I huffed, wincing slightly as my cheeks flattened against the desk. “Let me go!” I yelled, panic settling in. I immediately regretted my choice of words. Nothing good ever came from provoking him, I should have known. It was the same thing that happened when we first met. The CEO ignored me, shifting to lean against the desk while keeping me in place. “Since you haven't read the contract. I'll do you the honor of enlightening you." I heard him say. Dread squeezed my heart. “What?” Oh lord, what was he up to now? “I'll start with the main clauses.” He declared, and I braced myself, cold sweat trickling down my temple. “Aurelia agrees to submit to Luke’s authority, allowing him to make decisions regarding their activities, and engaging in role-playing scenarios that emphasize his dominance and her submission.” I yelped as his free hand landed on my rear with a firm smack. A shocked gasp escaped my lips, the sting of it sending a jolt of pain through me. He flipped my skirt, and hea
THIRD PERSON POV The week blew over quickly. Aurelia had successfully stayed clear of the CEO, and she was more than glad he didn't make an effort to contact her after the confrontation. Still sense of dread settled in her heart. It was like the calm before a storm.Maybe he was brewing another vicious plan. She couldn't afford to relax. But today was Sunday, so she needed a little break.Her life has been nothing more than dramatic in the past month, so it wouldn't hurt to unwind a little. She was in her home, a place that the CEO could not reach. He knew her house address, yes, but still, she didn't want to dwell on that. She didn't want to think of him.Aurelia was curled up in the living room, Chelsea sleeping in her lap as she sniffled and sobbed. Rewatching the Titanic was her favorite way of relieving stress. A heartbreaking romance and a tub of ice cream could never do you wrong.The sound of the doorbell interrupted the movie and she paused it, setting Chelsea aside so she
AURELIA I was grateful for the hum of activity that filled the studio. It was a new week and as I settled into my workspace, I looked forward to what the day would bring. What I certainly didn't look forward to was a meeting with the CEO. He still hadn't contacted me, filling me with a mix of relief and worry. What exactly was that man planning in that handsome head of his? My colleagues and I were engrossed in a casual conversation, the topic meandering from weekend plans to the latest project we were tackling. It was a rare moment of normalcy amid our hectic schedules. "Did you catch that new movie that came out last week?" Olivia asked, her eyes bright with excitement as she looked between me and Caspian. Her lips soon curved into a teasing smirk. “You both must have watched it together right?” Oh. I had forgotten they still thought we were dating. Kendall quickly caught on to Olivia's tease and decided it was the right time for him to open his mouth. “If I remember
I didn't want to believe I had just lost my job, didn't want to accept my aspirations had been drawn to an end so abruptly, snatched from me so easily.I was in denial, and I knew it. I waited, waited for the CEO to contact me and tell me everything was just a ruse to provoke me into submissions.I waited and waited.But the call never came.I had also tried to reach him through the number he saved on my phone, but it never worked. I gave up on the twentieth attempt.Four days passed, four long excruciating days.I didn't cry. I was too stunned to express any other emotion. Even as I cleared my desk and submitted my company ID to Mrs Juniper, I didn't cry.I didn't cry when Caspian continued to apologize, holding me close as he struggled to stop himself from crying from guilt. He kept saying it was his fault, and that he would find a way to fix it.Thinking back on his words now, maybe he'd just said that to make me feel better because I didn't know how he possibly planned to fix i
The next day, I returned to work. I took a short detour to my team’s studio to inform them of my situation, and their reaction was the same as mine. They all wished me good luck, grateful for the fact that I wasn't out of the company for good, some even saw it as a promotion, all except Caspian who still blamed himself for my predicament. I tried my best to reassure him. It would've been worse if he'd lost his job because of me, and I never regretted standing up for him. Now it was time for me to face the consequences of my actions. No matter how absurd they might be.As I made my way to the CEO’s office, my heart was in a frenzy, but I did well to maintain a neutral expression. I wore one of the dresses he'd sent; a simple yet classy navy blue sheath that hugged my figure modestly, with clean lines and a knee-length hem. My hair was neatly packed into a ponytail, and I completed the look with sleek black heels.I still couldn't believe I was being relegated to a role as a personal a
LUKE The amusement at Aurelia’s discomfort had carried me through the meeting. It was safe to say I was having the best time of my life. Watching her squirm, trying so hard to maintain her composure while the vibrator hidden in her panties did its work, was a thrill I hadn’t anticipated. I must commend her resilience, even as I subtly increased the power of the vibrator, she kept her whimpers at a minimum, and it only made me more intrigued by her. Only I could hear her, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I glanced at her occasionally, and each time she met my gaze, her eyes pleaded for me to stop. But how could I? When the fun had only just begun. This was just the tip of the iceberg, a sweet dose of more that was to come. I had a solid plan. I wanted to get rid of that bastard coworker of hers, but when she stepped up to defend him, challenging me in the process, I lost my patience. Aurelia never failed to make me lose all manner of tolerance I had built up over the
THIRD PERSON POV "Careful." "Ahh, I'm trying.." Aurelia gasped, trying to hold her own. "Take it out slowly..." Following orders, she does as she's instructed. Beads of sweat gathered at her forehead, and her heart thumped loudly against her chest, too scared to slip up. Her hands trembled as she struggled to aim properly. Aurelia pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, casting a weary glance at the CEO. "Don't you dare spill a single drop" he warned, his tone threatening. She swallowed hard, releasing a shaky breath. "Yes sir.." Aurelia’s nostrils flared as she inhaled sharply, her eyes narrowing into slits as she attempted to pour the tea she made into the cup again. It was harder than it looks. Especially when the CEO was right beside her, his towering figure looming over her form like a dark cloud. Luke watched her carefully as she made his tea, his expression was impassive, but his eyes were daring her to fuck up. Knowing she would be fucked as well if that h
AURELIA I blinked once then twice. Jealous? Me? Jealous? I shook my head, banishing the thought before it had time to settle and churn my brain. How would I be jealous? If anything, I only envied her flawless beauty, that was it. I didn't care if he welcomed her warmly, and neither did my heart burn on seeing her mark him so easily. I was perfectly fine. Jealousy was out of it. For what reason do I have to be jealous? I shifted in my spot as Luke smiled at Veronica, gesturing for her to take a seat across from him. The woman shook her head, her lustrous hair swaying as she refused his offer. “Never mind that Arroyal, I only came to feast my eyes on your handsome face.” She chuckled, picking up her bag. “I just arrived in town, and I have a busy schedule ahead of me. I wouldn't refuse a nice drink though, we should meet up at our usual spot.” Her smile turns seductive, and Luke mirrors her expression. Usual spot? What does that mean? “Command or request?” The CEO arched a
Aurelia coughed out, feeling a burning sensation on her wrists. Her eyes cracked open, gauging her surroundings. The last thing she remembered was getting a taxi and then….Aurelia gasped, her heart thundering against her chest. She was kidnapped. Dread filled her body, the revelation sending shivers down her spine.She tried to get up, but a rope bound her hand and legs. Her back was pressed against the cold floor, and she looked up at the ceiling that seemed too far, she wondered how she got into this situation.For what reason would anyone have to kidnap her? Aurelia felt tears sting her eyes, but instead of crying, she tried to sit up.The room was dark, the only source of light coming from the holes in the ceiling. It was still daytime, she noted, her gaze bouncing around the room.Old boxes littered the grounds, and huge machines gathered dust in the corner of the room. This was an old warehouse, an abandoned one, judging from its shabby state. This made it serve as the perfect
“P-pregnant?” Aurelia gaped, her jaw scraping the floor. Ezekiel nodded solemnly, shifting on the hospital bed so he could take her hand. “The doctor said you're two months gone.”Aurelia looked down at her stomach, unable to believe a baby was growing inside her. Her baby. Luke's baby.Her vision blurred, and she felt like she was floating outside her body. She heard Ezekiel's concerned voice, but it sounded distant, muffled. The hospital room spun around her, a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds.Luke's baby.The words echoed in her mind, refusing to sink in. “This…” she suddenly felt dizzy again. “This can't be real.”She must be dreaming. It can't be possible.Because she can't……she can't get pregnant. A few years back, Aurelia had discovered she couldn't conceive during a mandatory check-up for college. Her ovarian reserve was low, so there was a 0.9% percent chance her eggs would fertilize to bear a child. It didn't mean much to her then, because she was devoted to her studie
Aurelia hunched over the sink, her throat dry from puking her breakfast. “Did you eat something bad?” Olivia's brows knitted in worry as she rubbed Aurelia’s back. “No.” Aurelia coughed out. She filled her hand with water and splashed it against her face. It helped calm the burning sensations on her skin. “It’s probably jet lag. The flight back to New York was long.”“Hmm. All the more reason why you shouldn’t have resumed work immediately after getting back.” Olivia scolded her. Aurelia straightened up, forcing a smile to persuade her friend. Oh if only Olivia knew why she couldn’t possibly sit idle in her apartment. Her brooding thoughts would not let her rest and she’d thought of reaching out to the CEO multiple times. It drove her crazy. Although she had gotten a two-week break off work, she returned three days after arriving in New York. Work helped get her mind off things—off him. And that was what she desperately needed at the moment. A distraction.Aurelia wanted to slowl
Aurelia huffed as she looked down at her watch. 6 am. The airport was filled even at such an early time, and as she made her way through the crowd, her mind drifted off to the night before.She had taken a bold step, confessing her feelings to get out of the contract with the CEO. It was out of impulse. His words stabbed her more than his reaction, and she wasn't strong enough to just sit and bear the pain. She was done feeding into his ego, dancing on his palm like a puppet. Luke had talked about owning her fully, and it was nothing but an insult. Maybe it was her mistake for falling for him, for setting herself up for heartbreak, but she had enough. Although she was somewhat satisfied, seeing the shocked expression on his face was like a soothing balm to her wound. She had completely caught him off guard, and among her bountiful losses, this was a fair win. She left the restaurant without looking back or waiting for a reply. Luke didn’t stop her, and she was grateful for that. If
“Do you have feelings for me?”The question cut deep, reopening the wound from last night. She had slapped a bandage on it to face him, and here was, mercilessly ripping off the fragile bandage. Luke wet his lips, his expression grace. Aurelia didn’t know which was worse, was it the expression on his face or the coldness in his tone? She didn’t want to remember that he despised the thought of her. She didn’t want him to say it openly, to reject her officially.But was she hoping for? Aurelia knew the complication of her feelings, she knew it would break the final thread that held them together. Yet her heart ached. Her despair was determined from the moment he came into her life, like a rippling tornado, fast and powerful, shattering the beliefs she’d believed in and leaving just as quickly as it came. She hasn’t forgotten how he’d acted throughout the week. While she yearned for him, even after their fallout, he ignored her like the plague. Aurelia wanted to laugh at her foolish,
Aurelia didn't sleep a wink. Dragging herself out of bed, she sat up and just stared. Her mind was blank, the events of the previous day dawning on her. Ezekiel’s confession. Luke’s rejection. And Veronica’s……Aurelia winced as she recalled the kiss, her fingers absentmindedly skimming over her lips.‘I prefer women.’Aurelia squeezed her eyes shut, then she opened them. She slapped herself out of her daze, hoping to dispel the warmth that tickled her cheeks. That damned Veronica, she thought, recalling the satisfied smirk on the model’s face. The boldness of that woman. Kissing her out of the blue like that. It was the biggest plot twist in her mangled story, one that she had never seen coming. A subtle knock on the door cut through Aurelia’s thoughts. Her brows furrowed. She didn’t order room service, so who could be knocking at her door at this time? Wait…she paused. What time was it? Aurelia’s lazy gaze searched the walls for the clock, and when she spotted it, a gasp esca
“Here.”Aurelia hesitated before taking the cup of water from Veronica, staring at it like it would come alive and bite her. “I didn't poison it if that's what you're thinking.” Veronica mused, sarcasm dripping in her tone. Giving the cup one last wary stare, Aurelia accepted it, and Veronica flopped on the sofa beside her. They were in Veronica's hotel room, and the supermodel had taken it upon herself to tend to Aurelia's wound, taking responsibility for her fall. Veronica observed Aurelia's scraped knee, then she moved to her closet, returning with a tube of ointment. Aurelia silently watched as she squeezed the open cut, her fingers spreading it against her skin. “That will do.” Veronica nodded as she sealed the cap on the ointment, letting out a small yawn as she straightened up. “Thank you.” Aurelia kept her head low, spacing out as she looked down at her feet. “Now that's out of the way, shall we begin?” Veronica suggested, leaning back in her seat as she crossed her legs
Ezekiel was in high spirits. The final event of the Fashion Week had ended at the crack of dawn but he wasn’t the least bit tired. After escorting Aurelia to her hotel room and bidding her goodbye, he skipped happily to the hotel bar to get himself a drink. Now that he knew he had genuine feelings for Aurelia, his constant struggle with denial was over, lifting a load off his chest. He was as chirpy as a schoolboy in love. “Oh?” On spotting a familiar face, Ezekiel stopped at the entrance of the bar, a mocking smirk playing on his lips as he leaned against the door frame. “Who do we have here?” Luke ignored him, pouring himself another glass of whiskey. They were the only ones in the bar. “Mind if I join you for a drink?” Ezekiel straightened up, and Luke side glanced at him, his gaze sharp. But he remained silent. Taking his silence as a go-ahead, Ezekiel sighed in contentment as he slipped onto a stool beside Luke, signaling for the bartender to serve him a drink.
THIRD PERSON POV Luke was tired. Tired of forcing smiles and empty pleasantries. The fashion week had worn him out and he couldn't wait to return to New York. “Your bitch face is showing.” Veronica teased him, noticing that he had already drained his social battery. “Wouldn’t be the worst thing.” He sighed, looking down at his watch. For how much longer did he have to be here? Luke looked over his shoulders, his eyes searching for Aurelia. His jaw clenched as Ezekiel came up beside her. He watches Aurelia’s face brighten up on his arrival, and Luke’s brows furrowed, his chest burning with jealousy. “You guys are so typical.” Veronica rolled her eyes, following his line of sight. “It’s boring to watch the same thing happen again.”Luke clicks his tongue in annoyance, facing forward. “Then why did you insist on coming along?”“Isn’t it obvious?” Veronica smirked as watched Ezekiel and Aurelia. “I also made a bet on who would win, and I’ll be damned not to see it for myself.”“Tch.”