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My mind races as I stare at the message on my phone Until we meet again. I can feel my pulse quicken, the earlier adrenaline rush settling into a simmering confusion and anger. How could he have gotten my number? And why do I feel like I’ve just been played, even though I’m supposed to be the one in control here?I glance around the room, as though expecting him to reappear from the crowd, his sharp eyes locking onto mine once again, but there’s nothing. No sign of him. Not even his men. It’s like they were never here at all, as if they melted into the shadows, vanishing without a trace."Can we go now?" Tamara asks as she reapers behind my back."What?" I ask before I can read the angry face that event that beautiful mask couldn't hide. "It's not New Year yet, there is still an hour until midnight.""I lost my good mood." She says."Why? Who called you?" I ask."My TO." Uhh no. "Your new friend must have done something.""First of all he is not my friend, tell me what happened." She c
Love's POVIt was so easy to be happy. It was easy not to think about anything else that wasn't Christian, to allow myself to be fully consumed by him and everything that he is. His smile and the look in his eyes were all too much, and yet, they were everything I ever wanted. I could lose myself in him and not mind it at all. His touch became everything I craved and I knew that soon enough I would be addicted to him, in the best... and worst way possible. "It seems everyone abandoned our table," Christian says as we walk back into the ballroom, hand in hand, fingers interlocked, and I can’t help but smile, the warmth of his hand grounding me. "They must be close by." I say as I see Tam approaching with Mira right behind her. They seemed tense, well Tam seemed tense Mira had that posture she did when she pretended everything was fine when it wasn't."Ohh here come your friends... do you mind if I leave you just for a second, I promised Seb I would save him from Mother's friends and
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Everyone cheered at the time of saying goodbye to the old year and welcomed the new while watching the spectacular fireworks. I smiled, hugged my friends, and then turned to Christian, whose eyes sparkled with something deeper than just the reflection of the fireworks. The energy in the room was electric, everyone buzzing with the excitement of a fresh start. This was my new start. Ours. I felt his arms wrap around me as he pulled me close, his breath warm against my ear. "Happy New Year, Angel," he whispered, his voice sending a shiver down my spine. "Happy New Year," I replied softly, my fingers grazing his jawline as I lifted my face to meet his tho I was still scared of meeting his eyes. I feared that if we connected he would know that his Angel was a liar. I put all of my faith in Grace and that she had a way of getting me out of this even if this lie hung over my head for the rest of my life. "I t
A week later, life had settled into a rhythm of its own. The new year felt different and brighter, yet the weight of everything still lingered, especially the unsaid words, the things I hadn't fully confronted. But I was adjusting, finding a balance between the pieces of my life that felt real and those that seemed like a dream I was still trying to grasp.Christian was a dream.The way he made me feel was a dream.Working, if I can even call it that just felt like I got to hang out at my boyfriend's place from nine to four each day, spending time with Bash and Grace while Christian worked in the company. The fact they were still paying me was absurd, it felt like taking advantage of them, even more so than before. I need to stop it.Mira, despite the events at the party, went back to her life as usual. She didn't talk about the necklace and with how much Tamara was stressed with what DeLuca did I figured I would give both of them a chance to settle down the tension.As the evening was
"What do you say, Charlie? Do you like this dress?" I said as I gave a little turn in front of the mirror. The purple bodycon cotton dress hugged my curves a little too perfectly, almost clinging to me like a second skin. God I wished I had a flat stomach like Mira, instead I had this lower belly that loved to stick out when I least wanted it to. "Perhaps some pants would be better?" I asked Charlie if he could actually give me an answer, but it did not matter since the doorbell had just gone off and I had no shoes on."Come on, Charlie the food is here. Then I'll change the clothes, again." I take my wallet and rush to the door as the bell goes off again."Just a second.""No need to hurry, I'm not going anywhere." I hear a Christian's voice on the other side of the door and I freeze. He was early and I was a mess.My heart skipped a beat as I rushed to the door, my hand frozen on the handle. I glanced down at the purple dress, feeling a sudden wave of self-consciousness wash over me.
We dug into the food, the conversation shifting from business to lighter topics, though I couldn't ignore the undercurrent of tension that still lingered. It was as if we were charged with some sort of energy that just waited to ignite, yet at the same time we didn't want to rush things. At least I didn't. "My God, if I take one more bite I might actually explode. The dessert will have to wait a bit." I say as I push my plate to the side. Christian chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he pushed his own plate aside. “I think I’m with you on that one,” he said, reaching for his wine glass and taking a long sip. “We definitely went a little overboard with the takeout.” He smiled, clearly enjoying the moment, though I could see the flicker of that familiar intensity in his gaze, the one that always seemed to be there when we were together."How about we take our glasses and move to the living room?" I suggested as I didn't know what to do with this space between us.Chri
If my skin was on fire then my thoughts have already been turned into ashes. Besides what was there to think about? He loved me. And I love him more than anything in the world. He was the air I needed to breathe and at the same time, he was the water I would gladly drown in.The intensity of my emotions swept through me like a tidal wave, drowning out any other thoughts or doubts. It was as if everything I had ever known, all the walls I’d built around myself, had come crashing down in that one moment. In his arms, I was free, unburdened even from my lies.I lifted myself from his lap and mounted him, my tight dress rising up to my ass. My fingers ran down his chest and started eagerly undoing his buttons while he lavishly kissed my lips. His hands were mapping the map of my body running all over my curves even the ones I hated. I have never been on drugs before but this is very much how I imagine it would feel. The rush that runs through your body and suddenly everything is so much mo
Soon enough the rest of our clothes were scattered over the floor and the air between us crackled with heat, each of us too caught up in the moment to consider anything beyond the pull of desire. I could feel Christian's breath against my skin, his body pressed close, yet his eyes hidden behind that simple tie. His hands were everywhere, exploring, touching, mapping every curve and line of my body as though committing it to memory. The room echoed with my moans and gasps for air as he made his way between my legs, He stroked me, licked me, and sucked me so perfectly like he already knew all the weak spots of my body and knew very well how to use them on me. For one if he was capable of performing such magic with his eyes tied I can't even begin to imagine what he would do to me with all of his senses free."You taste so sweet." He says as he lifts himself and starts to climb my body but first sets a kiss on my belly button then proceeds to lick his way up, over my chest, my hard nipple
Bridget smiled wider now, clearly enjoying the reveal. “Oh good, he still talks about me. How sweet.”Grace took a sharp step forward. “You don’t belong here, Bridget. You never did.”Bridget’s gaze didn’t flinch. “Funny. That’s not what your husband used to say.”Christian’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. “That’s enough.”"Grace is right," I say. "You have no business here." Showing her face here after all this time, after all the harm she did to Sebastian really showed she had no shame."You dont get a say in this." She directs herself at me. "Who are you to tell me what to do." Grace stepped closer again, now standing fully at my side. “She's is a Callahan, a part of our family something you will never be. So unless you want security to escort you out, I suggest you remember your place, Bridget.”“I am in my place,” Bridget said, her voice suddenly cooler, more calculating. “You all just forgot that this empire wasn’t built by Callahans alone. My father was one of the
A white sheet of paper and an artist's pen were somehow all I needed to feel free in the world. A dream I once had of making something beautiful that others would want, admire, and desire, was finally happening. Even if Christian may think this is a punishment for me, it was the opposite. I was designing jewelry again, I was telling a story, and this time, the story was mine. Each line I drew on the paper shimmered in my mind like gold catching sunlight. I sketched the delicate curve of a pendant, the kind that rests right over the heart, something soft, but powerful. The design was bold and unapologetic. Perhaps because I was starting to feel like there wasn't much I needed to apologize for. Maybe it is the Mira part in me, the one that tells me that my lie wasn't all that bad, that my lie in fact did a lot of good to a person who was at one point lost.I looked back down at the pendant. It had wings now, faint outlines spreading from the heart of the design. I didn’t remember adding
"Are you nervous?" Bash asked me as he sat down next to me. "I'm excited," I say. It was the truth, I couldn't be more excited to take these damn bandages off my eyes and finally be free. Well, as free as Christian allows it. "How are you feeling, the surgery is tomorrow?" I ask.I could feel him shrug beside me, but the sound of his fingers tapping restlessly on his knee told me more than his words ever could."I'm good," he said finally, eyes fixed straight ahead. "I mean, it's weird, right? We've talked about this for so long, and now it's actually happening.""Yeah," I murmured, tilting my head toward him, even though I couldn’t see him yet. "It feels like we’ve been dreaming about this forever. And now it's real.""This condition made me lose so much of my future, my position, the woman who I at the time thought was the love of my life... it took a big piece of my soul, yet now I can't stop thinking about all the things I got. It gave me a new perspective of life and myself... it
He didn’t respond. Then, footsteps. Slow, deliberate. He moved closer, and my breath hitched in my throat even though I tried not to let it show. I turned my face slightly toward where I thought he was standing, listening for the soft rustle of his suit, the shift in the air. I didn't need my eyes to feel the gravity of him near me. "You wore a mask, every single day. Lied, to our faces... and you say it was for our own good. You are no better than the bastard I had for a father." His voice was closer now, a whisper laced with venom. "But I am not him." "Perhaps you are even worse. He at least didn't pretend to love us, at least not in the end." Christian says, anger blooming inside of him. "I love you, Christian. More than I ever thought was possible." I say trying to reach him but he pushes back at me, my back against the wall. "Shut up, you lie so well I might believe you for a second." “If I wanted to keep lying, I wouldn’t have told you the truth, I wouldn't still be here
Four weeks later...The last night in the dark...I am on the edge.I can't take this darkness anymore. I keep telling myself it's soon going to be over, that at least I will be able to act freely, even walk into the world alone free of pretenses. I want my parents to see that the lie is over, and I want Bash to get over everything soon, even if that means that whatever this is I have with Christian comes to an end.We have been living in this penthouse for three weeks now, and every second for me has been hell. His indifference at times is worse than his hate, at least hating me meant he still had me somewhere in his soul, in silence alongside this darkness that was eating at me.If it weren't for Mira I would be completely alone, she is the only good thing here. She told me to take off the bandages while Christian was at work but I just couldn't. He was far too unpredictable, popping in and out at different times as if trying to surprise me by doing something wrong and I didn't feel
Hearing the voices of people I love around me made me feel peace, so much so that I never wanted them to leave. In front of them, Christian was the man, the husband I always thought he would be. He was loving, kind, and caring. I never wanted it to end.But all that is good has its end, so did this.My friends were about to leave, at least Grace and Bash would be around. At least not until Christian makes us move again.Tamara and Bash were aside, talking. It is nice to hear that the friendship between them is blooming, hopefully into something bigger and better. Grace pulled Christian away to the office for a moment leaving me alone with Mira."Love, call me crazy but something here doesn't feel right. Are you sure you are as happy as you say you are?" I knew she would sense something, and despite promising Christian I would say anything I needed to let go with someone, and who better than Mira? I need someone on my side, someone to stand in my corner... make me feel less alone."Mira
"People are still talking about the wedding. It's the talk of every event since." Grace says as we sit at the table. Christian is right next to me, holding my hand, his thumb tracing the side of my knuckle. It feels nice. Too nice. "And no one thinks you are pregnant anymore, so now they believe it's true love." Bash comments. "Good, because it is. As true as it gets," Christian says as he kisses my cheek. I smile. It is so hard to be in this darkness. The voices around me keep surprising me. Every movement strikes a nerve within me, and I have to pretend to be relaxed. "Why didn't you tell us about doing the surgery?" Bash asks. "We wanted you to see firsthand that the surgery you will go under would work because she will be taking off the bandages just before you go under. That will give you all the training you need to go there without a doubt in your mind that this will work." Christian’s words are calm like he’s presenting a plan instead of revealing something deeply personal.
Love's POVI think I understand Bash now better than ever. Being trapped in the dark was horrible. No wonder he felt the way he did. Even when I knew well that this would last only four weeks, walking around with my eyes bandaged up was hard. even harder than I imagined it would be.But one thing was good... as long as I couldn't see I wouldn't have to look at the hatred that grew inside Christian's eyes. This situation goes from bad to worse. The silence between us felt like it was splitting me in two. I could feel Christian beside me, his presence so tense, so tightly wound. I couldn’t see his face, but I didn’t need to. I could feel the sharp edge of his anger cutting through the air between us. The hatred I’d seen in his eyes before, that dark, simmering look, now felt like a constant companion. He didn’t even have to say anything. I could feel it in the way he handled me, the way he spoke, the way he didn’t speak.But I liked the fact we were back home. Perhaps that way I won't fe
"How long is this going to take? We have a plane to catch." That's not true. It's not like my private plane would go somewhere without me, but I wanted out of this doctor's office as soon as possible."I thought you were returning in a month. If it's supposed we just did the surgery she wouldn't be recovered by now. The world won't believe it." The good doctor says as Love glances up at me."Plans change. Tell her what to do to fake it, she's good at that." I was on edge. Playing nice was so hard and I needed all the willpower I had to do this charade infront of my family, not him."We would need to bandage her eyes... keep her like that for about three to four weeks. And even after that she would need to use sunglasses outside for a period of time... pretend to adjust." Somehow that sounded perfect in my head. She would, even for a short four weeks be forced to walk around blind. She would get to taste her lie on her own skin. "She can do it," I say as I glance at her. "In fact, wrap