Hell no! was the answer Don Antonio gave his friend when he begged him to come work with his daughter. Crazy enough, that was Alexa's answer too when she learned that she would be working with her godfather. They both knew exactly what they were running away from. Alexa, a beauty with a body most women would kill to have, and most men lust after, including her godfather. She had brains too. Except that her father thought she wasn't smart enough to handle the family business. He went ahead and took away the CEO position from her, which was the one thing Alexa wanted the most. Don Antonio knew quite well that he would be playing with fire when he was asked to come work with his goddaughter, whom he was very much attracted to. But her job was on the line, and he was the only one who could save it for her. How would both of them handle the brewing dangerous passion that was about to burn them? Knowing what was at stake, would they run away from the sensual heat? Or would they allow it to consume them?
Lihat lebih banyakAlexa's POV
Tears stung at the corners of my eyes as his words reverberated through the large office space, bouncing back to my ears. I couldn't bear the harshness, nor could I bear the man from whom those words were coming. "You're a worthless piece of shit! Just take a look at what you have caused! We lost all those millions because of you!" he screamed. "Dad…" I began. "What is it, Alexa? Are you ready to explain how these documents were signed?" he demanded, flinging the papers at my face. The tears that had stung at the corners of my eyes now clouded them, threatening to spill down my face. "I don't know anything about those papers, Dad. I wasn't the one who signed them." He snorted at my words. "But those are your damn signatures! If you weren't the one who signed them, then who did? Who freaking did?" His eyes burned with fury as he glared back at me. I had to bend my head when I could no longer stand the heat of his gaze. Just then, the office doors opened, and the familiar sounds of heels clicking on the floor announced who had entered. I didn't bother raising my gaze from the floor, knowing it was none other than Elsie, my step sister. Her confident steps told me she was more than excited about the issue I was having with our father. It's not that I was expecting her to be anything else but happy. Elsie hated my guts with everything within her and hadn't hidden it even for one day. "Here are the papers you asked for, Daddy," she said in an excited tone. "Hand them over to your sister," Dad replied to her. She came closer to where I was and gave me the papers. "Take, Alexa." The amusement underlying her tone told me that whatever was in those papers wasn't good for me. My eyes widened as I scanned through the words written on it, "you want me to resign from my position as the CEO?" "That's right," Dad confirmed, "I've lost enough millions all because of you. I need you to sign those papers right now." "But Dad…" I began. "I said now, Alexa! I don't want to hear any more of your silly excuses," he stormed over to where I was and landed a thunderous slap on my cheek, "the damages you have done to the family business are enough!" I held the side of my cheek where the slap had landed and signed the papers with shaky hands. "Good," he scoffed, "This is the only good thing you have done in a long time." I heard Elsie squealing excitedly behind me. I thought she was being the typical Elsie until Dad motioned for her to take a seat. She rushed to my former chair with a speed faster than that of light and relaxed in the chair. "Even though you are the younger one, I believe you are smarter than your sister and will take good care of our family business," Dad told her. "Of course, Daddy! I am way better than my older sister. Don't worry, Daddy, Bavarish brand is in the best hands," she bragged and shot me a mischievous look. I gasped on realizing what just happened. Then I burst into tears the next second, while Elsie burst into laughter hearing my cries. "This is not fair, Dad!" I cried out. "Life is not fair, Alexa," he replied, "Besides, I can't sit still and watch you run down my company to the ground. I put blood, sweat, and tears to get Bavarish to where it is now." "And mind you, those aren't the kind of tears he is talking about," Elsie chimed in with a mocking tone. "You're so smart, my baby," Dad told her. He went further to where she was and kissed her lovingly on the forehead. "See, I told you," Elsie boasted as a reply, "And I am going to make you proud, Daddy." The tears continued flowing. I couldn't control them, nor could I stand the betrayal I was witnessing. My dad seeing me as a dumb blonde, instead of the smart girl he raised me to be, was one of my worst nightmares. And I was seeing it come to pass. The pain felt stronger with each passing second. Running the family business was so important to me. He just broke my heart into a million pieces by taking the one thing I loved doing. Never had I imagined that there would be a day when Dad would compare me to Elsie, my younger stepsister, who I gave a solid five-year gap. To think he just chose her over me. What else would he do? Fire me from the family business and marry me off to some old grumpy billionaire? My broken heart shattered more at that thought. And just when I thought I had had enough heartbreaks and embarrassment for one day, the universe sent another. The door opened while I was still sobbing uncontrollably, and the voice I heard next made me wish that the floor would open and swallow me up. "Donald," he greeted my father. "Don Antonio. You are here," my dad responded. My godfather came into the office with his majestic steps and stood right next to me. He cupped my face and raised my head to look at him. That single touch from him sent shivers running down my spine. When I stared up at him and into his gorgeous gray eyes, it felt like the world stopped rotating. "From the looks of it, I believe you have broken the news to her," he said to my father without taking his eyes off me. "And she isn't taking it well. She has been grumpy ever since," Dad responded to him. "But there is no need to be sad, little Alexa. It's not as if you are leaving the company or anything. You are simply changing positions." He must have noticed my confused frown because he continued, still not breaking eye contact, allowing me to remain mesmerized by them, "Instead of being above every other person, you will now be working under me." My eyes widened at what he just said. No! Hell no!Alexa's POVThe silence in Don Antonio's lavish bedroom was thick, suffocating. I sat in the plush chair, the scent of antiseptic and his expensive cologne filling my nostrils. His words, "Have you made your final decision about whose side you are on?" echoed in my head. But my mind… it was a blank, screaming void. I couldn't speak. I couldn't even think.Every single horror of the last two days flashed behind my eyes: Claire's shattered body, the brutal kidnapping, the fear, the escape, Elsie's attack, her accusations, the horrifying photo of my mother tied up, the knife, the gun... it was an endless loop of pain and betrayal. My father, the man who was supposed to protect us was a monster.Don Antonio was looking at me, his gaze intense, waiting. I knew he was waiting for an answer, waiting for me to declare my allegiance. But the words wouldn't come. My throat was tight, my chest aching, not from a physical wound, but from the crushing weight of all that had happened.And then, som
Don Antonio's POVThe darkness that had swallowed me was slowly pulling away. My body felt heavy, weak, but the crushing pain in my chest had lessened to a dull ache. I could feel the soft sheets beneath me, the gentle hum of medical equipment nearby. I knew I was in my own bed, with my personal medical team around me.My eyes fluttered open. The room was bright, too bright, and I winced, trying to adjust. Xavier was there, standing by the large windows, his back to me. He was speaking, his voice low and firm, but I could hear the cold edge in his words.And then I heard another voice, one I recognized instantly, one that made my heart give a weak, unexpected lurch. "Don Antonio had a heart attack this morning. A minor one, thankfully. But it was because of you. Because you ran. Because you chose weakness over loyalty."Xavier was talking to Alexa. And he was holding a gun to her head. My eyes snapped open fully, despite the lingering haze. My breath hitched.I tried to move, to sit
Alexa's POVThe cold barrel of the gun stared at me, black and unforgiving. Elsie's face, a mask of grief and rage, was inches away. My heart hammered against my ribs, a wild bird trapped in a cage. This was it. This was how it ended. Not in a blaze of revenge, but at the hands of a broken step sister, fueled by a terrible misunderstanding.I braced myself, my breath hitched, my eyes wide with fear. I could only stare at her, my mind racing, desperate for a way out, but finding none.Just as Elsie's finger seemed to tense on the trigger, a new sound ripped through the apartment. Not the crash of a fight, but a distinct, authoritative banging on the front door."Police! Open up!" a loud voice boomed from the hallway.Elsie flinched, her eyes darting towards the sound, the gun wavering just a fraction. It was enough. That tiny flicker of hesitation was all it took.Relief, so sudden and powerful it almost buckled my knees, flooded through me. The police! How? Why? It didn't matter. They
Alexa's POVThe morning light filtering through Sarah's blinds felt like a punch to the eyes. My head throbbed, a dull, insistent ache behind my temples, and my mouth felt like sandpaper. The taste of last night's alcohol lingered, a bitter reminder of my desperate attempt to escape. I pushed myself up, my stomach churning, and winced as my injured leg protested.I was just starting to get my bearings, the fog of sleep and drink slowly lifting, when the quiet calm of Sarah's apartment shattered.A loud bang echoed through the apartment, followed by shouts from the living room. My heart leaped into my throat. What was happening? Sarah had gone to work, she should be safe.Before I could even swing my legs off the sofa, the door to the bedroom was flung open. Standing there, her eyes blazing with a terrifying, raw fury, was Elsie. She looked wild, her hair disheveled, her clothes disarrayed. Her gaze landed on me, and her face contorted with pure hatred. If looking at someone could kil
Don Antonio's POVThe morning light filtering through the study windows felt cold and unwelcoming. I hadn't slept, not really. My mind had been replaying Alexa's troubled face, her whispered confession about her mother's plea. I knew this choice weighed heavily on her. I knew the conflict she felt.Xavier was there, as always, quiet and efficient, bringing me coffee. He probably sensed my mood. After a restless night, I had hoped she would come to me, ready to affirm her choice, ready to fight by my side.But she didn't.Instead, a call came through from Sarah. I answered, bracing myself."Don Antonio," Sarah's voice was tight, sounding a mix of worried and apologetic. "Alexa... she's here. She came to my place last night."My jaw clenched. Here. Not with me."And her decision?" I asked, my voice flat, already knowing the answer.A pause. "She... she needs time, Don Antonio. She's really struggling. She drank a lot last night. She just needed to escape."Escape. The word hit me like a
Alexa's POVDon Antonio's words, "You have to choose," echoed in my head all night. Sleep was impossible. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw my mother's worried face next to Don Antonio's firm, sorrowful gaze. The choice felt impossible, like being asked to cut off a part of myself.I tossed and turned in the big, soft bed. One moment, I felt a burning desire for revenge, a fierce need to see my father lose everything he cherished, just as he had made me lose everything. The next, a cold dread would wash over me at the thought of hurting my mother, of stepping deeper into a world of violence that felt so wrong, so heavy.The villa was silent, but my mind was screaming. Justice or peace? Fight or run? Love for Don Antonio, who was offering me a way to reclaim my strength, or love for my mother, who just wanted me safe and far away from all this darkness?As the first hint of grey light appeared outside the window, I knew I couldn't make this decision alone. I needed to talk to someone
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