Chapter 22Vanessa's POV:"I want to resign," I said sternly."What do you think my response will be?" he asked nonchalantly, briefly glancing between the road and me until he found a suitable spot to park the car by the side of the road."Huh?" I asked, a little confused at his reply, did he not take me seriously? I truly want to get away from him and I need him to let go."Let me guess, you're following a script, right? I should know my part of the dialogue to play along. Do you think you can quit on me?" He chuckled, tilting his head to the side."I supposed you didn't read the contract you signed, Vanessa Williams. Do a review of it once you get home. There's a clause that has the penalty you'll receive if you decide to quit halfway through paying back my money. I guess you enjoyed your stay in prison so much that you want to relive that experience."His eyes moved to the undone belt and he hissed, "There's hardly anything you can do right." He moved too close to me without notic
Chapter 23Vanessa's POV:The drive from the store to my house was an all-too-familiar one. The city streets had a certain rhythm, a pulse I had missed more than I could admit. After spending the last week in prison, I was relieved to be back.He dropped me off a few houses down from my own, reversed, and left with a reminder of tomorrow night's event. I couldn't help but feel a mixture of relief and trepidation as I walked the remaining distance.I reached the front gate and took a deep breath before entering. As I approached the door, I felt a growing knot of guilt in my stomach. My mother had no idea where I had been, and now, I had to tell a lie to shield her from the harsh reality of my recent ordeal, I doubt I'd keep a straight face to lie to her, I never told her lies but ever since I met that man, I've turned something else with concealing truths.I pushed open the front door, and there she was, my mother, sitting on the living room couch with Claire and Victor by her side. He
Chapter 24: Fall in Love after Marriage****Andre's POV:***I whistled, twirling my car key between my fingers as I made my way inside. The living room, as always, remained empty, as Elizabeth often attended social gatherings with her daughter after school, believing they needed connections to excel in class. Louisa, on the other hand, spent most of her time with her new friends in Collinsville. Meanwhile, my father was away securing a new spot for our company in the international market.As I approached my room, I noticed that the door was slightly ajar. Assuming it was a mistake by the cleaner, I entered. The lights were on, and the room smelled of alcohol and cigarettes. Someone had been here or was still here. My eyes scanned the room for anything amiss, and I quickly noticed that the balcony door was open. Without much thought, I rushed outside and found Ethan standing in front of the railing."You're here?" I asked."Yeah, I've been waiting for you for a while. Mrs. Elizabeth sa
Chapter 25***Vanessa's POV:***Sunday evening had finally arrived, and I was a bundle of nerves. Claire had spent the day helping me prepare for my boss's dinner date. Claire was a perfectionist, and I had entrusted her with the task of getting me ready, and maybe she was beginning to do too much. She turned her room upside down searching for the perfect outfit."Vanessa, how's this?" She asked, raising a very skimpy, short, and revealing dress with nude mesh. I shook my head. "Too revealing?" She inquired, and I nodded."Ok, what else do I have here?" She said, looking at the loaded wardrobe with her hands on her hips. "Claire, I told you, something moderate. I'm not participating in a pageant...""But still, you have to look pretty and show him your worth, girl- I found it! The perfect outfit for tonight!" She said excitedly in between explaining why we should do this.As the evening sun painted the sky with hues of orange and pink, I stood before the mirror, barely recognizing the
Chapter 26Vanessa's POV:The night in the car with Mr. Garcia had been humiliating, and I couldn't shake off the burning heat that had crept into my cheeks. His harsh words and actions left a lasting wound, and I found it hard to forget the way my face flushed with humiliation. What did he think of me? Some toy without feelings?The following day at work, my boss acted as if nothing had happened. He was back to his usual distant and demanding self. "Why are you coming at this time?" Was the first question he asked the moment I walked through the door, his eyes staring lazily at me."Time?" I quickly stared at my watch; the time was exactly 7:59, which meant I was one minute away from being late. I was going to explain the time in the traffic, and how I had to walk here, but I'd rather not. I think the universe wants to go against me today, but I wouldn't give up."I'm early," I replied, trying to look straight into his eyes, but there was something about him that always left me intim
Chapter 27***Andre's POV:***Outside, I lit a cigarette, exhaling into the air. Just then, the gate opened with a creak, and a teenage boy stepped in. He was in his school uniform, with his bag slung over one shoulder and an AirPod in his ear. Upon seeing Ethan and me, he paused for a moment, then lowered his gaze to the ground and walked past us without a word.The first time I saw her other son, I thought. Ethan patted my shoulder. "Andre, I asked you nicely not to mess this up. Why are you acting strange?" He inquired."Did you see her son? He must be getting all the love he needs from having a complete family," I commented, changing the subject."Ethan, you know I was younger than him when my mother left me? Just a child who had to deal with things on his own. I had no one to turn to back then; my father was in his world." I took another drag from the cigarette before speaking again."I feel jealous of that young man.""Your brother?"I chuckled. "Says who? Just because he's Tayl
Chapter 28Vanessa's POV:Continuation...Upon my return to the office, he had already packed up. I wondered if we were done for the day. Before I could voice my question, he seemed to read my mind."Yes, we're finished. Did you treat your face?" He inquired, and I nodded in response."Pack your things quickly; I'll drop you off at your house." My spirits lifted upon realizing it was only 3:00 pm, giving me a chance to rest today and then the whole day tomorrow. The 8-9 hour workdays throughout the week were taking a toll on me. Traces of dark circles under my eyes were visible in the mirror this morning which meant I needed proper rest."You're smiling?" He quizzed with an amused expression. "Don't get too happy just yet. I'll drop you home, and at 7:00 pm, I'll come to pick you up. Pack your things for the night as well.""Huh? Where are we going?" I asked with a perplexed look; the smile I had earlier vanished."My house," he revealed. "We're working overtime tonight.""Overtime???
Chapter 29Vanessa's POV:"What makes you think she's better than Stanley, brother?" She asked but he didn't give a reply. She exhaled deeply,"Anyways, In case you're firing her soon, we should offer her a job at the mansion, she looks like she fits in here more than working as your assistant. I'd like to see her refuse work from me." She was looking down on me."I'll consider it, Lou." He said, put his arms around my shoulder and we left her room. In the lobby, he spoke again, "You're so quick to find odd jobs, I guess that's why you found another one after Taylor's, just before I met you. That's an aside, you should stay away from my sister, she doesn't like you already." What do I care if she doesn't? I don't work under her, not that I enjoy working under Mr. Garcia.We walked down the corridors a bit more till we got to the room at the end of the space.He brought out the key and opened the door, and with a heavy sigh, he went inside first. He didn't take time to remove his suit
Chapter 62Vanessa's POV:I've barely been to parties all my life, but nothing… absolutely nothing could’ve prepared me for Genevieve Laurent’s party.From the second we stepped out of the car, I felt swallowed by a whole different world. Like I had walked straight into a dream... or a movie. Everything glittered. The lights, the dresses, the jewelry—even the champagne shimmered in its glass. The mansion itself looked like it was carved from gold and secrets—tall ceilings, grand staircases, chandeliers that sparkled like falling stars. Every corner buzzed with laughter, clinking glasses, French accents, and perfume that smelled like money.I froze at the entrance. Just stood there like a misplaced child in a palace. I wore a nude silk dress Mr. Garcia had sent earlier—tight in places I wasn’t used to. I wasn’t dressed wrong, but I felt wrong. Like everyone here had grown up sipping champagne while I was still figuring out how to pay rent on time.Mr. Garcia stood beside me like I belo
Chapter 61Vanessa's POV:When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the absence of weight in the air.No subtle scent of woodsy cologne. No sound of faint typing or movement. No silent, looming presence behind me.Just… silence.The kind that made me blink rapidly as I sat up slowly, my body sinking into something softer than the firm couch cushion I had laid on the night before. That’s when it hit me.I wasn’t on the couch anymore.I ran my fingers over the sheets, confused and dazed. My head turned quickly toward the now neatly folded couch blanket resting in a corner, as if someone had gently peeled it off me in the middle of the night.Andre Garcia.It had to be him. He must’ve carried me to the bed while I slept. The idea of his hands under me, lifting me—his scent barely clinging to the pillow beside me—sent a confusing rush straight to my chest.Why would he do that?I rubbed my face and flung my legs over the edge of the bed, taking in the empty room. The tall, sheer curta
Chapter 60Vanessa's POV:I sat stiffly at the round table, the heavy silverware shining under the warm glow of the restaurant’s chandeliers. The conversation between Mr. Garcia and his business partners flowed smoothly, but I felt like a decorative piece—smiling when expected, nodding politely, and pretending that I belonged here.I tried to stay invisible, focusing on the perfectly cooked steak on my plate and avoiding too much eye contact. But of course, things never stayed simple around him.As I reached for my glass of water, Mr. Garcia leaned forward slightly, a playful look in his eyes as he assisted, passing the water to me.“Ah, young love,” Mr. Laurent mused, smiling as if he’d just discovered our biggest secret.I nearly choked.I set my glass down quickly and glanced at my boss, hoping—begging—he’d correct the misunderstanding.Genevieve chuckled softly and placed her hand over her husband’s. “It’s lovely to see Andre with someone who makes him… human. You bring a softness
Chapter 59Vanessa's POV:Later that night, back at the hotel, I tried to keep my distance. But he was everywhere, partially suffocating my space.I was barely out of the shower when there was a knock at the door. I wrapped the robe tighter around me before opening it slightly, only to find him standing there, hands in his pockets.“Did you forget about the dinner?” he asked, his eyes scanning me briefly before stepping inside without invitation. “You need to get dressed.”I gestured to the dress I had already picked out. “I’m wearing this.”The dress I had chosen was a simple black one—elegant but modest.He gave it one look and dismissed it with a shake of his head. “No.”Frustration bubbled. “What’s wrong with it?”Instead of answering, he lifted the shopping bags with him. I blinked. He had lots of bags, and I wondered if he picked half the store."I got more than five dresses. Try them on.”“You expect me to try all of these?" He didn't respond, so I started opening the bags and
Chapter 58Vanessa's POV:He smelt of cigarettes. Sounded like the “something important” was smoking. My lungs were a bit relieved that he was considerate enough to do it outside.He paused in the doorway, expression unreadable, staring with lazy eyes, and in a nonchalant voice said, “What are you doing?”“Sleeping,” I said, fluffing a pillow.He let out a dry laugh. “Get up.”“I’m fine here.”His voice sharpened. “You're not allowed to do that here. We're sharing the bed, and that's final.”He did look serious. I swallowed. There was no room for argument. Slowly, I stood.I climbed into the bed, keeping as much distance as humanly possible from the other side. He disappeared into the bathroom. The sound of the running shower lasted minutes before the door clicked open again.I couldn't help myself. My eyes flickered over to him, despite my best intentions to look anywhere else. And there he was—standing shirtless, with a towel tucked loosely around his waist and another in his hand,
Chapter 57Vanessa’s POV:The moment I stepped onto the plane, I knew something was wrong.Or, more accurately, something was too right.First-class? I had mentally prepared myself for the stiff seats, the cramped legroom, and the congested space. But here I was, standing in front of a seat so luxurious I almost didn’t want to touch it. Plush cream-colored seats, ample space, and an actual menu? This wasn’t just an upgrade. This was a full-blown Cinderella moment—except my fairy godmother was a sadistic CEO who got a kick out of seeing me squirm.I turned sharply to face Mr. Garcia, who was already settling into the seat beside mine like he owned the entire plane. Which, knowing him, he probably did.“You didn’t tell me we were flying first-class,” I asked, arms crossed.He gave me a slow, lazy smirk. “Would it have made you come willingly if I did?”I clenched my jaw. He didn't tell me he was kidnapping me in luxury.“This is unnecessary,” I muttered, gripping the armrest like it mig
Chapter 56 Andre's POV:The door opened, and she walked in. The intern followed closely behind her, holding her hand, and then departed the moment my eyes lingered.He walked away from her side to stand beside his team manager. My fingers curled into my palm as I watched her approach. She leaned toward me slightly, her voice a soft whisper."Sir, coffee."I took it without a word, refusing to acknowledge the warmth in her tone. I took a sip, and somehow, it tasted more bitter than usual. I frowned and pushed it back to her."Get me a new one," I ordered.She passed me a pissed-off glare before leaving the room.Soon, the meeting ended, and everyone gathered their documents and left. Vanessa moved to pick up my copy of the proposal, but I stopped her. I got up, trapping her between the table with my hands."Sir?" Her voice was low, cautious, and her face held a frown.I tilted my head, watching her carefully. "What? You didn’t have this face downstairs when you laughed at whatever tha
Chapter 55*Obsession-2*Andre’s POV:I ran a hand down my face as she stormed off, exhaling heavily. A part of me felt relieved watching her go—like shedding dead weight. There was no passion, no real connection. Just another failed attempt at something that was never meant to be.Signaling the waiter, I ordered a bottle of whiskey. Tonight, I needed to drown in something stronger than my thoughts.The moment I dropped the bottle, my phone buzzed, and I picked up without checking."How's your date going?" Ethan's voice carried amusement. I exhaled. Sounded like he called just to mock me. I didn't respond, just sighed a second time."Come on... Tell me about it, Andre..." Ethan dragged."Fucked. I broke up with her, and she left."Ethan laughed. "I knew it would end this way. You're that ass who doesn’t know what he wants.""And you do?""Better than you do." He jeered."You alone?""Still at the restaurant, yeah.""Let's drink together then."I leaned back in my seat. "And Sarah?""S
Chapter 54By the time evening rolled around, Vanessa gathered her things and stepped out of the building.Andre stood in front of the glass window, arms folded, watching her leave. The sight unsettled him in ways he refused to acknowledge. The way she carefully balanced the box in her arms, her delicate fingers gripping the edges as if afraid to drop it—it held his attention longer than it should have.She was almost at the gate when someone stepped into her path.The intern from earlier.Andre’s jaw tightened. His eyes sharpened, drinking in every detail of the interaction between them.Vanessa said something, and the guy laughed. His smiling face grated on Andre’s nerves. Then, without hesitation, the intern reached out, offering to take the box from her. Vanessa hesitated for a moment before handing it over, a small, appreciative smile tugging at her lips.Andre's fingers curled into a fist, something dark and restless brewing inside of him.What the hell is she doing?His vision