I set her down on the edge of the tub, quickly stripping off her wet coat and shoes."Get undressed," I ordered, handing her a towel.Her eyes were fixed on mine, holding a mixture of resistance and desperation."Please, Bryan," she whispered.What was she pleading for? But something in my chest twisted.I helped her out of her wet clothes, my fingers brushing against her chilled skin."Get in the shower," I said, adjusting the water temperature.She stepped under the warm steam, her eyes closing in relief.I stood there, lost watching her, my mind racing.What was I even doing, taking care of her?But I couldn't shake off the feeling that I needed to protect her. As Quinn showered, I fetched a change of clothes from my room and placed them on the bed.Soon she emerged, wrapped in a towel as I handed her the clothes."Put these on when you're done" I said, trying to sound detached.Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw something there. Something like longing but it quickl
QUINN’S POVI woke up to the sound of Bryan's gentle humming in the hallway, but my pounding headache and heavy body weighed me down. The memories of last night came flooding my mind, making my stomach twist and filling me with great regret.How could I have been so reckless? I thought, tossing my hands over my face, trying to hide them in shame.Bryan walked into the room, with a tray in his hands, and a warm smile."Good morning, beautiful," he added, setting the tray beside me.I blushed, shyly accepting it.It was a plate of scrambled eggs, bread and sausages."Did you have to?" I asked while savoring the scrambled eggs."I wanted to," he replied, gently stroking my hair as he laid a peck on my forehead.I felt the heat burning within me. Bryan’s constant stare only made things worse.I munched slowly, expecting him to get up soon and prepare for work, but he didn't flinch.He held onto the TV remote, switching channels." Aren't you working today?" I asked, attempting to deflect.H
Just another evening at the club, I silently cleared out the drinks someone ordered. The evening was just getting started and everyone was getting ready. Eva walked past me. We stay in the same house but somehow haven’t managed to hold a conversation for a while now.“Hey baby girl” she walked past, tapping me lightly.I hugged her. I’ve missed her.“You’ve been away, at home, working! What’s happening?”“Yes I have, and I’m back now.”“Busy with Bryan? She giggled and I nudged her playfully to behave. “He arranged your day off with Mr Jenkins yesterday. It’s quite fortunate.”I countered. “Not entirely. These few days haven’t been the most amazing. You did see the news, right?“Yes I did, they found him guilty.” Eva added and I nodded.“I feel bad, no matter what, they’re still family. In the space of two months, a lot of things are going down""And he hasn't admitted anything to you?" Eva asked.I shook my head vehemently. "Worse, he's still that gentle Bryan I know, yet he shows no
BRYAN’S POV"It's that time of year again - the winter vacation, finally! I exclaimed, leaning back in my office chair.A period where everyone's stress melts away.My mind drifted to Quinn. She's been overwhelmed lately, and this break would be exactly what she needs.And she'll be spending it with me.My business trip to Paris aligns perfectly. A time to seal crucial deals, and make unforgettable memories with her. Where Days of luxury, art, and romance awaited us. I’m sure my assistant has everything in check.I picked up my phone, dialing my assistant.“Come to the office. Now.”He arrived promptly. “Sir?”“Have you confirmed the Paris arrangements?," I instructed."All set, sir," he replied. "Villa, art studio, Louvre tour, transportation."I nodded, satisfied. “Good! Send a message to Quinn’s boss, confirming her extended leave.”“Her boss has already received my discreet call; her absence is approved. There will be no distractions tonight.I nodded, urging him to go out.I know
EVA’S POVI heaved a sigh of relief the moment I settled on the couch. It was such a hectic day, not having Quinn around.I needed to know how the trip went, so I dialed her number eager for an update. The phone cradled between my ear and shoulder. Her voice chimed in, sounding delighted."Eva! I'm so glad you called. We have just arrived, and Paris is stunning!"I grinned, envisioning Quinn's excitement. "I'm glad you're having a great time! Don't forget to take lots of pictures.""Already on it," Quinn laughed. "Bryan's been amazing as well”, she whispered, and I laughed."Make sure to spoil yourself rotten”"Will do," she promised. "What about you? How's life without me?"I laughed. "Same as usual, already missing you.She scoffed. “With my recent disappearance, I’ll probably lose my job after this trip.”“Our boss fears Bryan, he’d do literally anything he requests”, I reassured her."Nevertheless, I miss you too," Quinn said, her tone softening. "But I'll make it up to you with st
QUINN'S POVAs the plane touched down in Paris, I felt a thrill of excitement. Bryan, sitting beside me, smiled."Welcome to the City of Light," he said with sparkling eyes.Stepping off the plane, the crisp Parisian air refreshed me. I looked up at the majestic airport architecture."Wow," I breathed.Bryan chuckled. "You're going to love this city."My eyes widened as we stepped into the luxurious apartment. The sprawling living room, adorned with modern art and floor-to-ceiling windows, offered breathtaking views of the Eiffel Tower."Welcome to our Parisian retreat," Bryan said, his eyes sparkling.I explored the expansive space, discovering a kitchen, a library, and a private balcony.I saw a small walkway, leading me to a stunning bedroom. My jaw dropped. The spacious room boasted an en-suite bathroom, a walk-in closet, and a majestic gigantic bed.Bryan walked in minutes later with them, carrying our bags behind him. He gestured to the luggage. "I took the liberty of packing for
QUINN'S POVI stepped into the bedroom, my heart racing. Bryan lay on the bed, his eyes fixed on me."Hey," he said, his voice low."Hey," I replied, trying to sound calm.I approached the bed, unsure what to expect. Bryan patted the space beside him."Come here," he whispered.I hesitated, but my body moved of its own accord. I sat beside him, feeling his warmth.He wrapped his hands around me, pulling me close. His lips brushed against my ear."I've wanted to do this all night," he whispered.He traced my skin with his fingers, sending shivers down my spine. I leaned into his touch and he stopped abruptly.As the night wore on, my cravings became more intense, but he never crossed the line.I wanted him to continue touching me so badly, just like he did at dinner. But surprisingly, he slept, neglecting me.---The next morning, I woke up to find a different Bryan already up and about. He was dressed and ready to leave, his eyes fixed on his phone."Morning," he said, barely looking
QUINN'S POV We arrived at the Musée d'Orsay, its grandeur took my breath away. Bryan led me through the halls, stopping at Monet's Water Lilies."This is my favorite," Bryan said, his eyes locked onto the artwork. "There's something peaceful about it."I stepped closer to it, examining the painting's soft colors. It was indeed a beauty."It's beautiful," I agreed, feeling a sense of calm wash over me. I loved arts so much, I could spend hours sitting in front of a painting and not even realize it.But what surprised me was Bryan's recent appreciation for art. Growing up, he never showed interest.I remember how, as a kid, Bryan would scribble randomly with his brush, creating a very chaotic mess. The only reason a board would be placed in front of him was because of me. He would join me to paint just so he could be closer to me.Now, he stood beside me, admiring the very thing he once disliked.I couldn’t help but wonder what changed him? How did he develop such a refinery taste?Brya
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.
QUINN'S POVI slowly opened my eyes, grogginess clouding my mind. Where was I? The last thing I remembered was...was Jasper's face. And then everything went black.A gentle voice spoke beside me. "Quinn, can you hear me?"I turned my head, wincing at the pain that shot through my temples. Eva's face came into focus, her eyes filled with concern."Wh-what happened?" I stuttered, trying to sit up.Her hands gently pressed me back onto the bed. "Don't try to move, Quinn. You're in the hospital. You were hurt pretty badly."Hurt? Hospital? Memories began to flood back – the house, the fight, Jasper's desperate eyes...Eva narrowed her eyes slightly. "If you weren't still recovering, I'd be tempted to slap some sense into you," she snapped, her voice firm but laced with worry. "What were you thinking, pulling a stunt like that? You scared me half to death."I looked down, feeling a sting of guilt. "I'm sorry, Eva," I mumbled.Her expression softened a little bit, but her tone remained stern
JASPER'S POVI stood outside Quinn's house, my eyes fixed on the door. I had been trying to apologize, to make her understand what really happened. But she wouldn't listen.Just as I was about to give up, Eva appeared beside me. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice firm.I turned to face her, but her eyes weren't on me. They were on Quinn's car, parked in the driveway. Her expression suddenly changed, as she stared point-blank at me. "What did you do to her?" she demanded.I opened my mouth to explain, but Eva wasn't interested. She pushed past me, rushing toward the front door. "Quinn!" she called out.I followed her, my heart racing. Eva burst through the door, and a few seconds later, her scream filled the air. I rushed inside, my eyes scanning the room.That's when I saw her. Quinn was slumped on the floor, her wrist... I felt a wave of horror wash over me.I rushed to her side, as we both tried to suppress the flow of blood. We couldn't do much, she was losing conscious