MR MCKINNEY'S POV After the interrogation was done, I opened the door and stepped in to find the police officer seated casually on the chair opposite Madame. As their eyes shifted over to my figure, I noticed a sudden stifled gasp escaping madame Browne's lips as I paced towards where she was seated.“Is anything the problem?” I asked, my voice warm as I took my seat on the chair beside Madame Browne. Xavier soon stepped into the room and as he walked over to one of the chairs sitting lazily in the room, I shoved my gaze in her direction.Her eyes shimmered with an innocence that seemed to fake to be real. For a normal person, they'd say she was just shaken by the seriousness of the interview but I knew her— in, out. She was like a viper, the moment you take your eyes off her, she rears her head in your direction with her venom riddled fangs and tongue wagging through the air.I tapped my fingers over the clear smooth table as I slowly took my eyes away from her. I moved it over to t
LUCAS'S POV I was in my private quarters when my assistant raced into the room. Her footsteps echoed against the walls of the room and I immediately stopped what I was doing. The stripper whose breast I was fondling raked her gaze against my features as her thin fingers brushed over my shoulders over to my chin as she gripped it lightly.“Spare me a glance, handsome.” Her sickeningly sweet voice rolled into the air in neat, smooth beams as I brushed her fingers off me as I flung my gaze in the direction where my assistant stood.Her tall, lean figure stood out in the room. I wasn't really sure if it was the bright contrast of her red gown or the alcohol but she just stood out. The lights in the room buzzed over her features as I narrowed my gaze slowly.She stood comfortably on 6 inches and clutched a file in her hands. Her dark eyes took in the raucous sights in the room before they shimmered with urgency. She paced towards me slowly with her heels clip-claping against the marbled f
MADAME BROWNE'S POVWhat the hell just happened?Did Lucas just bail on me? Did he, for the first time in a long while, pull me under the rug? Rage rolled into my veins as I nearly froze on the spot. Even now as my fingers shakily perused the hem of my dress, I still couldn't believe he would hide something from me. I used to be the one he confided in, the one he always went to whenever he had a big plan but now…Now he was hiding things from me? How dare he?I first tried to get him to break the full plan to me fully but instead of that, he waved me off skillfully like some god damned fog of smoke. How funny? My fingers stiffened slowly as thoughts started running through my mind.It was obvious there was something else to his plan? He was hiding something?Something dark, dangerous and worse still, something I wasn't aware of.With my face fixed in a frozen smile, I waited patiently until the D.P.O stepped out of the room and was escorted out by the president before I brushed off
MADAME BROWNE'S POV As I raced down the hallways, the heavy thudding sound of my heart thumping against my chest clouded my senses. My breaths came out in ragged, fractured puffs as I paced towards the elevator at the end of the hallway. I took slow strides towards it and when I finally got close enough, my fingers trailed over to the open button and as I pressed it, the doors chimed open.Before I stepped in, I felt a heavy pull from behind as I snapped my head in the direction of the dark hallway and at the president's door. His words repeated in my head and I just couldn't help but clench my fists and sigh.Lucas’s plan was about to go down hill and the fool wasn't aware. My gaze stayed frozen on the door as thoughts pulsed through my mind. Right now, there are only two things I could do. It was either I told him or I kept it to myself.Since he decided to pull me under the rug after all my years of commitment and loyalty to him, I guess that was what he deserved for being a total
LUCAS’S POVWhen Madame Browne's call came in, I was halfway through getting my dick sucked by two prostitutes. The ringing sound of my phone cleared through the fog of sexual tension between the ladies as one of them slid closer to me. Her fingers stroked my hair as she pulled me in for a kiss while the other trailed her finger over my trousers.“Mmm…” A blasting shot of adrenaline surged down my veins as I ignored my phone's ringing as I concluded it was regarding a business deal or from my workers. I never expected it to be from her. Madame Browne.I waited patiently for the call to end before I pulled out of the kiss and turned to the stripper rubbing her hands over my groin. The instant our eyes met, my deft fingers gripped her neck as I watched her stifle a gasp. Her lids pulled close as I pulled her up slowly to kiss her roughly.Her tongue clicked at the roof of my mouth as the strawberry sweetness of her lipstick raked down my throat as I deepened the kiss even more. While
MADAME BROWNE'S POV After Lucas hung up on me, I was halfway through changing my dress and taking a rose bath when my phone rang. With my fingers wrapped around the doorknob, I paused slowly as my phone's haunting ringing tone sliced through the air.My senses furrowed as I turned in the direction of my bed where utvs lying and I arched my brow in confusion. “Who could that be?” I asked no one in particular as I released my grip on the doorknob and squinted off in the direction of my bed. From where I was, I tried to catch a glimpse of the caller id displayed on my phone but the privacy screen didn't allow that. I reached for it and as my deft fingers brushed against its texture, I took a deep sigh before turning it on.In all sincerity, I wasn't sure what to expect. It could either be that Lucas’s brain has just snapped back into his head and he had hurriedly called me back or it was something else.Something totally different.Tension blended in sleekly with my expression as I flu
MR MCKINNEY'S POV She heard me.I could tell. If there was anything I was sure of more than anything, it was this. The still silence in the air already gave out the fact that she was standing close to the door with her ears pressed close to it. I had just finished talking to Xavier and as he turned to leave, I heard it.That sound.It fled as quickly as it sliced through the air. It was obvious Xavier didn't catch it but I surely did and I knew that it was hers. Following that, I flashed my gaze at Xavier instead as I flashed him a worried smile.“Are we clear?” I asked and he paused in his tracks.“I still don't get it Grandpa. Why do you want us to leave? If anyone should leave, it should be my wife and daughter not me, okay! He caused all of this and now that we’re this close to catching him, you want me to back down.” Xavier hurled out the words with rage rolling in his electrifying green eyes. His voice was thick and heavy like it carried the weight of the discomfort and rage i
XAVIER'S POV As the words rolled off my tongue, the look on the president's face changed almost immediately. His eyes darkened and his expression turned cold as he tilted his head downwards. Confusion washed into my veins as I arched a brow and paced towards his chair.Did I say something wrong?If there was anything wrong with all that was happening now, it was his reaction. Why was he acting like that? Did I offend him? I inspected him with a steady gaze as my heart thumped ruthlessly against its ribcage. With each step I took towards him, fear growled at the pit of my chest “Grandpa?” I stuttered as I stretched my fingers to reach for his shoulders but before I could do that, his head snapped up and his gaze snapped in my direction. Cold droplets of sweat clung to my forehand as his head jolted up and his gaze raked mine. My breath hitched almost immediately. My fingers quivered as I clutched them tightly into a head fists. Several lumps of fear logged in my chest and as they l
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Dear readers, I apologize for the repetition of the previous chapters. I'm working with my editor to get it deleted. I apologize to the affected readers. I promise to make it up to you all. Updates will resume from today.ELLA'S POV Fear gripped my chest as I stayed there. Tied, bound and helplessly vulnerable. The air in the room was filled with tension. Tension from them— the two guards standing by the door. My heart raced in my chest as I had a pulsing headache bracef my scalp.I fiddled almost immediately as a low groan tore through my lips. I tried to move my hands but for a second, it seemed I forgot they were chained and pinned to the back of the chair. As I tried the yank then, a sharp jolt of pain lashed around my wrists as I winced.The tight ropes used to tie my hands were strong and it seemed the more I tried, the tighter they got. Scream after scream, groan after groan, I tried. The knots binding my arms to the back of the chair only grew tighter as the me
The silence in Lucas’s house always got under my skin, but today it felt like a blade. I moved from room to room, lookingnfor nothing, my heels clicking against marble floors, and the whisper of my own breathing sounded too loud.I was trying to escape that stupid bitch words, but they still didn't leave me. They followed me step by step, room to room.“You hated me because I got everything you wanted so easily. I didn't have to lie or sell myself —” Her voice echoing in my mind as if she was right next to me.That bitch had seen right through me. Right through the skirts and the tailored jackets and the flawless smile. I’d laughed it off at first—of course I’d brush it aside—until I realized how deep that knife had sunk.Deeper than anything had ever stuck me.I still walked aimlessly along the halls, and to my anger and surprise, I felt tears stung my eyes. Furiously, I wiped them off with the back of my hand. What did that birch know about my story. I hadn’t always been this wicke
The silence in Lucas’s house always got under my skin, but today it felt like a blade. I moved from room to room, lookingnfor nothing, my heels clicking against marble floors, and the whisper of my own breathing sounded too loud.I was trying to escape that stupid bitch words, but they still didn't leave me. They followed me step by step, room to room.“You hated me because I got everything you wanted so easily. I didn't have to lie or sell myself —” Her voice echoing in my mind as if she was right next to me.That bitch had seen right through me. Right through the skirts and the tailored jackets and the flawless smile. I’d laughed it off at first—of course I’d brush it aside—until I realized how deep that knife had sunk.Deeper than anything had ever stuck me.I still walked aimlessly along the halls, and to my anger and surprise, I felt tears stung my eyes. Furiously, I wiped them off with the back of my hand. What did that birch know about my story. I hadn’t always been this wicke
Ella’s POVI didn’t know how long we had been driving and I really didn't care. Minutes, hours—it could’ve been an entire day for all I knew.Time had lost meaning to me. Everything outside the window blurred together—trees, signs, shadows, but none of it mattered.I sat in the back seat, my hands tied, feet numb, lips dry. My head rested against the cold glass, and I stared blankly at the road passing by, trying not to let the panic consume me.Ivy.The thought of my daughter's name alone made my chest tighten.Her name was both a comfort and a curse right now.Tears welled in my eyes, but I blinked them away. I couldn’t break down now. I needed to stay awake. Alert. I needed to watch everything, remember every detail.Anything. Just in case I got the chance to escape. Just in case someone asked me later, “What did you see?”The man driving hadn’t said a word since they threw me into the back seat. Lucas was fitted beside me, the filthy smell of him pervading my nose.In the front s
Xavier’s povThere was a smile on my face as I drove into my street. I could see my home already, and the thoughts of my family waiting made my smile a little bigger.I pictured Ivy clinging to her inseparable teddy bear, her tiny feet racing toward me as soon as she heard my voice. I imagined Ella standing at the doorway, that sparkle in her eyes lighting up the second she saw me. That sparkle—God, it was everything to me. It made every long day worth it. They were my world. The reason behind every sacrifice, every late night, every early morning.They were why I did everything, my reasons for living.They were my world and I would always do everything I could for them.I doubted if I would go on living if they weren't here anymore.“Bad thoughts, Xavier,” I said to myself, shaking my head. “Snap out of it.”The smile stayed on my face as I continued driving, but when I turned into the compound, my smile quickly died from what I saw.I barely parked my car before I stepped out from i
Xavier’s povThere was a smile on my face as I drove into my street. I could see my home already, and the thoughts of my family waiting made my smile a little bigger.I pictured Ivy clinging to her inseparable teddy bear, her tiny feet racing toward me as soon as she heard my voice. I imagined Ella standing at the doorway, that sparkle in her eyes lighting up the second she saw me. That sparkle—God, it was everything to me. It made every long day worth it. They were my world. The reason behind every sacrifice, every late night, every early morning.They were why I did everything, my reasons for living.They were my world and I would always do everything I could for them.I doubted if I would go on living if they weren't here anymore.“Bad thoughts, Xavier,” I said to myself, shaking my head. “Snap out of it.”The smile stayed on my face as I continued driving, but when I turned into the compound, my smile quickly died from what I saw.I barely parked my car before I stepped out from i
ELLA'S POV.The silence hit me the moment I stepped my foot into the house. It was too quiet and immediately, I knew something was wrong."Ivy?" I called out, my voice uncertain as I held my breathed and waited for a reply. “Baby, Mommy's home.”Nothing. Usually, she would come running into my arms the moment she held my voice, but....I dropped my bag onto the floor, not caring where it landed, and bolted up the stairs towards her room. Her bedroom door was slightly opened, and I pushed it open fully, my heart pounding.It was empty.Everything was the same way I had left in in the morning. The bed was made, the curtains drawn, her favorite stuffed bunny sat untouched on the pillow. My throat closed in panic.I dashed to the bathroom, too, but she was nowhere to be found.She wasn’t here.Where could she have gone? She never left the house on her own and I’d made sure she knew never to open the door for anyone unless it was me or her father. Where could she be?My legs started to
MADAME BROWNE'S POV The moment the words left my mouth, a weight slammed into my chest, and my legs nearly gave out beneath me. My knees wobbled as I clutched the counter for support as I drew in a heavy whiff of air.The world, as I knew it, stopped as I watched shock flash through Lucas's eyes. They darkened almost immediately as I clenched my fingers tight. My nails dug into my nails as I let out a heavy breath before gripping my forehead with my fingers. I tapped my index finger over it as I felt set strands of my hair stick close to my hand and I felt a scalding heat zapping into my chest and I immediately knew who it was.It was his gaze.Lucas's jaw dropped as he got up from the chair and pushed away the two prostitutes sitting by his side. “Get away from me!” He thundered as his gaze lashed in my direction.It lingered on my body as I nearly froze on the spot. Fractured puffs of air rolled out of my nostrils as his gaze roved over my features. I lowered my head and swallowed
LUCAS'S POV I was at the bar when the door slammed open all of a sudden and I heard the heavy thudding sound of footsteps. I was halfway through taking a sip of my drink when all of a sudden, I heard her voice.My blood ran cold almost immediately as I whipped my head in her direction. “W-why are you here?” I questioned slowly with my fingers tightly clutching the glass cup in my hands as I placed it back on the counter. As I uttered the words, two arms snaked around my neck as the soft smell of roses washed into my nostrils. I turned my head in the direction of one of the ladies who was standing close to me as I whispered into her ears. “Stop that.”The arms slithering around my neck uncoiled almost immediately as the girls pulled back. The soft jazz music blurring into the air stopped playing as Madame Browne walked towards me. Her shoes clapped against the floor and the sound echoed repeatedly against the four walls of my room as I held in breath.Iit was obvious she was here wit