Jasper Brown and his accomplice, Mr. Thornton that we would love to share with you."The officer, whose name tag read "Officer Maddie," looked at us with interest. "What kind of information?" she asked.We stared at each other and I spoke up. "We would like to be recorded."Officer Maddie nodded. "I see. Well, we've had Mr. Brown in custody, and we could use any additional information you can provide.
QUINN'S POVEva and I were still reeling from the shock of Matt's betrayal, lost in our own thoughts, when the doorbell rang again. I let out a frustrated sigh and made my way to the front door angrily."I thought I asked you to leave, Matt!" I yelled, but my voice trailed off as I took in the figure standing before me. It was Bryan."Matt?" he repeated, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Matt was here?"I nodded silently, still trying to process the sudden change in events. As I gazed at Bryan, I couldn't help but notice how worn out he looked. His eyes seemed sunken, and his face was laced with deep lines. This wasn't the stern, looking Bryan I had grown accustomed to; this was the Bryan I remembered from my childhood.I gulped down the huge form of saliva in my mouth. It took everything in me to not jump on him right now and hug him so tightly. I missed him so much. Bryan's eyes scanned me from head to toe, taking in my almost invisible baby bump. I felt a flutter in my chest as our
QUINN'S POVEva's voice broke the silence. "Did you know Jasper was involved in such terrible things?"I paused, thinking back to the times Jasper and I spent together. He had been so charming and perfect, leaving no hints about his dark secrets.I shook my head, "I had no idea," I replied. "He seemed like the perfect gentleman."Eva nodded in approval. "Exactly! That's what makes it so scary. He is so good at hiding his true nature. However, when he spiked your drink and food, that was a sign of a drug dealer. Trying to force himself on you was also a sign of a rapist. I'm glad you had nothing to do with him in the end. I can't imagine _"I felt a shiver run down my spine as I remembered that night. "I did sleep with him," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper cutting her short.Eva's eyes widened in shock. "Are you saying...," she gasped, "Is he the father of your baby?" she asked, her voice trembling.I quickly shook my head. "No, no, it's not that. It's just that... I don't r
BRYAN'S POVI lounged on my couch, crunching on a crispy snack, when my attention drifted to the TV screen that flickered with breaking news. The anchor's serious tone caught my eyes."Breaking news: A high-profile sting operation has led to the arrest of Jasper Brown, the newly appointed CEO of Aurora's conglomerate, on charges of sex trafficking and distribution of hard drugs. The investigation carried on by a journalist, spanning several months, has uncovered a complex web of illicit activities involving some of the city's most influential figures."The anchor's words hung in the air, as the screen behind her displayed a mugshot of Jasper, his usual smirk being replaced by a scowl followed by blurry footage and photos from the club, taken by the undercover photographer. "The evidence, obtained through a daring undercover operation, reveals shocking scenes of exploitation and abuse. Photos and videos, taken from within the club, show victims being coerced into sex work and patrons
JASPER'S POVI stepped into the dimly lit club, the pounding music and throbbing lights enveloping me like a warm embrace. This was my domain, my sanctuary. The place where I could let my guard down and be myself. Most especially, it maintained its aura of exclusivity.I made my way through the crowded room, nodding to familiar faces and exchanging brief hello's. The smell of smoke and sweat filled the atmosphere and I breathed it in deeply. I felt alive.I spotted one of my girls, a stunning blonde, dancing on stage. She caught my eye, winked and smiled, and I giggled. She was mine, one of my best earners, Stella.I continued to make my way towards the VIP section, where my partners and I conducted our... business. We deal with more than just drinks and music here. We dealt in secrets, in desires, and in the forbidden.I made it all happen.The Devil's Kiss was my pride and joy, a massive facility with over 80 rooms, each one designed to cater to a specific desire or fantasy. We had r
MATT'S POVIt's been two months since everything changed. Two months since the turn of events and Bryan has been all over the news, his saga with Eva at the hospital, news about his health and his resignation as CEO of Aurora corporation. It's not been easy for anyone seeing his constant appearance on the television.I myself have been working tirelessly behind the scenes, gathering evidence and building a case to ease his feelings. I've had a few close calls. Like the last time I was snooping around the warehouse, I almost got caught. But I didn't give up. I couldn't give up. Not after everything I've seen and everything I've learned.Jasper's treatment of those around him has been horrifying. He manipulated, used, and hurt people without a second thought. And Quinn...I knocked on the door, and she opened it, looking more beautiful than ever in this pregn glow. This newfound peace definitely agrees with her, and it's amazing to see. "Hey Matt! It's good to see you," she snapped, ope