"I’ve got a girls’ night out on Monday." Daisy revealed and Brett stilled. Maybe someone who didn’t know him as well as she did wouldn’t have caught that subtle, sharp alertness, but she knew him so well, so she caught it. "Girls’ night doing what, exactly?" He asked. "Dancing, drinking. The usual." She told him. "Is it a manhunt?" "Man... what? Oh my God. She laughed sweetly. "No, it's Madison's birthday. My colleague at work." "The front desk lady, I remember." He hummed. Daisy licked her dry lips, mesmerized by the change in him. He’d gone from intimately playful to intensely focused. "Her friends are coming with their boyfriends. So, Madison kind of needs me as her plus one." Brett was suddenly all business when he said, "I’ll make the arrangements. Car, driver, and security. If you stick to my clubs, your security will stay in the car. But if you're visiting any other club, aside mine, your security is going in with you." Blinking in surprise, she agreed. S
"Eric." Daisy leaned forward, needing to clarify something that was bothering her. "Did you see Julian when he arrived at Fairview? Did you by chance meet him one of the days he approached my parents?""Yes. He got his ass beat by Brett twice before he died as well." Eric reported a hint of pride in his voice. "Twice? Why would he go back after the first time?" Eric glanced at her through the mirror. "My guess, to be seen or taken more seriously. He was determined to keep the pressure up. And I bet he expected to frighten you eventually by revealing himself to you one day. But he just needed to be sure that he'll get the financial settlement he desperately needed before scaring the hell out of you. But he did manage to scare your mom instead. Effective in either case.""And no one cared to say a word to me while all of this unfolded." Daisy said quietly. "I can’t seem to get over that feeling. It hurts to be left in the dark.""Yeah, I understand." Eric nodded. "But He wanted you fr
Monday night found Daisy wasted from Madison's birthday bash. She was only able to recall a few things. How she got to Brett's new apartment however was a memory she couldn't recall no matter how hard she tried to, the next morning. Squeezing her eyes shut from her position on the bed the next morning, she groaned and placed her head in the pillow, willing herself back to sleep. The beaded shifted. Warm, firm lips drifted down her bare spine. "Good morning, my Sunshine." Daisy hummed. "Why do I feel like you sound ridiculously pleased with yourself?" She muttered. "Pleased with you, actually." He corrected with a beautiful smile. "You don't recall how you got here, do you?" She shook her head. "But I have a feeling Ugo has a hand in it." "Yes, she does. She called. She wasn't totally conscious though. She called the first number on your call log, which happened to be mine." "Would It have made any difference if she called or not. Your men were all over the place l
Daisy called her dad back first and the sound of his voice made her smile. "Daisy." The rich old-money voice of her father echoed in her ears, soothing her beautifully. "Don't tell me you missed me, Dad." She sat up straighter. "Well, I do. I always do. But that's not why I called." Geoffrey said. "Yeah, I figured." "I've been meaning to ask, what's going on between you and Lexington? What's the future like for the both of you, together." "Huh?" Daisy quizzed. "That's new. I never thought you'd be asking me that." "Tell me, pumpkin." "Why do you ask?" She pestered, determined to be a pain. "I spoke to Lexington." Goosebumps swept across Daisy's skin. She recalled Brett's statement about seeing her dance video on her dad's phone. "Was that how he saw my old dance video, the one you recorded on your phone?" "Daisy... that's not what we're talking about right now. But if you must know, we ran into each other and you know how I love showing you off...." She nodd
Thursday Morning and Daisy was dropped off at her apartment very early in the morning since Brett had an early one with Dr. Violet. She checked Ugo's room when she got inside but found it empty. She was digging in her closet when a knock came on her bedroom door. "Come in," she yelled from inside. A moment later, Ugo's voice sounded. "Where the hell are you?" "In here." Ugo's shadow darkened the doorway as she appeared. "So, you're sneaking in and out of your apartment now?" Daisy chuckled. "I'm not. I checked your room when I arrived and you were out." She sighed. "Yeah, just stepped out for a morning jog." "I'm so jealous of your body right now. I haven't been to the gym nor Pith's studio since forever." Daisy scowled at her friend's body. "Well you have been engaging in other forms of exercise if you know what I mean." Ugo winked. "And your body is still very much perfect. So, who's complaining?" They laughed as Daisy pushed a grey-colored dress toward Ugo. "Lovely wa
Done with her little time with her best friend, Daisy left for Lex and Gibson in a cab. As the cab stopped in front of her office building, the sight of the SUV at the curb gave her the usual thrill. When she hopped out of the taxi, she peeked into the front seat and waved when she saw Ben sitting inside. He stepped out, with a subtle smile. "Good morning, Miss Ledwig," he greeted her. Although Ben wasn’t a young man and he already had noticeable strands of gray hair, Daisy had never had any doubts about his ability to protect Brett. "Hi, Ben. It’s good to see you. You’re looking lovely today." She told him."Thank you." Ben replied. "I wish you a very beautiful day."Daisy nodded with a big smile. "See you later."Ben's pale blue eyes were kind as he bowed from his waist. When Daisy got upstairs, she found Madison looking more like her usual self. Her smile was wide and real, and her eyes had the sparkle she enjoyed seeing every morning. She stopped by her desk. "How is my favori
When Daisy got back to her office building, she was totally tense and angry. Her plans of repairing her relationship with her mother was futile and now she has to be bothered about a godforsaken prenup. She had just twirled through the revolving front door of the building when she saw the woman she'd prefer never to see again, Lana. And she was talking to her man, with her palm resting intimately against his chest. Lana's long black hair fell to her back, on a glossy black dress. She was a beautiful woman, a knowledge that pierces Daisy's heart every single time. And worst still, the both of them made a stunning couple while viewing their stance together. Abruptly, Brett's head turned and found Daisy, as if he’d felt her watching him. The instant their gazes met, Daisy felt that soul-deep recognition pierce through her, that primitive awareness she'd only ever felt with Brett. Lana turned and saw Daisy. She drew in to plant a kiss on Brett's lips. But, he jerked back just befor
Brett pulled Daisy's hips to the very edge of the desk with her legs on either side of him, exposing her cleft to his gaze. "So tell me Baby, what made this pretty cunt so greedy today?""You.""Perfect answer."Daisy pushed at his shoulder. "Your suit reminded me of when we met. I wanted to fuck you so bad that day, but I couldn’t do anything about it. Now I can."He pressed her thighs wide with gentle hands, and stroked over her clit with his thumb. Her sex quivered as pleasure pulsed through her. "Now I can," he repeated her words.Daisy grasped desperately at the cushion beneath her. Her stomach tightened as his tongue licked leisurely through her slit. He rimmed the trembling opening to her sex, teasing her before his tongue sank into her. She arched violently, her back bowed as he tormented the tender flesh of her sex. "Let me tell you how I imagined you that day," he purred, circling her clit with the tip of his tongue."I imagined you spread beneath me on that hockey pitch
We were now in an open corridor. Rocco stood like a statue at the end of the room, staring into space. Two other guards stood at a reasonable distance, taking the same stance. I snatched my hand back from him, crossing it over my chest. "Good. Then that's settled. But make no mistake, he turned "I'm going to take my pleasure from you, how and when I deem it fit." He threatened. "You dare not!" I challenged, creating a distance between us. "Really," he mused. "Let's see how that goes." "Every single thing about this situation is disappointing," I corrected him, feeling my jaw quiver. I had a temper. So I try so hard to always remain happy and positive. And that was why I surrounded myself with people that really love and care about me. They all knew and understood how bad my temper used to be. As a form of control, I would always remain cold and calm in situations I have no power over. Until I grab a full picture of the situation. But then, in some conditions, I almost alw
I was awakened by the distant sound of the television. Immediately I opened my eyes, I saw Maxine cropped up on a chair at the end of the room. "Welcome back to the land of the living," he muttered. "Where are we?" I croaked, sitting up on the bed and surveying the empty room that had only a bed and a television. Maxine stretched his arms, and sighed. "Home, The Garden." "Thank God." I sighed, before realizing what he meant. "You mean your home is referred to as The Garden?" "Mhmm." He hummed. "Gross." I spat out. "It's a good name." He stood up. "Hollis totally owe me for this." He murmured and left the room, not even saying a goodbye or any other word. My throat felt raw, and my body, emotionally exhausted. I could feel dark isolation seeping through the room like deep depression. I just wanted to go home, to go shopping, boat cruises, clubhouses and the courtroom. I wanted my life back. But even I know I couldn't. Not with the continuous attempt on my life and wi
Maxine gripped the steering wheel and side-glanced me. "Put your seatbelt on, this is going to be fun." I did as I was told, and he hit the red button on the rearview mirror, which caused the garage door to slide open. We drove out onto the gloomy street. Maxine didn't let go of the gas pedal until we were driving well above the speed limit. Darkened street signs flashed by. He sped through a red light, swerving around a car that was patiently waiting for its turn. 'What was the point of making me wear my seatbelt if he was planning on killing the both of us by crashing the car.' With an extended grin, he weaved us in and out of traffic. Eventually we moved away from the city streets and onto a country road. We picked up more speed, but at least there were no other cars to play chicken with. I was able to unclench my teeth and my stranglehold on the security bar against the door, using my free hand to wipe my newly dampened forehead. The car air-conditioner couldn't do anyt
The next time I woke up, the sun was already setting. I was feeling better, rested, though my joints and muscles ached from the lack of movement. As for the bump on my head, it was only sensitive to touch. there was no more throbbing. My hair on the other hand was a tangled mess. My head felt naked when my hair was down. I searched my pockets and then the barren room for anything that I could use to tie it back. The only thing I found was the glass of water that had been refilled, and that I greedily gulped down. The bedroom door had been left open, and hollowed sounds from a Television could still be heard. As soon as the smell of food tickled my nose, my stomach grumbled. The last meal I had eaten was the vegetable sauce my mother made specially for me. How long ago was that? My brain was still too foggy to count back the hours or the days. The thought of my mother sent chills down my spine. I haven't heard from my parents and I knew they would be worried sick. Letting my sto
With a stiff neck, I scanned my surroundings. there wasn't much to decipher. I was in a small room, lit only by the bedside lamp that was on the table next to the bed. There was an armchair with a rose velvet cushion in one corner. The walls were bland and frameless. After waiting for another bout of nausea to pass, I went to the window, holding on to the small table as support for my shaky frame. Outside, the sunsetting sky was of resilient palettes of shady hues, and I was peering over the shadows of endless rooftops. Wherever I was, it was high above a city, at least twenty stories high. Down below, a yellow cab was waiting at a red light on an otherwise empty street. I couldn't decide if I was still in Lilycity. I thought I had a fair recognition of the clock tower that stood at the center of the city square, but it was too distant and I was too tired to be sure. My hand pressed against the glass. I closed my eyes until the dizziness passed, then slowly and painfully moved to
There was a flash of light and distant noises. My head felt like someone was taking an ice pick and pouring heavy chipping on my skull. I decided that death couldn't be this painful, so I was probably not dead or this was what hell was supposed to feel like. My eyes were pried open, and a light came flashing again. This was followed by a groan, like a bear cub. 'was that me?' I managed to flutter my eyes open without anyone's help. Inches away from my face, someone was holding a pen-sized flashlight. I couldn't focus enough to see him, but I could definitely smell him. Light scent of woodberry and some chemicals I remember enduring the mixing process once I snuck into the chemistry laboratory during practicals that were meant for students offering science courses. The ceiling was swimming. I thought I was going to vomit, and I had to let my eyelids drop to stop the spinning. Slowly, the muffled sounds became words. "What's your name, sweetheart." Asked the man with the flashli
I climbed down carefully from the grey van that picked me up from the house. I was going to see a cartel Boss. So there are quite a lot of things that could happen today. It's either I end up dead or I succeed in striking a good deal that will keep my father alive and give my family enough time to pay up the crazy-absurd debt they leveled against my Father. If the stars are in my favor, the money might even be forgiven. But in all, one of these things was going to happen today and I pray my dead body won't be drawn out of the industrial looking premises. As I stood looking around, I got a nudge behind from one of the men. "Move!" He barked at me and like a crippled roach revealed by a light from a handheld torch. I had to put both of my feet to good use. One of the men walked in front, leading the way, while two others walked behind me. "Stop." A baritone voice from a guard stationed at the gate yelled at us. "She's going to go in blindfolded." He read out a rehearsed instruct
The silence at the dinning table felt excruciating and painful. I forced most of the mashed potatoes down my throat and swallowed hurriedly each time, unable to feel the taste of the meal. When the silence became too unbearable, I shifted my meal and turned to my parents. "Let's hear it, what's the problem?" "Eat Ugo." My father said, tapping me gently on the arm. "I'm full, and even if I'm not, I can't take more. I've lost my appetite. What's going on, what's with the silence and brooding, did someone die?" My mother was the first to shake her head. "We didn't lose anyone. But we might as well loose someone if we don't find a solution." She said, "Ada..." My father called in his usual peace-loving manner. "Ugo is not a child, honey. The earlier we start taking....the better." "Please talk to me... anyone. Dad, Mom." "Honey, it's nothing serious....." "Your father was accused of stealing from his company." My mom interrupted. "What?" I looked at my father, hoping he would as
UGO I took in the orderliness of the little room that had always served as my safe space for the longest time. All my childhood memories were still intact, almost as I had left them. My mother had taken it upon herself to preserve all the good memories, making sure not to alter the shape of the room and the position of things as I left them. I tried recalling the last time I visited Lilycity. It's been well over two years. Fairview had found a way to draw me into its tight grasp and sapped me off all my free time. I sighed, recalling my mother's tears at the airport when she came to pick me up. I was initially skeptical that she would be the one to pick me up, but then she somehow managed to convince me with my father's support that she has recovered perfectly since her intestinal surgery. "Poor woman." I murmured regrettably. Pulling my hair into a tight bun, I sat down on the only chair in my room, took in the beauty of the modest-looking room and smiled. What my room lacked in