The silence stretched between them like an invisible thread, tying them together in a strange, heavy comfort. Dino could feel the weight of the unspoken words hanging in the air, his mind running over everything that had been said—and everything that hadn’t been said. His father’s voice still echoed in his ears, the words sharp and demanding. And yet, here he was, sitting next to Eloise, as if everything was fine.As if he could just forget about the suffocating pressure from his father and the constant expectations that seemed to define his every move.Dino glanced at Eloise again. Her eyes were focused on the TV screen, but there was something in her posture—a subtle tension in the way her body was angled, her lips pressed together—that told him she wasn’t as absorbed in the show as she appeared to be.He couldn’t help but wonder what she was thinking. Was she still bothered by the way he had been distant lately? Or was she starting to understand why he had been pulling away?He did
The room spun as Alex's weight pressed down on her, his breath hot and thick with whiskey. The scent clung to him, suffocating her, making her stomach churn. Ashley squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself anywhere but here. His hands were rough, unrelenting, tearing at the fabric of her dress as if it had personally offended him. The sound of ripping filled the silence a sharp, cruel reminder of how little her resistance meant. "Alex, please," she whispered, but the words barely scraped past her throat. He ignored her. His mouth dragged over her skin, sloppy and possessive. His grip was bruising, fingers digging into her hips, his body pressed so tightly against hers that she could barely breathe. "You’re mine," he muttered against her collarbone, his voice thick with drunken arrogance. "You always will be." A tear slipped down her cheek. Ashley pushed against his chest, her hands trembling, but he barely noticed. Or maybe he did and just didn’t care. "Stop," she tried
Eloise POV "Eloise, how do I look?" Mom asked, twirling slightly, her eyes wide with anticipation. "Mom, this is the third time you’re asking me that," I replied, trying not to roll my eyes. "You look perfect." "Come on, can’t you see the difference?" She leaned in, pointing at her lips with a grin. "I’m wearing red lipstick instead." I laughed, shaking my head. "Oh, I see now. Looking hot." She beamed, fluffing her hair one last time as if this mysterious man she’d been going on about would notice every detail. Ever since she met him, I’d barely been able to have a single conversation with her that didn’t somehow circle back to him Alessandro, the "incredible," "successful," and, of course, "oh-so-charming" billionaire. Mom was head over heels. She’d light up every time she talked about him, and at first, it was sweet to see her so happy. But as the months rolled by, something didn’t sit right with me. Six months of whirlwind romance, secretive weekends away, and nonstop
Not long after, a tall, handsome guy with an easy smile walked toward us. His dark hair was styled perfectly, and he had the kind of effortless confidence that only comes from being comfortable in places like this. “Ahh, here he is," Alessandro said, standing up with a grin. "This is Luca." He turned to us. "Anne, Eloise, meet my younger son, Luca." Luca gave my mom a warm smile before turning to me, his handshake firm but friendly. “Nice to finally meet you, Eloise. My dad’s been going on and on about this dinner.” I managed a polite smile, still processing everything. There was a warmth in Luca’s eyes, a friendliness that made him instantly likable. Then Luca leaned toward his father, murmuring something. Alessandro nodded, and with a slight frown, he turned to us. "Well, it seems Dino won’t be joining us today. He’s still tied up on a business trip and won’t make it back in time.” “Oh, what a shame," my mom said, sounding genuinely disappointed. "I was hoping we’d meet
I managed a tight smile, trying to ignore the way my pulse was racing. “Yeah… nice.” “Nice to meet you too,” I replied coolly, keeping my tone steady. Not nice to meet you, I thought to myself, brushing aside the fact that we knew each other. Mom smiled, glancing between Dino and his father. “You look so much like your father, Dino.” She was right; there was a striking resemblance. Both shared the same intense dark eyes and a jawline that seemed carved from stone. Alessandro’s features had softened with age, but Dino… he had an edge that made him almost intimidating. Dino’s mouth curved into a small smile, as if used to hearing this comparison. “I get that a lot.” I managed a tight smile of my own, keeping my expression neutral. It was strange, sitting across from someone who had been such a painful part of my past, and watching him play the role of a polished, polite son. It was as if he had wiped out everything he’d done back then. The conversation carried on lightly b
“What? Dino Alessandro? Like Dino Dino?” Jessica’s voice practically shrieked through the phone. I sighed, flopping back onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. “Yes, Jessica. For the millionth time, Dino Dino.” Jessica, my best friend since college, was the kind of person who made life bearable. We’d bonded over late-night study sessions, caffeine-fueled breakdowns, and our mutual love of trashy rom-coms. She was fearless and fiery, the kind of person who’d storm into a professor’s office to argue over a grade without hesitation. If I ever needed a cheerleader, a therapist, or even a partner in crime, Jessica was it. Unlike me, she never let anyone walk all over her. She was bold, loud, and unapologetically herself. Exactly the kind of person I’d always wished I could be. “No freaking way,” she said, her disbelief dripping through every word. “You mean the same Dino Alessandro who wait, hold on, I need to sit down for this. Okay, go on. The same Dino who made your high school a li
The following day, I felt a soft kiss on my forehead. “Wakey, wakey...” “Mom?” I groaned, my eyes still closed. “Look who’s got an interview and is still in bed,” she teased, her voice light but pointed. “What time is it?” I mumbled, half-asleep. “It’s 8:30,” she said casually. My eyes flew open. “What?!” I bolted upright. “The interview is at nine!” “I know,” she replied, amused as she stepped back. “Which is why I’m here to make sure you’re not late. Now, hurry!” The company I was interviewing for, Prestige Global, was one of the biggest players in the PR world. Landing this job could set me on a career path I’d always dreamed of. I scrambled out of bed, my heart racing. After a record breaking shower and a messy attempt at makeup, I threw on my tailored navy blue blazer and matching trousers. My mind was buzzing, a chaotic mix of panic and self-pep talks. Grabbing my bag, I paused as I spotted the keys to my black silk car sitting on the dresser. It was the car
He began the interview, but every answer I gave felt like a battle, each question more probing than the last, I could hear his tone dripping with that infuriating mix of mockery and control he always seemed to wield so effortlessly. “What makes you fit for this job?” he asked, leaning back in his chair with a raised eyebrow, as though daring me to impress him. I took a deep breath, my hands clenched tightly in my lap. “I’m not,” I said abruptly, my voice sharper than I intended. “In fact, I’m no longer interested.” I leaned forward, my eyes locking onto his with a fire I could no longer contain. “What do you want from me, Dino?” His smirk faltered for the briefest moment before it returned, sharper this time. “I’m not sure I understand the question,” he said smoothly, closing the folder in front of him and resting his elbows on the table. “You know exactly what I mean,” I snapped,
The room spun as Alex's weight pressed down on her, his breath hot and thick with whiskey. The scent clung to him, suffocating her, making her stomach churn. Ashley squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself anywhere but here. His hands were rough, unrelenting, tearing at the fabric of her dress as if it had personally offended him. The sound of ripping filled the silence a sharp, cruel reminder of how little her resistance meant. "Alex, please," she whispered, but the words barely scraped past her throat. He ignored her. His mouth dragged over her skin, sloppy and possessive. His grip was bruising, fingers digging into her hips, his body pressed so tightly against hers that she could barely breathe. "You’re mine," he muttered against her collarbone, his voice thick with drunken arrogance. "You always will be." A tear slipped down her cheek. Ashley pushed against his chest, her hands trembling, but he barely noticed. Or maybe he did and just didn’t care. "Stop," she tried
The silence stretched between them like an invisible thread, tying them together in a strange, heavy comfort. Dino could feel the weight of the unspoken words hanging in the air, his mind running over everything that had been said—and everything that hadn’t been said. His father’s voice still echoed in his ears, the words sharp and demanding. And yet, here he was, sitting next to Eloise, as if everything was fine.As if he could just forget about the suffocating pressure from his father and the constant expectations that seemed to define his every move.Dino glanced at Eloise again. Her eyes were focused on the TV screen, but there was something in her posture—a subtle tension in the way her body was angled, her lips pressed together—that told him she wasn’t as absorbed in the show as she appeared to be.He couldn’t help but wonder what she was thinking. Was she still bothered by the way he had been distant lately? Or was she starting to understand why he had been pulling away?He did
The room spun as Alex's weight pressed down on her, his breath hot and thick with whiskey. The scent clung to him, suffocating her, making her stomach churn. Ashley squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself anywhere but here. His hands were rough, unrelenting, tearing at the fabric of her dress as if it had personally offended him. The sound of ripping filled the silence a sharp, cruel reminder of how little her resistance meant. "Alex, please," she whispered, but the words barely scraped past her throat. He ignored her. His mouth dragged over her skin, sloppy and possessive. His grip was bruising, fingers digging into her hips, his body pressed so tightly against hers that she could barely breathe. "You’re mine," he muttered against her collarbone, his voice thick with drunken arrogance. "You always will be." A tear slipped down her cheek. Ashley pushed against his chest, her hands trembling, but he barely noticed. Or maybe he did and just didn’t care. "Stop," she tried
His words were a slap to the face. Her entire body tensed, grief and anger clashing inside her like a storm. She opened her mouth, trying to find her voice, trying to say something... But before she could, Alex leaned in close, his breath hot against her ear. "Don’t make things more difficult than they already are," he murmured, his tone deceptively soft. Then, just like that, he released her. He straightened his tie, his polished smile slipping back into place as if nothing had happened. And then he left her standing there. Alone. Like always. Ashley pushed open the door to the restroom and stepped inside, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor. Her breathing was shallow, her hands trembling as she locked herself inside one of the stalls. The moment she was alone, the dam broke. Silent, gut wrenching sobs wracked her body as she leaned against the cold metal wall, her fingers gripping the fabric of her dress. The pain of everything, the loss of her
The silence stretched between them like an invisible thread, tying them together in a strange, heavy comfort. Dino could feel the weight of the unspoken words hanging in the air, his mind running over everything that had been said—and everything that hadn’t been said. His father’s voice still echoed in his ears, the words sharp and demanding. And yet, here he was, sitting next to Eloise, as if everything was fine.As if he could just forget about the suffocating pressure from his father and the constant expectations that seemed to define his every move.Dino glanced at Eloise again. Her eyes were focused on the TV screen, but there was something in her posture—a subtle tension in the way her body was angled, her lips pressed together—that told him she wasn’t as absorbed in the show as she appeared to be.He couldn’t help but wonder what she was thinking. Was she still bothered by the way he had been distant lately? Or was she starting to understand why he had been pulling away?He did
Dino’s phone rang again, and he groaned, already knowing who it was. He glanced at the screen Father and sighed. With a heavy pause, he answered, his voice taking on that familiar cool, distant tone.“Yeah?”His father’s voice came through the line, clear and commanding. “Dino, I need you at the office tomorrow.”Dino rubbed the back of his neck, already feeling the tension in his shoulders rise. “What for? I thought Luca was handling things.”“He is, but I need your input on something specific. These contracts with the foreign investors... this is big. I can’t leave this to anyone else.” His father’s tone was terse, and it didn’t leave much room for argument.Dino’s eyes briefly flickered to Eloise, who had turned her attention to the television, though her posture was rigid, as though she was trying to seem casual but clearly wasn’t. He rubbed his face, fighting the wave of frustration bubbling up inside. “I’m still dealing with things here. I’ve got enough on my plate.”“Enough? It
But as much as she enjoyed this distraction, she knew she couldn’t avoid Dino forever. And she had a feeling that when she got back home, he’d be waiting. Eloise stood at the entrance of the estate, gripping the strap of her bag as she stared at the sight before her. Sandra was draped over Dino like she belonged there, her manicured fingers tracing slow, lazy circles on his chest as she laughed at something he said. Eloise swallowed hard, forcing herself to take a deep breath. You knew this would happen, she told herself. You knew she’d be here. But knowing didn’t make it any easier. Dino hadn’t noticed her yet, too caught up in whatever Sandra was saying. Or maybe... maybe he had noticed and just didn’t care. That thought stung more than she wanted to admit. She stepped further inside, her heels clicking against the floor, finally drawing their attention. Dino’s gaze snapped to her instantly, his body tensing for just a fraction of a second before his expression smoothed into
Eloise groaned, sinking deeper into the couch. “You’re impossible.”Jess grinned, completely unfazed. “And yet, you love me.” She tossed a piece of popcorn into her mouth. “So, tell me how did this even happen? One minute you and Dino are bickering like enemies, and the next, you’re tangled in the sheets?”Eloise exhaled, staring at the ceiling as the memories flooded back. The way he had looked at her. Touched her. Claimed her. She felt the heat creeping up her neck and covered her face with her hands.“Eloise,” Jess nudged her. “Details. I need details.”Eloise peeked at her through her fingers. “Jess, I’m not going to sit here and narrate my sex life to you.”Jess pouted. “But I live for this kind of gossip.” She crossed her arms. “Fine. I’ll respect your privacy—”Eloise sighed in relief.“—but at least tell me who made the first move?”Eloise hesitated before muttering, “Him.”Jess gasped dramatically. “No way! Dino is all broody and possessive, but I never took him for the act f
Eloise: Girl's hangout with Jess Then she tossed the phone to the couch immediately... Jess watched her closely, a smirk tugging at her lips. “That bad, huh?” Eloise crossed her arms and slumped back into the couch. “I don’t want to deal with it right now.” Jess hummed. “So, let me get this straight... you can spend an entire night thinking about him, but the second he reaches out, you shut down?” Eloise shot her a glare. “I am not shutting down.” Jess arched a brow. “Oh, really? Because it looks a lot like you just threw your phone like it personally offended you.” Eloise exhaled, rubbing her temples. “I just—” Before she could finish, her phone buzzed again. Jess lunged for it before Eloise could stop her. “Ooh, let’s see what he said.” “Jess, don’t—” But it was too late. Jess already had the phone in her hands, her eyes scanning the screen. Then she let out a low whistle. “Oh. Oh, girl, he’s pissed.” Eloise snatched her phone back and hesitantly looked at t