CHAPTER 31Achilles POV One of my eyes cracks open and instead of welcoming in the saturated sunlight, I am met with a smooth, milky skin. Susan. She's watching me with her elbow on the bed to support her head. She looks so beautiful this morning and I want more of her, noticing my morning hard on. A slow smile forms my lips. "Watching me sleep, huh?" I say. I pull her by the waist, reveling in the softness of her skin. "Let's sleep more, love. I don't think I'd want to go to the office when I have a whole snack chilling in my bed." Susan's eyes widens and she laughs out loud as her body comes in contact with mine. "I have classes today!" She says quickly and tries to move away from me but my grip around her is firm. Slowly, my fingers travel from the curve of her hip to the side of her belly. Susan tenses and shuts her eyes momentarily. I can get her to miss classes today. "Why don't you take a break today? You look like you have read so much and your b
Susan's POV Tarantino is a beautiful man. Tall, lithe, and lanky with the graces of a model. His smile is like a light on my path, totally contagious and beautiful. What they call a million-dollar smile. Though Achilles is buffier, they share a few traits. The hair, eyes, and sharp jaw. Tarantino is taller and quite the bold one. Once he is free from his elder brother's hold, he rubs at his throat while coughing and glaring at Achilles who has gone back to preparing breakfast for us both. Their relationship, from what I had seen moments ago, is a cordial one. As Tarantino slides into the stool beside mine, he gives me a slow smile, his eyes twinkling. I couldn't hold it back so I spoke. "You're so beautiful." Tarantino's eyes widen. He laughs, looking at Achilles who has already turned and is shooting him death glares. "Stay away from Susan, Tarantino." Achilles warns, a shadow of a smile coating his face. Tarantino raises both of his hands in surrender as he b
Taleela's POV My heart lurches as soon as Susan's gaze lands on the cuffs laying carelessly inside the last drawer compartment. I blame myself for my carelessness for not putting them in order. Now, Susan has seen it and is going berserk. I prepare myself for extremely weird questions. " I am so jealous!" Susan cried. "I wish I had a thing for sadomasochism." Frowning, I crawl to the open drawer and push it to shut before sliding my feet forward and leaning back against my dresser. "Jealous, why?" "People who practice BDSM are unique and seem to have gotten to another level of pleasure," Susan explains. "For someone like you who hates being controlled by anyone and loves being controlled, all you need is a partner who you can submit to and dominate at the same time. Crazy fun in my books." I shake my head like I am the least interested in what she's saying. I don't find it comfortable talking about my sexual fantasies with a lot of people. And no, it's not because of the judgemen
Taleela's POV; I feel bad about lying to Susan about not knowing anything concerning the gala. It makes me feel horrible. But all the same, she'll be knowing soon. The Gala is fast approaching and I am honestly nervous. I have always attended the Gala every year with a mask on to hide my identity. A few times, photos of my outfit had been talked about in newspapers, asking who the mysterious lady who always covered up her face was. It was about time I showed the whole fashion world my identity. And that is the main reason for my nervousness. Nobody knows who I am and I have no idea how the news will be taken. Susan will feel really betrayed and I hope she doesn't hate me for living under the same roof with her and feeding her with lies. Kal is another problem I am honestly not ready to face, but since he's the main reason why I am revealing my identity, then so be it. I want him to know that I can do anything I want with my company. Over the weeks, I and Kal have had constant sex;
Kal's POVMy father called a few moments ago to tell me that they have arrived in Italy already. I am at the office, getting set to leave. Achilles says he'll be off today so that he'll be able to get prepared for the gala, courtesy of Tarantino wanting to get him clothes for the party. I also have to go home and get a few things done. My parents would be having our extended family over for dinner and I have to purchase stuff for it because we'd be holding it as soon as we're back from the Gala. Linda calls me the moment I step out of my office. "Hey, Kal," She sings. I sigh, knowing what she's going to say next. "Mum and Dad already left?" "Yes, I reply. Didn't they call to inform you?" Linda grew up seeing both of my parents as her parents and up till now, she addresses them as such. Not even her parents have the privilege to be acknowledged as such by her. "Well, they did." She says, drawing the sentences slowly. I roll my eyes and nod at one of my employees that greeted me w
Susan's POV Tonight, I am not at the club. Achilles invited me to stay over at his place since we'd be taking a flight to Italy with Tarantino the next morning. Achilles has told me not to inform Taleela of my arrival in Italy. He wants us to surprise her. And as we take a drink from a tall glass of lemonade, I think about how surprised she's going to be when she sees me at the gala. And oh, Achilles told me that she's going to be attending the gala, all thanks to Kal. I wonder what dress she'd be wearing that night. I am more than excited to attend the Elite Gala and if anyone told me I was going to attend last week, I'd have ripped off the person's throat for feeding me with such lies. Tarantino interrupts my alone time by standing in my view. Looking up at him, I raise my brows in askance. He hands over a plate of grilled lamb meat to me and I immediately sit up, remembering that Tarantino had promised to make me his favorite food. The spiced aroma wafts into my nose and my mo
Taleela's POV D-Day has finally arrived. My penthouse is bustling with designers and make-up artists. Jimmy Choo delivered two absolutely beautiful pairs of heels; a champagne coarse glitter fabric pointy toe pumps and a pair of crystal-covered pumps. Nikolai, who arrived a few minutes ago, has left for the venue of the gala while I get prepared. I have no idea why he brought a spa team. When I refused moments ago, he told me that my skin looks sallow. "Ma'am, your dress will be ready in no time." Someone speaks from the door. I am laying flat on my belly as the masseuse massages my skin thoroughly. Looking up, my gaze hits a lady with pink hair and numerous piercings. I nod at her and lay my cheek back on the plush pillow. As soon as I am done, a towel is wrapped around my chest and around my hair that has just been washed. It's still afternoon but I have started preparations already. After a year of being away from Italy, I have totally forgotten how long it takes to
Kal's POV; I already sent my chauffeur to go pick Bells up and going through pictures of us that we took a few weeks ago during one of our dates, I smile. "What are you smiling at?" Linda speaks up, peering over my shoulders. I immediately snatch my phone away from her view. Linda frowns and rolls her eyes. It's just us both in this car with the driver in the front seat. Linda has decided to be a pest today and that's simply because I didn't speak up for her when she was being scolded by our parents. When we arrived in Italy, my father was waiting for us at the airport to pick us up. He's someone who values family time and those little gestures of care a lot. So you'd see him coming to pick you up from the airport, and school and making sure he attends every one of your functions. Mind you, he had no idea that Linda was coming with. Immediately he saw Linda walking by my side with her luggage beside her, he flared. Linda in particular bore the brunt of his anger and all through
Taleela's POVIn the evening, Karanos proposed to me; I wasn't expecting it. I had just been coming down the stairs for dinner when I found him down on one knee with a plush red box that was open and had a diamond ring sitting on it.I had nearly toppled down the stairs when I saw him in that position, and it had him bounding up the stairs in sheer panic.We had both erupted into laughter, and I had kissed and kissed and kissed him, bursting into tears as he took a second kneel before me.It's a memory I will never forget in a rush. The slow sex we had after his proposal, how he handled me gently, how he made me feel like the most special woman in the world.For the first time in my life, I felt a rush of love I had never felt for so many people.We had kept the marriage proposal secret, but somehow, Susan had spread the news across to everyone in her family and also Kal's family. What shocked me the most was how Achilles, Susan, and Karanos' mother conspired to plan a joint wedding.
Susan's POVI ask, fully dressed, but Achilles seems to have difficulty buttoning up his shirt. Frowning, I walk toward where he's standing and help him to button his shirt up."Why are you suddenly shaky?" I ask.Achilles shakes his head, and a lock of his hair falls on his forehead. I push his hair back to its normal position and kiss his lip before leaning back to look at my beautiful husband.He's dressed in a dark shirt, and slacks cling to his long powerful legs. It's not tucked in. Just the way I like it. Patting his chest, I kiss him again."You're nervous, babe," I say to him. "I can see that you are."Achilles sighs and picks up his perfume bottle from the vanity table behind me. "Yes, I am. What if your mother threatens me and decides to send me off without you? What if she dislikes me? What if—"But I place a hand on his lip to shut him up. "Shh. It's okay, Achilles. My mother isn't going to do anything funny. Yes, she might be strict and all that. I think she'll like you
Jemmah's POVThree days later.Greece.I don't know why Karanos wants us to drive to his parent's home. I already told him I'm feeling quite sick, but he's bent on doing what he wants."Can we stop by the hospital before seeing your parents, babe?" I ask as we almost get to the city clinic.The flight we took last night messed with my rhythm, making me highly uncomfortable.Karanos sighs and finally agrees. As he turns at the intersection, he says, "Baby, we all know it's your pregnancy and nothing else. We even got a book to guide us through your trimesters. Isn't that enough? My mum doesn't like latecomers,"I frown at him. "Mummy's boy?"I notice Kal's jaw shift. I know he's trying to react calmly to what I just said. Since my pregnancy, he has been considerate, and I find it weird."Babe, you know that's not true. I love my mother, but I don't suck up to her,""But you sure look like you're doing so!" I say to him,Karanos visibly blows out a breath. "No, I am not! That's how we a
Jemmah's POVThree months laterWell, I got pregnant!Isn't that good news?At first, I didn't think it was. I wasn't ready for a baby, and I didn't plan for it.I didn't see myself pregnant this year. I had never really given having a baby thought, and I was pretty disoriented when the doctor told me I was pregnant.Karanos was in the country for a three-month vacation and a company merger. So, he was running around and setting things up while I relaxed. He didn't want me stressed out.I told him a week later while we were on a date. I knew it wasn't the perfect timing, and I hadn't crested one, so I thought informing him on a date would spice things up since he was in a happy mood.Well, it spiced things up. Kal leaped to his feet and kicked his chair back as he walked towards my seat. He lifted me and twirled me around. He was thrilled, but I wasn't quite sure I was.Okay, here's the thing.I was just so confused about the pregnancy thing, and I wanted to burst into tears, but Kal
Taleela's POVThere's a party tonight, and Karanos has forced me to come to Greece. Anyway, it's not something I'd be stubborn about because I want to be there while he celebrates his partnership with us.That's what his father wants, and Karanos has to do it for him. The man is sick and needs some requests to be granted.Susan already called hours ago to tell me the dress code. It was annoying because I had already prepared a dress to wear tonight, and Susan was calling to tell me that Linda had already picked a dress code for the party.Well, it's no problem because I have already ordered a new dress that'll be delivered in hours at Susan's apartment. I'll be going to the airport with nothing but my purse and a few clothes to stay in over the weekend.I miss Karanos. It's just been a week, but it feels like years.On the morning after the night I had gotten drunk, Tobias pulled out from the deal, and I asked Nikolai to put assigning the contract to anyone on hold because I already h
Taleela's POVHe picks up.Wherever he is, there is a flurry of activities, but he still picks up anyway. That's a good thing. I hope he listens to me because I am extraordinarily drunk and about to pass out."Jemmah," His voice comes. Soft and filled with so much worry."Kal," I say, and my voice breaks. "Kal, photos of me in the strip club back in Greece got released on the internet," Then I begin to sob."Jemmah, I need you to stay calm for me, okay?" He says. "I'll be at your apartment in less than an hour,""But you're in Greece," I choke back tears. "How will you get here in less than an hour?""Don't worry, my love. I'll be there in no time. Don't drink more than what you already have consumed, okay?"I nod. "Yes," Even if I know I will drink till I pass out.When he ends the call, I take another swig from the bottle before leaning back into my couch and thinking about how my life is already a mess within a week of Karanos not being in my life. I have to admit, but he brings s
Taleela's POVI'm scrolling through the internet, and all that fills my news feed are pictures of me and Karanos and headlines talking about our breakup and how it affected our business relationship. Even discussions about the deal being called off.How the hell did these people know about all this? Did Karanos tell them in a press conference or something?Shaking my head, I know that Karanos is not that type of person. He's primarily private, apart from the unfortunate pictures taken by the paparazzi and some ladies that want to leech off him.I lean away from the back seat and tap my driver's shoulder. He turns for a bit. We're almost at the intersection, so I must tell him quickly."Can you take the longer route? We're going to enter my apartment from the back," I say. "The paparazzi will be waiting for me,""Okay, ma'am." The driver says and immediately swerves into the other intersection that leads to the longer route.When we get to my apartment, many reporters are standing in f
Karanos' POV"Jemmah, listen to me," I say as I follow her out of the beach house. We haven't even been here for half a week, and all this is happening. I feel so frustrated and aggravated at myself.But Jemmah doesn't even give me listening ears. She hikes her tote bag higher and continues to drive her luggage toward the door. Pulling the door with all her might, she steps out and nearly swings it shut in my face, but I am quick to hold the gate and follow her outside.She already booked a ride about an hour ago, and the driver is already here with his car purring. As soon as he sees her, he climbs out of his car and takes her luggage from her. Jemmah steps into the back of the car while she waits for the driver to place her stuff in the trunk.She doesn't spare me a glance throughout the ordeal. Her jaw is set, and I see that she's trying so hard not to break down.I climb down the porch steps when I see the driver wasting a bit of time in the trunk and go over to the side of the wi
Jemmah's POV"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to," Karanos says, his voice thick with emotions. "I wish I could make all this stop. You're hurt. You're crying."I jolt awake at the sound of his cries. Looking out of our window momentarily, I see that it's still midnight. Looking back at Karanos lying on the bed, I notice he's sweating a lot, even under the air conditioning.He's having a nightmare.So I move close enough till my skin touches his, and I gather him in my arms. As soon as he feels me close, his arms wrap around me, and he buries his head in my chest.He keeps talking and even starts to sob, making me confused. Why is he having nightmares? What did he experience in the past?But I don't ask him all that. I am more concerned about his well-being, so I wrap my legs around his lean waist, placing my chin on his head while I rock him comfortingly."You'll be fine, baby. You'll be fine," I say in my most quiet voice. "It's just a dream, and you'll wake up soon. I love you so much, Ka