Vanessa POV The crowd of men cheered for me as I swayed my hips slowly, moving my ass in motion with my waist as one of my legs curled round the dancing pole. The night is still young and judging from the looks of it, I've made over a thousand dollars just from dancing seductively. Stripping was never a job option for me, coming out of law school I knew I had the biggest ambitions ahead. All of a sudden the plans changed and here I am, dressed in an all black lingerie and bra with black pointy heels and fish nets that clung to my curvy body. The masked theme of the strip club made it even much better for the strippers to feel comfortable. The only people who could see our faces were the men who paid big money. The elites. On a lively Saturday night like this one, they would surely be here in a few minutes. The girls and I were saving our energy so we could give them a show. If you're lucky, one would offer to fuck and we would make even more money. The music changed again,
Vanessa POV Edward ushered me into the room as he took his jacket off, placing it on the bed. "What is your name darling?" He asked me. I closed the room door and walked over to meet him. Should I tell him my real name? That will risk everything and he will remember. "I'm lady red." "That is so sexy. Your body is amazing too." He complimented. I went closer to him and straddled him while he sat on the bed. I put my arm around his neck and took in his handsomeness. I can't believe I once used to date this man. He is so successful now, and rich. "Are we going to keep talking or are you going to show me what you've got?" I said seductively. Without hesitation, Edward leaned into me for a kiss. I welcomed his advances, sinking my hands into his wonderful hair. His scent smelt the same, but is also enveloped in a more enticing expensive male cologne. Edward Pulled away from the kiss. "Have we met before?" He asked. His tone changed, becoming serious and interrogative. H
Vanessa POV I ran after him, gripping him by the arm. "Edward please, don't take my son away from me." I said, tears building up in my eyes. I never thought my Sunday morning would be like this. Why did Edward have to find out now? He pushed my hand away and turned to me, his face is boiling with anger, his eyes were so scary. It felt like I was staring at a different person. "Your Son? 5 fucking years Vanessa. How could you be so cruel and selfish? Did you hate me so much to keep my son away from me?" I could feel the pain in his voice. "I never wanted to keep him from you Edward. Please just let me explain." I begged not knowing what would come next. Edward looked so angry and devastated. "I'm taking you to court tomorrow. I will gain custody of my son." He began walking away from me and heading towards his car. People on the street were already starting to notice the heated argument and some were staring awkwardly as they passed. I could see Liam standing by t
Vanessa POV Edward's bodyguards helped in loading the SUV with our boxes as I ushered Liam into the car. "Where are we going mommy?" He asked me curiously. I didn't even know what to tell him cause I had no idea of what to expect. But I decided to be hopeful. "We're going to our new home Liam. You're going to love it." I hope my words are true "Yay" he responded to me as he returned his attention to his Nintendo game console. The car stopped and pulled over at a stunning white mansion. It was so beautiful. Nothing like I'd ever seen before in the city of New York. Edward must have just newly acquired this place. It seemed like he was just moving in too. The mansion had big see through gates circled all over it. The design of the gate was very rare and the color was mixed with shiny silver stones like rubies. The gate required a code and had a security camera right outside it. One of the body guards typed it in and the gates flew open, revealing a beautiful garden. The
Vanessa "You live here?" Susan laughed walking closer to me as her eyes scanned my appearance from my head to toe. I may not have much but my fashion style and taste is very classy and expensive. One wouldn't be able to tell I was an average person from just looking at me. I was dressed in a royal blue maxi dress that extenuated my curves and my long red hair was loose and complemented my dress. The only person who didn't appreciate me was Edward. "Yes, I do." i snapped back at her. My mind was roaming all over the place with so many possibilities. "Why?" She asked me. What business is it of hers? "It's complicated. Susan, why are you here?" She was testing my patience . "I'm going out with Edward Silver." She said smoothly, like she didn't know he was my ex and we used to be best friends. We fell out when she moved away from New York to Chicago and couldn't keep up with communication. Now she's back. "Since when?" I asked her, feeling irritated from her words. This thing betw
Vanessa POV2 weeks had passed since I moved in with Edward. He barely stayed at the mansion. Rumor has it from the maids that he spends most of his time in his penthouse. One of the high rise elite buildings in New York.He only came home during the weekends to spend time with his son then he would leave again.Liam was getting used to his new life and fitting in perfectly in his new school. Most children schooling there are rich so they treat each other with respect. Since I quit my job I've had more time to myself.Staring through the tinted window of the SUV, I adore the beautiful city of New York. I send Edward texts and calls every now and then, but he doesn't pick or respond to any.Instead I get texts from an unknown number saying "Stay away from Edward. He doesn't want you." I know Susan is the only one petty enough to do that, and the texts are getting more violent.Is this what I have to put up with for the next 6 months?My phone rang. It's my sister Mandi in the UK. She i
Vanessa POV I stood in the bathroom, brushing my teeth as my mind replayed the little scene that transpired between Edward and I last night. What came over him? And why was I so responsive to his advances? Edward has shown me these past few weeks that he doesn't give a shit about me. Now he suddenly wants to care and gain access to my body? Unbelievable. I couldn't drop Liam off at school today cause of this conference meeting. Edward's driver Donovan did it instead. Edward had left the house earlier at 7 to his penthouse. He told the maids to inform me he had an important zoom call. Why didn't he do the call here instead? After taking a bath, I changed into a black corporate long-sleeve dress. It has flare hands and a high slit at my left upper thigh. After styling my long red hair into a high pony tail, I wrapped it into a donut. Afterwards I decided to touch up my face with some make up. Staring at the finish product in the mirror in front of me, I was certain my looks w
Vanessa POV We sat silently in the Mercedes Benz and drove to the Venue. Not even one word. Just Donovan, playing his music. Edward is playing games with me and I'm not sure I can keep up. I felt like breaking into tears again but I won't give him the satisfaction. I can't keep falling victim of his tricks because my heart still yearns for him. It's time to find a replacement. All the guys I dated after him messed up so I lost hope in finding someone. This time I had to make sure it found a way to work out. I could see tons of people crowding the front building of Edward's Company. The name written boldly at the top of the high rise building. 'Silver Tech and co.' One of the leading and most successful tech and business oriented companies in the world. They are into Technology, Business, Finance, stocks and inventions of some popular electrical appliances here in New York. As we got closer to the entrance, I could see paparazzi ready for action with their cameras and some
Daniel’s POVI couldn’t take it anymore.I tried—God knows I tried—to give her space, to let her figure things out without pushing. But each day that passed, knowing she was slipping further away from me, gutted me in ways I didn’t think possible.I stared at the apartment keys on my kitchen counter, a sleek silver chain attached to a rose gold fob. I’d just finalized the arrangements this morning. Wendy had been relocated into a high-rise unit two blocks from my penthouse. It was secure, monitored, and came with a personal bodyguard I’d hired to keep her out of trouble—and out of Vanessa’s orbit.I told Wendy it was for her own good. She didn’t argue. Maybe she knew, deep down, that whatever we had was long gone.And maybe, I was done pretending otherwise.I turned the gift box over in my hand, a soft leather wrap tied neatly with a gold ribbon. Inside was a custom bracelet—simple, elegant—etched with the words: Still Yours, Always. It wasn’t grand. It wasn’t meant to win her over wi
Vanessa POVI heard my office door shutting behind him with a Soft click. It sounded louder than my heart beating in my chest.My mind was still trying to process it all.Kaz Jones was right here,Standing in my office.Alive.Free.I struggled to keep my balance as my knees trembled. It wasn’t easy for me to remain standing because every inch of me was screaming to run. But I couldn’t show fear. Not to Kaz.He waltzed round the office like he owned the place, tracing his fingers on my table, touching the fabrics on the shelves and the mannequins in my office.Then his gaze landed on me. Most days I wore confidence on me like an armor. I felt exposed in this state, vulnerable even. Today my confidence had dissolved. Now it was like tissue paper.“You look so much better than the last time I saw you Vanessa. I missed you.” He said to me, his lips forming a soft smile on his face. But I knew it was fake because his eyes remained cold.I took a step back, subtly reaching for my phone be
Vanessa POVThe atmosphere was dark, and the air smelt very thick, heavy, suffocating. I knew this place. Knew it too well.A dull glow of a single bulb blinked over my head, causing shadows to form on the cracked walls. I felt my pulse race in my ears, a troubled rhythm that matched the sharp click of polished shoes against the concrete floor.No.I felt my stomach turn violently as I forced myself to move, but my legs wouldn’t cooperate. My feet felt like lead, my breath caught in my throat. I wasn’t here. I couldn’t be here.“Vanessa.”The voice echoed over me like honey already poisoned —sweet, deceptive, and deadly afterwards.Something wasn’t right.The voice came again, Low. Deceptively soft.“You thought you could run from me?”My blood ran cold.I knew that voice.I spun around, my pulse pounding against my ribs, and there he was—Kaz, standing in the shadows, his black eyes fixed on mine. He walked forward, the little light striking the sharp lines of his face, and the snee
Tuesday, April 23rdEdward POVThe Business deal was finally concluded.I smiled vibrantly, leaning back in my chair and staring at the polished wood table in front of me. Everything taking place came into view. Across the room, the Roman investors shook hands with my team, satisfied with the deal I had pitched to them. It had taken months of negotiations, late-night calls, and more patience than I usually had for business. But now, the contract was signed.Now I was one step closer to expanding my empire.However for some reason, my mind didn’t feel the rush of satisfaction it usually felt after sealing a major deal. My mind was somewhere else. On someone else.Vanessa.I exhaled and checked my watch. It was late in Rome, but back in New York, she would still be awake. What was she doing right now? Was she reading on the couch, curled up in one of my shirts like she used to? Or was she with Daniel?My jaw clenched at the thought.Daniel.He wasn’t backing down. I had seen the flowers
Vanessa POV I got back to the mansion with Mandi, exhaling in relief as the door shut behind me. Bella went home. I was holding my breath and I wasn’t even aware until now. I could hear my heart still beating loudly in my chest as I leaned against the door, gripping my phone so tightly to the point where my fingers ached.That call.Someone had been digging into Liam’s birth records. Someone had been looking for his father.I sighed deeply, moving a shaky hand through my red hair. My thoughts were spiraling out of control, with the worst of possibilities flooding my mind.Who? And why now?I had a horrible suspicion.Mandi and Bella asked what happened when we left the restaurant, but I couldn’t bring myself to speak up.I adjusted my skirt, walking past the door and into the living room. The penthouse was a little lively, the nanny I recently hired was watching over Liam, Gwen and James. The lively city hummed from the outside. But all that, did nothing to calm me.I needed to talk
Vanessa POVThe distant murmur of classical music coming from the ceiling speakers blended with the aroma of freshly made pastries and flowers. We sat in an exquisite restaurant, on a Sunday afternoon. The Sun made everywhere bright, as the windows reflected the light into the cool air conditioned space we sat it. Edward travelled to Rome for a business meeting last night, he promised to be back during the week but he didn’t give me a specific date.As I listened to Bella and Mandi argue over the most recent turmoil in my life, I groaned and distractedly swirling my mimosa. As she bit into her salmon, Mandi shook her head and remarked, "This whole situation is just… insane. Vanessa, you’ve got two incredibly powerful men obsessed with you, and here you are, acting like it’s a regular day.”Bella scoffed, setting her wine glass down. “Mandi, this isn’t some reality show. It’s her life.” She turned to me. “Though, to be fair, it’s been entertaining to watch from the sidelines.”I
Daniel POVI sat in my car, as my fingers drummed against my knee, my mind replaying to the moment I saw her. The lights in the city reflected everywhere, even past the tinted windows of the car, but I wasn’t focused on it. Vanessa.She was stunning tonight. Even from a far distance in the crowd where I had been watching, I could see how the dress molded to her body, how her confidence radiated as she stepped into her dream. And then—him.Edward.I had expected him to be there. Hell, I had expected him to make a show of it. He always did. But watching him pull Vanessa into that kiss? That had felt like a punch to the gut.I shouldn’t have cared.I shouldn’t have even been there, hidden like a coward, watching from afar. But something in me couldn’t stay away. I needed to see her—to remind myself of why I had to fight for her.Yet, I hadn’t stepped in.Because I knew.Tonight wasn’t about me.It was about her.And maybe that was why I stayed in the shadows, gripping the corner of the
Saturday April 20thVanessa POVThe events that occurred this week were so overwhelming. I was so glad Mandi was around to support me, and when Bella returned from her trip, she did so in her own way too.This week reminded me of my responsibilities as a mother. Liam had to be put first above everything.Edward and Daniel could wait.These men came into my life with so much weight and drama.To make things even more complicated, Edward and I shared a steamy moment on the night of the Easter dinner.How could I forget the way his tongue pleasured me? The way he teased me, made me beg for his touch?I couldn’t help myself. Edward was a walking temptation, and that night he was vulnerable with me. But I can’t just let him in again. There are too many stakes.We have to face our fears and past issues if we want to thrive.Daniel is till trying to win me over, but I need to understand the whole thing between him and Wendy.My mind was all over the place, it was finally time for the launch
Daniel POVAs I drove, the strain in my jaw would not let go, and the city lights flickered by. With her arms encircling her body and her breathing still irregular, Wendy sat in the passenger seat. She had taken the damn pill, but it wouldn’t fix her. Not tonight.I should have left her at the club. I should have ignored her entirely. But here I was, playing the role of her reluctant savior.Again.“You still don’t believe me,” she whispered, her voice raw.I didn’t answer.Wendy turned toward me, her mascara-streaked face barely illuminated by the glow of the dashboard. “I know you think I did something to Liam. That I—” she swallowed, shaking her head. “Daniel, I would never hurt a child. You know that.”My grip on the steering wheel tightened. “Maybe you wouldn’t. But you’ve done plenty of other shit that makes it hard to trust you.”She flinched. “That’s not fair.”I let out a sharp breath. “Fair? You went to the media, Wendy. You dragged me into your circus, made me look like I