Chapter 4

Victor

I continued thrusting, driven by an insatiable desire. Her moans echoed loudly, and her inner thighs were soaked, yet it wasn't enough. It had never been enough, especially since that fateful wedding night. The memory of it intensified my movements. She kept screaming my name, and as I reached my climax, thoughts of the woman from my wedding night flooded my mind, arousing me even more. The mere recollection of her sent shivers down my spine.

“That was your best yet, Victor," the woman on my office sofa complimented. She had been a recurring presence, introduced by my friends who believed I needed distraction from the woman who had left an indelible mark on my wedding night. Yet, she was more than just a distraction; she unearthed emotions I never thought I possessed. Despite my inebriation that night, the memories lingered, haunting my thoughts.

“You think?” I responded to her.

“You still think of her, don't you?” Her question caught me off guard. She laughed, saying, “I might be who I am, but first, I am a woman, and I know when a man has feelings for another.”

“I don't have feelings for her,'' I retorted sharply. It resulted in more laughter from her.

“If you hadn't, you wouldn't have said that," she replied, pecking my cheek before leaving my office.

A part of me acknowledged the truth in her words, while another seethed with rage. Someone with my personality had never been played this way—none that I knew of.

The events following the morning after the wedding unfolded in my mind—the night Stephanie's sister remained silent. I realized I never knew her name after mistaking her for my bride. It was mentioned that day, but it slipped from my memory, haunting me ever since.

Was it Becky, right? I pondered the question. Did I harbor feelings for a girl I slept with once, the one placed on my wedding bed instead of her sister, whom I officially married? Feelings were unfamiliar territory for me; I'd never experienced them before. Yet, three years had passed, and these emotions persisted.

Determined to confront this uncharted emotional landscape, I discreetly inquired about her and discovered her name was Maddie. "Maddie," I whispered to myself, imagining how it would feel to utter her name with our bodies pressed against each other. Taking a deep breath, I decided to reach out to her, consequences be damned.

But, oh, the consequences. My family was far from pleased with the unfolding events, especially my mother, who had persistently urged me to settle down and provide her with grandchildren, particularly since my sisters were still unmarried.

Although I now knew her name, finding Maddie proved to be an elusive task. It was as if she had vanished from the face of the earth. Frustration and determination fueled my quest to locate her. However, despite having a crucial clue—her name—she seemed to have disappeared completely. Every attempt to find her left me feeling empty and uneasy.

As another busy day unfolded at the company, I struggled to concentrate on my work, my mind consumed by the mystery of her disappearance. How could someone simply vanish? My inquiries revealed she left the city two months after our encounter and hadn't been seen since. Perhaps she felt shame for what transpired between us, but I found no solace in that explanation.

I remained lost in thought when my secretary entered the office.

"Not to disturb you, sir, but there's someone here to see you," she informed me.

"I made it clear; I didn't want to be disturbed," I curtly replied.

"Yes, sir, but the visitor said you would want to see her."

I raised an eyebrow in surprise. Who could it be? I hadn't invited anyone today.

"The name?" I inquired. Peering into her tablet, she responded, "Stephanie Thompson."

That woman. Over the years, I discovered she wasn't the decent person I once believed her to be. She was no better than the women my friends arranged for me. She was the one who orchestrated her sister taking her place on my wedding night.

"Let her in," I instructed my secretary. I hadn't confronted her since that day. What gave her the audacity to come and meet me after all this time? I wondered as I waited for her to enter.

Stephanie walked into my office, adding a flirtatious touch to her movements. Leaning on my desk, she offered a suggestive smile.

"What's up, Stephanie?" I asked, noting her bold approach.

She traced a finger on the desk, her tone subtly seductive. "Victor, I've been thinking about how things went down between us." The once flirtatious glance morphed into an expression of sadness, almost seeking pity.

"And what? It took you three years to seek amends," I said, trying to keep my temper in check.

"I would have been here a long time ago, but you wouldn't see me," she explained. Yeah, I recalled instructing my employees, especially my security, not to allow anyone from her family close to me or into any of my properties.

"I want to prove myself to you, try and regain your trust, and if possible, be your wife again," she said, almost pleading.

My wife! The audacity. How could she even entertain the thought after all that happened, after the deceit? As I delved deeper into the revelations about her and her sister, understanding the twisted reasons behind Maddie taking her place during our wedding night, the absurdity of her plea became even more apparent.

This is an opportunity, though. At this point, she'd seemingly agree to anything, all in the desperate hope of reclaiming the title of my wife. A title she lost the moment Maddie stepped into her shoes, a moment that forever tainted our connection.

Handing her a file, I maintained a stern demeanor. "Business issue. A rival company wants a client. Your job: get close, and gather information. Once that's done, we can talk about... other things."

The contents of the file weren't significant, merely a ruse to make her think she held importance, a calculated move to make her believe there was a chance for us. Little did she know what was in store for her. I intended to use her, to make her pay for the deception that had tainted my past.

As I glanced at her, she must have noticed my gaze lingering on her. Leaning forward, she agreed confidently, "Sure, Victor. Excited to see what comes next."

And as for Maddie, I won't rest until I find her. Thoughts of her linger, haunting my every moment; stopping this train of thoughts seems impossible.

I will use Stephanie to locate her without her knowing," I thought to myself, a sly smirk playing on my lips.