I wake up after the peak of the morning sun touches my face. Entangled in Leo’s arm and feeling at least a bit more at ease with the events of the last few days. Nothing had happened since my attacker had fled in that cab and the idea of Matthew’s innocence eased after Leo had spoken with Mason, the lead detective on my brother’s case.I sit up and think back to last night. I had given into the comfort of Leo and we had sex. He shared so much passion and I missed the feeling of his touch but I didn’t want him to believe this was an act of my forgiveness and return to him. We were in a good place and I might have ruined it with what I had done.Pushing my thoughts to the side, I decide it’s best to finish some blueprints in my suite and send them out for delivery. Work was a great distraction from everything that’s happened and I still had much to do. I feel Leo stir behind me.“Good morning” I hear from behind my shoulder in a rasped tone.“Sorry if I woke you.” He needed rest after t
I wave at Leo as he drops me off at my suite. Hoping he doesn’t notice how tightly I’m clutching my bag -out of nervousness. “Call me as soon as you’re ready and then we can head out to eat, okay?” He smiles as he placed a kiss on the top of my head. A strategic way to calm me.“I will.” If I can survive the pending heart attack I feel coming on. I walk into the building, trying to make it to safety quickly, and use my key fob to access the elevator. I wait patiently as I wait for it to reach my floor. I check over my shoulder before unlocking the door to my suite and breathe a sigh of relief as my auto locking door closes gently behind me. I allow a deep sign to escape as I slide down against the door and take a moment to breathe.I then pull out my tablet when I hear a small creak. It catches my breath as though the air had been sucked out of the room.Slowly, I look up and see a man turn in my seat behind my desk but it wasn’t the attacker I’d remembered.This man was dressed nic
I dropped off Claire and decided to get take a trip downtown to my office. I had a few meetings I’d neglected for Claire and with her wanting to finish some contractual blueprints in her suite, I thought it’d be best to focus on work until she was ready. I had called the restaurant on the way there and made a reservation. In fact, I rented out a whole section of the restaurant. Ensuring there would be a private area with no people so that Claire would be able to enjoy herself and be a bit more at ease. Once I arrived at the office, I began my first meeting with a potential contract and excused myself as my phone rang. I felt something was off. I had just dropped off Claire ten minutes ago? She couldn’t have finished her work that quickly. “Claire, is everything okay?” I listen carefully as I hear static on the other side and her interaction with an unpleasant voice. “Claire!” I try to reach out to her as I grab my office phone and dial 911. “911, what’s your emergency!” “My wi
I have Francisco drop me off at my home and am unpleasantly surprised to see my things were actively being moved back in from Leo’s home. I knew he wanted me to leave but to send me off without so much as a goodbye was infuriating.Francisco watches from the car as I watch them move everything into my home for me. I’m sure a part of him enjoyed this. Suddenly I hear his phone ring from behind me. Hopefully this plan had gone without difficulty or hiccup. Claire needed to pay for her interference and be the worthless peasant I know her to be. “Mon Cher, the deed is done.” He says with a sinister smile as I turn in confirmation.“Is she dead?” I want her dead now. Disfiguring her was well-enough when I was living with Leo but clearly she posed more of a threat that I originally presumed.“That’s wasn’t the deal. The girls’ brother is arrested and she is disfigured as you asked.” He shrugs as though this was nothing but a small matter to him. A gesture that began a new rage in me. I ha
I awoke in a jolt as the memory of what had happened to me resurfaced. I’d been attacked in my suite by an unknown man. A second successful attempt at the hands of the person who wanted to harm me.I look around and find myself in the hospital with my right hand bandaged extensively. I could feel the throbbing underneath the bandages and immediately begin to sob without having noticed Leo sitting beside my bed with his head down.“Claire, you’re awake. Are you okay?” He asks frantically as he gets up to kiss my head.“It hurts.” I say softly motioning to my hand.“It’s going to hurt for some time but they’ll be giving you some medication to help. I’ll have the doctor come in to tell you more. But first, I need you to tell me what happened so I can tell Mason. They’re at your suite looking for evidence on who did this to you.” I choke up when I realize how I ended up here and what was to come. What if they can’t find him? What if we never save Matthew? And what if they kill me next?“H
I exit Claire’s hospital room on a mission. I call Mason first to recount Claire’s story of today’s attack.“Officer Mason.” I hear him speak clearly.“It’s Leo. I asked Claire what happened. She said the man was already in her suite when she arrived. He was dressed in a suit with his black hair combed back and he had green eyes. He was sitting at her desk. He said ‘boss’ orders’ when he attacked her with the trophy.” I make sure to leave no details unsaid. This was crucial to catching who did this to my wife.“Okay, I thought the trophy may have been the assault weapon so u had sentTo the lab for DNA testing. I’ll have my guys search for DNA forensics. I have some news on Matthew’s case as well, if you’re up to hear it.” Truth be told, I had forgotten about Matthew these last few days. “Any news is good news, I suppose.” I reply.“Well we checked the stamps, bags and origin of those drugs and our hunch was right. They came from a mafia group we’ve been following for years. If we ca
I wake up a few hours later with a dull pain my hand. The morphine had helped but I could still feel the aftermath of today’s events. According to the clock on the wall, I had slept for eight hours. I look over to find Leo sleeping on the couch beside my bed and two duffel bags on the chair. Not only has he decided to stay but he had brought things for us as we would be staying here for a few days as they reexamined my hand to ensure the proper healing took place. I use the call button to request a nurse as I had to use the restroom and see Leo jump up immediately as the nurse responds over the speaker. I hear him as he notifies the nurse that I’m fine. “What do you need? I’ll help.” He was adamant on helping. “I just have to use the restroom.” I whisper softly. “It’s okay. I’ll help you.” “But you were sleeping? It’s okay. I can just ask the nurse.” “No, I was just waiting for you to wake up. Come on, I’ll help you.” He extends a hand and gives a soft smile. I knew refusing wou
After Emilia’s stunt and my mother’s audacity, I was emotionally drained. How dare they ask that I abandon Claire and continue to overlook their distaste in her? I had overlooked it in the past because I knew they held a special space for Charlotte but I see now, how wrong I’ve been. They didn’t love Charlotte. She was just a status that paired well with my success. A purebred paired with another purebred, but they didn’t know the truth. Or maybe, my truth just wasn’t important to them.I wasn’t happy with Charlotte. She was beautiful and cunning but I didn’t love her in the way she loved me and I had planned on ending things with her prior to her accident. Charlotte had no ambition in our relationship and had become clingy, expecting me stay by her side and abandon my responsibilities. I had lost interest in her - the same way I’d lost interest in them all until Claire came along.Claire was different. She’s beautiful was ambitious, innocent, kind and caring. She would make sure I’d
I wake up early and head downstairs where I can smell an amazing breakfast brewing. I’m met in the hallway by Jas who seems to have woken from the same heavenly scents.“Wait, you’re not making breakfast?” She looks at me confusingly as I return the same glance back at her.“Jas, I can’t cook. I thought it was you.” I say with a shrug.“Well, I’m not that great of a host.” She shrugs as we both think and reach a moment of realization. Was Claire cooking? We rush down the stairs in unison to find Claire adorned with an apron that covers only the front of her pregnant belly as she takes some bacon off of the griddle. On the table, there is an array of foods. Waffles, pancakes, bacon, sausage, maple syrup and French toast. We watch in silence as we see her continue to pull food from the griddle and plate it. It isn’t until she tries to move the plates to the table that she notices us. She jumps for a moment and then lets out a small smile.“I didn’t know you were guys were standing there
I leave the hotel with more confusion than when I had arrived. Dalia had brought my ex-lover Julia. A woman I thought to be dead and she had brought her alive and well - carrying my son. I try making sense of it all as Enzo drives me back to the safe house to wait for the attorney to appear and collect payment.“Is everything alright, boss?” He asks as he drives.“No.” I respond blankly as I stare out the window, recounting what I had just witnessed.“I can go back alone and end this, if you’d like.” He offers as we continue driving.“No. No one is to touch Dalia without an order.” I say strongly.“What happened up there? I was almost certain you’d have killed her by now.” He asks.“She brought a gift for me. She brought her sister and my son.” I admit as we reach the house.“Julia’s alive?” He asks in shock. My men were aware of my relationship with her from the very beginning. An effort on my part to make sure she was also protected.“Yes. I saw her.” “We have an heir.” He smiles a
Tick. Tick. Tick.I watch the clock on the wall strikes an hour since my arrival and I’m thankful for the ticking of the hands being the only noise in my roomWhy would Leo put me here? I’m not crazy. Claire is the problem. I curl my knees up to my chest and hug them tightly as I sit in the luminous lighting against the cold wall touching my bed.“I have to get out of here.” I whisper to myself as if someone would even hear me.“You can leave these walls but I will never leave your side.” I hear the echo of my mother’s voice.“What the hell do you want from me? You’re dead. You’ve been dead.” I say in snarky tone as I look into her cold eyes. She stood at the end of my bed.“I want you to confess.” She says gravely.“What would I have to confess?” “That you killed your own mother.” “I’m not doing that.” The memory of a corpse was not going to convince me to confess to killing my mother. I turn away from her and face the wall as I lay down. “You don’t exist. You’re just a figment of
It’s late when I get a call from Chief Commissioner Mason.“Sorry to bother you, but I have some news. If it alright if I stop by?”“Of course.” I reply as I get up and wait for the front door bell. It had to be important if Mason was stopping by at this hour. Did something happen to Leo?I open the door the moment it rings and I see Mason waiting, I motion for him to come in and lock the door behind him. We walk over to the living room and sit down.“I didn’t bring juice this time since it’s late. But I did bring you a fruit cup.” He holds it out for me and I smile softly as I take it.“You’re lucky it’s close to juice.” He lefts out a small laugh at my response. “What’s going on?” “Well I got a call from Leo just an hour ago.”“Is he alright?” I interrupt.“Yes. Charlotte was in sort of manic episode and refused to leave his house. She threatened to kill you.” I catch my breath in my throat and feel a knot forming in my stomach.“W-why? I left Leo alone.” I stutter as I feel my bod
After my meltdown and discovering some things in Francisco’s past, I began hearing my mother’s voice again. She was haunting me and I knew I wanted to see Leo to calm myself. I drive the only car available to his house and knock on the door. Elena cracks the door open and tells me that Leo is not home. A answer I refused to accept. She stood in my way as much as Claire. I try shoving the door open but she slams it shut in response and locks it. Feeling defeated, I sit on the doorstep and stare at the pavement for what felt like eternity. Then I see Leo’s driver drop him off as he parked the town car and I wait for him to notice my presence. I expected him to at least be happy to see me but his face expressed nothing but disdain. He didn’t expect me or want me there.He tries to tell that he will never choose me and that it’s Claire - it’s fucking Claire. And the next thing I know, the Chief Commissioner is detaining me at Leo’s request and taking me to the car. How could Leo do this
I arrive at home and see an unknown vintage car is parked on my property. I was in no mood for company unless it was Claire’s. I send a photo of the license plate Mason and he asks that I remain inside as the vehicle belong to the mafia leader Francisco who has just escaped prison. But I see something even more shocking as I get closer to my front door. Charlotte is there sitting on the pavement outside my front door. Her hair is disheveled and her clothes are wrinkled. She looks to be a complete disarray. I text Mason back, letting him know that Charlotte was here and there was no sign of Francisco. “Charlotte?” I ask in disbelief as I approach the front steps. “Oh. Leo, I’ve been waiting for you to get back.” She looks to have been crying. “Are you okay?” I ask as she begins to stand. “No. I was thinking about what you said and I think you should reconsider. I would’ve waited inside but Elena refused to let me in.” “That’s because you’re not welcome here anymore.” I say coldly a
I missed sleeping in an actual bed as I stretch out my limbs and see it is the next morning. The attorney texted and confirmed his flight. Soon he’d arrive here, pay Charlotte’s father a visit and come to collect his payment but I had to sense in waiting for him. I needed to catch up to whatever Dalia had done while I was locked up.“Enzo!” I beckon my henchman and watch as he comes in.“Have you seen or heard anything about Dalia? Enzo was always on the avenue and overseeing our territories. If the streets were talking, he’d be listening.“Last notice I got was that she was staying at the Hilton hotel just downtown. I placed a few men there. They haven’t seen anything suspicious.” “Good. We’re going to pay her a visit today.” I smile lightly as I imagine the fear in her face as I come to find her. And for a second, I feel guilt. Her sister would be disappointed if she were here to witness all that had happened.I get dressed and have Enzo drive downtown. The drive is lengthy but I w
I see Nathan’s face line with confusion at the mention of Jordan. I knew our line of work wasn’t large and there must be something he must’ve heard about Jordan.I hear him question the name I had just mentioned.“Yes. I dated Jordan. He’s the owner or was the owner of a construction company here in the city and I had gone to architectural school with him years ago.” I explain.“It’s been a long time since I’ve heard that name.” He seemed to be upset in his remembrance of that name.“Did you know Jordan?” I ask curiously.“Actually, yes. I did a job or two with him when he first opened his company. I thought he had a pretty good vision but come to find out, he’s been fucking my wife.” I could see the rage painted across his face. Jordan had overstepped once again and this time, he involved himself in someone else’s marriage.“I’m so sorry, Nathan. I didn’t know. Was this recent?” When had this started? From my understanding, he had been going through mediations and his divorce for jus
I peak downstairs as I hear the front door open. I hoped to see Claire had returned. I’ve taken a liking to her company. I see her come in with her husband behind her. And the from the looks of it, he didn’t enjoy my waiting. I come down the stairs casually and head to the kitchen. I grab myself a soda when I hear footsteps behind me.“Spying on my wife?” I hear Leo say from close behind me. I turn to see he is just an arms reach away.“I just wanted to make sure she made it back alright.” I say as I open my soda and take a drink.“Why wouldn’t she? She was with me.” His tone was unenthused.“Well, she disclosed her attacks. I felt it was only right to check on her.”“Is that all?” He asks presumptuously.“What do you mean?” “Well, I’ve heard the news that you’re going through a divorce and I just want to make myself clear when I say this - Claire is my wife. She is carrying my children and I won’t tolerate you disrespecting that.” He stands firm - assuming it’s an intimidation tacti