SCARLETT'S POV.The look on Luca's face as he stared at Matt and I said it all, he wasn't impressed at all, but it was obvious that he was trying so hard not to show much on his face. Embarassed, I quickly got up and straightened my shirt that had ridden up due to the fall."You're back ... Uhhh," I said, hating myself for actually sounding like a cheating wife that just got caught. What the hell was it with my breathing.I took a sideway glance at Matt and watched as he got up nonchalantly, not in anyway acting like me."We weren't doing anything, you know," I said, hating my voice for breaking at the end. Luca simply gave Matt a look before he faced me and said, "whatever it was, I don't care. I need to talk to you."I felt even more embarassed at the way he'd casually said he didn't care, which I shouldn't because actually he has no reason to care about it. Asides from the fact that Matt is his best friend, there was no reason for him to be mad."About what?" I asked, shifting in
LUCA'S POV.I sighed heavily as I collapsed onto the plush leather seat in my office. Another long day as the CEO had drained every ounce of energy from my body. The weight of responsibilities and endless meetings had taken their toll, leaving me exhausted and craving some respite.And you know what sucked? Despite having all these workload and stress on my shoulders, my stupid mind still had time to think about Scarlett. Particularly about the position I'd walked in on her with Matt.Matt. I liked to believe he wasn't interested in her in anyway because if he was then I was going to kill him. No, not because of what you are thinking, of course not.I wasn't jealous or any of that shit. I'd just be really pissed to find out that my best friend was admiring my possession, something that clearly belonged to me. Nobody and I mean nobody ever messed with what was mine. Just as I closed my eyes, my phone buzzed, interrupting my brief moment of tranquility. I picked it up and saw a text f
SCARLETT'S POV.As the lecturer started backing his things, signaling the end of another grueling day at school, I gathered my textbooks and notes, ready to escape the confines of the lecture halls and immerse myself in the freedom of the weekend. Abby, my ever-enthusiastic and equally exhausted friend, joined me by my side, her face lighting up with a contagious smile."Finally! We made it, Scarlett!" she exclaimed dramatically and I laughed at her silliness. We had survived another week of intense classes, endless readings, and mind-boggling legal jargon. That was how exam weeks were, totally gruesome and frustrating. And I couldn't say the thought of the next three weeks stretching before us, devoid of textbooks and case briefs, wasn't exhilarating.Together, we navigated through the maze of students streaming out of the building, their conversations blending into a symphony of equal relief to be done with the exams and for the break that awaited us. As we walked, Abby's voice bu
LUCA'S POV.As I walked through the front door, the echoes of my disappointing golf game at the club still reverberated in my mind, and also the thoughts of how crazy my life had become. The frustration and irritation clung to me like a heavy burden, weighing down my steps. I longed for the solace of my room, hoping that its familiar embrace would help ease my troubled thoughts.But just as I entered the living room, my weariness was abruptly shattered by an unexpected sight. I stopped in my tracks. What the fuck? There, sprawled across the couch, lay Scarlett, seemingly lost in a peaceful slumber while dressed in a tank top and short shorts. My initial reaction was one of anger; how could she be so careless as to lounge around in such a revealing outfit? It was as if she had deliberately set out to provoke me, to taunt my already frayed nerves. I looked around her and noticed the remote control was nestled under her thigh and I gritted my teeth. So maybe she had just been watching
SCARLETT'S POV. "I can't believe you're actually doing this," Abby said on the phone for the upteenth time now. She was acting like the whole seducing and ruining of Luca idea thing wasn't hers in the first place."Like, you're actually, actually going to be a seductress for two weeks," her tone held amusement now and my lips curved up too.I couldn't lie, the thought of seducing Luca for a whole two weeks was kind of exciting to me. I was actually finding myself looking forward to doing it. I stuffed the last short shorts I owned into my travel bag and said, "yes Abby. Your best friend is going to unlock a side of her she never knew was there. You'll see don't worry." Luca had specially told me to be ready in fifteen minutes because we were supposed to get to the airport in an hour and half, but I purposely decided to stall for sometime. And that was why I called Abby to talk, to give myself a morale boost and also while away some time. Why? Well, it was because I wanted Luca to
SCARLETT'S POV. As I stepped out of the sleek, black sedan that whisked us away from the mansion, the bustling atmosphere of the airport enveloped me. The sound of rolling suitcases, the chattering voices, and the occasional announcement over the intercom filled the air. Adjusting the strap of my handbag and smoothing my sweaty palms down my leggings, I glanced at my husband, beside me who was looking as normal as ever. Unlike me. I was really nervous. This was probably my fourth time at the airport but that didn't mean I'd gotten used to the procedures to it and all that. It had been like that since I'd been a little girl and I could remember one time when I was ten that I'd thrown up immediately the plane started to take off. That day I'd been so embarassed, I hid in my mother's arms throughout the rest of the flight. Thinking of flying in the air still sent shivers through my spine, and despite the fact that the goal I'd given myself today was to be confident and outgoing today,
SCARLETT'S POV. As I stepped out of the car, the grandeur of the hotel in front of us overwhelmed me. Its towering facade gleamed in the afternoon sun, hinting at the luxury that awaited inside. I turned towards Luca to see his reaction and of course he didn't look impressed. What was I thinking? He probably had been to even more luxurious hotels than this. This was nothing new to him. When the big guy had bidden us farewell and driven away, I couldn't help the tinge of excitement that rushes in my veins as we approached the entrance, our footsteps echoing on the marble floor. It all felt so exclusive, I actually felt like one of those billionaire wives in those reality shows I used to find silly. Now, I could see why many women could kill to marry a billionaire. There was just this feeling that came with the fact that every one respected your husband. But obviously I was never going to let myself get carried away. Kevin was still the goal at the end of the day, getting him back.
SCARLETT'S POV.When I got into the bathroom and shut the door, I took a much needed deep breath, and set my toiletries in place. I could've easily taken some clothes with me to change into once I was done with the shower, but then I didn't want to. Whatever excuse Luca had made to make him come out in front of me to get dressed was the same excuse I was going to give him. That was if he was going to give me shit for it. I was ready. I can't get dressed in a bathroom. Or the bathroom is just too small. There were two excuses. I needed to pay him back for how stupid he'd made me look earlier when he'd appeared looking like all my Clark Kent fantasies. I needed to see if I could make him uncomfortable, if he was going to find me attractive. It was going to be an experiment just like the woman on the internet had said. To find out if I was going to approach this from a sexual angle going forward or just being sweet and nice to him until he fell for me. "You either make him a fool fo
SCARLETT'S POV.The moment Luca's lips touched mine, I melted into a puddle. My knees had gone weak and I feared they were going to buckle soon if I wasn't careful. Damn. The man knew how to kiss. He made sure that he ravaged my mouth with intensity, showing me with the kiss just how much he really wanted me. From my face, his hands travelled to my spine and then all the way back up to my hair and then he pulled. Shit, the force of the action caused a sting, but it was sweet. The pain was delicious. I loved it. He continued to kiss my mouth like his life depended on it until he decided that he'd had enough of it and wanted to taste my neck. Once his mouth touched there, I straight up melted into him, to the point he had to hold me up. "Woah," he laughed, amsued. "I haven't even touched you. You don't even know all the things I have planned for you.""Stop being cocky and kiss me," I demanded, pulling him back to my mouth and he let out a satisfactory growl."You're so damn sexy,
SCARLETT'S POV. THREE HOURS LATER. The party had started to get heated. People were popping in from every corner now. And the place started to get a bit crowded and tight. Many had decided to go out to the garden but it still felt like we were at a concert or something. It had been a bad choice Matt had made to organise the party at the house. The set-up was beautiful no doubt but it was becoming too suffocating. Or maybe it was just my body's reaction to Luca sitting beside me on our table.The rest of the guest looked like they didn't mind at all. Maybe it was just me actually. "So, how has therapy been?" Luca's voice sounded so close to my ear and I practically jumped in my seat, embarassing myself further. "It's been really good," I smiled tightly. "Uhh... The therapist has been really good and understanding. I-I feel like a totally different person now."I could remember giving him the same response some time ago when he'd asked. Shit. Why was I acting that way?And where t
SCARLETT'S POV. Abby arrived not long after and after we were both done getting ready and checking each other out, we said goodbye to mum and headed for the venue in an Uber. Matt's two storey house was flooded with people when we got in, it was crazy that the guy knew that much people. "Shit, this is way more than I expected," Abby said, looking around the garden that was filled with several cooperate looking people. "Yeah thank god that you convinced me to wear this dress," I said, looking at the dresses of the other women aroun. It was like we'd come for some sort of fashion show or something. "Exactly why you should always trust my opinions," she smiled, smoothing down the skirt of her royal blue dress. She looked amazing actually in that dress and her hair slicked back. We both looked amazing actually. "Come on let's go inside," I pulled her hand and we both walked with our heads held high into the house where soft music was playing from the speakers. "Sheesh, nice design,
SCARLETT'S POV.FIVE MONTHS LATER. This was the fifth time I'd checked my appearance out in the mirror and I was still nervous. God, why did the thought of him still make me so nervous? I finally made up my mind that I looked really good in the dress. It was a red dress that Abby had picked out for me two weeks after I'd been discharged from the hospital. It had been crazy expensive and I'd wanted to abandon it because I couldn't pay, but then Abby had offered to pay, saying that it was a gift to me, celebrating my release from the hospital and the fact that I could finally walk on my own two feet. I'd been discharged from the hospital way earlier than the doctor had expected. The doctor had told us that my case was very special and unusual, and he'd never seen anything quite like it before. He'd made sure that I'd spent another two weeks extra in the hospital just to make sure that there were no further complications. And finally after a whole month and a half of being in the hosp
LUCA'S POV.After Belle left I stayed for a while outside, watching the sky as it got darker and darker. I kept thinking about Isabella and dad, and everything that had happened, but this time I found that the more I thought about it, the more I started to see Belle's point clearly. That was the problem, I was holding onto the pain and bitterness for too long, I didn't even know how to stop doing it. I'd thought I was ready let it all go for Scarlett, but today had made me realise that there was still a part of me that wanted to be mad at her, at somebody for everything. It wasn't fair at all to Scarlett. She didn't deserve to get hate for something that she knew nothing about. After a little more time reflecting, I slapped my palms and decided that I had to go talk to her. About everything. Just let it all out. And see where we can go from there. I made my way back to the room where I saw Marilyn and Scarlett hugging from the glass doors. Abby just stood watching them with tears i
LUCA'S POV. On getting outside, I bumped into a nurse that was carrying a tray and we both let out string of curses. "Shit I'm sorry," I said, getting down to help her pick up her tray. "I'm so sorry."She picked up the last piece of equipment and looked up at me. "It's fine. Why are you in such a hurry anyways? Is the hospital on fire?"I turned down my lips. "No of course not.""Then why did you almost knock me all the way to hell?" She asked, smirking. "And why do you look like a wounded puppy?""I'm just in a really shitty mood, I don't even know how to feel," I said, wondering after I'd said it, why. Why did I just tell her that? The nurse balanced her tray and gave me a look of sympathy. "Do you want to tell me what happened?" I thought about it for a long while and decided, "no, not everything at least."The nurse smiled. She had such kind eyes and an equally kind smile, funny enough, she kind of reminded me of Isabella so much. They had so much similarities in their facial
LUCA'S POV. I wasn't sure if I'd heard properly. Had Marilyn just talked about Isabella? Isabella, my sister. How the heck did she get to know."How did you?" I started but then trailed off, stunned. "You know about Isabella?""Yes I do," Marilyn offered me a sad smile. "Wait... Isabella?"Scarlett questioned, she and her friend looking completely lost. "That's... What did he to her?"I couldn't respond. I couldn't say anything more actually. It was like my throat had gone completely tight and no sound could come out. What the heck was with that reaction?"What he did to all the other girls," Marilyn answered. "She used to work as an intern at the company, and your dad he... h-he was abusing her for the longest time.""Fuck," Scarlett gasped, voice shaking. "How? W-why was she? Oh my God... Dad is such an asshole."Abby looked horrified by the news too, she went over to offer Scarlett some comfort when she saw the was her friend was reacting. This was not good for Scarlett. She didn
LUCA'S POV. "Thanks so much for your time, officer," I reached out to shake hands with Raymond and he reciprocated. "It was my pleasure," he smiled. "I'm kinda pissed though, that that turned out so easy."I smirked at him, thinking the same. "Yeah, that was a waste of so much planning. I thought I was going to get my movie scene moment, but I guess not ..."Raymond chuckled. "Go back to your wife now. You don't want to miss anything, do you?""Yeah, sure I don't," I threw him a salute. "I'll see you when I see you then."I was about to leave but then he stopped me by saying,"Hey hold up."I turned around and rose an eyebrow. "What's up?"He gave me a weird look. "Aren't you a little bothered about what happened though, I mean you guys are related because of Scarlett.""What do you mean?""Ramson Damien?" He questioned. "You haven't heard yet? He's been arrested after several charges that have been pressed against him.""What?" I gasped. "How the fuck did I not hear of that yet?""
LUCA'S POV. "Why are you not scared?" Penelope asked, eyeing me from head to toe. I just shrugged. "You're not really very scary now that I know you're the one.""But you saw what I did to Scarlett," she sounded really pissed. "Wasn't that scary enough for you? I'm pointing a fucking gun to your head actually.""Yeah, I know," I stuffed my hands into my pocket and bounced on my toes. "I'm still not scared of you or that guy. Who is he anyways? Your lapdog?"The guy behind her growled at that and came towards me so fast to throw a punch. He landed the blow, but immediately he did, I got mad and decided that I could actually beat the shit out of him.He landed another blow to my cheek and then he tried again, but I dodged and realised that if I wanted to have the upper hand, I had to find a way to take him down. "You stop that now, tiger," Penelope warned, pointing the gun at the two of us, confused. I used the opportunity I got once the guy turned to look at her to my advantage. Ti