“Aurelia!” With a jolt, I snapped back to reality, accidentally pricking my finger with a bobby pin. “Ouch!” I exclaimed, cursing under my breath as I raised my gaze to see Olivia towering over me, concern etched on her face.“I’m sorry for startling you,” she apologized, her gaze lingering on my bleeding thumb. “But I’ve been calling your name for the past five minutes and you didn’t respond,” she added carefully, eyeing me with curiosity as I tended to the wound. I used a little piece of worn-out cloth to stop the bleeding.“Are you okay, Auri?” Olivia asked worriedly, and I pondered her question.No, I’m not okay.Far from it, even.I was still reeling from the shock of what happened earlier, wondering to myself if I hadn’t just imagined it all. From Caspian’s declaration, followed by our kiss, it was all too much for me to take. But what really lingered in my mind was the CEO’s aggravation.And that hot, feverish kiss we shared.“You really piss me off, you know.”The last thing I
Tonight was the night.I looked over myself in the mirror, a proud grin spreading across my face as I mentally high-fived myself for a job well done. My dress was perfect in more ways than one, embodying true class and elegance. Its fabric, a mesmerizing shade of emerald green, caught the light with a subtle shimmer, hinting at the luxury woven into every thread. I had designed it with a playful yet sophisticated thigh-high slit that promised freedom of movement and a touch of daring.The bodice hugged the curves of my body in the best way yet comfortably, allowing for a silhouette that was both flattering and forgiving. The low sweetheart cut of the upper bodice showed off my cleavage in a daring statement. It was adorned with delicate patterns, not too elaborate but with enough detail to draw the eye and spark curiosity.The sleeves added a whimsical touch, slightly loose and flowing, tapering to a gentle close at the wrists. Around the neckline, a subtle play of lighter green, almo
Finally, we reached the venue of the event, and we were graciously welcomed by our colleagues.The theme of this year’s fashion show was Renaissance, and the party was already in full swing, with various notable personalities and famous designers scattered across the exquisite hall of the venue.But as I scanned through the crowd, my eyes subconsciously searched for one person.“Looking for someone?” Olivia asked from beside me, noticing my wandering gaze. We all sat at a table in our designated section of the hall, each department grouped together, and each table was assigned to a production theme.“Hmm?” I turned to her, blinking as if I didn't hear her.“You've been acting weird lately, you know,” Olivia shared her observations as she poured herself a glass of wine. “And don't think I didn't notice what's been going on between you and Caspian,” she added with a teasing wiggle of her brow. Olivia raised her glass to her lips, gesturing towards Caspian who was busy engaging in a conv
As I mounted the stage, I tried my best to contain my tears. Mrs. Juniper watched me from where she sat, a proud grin on her face as she gave me a thumbs up, and I humbly acknowledged her with a small nod of my head.The CEO turned to me, and a delighted giggle slipped from my lips, a pure innocent sound of happiness that seemed to take him by surprise. It lasted only for a few seconds, and I was too overjoyed to register this subtle reaction. The CEO's expression was unreadable as he reached out for a handshake before handing me the award, and I could no longer sense the anger that once raged in his eyes.I knew it was a basic formality, but as I shook his hand, I felt an unfamiliar emotion swirl in my chest.His hand felt smooth and firm against mine, but then a flash of how they felt in my hair replayed in my head. In that split moment, I jerked away from his hold like I had touched hot coal, the memory of his touch scalding me.No one else but him seemed to notice my odd reaction,
I anxiously pulled my bottom lip between my teeth as my head lowered to hide the red-hot blush on my cheeks.The CEO held me against him so much that I felt the subtle beat of his heart against my exposed back. His breathing was steady, while I held my breath.The CEO goes forward to caress my cheeks, leaning down to press a featherlight kiss on the corner of my lips, and I subconsciously lean further into his touch, almost like a reflex action, getting lost in his intoxicating scent of cinnamon and manly essence.He was playing with me again, and I could tell by the way his eyes glistened with untold mischief and a glint of amusement.Even if it was all an act, I still savored the moment, he was like a daydream—Far-fetched and out of reach, a perfect ensemble of forlorn reverie.The man before us still doesn't look convinced, so he goes further to ask;“Is that so? I thought you fancied slimmer girls,” he observed, peering at me skeptically through his thick square glasses. I scoffed
As the command hung in the charged silence, an electrifying rush of adrenaline surged through my veins, intermingling with the fluttering excitement and apprehension that swirled within me. This mix of emotions was a potent cocktail, thrilling yet terrifying in its intensity.The CEO says nothing as he pulled me to my feet and positioned himself on the bed, an invitation in his posture, his legs spread in a confident stance. His eyes, glazed with an undeniable lust, were fixed on me, waiting for the spectacle that was about to unfold.I have never done this before, but as my trembling fingers reach for the zipper of my dress, I found myself hesitating for a fraction of a second.What if he doesn't like what he sees?I had seen this particular scenerio multiple times in movies, and now that I was faced with the vivid experience, I was at loss of what to do. Most importantly, I didn't want to embarrass myself and end up ruining the mood. This man was someone who had most likely been with
My heart skips a beat when I feel a tightness around the skin of my wrists, and I wince slightly, trying my best to take a glance at what he is doing. But he holds me in place, and when I struggle against his grip, he slaps my ass.Hard."Ah!" I yelp, sinking back into the bed as I feel an electrifying feeling course through me, a stinging pain that makes my core slick with juices.Damn, that felt good."That's what you get when you don't do what I say," he rasps, his voice a deep mix of irritation and smugness. But I wanted him to spank me again, so I fought against his grip once more, and this time he slaps my pussy.I moan out loud, arching my back further as my eyes roll to the back of my head. I am on cloud nine, and my body eagerly craves the sensations he gives me."You're enjoying this too much," I hear him say, but his tone holds no annoyance, just fascination. "You're going to regret disobeying me if you keep that up."It is an obvious threat, but I am a fool who loves to tre
LUKE'S POV I had always thought I was a level headed and calculated man, that nothing could ever rile me up to the point where I acted impulsively or out of character. But everything changed when I met her. I was working late on some designs when the head of our HR department called to inform me that an employee had posted unethical content on the company's online platform. I honestly didn't care, nor did I want to bother with such frivolous matters. But when the manager mentioned my involvement in the scandal and the potential threat to my reputation, my interest was piqued, leaving me no choice but to see what the commotion was all about. I certainly didn't expect to find a sex bucket list on the site, neither did I expect to see my name added as a potential partner for completing the said list. It wasn't meant to annoy me, the fact that I was ranked as the third candidate on a sex bucket list of a random employee wasn't enough for my chest to burn with rage. It was beneath me,
LUKE’S POV The warehouse was in flames, the acrid scent of burning wood and gunpowder choking the air. Smoke curled around us, thick and blinding, but it didn’t matter. My eyes were locked on one thing—her. Aurelia was on the ground, her body trembling, Will sprawled a few feet away from her, coughing through the debris. Her bruised wrists and the terror in her wide eyes made something inside me snap. My fingers tightened around my gun as I stepped forward. The world had narrowed to a single, unrelenting focus: kill them all. The man coughed, spitting blood onto the floor, his face twisted in fury and disbelief. “Well, well. The bastard prince decided to show up.” He wiped his nose, grinning despite the blood leaking from his mouth. I didn’t hesitate and fired another shot. He barely had time to register what happened before he collapsed, the bullet lodged in his shoulder. His scream echoed through the chaos, but I wasn’t done. I stalked forward, shoving my gun against his
AURELIA POVMy breath came in shallow gasps, each one laced with the sting of panic. The moment the door slammed shut behind them, I lay still, too afraid to move, my body curled in on itself as if making myself smaller would somehow make me invisible.I instinctively reached for my stomach, my fear multiplying by tenfold. Little did my captors know that they threatened two lives and not one. Six hours.That’s all the time I had before they killed me and my baby. A sob built in my throat, but I swallowed it down. Crying wouldn’t save me. They said they had sent a ransom note or Luke, but would he come? To risk his life for me? He had already told me to know my place, and whatever we had ended when I confessed to him. I tried to sit up, trying to my breath steamy as my fingers twitched, testing the ropes around my wrists. I winced and the rough fibers bit into my skin, leaving behind red blisters. But I ignored it. I didn’t want to sit around, waiting like a damsel in distress. Thi
LUKE POVThe words blurred as my vision swam, the ache in my chest deepening into something unbearable. I read it over and over again, processing the words that felt impossible.She loved me?She loved me and not Ezekiel.All this time….and I was too blind to see it, or maybe she was just that good at hiding it. The weight of Seraphina’s words weighed heavy on my shoulders, and there was one part that confused me. My father. He was the one who had taken her in after her father’s death. That was what I had always been told. That was what I had believed.But these words… this confession…It told a different story. She loved me and hated herself for it. All because she thought I was the son of the man who killed her father.A sick, twisting feeling curled in my stomach. Realization sunk in like paint spreading on a white cloth, tainting whatever perception I had been fed before. It was all a lie. My hands trembled, not with grief, but with fury. Rage bubbled in my chest, threatening
LUKE POV“What an unpleasant surprise.”I pushed past Ezekiel and entered his dorm room, my jaw clenching as my grip on the file unconsciously tightened.Ezekiel had just stepped out of the bathroom, casually drying his hair with a towel, while I stood there glaring at him. A few moments of tense silence passed between us before I strode over to his couch and dropped the file.“That’s the transfer of ownership document for the port,” I said, my voice gruff. I had lost the challenge, and now I was here to fulfill my end of the deal.Ezekiel hummed in interest, leaning against the wall with a taunting smile. “I guess you’re a man of your word, then.”I ignored his remark and turned to leave, but my steps faltered when his voice rang out again.“No hard feelings, right?”My patience cracked. I looked over my shoulder, my gaze burning with malice.“Fuck you, Sterling.”***I slumped into my car seat, tipping my head back and staring up at the ceiling. I hadn’t been home for the past week,
Luke waited in the room for Seraphina to wake up, the doctor who had examined her said she passed out from exhaustion, but her situation was stable for now. It made him wonder how many times she had pushed herself so hard. He hadn’t even found out until later, so it only meant that she had been hiding it for a long while now. Enduring the pain in silence and forcing smiles. Maybe that would explain her impulsive mood swings. Luke glanced at her, watching her chest rise and fall slowly. Her hair bun was still in place, and even in slumber, she looked beautiful. He subconsciously leaned in, taking in every detail and curve of her face, from the freckles on her nose to the little scar on her left brow. His gaze flickered to her lips and lingered there. They were painted hot red with lipstick, adding a dangerous allure to her soft features. Luke flinched as her eyes fluttered. Startled, he straightened up, clearing his throat to regain his composure, but his cheeks were flushed with
Seraphina was discharged from the hospital two weeks later, and during the time she was hospitalized, Luke visited her often, but Seraphina never allowed him in. It hurt him deeply, especially when Ezekiel was allowed to see her. The bet between them was still active and Luke feared he might have made a grave mistake. He still watched her from afar to protect her, because now that he knew about her illness he couldn’t afford to slack off. Soon the annual banquet was held as a way for the heirs of influential families to make their debut, and this year, it was held by Montauge’s, Veronica’s family. The night was in full bloom, and both Luke and Seraphina had received an invitation. Luke saw this as the perfect opportunity to finally talk to her, and he looked forward to taking her, but his plans were thwarted the moment Ezekiel came to pick her up instead. Of course, he also got an invitation. Ezekiel stepped out of his sleek BMW, dressed in a tailored white suit and crimson
Veronica planned to make Seraphina jealous, so she accompanied him to an exclusive club in the heart of the city, one that could only be accessible to elite members. Veronica was his date for the evening, and as they reached the location, he began to regret his decision. “How is this going to help again?” He grumbled as they stepped out of his car. Veronica held his arm, dressed in a hot red dress that left little to the imagination, while he wore a black dress shirt and pants to match. Veronica rolled her eyes at his hesitance. “Just follow my lead dumbass.” The club was as sophisticated yet wild at the same time, and Luke was surprised to see Seraphina and Ezekiel making out in the VIP section. Luke’s jaw clenched at the sight, but Veronica tapped his jaw to get his attention. “Don’t look at her.” She scolded him, dragging him to the dance floor. “If not it won’t work.” Luke took a deep breath, stealing one last glance at them before moving on. As they stepped onto t
Third Person POVWeeks later…Luke moaned as he felt her palm against him. He grabbed her hand to stop her, pulling back from the kiss with a dazed expression. “We can’t do that here.” He muttered, his wary gaze darting around the library. Seraphina blinked at him, her brows slightly furrowed in frustration. “Just shut up and kiss me.” And with that she crashed her lips against his, angling her head as she deepened the kiss.Luke gave him, feeling himself get hotter with each passing minute. His hands tightened on her waist, wanting to wander. But he couldn’t because she hadn’t permitted him yet. Seraphina spread her legs, letting him grind against her at least, her back pressed against the wall as Luke's tongue danced with hers. The air between them was hot, and Luke groaned, feeling his erection straining against his pants. Seraphina pulled back from the kiss with a smirk, her fingers combing through his hair.“Beg me.” She demanded, and he gulped his spit, wavering for a bit. L
Luke’s POV “A date?” I was in the gym of the mansion when Seraphina skipped in and started going on about her date with Ezekiel. The topic was none of my business, but she wanted me to tell her more about Ezekiel.“Ask him yourself.” I tightened the bandages on my wrists and swung at the punching bag, my brows furrowed in irritation. That bitter feeling was stirring in my chest again. Ever since they met, Seraphina’s attention was fixated on Ezekiel, and Ezekiel, he was milking the situation with his God damned charm. I raised my hands to deliver another punch, then Seraphina blocked my view. It was a good thing I managed to stop my fist before it made contact with her face.“Careful,” I warned her, already growing tired of the conversation.“Tell me.” She insisted. “I want to know what kind of guy he is.”A dry chuckle escaped my lips. “He’s a man whore.” I say simply. “And you are nothing but another fling to him, so you better stay away.” Seraphina tilted her head to the side.