Theodore
That motherfucker actually had the audacity to think he would get anything out of this deal? How fucking foolish! I'll make sure to bring him to the lowest pit of hell after giving him a taste of what it feels like to mess with me.I was Theodore Maxwell!How in the hell could he think even for a second that he could escape my wrath for trying to cheat me! Of course, he couldn't even achieve his goal to begin with. His team is just like him. Sloppy and inefficient.So one call was all it took for all the investors in his company to take their money out. That's what power is and I like to make good use of it. I like to flaunt it. I like to make sure people know what it can do to them. And that call was all it took that pussy to come running to me, begging for help. I scoffed at the fact he was trying to sell me the benefits of investing in his company. What a bloody fool he was; he did not even know I was the one who brought him to meet his fate in the first place.So I agreed to a meeting with him, looked uninterested throughout and agreed only on two conditions.One, he would sell 60% shares of the company to me, making me the owner and him the shareholder. Yes, I basically bought his company and made sure he knows his worth now. I'm not sure what he has told everyone else, but I'm sure he would still be claiming that he is still the only owner. But we could change that in no time. One call to the media houses and it will be all over the state.Second, I thought why not make good use of his one and only daughter? I'm sure how fucking loved and spoiled she would be. I'll take my good time to ruin her. But I'll have a better time when I get the rest of my inheritance transferred after fulfilling my father's stupid will. Get married. Poor him, he thought I would never settle down for the rest of my life, given that I was already 'married to my business', or so he quoted before passing away. He wasn't wrong though. Why settle down when you don't necessarily have to? Plus, oh God! Women. They get on nerves. Especially those who look innocent, are the ones who are in for the money. It was hard to find loyalty, compassion and love in today's world. My mother, after all, didn't set a very good example for me anyway. I don't even know where she might be right now, doing what with whom. Neither do I care. She made it her first priority to take herself out of the picture after stealing a decent amount from dad. As for me, it didn't matter if I got love or not. I had money. But I guess I could blame her for the stone-cold person I am today. It wouldn't be wrong. But then, I think I like to be this way. Correction: I love being this way. I love terrorizing people, intimidating them to an extent where they go as far as pissing their pants. It gives me the satisfaction that I am better than them. Which I am, mind you."We are here," the driver informed us, and only then did I break out of my thoughts to give my newly wedded wife a glance. There was no doubt about the fact that she took me by surprise with her beauty. The burgundy hair and the hazel eyes were an easy way to charm someone. There was no way someone could walk past her before turning their heads the second time just to have a glance at her. I was glad at least that motherfucker didn't produce an ugly offspring like himself. But personalities could be uglier, right? We have yet to find out.She was looking out the window, probably admiring the view of the house. Again then, my place could also make people turn their heads twice just for another glance. And here this woman was going to live in it for free.I didn't bother waiting for her and got out of the car without looking back. I had work to do. A very important one where I sign everything that belonged to my father to my name. Fuckign finally."Is everything ready?" I looked at my butler, Anders, waiting for me in the hallway."The lawyer is waiting for you in the office sir," he bowed down before saying. Lawyer? Why? I thought the process was pretty simple and everything should have been in my name right now that I have fulfilled the last demand of my father. Guess I'll have to see for myself.***********AlinaI sighed, getting out of the car with a heavy heart. Honestly, I wasn't surprised at his behavior. I saw it all coming. It's just that the little part of my heart which believes in humanity, wanted to feel at least a little welcomed here. Guess I don't deserve it."This way, ma'am," one of the guards pointed at the main door of his mansion. I gave him a small nod before following him in. The moment I stepped foot in, I was hit by the lavish glassy interior, promising that skills, time and money were heavily put into the designing of this place. But was I excited to be living in this mansion?NoI somewhat expected his villa to be this extravagant, so it was no surprise. A housekeeper came to my assistance as soon as she saw me."Evening ma'am. I'll show you to your room." She said politely."Where's Mr. Maxwell?" I asked out of curiosity. What was so important that he had to literally run away like I was the plague?"He'll be busy for a while in his office, ma'am," She answered, while gesturing to me to follow her. And I did until we reached where I was supposed to live for the rest of my days here in this house. I had imagined by the looks of Theodore Maxwell and his actions, I wouldn't be living in his room. I was only proven right when I entered what seemed like the simplest yet elegant guest room with a color scheme of white and lilac."I'm sorry I wasn't able to do much. Actually Mr. Maxwell only informed me in the afternoon to prepare a room for you ma'am." She said, looking at the floor."That's fine." What more could I say? The room wasn't even bad for me to complain about anything."I'll bring your dinner up here.""Why not invite me to have it with everyone else?""Mr. Maxwell likes to have dinner alone. Without any disturbance." Of course, I was nothing but a mere disturbance in his life. I gave her a simple nod before she left.Sighing, I sat in the middle of the bed not knowing what to do further. Just how quickly can a life change for a woman when she gets married? And it's only for the worse when you get married to a man like Theodore Maxwell.Theodore "Don't fucking bullshit with me, Mark! How are you even capable of being a lawyer if you can't give correct information to your client!" I threw the papers in the face of the thirty-five-year-old-man who stood in front of me in my office. "Mr. Maxwell, first, I worked for your father, which makes him my client, not you. Secondly, I am doing exactly what he asked me to do after his death. I have to follow his instructions. Moreover, these clauses are written in the will. I gave you a copy to read. Didn't you go over them?" Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Why in the fuck did I not read the details in the will and only hear the important points from his mouth? "That's not the point! You should have told me that I had to stay married to her for at least three months before I inherited the complete business! Not just state that I need a wife!" I don't know why my father even believed a woman could make me fall in love with her in three months? Like seriously? What was that old fool on? No o
Alina "Dad?" I saw him sitting with one leg propped over his other, like he owned the house. "Mia," he stood up once I entered the living room. "Sit." I followed and joined him, taking a place opposite from his position. "Theodore isn't here if you came to meet him." "I'm not here to see him. I'm here to see you." Why would he want to see me? He never really paid any visits to my room when we lived in the same house. Now he has traveled all the way up here, to see me. What does he want now? "How are you both getting along?" Why did he care? "Um. I'm not sure. I never talked to him." Why did he think that I would get along with the man who I literally met for like a total of fifteen minutes, exclusive of the time spent at our own wedding? "Well, I have to inform you that we cannot have that." What had gotten into him all of a sudden? "You need to make sure he takes a liking to you. It would be even better if you were carrying his heir by the next month or so." Was he seriou
Theodore I was fucking exhausted. My blood boiled thinking I was still not the sole owner of the company I had invested my blood and sweat in. Just thinking that it would take three more fucking months was enough to send me over the edge all over again. I took deep breaths after firing a few orders to the gate staff. I really need to calm myself down before I kill someone. "Mr, Maxwell," one of the guards bowed down before me as I slumped on the couch in the living room. "I just wanted to inform you that Mr. Roosevelt visited earlier." What the fucking was that lousy rat doing here? Did I not make it clear that I didn't want his presence in my place? Was it not enough that I already had one of his offspring strolling in my house like she is the fucking queen here? "Why?" My mood was already sour, I didn't need that fucker to make it worse. But curious is what my mind is. And the urge to keep my eyes open and know everything happening in my vicinity was hard to ignore. "He came t
Alina The next day, I was surprised to see Millie in my room, shaking me brutally out of my sleep. "Wake up Alina! It's 2pm!" I heard her piercing voice as I rolled on my bed. "What the heck?" I groaned quietly, before clamping a pillow on top of my ears to cover them and block her shrilling voice. "Come on, Alina! It's the first time I came to meet you after your wedding, and this is how you welcome me?" "Well you should have called and given me a warning then," I mumbled to myself in my groggy voice, before sitting up on the bed. "What did you say?" She asked, holding her waist. "Nothing," I moved the comforter to get out of my bed before heading to the bathroom to freshen up. After quickly brushing my teeth and washing my face, I headed out to see her sprawled on the couch in my room, like she owned it. "I've got to say, this is one freaking comfortable couch. I could spend the rest of my life lying on it." I rolled my eyes at her comment. "But Alina?" God, when wil
TheodoreDamn! This coffee. Why the fuck does she make it so good? It was so hard for me to contain my expression in front of her. Of course, I don't want to give her the idea that I like it. I can never give her satisfaction.I heard a knock on the door and Anders came into my office.“Why is Martha slacking off?” I fired immediately and he looked confused at me. Eyeing the coffee in my hand and then my face, he finally decided to say something.“Did she not make the coffee well?” He asked, scratching his head.“No. Actually she didn't make it at all. She is not present here in the first place.”“Oh,” oh? That's all he has to say?“Why wasn't I informed?”“I'm not sure, Mr. Maxwell. I didn't kn
Alina “How's your mother?” I started the conversation as Martha and I were having lunch. “She is doing better, Miss Alina. Thank you for asking.” I nodded. I was about to continue the conversation when I heard footsteps in the house. Who was here at this time? My question was answered when Theodore appeared in the kitchen’s doorway, followed by Anders holding a bag. What was he doing here so early? Like always, he had his hands tucked in his dresspants and the same hard, stoic expression plastered on his face. He looked at me before his eyes fell on Martha. “Why wasn't I informed of you leaving before work hours?” I heard Theodore's hard voice, making Martha tremble and look down. “I did inform before leaving, Mr Maxwell,” she said timidly, looking at her feet. This obnoxious man was scaring her for no reason when I clearly told him that it was a family emergency. “Yeah? Who exactly?” He took a step forth to intimidate her further. Was he seriously doing this? For what reaso
Alina Silence enveloped us as I got into the luxurious Limousine. I swear, this guy was just so extra. We would have reached just fine in any small car to our venue. But now that I think about it, he wouldn't have a normal Toyota standing in his garage anyway. I had an idea it would be full of BMWs, Audis, Ferraris and Lambos. Is there any brand I'm missing? If yes, then add it to the list. I heaved a sigh, looking out of the window as the driver drove in silence. I felt Theodore’s gaze pinning me at intervals, since he was sitting beside me on the same seat, just with a little gap. But did I look back at him to let him know I was aware? No. I don't want to make things more awkward than they already are. Which still reminds me of my unanswered question. Why the heck did I have to go with him anyway? Guess I'll never know. The drive ended and I had no clue of my surroundings, of where we were currently. I was about to open the door, when I felt a hand grabbing my wrist and stoppi
Alina My cheeks were hurting from all the smiling I had done for the night and decided to take a break. Gosh, this woman could hardly get tired, and unfortunately for Thoedore's sake, I had to put up with her. I had finally learned that the party was to acknowledge their 30th wedding anniversary, so I congratulated her. She introduced me to a number of her friends, including the wives of some important business men and influential people I gave no two shits about. Finally, she introduced me to her son, Nathan. So that was the person Mr.Summers had mentioned earlier. He was one fine man with an alluring personality, but by the way he was smirking all the time, and trying to flirt with me, even after knowing I was a freaking married woman, there was no doubt he was a playboy. Soft music started paying and the irritating man opened his mouth to speak. “Care to have this dance?” Fuck. I really wished Mrs. Summers had not left me alone with him! “No actually. I can't really dance. A
Alina's Pov 2 years later “Are you crazy?” Thea yells barging into my office. “I can't believe you are doing this today out of all days!” I ignored her, continuing to type furiously on my laptop. I got used to her barging into the publishing house every second day and complaining about something or the other. It's what made her Thea. Yes I had taken over the publishing house and now became a successful Author and owner of this business. Theodore was utterly proud of all the hard work and my achievements and finally after a year, I got my reward of becoming the bestseller. I had only ever imagined it in my dreams, so living it felt surreal. “Bruh! We are going to be late for the signing!” Thea shut my laptop, making me sigh. Why did I hire her as my manager once again? Yeah, to keep me on track. And she was just doing her job, I reminded myself and killed the urge to slap her. She loved her job by the way. She said it was thrilling. “I was in the middle of a very important sc
Alina's Pov I did it. I signed the last contract. Was it selfish of me to do that? Maybe. So I regret it? No. Because I wasn't going to take another chance in my life because at first, it was just me. But now, my son is also involved. No one in the world would I allow anyone to be unjust to him. So I did it for his sake. Call me a gold digger or whatever, but I had to protect my son's future before anything. As I stood in the kitchen, absently stirring my coffee, the events of last night replayed in my mind with startling clarity. Theodore and I had been lying on the cool garden grass, the stars glittering like diamonds above us. It was one of those rare, serene moments where the world seemed to pause just for us.I remember the hesitation in Theodore's voice as he turned to me, his eyes reflecting the night sky. "Alina," he began slowly, "I don't want you to feel pressured into answering this, but I've been wondering... If I hadn't done the things I did in the past, do you think yo
Theodore's PovI was buried in paperwork, the soft hum of my office providing a soothing backdrop as I reviewed a critical document. The numbers were lining up, and for once, it seemed like the day might end without any surprises. Just as I was about to finish, my phone rang, jolting me from my concentration.I glanced at the screen. It was Daniel. Strange, I thought, answering the call. "Hey, Daniel. What's up?""Where are you!?" Daniel’s voice was urgent, almost frantic."I'm at the office. Why?" I responded, my confusion growing."And Alina? Where is she? And Asher?" "They're supposed to be at home. Why? What's wrong?" "Nathan has gotten bail! Last according to my sources, he's going towards your penthouse!" Daniel's words sent a chill down my spine. I didn't waste a second. Slamming the phone down, I bolted from my office, my heart pounding in my chest. The drive to the penthouse was a blur. All I could think about was getting to Alina and Asher before Nathan did.As I neared t
Alina’s PovThe sun was shining brilliantly, casting a golden hue over the park as I spread out the picnic blanket. Asher was already dashing off to join the other kids, his laughter filling the air. It was one of those perfect days that made you forget all your troubles, even if just for a moment.I unpacked the picnic basket, laying out sandwiches, fruits, and snacks. I watched Asher play, a smile tugging at my lips. Life had changed so much in the span of a few days. From grappling with the loss of my estranged father to deciding to take over the publishing house, it felt like I was finally stepping into my own.Theodore had been my rock through it all. His support, his unwavering belief in me, had given me the strength to face everything. And now, here I was, planning to start a new chapter, determined to make the most of the opportunities before me."Mommy, look!" Asher called out, holding up a flower he'd picked."It's beautiful, sweetie," I called back, waving at him.As the af
Alina's Pov As I opened the letter, I watched carefully as my heart was pounding in my chest. I unfold the paper with trembling hands and began to read. The silence in the car feeling heavy, each second stretching out as my eyes take in what was written. My Dearest Alina,If you are reading this, then my time has come, and I have departed from this world. There are no words that can truly express the remorse I feel for the pain and suffering I caused you. I know I was never the father you deserved. I was selfish, cruel, and neglectful, and I let my ambitions and grudges take precedence over my duties to you as a parent.Signing you away to Theodore was the most disgraceful thing I ever did. I justified it as a business decision, but deep down, I knew it was wrong. It was not until I was imprisoned that I began to see the full extent of my failures and the hurt I had inflicted on you. I asked you to visit, hoping to have the chance to make amends, to explain myself, and to beg for
Alina's Pov "How... when?"Theodore takes a step closer, his expression softening as he reaches for my hand again. "Earlier today," he says gently. "I'm so sorry, Alina."I feel a strange numbness wash over me, a mix of shock and disbelief. "I... I don't know what to say," I stammer, my voice breaking."It's okay," Theodore murmurs, pulling me into a comforting embrace. "Take your time."I cling to him, the weight of the news pressing down on me. The room fades into the background as I try to process the reality of my father's death, feeling Theodore's steady presence grounding me in the midst of my turmoil.I stand there, wrapped in Theodore's embrace, but all I feel is a strange, unsettling numbness. No sadness, no remorse, just a void where my emotions should be. The news echoes in my mind, but it feels distant, as if it's happening to someone else.I pull back slightly, looking up at Theodore. "I don't... I don't feel anything," I confess, my voice barely above a whisper. "I tho
Alina's PovAs I opened the door to the penthouse, Thea stood there with a huge grin, her arms loaded with bags of snacks and a couple of DVDs. It had been way too long since we'd had one of our legendary sleepovers."Thea! You made it!" I exclaimed, giving her a tight hug."Of course I did! Wouldn't miss it for the world," she replied, squeezing me back. "Where's my little man?""Asher! Aunt Thea's here!" I called out.Within seconds, a blur of curly hair and infectious energy came barreling towards us. Asher threw himself into Thea's arms, giggling wildly as she lifted him off the ground."I've missed you so much, buddy!" Thea said, spinning him around. Asher squealed with delight, his laughter filling the room."We've missed you too," I said softly, watching them with a smile.After settling in and catching up a bit, we gathered on the couch with a mountain of popcorn between us. Asher sat between Thea and me, his eyes wide with excitement as he looked at the stack of movies on the
Alina's Pov Cooking with Asher was always a delightful, messy adventure. This morning, he had insisted on helping me make pasta. At just four years old, he had a fiery determination and an eagerness to be involved in whatever I was doing. How could I say no to his bright eyes and infectious enthusiasm?“Okay, sweetheart, you can help Mommy,” I said, lifting him up to sit on the kitchen counter. His eyes sparkled with joy, and he clapped his tiny hands in excitement."Yay! I help Mama," he declared proudly.I set the ingredients out on the counter: a packet of pasta, a variety of spices, fresh tomatoes, garlic, and onions. Asher leaned forward, eyes wide, surveying the array of items before him. He reached for the spice jars, his small hands struggling a bit with the lids.“Let me help you with that, love,” I said, gently twisting off the cap of the oregano for him. “This is oregano. Smell it. Isn’t it wonderful?”Asher took a big whiff and scrunched up his nose, making a face that m
Alina's Pov Without breaking the kiss and having his hand wrapped around me, he effortlessly walked to the other side of the decoration and it was only then I noticed a beautiful pastel tent decorated with fairy lights waiting for us. “What are you—” my words were silenced as his lips captured mine in a fervent kiss. The world around us disappeared. His hands slid up my sides, pulling me closer as I deepened the kiss, our tongues tangling in a dance of raw need. My soft lips yielded to his, and I clutched his shoulders, pulling him even closer. The intensity of the moment consumed us, our breaths mingling, my gasps fueling his desire. He cupped my face with one hand, his thumb brushing against my cheek as I tilted my head, exploring his mouth with a hunger I couldn’t contain. My fingers threaded through his hair, tugging gently. Every touch, every caress was electric, igniting a fire that burned hotter with each passing second. I could feel my heart pounding against his chest,