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CHAPTER TWENTY - SIX
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Kaugnay na kabanata
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Thalia's POV Cassie's eyes widened slightly and she glanced at me."So, they're joining forces with us?" "Yes" Liam confirmed "It's only a matter of time before they strike again and they know it, we're all taking extra precautions” I barely absorbed what he said, the weight of the night pressing down on my shoulders, the noise of the gala, the laughter and distant clinking of glasses, nettled on me. I glanced up as Nolan approached, a familiar calm in his steps. "Evening, you all” he greeted, his voice steady “How's the gala?" I offered him a faint nod, grateful for his presence. It was Nolan who had brought me to their grandma's house when I ran. He made me the best tea I ever tasted. "It's going well” Cassandra answered smoothly "Are you done with Patrick?" Nolan nodded grabbing a drink from a waiter in passing “It's all in place” he said but his voice didn't hold the usual satisfaction of a completed task.I leaned toward Cassie lowering my voice so only she could hear
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Thalia's POV The man smiled, a slow, malicious-looking grin that sent a wave of ice through my veins."Good evening, ladies" he said his voice dark and smooth"Hope you don't mind me waiting for you" My mouth went dry, this wasn't good. How had he gotten in? How long had he been here? Cassie took a step back, subtly pulling me with her as she asked her voice steady but sharp."Who are you?" He leaned back casually in the chair, his smile widening. "I'm a friend, and I come in peace" "Peace?" I repeated my voice cracking. I glanced at Cassie who shot me a quick concerned look."How did you get here so fast?"The man tilted his head furrowing his brow as if confused. "What do you mean?" he asked a mocking chuckle escaping his lips For a moment, I thought he might be the same guy from the store, the one who had been watching us earlier, but now I realized I was wrong. This man's shoulders were broader. So whoever had been following us wasn't him."Get out now," Cassie demanded,
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Thalia's POV Sergeant Thorsen stood before us with a clipboard in his hand. "Thank you both for your time" he said giving us a tight smile. "Thanks to the sketch provided, we've put out a BOLO search for him" Alexander stepped forward, shaking his hand."We appreciate it, we just want to make sure you find him before the situation escalates" he said. The sergeant nodded "We'll keep you posted on any developments" He gestured toward the door “You're free to go for now” It was 10:00 a.m. and we had just finished at the police station, helping them sketch a picture of the man who had broken into the house.The home security system had been disabled by him, so none of the cameras had captured his face. I felt uneasy knowing there was still no real clue as to who this man was or what he wanted. As we left the room I leaned into Alexander and whispered "What about the riddle?" He glanced down at me his expression unreadable "That's for us to handle" he murmured "The police wouldn't
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER THIRTY
Thalia's POV I could still feel the uncertainty inside me as we entered the grand living room. Sierra and Zachary wasted no time flopping down on the long cream colored couch.I looked around the room, Alexander was right when he said Lorraine was preparing the house. Everything in the room had been moved and rearranged, except for the fireplace. "Thalia, darling sit here with me" Lorraine called, patting the cushion next to her with a smile. Alexander squeezed my shoulder lightly before releasing me, encouraging me to go. Reluctantly, I walked over and took the seat beside her. The moment I sat down, she grabbed my hands turning to face me fully, her demeanor was almost unsettling, too calm, too pleasant."Sierra, Zachary” Lorraine said her voice taking on a slightly sharper tone.“Could you go tell Beverley to bring the snacks and help her bring them in?" Zachary groaned lightly his face scrunching up in mild protest. But without a word he got up and walked out of the room throug
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER THIRTY - ONE
Thalia's POV The atmosphere in the room was charged with anticipation as I held the small rectangular box in my hands. Everyone's eyes were on me, I glanced at Alexander who had just re-entered the room, his brow furrowed as he observed us.Anthony stood beside Lorraine, waiting for me to open it. Beverly sensed the mood and decided to excuse herself. "I'll leave you all to it" she said with a slight bow before heading toward the exit.With a deep breath I pulled the bow loose and opened the box. Inside nestled on a velvety cushion, lay a breathtaking bracelet. Its rose gold surface gleamed softly in the warm light and the delicate red ruby diamonds glistened against the light like droplets of blood on fire. My fingers brushed lightly over the cool metal, and I let out a quiet gasp."It's beautiful" I whispered almost to myself but Sierra was beside me in a heartbeat. "It is beautiful!" she echoed, her eyes wide as she leaned in closer. Lorraine stepped forward her voice softer
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Thalia's POV: Beverly opened the door with a soft click revealing a room nothing short of magnificent.This room was bigger and the bed was larger, the frame of the bed was dark wood that was a perfect contrast to the white sheets. The sheets were neatly arranged except for the rose petals decorating the bed, which formed the shape of a large heart."Your clothes are already in the closet" Beverly said her voice low and respectful, she gave me a small bow, as was her custom and I smiled softly in return."Thank you, Beverly" I said watching as she bowed again and left the room closing the door behind her. For a few moments, neither Alexander nor I spoke, the room was undeniably beautiful but there it felt odd like it wasn't ours, not truly."This looks... nice” I said breaking the silence as I took a few steps forward, trailing my fingers along the smooth wooden bedframe. Alexander let out a low hum, clearly not as impressed as I was."Nice is a strong word" he said his tone carryi
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Thalia's POV I couldn't resist so I bravely said “Or we could do it back" Alexander stiffened beside me, his grip on my waist faltering slightly. "Great idea" he said through gritted teeth clearly trying to keep his composure.Cassie burst out laughing and even Liam looked impressed but I could feel the tension building between Alexander and me again."That is indeed a great idea" Liam said grinning from ear to ear "It'll make us even" Cassie giggled playfully nudging Liam as they backed toward the door. "And we'll be looking forward to it" she added with a wink.Liam chimed in "Lunch is almost ready, get changed and come downstairs" Alexander rolled his eyes dramatically "We'll skip lunch" he said flatly.I shot him a glance leaning in closer so my voice wouldn't be loud."Unless you're going to fuck me then there's no reason to skip lunch" My voice was soft and teasing and I could tell it threw him off for just a second.From the corner of my eye, I noticed Cassie and Liam gri
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Thalia's POV I was absorbed in 'The Secret History' when I heard footsteps approaching the garden. Cassie appeared with Liam close behind, and she said "Lunch is ready" I lowered the book, marking my place with a finger as Lorraine stopped typing on her laptop. She glanced at Cassie and then at Liam."Finally. Is Anthony done?" she asked Liam nodded "Yeah, he's already in the dining room" Lorraine wasted no time, she snapped her laptop shut and stood, leaving the garden without another word.Cassie watched her go, then turned her gaze to me, raising an eyebrow. "I didn't expect to find you here with Lorraine" she said, clearly surprised.I closed the book and set it gently on the table "What can I say? We're bonding" I replied with a smirk Cassie laughed "That's great, let's go eat lunch" She motioned toward the kitchen and I stood following her. We walked through the kitchen and entered the corridor. When I saw Alexander approaching, our eyes met, and something shifted in the
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The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
Thalia's POV The car slowed to a stop. The crunch of tires against gravel, the only sound as I peered out the window, my breath caught in my lungs. This wasn't the church Four hours, I had spent nearly four hours driving into oblivion with Andrei, convinced we were headed to the church, only to end up here.I stared at the house, a chill creeping down my spine, it wasn't the eerie quiet of the place or the way the thick trees surrounding it cast gawky shadows over the house.No. It was the familiarity of it. The house sat near a lake, its surface shimmering faintly under the golden light of a lamp outside, the cobblestone path leading up to the house was bordered with moss and wildflowers, creating a somewhat scenic look."This isn't the church" I snapped at him. Andrei parked the car a few feet away from the house and turned off the engine, he didn't look at me as he replied "I know" Before I could question him further, he got out of the car. I hesitated for a moment, then I ope
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
Thalia's POV I sat stiffly in my seat, silently fuming, my arms crossed tightly, as I glared out the window. We had been driving for over thirty minutes now, and the once-crowded streets had given way to long, deserted paths. It was just us and the seemingly never-ending road. "I can't believe you didn't let me talk to him," I snapped, finally breaking the silence. My words hung in the air, but Andrei didn't flinch. He kept his eyes on the road, one hand casually resting on the steering wheel. The first driver came down from the car a few minutes back."He knows where you're going either way" he replied dryly, his tone bored. "Whatever" I shot back, trying to sound more confident than I felt "He must be worried" Andrei blinked, then let out a sharp, humorless chuckle "Worried?" He repeated, "You're the least of his concerns right now. At best, he might send someone to follow us, but he has far bigger problems to deal with—problems I'm sure you're aware of" I narrowed my eyes at
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
Alexander's POV We reached the elevator, and I pressed the button, the wait feeling like an eternity as my thoughts churned. Elijah's words replayed in my mind, grating on my every nerves.Thalia's trust, her vulnerability... it was a dangerous combination, but one I'd become bound to protect, I am doing what I have to, and he'll be damned if I ever let her find out.Liam crossed his arms, leaning back as we waited. "She's gonna want to resume the office soon". The elevator doors slid open, and we stepped inside."She mentioned it, I was able to convince her against it" I replied finally, eyes fixed ahead as the doors closed.Liam tilted his head thoughtfully "Hmmm" he murmured, but the elevator chimed, announcing our arrival on the ground floor, as we stepped out, he finally spoke up, his voice low and direct."Patrick told me about your conversation this morning". I shot him a look. Of course, Patrick had told him, the stupid fucker was determined to prove a point! "And?" I repli
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER SIXTY
Thalia's POV I considered her words, pieces of the riddle aligning in my mind. "Alex and I figured out that the building was a church" Sierra's eyes widened with the realization "A church! Yes! What could be more sacred than that? And a gate—it all fits!" I nodded slowly, the solution forming. "So there's a well in a church, with a bell above it and a tree nearby, maybe even above it" Sierra let out a delighted squeal "We've solved the riddle!" "But which church? There are millions of them" Arabella pointed out.I smiled faintly, picking up my phone "I know the one, St. Augustine's Church, and..." I checked the map on my phone as the location confirmed itself "It's about a two-hour drive from here" "Well, let's go" Sierra suggested eagerly “It's still early in the morning, we can make it back by evening.”"Oh, can I tag along?" Arabella asked, her eyes lighting up. I hesitated, my mind racing through recent events, the memory of the last time Sierra, Cassie, and I went out toge
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
Thalia's POV Another moan echoed, this one followed by a few grunts "Oh...fuck" came a voice. There was a sharp intake of breath, a murmured "Yes" followed by a chorus of muffled moans.The shelves behind the makeshift door rattled, vibrating against the wall.Who on earth would have sex in a library? I thought, horrified by the sounds I was hearing.The noises quieted, replaced by a soft giggle and a man's low voice murmuring something I couldn't make out, panic flared up in me. I had intruded on something, and I needed to leave before they realized I was there. Just as I turned to leave, ready to vanish before either of them noticed, I froze at the sound of my name."Thalia?" A female voice called out, laced with surprise... I knew that voice. My heart skipped, I turned, and there stood Sierra, looking equally stunned, her lipstick smudged, her cheeks flushed, her hair was tousled and although her clothes were in place, she looked...dishevelled, standing just behind her was Patric
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
Alexander's POV I entered Elijah's office, the scent of aged whiskey and leather hanging thick in the air, Liam and Elijah were both seated, sharply dressed, their gazes fixed on me as I stepped inside.Liam's face was blank as ever, while Elijah's sharp eyes glinted with interest, he swirled the amber liquid in his glass, watching me closely."To what do I owe this unexpected visit?" Elijah's voice was smooth, laced with a mock-curiosity.I ignored the greeting, settling into the leather chair opposite them. "Let's skip the pleasantries" Elijah raised a brow, smirking as he took a sip from his glass."Straight to the point, smart as always" Liam leaned back, his gaze calculating, but didn't say a word, the room was dim, the only light coming from a tall, arched window casting shadows on Elijah's mahogany desk.Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with classical books and a few ominous-looking artifacts that only Elijah would find fascinating. I leaned forward,"I need a full backgro
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
Thalia's POV Some five later, we pulled into the parking lot of Romero Gabe Library, Alexander parked with swift precision, then turned to me, his voice low."Let's go" I nodded and slipped out of the car, following closely as he led the way.Inside, the receptionist, a stern-looking woman in her forties, gave Alexander a curt smile, which he returned with a brief nod before heading straight past her, we made our way through rows of towering shelves and then climbed the staircase, the air-thick with the scent of old paper.At the top level, we finally reached an area filled with tables, in the far corner, I spotted Zach and Nolan, seated with a blond man and a red-haired woman I didn't recognize. The woman sat beside Zach, her eyes flicking from him to us as we approached. "Alex?" Zach greeted as we reached the table, eyebrows lifted in mild surprise."That was quick" Nolan added, getting up to meet us halfway, his face was tight with focus, mirroring Alexander's."Is everything I a
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
Thalia's POV Alex sensed the shift in the atmosphere as I spoke about Brandon, he tightened his hold on me and continued speaking."Do you remember your father mentioning an assistant he had a falling out with?"I let out a shaky breath, thinking back to a man named Justine Davis whom my father disliked speaking about."He was more than an assistant Alex, he was his best friend, but he grew greedy, and he wanted to go dirty. Father stood his ground and decided he didn't want any stain on Asplundh. It didn't matter to him. Running a clean business came first, and his friend Justin became furious and quit" "What was his name again?" "Justine... Justine Davis, last I heard he was bedridden" I muttered but Alexander grew quiet he stilled his movements "Alex?" I whispered, his silence irked me"Did he have any children?" He said his voice utterly serious now "Yes, he did, he had a son" Alexander made a grumbling sound and he ran a hand through his hair, seemingly frustrated "What's
The Billionaire's Damned Secret CHAPTER FIFTY- FIVE
Thalia's POV I woke up the next morning to soft sunlight seeping through the curtains, the streaks of warmth creeping into the room. Alex's arm was draped around me, his hand resting on my waist. I turned slightly, finding him still asleep, his features softened in slumber. The strong line of his jaw was relaxed, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. His hair fell messily across his forehead, and I smoothed it back.The blanket tangled around us, and we were both naked beneath it, reminders of last night still vivid in my mind. We had been at it all night long, and true to Alex's words, the bed broke, forcing us to move to another room, all while he was still inside me. I gave into exhaustion after having an absurd amount of spine-curling orgasms.Alex wasn't kidding when he said he had a lot to explore, and his kink made it the more exciting. I never knew I would enjoy this type of intimacy, raw, intense, and unapologetically rough ones. But alas you never know until you
