My hand reaches for the pitcher of water at the centre of the table; it's cold and frosty. One girl out of the three seated winces as if I am about to douse her with the cold water, but instead, I pour the liquid into her half-full glass. “There are a lot of things on my mind, but guess what takes the cake?” I ask, but none of them answer; they only look at each other as if they want to run. “‘How influential and important to my company are these three ladies to gossip about their boss openly and loudly.’ Really, I can’t wrap my head around it. How can I not know your names and how important you must be for me to overlook this?” I press the question, but again, none of them says anything. Finally, after what feels like a full minute, one of the ladies gasp when the cold water overflowing from the glass to the table finally drips onto her skirt. She stands abruptly with her eyes widened. "Sit. Down." She does as I command. Like a scared puppy, she sits on the now wet chair and co
"Olivia Lawson...Olivia Bethany Lawson." Vincent repeats as if he is trying to familiarise himself with my name. “The Olivia Bethany Lawson.” He finishes with a cold laugh as I close the doors to the private balcony right next to the main hall. I agreed to give him the five minutes he demanded, with Hugo standing outside, keeping watch to avoid eavesdroppers from paparazzi posing as guests. Vincent reaches for a flask inside his jacket and takes a swig. He likes rum, but since the liquid in that flask smells like nail polish remover, it must be cheap vodka. "They say three years is enough to know a person, but boy, did you elude me. Was it funny? Were you laughing when you were trying to find out how commoners live? How they struggle? Was it easy playing pretend?" He asks as bright pink patches paint his cheeks. I don’t remember the last time I saw Vincent tipsy from one shot; whatever is in that flask must be strong; it's best we finish this quickly. "Pretend?" I repeat wit
The tears stop, but the hollowness in my chest persists until I notice the paleness of his hands as they grip the steering wheel so tightly that I fear it may snap from its slot in the car. Crap, he is actually angry. The car takes a sudden and most definitely unlawful sharp turn, causing me to hold on for dear life on the seat. Sadness seems to escape me, replaced entirely by the fear curling in my veins at the sudden hoots that follow his dangerous driving. “Have you lost your mind?” He doesn’t answer my yelled question, and for some reason, I can’t bring myself to force him to answer because my eyes are drawn to the veins lining his arms, settling snugly next to the firm muscles on his upper arm. My pulse quickens, and no, it's not fear but exhilaration that drives it: I made a man this gorgeous jealous! I can't remember the last time Vincent felt jealous. To him, I was always the obedient housewife who couldn't say no to him, someone who would always choose him, so there was
“No…uh, pretend I didn’t say anything. Okay, here!”I fumble with my dress’s zip hurriedly to dispel the awkwardness I caused with my outburst, but it seems caught on something.“I’ll get naked.”I add that because taking the dress off is taking longer than I thought, and I don’t want him to think I'm hesitating.Fuck…this is not how I imagined foreplay would feel like, and what the hell is wrong with this dress? Why won't it get off me?The sound of fabric tearing makes me stop tugging and instead cringe at my actions."Turn around."Matteo says softly, but at this point, shouldn’t I just go home and scream at my pillow?He is perfect, while I feel like a clumsy fool!“Turn around, Olivia.”He says again, but this time, it feels more like a command than a request, so my body complies as if it has been trained.I hear him stand from the couch, and within a few seconds, his warm hands lift mine to expose my zipper. He tugs it gently, and it gives way completely after he pushes my hands
*Vincent James Vincent sat shocked for a few minutes. The swirling anger in his chest seemed to fade and give into shock. When the screen on his phone lit up again, he answered it."Lisen here, you son of-""Mr Vincent James?"A feminine voice called, making him realise the caller on the other end of the device was someone else.“This is he.""The procedure has been postponed. Unfortunately, the donor was intoxicated at the time of the scheduled surgery.""No…no! What? Natasha got drunk?”Without wasting much time, he grabbed his keys, stepped out of the car and locked it before rushing towards the hospital.**"Hi...zzz, baby."Natasha greeted Vincent with a smile, flushed cheeks and disoriented movements—she really got drunk before the surgery."Why? Why would you get drunk, Tasha!"He wanted to yell, but she always cried when he did."I’m- I’m not drunk. Well, Jus…jus a lil bit."Natasha pinched her thumb and index finger to indicate how ‘little’ she was drunk."Fucks sake! Tasha
"I..."I drawl as I pinch the bridge of my nose because I cannot believe this is happening.How can she have no common sense? How could she have forgotten how she treated me? What gives her the courage to walk into my space and demand favours?"Miss James, I will not be sending anything to you or your friends; for future reference, we have no more to discuss between us."I respond as clearly and calmly as possible before turning away from Nancy to address her friends."Mrs Drew and Miss Filmore, if you wish to make a purchase, we have numerous stores in the city; feel free to visit, peruse and purchase the clothes at full price. Now, if you will all excuse m-"I barely finish my sentence when a handbag slams hard on me, followed by a slap that irritates me more than surprises me; before my hand even soothes my stinging cheek, the security around us restrain my former mother-in-law."You bitch! My son gave everything to you! How dare you act like you are better than us when we were wit
The ice cream in my hand has long melted; even my fingers are sticky. I don’t think Mum knows how to comfort me, or anyone for that matter.As we stood outside the ice cream shop, her exact words were, ‘This always cheers you up!’ Yes, ice cream, specifically saffron, always cheered me up when I was twelve. Right now, I both want and crave something strong enough to make me forget how I feel, even if it's for a moment."Bethany..."Mum calls softly as the car’s ambience lulls my thoughts to a slow. The driver easily joins the Bridgeway as I watch the glittering lights in the distance reflect atop river Florence."There are many ways to have a baby; technology is too advanced to excuse that he should have discussed this with you! and it's also too advanced for you to think that a test from one hospital means you can't get pregnant! There is a way through this.”"I know."I reply tiredly; my throat is hoarse from all the crying.I should be glad that I didn’t have to subject a child to
"I'm not one for repeating myself, cara mia. Am I interrupting something?"Matteo repeats. I must have stared at him without answering for longer than I thought."This is a non-smoking zone, Mr D’Amico.”"Answer me."He commands with a scowl when I try to change the subject.I hate it. I hate how I always seem to take commands from anyone who thinks they know better: Vincent, sometimes Mum and now him."This is Mr Edward Lee, head of Athleisure’s creative department. I want to debrief with him over coffee. Now then, Mr D'Amico, how else can I help you, aside from pointing you towards the smoking zone?"He sneers when I use ‘Mr. D’Amico’."I know a good coffee place; why don't I take you?"He asks."You are missing the 'debriefing’ part. I would much rather keep corporate discussions private.”I respond through gritted teeth."Ah!"He exclaims with a smile as he reaches for his wallet in his back pocket, pulls it out and removes a few notes."Silly me: here, for your coffee. I'll make
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.