As Loretta ran back to her room, she couldn't explain why the sight of Fabian making out pained her. Besides, she was just a pet and not his girlfriend. Why was she expecting so much from him? It was delusional for her to think she could be with a man like Fabian, a Mafia boss with so much power and women ready to lick his feet. Loretta slammed the door to her room and buried her face in her bed. She reached for the note in her pocket, tore it, and threw it to the floor. Knock! Knock! Loretta quickly wiped the tears from her eyes, "Who is it?" she asked but got no reply. The door opened slowly, and Fabian walked in. "Hey, are you okay?" Fabian questioned, closing the door behind him. "I am," Loretta answered, masking her true pain. "You ran away from the party, you don't like it?""I wasn't invited.""I'm sorry I didn't invite you," Fabian walked closer and saw the note she tore, "You came out. Do you forgive me?""Why do you need my forgiveness? Does it matter if I do?""I c
"Why don't you want to go? You haven't even met my mother.""True, but I have heard about the Tigress, or are they different people? I'm not going." Loretta collected a towel from the maid and wanted to leave. "You have no choice here, Loretta. You're coming with me. Besides, where will you stay if I leave you here?" Fabian called her back. "The bungalow, or you send me back to my father.""Stop this, Retta. Tell me, why don't you want to go?""Your mum, I can't stand her.""But you haven't met her.""You are way above my league, and I'm still your—""Don't play the pet card with me, Retta.""But isn't that what I am to you, your pet?""I have already arranged for a designer to style you and get your outfits ready. We leave tomorrow." The dark-haired man ignored her question and walked out on her. "Tomorrow? That's too soon. Outfits? It's not a day..." Fabian had already gotten far and was definitely not hearing her anymore. "Shit!" Loretta cursed and walked up to her room.***"Wa
"Here's your room," the maid said, opening a door for Loretta to walk in. "Your luggage will be brought to you shortly.""Thank you, but—" Before Loretta could ask the question she had in mind, the maid had walked away. She was just as rude as her boss, the Tigress.Loretta wanted to ask the maid why there were two beds in the room instead of one. Maybe it was a mistake or something, so Loretta locked the door and chose one of the beds to lie on. They were on different ends of the room, left and right.Loretta lay on the bed and closed her eyes to silence the noise in her head.Silence the words Sandra had said to her... But her 'me' moment was interrupted by a knock at the door.She had a feeling it was a guard with her luggage, so without asking who it was, she went to the door and opened it.Standing in front of her was the last person she wanted to see... The person she had been trying to avoid her entire life."Hello, Lori.""What do you want, Roy?" Loretta maintained a straight
"Hey, wake up, it's time for breakfast." Roy tapped his roommate gently on her back."Yeah, what?" Loretta turned to the other side of the bed as she hadn’t had enough sleep.She had been awake all night trying to figure out who had sent her that cryptic text.Even when Roy joined her in the room, she noticed his mood had changed, but she cared more about the text than him."Get up, Loretta, we've been summoned for breakfast," Roy repeated clearly this time."They eat breakfast together here?" Loretta sounded surprised as she sat up, which amused Roy."Yes, they eat together. Now come on, we are guests, okay." Roy chuckled.With that, Loretta stood from the bed and went to take a quick shower.She walked alone as she was still avoiding Roy. Well, she didn't think he would be eating with them.From what she had gathered, she knew Roy was a spy expert or something... So if he was here, he came for a job and not to have fun.Loretta was guided by the guards who were at different position
"No, you don’t. You don’t want to try again," Loretta snapped and tried to get free from his grip, but he wouldn’t let her."I do. I’ve been looking for you ever since.""No, you weren’t. Stop this, Roy, move on. You’re not in your right senses.""That’s the problem, I’m not in my senses because all I think about is you. I’m not on alcohol, so you won’t say I’m dissociating. Please hear me out.""I don’t. I don’t want to listen to you. Do you know what Fabian would do to you if he finds out that—?""But you’re not happy here, are you? He treats you like a rag, he does nothing but hurt you. You’re just his pet.""That’s better than being with you, Roy. I hate you." Loretta made an effort to leave again, but Roy was persistent."I’m sorry, okay? I really am.""Sorry for what? Tell me."Roy took deep breaths, and when he noticed Loretta was no longer struggling to be free from his grip, he started, "I’m sorry for sleeping with Maddie on our first date. I was drunk and I dissociated, but
"Damn it, Loretta," Fabian cursed under his breath."What is it, sir? Is everything alright?" Mikel tried to understand Fabian's change in expression.The mafia boss didn't reply to him or anything and headed out to get her back, but just as he was about to pass through the door, his mum held him back."I would love you to meet these two men. They said they have a solution to your new anonymous business rival," the tigress said."Mum, I can't right now. I need to handle something. Besides, you have this rule of no business at parties," Fabian tried to discourage his mother, though he knew it wouldn't work."Come on, son. I had to get these gentlemen for you. It would be rude if you don't give them your attention," Sandra spoke, giving him the puppy dog eyes.Fabian knew there was no saying 'no' to his mother, so he took a little excuse, "Okay, give me a second, I'll be back with you shortly."The mafia boss went to meet with his assistant, "Mikel, come here." Fabian called him out fro
"No, no, no, this can't be happening," the mafia boss muttered to himself and went to meet with Loretta, who was still shocked.But somebody dragged him and placed their lips on his. Fabian opened his eyes to discover it was Tasha.He wanted to break free, but the room immediately went dark. While he was still thinking about what happened, the spotlight came back on, but it was on Fabian and Tasha as they kissed.The crowd started clapping and cheering for them as they kissed, and suddenly the light came back on.Loretta wiped the tears that threatened to fall.Mikel could have just let her go. She noticed how Fabian seemed so happy as he kissed Tasha, the same way he reacted when he kissed her.Loretta couldn't stand the sight and walked out of the room and into the restroom.Fabian saw her leaving the room, and his heart dropped. This wasn't what he wanted.He didn't like kissing Tasha; he wanted Loretta to be the one in his arms and her lips on his, but all thanks to his mother, sh
Fabian's rejection stung, and the surge of anger and hurt boiled over inside her. She'd leave him to his business and Tasha. She spun on her heel to make her retreat and collided with a server carrying a tray of drinks."Oh, I'm so sorry!" Loretta apologized, helping the server gather the spilled glasses."Miss, be careful," said the server in a whisper, as he handed her a napkin. "You are better off not being with these persons. They're no good for you."Loretta's eyes sparkled with surprise at the words of the server. She nodded subtly, taking the napkin.As she walked away, Loretta noticed Mikel staring across the room at her. Their eyes met, and he arched an eyebrow-just inquiring if everything was fine with her. She forced a weak smile to her face and nodded.Her evening turned into one big blur; though she did the things she was supposed to do, she faked all her amusement. Loretta kept her distance from Fabian, Roy, and Tasha and nursed her hurt feelings.As the night wore on, L
Chapter 163Weeks filled with anxiety and unsolved conundrums, deception, and intrigues had passed. The search for Loretta however had shifted into overdrive for Fabian in a dangerously obsessive manner. Each piece of information brought him closer to a revelation but still, every single one of them failed to prepare him for what would come.On a chilly autumn day, Fabian received a telephone call from an unknown caller. His heart raced as he picked up the call, fully aware that this could be the call he had been anxiously waiting for.“Fabian”, the voice on the other end sounded slightly familiar. It was the detective that he had hired to help him after Edward went missing. “We have a situation. We have located Loretta.”Fabian felt his heart race when a small house at the edge of the city came through after the address had been given. Without thinking, he took his keys and dashed to the door. The trip was a haze, all of it filled with thoughts of Loretta. What did they do to her? Wh
As he rode, memories came flooding his mind and brought him back to that time when all he was was Maria's assistant lingering in the shadows of her ambitions. He could remember how he would sit for hours on end and watch her enchant and flirt with Fabian; hear her laughter echo down the halls of their office.He had seen the moment of fate when Maria was wrapped in Fabian's arms, her eyes sparkling with delight, accepting him as her boyfriend. In that instant, Lucas felt jealousy mixed with frustration; how could she not see what Fabian was? He knew there was something wrong with the man she idolized depth of darkness behind the polished surface.Maria, you need to be careful," Lucas had warned her, his voice edged with concern as he faced her the next day. "I've seen the way he operates. He's not who he seems."But she had brushed him off, dismissing his worries with a wave of her hand. "You're just jealous because you're not in the spotlight, Lucas. Fabian is a powerful man. You can
As he walked down the streets of the city, he felt a surge of invincibility take over his body. He felt that no one could touch him after all, he had eliminated one of his major threats. Edward's absence would leave a huge hole, and Lucas intended to fill this vacuum with his ambition.He reached a secluded area, parked his car, and sat for a minute or so to collect his thoughts. He had to think now. Edward was out of the way; next came keeping Loretta in his grasp. She was the only way he could use both Fabian and Tasha to his advantage, and he wasn't going to let her get away from him.He whipped out his cell phone and sent a text to Maria. "Let's meet. We need to discuss the next move." In a second, he received a response: "Where?""The warehouse. I'll be there in 20."Lucas wheeled the car around and headed in the direction of the warehouse, his mind racing with possibilities. Loretta, he thought, considering how they might use her in their scheme. To be sure, she was a chip to be
At the accusation, Edward's face darkened as his mind raced to concoct this verbal assault by Lucas. "And what exactly do you think I did? I was trying to protect my family, just like you should be."Lucas tightened his fists in growing frustration. "Protecting your family? By disappearing? If you knew something about Loretta's whereabouts, you should have come forward. You have no idea what I've gone through trying to find her!Believe me, I know precisely what it's like to be helpless," Edward replied in a low-intense voice. "But you don't know the whole story. I couldn't come forward. Not yet."Lucas stepped closer, his eyes locked on Edward's. "Then tell me the story. What's going on? Where's Loretta?Edward cast a look backward toward the house as if to weigh in his mind just how much he wanted to involve Lucas with the fact. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh and spoke. "I was taken captive, but I was able to escape. Those who abducted Loretta are still on the loose, keeping my ev
Maria's eyes flashed at him as her gaze narrowed. "I'm not obsessed. I just know how things work in this world. Tasha doesn't stand a chance against someone like me. I know his weaknesses. I know what he needs.""Is that why you're trying to bring her down? Because you think you can step in and show him what a real partner looks like?" Lucas asked, intrigued.Maria shrugged, and much of her confidence returned. "Exactly, I'm just helping him see the light. Tasha is just a pretty face, a distraction. I'll make sure he realizes that."Lucas watched her, impressed yet cautious. "You know this could backfire, right? If you push too hard, you might end up pushing him away for good."Not a chance," Maria shot back. "I know how to play my cards right. While Tasha's busy playing the perfect wife, I'll be working behind the scenes, turning his head. I will make Fabian remember who he is truly meant to be with."Lucas shook his head, feeling a mix of admiration and trepidation in his chest. "Ju
Maria crossed her arms, leaning in closer, a smug look on her face. "I'm just making an observation. It's just amazing to see how fast somebody can change their tune once they snag a rich husband. Isn't it, Lucas?"Lucas gave Tasha a worried look as if to say he didn't want to be part of this. Tasha drew in a deep breath, attempting to keep calm. "You don't know anything about me, Maria. This isn't about Fabian or the money. It's about being loyal to the people I care about. Something you wouldn't understand."Maria stepped back, her eyes narrowing. "Oh, please, spare me the moral high ground. You're not some saint just because you put a ring on it. Do you think marrying him makes you untouchable? I wouldn't be so sure.""Enough!" Tasha snapped, firm in her tone. "You need to stop with the petty jealousy and move on. Your constant need to undermine me is getting old.Jealousy? That's what you think this is?" Maria laughed again, her tone hard, unyielding. "I am just looking after the
She pulled her phone out and opened the contacts list before peering at the number of Lucas once again. She dialed his number and let it ring a few times before he finally picked up, his tone tired but alert. "Tasha? Is everything okay?"Not exactly," she replied, dropping her voice to a whisper. "I just spoke with De Silva, and he certainly made it clear that he's not letting go of our past. I need to know if you have any leads on Loretta. He's becoming a problem, and I can't afford to have him interfering.Lucas squirmed in his chair. "I've been doing some work trying to locate Loretta, but she's vanished into thin air. I'll keep searching; it's not concrete at this moment."Tasha felt a sense of doom. "We can't let him know we're working together. If he finds this out, he might screw everything up.I know, Lucas said his voice grave. I'm keeping a low profile, doing my best. For now, just focus on Fabian; he is your priority.I can't just sit around and wait. De Silva is unpredicta
Tasha set the glass down, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "I don't know what you mean," she said, her voice steady, though her insides were in turmoil.He smirked, a knowing glint in his eyes. "You've always been a good liar, Tasha. But remember… I can always tell."Her breath caught, but she hastily masked the fear with a small, nervous-sounding laugh. "There is nothing to tell, De Silva. I'm just… adjusting to everything. You know how stressful things have been."He raised an eyebrow. His fingers brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, a gesture that felt more possessive than affectionate. "Stress, huh?Tasha nodded, conscious of the weight of his scrutiny. She needed to be cool, needed to make him believe all was right with her world. But sitting as close as she was to him, feeling the heat emanating from his body and the intensity of his gaze, she wondered how much longer she could play the facade before he uncovered her betrayal.De Silva leaned back, taking the glass from
There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by a deep sigh. "We have to be smart about this, Tasha. If De Silva's onto us, we need to figure out our next step, fast."Tasha pressed her fingers to her temples, the weight of the situation closing in around her. "You think I don't know that? I can't afford to slip up again, especially with him watching my every move."."We need to keep calm and stay according to plan," Lucas finally said, his voice much more even now. "He doesn't have proof as yet, just suspicions. We'll keep everything low-key for some time; make it appear as if all is business as usual. We still have leverage De Silva doesn't know about our deal with Vinnie."Tasha tightened her jaw. "What if Vinnie talks? What if he gets scared and tells De Silva everything?"Lucas was silent for a moment before his voice dropped to a low octave. "If it comes down to it… we'll have to take Vinnie out before he gets the chance to open his mouth."Tasha's stomach churned at