"Fine, keep your secrets."I say as I reach for a second piece of the chocolate.The ice cream smells so good; I should leave some room for it.“What?”Matteo asks in irritation, bringing my focus back to him; he looks upset as if that wasn’t the answer he wanted from me."Olivia, I don’t insist on keeping it a secret; just tell me why you won't use birth control?""Ah, but I don't want to know why you keep a gun as badly as you want an answer to your question. Worse off, I don't want my answer to be on national TV.""I said I was sorry.""Yet my heart still aches. Now let's eat in peace, okay?"A moan leaves me the second the sweet chocolate melts in my mouth, but as soon as I swallow, pain follows.Goddamn first-day cramps!"Fine, now you know I have a gun; stop fucking around at night."He says, but despite his ‘fine’, he doesn’t look satisfied with the conversation's ending."Hey! I called you multiple times, but you didn't wake up.""What?""Yes, so don’t-""You called me? While
With a quick nod to my words, Mr. Lee picks himself up and rushes to the first model. My work backstage is done, so I make my way to the stage to perform my introductory speech to kick-start the event. I never expected the venue to be full, but then again, my boyfriend is the latest 'trillionaire’, so some of the spots have been filled with people who don’t really have an interest in fashion, just Matteo.Even though he said he couldn’t make it tonight. He has been ‘busy’ of late.After a quick speech introducing the line, I step aside and let the models do their work. The line is stunning, simple, elegant, camel toe resistant and bright, pairing well with the theme of resilience.The models look fierce and happy, the music upbeat, and most especially, the audience looks interested."We meet again."A feminine voice says, drawing my focus from the show to the stunning and familiar woman."Blair Danes, right? We met at the ball a few weeks ago.""Indeed we did. I must say I was lookin
Vincent doesn't cry often; he doesn't even discuss his feelings, so I can’t deny that seeing him like this tugs at my heart. I should be immune to his nonsense, but I guess I’m not."I can forgive you for cheating; truth is, it doesn't hurt anymore. Hell, I think you and Natasha deserve each other. But I can't forgive you for what you put me through at the hospital. I had to crawl in a sea of unknown bacteria strains just to get away from you.""It’s not my fault! It was her idea. It was all Natasha’s idea. She said you’d understand!"A groan leaves my lips at his attempt at an explanation."Oh my God! Don’t you get it? That's even worse! You were the one I trusted my life with; you were the one I loved; you were ‘it’. You, not her! And yet you pass on blame to something I heard you agree to? Are-”"I'm sorry."He interrupts.“I'm so sorry, Livy.”"Yeah, sure you are.”“You- you don’ believe m-me?”“If you were sorry, you’d stop stalking me. You’d understand that I would love nothing
TRIGGER WARNING: VIOLENCE & SEXUAL ASSAULT I'm tired of drinking, and my legs hurt; even the models have started leaving. I guess two a.m. is a record for some of them, me included, yet Elizabeth looks as energised as ever. Her hand grips Edward's thigh, but he casually slides it off his body; even I can tell she is making him uncomfortable, so why can't she? I guess flirting is not for the drunk. I wobble when I stand but make my way to them; he saved me, so it makes sense that I should save him, too. "Drinks." A model says when the door opens again, this time the waiter looks weird; he has a hat on. Since when have waiters walked around in caps and masks? Is there a past-midnight etiquette? "Shots, people!" My hand finds Edward's shoulder. "You said you wanted to call your sister; I found a quiet spot." For a few seconds, he blinks before he realises what I mean to do. "Y-yes, thank you for reminding me." "It's like midnight. Are you really going to call them now?” Eliza
"Make a left. I think I know where they are heading."Matteo said to his second-hand man as he watched the red blinker on Elizabeth’s phone make a sharp turn.He wondered for a few seconds how he could get the app on his phone; it was certainly more reliable than a tracker on her phone.Benji followed Matteo’s instructions and sped through the empty roads, making sure to steer clear of traffic cameras; as he did this, Matteo rolled his muffler onto his gun and rolled down the window."Aaaand, stop."Benji did as he was asked and stopped at an awkward angle, leaving the car positioned parallelly at a U-Turn-specific region. As predicted, a black and speeding van made a sharp turn to join the road they were on.Matteo steadied his hand and aimed for the left front tyre, causing the vehicle to skid out of control as the driver pressed on the brakes before the door flew open, and two men leapt out as the car crashed into a glass window."Gah...so much paperwork."He muttered as he opened
The trip to the station was silent; after offering my statement, the police offered to call me back if more arose from their investigation. That aside, Matteo leaves out that he took one of the kidnappers.Everything seemed relatively tied up by nine a.m. even though Matteo hadn’t said a word to me.“This isn’t the way home.”I mention in the car’s silence.“No, I have some business to clear up; wait for me in the car; it will only take a few minutes.”He says with ease as he merges onto the highway. After driving for a good while, he exits on a road with many underdeveloped shops and structures. Finally, after about thirty minutes of travelling on the same road, we arrive at a field that looks like a greenhouse.Hugo stands outside the building. He is normally expressionless, but right now, he looks worried.“Stay in the car.”Matteo repeats as the car halts in the isolated field.He undoes his belt and slips out of the car. His hands reach his back, where he pulls out a gun.“Is he
The older woman stared down at Matteo as the maids served his cappuccino. It could be poisoned from her glare, but then again, he was fucking her daughter...her very stressful daughter with a knack for danger, so who’s to say she would not be the first suspect in his murder. With that in mind, Matteo placed the hot teacup to his lips and tasted the drink; widening his eyes slightly; he was shocked at the rich flavour of the drink, which was nothing he expected outside his favourite café back in Italy. "If I ask you to leave my daughter alone, will you?" Veronica Lawson asked. "No." His answer was quick. Technically, the ‘Dawson’ deal was done so he had no need for her, especially when she was stubborn enough to refuse birth control, but...not yet. He wasn't done with her yet. "Her kidnappers are no doubt from Dawson's sons. If it wasn't for you-" Veronica Lawson began, but before she could pass on the blame to him, he finished her sentence. "She would have been raped instead b
“What?”I question Elizabeth’s ‘lawyer’ comment, but she turns away from me.“Wait, hey! What evidence, Elizabeth?”She turns back to me and takes my hand, dragging me with her up the stairs, down the courthouse halls and into a semi-full courthouse that appears to have a case in session.The second I walked in, Vincent stood as if he did not expect me. I don't know why, but all he does is look at me until his lawyer urges him to sit.“Sorry.”Elizabeth mutters to the judge as she takes my hand and settles behind Mum. Elizabeth passes the tape to the lawyer and whispers something to her."Your honour, we have new evidence to add to the case."Murmurs grow in the courthouse after our lawyer says this.After seeking permission, our lawyer approached the bench, and the judge called a five-minute recess; at this time, a TV and a VHS player were brought into the room.After recess, everyone settled in the room, and the tape began to play; the first video was of a drunk Vincent outside my f
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.