CONFRONTATION

Authors Pov

The warm sunlight filtered across the room through the dark curtains, a stark contrast to the cool interior.

Riana groaned, using her hands to cover the sunlight piercing into her face. She turned her head slowly; the other side of the bed was empty, sheets crumpled and cold.

He was gone, leaving nothing behind but the faint scent of cologne and ash. She was completely alone, only the sound of the AC humming was heard.

Her body ached in places she had never felt before, reminding her of the night before and her own vulnerability.

Riana slowly pulled the duvet up to get a glimpse of her own body. Marks were scattered around her body as if she had been bitten; he had made sure to mark her everywhere, including her inner thighs.

Her pussy still throbbed, reminding her of the way his rough hand collided with it. She regretted signing that contract. If this was what she was going to face, she wasn't ready.

A sharp knock sounded on the door, pulling her out of her thoughts, as it opened and revealed a young maid.

"Hello, ma'am. My name is Aria, and I will be helping you to dress," she said with a slight bow before raising her head.

"I can dress myself. There's no need for that, thank you."

"I'm afraid I must refuse that order, ma'am. The boss specifically ordered for me to help you get ready."

"Get ready for what? Aren't I going back home?"

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but the boss strictly ordered that you be carried to the mansion. If not, I'll be in serious trouble, ma'am."

She plopped back on the bed, cursing her fate over and over.

"Umm... ma'am, the bathroom is right by your left, and when you're done, you can ring the bell on the side of the door for the maids to come and dress you," the maid said, giving her a quick curt nod before leaving the room.

Riana stood up on her wobbly feet and headed towards the bathroom. The first thing she noticed was her reflection staring back at her in the long 12-inch mirror. Her eyes immediately widened, seeing her body covered in dark purple marks. Her hands immediately went up to cover herself as she quickly went towards the shower.

---

The air felt warm outside as the sun was seeping through the windows, but inside the room was a completely contrasting temperature.

In the middle of the room were a set of people called 'THE BOARD,' consisting of young and old people of very high status or power, all deciding the fate of one person.

"I don't think it will be in yours or all of our best interest to keep her, Mr. Blackwood," an anonymous person with short trimmed hair sitting at the edge of the table said.

"Why don't we just sell her to the Zephyrs?" His suggestion immediately earned a hum of approval from other members.

"That's Enough."

His voice wasn't loud, but when he said it, everywhere became as quiet as a graveyard; even a pin drop could be heard.

At the head of the table, Matteo Blackwood could be seen standing up and adjusting his cufflinks with an air of authority. No one dared to speak after he had spoken.

"She will be under my care and protection. Anyone who goes after her will be going after me, and I won't tolerate any form of disrespect. Is that understood?"

Of course, everyone nodded their head. No one dared question his order. He left the room immediately as he headed out of the company, wanting to seek her warmth.

"Valerio," he called out for his right-hand man.

"Yes, sir."

"Make sure you watch all those crooks and any suspicious behavior from anybody. The person should be killed on the spot."

"Understood, sir."

Matteo had barely walked three steps when Valerio called out again.

"Sir, we have a pressing issue."

"What is it?" He was barely trying to conceal his anger at this point; he really wanted to leave here.

"Your father called, sir. He requests your presence at the upcoming Aegean yacht gala, and he says to bring her. And I'm afraid you can't miss it, sir."

Matteo sighed, running his hands through his hair. His father must be up to no good. Why else would he want to see her?

"If you are done, Valerio, I would like to go home now without any disturbances," he said, immediately walking out.

---

The maids were giving Riana a tour of the mansion, and they had been doing it for a very long time that Riana thought her legs were going to give up. Luckily for her, her tummy grumbled, reminding the maid of her need for food.

"Before we carry on with food, madam, may I have the privilege to show you one last view of the mansion?" the maid said, hurriedly walking towards the elevator and inviting Riana in.

Riana wanted to protest, but she immediately shut her mouth up when the elevator opened and she saw the view before her.

When she stepped inside, it was as if she had stepped into a completely different world. The whole place was covered with endless varieties of flowers: roses, jasmine, bougainvillea, lavender.

The deep red roses were above the white stone arches, lavender lining the pathways with lilies floating in decorative fountains, jasmine spilling over balconies, orchids scattered along the marble walkways, making the whole place smell sweet and floral.

As she walked further, she noticed the enormous pool, its still water reflecting the hundreds of tiny fairy lights aglow.

Around the pool was a curved staircase to go inside it and several elegant lounge chairs with some secluded sitting areas hiding behind curtains of flowers.

And beyond the edge of the pool was the most magnificent view she had ever seen: the entire coastline stretching beneath the sky, far below the city glittering with thousands of tiny lights. It was as if she had stepped into a different part of the world entirely.

As she was still in cloud nine, she hadn't noticed when the maid left and when the elevator opened, revealing a certain somebody who had been staring at her face for a good 10 minutes.

"I will take it you like the view that much," a deep male voice said suddenly from behind her.

She immediately turned back to see him in just his regular house clothes. During their intimate moment, she wasn't able to see his face well because the lights were turned off, but as the fire lights were illuminating his face and she could see him properly, all she could think was hot.

How hot he was and how those deep blue eyes kept on pulling her.

"I will also take it you like my face as much as the view," he smirked as he walked closer to her.

She quickly looked down. She wanted to mentally slap herself for even thinking about how hot he was.

She was about to say something when she suddenly stopped, seeing how close their lips were. She hadn't noticed when he came so near as his hands snaked around her waist, pulling her impossibly closer.

As he bent his already tilted head and gave her a soft kiss on her lips, gently nibbling on her lower lip before gently biting on it, making her gasp.

Using that as his chance to stick his tongue inside her mouth, his tongue prodded hers and gently sucked on it.

As the minutes passed, so did the kiss become more intimate and sensual before he let her go because she was hitting his chest for breath, but not before nibbling and sucking her lower lip before letting go.

They were both breathing hard in each other's faces until he stepped back two feet away as he started undressing in front of her by taking his shirt off first while locking his eyes with hers, as if he was daring her to look away.

"Wha- what are you doing?" she said, breaking the eye contact and looking down at her feet.

"Why are you taking off your clothes?"

"Don't worry, sugar," he said, jumping inside the pool without warning and splashing water on her.

"Don't you know the weather's not so friendly, you dumb ass?" she yelled as she used her hand to rub herself, as her eyes immediately widened as she realized what she had said. Was he angry? She couldn't have him kicking her out now.

The only reason why she hadn't run away by now was because the more she stayed, the more they paid her, and she needed it for her debt.

She slowly raised her head to look at him, but he was already staring so intensely at her.

"Sorry about that, I didn't mean to call you that," she said, dropping her eyes, expecting a full-on shout.

But what she least expected was for him to laugh. She expected anything, but him laughing was the sweetest thing she had ever heard, and the way his face and eyes just lit up made him look more handsome, and she wasn't even sure that was possible.

"Why are you laughing?" Her lips immediately curved into the cutest pout.

"Well, it's because no one has ever dared to yell at me since I was thirteen, not even my father, but here I am being scolded by a short 5'6" woman," he said, smiling.

"I'm not short," she argued.

"Well, you are, and I would like it if this short woman standing before me would join me in the pool," he smirked.

She hesitated a little before she started taking off her clothes slowly, her eyes locked on his until she was stripped down to only her undies and bra.

She started walking towards the stairs leading to the pool, as he also swam towards the stairs and stretched out his hand for her.

Taking his hand, she fully settled into the pool. He stretched out his arms as he pulled her towards himself by her waist, their wet bodies grinding against each other and the moment becoming increasingly intimate.