CLAIMED BY THE DEVIL DON.

I sigh while walking to my car, feeling exhausted after a long day of work. The stress of a new project is already hitting me and I haven't even started the assignment yet. The lack of sleep and the absence of my best friend are silently taking a toll on me.I had an entire presentation to get ready, plus all the scheduling calls and emails I had to send out by the end of the week. On top of everything else, there were stacks of files I needed to read over and organize.I start my car, ready to pull out of the parking lot, when I get a call.“What, Caro?” I picked it up and placed it on the speaker.“I fucked up,” she sniffles“No, you stupid bitch” I scoff, shaking my head, shutting down the whole crybaby thing she did.“I don’t care how fucking heartbroken you are right now because I told you to stop doubting your girl. You don’t listen to me, and you get your heart broken, again, and you guys break up, again, for what? The 7th time already?”“9th,” she mumbles, and her voice cracke

Two weeks laterI stood in front of my mirror, checking out my outfit and making sure no hairs were sticking out from my slicked-back sock bun.I placed my wallet, phone, and keys in my pocket before walking out of the room. Stopping in the middle of the kitchen and living room, I noted the dining room was full of takeout boxes. I'd told Caroline countless times to clean up after herself, but she never listened. That girl was tempting me, but I didn't have time for that now; I had a doctor's appointment in the next hour.The ringing of my phone stopped me from walking out the door of my apartment. I looked and saw the caller ID: Mr. Mason. Oh, that’s my boss.“Hello, Isabella, how are you doing?” I heard his gruff voice as I instantly picked up the call.“I’m fine, boss. Is there a problem at the office? Because I requested this day off,” I said, a hint of steel in my voice. I'd be damned if he made me come all the way there.“No, that’s not it. I just want to let you know t

The initial warmth was a deceptive comfort, quickly replaced by the jolt of full awareness. A heavy, unfamiliar weight pressed against me, and my eyes snapped open to the sight of a muscular arm draped across my waist. Vladimir. His presence in my bed was an immediate, jarring intrusion. My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic rhythm that accelerated as a familiar wave of nausea surged through me.I scrambled from the bed, my hand clamped over my mouth, barely reaching the bathroom before my body rebelled. Violent retches tore through me, mingling with ragged, involuntary sobs. A strong hand was instantly there, gathering my hair, while a thumb rubbed soothing circles on my lower back. I registered a low murmur of indistinct words, lost beneath the tumult of my distress. When the storm subsided, I rinsed my mouth and meticulously brushed my teeth, pointedly avoiding his gaze in the mirror. Anger simmered within me, fueled by his unannounced entry into my home, and a cold dread ti

A wave of exhaustion washed over me as I sat at my desk. The low hum of the computer screen was the only sound in the office, a stark contrast to the tumultuous thoughts swirling in my head. I stared at the report, but the words blurred into a meaningless jumble. My mind was on my mother, her calls a steady stream of notifications I couldn't bring myself to answer. How do you explain this? How do you lie about leaving your entire life behind for a man you barely know, a man whose very name was enough to incite fear? The anxiety was a physical weight in my chest. Work, once a source of calm, now felt like a fragile distraction from a life spinning out of control.My two suitcases sat by the door, packed this morning. Not that there was much in them; Vladimir had insisted on light luggage, assuring me that everything I could possibly need was already waiting for me. But as I stared at the empty space on the desk where my personal photos usually were, I knew he was wrong. Everything I

The silk sheets feel soft against my skin. The scent of wood and expensive cologne fills my senses, a scent I know intimately now. My eyes flutter open, and I blink, letting the hazy morning light fill the room. This isn’t my apartment. This is Vladimir's.The room screams wealth and darkness. A massive four-poster bed dominates the space, with a black-and-gold comforter pooled at my feet. The walls are a deep charcoal gray, and a huge window offers a sprawling view of a city that isn't mine. It's a prison, but it's the most luxurious one I've ever seen. The thought makes me roll my eyes. Even in his personal space, Vladimir manages to be just as dramatic and over-the-top as he is in person.I get out of the bed, feeling the cool marble beneath my feet. A wave of hunger hits me, a sharp, insistent pang in my stomach. I'm used to this now, the constant cravings for myself and the little beans growing inside me. My hand rests on my stomach, a subconscious reassurance. They are safe. We a