Elena's Point Of ViewHurrying off through the back, I dashed into the road, flagging down the first cab that came my way, without as much as telling the cab man where I was going to, I slumped into his cab. "Move" I ordered as the cab man drove off, I turned to the entrance and the satisfaction of getting away felt different "Where to Miss?" the cab man asked making me turn to him and gave him the address of where I was headed toThe cab hummed softly beneath me, the city’s noise muted as the vehicle weaved through the streets. My heart raced, not with fear, but with excitement. I’d done it. I’d slipped away from Nicholas's so-called dumb guards like a shadow in the night. The look on his face when they informed him of my escape would be priceless.A smirk tugged at my lips as I leaned back against the worn leather seat. Today was so important to me. Nothing, not even him would stop me.“Miss, we’re here,” the cab driver said, pulling into the general parking lot.I glanced out the
Nicholas’s Point of ViewThe silence in the car was suffocating, yet I could feel her tension radiating off her like a storm brewing. Out of the corner of my eye, Elena sat stiff as a board, her hands clenched in her lap, refusing to meet my gaze. Good. Let her simmer. Let her realize exactly what she’s done. The cold fury churning within me was a beast I barely kept at bay, but I relished in her discomfort. She needed to understand that disobedience had its price, and I was ready to collect.~~Flashback~~The first crack in my patience had come the moment my guard delivered the news.“We can't find her, She’s gone,” he stammered, his voice trembling as if he already knew the punishment for his failure.My jaw tightened, but outwardly, I remained composed. “Gone?”“Yes, sir. She... she told us to wait she needed to use the ladies but after minutes of waiting we went in but she wasn't there, the fire escape was open. We reviewed the CCTV footage and she was spotted boarding a cab.”Of
Nicholas's Point of ViewThe morning lights filtered through my window penetrating my eyes. As I dress up for work I couldn't help but remember the incident from the other day, the look in her eyes was amusing, she was quite different from any other girl I'd ever come across. Putting myself together and picking up my briefcase, I shuffled downstairs quietly taking one step at a time, the anticipation of seeing Elena fluttered my heart but I put myself in check before walking into the dinning. The silence of the dining room was deafening, except for the soft clinking of silverware as the maids set the table. I sat at the head, staring at my untouched plate of food, an unshakable irritation brewing within me. My coffee had grown lukewarm, much like my patience. "Where is Elena?" I finally asked, my voice calm yet laced with steel.The maid closest to me froze, her hands trembling as she placed a fresh cup of coffee by my side. “S-sir, Mrs. De Luca hasn’t come down yet,” she stammered.
Elena's Point Of ViewThe house was quiet, unnervingly so. Time seemed to crawl as I sat on the edge of my bed, staring out of the window at the expansive estate that now served as my gilded prison. The sun was shining brightly, a stark contrast to the shadow that loomed over my life. "Married to a monster." The thought alone sent a shiver down my spine, but I refused to wallow in fear.Enough was enough. I wasn’t going to let him break me, not without a fight. The defiance simmering in my veins pushed me to my feet. If I was going to be trapped here, I might as well get familiar with the territory. This wasn’t just his home; it was mine now too, whether he liked it or not.I quickly changed into a pair of comfortable jeans and a loose blouse, something simple enough to move in but not entirely devoid of style. With a deep breath, I stepped out of my room, scanning the long corridor. The air was cool, the kind of temperature that seeped into your bones.I turned to the right, curiosit
Nicholas’s Point Of ViewThe moment the door opened, I felt my breath catch. There she stood, a vision in crimson, the fabric hugging her curves as if it were molded for her. For a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to admire her, the way her hair cascaded over her shoulders, the faint glint of irritation mixed with admiration in her eyes only added to her allure. Then, as if to remind me of the game we were playing, the darker part of my mind took over. I imagined tearing that dress off her, exposing the fire I knew she hid beneath that defiant exterior.But her voice brought me back to reality, sharp and clipped as she descended the stairs. “Can we go?” she asked, her tone indifferent, as if she were already bored of my presence.I adjusted my suit and stood up from the couch I sat on. “After you,” I said coolly, gesturing for her to lead.She swept past me, the hem of her gown brushing against my leg like a taunt. We walked in silence to the car, her chin held high, her back straigh
Elena's Point Of ViewThe ride home was suffocatingly silent. I pressed my forehead against the cool glass of the car window, the blur of streetlights sliding past like streaks of gold. My hands balled into fists on my lap, nails biting into my palms as I tried to focus on the passing scenery and not the man beside me. Nicholas radiated anger, his jaw clenched so tightly I thought his teeth might crack. The tension in the car was unbearable, like the air had been sucked out, leaving behind an oppressive vacuum. I knew tonight wasn’t over, not by a long shot.This was going to be one hell of a ride.The tires crunched against the gravel of the driveway as we pulled up to the mansion. Nicholas got out without a word, the slam of the car door echoing like a gunshot in the still night. I barely had a chance to unbuckle my seatbelt before he appeared on my side, yanking the door open.“Get out,” he growled, his voice low and lethal.I stared at him defiantly for a moment, refusing to move,
Elena's Point Of View The rustle of keys on the iron door startled me awake, dragging me out of a restless, haunted sleep. My body ached from hours spent curled on the hard, cold floor, and my head throbbed as if it had been pounded by a hammer all night. The memories of the previous evening came rushing back, Nicholas’s iron grip on my arm, the panic as the door slammed shut, the suffocating darkness that had swallowed me whole. My breath hitched as I sat up, the stale air of the tiny room pressing down on me like a physical weight.The door creaked open, and the light streaming in was almost blinding. “Miss Elena,” came a soft voice. I squinted up to see Elizabeth, the head maid standing there, her expression a mixture of pity and discomfort. “The master instructed me to let you out.”I didn’t wait for her to say another word. Scrambling to my feet, I pushed past her without so much as a glance, my legs shaking beneath me as I made my way down the hall. My feet carried me on autopi
Elena's Point Of ViewTwo months. Two soul-crushing, mind-numbing months in Nicholas’s house, and it felt like I’d aged years.The mornings blurred into nights, the days indistinguishable from each other. I avoided him like the plague, hiding in my room when I heard the heavy thud of his boots in the hallway, slipping out only when I was sure he was gone. The four walls of my so-called “room” had become my prison, suffocating and unrelenting.But my mind? My mind refused to stay caged.That date, 25/12/2014 had become an obsession. It haunted me in the quiet hours, whispered in the corners of my dreams, and gnawed at my thoughts every waking moment. What did it mean? The painting had to be important, but Nicholas’s cold rage that night had shut me down before I could uncover anything.I sat at the small desk by the window, staring blankly at the outside world as the voice of Elizabeth, the head maid echoed in my head.“It would be better if you don’t go snooping around the master’s pr
Nicholas’s Point Of ViewThe phone rang just as I was pouring a drink, the weight of the last Forty Eight hours pressing down on my chest like a vice. My hand trembled slightly as I reached for the glass, amber liquid swirling with every thought of Elena. She was out there somewhere, scared, alone, and I was here, helpless.The screen lit up with Alejandro’s name, and I didn’t hesitate to answer. “Tell me you’ve got something.”His voice was steady, almost too calm. “We found the location where she us being held.”Everything in me froze for a split second, and then the storm broke loose. “Where?” I demanded, my voice sharper than a blade.“An old Castillo warehouse on the outskirts of town,” he said. “But It’s heavily guarded. We’ll need... ”“I don’t give a damn how many men they have and what we need,” I snapped, already moving. “we need to get Elena out of there tonight.”Alejandro sighed, but there was no argument. He knew better. "I will be at the warehouse in 30 minutes with mor
Elena’s Point Of ViewI woke with a jolt, my head pounding as if someone had taken a hammer to my skull. The air was thick with the stench of mildew and something metallic... blood, perhaps. The room was dim, the only light coming from a single bulb swaying overhead, casting eerie shadows that danced on the cold concrete walls. My arms ached, and when I tried to move, I realized why. Thick ropes bound me to a metal chair, digging into my wrists and ankles with every slight motion.Panic clawed its way up my throat as I tugged against the restraints. “Hello?” My voice cracked, barely above a whisper, but I tried again, louder this time. “Who’s there?”A low chuckle echoed from the shadows. My heart dropped.“Well, well, sleeping beauty finally wakes up,” a voice drawled.Two masked figures stepped into the light, their dark eyes glittering with malice. One leaned casually against the wall, a cigarette dangling from his lips, while the other cracked his knuckles like he was itching for
Nicholas’s POVThe moment I saw the picture of Elena, tied and gagged, her eyes wide with terror, a cold rage settled in my chest. My heart hammered against my ribs as if trying to escape, as if it, too, couldn’t bear the sight of her like that. I gripped the photo so tightly that the edges crumpled under my fingers. I couldn’t let myself think about the possibility of losing her, not yet. Not ever.It's been two days no news yet about her whereabout “Alejandro,” I barked, my voice sharp as a blade slicing through the tense air of the room. “What's the update on the search? where the hell she is?”Alejandro stood across the room, his face a mask of calm, though I knew him well enough to see the flicker of concern in his eyes. His phone chimed and he excused himself to take the call.I paced the length of the room in his absence, my thoughts spiraling. Every second felt like an eternity, the kind of eternity that gnawed at your sanity. She needed me, and I wasn’t there. My mind conjure
Elena's Point Of ViewThe silence was deafening. I sat on the plush couch in Nicholas’s safe house, staring at the empty fireplace. It had been two days... two unbearable days without a single word from him. No calls. No texts. Nothing but the hollow ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner. The mansion, grand and secure, felt like a prison.I needed a distraction. Rising to my feet, I decided to make coffee and some snacks. The simple act might chase away the gnawing loneliness. As I entered the kitchen, my phone buzzed on the counter, and I darted back to grab it. Without even glancing at the screen, I answered, hoping to hear his voice.“Hello? Nick? What took you so long? I’ve been...”A deep, mechanical voice interrupted, sending a chill down my spine. “The lover girl seems to have fallen in love with her father’s murderer.”The air left my lungs. “Who the hell are you? Stop accusing Nicholas without proof!” My voice shook, but I refused to let fear seep through.“You want
Nicholas's Point Of ViewThe morning sun filtered through the heavy drapes of my study, but its warmth did little to thaw the icy rage simmering in my chest. I had spent most of the night after Elena had slept off strategizing, trying to tie up loose ends before sending Elena away. I hated the idea of her leaving my side, but the constant threats from the Castillos over her head were becoming too frequent, too reckless. Keeping her here was no longer an option, it wasn’t safe.I leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair. A half-empty coffee mug sat on the desk beside a stack of reports I hadn’t even glanced at. My focus was on Elena and the promise I had made to her the night before.She deserved better than this chaos, better than me. But I'd be damned if I was going to let anyone harm her.Looking at the time it was barely 7am, It was time. I had woken Elena up earlier to pack her things, and Alejandro and the men were already stationed outside, waiting to escort us.
Nicholas's Point Of View The weight of my decisions pressed against my chest like a vice. Elena's retreating figure haunted my mind as I paced the sitting room, each step echoing in the silence. I needed her away from here... for her safety, for her sanity, and for mine. But Elena wasn’t one to back down, especially not when she believed in standing her ground.My hand instinctively reached for the wine bar. I grabbed a bottle of Martini, poured a generous amount into a glass, and downed it in one go. The liquid burned as it slid down my throat, igniting something within me.. A resolve, perhaps, or desperation. I poured another glass and stared into the amber liquid, willing it to give me the clarity I so desperately needed."I can't let her stay," I muttered to myself, the words barely audible in the empty room. My reflection in the window stared back at me, as hollow and uncertain as I felt.Elena didn’t deserve to see the side of me that was about to resurface, the side that thriv
Elena’s Point Of View The chilled morning air bit at my skin as I wandered down the empty path leading from Nicholas’s estate. Each step felt heavier than the last, my thoughts spinning in endless circles. The world I had willingly stepped into, for love or madness, was far darker than I had imagined.The image of Alejandro rushing down the hallway replayed in my mind, paired with the fragmented pieces of the conversation I had overheard. "The Castillos are back. Elena is the key." Those words had rooted themselves deep in my chest, suffocating every breath I tried to take.I needed air, space to think and clear my mind But even as I walked, my unease grew. The quiet was too absolute, too unnatural.The sound of footsteps behind me made me pause. My heart stuttered, and I spun around, but the path was empty."Get it together, Elena, stop hallucinating for pits sake!" I muttered under my breath, forcing myself to keep walking.A few more steps, and then it happened so fast, a hand cla
Nicholas’s Point Of ViewThe room smelled of blood and sweat, a sickening combination that clung to my skin as I leaned against the cold metal table. The man before me, tied to a chair, was a trembling mess. His face was swollen, his lip split, and his breathing shallow. Yet, he refused to talk.I gripped the edge of the table, my knuckles turning white as I fought to keep my temper in check. “You’ve got one last chance,” I growled, my voice low and deadly. “Who were you working for, what have you been feeding them about me and what do they plan to do ?”The mole spat blood onto the floor, his defiance almost admirable if it weren’t so fucking infuriating. “You’re already finished,” he rasped, a twisted smile tugging at his lips. “The Castillos know everything there is to know about you. Your empire? It’s crumbling, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.”I slammed my fist into the table, the sound reverberating through the room. “Wrong answer,” I hissed. Grabbing the knife from t
Elena’s Point Of ViewI woke up to the rhythmic rise and fall of Nicholas’s chest beneath my cheek, his arms wrapped protectively around me like a cocoon. For a fleeting moment, the world felt distant, a faint echo beyond the safety of his embrace. He looked peaceful in his sleep, a stark contrast to the man who commanded an empire with sharp words and colder actions.I traced the faint scar on his jaw with my finger, wondering about the stories he’d never told me. How many battles had he fought, both physical and emotional to get to this moment? A smile crept onto my lips as I imagined waking up like this every day. Maybe, just maybe, this could work.Not wanting to wake him, I slipped out of bed, the cool floor beneath my feet grounding me. I decided to surprise him with breakfast, something normal amidst our not-so-normal lives. As I tiptoed down the grand staircase, the scents of coffee and sizzling bacon wafted through the air.The kitchen staff was already at it, bustling like a