Alex watched their expressions turn solemn and cursed himself internally for not reading the situation right.
"I… I don't mean to intrude here." Alex spoke up, making an attempt to recover. "I think… umm… I should leave now." With those words he got up on his feet and began to walk away from the couple. Just as he was about to reach for the lock, Claude's stern voice came through.
"Please, stay. You don't have to leave because you said nothing wrong."
Alex turned around to face the man only to see him standing by his desk. Whilst Ayla was still standing in her earlier spot, her arms holding on to her elbows like she was hugging herself.
"I didn't mean to sour either of your mood. I only wanted to know. Because that's what I am. A curious soul." Alex shrugged, apologizing to the couple once again for his questioning.
"I can understand.
"Hey." Claude turned to watch the person who had interrupted his thought process. If it was someone else, they would have probably earned themselves a scolding if not mockery from the man. But who was he to mind when it was the only person he wished to be with. Ayla. "Hey, you." A soft smile crossed his stern features as he gazed at the owner rather lovingly, his eyes filled with pure adoration. "What are you doing here?" Ayla raised an eyebrow in his direction as she eyed the white sport's car parked right behind him. It was miraculous enough to earn the man a few glances from the onlookers. But did he really require a car for the purpose? He so did not. His face would be enough to have random strangers, both men and women, drooling. And to a certain extent, it annoyed her. What she found more unfair was how he had only grown more handsome over the time they had spent apart.
"Who said that?" She snapped at him. "Who said I don't have feelings for you anymore? Because I do!"As soon as the words escaped her lips, shock took over her senses. Biting down on her lower lip—hard, Ayla buried her face into her palms. She didn't have the strength to look in his direction let alone meet his intense gaze. Though she did not see the look on his face, she could feel the man's eyes boring into the top of her head as the car slowed down further until it came to a stop."Ayla?" He called out her name in a low whisper but she refused to look up.It was no secret that she still had feelings for him, but saying it out loud made it all too real. And it scared her."Ayla?"Claude spoke up again, this time he wasn't whispering. Something else laced his voice, something she could not put a finger on."Will you
"What is this place?" Ayla couldn't hold her curiosity back for another minute as she allowed Claude to guide her down the dark path. Though there were a couple of street lamps located down the cobbled stone pathway, the light only helped her vision to a certain extent."You will find out soon." Claude refused to disclose anything about the site but he was sure of one thing. Ayla was going to like it."Why won't you tell me anything?" Ayla groaned out in frustration though she continued to follow in his steps."Because that would ruin the surprise." He replied in a duh tone."Or, maybe, you are kidnapping me. That is why you won't tell me where exactly we are." She speculated."It could be it. I don't want you knowing the location just in case you are able to escape from here. How are you going to find your way back to the city without knowing where
"What?" Her eyes wandered around as Ayla took her surroundings in. It wouldn't be wrong to say that the breath was knocked out of her lungs right away. Everything looked so beautiful, almost serene. They were sitting by the bank of a small lake with nothing but greenery surrounding them. Golden fairy lights hung from the branches of trees, engulfing the couple in a glow so warm that she was finding it hard to tear her gaze away from the sight. The cold wind played with the locks of her hair as Ayla took her time in admiring the arrangement. It wasn't until minutes later that she found her voice. "So, this is what you have been up to." It wasn't a question. She didn't need any confirmation from the man to know that he was the one behind it all. And that it was all for her. "You have been working too much these past few days. A small break from everything wouldn't harm you." Claude muttered next to
The scream shook the man to its core, making him almost drop whatever it was he had his fingers wrapped around."What?"Claude looked up in her direction the very instant. His brows were drawn together as his worry filled eyes searched for any kind of injury on her. It took the man a couple of seconds to realize that it was nothing. Ayla wasn't screaming because she was hurt, but because her eyes were glued to a dish covered with some saran wrap."Seriously?" He gave her a deadpanned look."What?" She barely glanced in his direction as her eyes kept staring at the glass bowl. If it was to continue any longer, he was sure that there were going to be two holes in the transparent sheet."I thought something hurt you." He shook his head as he went back to unpacking the rest of their dinner."That mac and cheese is more than enough fo
[The next day…]"What do you think?"Ayla was pulled out of her mind with a slight tap on the shoulder."Huh?" She glanced at the intruder as she drew her brows together."Where are you lost?" Claude squinted his eyes down at her as he leaned forward to have a better look at her face. "Are you tired already? We can come back another day." He proposed. The idea of her being unwell didn't settle well with the man. He was already planning on giving his doctor a call to come and check on her as soon as they arrived back at his penthouse."What? No!" Ayla shook her head. "Why would we need to come back here? We are already here and have seen half of the place."The duo decided to come and check out the old, abandoned mansion for themselves the very next day. More precisely, it was Claude who came up with the idea. According to
"That's because I was not sick, Claude." Her voice was no longer meek as she responded to his questions. "I was feeling a bit down because it's that time of the month…"It took Claude some time to process her words. But in the end, he came up with nothing. The frown nestled in between his brows only grew deeper as he found himself to be at a loss."What are you trying to say?" He finally found his voice after a good couple of seconds. "What time of the month?" Claude failed to decode her riddle, if that it was to begin with."Are you kidding me?" It was Ayla's turn to be confused. She knew that she wasn't really forthcoming with her answer, but she was sure that it wasn't that hard for anyone to guess what she was talking about."No." Claude gave his head a firm shake. "I really don't know what it is that you are talking about."Ayla stared ba
Several minutes later, Claude walked in with a tray in his hands and a hot water bottle tucked under his arm. Ayla watched him make his way further into the room with squinted eyes. The frown from earlier was no longer there and his brows seemed to have relaxed in the time he was gone. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she eyed the man. She hated it when she was the one causing him pain."Where are you lost?" Claude settled down next to her on the bed, placing the tray in between the two of them."Just thinking…""About?" Claude probed. He was eager to know what could be so important that she barely acknowledged his presence. But he wasn't expecting the reply he got in return."You." Ayla shrugged as if it was only normal for her to be thinking of him."I hope it's all good." He glanced up at her with hopeful eyes."It
[Three years later…]"Breathe in… breathe out…" Ayla was mumbling to herself as she tried to calm down her jittery nerves.She was standing before a floor length mirror, her eyes focused on her own reflection as her dress glinted under the warm lighting of her new room. Bringing her palms to the front of the dress, she ran them down in attempts to smoothen down the nonexisting creases. She couldn't help the worrying thoughts resonating at the back of her mind, her frown only deepening. But before she could delve down further, a knock at the door brought her out."Is anyone inside?"The voice was so familiar to her that a sigh of relief left her lips unconsciously."It's just me in here." Ayla breathed out as a soft smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She had sent everyone out including the make-up artist and her team once they had
[The following chapter includes mention of R-18 content. Kindly read at your own discretion.] Claude sucked onto the soft spot as his finger moved inside her, earning her moans in return which were not less than a siren's call for him, luring him to continue. He felt her insides tightening around his finger as he moved it relentlessly. He knew that she was close to finding her release and deliberately slowed down his movements. Ayla could feel her orgasm building up, inching closer to the edge. She let out a frustrated groan when Claude slowed down his movements. "D-don't st-op." She managed to say in between her gasps for air. "Oh! I am not planning to, my love, not tonight." Claude murmured against her skin and moved his lips to her cleavage, biting and sucking on her fair, smooth skin. "This might hurt a bit." He said as he inserted
[The following chapter includes mention of R-18 content. Kindly read at your own discretion.] "You don't think that it makes me unworthy of you?" She managed to mutter out as she held Claude's gaze. "You must have hit your brain if that's what's going through your brain." Claude scoffed as he leaned down to capture her lips in a passionate kiss. This time she didn't push him away but responded with the same passion. It wasn't until both of them ran out of their breaths did they pull back. "Do you understand now how much you mean to me?" Claude flicked her forehead as if he was reprimanding a small child. "I do… you mean no less to me." She smiled for the first time today and it was enough for Claude to know that everything was going to be just fine. All she needed was a little time and his love. "I love you." Claude mumbled
[The following chapter includes mention of self harm. Kindly read at your own discretion.] "Ayla?" Claude knocked at the door as he glanced at the clock. "Are you done, love?" He made sure that he was loud enough for his voice to go through the thick door. It had already been an hour. But she hadn't come out yet. Claude was starting to get worried. "Ayla?" He called out her name again only to be met with the same reply—silence. Though he could hear the water running constantly, he wasn't able to hear her voice. "Ayla?" He tried it one more time before making his way to the other side of the room. Claude searched through a drawer and then moved to another one. If only he could remember where he kept it. "Found it." He mumbled under his breath as soon as his eyes landed on a golden key. It was the master key
"Take your hands off her!"Ayla's eyes flickered to the owner of the voice and a long sigh of relief left her trembling lips."Claude…"In between the chaos, Claude could only see her lips moving before her eyes rolled up and she fainted."Ayla!" He didn't waste another second and rushed to her, not paying any attention to the culprit. He would have plenty of time for him later. At the moment, the only thing which mattered to her was the wellbeing of his girl.With hurried steps, Claude walked to where she was and started to untie the ropes which were holding her in place."How the hell are you here? Where are my men?" Gavin kept babbling but even then, Claude paid him no attention. He was so busy sheeting with rage that he didn't bother paying attention to anything else. Not the men, who were dressed in black from head to
[The following chapter includes mention of sexual assault. Kindly read at your own discretion.] "Let me tell you a story, kitten." He pushed himself off the wall, dusting his coat in the process. Gavin walked to the other side of the room to pick a chair and dragged it to the centre of the room. He settled down on it so that he was facing Ayla. "What story?" Despite the fact that she was scared for her life, she didn't show it on her face. She knew that she had to put up a brave front until Claude could reach her. He would realize sooner or later that she was missing. With a smile, Gavin began. "My father and a friend of his started a business together. The kind which was to grow into a big one over time. But the old man got played by his so-called friend. My father spent everything we had or owned on his dream. When our family w
[Three weeks later…]With a jump in her step, Ayla made her way to her favourite store. Things were going great with Claude finally. Everything in her life seemed to be on track. Well, almost everything.Though Claude and her were spending more and more time together with each passing day as if they were in a relationship. They kind of were, but the man never asked her to be his girlfriend despite the fact that's how he had been introducing her to everyone who saw them together.There was one other thing which was bugging her at the back of her mind. Because of peer pressure about them dating—if it could be called that—the two of them inadvertently started using black masks whenever they were in public. Neither of the two wanted to let others throw in their unwanted opinions about their relationship. Though somewhere deep inside her heart, she wanted the whole world to know that Claud
"So…"Ayla dragged it out as she turned around to stare at the man who was still standing by the doors."Mr. D'Souza?""Call me Gavin, please." He still has the same charming smile playing across his face as he walked further into the room"Umm… I am pretty sure I can not do that." Ayla let out a nervous chuckle. There was something ominous about the way he stared back at her. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she was sure that it wasn't only her mind playing with her. Something about him had shifted since the moment they walked in."Oh, please. Claude and I may not be the best of friends, but we are on our way there. It would mean a lot to me if you'd call me without any formalities." He paused before adding after a while. "Only when it's us… three."'What the f*ck!'Ala
"Because it looks like I interrupted something important."Her frown was the only thing which Claude could see but the helplessness which filled her eyes was enough of a giveaway for him. She was feeling guilty for interrupting their meeting. Well, it was more of a tour now. The actual meeting had already been wrapped up a while ago. It was what had Claude believing that her interruption was not going to have any repercussions. Even if there were any, he didn't care."It's fine. Don't worry." Claude rubbed his hand up and down her back to calm her down. Turning his attention to the group, he began. "Apologies for the interruption everyone, but let me introduce you all to my girlfriend." He was smart enough to not announce her name to the team. Though he wondered where Ayla was going with the secrecy."I am sure she must have a name." It was Mr. D'Souza who spoke up. There was a small smile playing acros