CHAPTER 1- SHATTERED

            “Be my woman.” He lifted her chin, pinning his burning gaze on her.

           “What?!” Her eyes flickered in shock.

           “Four months. Keep quiet, play the damn role, and in return, I fix your reputation and pay you off for your services.”

            This was the offer that Italy’s most ruthless billionaire bachelor, Montez De Vitalio, made to Amira Santis after she had exposed his crimes to the world and sued him to court.

              She thought she would finally get justice for her brother’s murder, but oh how wrong she had been. A man as powerful as Montez De Vitalio would always have his way. Two months ago was when the whole scandal started.

             “You are fired!” The words had echoed in her head like a volcano.

              It hadn’t been raining that evening when she left the lawyer’s office, but by the time she got out of the taxi, the sky had cracked open just like her career a few hours ago—merciless and without warning. Her heels slipped, almost costing her a twisted ankle. Her once-glamorous hair clung wetly to her cheeks. The red dress she wore was soaked thoroughly.

              The rain pierced into her skin like sharp needles with every drop as she stumbled up the steps with trembling fingers, fumbling through her bag for the keys to her boyfriend’s apartment. She could barely get a hold of them as her hands wouldn’t stop shaking from the cold, along with the humiliation that came with the pain of losing her life’s worth.

               Everything she had built over the last eight years… gone to the wind! Just like that. The exposé had aired three days ago. VITALIO INDUSTRIES: The Billion-Dollar Crime Machine. It had been her biggest and most successful story and apparently, her last.

               In it, she exposed more than just tax fraud and money laundering. She exposed murder. The murder of her older brother and only sibling, Luca. He had worked for Montez De Vitalio before he turned up dead in East Riverside with a bullet lodged deep in his skull and a suicide note in his jacket pocket, but she knew Luca was way too full of life to have committed suicide. That note was clearly forged to cover up the original crime.

              After years of hard work and sweat, she had finally dug up the truth, but Montez De Vitalio called it slander. The world called it bravery and her chest had never swelled so much with pride. Finally, she was getting justice. But all that had lasted for twenty-four hours, and then came the retaliation.

                She was fired, with her bank account equally frozen. Legal threats rained harder than the storm. Every door that had once welcomed her was now slammed in her face as no media company was willing to take her. And all because she touched the one untouchable man in Italy—Montez De Vitalio, the cold-blooded devil with a billion-dollar smirk.

              Her lawyer had told her fair and square that this was a war she could never win. Montez was way too powerful, and she would only be driving herself deeper into the quicksand by engaging with him. Screw the bastard! She was barely holding it together by the time she reached her apartment. Today was supposed to be different, however.

             Nathan had texted her that morning: Don’t make plans today. I’ve got a surprise for you.

      

             God, she clung to that text like a life raft because even with everything burning, she still had him. Her boyfriend of five years. Her rock, her partner, and her co-conspirator.

             Nathan Romano was not just her boyfriend but a director at Vitalio Industries. Despite being Montez’s cousin and closest family, he also wanted what she was after and that was to bring Montez to his knees. Although his motive was to finally take his place as CEO, she merely wanted justice for her dead brother. Nathan was the one who gave her the files that started this story.

              It was her birthday today, and as much as the entire day had sucked, she was sure Nathan had put up something sweet for her. Bianca, her best friend, would also be part of the celebrations just like every other year. She and Nathan were the two people in the world who mattered most to her.

               She felt so awful that she had arrived so late. She even texted that she wouldn’t be coming to his house that day for the party. Oh well, the day’s not over yet, she might as well surprise him. Bianca would have long gone by now. She let out a tired sigh. What a horrible friend she was.

                She twisted the doorknob open, and a loud gasp tore from her throat as she stepped into the living room and froze. The decorations were still up. The birthday cake was a massive three-tier with the words: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LOVE, boldly written at the top. The cake remained untouched in all its layers of chocolate and vanilla icing. Which were her favorite!

              Tears brimmed at the corners of her eyes as she saw the bottles of wine surrounding it. Romantic jazz could still be heard floating through the apartment. All this effort for her, and she ditched it all. She needed to go offer an apology. Not thinking twice, she sprinted up the stairs to his bedroom, but the moment she opened the door, her world shattered again.

             The scent of vanilla candles still hung in the air, but none of that mattered now because sprawled across the bed, beneath the flickering glow of the TV, was Nathan. Naked. And inside her best friend.

             Her heart stopped or maybe it exploded. She couldn’t tell the difference, nor could she even breathe.

             They hadn’t noticed her yet. Bianca’s back arched off the bed, head thrown back, her golden hair tangled around Nathan’s fingers as he thrust into her—hard and relentless, like she was the only thing keeping him from unraveling.

             “Shit, Nathan!” Bianca whimpered, clawing at his back. “Don’t stop. Don’t ever fucking stop!”

               He grunted, his hips slamming into her like he was punishing her body for the intimacy Amira had denied him time and again. “You like that, baby, don’t you?” he muttered, his voice low and ragged. “You like being filled this much—unlike her.”

               Amira felt her throat tighten. He didn’t say her name. He didn’t have to.

              “N-Nate!” Her voice broke down in a tight yell, and both heads snapped toward her, standing soaked by the doorway.