AURELIA“Cheers!” The round table is brought alive with bubbly laughter as glasses were raised in the air to give a loud toast, celebrating the success of my award. I forced a smile and brought my glass to my lips. My colleagues had taken the time to surprise me with this nice get-together, there was tasty food, nice drinks, and even a cake.But despite the happiness that radiated from everyone, it never reached me. I was there, sitting among them physically, but I couldn't take part in their joy.I jolt in my spot as Kendall points at me, demanding a speech. I wanted to brush him off since they had already heard most of it at the gala, but that wouldn't be right. So I stood to my feet, and everyone gave me a soft round of applause as I did so.“Thank you all. I appreciate your endless support and companionship. This award isn't just for me, it's a collection of everything we've put together, it's an award that recognizes our team as a whole.” My throat worked as tears clouded my vis
I winced as I felt my body rebel against my will. I felt so heavy, like my joints had been locked in place. Maybe I was drugged, drugged and vulnerable.I looked down at myself and was glad to see my clothes were still on. I forced myself to get out of bed, my gaze darting about the room to take in my surroundings. I didn't know what a stalker's bedroom was supposed to look like, but I had expected the walls to be covered in pictures of me, pictures he'd taken without my consent while watching me.But instead, posters of famous baseball players decorated the walls. The curtains of the room were a bright pink, which stood out like a sore thumb against the otherwise neutral decor. A simple wooden desk, neatly organized with a few notebooks and pens, stood against one wall. A small bookshelf held an assortment of novels and textbooks, with a quirky lava lamp sitting on top, its blobs slowly drifting up and down. The bedspread was plain blue, contrasting with a few brightly colored thro
My head hung low in embarrassment. I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth, desperately wishing the ground would open and swallow me whole. I was so stupid.I refused to raise my head as Caspian returned to the living room with a cup of water and some painkillers. I couldn’t bear to meet his gaze, not when I almost cracked his skull and spilled his brain matter on the floor. I was neither drugged nor kidnapped, Caspian explained that after I got drunk during last night’s gathering. He’d taken it upon himself to drive me home after I passed out, but there was heavy traffic on the road that led to my apartment so he opted to take me to his home on noticing I had come down with a fever.Caspian moved to sit beside me but I kept my gaze on my bare feet. “Here you go.” he started, offering the cup to me. “It should help with the headaches.”I offered him a tight smile as I accepted it, too embarrassed to say anything else. Caspian sighed as I leaned back, his lips pulled into a fond smile
“The CEO called you in.”Hearing that made me anxious and excited at the same time, so much so that I had left the amusement park without a second thought. I didn't have time to feel guilty about leaving Caspian, I told him I needed to attend to something urgent, not waiting for a reply before I zoomed off. But now, as I stood in front of his office, I developed cold feet, thinking of the different scenarios that could unfold once I entered. Would he kiss me? Say he missed me? Probably not. It was foolish to hope for such from a man like him, but still. I looked down at my wrists, pulling down the sleeve of my blouse to examine the bandage he’d used to bind my wounds.My heart fluttered and tightened, an abnormal reaction that I had become accustomed to. Ever since I met him, my poor heart has been going on a frenzy. Knowing that he was on the other side of the door made me giddy for some reason.My cheeks heated up as I remembered his carefree laughter, something I counted myself luc
AURELIAI didn’t know what to expect when the CEO said we were going shopping. His declaration was so sudden, and even when I had yet to come to terms with it, I complied still. Thinking about it brought me nothing but confusion. Shopping? It was absurd, but I knew better than to voice out my thoughts. As I accompanied him to his private parking lot, my head hung low as I chewed on my bottom lip. I still felt the lingering pressure of the kiss we shared. I stared at his back. What was going on in his mind right now? As if sensing my gaze he glanced at me over his shoulder. I quickly looked away, redirecting my gaze to the sky, but I caught a hint of a smirk on his face before he faced forward. Or was I just imagining it?His driver waited for us, silently opening the car door on our arrival. The CEO entered the exotic vehicle without a word, his expression giving nothing away all through the drive. I pondered on where we were headed, anything to distract me from the stifling atmosphe
THIRD PERSON POVLuke groaned as her pussy squeezed his fingers, holding her close, his grip on her neck tightening. His gaze flicked to the mirror, watching her mouth hanging open, eyes rolling back in pleasure."Eyes on the damned mirror," he commanded, his voice husky. He gripped her chin, feeling a wave of ecstasy as she whimpered, following his orders. "Engrave this image in your head, Aurelia. Let it serve as a reminder that only I can make you feel this way."Aurelia gasped, trying to catch her breath as she watched his fingers move inside her, her arousal evident. Her legs buckled, threatening to give out, but she stood, her chest heaving with each sensation. She followed his orders, her embarrassment mingling with excitement. The idea of being seen, of being overpowered so thoroughly, made her chest swell with unfiltered need.‘This is more than just PDA,’ she thought, feeling the illicit thrill of their public display. “Look at yourself,” Luke whispered in her ear, his lips
AURELIAAs the car pulled up in front of my apartment building, I let out a soft sigh, a wave of relief washing over me. I gazed out the window, avoiding the lingering stare of the man sitting beside me.I had maintained this position throughout the ride, unable to meet his gaze after what happened at the boutique. Heat crawled up my cheeks at the mere thought of it. I still can't believe we did that in public, ultimately crossing off one of the things on my bucket list.Intense PDA. Check."We're here," the CEO called, successfully getting my attention as I finally turned to face him. He looked completely unfazed, which made me a little frustrated, but then again, I didn't expect anything more.I wanted to thank him for today, but the words wouldn't come out. "Oh," I managed to mutter but made no move to leave. I looked down at my feet, to the dozens of shopping bags, and chewed on my bottom lip.Gosh, why was this so awkward?I stiffened as I felt the CEO draw near, raising my gaze t
AURELIAI didn't know what to think. I didn't know how to feel.Was I angry? Yes. Frustrated? Yes. Terrified? Yes.The morning light streamed through the tall windows of the CEO's office, casting long shadows across the polished floor. I stood before his imposing desk, my hands clenched at my sides.Luke sat calmly in his leather chair, his expression as calm as a still lake. "Have you signed the contract?" His voice was cool and collected, a stark contrast to the turmoil raging inside me.I narrowed my eyes on him. This man… he must know that I had already figured out he was the so-called master, but I did not sense any remorse or apprehension from him. It was infuriating. How long did he plan to toy with me, and then he goes ahead to reveal the truth like it was nothing? Like he didn't violate and cross all boundaries. "I haven't," I replied evenly, meeting his gaze with determination. "And I haven't had a chance to go through it either."How could I even consider the contract, on
“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.”
AURELIA’S POVI threw my head back, my moans constricting against the gag in my mouth as my whole body trembled in painful pleasure. My wrists burned as my arms were bound by a tight rope, banishing any chance of escape. I looked up at him as tears welled in my eyes, begging him to put me out of my misery. He only smiled, leaning down to roughly grab my chin. “Had enough yet?” His husky voice rumbled in my ears, his hot breath fanning against my face as I writhed under his hold. “Or do you want me to punish you more?” A normal person would have easily refused, but I was far from normal. I nodded my head slowly, and he smirked. I yelped loudly as I felt the whip slash against my most sensitive part, eyes rolling to the back of my head as waves of ecstasy clouded my mind. “You fucking slut.” He whispered tentatively, and my gaze found him as he settled between my legs, spreading my thighs apart with his sturdy hands. His dark eyes soaked in the sight of my throbbing wet pussy, bur