Chapter: Chapter 19ArynI changed my mind.Whatever plan Liam had for me—get close to Lorenzo, lure him in, maybe soften him enough to bend—I was done with it. Over. Canceled. Because being near that man was like playing chicken with a speeding train while strapped to the tracks. Dangerous. Reckless. Stupid.He wasn’t just a threat to my body. He was a fucking disaster to my mind.I couldn’t think straight around him. Couldn’t breathe properly. My brain short-circuited every time he looked at me, talked to me, touched me. The worst part? He knew. He saw through every little reaction and stored it like ammo for later. He was the kind of man who’d kiss you just to watch you fall apart—and laugh while doing it.And I wasn’t going to be one of those girls. Not again.So I pulled myself together after the bath incident, ditched the soaked clothes, and dried off in the servant’s quarters like some damn ghost. I didn’t speak to anyone. Didn’t want to. My thoughts were a mess, my emotions scrambled, and I neede
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-05-07
Chapter: Chapter 18ArynI was still staring at the painting.when the door creaked open.My breath caught.Heart hammering in my chest, I darted behind one of the stone columns near the edge of the hidden bath chamber. The steam rising from the water did little to blur the massive space, and I barely had enough cover. My back pressed against the cold surface, I held my breath as I peeked out just slightly.Lorenzo walked in.He didn’t hesitate. His hands were already unbuttoning his shirt, muscles shifting smoothly beneath olive skin. His arm—tattooed with dark, winding lines and symbols I couldn’t make out from here—moved with deliberate grace. He didn’t look like a man who rushed anything. He took his time.I should’ve looked away.But I didn’t.He slid into the bath, water rippling around him as he leaned back. The steam clung to him like a second skin, beads of water trailing down the curve of his chest. I swallowed hard, confused and ashamed at the way my body responded. What is wrong with me? After
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-05-05
Chapter: Chapter 17ArynI felt dirty.Not just on my skin, but deep inside where no soap could ever reach. There were bruises on my neck, red blotches down my chest, blood between my thighs—and I hadn’t even had sex with him.Lorenzo.The name itself made me feel sick.He kissed me like he owned me. Touched me like I was some object. Like I didn’t have a say. And the worst part?My body fucking responded.I didn’t understand it. I hated him. Every fucking inch of him. His cold stare, his filthy mouth, the way he looked down on me like I was less than nothing. And yet… when he kissed me, when his hands gripped my waist, something in me melted. Something primal. Something I didn’t want to admit existed.But now… sitting up in this massive bed, with blood staining the white sheets, shame punched me in the chest.What the hell was wrong with me?There was a knock on the door. Before I could even cover myself properly, the door opened and two maids stepped in. They froze.Their eyes darted to the mess on the
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-05-04
Chapter: Chapter 16LorenzoShe tasted good. So fucking goodSweet and delicate, like ripe cherries dipped in wine. My tongue chased hers with a hunger that had nothing to do with lust and everything to do with control. Her body trembled under mine, and the moment she moaned—soft, helpless, almost reverent—I nearly forgot what the fuck I was here to do.Her fingers clutched at my shoulders, pulling me closer, and her hips bucked as if her body couldn’t get enough of mine. I smirked against her lips. The scared little maid who once flinched at my footsteps was now arching beneath me like she was made for it.But I couldn’t lose focus.No matter how tight her legs wrapped around my waist, no matter how good she felt or how soft her skin was—I had a job to finish.Evidence.This was about planting evidence.My mouth left hers, and I kissed my way down her throat, nipping just beneath her jaw. She whimpered.“S-sir…” she gasped.Fuck, that voice. Shaky and breathless like she couldn’t believe what was happen
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-05-01
Chapter: Chapter 15ArynI couldn’t describe the way I was feeling—not with words, not with coherent thoughts. Everything was spinning—warm, fuzzy, confusing as hell—but the one thing I could remember, clearly, vividly, was the kiss.God, the way it felt.Soft but commanding. Like a question and an answer wrapped into one moment. Like I’d been waiting for it my whole damn life without knowing. My lips had moved on their own, chasing his, greedy for more, like some part of me knew he wouldn’t give it again easily.And I’d been right.Because he stopped.Just like that.I remembered protesting—barely—grabbing at his shirt, trying to pull him closer. I didn’t want him to stop. My body had burned for him, a heat coiling in my stomach and spilling down between my legs. It was reckless and stupid and probably the brandy talking, but I didn’t give a shit. Not in that moment.But then it happened.A sharp pain. Sudden. Cutting. Somewhere in my chest or maybe my head—I couldn’t even tell. I gasped, maybe I called
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-04-29
Chapter: Chapter 14LorenzoShe downed another cup of brandy like it was water—except water didn’t make people wince like that. Her face twisted in the kind of expression you’d expect from a child swallowing cough syrup. Definitely her first time drinking something that strong. She didn’t even try to hide her grimace, just reached for another glass with a determination that was almost admirable. Almost.I leaned back in my chair, swirling my own brandy slowly, letting the amber liquid catch the flickering chandelier light. Her hands trembled slightly as she tipped the next cup into her mouth. Brandy spilled over the rim and trailed down her chin, soaking into the expensive lace of the dress my tailor had slaved over for weeks. I could tell she was trying to get drunk enough to blur out the night, probably terrified that I’d fuck her just because we were now husband and wife.She didn’t know me yet. I wasn’t going to sleep with her. Not tonight. Not ever, if I could help it.Because she wasn’t *her*.The
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-04-25
Chapter: Chapter FourteenNerissa I spent the rest of the morning trying to act like I wasn’t spiraling. How could everything change so fast? One day I was a simple assistant with a semi-peaceful routine, and now I was being told to shadow a man like Asher Grayson to every meeting and every event like some executive groupie. And worse—I had no way out of it. The contract I’d signed blindly on my first day, desperate for work, had just become a leash around my neck. At exactly three o’clock, Asher stepped out of his office. I was already on my feet before he even called my name. “Let’s go,” he said, not waiting to see if I followed. I did, of course. Because what else could I do? He didn’t speak much in the car, just typed away on his phone. I sat beside him, stiff as a board, fidgeting with my skirt and wondering if he could sense how badly I wanted to be anywhere else. The boutique was in a quiet corner of the city—discreet, classy, expensive. Everything about it screamed Asher Grayson. I stepped insi
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-04-14
Chapter: Chapter 7Nerissa The next morning, I arrived at the office feeling a sense of calm. The previous evening's drama with Jace and his girlfriend was behind me, and I was ready to tackle the day's tasks. Balancing work and caring for Luke had become my routine, and I was growing more comfortable with it.As I stepped into the building, I exchanged greetings with Leah and Dan, who were chatting near the entrance. Their friendly smiles were a welcome start to the day."Morning, Nerissa," Leah called out."Good morning! How's everything?" I replied.Dan chuckled. "Same old, same old. Ready for another thrilling day in the world of IT."We shared a laugh before I made my way to Asher's office. My plan was to organize his workspace before he arrived, a routine I had maintained during his absence. I knocked lightly on the door, and hearing no response, I pushed it open.To my surprise, Asher was seated at his desk, reviewing some documents. He looked up, his piercing blue eyes meeting mine."Nerissa,"
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-04-09
Chapter: Chapter twelveNerissaIt had been a few weeks since the first awkward elevator encounter, and I was starting to get used to seeing my neighbor with a new girlfriend every week. Honestly, it wasn’t my business, and I kept reminding myself of that. Still, I made sure Luke didn’t come in contact with him. The last thing I needed was Luke picking up any habits from someone who clearly didn’t care about anyone else’s comfort.The loud music blasting through the thin apartment walls didn’t help either. Sometimes it started early in the morning; other times, it kept going well into the night. I’d started using earplugs just to get some sleep.At work, things were surprisingly better. Asher hadn’t been coming to the office lately, which was a huge relief. I didn’t have to constantly worry about accidentally saying or doing something that might give away my secret. I could actually breathe.I’d also made a few friends. Dan, from the IT department, was a sweetheart with a quick wit, and Leah from accounting
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-04-03
Chapter: Chapter Eleven NerissaI walked back toward the office, my heels clicking against the polished floors, but my mind was miles away. Why did Dan bring up Silver? Had he seen her? Had she asked about me?I shook my head, pushing the thoughts away. It didn’t matter. She didn’t matter.What mattered right now was getting through the day without losing my sanity. By the time I reached Asher’s office, I had regained my composure. I knocked twice, waiting for permission to enter. “Come in.” His voice was clipped, impatient. I pushed open the door and stepped inside, immediately noticing the tension in the air. Asher sat behind his desk, his fingers tapping against the dark wood, his jaw set tight. “You took your time,” he remarked, not bothering to look up from the papers in front of him. I bit back a retort. Professional. Indifferent. Play the part.“I was in the middle of something,” I replied smoothly, walking over to stand beside his desk. He finally looked up, and for a brief moment, somet
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-03-25
Chapter: Chapter TenNerissa I pushed Asher off me cleaning my mouth furiously even though the feeling of his lips still lingered. "How dare you kiss me without my permission?" He gave me a smug smile and sat on his chair, "Because you are mine now, Nerissa. The moment you became my secretary you became my possession." How in the name of everything normal did I end up with this cocky rich man? "Think about the money, think about the money" I chanted to myself. I took a deep breath and flashed my professional smile. "With all due respect, Mr Blackwood..." "Please call me Asher." "With all due respect, Mr Blackwood, please don't touch me without my permission or you would be sued by assault." I didn't wait for him to talk before I walked out of the room. I walked towards the ladies room still seething from what had just happened..The nerve of that infuriating annoying...... I forced a polite smile as I passed a few colleagues in the hallway. The weight of expectations clung to me like an ill-fitt
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-03-21
Chapter: Chapter nine NerissaI walked into the office the next morning. The usual chatter filled the air, but today felt different. There was an uneasy feeling hanging over the room, and I couldn’t shake the sense that something was wrong. Just as I sat down, my boss called me into his office. My stomach twisted with nerves; the last time he did this, it was for a performance review, and I’d only just managed to pass.“Nerissa,” he said, his voice serious. “I need to talk to you about a transfer.” My heart sank. I knew what that meant. I’d heard the rumors, but I was hoping they wouldn’t be true. “You’re being moved to the top floor. Black Industries has merged with us, and they want you working directly under Mr. Blackwood.”I nodded, even as I clenched my fists. Damn Blackwood. I had only just started my life here and he was already set out to ruin it. Coupled with the fact that I was hiding his baby.I went to the bathroom to clear my head, hoping to shake off the anxiety. As I leaned over the sink, tw
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-11-09
Masuk
