Chapter One Hundred And Forty SixLana sat in her room poring over designs sent to her by Mandy, on her laptops. Each scroll she made, had her heart jumping for joy as she slowly forgot the bitter experience she'd had earlier that day.She had been so frazzled after listening to the recordings, that she'd gone home and cried herself to sleep. That morning, she woke up to about fifteen missed calls from Mandy the day before. "Ma'am, we made it to the preliminary round for the Queen's Glamour And Festival Awards!" Mandy had squealed excitedly into her ear that morning when she called her back. The young women sounded very excited and Lana had immediately been affected by her joyful mood.Although, she knew that they'd get selected and even possibly win the awards, her heart could not help but race in anticipation when Mandy announced the news."Mandy, that's awesome news," she said to her assistant, tears of joy filling her eyes suddenly to her surprise."Yes, ma'am. It is." Mandy af
Chapter One Hundred And Forty Seven"Miss Lana, its okay. I can take it from here."Yvette said in a worried tone but there was no mistaking the gladness that laced it as well as she watched Lana gently remove the delicious, creamy bread from the oven.Lana gave her a grin over her shoulder as she removed the thick mittens from her hands. The sweet aroma of roasted meat, and freshly baked bread filled the kitchen and teased their noses, making her mouth water."The master would be back home soon. You go ahead and freshen up, Miss Lana." Yvette said with a conspiratorial grin at Lana.Lana cheeks flamed as she heard the hidden meaning behind Yvette's words. Its not like it was a special day or something, but Yvette was adding meaning to her cooking for Damien after such a long time.It was no big deal, really.Bored out of her wits from staying at home all day, Lana had gotten tired of watching TV. Then she resorted to growing her phone for emails and also her Instagram. Her feed was
Chapter One Hundred And Forty EightThe indoor pool is completely dark, except for the soft, white lights coming from within the water.Lana steps fully into the closed dome as her mouth drops open, taking in the sight of the huge pool. This was the first time she was coming to this part of the house.Hell, no one told her the Romero villa had a fucking indoor pool.She grinned wildly as she walked towards the edge of the pool. Suddenly, she stopped, frowning slightly at the rippling water. It's dark surface shimmered with her reflection dancing in it.She could have sworn she heard splashing earlier."Ack!" Lana shrieked, as a figure erupted from the water suddenly with a loud splash. She scurried backwards quickly so her shirt won't be soaked."What the hell?" She asked, pressing the heel of her palm to her chest so her pounding heart won't fly out.Damien stood in the water, a wild grin on his face as he watched her startled expression, "You scare easily.""What the hell, Damien? Y
Chapter One Hundred And Forty-Nine*SMUT CHAPTER*Lana jerked as Damien's lips came down on hers. When she gasped and her lips parted, he went in for the kill, his tongue pushing and dueling in an erotic dance with hers, nibbling her lips.Lana moaned and threw her arms around his neck, and he lifted her without hesitation, wrapping her legs around him.This kiss was different from the passionate one they had shared that night at the hotel. This was primal, animalistic and threatened to swallow her whole.It was like he was purging his entire demons through the kiss. Lana was breathless but could not break the kiss for the life of her.Instead, she fisted his wet hair and pulled his mouth closer to her, rubbing her core against his bulge, the pleasure from it almost throwing her over the edge.Damien groaned as his hands came in between them, cupping her heat. She jerked with the pleasure of it and the pool between her legs, somehow managed to become wetter."Mmnh" she moaned as Damie
Chapter One Hundred And FiftyLana's eyes fluttered open and she immediately closed them as it seemed the sun was directly in front of them. She was feeling very lax, as though her limbs were made of water.She stretched luxuriously, wishing she would not leave the bed. Slowly, her hands reached out and she patted the other side of the bed and it came up empty.What the hell?She opened her eyes then and blinked at the sight before her eyes. She was on a bed... in Damien's room.Memories of what happened at the pool in the wee hours of the morning, came rushing into her head and she flushed a bright red. Holding her cool hands to her flaming cheeks, she reveled in the memory of what she'd done with him.She'd had sex with him...by the pool!She buried her face in her palm and squealed into it from embarrassment.Never in her wildest dreams did she think she would be that wild, but Damien must have brought out a new side to her.She vaguely remembered Damien carrying her from the indoo
Chapter One Hundred And Fifty-One Lana was speechless. She stared at Damien incredulously, her brows furrowed in disbelief. "Thats impossible." She uttered calmly, more to herself than to anyone else. "Laura would never do that. You must be wrong, Liam."Damien and Liam glanced at each other and decided to remain quiet.When Liam discovered the secret behind Zaire's birth, he had quickly dug deeper.Zaire had indeed being born in the Romero Mansion to Matthew Romero and his mother, Lila Evans, who was a maid.However, Laura had disapproved of their love and relationship. Somehow, Matthew made sure that his lover and son stayed on in the mansion but one day, he turned them out.This was because Laura threatened him with his inheritance.She convinced Matthew that Zaire was never his son, and faked DNA reports which proved it.Enraged, Matthew had declared his lover and son strangers to him and instead married Vera, who was the daughter of a conglomerate like theirs.Laura made sure h
Chapter One Hundred And Fifty-TwoFor the next few days, Lana avoided Damien like the plague. If he so badly did not want her around, then he'd get his wish."She almost ruined my life!""Screw you, Damien." Lana muttered to herself angrily, "My life was almost ruined as well by being your wife for three good years."She was in her office, going through some files on her table and could not just concentrate on things. Her head was filled with thoughts of the discussion that had happened in Damien study. Zaire was Damien's half brother?No matter how much she tried to piece it together, she could still not wrap her head around it. They looked so different.Zaire definitely did not look like a Romero. The Romeros had light skin, light colored hair and light colored eyes. Zaire's hair was as dark as sin, and his eyes were the darker shade of Emerald.He must have taken after his mother.But still...Did Laura really throw them out? Lana's heart tugged painfully as she chewed her bott
Chapter One Hundred And Fifty-Three"What?" Lana exclaimed, in disbelief, staring at the phone on the dashboard."Uhh...I did not know you were there, Miss Lana." Liam replied, "Anyways, what do I do now? Should I send them after her or let her go?"This question was obviously for Damien, but Lana was pissed that Liam was even asking such questions."What do you mean, what do you do now?" She inquired hotly, "Why was she even let out in the first place?""Let her go." Damien uttered. He'd been quiet all along, the only reaction he gave to the news about Rina vern released was a slight furrow of his brows in deep thought. Lana whirled on him at that moment, "Let her go?!" She said fiercely, giving him a flaming look, "What the hell are you talking about? She's supposed to rot in that cell!""We've not turned in the recording we have over to the police." Damien informed her calmly, "There are some things that I want to get down to the root of as well. Besides, she might lead us to Zai
Chapter One Hundred And Eighty-five "Let's go in, first." Anila said urgently as she walked into the corridor and pressed the button on the wall, watching with bated breath until the shelf slid back into place.She turned to Adrian then, "What about the young Miss?" She asked as she walked past him, "Is she okay?""Screw the young miss." Adrian spat out loudly in anger as they both entered the small room, "What the hell is going on? Who the hell were those men?!"Adrian was clearly frustrated. He did not mean to yell and rarely lost his cool, but he was pissed with what just happened a few moments ago in his own house.Anila sighed, "if you will only let me explain, then I will. Stop yelling at me." She reprimanded him as she walked over to Lana.Lana was huddled on the bed, cowering under the bed covers in fear. She and Adrian had stayed back in the room when Anila had gone out.She had been trembling and whimpering in fear as they heard the men ransacked the room, while Adrian pace
Chapter One Hundred And Eighty-FourThe banging on the door continued and silence fell in the room.It took a while for Lana to realize that the banging was not actually on the door to the room.It sounded farther, but that did nothing to ease the trembling of her body or the loud thumps of her heart beat."I said, open up!" Another yell came and this time it was accompanied by a solid thump, like a vicious kick to the door."What the hell? Who knocks like that?" Adrian said, frowning in annoyance. He was about to walk towards the door when Anila stopped him."No Adrian! Don't go." She called out to him, holding out a hand to stop him.Adrian looked from the door to his mother, "What?" He asked, his confusion becoming more apparent. Lana exchanged a frightened glance with Anila, who was calmer actually.She patted Lana's hand then stood up and walked towards the door."I will go out and meet them" She said calmly to Adrian."Excuse me?" Adrian asked, arching an eyebrow at that state
Chapter One Hundred And Eighty-ThreeThe words were hardly out of his mouth when the door to the room was pushed open and a middle-aged woman appeared.Lana turned to the door sharply, fear written all over her face as the woman walked into the room silently, and her eyes met that of Lana's. The next instant, they widened with joy and relief."You're awake! Oh thank heavens!" She said as she rushed towards Lana and took both of her hands in hers, "I knew you'd come around! Bless the heavens!"She turned to look at the red haired man, who went about his watering as calmly as before."Look Adrian, I told you she'll be fine." She said as she beamed up at Lana, because she was clearly four inches shorter than her."I know mother," The red haired guy, Adrian replied drily, "I treated her."Lana stared at him, "Treated?" She asked, eyeing the guy in surprise.He was a doctor?The middle aged woman nodded, "Adrian had found you in the forest when he went for his morning walk." She explained
Chapter One Hundred And Eighty-TwoShe was in the forest, running with her hands stretched out in front of her as she stumbled over fallen tree logs. Her dress was torn and her knees were scraped. She was limping due to the cuts under the sole of her feet, which the cool damp earth of the forest did nothing to soothe.Yet, Lana ran.She was blinded by a film of tears and terrified gasps came out of her mouth as she stumbled through the dark forest."LANA!"He was close!He would get her and throw her back into that suffocating place. Taking control of her whole life."No, never..." Lana muttered breathlessly as she ran. The moon was hidden behind the huge rain clouds filling the sky now. Now, and then, lightening cracked through the sky, sending a flash of white through the forest.The rumbling of thunder will follow soon after and it made Lana shriek and shudder in terror as she ran.No! No! Stay away, please!Suddenly, a hand shot out from before her and grabbed her throat tightly,
Chapter One Hundred And Eighty-One.Lana turned sharply and looked into the darkness behind her. It seemed as though she'd heard something scream. Or was it her imagination?Imagination or not, it was definitely the cue she needed to open the fucking trapdoor. Luckily, the trapdoor wasn't locked and opened up easily before her to reveal another darkness below.Lana swallowed hard as a sudden rush of cold air hit her face. She shivered uncontrollably and willed her beating heart to calm down.This was just the same as walking into the passageway, she reminded herself, Everything will be fine. There are no snakes waiting down there.The way the wind whistled from below made her wonder how far the drop was.She laid down the trapdoor, and peered down into the hole with her torchlight. The beam flashed on a slab of wood below her, then another and another all connected with a rope.A ladder!She allowed the light of the torch to travel down until she finally saw the ground.It was not ve
Chapter One Hundred And Eighty Zaire was still in his study with Aryan, who was making numerous calls.It really seemed like Romero was on his way to Moreno, due to the tip off that Rina had given them.Zaire regretted ever revealing this place to Rina. He had brought her here as well and a bitter taste filled his mouth, as he realized how her presence must have tainted his precious sanctuary."I really should have killed her a long time ago." He thought to himself as he downed the contents of his second glass of whiskey.Well, there was still time.He could still kill her and also give the same treatment to his beloved half-brother. A slight smile curved his lips as he relished the thought of Damien coming to challenge him on his own turf.He'd be able to come in easily but to go out will not be so easy.He also regretted the fact that he'd brought Lana to Moreno. He could have easily taken her to Italy or Cuba, but he figured they were too far away and he needed to still be able to
Chapter One Hundred And Seventy-NineGripping the metal torchlight to her chest, Lana hurried back into the room and climbed unto the bed once more.She glanced back at the door, her ears picking up every little sound. She expected it to open up at any moment and Zaire would walk in.She'd get caught before she even started anything and faced with more torment than she could imagine."There's no time to waste." She reminded herself as she edged closer to the wall, "Let's get out of here, Lana."Slowly, she reached out her hand to the wall and pushed it. The wall did not budge.Lana swallowed hard as her heart started beating faster once again.What the hell? Why isn't the wall opening up now?She pushed the wall again with all her might and still nothing."Okay Lana." She took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly, "Remain calm and think. We have to open this wall."She closed her eyes and tried to remember how she'd had managed to open the wall earlier that day.Her memory was fuzzy w
Chapter One Hundred And Seventy-Eight"It seems Romero has been able to gain access into our base.""The fuck did you just say to me?!" Zaire snarled as he pulled the door to Lana's room close behind him, "He accessed our base? How the fuck was he able to do that with his weak system?!"Aryan swallowed hard as he spoke carefully, "It seems he had help from Fernandez." He informed Zaire, "The email which we sent to Miss Vermont was the key to the base, sir."Zaire immediately gripped the collars of Aryan's shirt, fiercely and drew him to him, "You said there was no way they'd be able to trace it!" Zaire said harshly, baring his teeth at Aryan, "What is the meaning of this sloppy work?!"Aryan averted his gaze from Zaire, even as the strain of his collars being gripped was making it difficult for him to breath."I'm sorry, sir." He uttered in a small voice, looking more than a trifle apologetic, "I made sure I looked through it all but Fernandez has one of the best IT teams and system i
Chapter One Hundred And Seventy-SevenLana laid perfectly still in Zaire's arms, hoping, praying silently that he falls asleep.It was still freaking daylight and if she was to get out of the house and still manage to find her way around this place, then she needed to do it during the daytime.The thought of making her way around the walls of the house at night filled her with fear, but it did not kill her determination.Besides, it would even be easier to do so when Zaire and Aryan are asleep. Zaire does not usually come to check up on her at nights, but the bastard was changing.He was getting bolder, climbing into bed with her. It was only a matter of time before he convinced her they were lovers, and there was nothing wrong with them being intimate.She had only managed to put him off for so long using the fact that she did not know him so well.Zaire had been decent all along, patiently waiting but she guessed his patience ran out with this little act of his now.The words he'd s