登入Two years ago – Thursday March 5th 2024 Valentina Dinner was concluded with Maddie’s famous peach cobbler. And I took that opportunity to give everyone their gifts. You would think it was Christmas morning the way Livvie and Ethan tore into their gifts. “I love having a rich friend.” Livvy declared, showing off her LV bag proudly. I shook my head at her antics, while everyone laughed. Later, while everyone cleaned up, Livvy cornered me in the kitchen. The moment we were alone her expression changed. The concern she'd been hiding all evening surfaced immediately. "Val." I looked away. She gently grabbed my chin. "No. Don’t hide from me." My eyes met hers. And that was all it took. Tears instantly filled them. "Oh honey." She pulled me into a hug. I held on desperately. "I can see the dark circles. You look like a racoon with a spiral perm" I laughed weakly. "Liv—" "And you've lost weight." I didn't answer. Because she was right. I have had zero appetite since the week-end. "
Two Years Earlier - Wednesday, March 4th 2024Valentina Dinner felt strangely normal at first. LReminiscent of the ones we had shared so many times before. Mark telling stories. Livvy interrupting. Ethan smiling beneath the long suffering sigh and rolling his eyes.Maddie trying unsuccessfully to keep order. The familiar chaos wrapped around me like a blanket. For a little while, I forgot my heart was broken. Then eventually the conversation shifted.The room grew quieter. Everyone looked at me. Waiting. For why they had all been summoned. I set my fork down carefully. "By now you all know that I am going away for a bit." I paused as they all gave me their attention. "The relationship I was in..." I began softly. Livvy's eyes immediately met mine. The only person at the table who knew anything. I offered her a tiny smile before continuing. "It didn't work out. We were both in different places."The words hurt. Even now. "I wanted more." My voice wavered slightly. "He didn't."Silen
Two years ago - Thursday, March 5th 2024 ValentinaI was up and ready, armed with my to do list by seven in the morning.I downed a cup of coffee for some caffeine courage before dialling Maddie.The phone rings three times before she picks up. “Valentina? Baby, it’s barely seven thirthy.” Madeline’s voice is soft with sleep, but already cut with worry. “You never call this early. Not unless somethings wrong. Talk to me sweetheart.”The moment she answered, I almost lost my nerve. “Hi Maddie. Sorry to call so early.”"Valentina?" she asked warmly. "Sweetheart, are you alright?"I closed my eyes. That one word. Sweetheart. It had always been that way with Maddie. No matter how old I got. She always sounded like a mother checking on her child.And God help me, after the week I'd had, I desperately needed that. I press my forehead against the cold Uber window. Manhattan is still gray and quiet. “Nothing is wrong Maddie. I'm fine, I promise. I just… I needed to hear your voice.”There
Two Years Earlier - Wednesday, March 4th 2024 Valentina No…there was no shame in falling in love with the wrong man. The shame would be in having that knowledge and ignoring it. Wallowing in misery. In letting it define me, and allowing it to shape me into the woman he wanted, not the one I actually was. Nashian had trained me to his taste. Moulded into his ideal fucktoy. Defined the parameters of our relationship. And then placed me in this gilded cage. A pretty bird in a pretty setting. But a cage, no matter how expensive, how fancy, would still be a cage and never be a home. The tears slowed. Then slowed some more. Until only a few remained. I wiped them away and inhaled deeply. Okay. Better. You can do this. Think. Plan. Move. The way I always had. The way every child learnt to do when the adults responsible for them failed to do so. Survive first. Cry later. Tomorrow I would go to the bank. I would separate every financial tie linking me to Nash. Every single one. The
Two Years Earlier - Wednesday, March 4th 2024 Valentina The apartment was silent when I returned. Not peaceful. Not comforting. Silent in the way abandoned churches were silent. The kind of silence that pressed against your chest and reminded you exactly how alone you were. I locked the door behind me and stood there for a long moment. Listening. Nothing. No footsteps. No low rumble of Nash's voice on a conference call. No distant sounds of traffic in this steel and glass cage. No indication that another human being existed in the three-thousand-square-foot penthouse. I suddenly hated it. Hated the expensive marble. Hated the floor-to-ceiling windows. Hated the designer furniture. Hated the emptiness. The whole place felt like a monument to my stupidity. My purse slipped from my shoulder and landed on the sofa with a dull thud. And then the tears came again. Fresh. Hot. Humiliating. I sank onto the edge of my bed and covered my face. "God..." The word came out broken. Shatter
Two Years Earlier - Wednesday, March 4th 2024Valentina I remember seeing the empty desk of his PA and walking toward his office. I heard the sounds before I even reached the partially closed office door, with the COO metal plate. Moans. Low. Wet. The sound of skin slapping together. Everything in me screamed..."Walk away...you don't need to see this." But I didn't heed it...because I owed it to myself...to prove that the last twelve months meant something.I silently pushed the heavy door just a bit wider...still hidden but able to see inside and my heart broke...shattered...Nash was braced over his desk, pants at his ankles, shirt open, head thrown back, pounding into someone that isn't me. Under him, a woman I didn’t recognise. She was blonde. Busty. Long legs wrapped around his waist. Her dress shoved up over her hips. His hand twisted in her hair exactly the way it used to be in mine.The woman bucks with every forceful thrust, eyes glazed with pleasure and moans softly. Low.
Two Years Earlier - Monday, March 2nd 2024ValentinaBy Monday morning, I felt hollow. Not better. Not healed. Just...empty. The kind of empty that comes after you've cried so much there are no tears left. And still nothing from Nash…no call…no message…nothing.I sat on the edge of my bed staring
2 years ago – Saturday 29th FebruaryValentinaWe were both basking in the afterglow of my daring take over.I remembered how he had kissed me hungrily afterwards, still half shocked by what had happened, both of us still catching our breath. I had slipped out of his tight grip and grabbed the sil
2 years ago – Saturday 29th FebruaryValentina"You're going to..." He swallowed. "You're going to ride me?"I nodded, cheeks burning. "I want to lead. Just tonight. Please."He looked at me—really looked—and I saw something shift in his gaze. Need. Pride. Lust. "Okay," he whispered. "Okay, baby. T
2 years ago – Saturday 29th February Valentina The air in my bedroom felt thick, charged with a tension that hadn't existed in this space ever. Nash was cuffed to my bed, his big tanned body spread before me like a feast. He looked up at me, his blue eyes wide, a mixture of curiosity, lust and i







