I can't even talk right now; I take in deep breaths as I try to get my emotions under control. "Who was that? I saw him freeze as soon as he came in," she continued. "He is a friend of Axel, the person that made me work at the casino; I don't really know if they are friends, but they are together quite often." Realization dawned on her features, and she looked at me with something close to sympathy. I avoid her eyes; I don't want anyone to pity me; I'm done with that life. "It's probably nothing; I don't know if he recognizes me or not. She wraps her arms around me."I'm going to bring a baseball bat tomorrow; if he comes back here and tries anything, I'm going to break his legs and make sure he doesn't walk out with his feet intact." I laugh and relax into her embrace. "That would be nice." "I have to go check up on customers' orders; are you going to be okay?" she asks. "I'm fine, Rose." "You sure you don't want to go home? Joel and I will have everything under control." "Na
OCTAVIA'S POVAs I wiped down the counter, the familiar sound of the café's doorbell rang in my ears, but today it felt different, almost electric. For weeks, I had been on edge, glancing up every time the door creaked open, half-expecting to see that man or even Axel walk in again. I expect Axel and his goons to walk in here every minute. The memory of our last encounter lingered in my mind, his unsettling note echoing like a haunting melody. I could still feel the chill that ran down my spine when he had looked at me, eyes piercing through the small talk, making me feel exposed and vulnerable. Each day without his presence brought a strange relief but also a nagging sense of unease, like waiting for a storm that never came. I had convinced myself that maybe he had decided to ignore my existence and that I could finally breathe easy in my little café sanctuary.But then, just as I thought I could relax, the door swung open, and there he was, casually strolling in as if he hadn’t haun
***"You seem tensed and distracted, what's wrong," Nile asked twirling a lock of my hair between his fingers, I turn to face him, the sunset rays coming in from the window cast a soft golden glow on his already olive skin making him look almost ethereal. I trace his jawline with my finger then his shoulder, precipitation of sweat from our earlier activities moisten his back, I'm fully sated and exhausted but knowing he is not wearing anything except the cover of the blanket does little to stop my thoughts from going back to what happened with that man at the café earlier this week, I shrug the thought of, I shouldn't let this bother me anymore, if push comes to shove, I'll get a restraining order against him, he doesn't look like someone that can can afford to have the police on his payroll. "Nothing, I'm fine. I think I'm just a bit tired," "Is it the café? Is it getting more demanding? Do you need help? Should I hire someone?" He shot question after question. It was at times like
OCTAVIA'S POVAs I sit on my bed, the silence in the room feels deafening. My phone lies next to me; its screen is dark, but I can’t help glancing at it every few seconds, hoping for a notification that never comes. I feel a mix of sadness and anger swirling inside me, like a storm that won’t pass. Why did he have to storm out like that? My mind races back to the argument, the harsh words we exchanged, and the way his face twisted in frustration. I thought we could work things out, but now I’m left here, staring at this lifeless device, waiting for a call that I know might not come. I pick up my phone, scrolling through our old messages, trying to find a moment that reminds me of how we used to be. But all I see are the echoes of our last fight. It feels so unfair. I want to scream, to throw the phone against the wall, but instead, I just sit here, feeling trapped in this whirlwind of emotions. I can probably reach out to him first, but my pride won't let me. I want him to realize
OCTAVIA'S POVThe sound of the doorbell startles me away. Rose and I had fallen asleep in the middle of the movie. I look at the wall clock; it is twenty minutes last eleven. Who would be knocking on my door this late in the night? The doorbell rings again. Why is the person so inpatient? I check to see the person outside through the intercom. Nile's face came into view. I pressed the button and told him I'd be out in a minute. I walked into my bedroom to put on a robe over my pajamas. I opened the door but stepped out before he could come in. Rose is asleep in the living room, and I wouldn't want us to wake her. I looked up at him; he is dressed in a suit and still manages to look immaculate by this time of the night; the only thing that gave him away is the tired look in his eyes. I leaned on the wall and looked at him. "What are you doing here, Nile?" I asked"I wanted to see you." "This late at night? You disappear on me all day, and now you suddenly knock on my door when the w
OCTAVIA'S POVI watched Nile's face shift from surprise to a mix of anger and disbelief as I confronted him. His eyes widened, and for a moment, it seemed like he was searching for the right words, but nothing came. The silence between us felt heavy, almost suffocating. "How did you find out?" he finally asked, his voice low and strained. I could see the tension in his jaw and the way he clenched his fists at his sides. It was like he was trying to hold back a storm of emotions. I had expected him to deny it, to try to twist the truth, but instead, there was a flicker of vulnerability in his gaze. I took a deep breath and replied, “Your wife came to the café earlier this week.” I could see the realization dawning on him—the weight of his choices crashing down. "Wait, you have known for a while and you didn't say anything,? He asked.I gave him a deadpan look. "Really, that's what you are going to say; is that the point?" He looked away, as if he couldn’t bear to meet my eyes, and
OCTAVIA'S POV I rest my back against the door and I watched Nile walk away. My heart is heavy; I don't know what to feel. I have been used, I have been trampled on, I have been molested, I have been beaten, my hope has been dashed too many times, and now that I started to think I had a shot at happiness, it turns out it was all a lie. I walk quietly to the bathroom and turn on the shower. Sitting in the bathtub, I pull my knees to my chest and let the warm water envelop me. The shower is on; the sound of the water cascading down is almost comforting, but it can’t drown out the storm inside my heart. Tears flow freely down my cheeks, mixing with the droplets that splash against my skin. It feels like a release, a way to let out all the pain I’ve been holding inside for so long.I close my eyes and let the memories wash over me—each one a reminder of the times I’ve been hurt. The degradation I have had to go through, Philip, my father, who hurt me when he was supposed to keep me safe,
OCTAVIA'S POV As I stepped into the club, the pulsating music hit me like a wave, but my heart wasn’t in it. I glanced at Rose, who was already beaming with excitement, ready to dive into the night. “Come on, Octavia! Just a little fun!” she urged, tugging at my hand. I sighed, feeling the weight of my recent breakup hanging over me, but I let her pull me inside.The atmosphere was electric, filled with laughter and flashing lights. Rose darted to the bar, her energy infectious. “Two mojitos, please!” she called out to the bartender, her voice rising above the music. I stood back, still feeling out of place, my arms crossed defensively. “Are you sure about this?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light, even as doubt crept in. “Trust me, you’ll love it! Just wait until you taste this,” she replied, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. The bartender slid two tall glasses filled with vibrant liquid garnished with fresh mint and lime. As Rose handed me one, I took a tentative sip. The r
She didn’t resist. I guess she wanted me as much as I wanted her. Her lips relaxed and took mine too. My hands wrapped around her back, pulling her closer. I felt hot flashes in my body. Her arms stretched over my shoulder, pulling my head in. I slid my hands down to her ass, raising her up. I couldn’t get enough of her.We staggered to the wall, lips still locked, hands all over our bodies. Outside, thunder rumbled and lightning crashed. She was pinned against the wall, breathing heavily when I pulled away from the kiss. ‘’I want you, Octavia,’’ I said, searching her eyes. I could see the raw desires in them. She wanted me just as much.She tugged at my shirt, ripping the first button loose. Her eyes were fierce and inviting at the same time. I knew I was supposed to be avoiding her, but whatever drew her to me was too powerful than the both of us. ‘’Have me then, Mr Giovanni,’’ she whispered, her words sending shocks down my spine.I reached for her again, pulling her and
She was mumbling and flailing her arms, with beads of sweat forming on her forehead despite the cool temperature of the room. I walked close to the bed.‘’Octavia?’’She was still only for a moment before she continued, thrashing more violently now. It was as though she was fighting with some unseen demons. I tapped her gently. ‘’Octavia…. Octavia..’’She stirred, and her eyes opened. She turned around in an instant and she saw me. I saw the look of shock and panic on her face. I was unsure of how to react.‘’I’m sorry to bother you,’’ I said, standing straight. ‘’It seems you were having a nightmare.’’She rubbed her eyes, almost as if she couldn’t believe I was the one standing there. I felt almost the same way too - I couldn't believe she was the one lying in my bed.‘’I– I was told you won’t be back,’’ she said, pushing the sheets away. ‘’Oh shit!’’I reached for her arm. ‘’Octavia, it's okay. You don’t have to leave,’’ I said, but my grasp on her arm ended up making her
The penthouse was breathtakingly beautiful. It was the most beautiful part of the hotel and it was not hard to see why. I looked out of the window to the city outside. It was such a beautiful view. I imagined myself with my robe and a cup of wine, just looking at the city."Good evening, Ms. Russo.’’ I turned around, startled by the voice of the stranger. A woman in uniform was standing at the entrance. ‘’I was informed you would be our guest for a while. My name is Patricia and i am the hostess in charge of the penthouse.’’I nodded, examining her carefully.‘’Allow me to show you around, please." She smiled, her smile warm and professional. I guess she was used to treating the biggest clients of the hotel, so she had to be very warm and professional.I smiled back, a little excited and a lot curious. I'd never indulged in the pleasure of staying at a penthouse. I mean, it was too big for only me to occupy. I wondered what Zion was up to for him to occupy such a large pla
I peered at the footage as the man walked into the elevator beside me. ‘’Yes, that’s him,’’ I said, pointing at the screen.The man remained silent. I watched as he moved closer to me while he got me engaged in a o conversation and pulled out my wallet from the bag. It was so swift that it could have been easily missed on the footage.‘’Can he be identified?’’ I asked, leaning up. ‘’I need to get my wallet.’’The man ceased his forehead, watching the footage again. ‘’It’s hard to really get his face in the video.’’ He looked at me. ‘’He’s smart. I would say he’s an expert. He avoided any angles that would show his face.’’I paced around the room. ‘’So you are saying this is not the first time guests at your hotel are robbed of their possessions? And yet nothing has been done to curtail it? How does he even have access to your lobby?’’He straightened his back and pulled the chair away from the computer. ‘’Miss Russo, this is not a regular at our hotel. Such an unfortunate
I waited for Bree to leave for the States before I started packing up my things for the flight the following day. Talking to my dad had helped with the panic attacks and I was able to sleep in my room, but still with the medications. Bree looked gorgeous in her gown. ‘’I’ll visit you in the US as soon as I can,’’ I said to her, hugging her tightly. Vincent had sent a private jet to pick her up, and she was going to be on the flight alone. ‘’Be a good girl, huh?’’She sniffed. ‘’I’ll try my best.’’ she dipped her hand into her pocket and brought out her yin yang necklace. ‘’I still have mine,’’ she said, smiling. ‘’I’ll put it on whenever i miss you.’’I searched my entire room that day for mine and eventually found itt. I held it delicately, smiling at it. ‘’I miss you already, Bree.’’There was a gentle tap on my door and it creaked open. ‘’Heyy.’’ It was Rory.‘’Hey,’’ I said, looking up at her from my task briefly. She stepped in. i hadn't seen her since that day i ha
‘’Lionel Cyro da Vinci,’’ I repeated the name, smiling. Although it left a taste of sadness on my tongue. For the first time in the two years I had been home, I wondered what became of him. Waas he really dead? Or was he somewhere else, just as I was?‘’You were Helene,’’ she said to me, rocking the baby gently.I leaned on the cot. ‘’Helene? Let me guess. That was the name of my mum.’’‘’Close enough,’’ she said. ‘’Helene was the name of your mum’s sister. Her name was Dorothy. We all called her Doris.’’I walked away from the bed and took a seat beside her. ‘’Do you think my brother might still be alive?’’ I asked.She sighed then shook her head slowly, swaying her thick crop of gray hair. ‘’Lionel would have found him if he’s still alive.’’‘’But is he looking at all?’’ I asked.‘’I don’t know, Octavia. He wasn’t looking when he found you. Inmean, he buried the burnt bodies of two babies that he supposed were you and Cyrius.’’I leaned forward. ‘’That’s my point, aunt.
Elena found out I was sleeping in Bree’s room a few days later. She came into Bree’s room one morning when I was still knocked out from the pill and found me sleeping in her bed.‘’Why’s Octavia in your room?’’ she asked. She had come to spend some time with Bree as she was leaving very soon.She shrugged. ‘’She likes my bed?’’She didn't believe the story because she was in the room the following morning, and Bree said the same thing. I was awake and just sitting on the bed, feeling down and upset.‘’Good morning, aunt Elena,’’ I said. She had a tray of different arrays of fruits that she had been feeding Bree with every morning. She said it would make her conceive easily and have a healthy baby.‘’Are you okay, Octavia? You look pale,’’ she said to me.I looked at her, my eyes heavy. The tablets were putting me to sleep, but I'd always wake up tired. I was feeling a bit more depressed daily.‘’Yes, aunty. I’m fine,’’ I said, looking at the tray of fruits in her hands. I
I turned around to the sound of his voice. ‘’Did I wake you up?’’ I asked, walking away from the mirror.He squinted his eyes and groaned. ‘’Where are you all dressed up to?’’‘’I have a very important meeting in town, babe. It was so sudden,’’ I said, walking over to him and kissing his cheeks. ‘’Good morning.’’He creased his brows. ‘’I can’t let you out just yet, Rory. You were attacked just last week and you aren’t fit to be going out yet.’’I laughed gently. ‘’I know you are bothered about me, and I love it so much. But you seem to be forgetting who you are, baby. You are Lionel da VInci.’’ I walked over to the mirror to brush my hair. ‘’No one can mess with you.’’He shook his head. ‘’I’ve been proven wrong one too many times,’’ he said.‘’Well, I am Rory Morano. No one can mess with me,’’ I said, chuckling dryly.He sat up. ‘’What is this urgent meeting about?’’I patted my lips against each other gently. ‘’My cousin,’’ I said. ‘’I have a meeting with the security chie
‘’You are a cat.’’ I laughed as I walked into the room with a tray of food. He leaned up to receive the food.‘’A cat with nine lives,’’ I continued.He winced and quickly masked it with a smile. ‘’It wasn’t really a good shot.’’Aaron had had a hernia when he was a teenager, and the surgeon had left a mesh frame when he did the repair. It was that framework that had trapped the bullet that had been fired at him, stopping it from hitting his liver. The doctor said it was one of the wonders of the world.‘’What life number are you on now?’’ I asked.‘’Should be three,’’ he said.The room became silent suddenly as our minds drifted to the event of that day. I had the opportunity of putting the lives of two of my enemies that day but I had hesitated. I wasn’t sure if I was not going to regret it eventually. Another concern was the man I had seen.‘’I saw the man behind the door, Aaron,’’ I said, looking at him. His brows were furrowed. I had a feeling he knew what I was about