ROSE
For the umpteenth time since I met Luca, my eyes fluttered open after yet another fainting spree. It seemed that around anything that had to do with him, all I did was faint.This time, it was the loud beeps of monitors that woke me up. My memory was hazy for a moment before I suddenly remembered.The meal. The note. The screams. Hugo's voice. I had been poisoned.But who was behind such a cruel act. Could it be the maid? Heck, I barely knew her. Maybe she was hired by someone. Rosa!I wouldn't put it past her to do something like this. My heart raced as I realised I was probably surrounded by so many people who hated my guts, but I didn't know them."It's nice to see you're awake now, ma'am," an unfamiliar male voice warmly greeted. It was a doctor.He ran some checks on me for a moment before asking, "How are you feeling now?"I sighed. "Like someone who is poisoned." I hadn't meant for my tone to comeI let out a small burp, my stomach heavy from over-eating. I stared up at Luca with droopy eyes. He had a mean smirk on his face. I couldn't believe he had just done that."Next time you make me do that, it'll be in a far worse way than that," he threatened, straightening his shirt and running a hand through his hair.I couldn't even open my mouth to speak. It hurt from how he had forced large spoonfuls of food into it.He began to head out but paused at the door, turning around to face me. "Don't worry about who poisoned you. Leave that to me. All you should worry yourself about is preparing yourself for me tonight." He stated, and with that, he disappeared out the door, leaving me still shaken.I sighed, releasing an even larger burp.*After taking my bath and getting dressed, I got dressed to head out. I practised what I would say to Hugo to get him to allow me to go out.It had been a couple of days since I was free
My breathing grew heavier. My heart trembled terribly. All my senses were both alert and dizzy, and I felt so hot. Luca, however, seemed to be lost in his own world."It's my first time," I murmured to no one in particular. It wasn't like he cared anyway. Heat raked through my body and flooded my cheeks when he paused, his hand pausing on its journey beneath my top.He stared into my eyes wordlessly for a moment. I almost thought I saw a flicker of something warm in his eyes, but it disappeared so quickly that I thought it might have been my hallucination. He let out a huff and buried his face in my neck.I let out a sound I had never heard before as his teeth sunk into my neck mildly.Things were happening so fast that it almost felt like I was watching from the sidelines. Tears brimmed in my eyes, but I forced myself to hold it in. It couldn't be that bad, could it?Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind, and I wondered if now wo
Luca didn't return home for the next two days, and a part of me felt worried.As a matter of fact, I was worried about many things. My dress with the recording device, which I was yet to find. The maid who had spoken to me and how I'd meet her again. Trevor's suspense and how I'd not seen him in over a week now. Sofia's fright. And now, Luca's absence.I just wanted to complete this mission on time, but without all these things in place, it seemed like I'd have to be here for a while.I raked my hands through my tangled hair. 'Think, Rose, think!' I screamed to myself mentally. Brushing it into a much neater wave, I struggled with putting the whole hair into a bun. Not having the strength to try again after a number of failed attempts, I gave up and tied a scarf over it. I was just going for breakfast after all.I'd also ask Hugo for some books. This boredom was getting toxic.Before I could knock at the door, it swung open, and
My pulse shot to an abnormal rate. I tried to read his eyes as I collected the slip from him, but it was completely neutral.It was almost hooded, and that sent shivers down my spine."T-Thank you," I muttered in a barely audible voice as he led me down the hallways.He said nothing. "You know, if you'll be my personal bodyguard for the next couple of days, I'd have to know your name," I mumbled, lost in thoughts. His face was gard as he stared ahead for a long moment before answering, "Ricci."I forced a smile. If I was going to be stuck with this man for who-knows-how-long, I'd have to at least talk to him and try to dig up some things he might now. He was connected to Ivanov after all, and Ivanov appeared to be an important person in this mission for the time being."Nice to meet you, Ricci. I'm Marta. Why have I not seen you around the mansion for a while?"He face seemed to grow distressed by the second.
I stared at the diva looking lady at the door whose face had a cruel smirk plastered on it.With just a sweep of her eyes, she sect Sophia scampering out of the room. I felt anger rise in me towards her."You..." I mumbled, packing up the untouched cookies. So much for bonding time with Sophia. I had even hoped to get a bit more information about Luca from her.Her smirk grew even wider. "Yes, it's me."I rolled my eyes. "And what do you want this time, Rosa?!" I snapped. Ignoring her, I walked over to my vanity stand. I didn't have anything to do there, but I just wanted to ignore my physical nemesis in the room."I thought you and my baby were staying in the same room," she smirked, strutting over to the bed. Annoyance swirled in me as I watched her through the mirror while brushing my hair."Well, your baby is my husband," I bit back, just to spite her. She wasn't the only one who could be petty. She was yet to meet
LUCA "So talk to me, hijo," my father stated in clear English with a smirk on his face. "Tell me about this mole in your territory that I'm hearing about and what you're doing about it."I took a deep breath. This old man would not have the satisfaction of seeing me break... not ever.Adjusting my suit, I reclined in my seat opposite him. "I'm working on it."His jaw ticked slightly. "I want to know exactly what you're doing about it. You can't just sit here telling me you're working on it. I need results to be sure I didn't make a mistake leaving the mafia in my son's hands." He was getting riled up. Good. He could give himself a heart attack for all I cared. I had never met anyone as selfish and insatiable as he was. "Yes. I am working on it. You'll get an update when I'm done fishing the mole out."He slammed his hands onto his desk. "Are you in your right senses? For all I know, the stupid lady you randomly brough
ROSEI was getting to the brink of losing my sanity. How much longer could I bear with having a traitor outside my door and guarding meFor all I knew, he could be the one who would open the door to my enemy and have me killed in the middle of the night.Every time I slept, I was always partly awake to keep a lookout for whoever it wanted to take my life.Slowly, I was missing Luca. He was terrifying and disgusting, but at least his presence gave a form of assurance that no one could harm me. At least, not it he didn't approve of it.Could that be why he had left for over a week? Could he have told Ricci to kill me?Gosh, I was going crazy with these thoughts. I knew I couldn't do this anymore.Trevor had barely even spoken with me after the last time. I had not even been able to sneak out to meet him because I couldn't afford to arouse Ricci’s suspicions.As the night fell again, tears stung the back of my eyes
My breathing came in rough spasms as I coughed repeatedly. I slapped my palm on my chest repeatedly.Ricci’s eyes were dark, and his arms remained folded across his chest as he glared at me. My eyes widened. How would I get out of this mess? What did he even know? How much had he overheard?"I have no idea what you're talking about," my voice came out raspy. An evil smirk spread across his cheek. "Don't play dumb with me, Rose!"At this point, I felt like my world was quickly turning black. Who was this guy, and why had Luca left him in charge of me? Was this some kind of trick? Was this some kind of investigation?"Excuse me? Who is Rose?" I snapped, letting anger take over me. "How dare you even enter my room without my permission?"He smirked, reclining against the door. "Drop the act and speak. Who are you?"My heart was racing frantically, but I painstakingly maintained a calm expression. "I believe you m
I trembled as his bloodstained hands caressed my cheeks, my body weak from crying nonstop."Please, I want to leave here," I murmured, twisting my hands in the cords. "Please let me go." I begged.Something danced in his orbs—amusement. He said nothing for a moment, but his next words knocked the winds right out of me."The only way I'd let you go is by killing you, amor. You know too much now," he stated, and with that, he turned to leave.At his signal, Hugo untied me and led me back to my room. My feet wobbled as I walked. All I wanted to do was disappear. Luca hadn't shown it if he believed all that Ricci had said, so I didn't know what to expect.Thankfully, Hugo was a bit more patient with me and didn't drag me like Luca had. I winced at every junction, and he waited for me to catch my breath.When I got to my room, he opened the door and only gave a curt nod of solidarity before shutting the door behind
I gulped, shivering under his gaze. There was nothing in his eyes other than anger and betrayal."What happened?" He snapped. I held the sheets against myself more tightly, looking away from him. He obviously didn't care what happened to me. He was just looking for clues.I looked away from him, trying to stop myself from shivering like a drenched chicken."Answer me!" He demanded. His eyes were dark and held a dangerous glint in them. His hands were tucked in his pockets as he glared at me."You want to know what happened," I suddenly snapped, my voice coming out squeaky due to my screams. "You left me in the hands of a criminal who tried to rape and kill me."His eye darkened even more. "Don't you dare talk to me like that. Tell me what happened before I make you." The harshness of his words drew me back to reality. He wasn't some sort of knight on shining armour. He was the evil itself. And if I as much as let a loophole appe
Ricci was a pervert. He had barely shut the door behind him before he began to roughly touch me like I was some toy he had just obtained from a store.I did my best to hide my disgust and annoyance as I pushed him away gently."Slow down. I'm not running away," I murmured in a sweet voice that made me feel sick. "Are you sure there are no cameras here?" He frowned. "I know his house like the back of my palm. Do you think I'm stupid?"I chuckled, embracing him again. If only he knew how stupid he was about to be. His hands danced along my body, and he nearly sucked out the life from me like he was some kind of carnivore. I heard a loud rip as he began to take off my clothes and I paused him. "Are you crazy? What do you think Luca would say if he saw me walking around in a ripped dress with my bodyguard?"A cruel smirk appeared on his lips. "That wouldn't matter. Either way, you'll be dead before he can even realise it.
My breathing came in rough spasms as I coughed repeatedly. I slapped my palm on my chest repeatedly.Ricci’s eyes were dark, and his arms remained folded across his chest as he glared at me. My eyes widened. How would I get out of this mess? What did he even know? How much had he overheard?"I have no idea what you're talking about," my voice came out raspy. An evil smirk spread across his cheek. "Don't play dumb with me, Rose!"At this point, I felt like my world was quickly turning black. Who was this guy, and why had Luca left him in charge of me? Was this some kind of trick? Was this some kind of investigation?"Excuse me? Who is Rose?" I snapped, letting anger take over me. "How dare you even enter my room without my permission?"He smirked, reclining against the door. "Drop the act and speak. Who are you?"My heart was racing frantically, but I painstakingly maintained a calm expression. "I believe you m
ROSEI was getting to the brink of losing my sanity. How much longer could I bear with having a traitor outside my door and guarding meFor all I knew, he could be the one who would open the door to my enemy and have me killed in the middle of the night.Every time I slept, I was always partly awake to keep a lookout for whoever it wanted to take my life.Slowly, I was missing Luca. He was terrifying and disgusting, but at least his presence gave a form of assurance that no one could harm me. At least, not it he didn't approve of it.Could that be why he had left for over a week? Could he have told Ricci to kill me?Gosh, I was going crazy with these thoughts. I knew I couldn't do this anymore.Trevor had barely even spoken with me after the last time. I had not even been able to sneak out to meet him because I couldn't afford to arouse Ricci’s suspicions.As the night fell again, tears stung the back of my eyes
LUCA "So talk to me, hijo," my father stated in clear English with a smirk on his face. "Tell me about this mole in your territory that I'm hearing about and what you're doing about it."I took a deep breath. This old man would not have the satisfaction of seeing me break... not ever.Adjusting my suit, I reclined in my seat opposite him. "I'm working on it."His jaw ticked slightly. "I want to know exactly what you're doing about it. You can't just sit here telling me you're working on it. I need results to be sure I didn't make a mistake leaving the mafia in my son's hands." He was getting riled up. Good. He could give himself a heart attack for all I cared. I had never met anyone as selfish and insatiable as he was. "Yes. I am working on it. You'll get an update when I'm done fishing the mole out."He slammed his hands onto his desk. "Are you in your right senses? For all I know, the stupid lady you randomly brough
I stared at the diva looking lady at the door whose face had a cruel smirk plastered on it.With just a sweep of her eyes, she sect Sophia scampering out of the room. I felt anger rise in me towards her."You..." I mumbled, packing up the untouched cookies. So much for bonding time with Sophia. I had even hoped to get a bit more information about Luca from her.Her smirk grew even wider. "Yes, it's me."I rolled my eyes. "And what do you want this time, Rosa?!" I snapped. Ignoring her, I walked over to my vanity stand. I didn't have anything to do there, but I just wanted to ignore my physical nemesis in the room."I thought you and my baby were staying in the same room," she smirked, strutting over to the bed. Annoyance swirled in me as I watched her through the mirror while brushing my hair."Well, your baby is my husband," I bit back, just to spite her. She wasn't the only one who could be petty. She was yet to meet
My pulse shot to an abnormal rate. I tried to read his eyes as I collected the slip from him, but it was completely neutral.It was almost hooded, and that sent shivers down my spine."T-Thank you," I muttered in a barely audible voice as he led me down the hallways.He said nothing. "You know, if you'll be my personal bodyguard for the next couple of days, I'd have to know your name," I mumbled, lost in thoughts. His face was gard as he stared ahead for a long moment before answering, "Ricci."I forced a smile. If I was going to be stuck with this man for who-knows-how-long, I'd have to at least talk to him and try to dig up some things he might now. He was connected to Ivanov after all, and Ivanov appeared to be an important person in this mission for the time being."Nice to meet you, Ricci. I'm Marta. Why have I not seen you around the mansion for a while?"He face seemed to grow distressed by the second.
Luca didn't return home for the next two days, and a part of me felt worried.As a matter of fact, I was worried about many things. My dress with the recording device, which I was yet to find. The maid who had spoken to me and how I'd meet her again. Trevor's suspense and how I'd not seen him in over a week now. Sofia's fright. And now, Luca's absence.I just wanted to complete this mission on time, but without all these things in place, it seemed like I'd have to be here for a while.I raked my hands through my tangled hair. 'Think, Rose, think!' I screamed to myself mentally. Brushing it into a much neater wave, I struggled with putting the whole hair into a bun. Not having the strength to try again after a number of failed attempts, I gave up and tied a scarf over it. I was just going for breakfast after all.I'd also ask Hugo for some books. This boredom was getting toxic.Before I could knock at the door, it swung open, and