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Chapter 12
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2024-06-24 00:39:49Related chapters
The Mafia's Contract Chapter 13
DERRICK'S POVI sat at the edge of my bed, smoking a blunt. I let the smoke fill my lungs, hoping it would calm me down. My mind was filled with the thoughts of the drug deal I had to make with the Mexicans that evening. The particular Mexican family I wanted to deal with weren't easy people to deal with. The stakes were high. In fact, the potential for disaster was even higher. I could feel the thoughts of it pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe, hard to think clearly.I needed to get my mind off the deal, to find some way to relax. I thought smoking would help but I had smoked like two blunts already. I needed an activity to distract me. I grabbed the intercom and summoned Miss Sullivan to my room. I had the perfect idea. In a few seconds, Miss Sullivan knocked on the door. "Come in" I said. She entered with her usual smile on her face. "What can I do for you, Sir Derrick?" she asked me. “Prepare the horses,” I said. She nodded then left. I thought about it. Horse ri
Last Updated : 2024-06-27The Mafia's Contract Chapter 14
JOAN'S POVI woke up to the sound of soft murmuring. Slowly, my eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the morning light coming through the windows. A figure stood by my bedside, and as my vision cleared, I saw that it was a man. "Good morning, Joan," the man said with a smile. "How are you feeling?"I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over me, and I sank back into the pillows."A bit lightheaded," I admitted. "And sore""That's to be expected. You went through quite an ordeal. Your body needs time to recover from the shock. I recommend you rest as much as possible for the next few days.""Are you a doctor?" I asked him. "Yes, I am. If you don't mind, I'd like to check your vitals" "Okay" The doctor used his stethoscope to check my heartbeat. He proceeded to check my pulse and examining the bruises that were on my skin. After a few minutes, he stepped back and gave me a nod of approval."You'll be fine with rest and care," he assured me. "I'll check on you again tomorrow.
Last Updated : 2024-07-04The Mafia's Contract Chapter 15
DERRICK’S POV. I laid on my bed, staring at the ceiling. I couldn't sleep. Every single time I closed my eyes, I remembered Joan's face. My body still recalled the arousal from the previous night when I had rescued her. The memory of her soft, smooth, velvety skin pressed against mine was seared into my brain. I could still feel the warmth of her body. I could still feel the subtle curve of her waist beneath my fingertips.How could I even get aroused at a time like that? What the hell is she doing to me? "Damn it," I muttered, running a hand through my hair in frustration. I had to get her out of my mind. She was just a maid, a servant in my mansion. I had no business thinking of her in such an intimate way. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get rid of the image of her beautiful face. I turned onto my side, staring at the empty space next to me. I could still smell her faint scent as is scooped her into my arms. She smelled like vanilla. It was intoxicating, and I hated
Last Updated : 2024-07-04The Mafia's Contract Chapter 16
JOAN'S POVSitting on Lady Irene's bed felt surreal. Yes, you heard that right. After I was done tidying up her room she invited me to sit with her on one of the long couches by the window to have a chat. I was beyond surprised. When she asked me, I had to turn back to make sure I was the one she was talking to. The lavish feel of the couch and plush pillows screamed luxury. Lady Irene sat beside me. She was talking non-stop, and I tried to focus on her words, not wanting to seem distracted or, worse, disrespectful."Have you ever tried these?" Lady Irene held up a tiny, delicate macaron. "They’re from this lovely patisserie in Paris. I just got back yesterday. They taste lovely! Have some"I managed a small smile, accepting the treat. "Thank you, Lady Irene.""Oh, please, just Irene," she insisted with a wave of her hand. "We’re not in some ballroom. Besides, formality is so overrated."I was shocked by her words. Why was Lady Irene, a figure of high society, spending her time with
Last Updated : 2024-07-11The Mafia's Contract Chapter 17
DERRICK’S POV I stormed into the barn with my associate, Ken. The sounds of laughter stopped as soon as the maids saw me. Joan stood among them, looking beautiful as ever. She seemed more relaxed and at ease than I’d ever seen her. The sight of her made something tighten in my chest. They stood up immediately. "Good day, sir" they chorused "What’s going on here?" I asked. "We were just taking a break" Emily said "We're sorry, sir" My eyes landed on Joan. I noticed how timid and scared she looked. She was basically shaking in her spot. I could tell she was anxious with the way she played with the hem of her dress. Emily and Sarah walked out of the barn. Joan was about to leave as well until I stopped her. "Joan" I said "Stop" She turned to look at me. Her beautiful brown eyes pierced through mine, making my heart pause for a second. In that moment, all I wanted to do was just talk to her. I wanted to ask her how she was and how she was feeling. I wanted to mak
Last Updated : 2024-07-18The Mafia's Contract Chapter 18
JOAN'S POVNow that I had seen my mom, I felt a lot lighter. I spent the rest of my day off going to my mom's house and cleaning it up for her. The house was dusty and a bit damp due to how empty it had been for a while. I was happy to clean. When my mom goes back home, I wanted her to meet a neat place. I was certain that she would be okay again. She had to be. The next day, it was time to go back to work. I booked a taxi and made my way back to the Stonewood mansion. It had been just a day but I missed it. I missed everyone. It was a bit weird but this place seemed like home now. The people there treated me well and made me feel welcome. When we arrived, I got down from the cab and walked through the entrance of the mansion. As I entered, I couldn't help but feel a bit excited. However, my excitement quickly gave way to confusion when I finally stepped inside. The air was heavy, and the other workers seemed to be speaking in hushed tones. Something was definitely off.I made my
Last Updated : 2024-07-20The Mafia's Contract Chapter 19
JOAN'S POVI couldn’t stop crying as Lady Irene pulled me away from Sir Derrick’s office. The memories of Jake's hits and my own screams haunted me. The memories replayed in my mind like a broken record. I remembered how he would always insult me coupled with the cold look in his eyes when he would hit me. Lady Irene held me gently, patting my back with one hand and rubbing soothing circles on my arm with the other. Her touch was comforting. Her touch felt so different from the cold violent hands I remembered.“Breathe, Joan,” she whispered softly “Just breathe, sweetheart. Take it slow.”I tried to focus on my breathing, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly, but each breath felt like it might shatter me.Lady Irene took me to her room and helped me sit on her bed. I was breathing heavily, still struggling. She handed me a glass of water and helped me guide it to my lips as my hands shook too much to hold it myself. The water soothed my throat, and gradually, my sobs lessened.“That's
Last Updated : 2024-07-25The Mafia's Contract Chapter 20
DERRICK’S POVI couldn’t concentrate on anything that day. It was as if my mind was trapped in a loop, replaying the same scene over and over again. I had a whole lot of tasks to get through, but my thoughts kept going back to Joan. I could still see her form in my mind, crouched down and trembling, her eyes wide with fear. She covered her body with her arms in a defensive motion. When I had shouted at her, she looked like she was having a panic attack. The sight of her like that, so vulnerable and scared, haunted me. The way she had looked at me, like I was some kind of monster, had affected me more than I wanted to admit. I felt guilty. I shouldn't have snapped at her like that but I was in such a bad mood. My deals were going sour and my workers had annoyed me previously. I shouldn't have taken my anger out on her. She didn't deserve that. “Sir, are you even listening?” Santi’s voice cut through my thoughts, snapping me back to the present.I blinked, trying to focus on the disc
Last Updated : 2024-07-26
Latest chapter
The Mafia's Contract Chapter 54
JOAN’S POVThe next day, I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at my phone. Notifications flooded the screen. My phone buzzed so much I thought it might actually explode. My name was plastered across every news article, headline, and gossip column: The mysterious Joan Hathaway—The Cinderella Bride of Derrick Stonewood.It felt surreal. A part of me wanted to smile, to feel special, but the amount of hate pouring into my inbox shattered any feeling of happiness I wanted to have. I got a lot of hate messages in my Instagram message box. Don’t even get me started on the comments.“You don’t deserve him.”“Gold digger.”“He could do so much better.”And the worst—death threats.I sighed and opened Instagram, immediately setting my page to private again. The comments there were worse. I received a lot of rage from strangers who thought they knew me.A knock on the door startled me.“Come in,” I called, quickly putting my phone down.The door opened and Emily popped her head in. Her face lit
The Mafia's Contract Chapter 54
JOAN’S POVThe kiss lingered on my mind, stealing every ounce of focus I had. Derrick’s lips against mine, so unexpected, so electric—it was all I could think about as he led me by the hand into the hall. His grip was firm yet gentle, like he didn’t want to let go. My heart raced, not just from the memory of the kiss but from the interioe of the hall we stepped into.The room was breathtaking. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their crystals scattering light like tiny stars. The elites were all here—politicians, business associates, and socialites. Women wore shimmering dresses adorned with jewels, and men were well dressed in tailored suits that screamed wealth and power. It looked like a scene straight out of a movie.Derrick stopped to speak with the governor, a man I had only ever seen on television. My awe must have been obvious because Derrick leaned in and whispered, “Breathe, Joan.”The governor turned his attention to me, and brought out his hand for me to shake.“It’s a ple
The Mafia's Contract Chapter 53
JOAN’S POVThe room was filled with activity as my glam team moved around me with their palettes and brushes in hand. My makeup artist, Sophie, leaned in to add the final touch of shimmer to my cheekbones, and I tried to hold still, but my hands were trembling in my lap. It wasn’t nerves from being in the spotlight—I should have been used to that by now. I’d walked countless red carpets, smiled for cameras, and played my part in the perfect image Derrick and I had been carefully crafting.But tonight was different. Tonight, Derrick was going to propose.The audience wouldn’t know it was fake, of course. This wasn’t just any event; it was the beginning of our contract marriage. I tried to focus on the strokes of the makeup brush, but my mind kept drifting to what tonight meant.I always dreamed of getting married—falling in love with someone who looked at me like I was their entire world. The kind of love that made my mom’s eyes light up when she talked about my dad. But that wasn’t wh
The Mafia's Contract Chapter 52
JOAN’S POVI hummed as I stitched the hem of a simple dress. Sewing always brought me a sense of peace. It was a way to center myself when the world outside felt overwhelming.A sudden knock on the door broke my concentration, and I set the dress aside.“Come in,” I called, pushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear.The door opened to reveal Emily. When she saw me, her face lit up with excitement.“Joan!” she exclaimed, stepping inside.“Emily!” I got to my feet, crossing the room to hug her. “What are you doing here?”She pulled back with a huge smile “I have the most amazing news. You’ll never believe it.”I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What is it?”Emily glanced over her shoulder, as if checking for eavesdroppers, before turning back to me. “There’s someone here to see you. A fashion designer.”I blinked in surprise. “A designer? What kind of designer?”Emily grinned, practically bouncing on her heels. “Not just any designer. Hart Couture.”I froze. The name sent a jolt through
The Mafia's Contract Chapter 51
DERRICK’S POVI sat at my desk, staring at the stack of papers I wasn’t reading. Santi and Ace were talking from across me but I barely heard them. My mind was elsewhere—on her.Joan.It had been days since I’d seen her. She hadn’t crossed my path in the mansion, and as much as I hated to admit it, I missed her. The way she glanced at me when she thought I wasn’t looking, her quietness, and, dammit, even the way she seemed to avoid me sometimes.Why the hell was I thinking about her?I’d never let a woman occupy my thoughts like this before. Women came and went. They were mere distractions in my world of deals and power. But Joan wasn’t like the others. She was innocent, beautiful and …different. I couldn’t put my finger on it. And the way she’d stormed out of the dining room that night when the stripper danced on me…A feeling of guilt tightened my chest. I hadn’t cared then, but now? Now, it irritated me to know I might’ve been the cause of that flicker of hurt in her eyes. What the
The Mafia's Contract Chapter 50
JOAN’S POVFor days, I hid myself in my room, avoiding everyone and everything. I didn’t want to see anyone and neither was I in the mood to do anything.I focused on the fabric in my hand as I sewed. My fingers worked mechanically, weaving the thread into the fabric, but my mind was far from focused.Derrick.His name alone sent an ache through my chest. I hated how much space he took up in my thoughts. I shouldn’t have felt anything for him. He was cold, detached, and utterly infuriating. And yet, every time I closed my eyes, I saw him.I saw him with her. The way his hand lingered on her waist. A stripper. He acted like I wasn’t even there, like I didn’t exist. Well, to him I didn’t. I was just a pawn in the grand scheme of things.Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them away. I couldn’t do this to myself anymore. Derrick didn’t care about me. Our marriage, if it could even be called that, was a contract, plain and simple.So, why did it hurt so much?I stabbed the needle through t
The Mafia's Contract Chapter 49
JOAN'S POVIt was well past midnight when I slipped downstairs to the kitchen. I couldn't sleep so I decided to get a glass of milk to calm myself down. Just as I got the milk I needed, the muffled sound of voices caught my attention. I could hear a low argument coming from down the hallway. Curiosity got the better of me as it always did and I found myself walking closer. I stayed behind a pillar, straining my ears to catch every word.It was Derrick and Henry. They were both arguing about something. "You're hiding something, Derrick." Henry said "How long do you think you can keep it a secret?"Derrick’s response was calm "You have no idea what you're talking about, Henry. Stay out of my affairs, or you’ll regret it."I held my breath as I pieced together what little I could from their exchange. It was clear there was a rift between them. Just then, the sound of footsteps approaching shocked me. I ran back to the staircase, making my way up as silently as possible. Once I was in
The Mafia's Contract Chapter 48
JOAN’S POVIrene and I planned to spend the day getting our hair and nails done. I wasn’t the type to do this often. Hell, before I got engaged to Derrick, I couldn’t remember the last time I got my hair done. I usually did it myself. But Irene kept pleading for us to have a girl’s day out together. And how on earth could I say no to Irene?As soon as I stepped through the doors of the salon with Irene, my jaw nearly dropped. I’d never seen anything like this place before. The walls gleamed with soft pink wallpapers and crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Everything here screamed luxury, from the fluffy chairs, to the bright vanity mirrors, the marble counters and even the stylists. Women walked around wearing robes with glasses of champagnes in their hands. They talked quietly as they were pampered by the workers. Irene noticed my awestruck expression and grinned. “I told you, Joan, this place is worth the hype. Nothing but the best for us.”“I can see that”“Don’t be too su
The Mafia's Contract Chapter 47
JOAN'S POVOne night, I accompanied Derrick to a dinner with the governor. The governor’s mansion was breathtaking. Everything here was sophisticated - the paintings, the chandeliers, the high ceilings, the wide hallway and the house itself. As we stepped through the entrance, the chandeliers sparkled above us on the marble floors. I tried not to gape but it was hard not to. I was in awe of thewhole place. It looked like something straight out a movie. Beside me, Derrick walked with confidence. His posture was straight and his expression was unreadable as always. He hadn’t spoken much on the drive over. Not like he ever spoke to me anyway. But now, as we walked through the crowd of high-profile guests, he seemed even colder. The dining room was already half-full by the time we reached our seats. As I took a look around, I couldn’t help but notice the familiar faces scattered around the room. The governor, several senators, and even the President of the United States who was seated
