"Olivia-"Matteo rushes towards me as soon as I leave his car; my legs feel like jelly so I can’t move any faster, so when he holds my wrist, I don’t fight him.“Matteo, I don’t want to talk.”“I will not apologise for anything, but I think we need to clarify this birth control thing.”“Oh my God, you know just what to say. I wonder how long you stayed single before you bound me to a contract.”“Sarcasm is beneath you.”“You know what else is beneath me? Seeing a man who would put a bomb in my suitcase and risk blowing me up!”Tugging my hand from him feels fruitless; the man is ridiculously strong, so instead, I dig my heel to his feet, and he winces before loosening his grip on my wrist enough that I walk away from him.“Olivia! We aren’t- fuck, how much do you weigh. I think you broke my toe!”“Good!”The moment I enter my room-the guest room- I lock it and lean on the door. My back stings slightly from the wounds that were treated at the hospital, but more than that, my heart feel
Roselle is definitely beautiful. Extraordinarily so, what makes it worse is that her image fits our brand of ‘rebirth’ and ‘second chances’, but her rebirth means I'm taking on a risk. After all, she was found with drugs at the age of sixteen at a house party and had since spiralled out of the spotlight.Even now, watching her speak to Seth, my talent agent, as he guides her through various forms and poses in the company studio for the interview, I can't help but feel anxious."I am vouching for them."Blair Danes says with a bright smile as if it changes anything."Do not take this the wrong way, Miss Danes, but your word with millions on the line means nothing to me."I utter honestly, and she pouts."Your brand is rebirth. These girls need one shot. We all get destroyed by life, but it's those who get back up that make it, and I can tell you that these girls are standing back up.""How many companies have shot them down?"At my question, Miss Danes looks away."Fifteen for Emilia a
To anyone, those words paint my relationship grimly, but Blair only smiles and nods. “Ah, yes, the controlling D’Amico traits.” She says with a sigh. How…anticlimactic. I felt this the first time I met Matteo, but they really do have enough power to make their insanity feel sane. "When I was with Christopher-" "Before or after his marriage?” She freezes at my question for a few seconds before a sad smile washes her face. "What do you think?" She returns the question to me. "I think either is tragic, but there is tragic; ‘I let go after I saw he couldn't be mine’, and tragic, ‘I couldn't let go even if he decided not to be mine’." "Have you told Matteo how you feel about him?" "Whoa...let's not attack me, okay? I was just asking." I defend, but she only chuckles before continuing. "If I tell you wanting to be with Matteo is more hopeless than my situation, how would that make you feel?" "Like stabbing you, for starters." I answer truthfully, and she laughs. "Just...what
It confuses me when he says words like ‘anything but’. They make me feel like I am the exception. Like I have a chance with him when, at the end of the day, I am probably just a tool to satisfy his curiosity. "Then promise me that whatever happens between us, you'll protect my mother and sister.” "What?” "You heard me.” I say, refusing to cower when his scowl deepens. "I did, but it sounds as if you are-” "As if I am preparing for the day you 'tire' of me? I am, so promise me and our relationship will be back on track for however long we have left." "You won't leave me." "Promise me, Matteo." I insist, ignoring the desperation in his voice; who knows how many women have fallen for that? "I'll send some people tomorrow." "Thank you, goodnight." His free hand glides to my waist when I try to pull away. The shudders that erupt from my body distract me from his sudden kiss that drowns all my depressive thoughts. His tongue pushes against mine, claiming the space it occupied fo
I wish I had more information on the will, like where the money will go if I don't marry Daniel and if my half-sisters refuse to marry the president’s youngest son."It is eleven in the morning. Do you think it best to start sighing now? Especially after coming in late to work?"Samantha asks as she places my green tea on my desk.I nearly groan at her words, but she has done me the favour of giving me something with caffeine, so I shall not.“It’s stress that’s making me sleep in.”I excuse.Hopefully, after my father’s surgery, I will not have trouble waking up because as long as he is alive, I don’t need to think about his will."Any appointments for the day? I need to head out."I ask as I rearrange the signed documents in their folder."For most of the day, it was just going through the documents, but you can tackle them tomorrow; I can move things around for your convenience."My phone buzzes—a text from Matteo.[Got your dress and shoes, saloon?]I type the words ‘No. I have my
Everything and nothing at the same time fills my mind as I watch the beautiful woman in front of me with her outstretched hands that I cannot bring myself to shake.Before anything like an apology for not returning her greeting leaves me, a laugh erupts from my throat, a loud and boisterous one that brings tears to my eyes."Olivia?"Blair calls obviously concerned but I can't stop laughing, my hands clutch at my sides for fear that they might rapture.“Olivia, are you okay?”"No... I mean, yes… yes, I'm fine, I'm fine."I break the laugh to clear my throat and wipe the forming tears."Oh...man, it's been a while since I've laughed that well.”Looking at the slight irritation on the woman’s face, perhaps because now she had fully retracted her hand from the greeting, I offer her a smile and place my hand on her shoulder.“Thanks."With that, I pass both her and Blair and enter the bathroom. It is only when I see my reflection in the bathroom mirror that I realise how stupid I look in
"We meet again." Victoria says as she trails behind Matteo, with a confused look on her face. I wonder why she is looking at me like that. Does she not like the outfit change? Rather than answer Matteo, I stare at the perfectly manicured fingers wrapping around his arm. I have so many things to say, but a fullness surfaces in my throat, choking me. I’m not sure I can speak without my voice shaking. "I asked you a question, Olivia." Matteo insists as he continues to near me, but Victoria pulls him back. Why is she acting as if she can tame him, as if she is trying to save me, if anything, its almost as if she is trying to show me that he listens to her. Am I jumping to conclusions because I am jealous? A dry scoff that I cannot contain slips through my lips. “If you have time to laugh, answer my question!” “I don’t see the point in answering you." I respond, and almost immediately, a sneer rises on his lips, and a vein appears on his forehead despite there not being a change
"Forget you comparing me to your ex, you want to sleep with other men?” His tone feels chilling in the oddest of ways; I should be the one upset with him! I should be the one with all the cards! “Yes.” I answer as the braveness I felt as I said the words began slowly fading. Matteo nods before he takes a slow step towards me. A smile curls his lips, but my sense of danger is screaming. “Mostriciattola mia, do you think there is a man who will survive sleeping with you.” His voice is calm, but everything inside me is begging me to run, so I take a step back from him, matching his steps; when he takes one towards me, I take one away, and before long, I find myself next to the stairs. “The contract never said anything about exclusivity. You are allowed to covet your sister-in-law, and I want my fun too.” I say quickly, but the expression that flashes on his face warns that I shouldn’t test him. “I am allowed to covet my sister-in-law?” He repeats with a sneer. “And you want you
I feel the need to mention that, no Etienne and Anthony were harmed during the time skip in the last chapter; they were just posted away from the main family to Italy. Jokes on Christopher, they liked it because they were paid to laze around without the tension of him grumbling all over the place.I'd also like to ask your vote on a setting, would you love to read a transmigration, body switch or rebirth story?Rebirth would be when the female lead dies and goes back in time for whatever reason and purpose.A body switch would be the female lead going into another person's body. Maybe they were rich and ungrateful, and now they have entered the body of another woman who works under an obsessive billionaire, and there are consequences when they refuse to work and instead resign.Finally, transmigration would be if the female lead enters a novel they have read, whether they loved it or not. You know I love villains, so of course it’s the villain’s body that they enter. So, an example wou
Hi guys!We are finally at the end of the story!! Thank you so so much for reading, thank you for voting and thank you for loving the work and leaving a review; if you haven’t, please do.This last chapter is especially dedicated to anyone dealing with anxiety or depressive symptoms; it is a season, and it will pass. If your best is opening a window, open it. If your best is just basic self-care, taking a shower, moisturising, and putting the pyjamas right back on, do that. One step at a time. You are more loved and valued than you believe, and medication doesn't make you 'weak' or a 'failure'. Don’t be afraid to reach out, but more than that, don’t be afraid when people reach out, say 'yes' to that trip to the beach or bowling gig, or hell, to a walk just around the corner. We are all one.For my next work, it will still be a billionaire romance, and the male lead will still be a walking red flag. Aren’t they just the best? Plusss..how could I forget to mention smut will be present? I
"But-""It's fine; I'll be back soon.”I say reassuringly to Henry.I wave off his innocent concern despite half my face being covered by his hand.If he were to slap me the same way I slapped him, I'd probably end up in the ICU. Despite knowing that, I leave Henry with Etienne in the living room and follow him like a prisoner escorted to their sentencing.**"You went to the hospital. What for?"This is not the beginning of the conversation I expect, nevertheless, Christopher’s gaze as he closes the door behind me doesn’t leave my face."The headaches, but I have the medicine, so it's fine; more than that, I haven't seen Anthony in days. Did you change my guard?""Anthony?"Christopher asks with a frown, his mouth twisting as if he has eaten something rotten."Who are you calling 'Anthony'?""My- my bodyguard, with brown hair, you assigned him to me."I explain as if he doesn’t already have that information.What is this? What is he playing at?"Did I? And he told you his name? He an
Christopher D’Amico "Spare me."It took three hours to track Alessio and four hours to corner him like this.Yet this was the nonsense he was spewing?"No."Christopher answered.The gun in his hand had no more bullets, so he hit the back of Alessio's head, causing him to fall to the ground. Of course, Alessio didn't come easily, so the blood he tasted from his lips was his.Hopefully, it wouldn’t leave a mark, but even if it did, the wound was inside his mouth, so Elizabeth would not see it.Still, it didn't matter.Everything would end today, and he could head back to Italy to find another man to take his position.Positions in the mafia could only be replaced through death; there was no such thing as a fair trial, only retirement, that was hard-earned.Alessio held his head at the point of impact as if he thought his skull had shattered. There was blood coming from his head, but Christopher heard nothing crack, at least not yet.Still, there was little he could do to guarantee the
Blood. He smells like blood. No, not just smells; he has blood on his clothes.Closing my eyes and opening them, I focus on the bouncing bunny on the screen while Henry bobs his head to the tune.Before long, his little head sways left and right before falling to my stomach as he was resting between my legs, and a soft snore follows.Aww... how precious.His little hands curl against the fabric of my clothes.I should take him to bed; I think Christopher has eaten by now or should be eating, so there should be an interruption.My hands move to scoop him up, but a voice stops me."Is there a reason you are both on the floor when there are perfectly suitable seats next to you?""Henry and I used to sit like this in the old house.”I explain without turning back to him."Are you thinking of the good old times?”His words seem pointed, so I lift Henry in my arms and turn to him with a frown."What is that supposed to mean?”I ask, noticing the curls in his poorly dried hair.Wait, wasn’t
My gaze lingers on the orange glow of the streetlights while my mind centres on the sounds of the cars whooshing past us.My sex is fine now. Other than mild tickling sensations that will go away after three or four rinses in the shower. I am fine.Well, I guess the dull ache choking my throat is something else entirely."You've been quiet for a while now."Christopher comments as he makes a turn to the estate.Of course, I have been quiet. Yesterday, I went to bed and woke up believing that he liked me, that I could have him wrapped around my finger if I tried, and that gave me the confidence to say no to him at the club, and now, I realise that I had gotten ahead of myself.I almost ruined the marriage.There is no divorce, but if perchance he changes his mind, I'll have nothing. I'll lose the one thing I came into the marriage with—Henry.He doesn't like or love me; he is curious about me. Is that even the best way to describe it?Maybe it's more he thinks he likes me.Fuck... if I
"No. Never. Not when I am with you. No-"“Not anymore, right? That’s what you want to say next, isn’t it?”I ask as the grip I had on Alessio’s leash lessens.Christopher’s lips seal as if he had no answer to my question.“I…I really can’t believe you even know what love is- ah, that’s why you said you don’t have feelings… ah, I got ahead of myself.”My voice grows smaller as I mumble the new findings."Elizabeth, please...please."“Please, what? That's so vague, considering you need me to call you the way another woman does to get you to orgasm.”I ask as I turn to face him.I think I should leave now; this…this is enough to break any ‘soft’ girl’s heart."Please... believe me. Not with you. I never think of anyone but you."He repeats as if sensing my mood."I'm half out of my mind because of the lube they applied on me, and you can't cum until I call you the nickname the 'love of your life’ called you.""You are the love of my life."Does... he even know what that means?“Then why d
"God damn it, Elizabeth!"Christopher yells as he rattles the cuffs binding him.“I said, let's talk about this later. I didn’t say ‘no’.”"You shut me down twice. I don't trust you not to lock me up somewhere and shut me down a thirty time when there are no consequences.""I won't-""Yeah...see now, I don't trust easily. That's kind of the problem with us... what did you call me? 'broken? Soft?”"Elizabeth.""Let's move on to the third round."I yell, and as if on cue, the announcer produces a tune to signal the entrance to the third round."He can choose. He can choose what he wants! He can choose, but he needs to have the full picture."Christopher finally gives in."I want it in writing.""Done. I'll get it to you by Monday morning. I'm sorry, Elizabeth. I'm sorry that I shut you down and made you feel that this was the only way to communicate. Please...please stop this.""Why? Aren't you having fun? You even left me at the store to get dragged here.""That bastard Taz-""Yes, th
"Bu-but I've lost."Participant One defended as if he took Christopher’s words seriously."You touched what is mine."The answer came back coldly.The blindfold covering my eyes feels like a burden. I want to see the expression on Christopher’s face. No, I want to see the expression on everyone’s face.I can still feel the echoes of Participant One’s fingers on my nipples. This is going to be harder than I thought."Hey, this thing has consent written all over it; she consented. So why are you threatening me?"The man asks, his desperate voice bordering on whiney."I didn't consent to you touching my wife.""Yes, you did, Taz-""Ah yes, mentioning another dead man."Christopher says in a light tone; one could almost think he is joking. Almost."Bu-""Next Participant."The announcer announced, perhaps bored with the back and forth."I'm out.""Wait, but..."The familiar voice of Participant One hesitates, perhaps hating that a participant backed down instead of doubling down like him.