MONIQUEA few weeks passed in a blur of work and routine. Liam and I settled into a rhythm—one that felt almost too natural. But this particular day, the tension and heat between us had started over something small—a missed deadline, a minor setback in the tidying up of Liam's new hotel. He even criticized my work several times.By afternoon, everything felt more heightened as the minutes passed. His mood was something different, with back and forth calls with different people concerning the project. When his effort had begun to seem fruitless, he decided to go to the site himself and supervise firsthand. Liam was raging at the contractor for leaving out information about a snag in receiving painting materials and went ahead to urge him to sign licensing for an incomplete building. He blamed me for not keeping a close watch on the updates. Even though I had only been working closely with the project for a few weeks."You should have caught these delays and lies and informed me. That's
MONIQUEThere was a raging fire in my mind—a violent battle between reason and raw desire. My body screamed louder than my thoughts, overwhelming any sense of logic or restraint. Every nerve burned under the weight of his touch, and it was like I was losing control, inch by inch.My blood felt like molten lava, heating me from the inside out, boiling me alive—body and soul, both unraveling with each second. His lips were hotter than I remembered, firmer, demanding more from me than I was prepared to give. The taste of him was intoxicating—sharp and wild, a mixture of danger and something I couldn't name but desperately craved.That first kiss that night had been a blur of alcohol-fueled lust, but this? This was different. This was deliberate. Raw. There was no hazy excuse to blame it on now. Every sensation, every taste, every touch—it was clear. Searing.His scent enveloped me, rich and masculine, almost woody and cinnamony. It wrapped around me like a noose, drawing me deeper into h
I heard a ringing in my ears when he slammed into me, my body arching as the force of it left me breathless. If not for already being folded up on the desk, I was sure my legs would've given out entirely."Fuck... Monique." He breathed out my name, low and rough, as if he couldn't control the sounds tearing out of him. Each syllable sent a jolt through me, making the heat between us unbearable. He slammed into me again, harder this time, and I swore I saw stars."Please." The word slipped out of me, but I didn't even know what I was begging for. For him to stop? For him to never stop? For him to go faster? I couldn't think straight. My mind was lost in the overwhelming sensations crashing over me.Liam answered my unspoken plea by picking up his pace. Each thrust harder, more forceful, more determined than the last. I didn't know how it was possible, but it was as if he was punishing me and himself at the same time. Then came the sharp smack of his hand on my ass, the stinging heat ra
LIAMI sat at my desk, staring at Felix and Romano going back and forth about payments from clients, but my mind wasn't on the numbers. It was on her.Monique.I ran a hand through my hair, frustration creeping in as I tried—and failed—to shake her from my thoughts. I'd told myself it was just physical, just the thrill of the chase. But now, the high was different. She was different.The last time I'd felt this consumed, I had a line of coke in front of me. The rush, the immediate hit, the way it filled my veins like liquid fire. It used to make me feel invincible, unstoppable. And then it'd leave me in a wreck, crashing hard and craving more.Monique was becoming my new addiction.Every time I was with her, it was a rush—like that first hit, sending a jolt through me that I couldn't get enough of. But even when she wasn't around, she lingered in my system. The memory of her, the scent of her skin, the way she looked at me like she saw something beyond the surface, it clung to me. I c
LIAMI didn't exactly have a playful mind, and I never really enjoyed games and surprises, but when Monique pulled me with her out of my office and down to my car, I let her have her fun. I enjoyed her playfulness, how she whispered in the ear of my chauffeur to drive us somewhere. I had asked her what she was up to, and she flashed a playful smirk, teasing me with a flap of her lashes. She had said, "Relax, don't ruin the surprise."I could have asked my driver where he was taking us, but I decided against it. Soon, we were on the street of one of my clubs. Monique giggled and stepped out of the car. She came around to pull me out of my seat and dragged me to the front of the club."What are we doing here, Monique?" I asked. "Shh. Just come with me and stop being grumpy." She tugged at my hand.It was one of my most exclusive clubs. Monique led me through the back entrance. I hadn't expected her to bring me here, of all places, but as we passed through the dimly lit corridors towar
MONIQUEI loved being in control. It felt good. Knowing I had almost gotten Liam nearly kneeling and under my charm felt even more amazing. I was going to use his developing feelings to my advantage rather than let them get to me simply because I reciprocated parts of those feelings.If I could have gotten him to follow me blindly to some place, claiming to have a surprise for him, it meant I was already on my way to getting him completely wrapped around my finger.His eyes followed the roll of my hips as I arched and leaned into him, my body brushing up against his, a soft smile tugging at my lips. This was my game, and I was playing it with all the finesse I had.But I couldn't make it too obvious—couldn't let him know that every touch, every brush of my fingers against his skin was leading him exactly where I wanted.With a playful grin, I pulled back just enough to make him lean in, chasing that connection. "Wait," I said softly, pressing a finger to his lips. "We need a drink."
LIAMLunch with Blanca Torres felt almost routine by now. We had met several times before under the pretext of discussing business, but there was always more to it than that. She had been the one who introduced me to her husband, David—a powerful investor whose backing I needed for my dealings. He had already proved himself a worthy partner when I had issues with my latest shipments. And while David was the ultimate target, it was clear that Blanca held the reins when it came to influencing his decisions.She sat across from me at a private table in one of my restaurants. Her dress, a form-fitting designer piece, complemented her perfectly, and she wore it with the confidence of someone who was used to having eyes on her."I owe David for his involvement last month; he saved me a lot from the authority," I said, offering her a smile as I sipped my wine. "I wouldn't have made it this far with him without your introductions."Blanca's lips curved in a playful smile. "Oh, I'm sure you co
The grand ballroom was bathed in golden light, chandeliers casting a soft glow over the crowd. Tables draped in the finest linens were adorned with centerpieces that screamed elegance. The stage was set for success—everything arranged, down to the last detail. The new hotel stood tall and gleaming against the skyline. The idiot contractor brought the initial idea to life, just as I'd pictured it.But something was off.As I stepped into the ballroom, I immediately noticed the sparse crowd. Sure, people were mingling, sipping champagne, smiling politely, but the energy wasn't there. The room wasn't packed like I had expected it to be. Not even close. I glanced around, my stomach sinking. There were far fewer people than we'd anticipated. The hum of conversation lacked the buzz I had imagined. This was supposed to be the event, but the excitement just wasn't in the air.Where the hell was everyone?I adjusted my cufflinks, trying to keep my cool, but my mind was racing. I had spent mont
MONIQUEI woke up alone on the couch, wrapped in one of Liam's soft throws. For a second, I was disoriented, blinking against the early morning light streaming in through the large windows of his penthouse. My muscles were stiff, but the fabric felt warm, comforting even. I tried to piece together the events of the previous night. I remembered making dinner, pasta. We ate, talked, and eventually drifted off to sleep on the couch. But then... I remembered the nightmare, or at least fragments of it. I didn't remember waking up, but Liam's voice came back to me, soft and reassuring, trying to calm me. Why was I still having these nightmares? I thought I had come to terms with this relationship between us, even if I was still out to avenge my parents' deaths.The door to the living room creaked, and I glanced up to see Liam walking in, dressed sharply in his suit, ready for work. He looked like th
LIAMMonique had been spending more time than usual in my penthouse. We were unofficially a vanilla couple. It was unspoken, but we'd fallen into this rhythm, as if we were a couple without the labels. Her toothbrush stood next to mine in the bathroom, her delicate lace underwear mixed in with my clothes in a drawer she'd claimed. I wasn't sure what to make of it, but I didn't hate it. In fact, part of me liked it more than I wanted to admit.I rolled over on a lazy Sunday morning, blinking against the sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Monique's voice, soft and playful, reached my ears. She was on the phone, probably with Sophie. I could hear them giggling about something, but I couldn't make out the details. A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth, but it didn't last. My thoughts had a way of drifting back to darker places lately.My sister.
LIAMThe call came in the middle of the afternoon, just as I was sitting at my desk, scrolling through documents that didn't hold my attention. Work had become monotonous these days—like I was just going through the motions, trying to keep up appearances. I answered the phone without checking the number, expecting one of my contacts or maybe even Felix."Liam Sterling?" The voice on the other end was firm, professional."Yeah. Who's this?""This is Detective Crater from the Queens Police Department. We've never met, but I've been looking into your sister's case—Marie Sterling."The mention of her name hit me like a sucker punch to the gut. My hand tightened around the phone, knuckles turning white. "What are you talking about? That case has been closed for years.""I know. It's been nine years since th
MONIQUEI had control issues, and ballet school made me become a perfectionist. When I started getting bullied, our dance instructor from Italy—Costanza—had made a joke about my weight. She told me I was missing steps because I had fat arms and calves. The girls laughed and they used it to make fun of me every single day till I left that school.This made me a control freak. If things didn't go my way, I would want to tear things apart. But while I was in hiding, Don Antonio had a girlfriend, she was French and she was a lot younger than him and closer to my age. We bonded, in a way. She was a ballet instructor, too, and one of the few people who didn't make me feel inadequate. She showed me how to use my frustration and lack of control to fuel something productive, something that could center me.My years in hiding taught me more than patience and strategy. They tau
MONIQUEI arrived at the hotel café, scanning the room for Richardson. He was already seated at a corner table, blending in with the upscale surroundings of my hotel. His eyes caught mine the moment I walked in, and he gave me a quick nod, his face calm.I walked over, and without a word, took the seat across from him. He opened his mouth to speak, but I raised a hand, cutting him off before he could even start."How could you be so sloppy?" I asked, my voice low but sharp. "Your name, Richardson. They know it. Charles."His jaw tightened, and he sat back, crossing his arms. "I didn't reveal my name," he replied, his voice just as controlled as mine. "The messenger I sent must have picked it up somewhere after the agreement was made. I didn't hand it over."I leaned forward, narrowing my eyes at him. "Do you have any idea what k
MONIQUEHis words echoed in my head like a constant siren. I can't let you go.I hadn't fully recovered from Liam's confessions the other day. The intensity of his emotions, his possessiveness—it was almost too much. And yet here I was, tangled up with him again, our bodies intertwined in the sheets of his penthouse bed. The city hummed outside, but in this moment, it felt like we were in our own world.The sharp ring of the doorbell cut through the silence, stirring Liam awake. His body shifted beside mine, and I felt the absence of his warmth as he slid out of bed. I watched through half-open eyes as he grabbed a pair of pants from the chair nearby. He moved with the quiet confidence of someone always in control, even in the early morning hours.He glanced back at me once before leaving the bedroom, his gaze lingering, then disappeared into the hallway to answer the door.Through the muffled walls, I could make out the low murmur of voices. It was Felix. My pulse quickened. I couldn
MONIQUEThe number of work meetings had drastically reduced. As Liam's assistant, I not only gained access to his world but also front-row seats to the spectacle of it crumbling, piece by piece. Each passing day, I watched as the empire he had meticulously built seemed to unravel, and though I was part of it, I couldn't help but feel a certain satisfaction. There was a power in watching someone so formidable brought down by forces they couldn't control.I was seated in my office, scrolling through pictures Sophie had sent of Star. The fluffy Persian was curled up in a ball in one image, playfully batting at a string in another. I smiled absently as I flicked through them. There wasn't much else to do today. Liam had been out handling God-knows-what, and the office felt unusually still, like a quiet before an impending storm.I almost didn't notice when the door opened. Liam walked in, the tension radiating off him like heat from a furnace. I locked my phone and rushed to meet him. He
LIAMAs I stepped into the storage room, the strong smell of blood hit me, a clear reminder of the seriousness of the situation. I rolled up my sleeves, the dim light illuminating the grim scene: Trevor was tied to one chair, his body bruised and battered, while two other men were similarly restrained nearby. My men had done a thorough job. Felix stood at the forefront."Three men," he explained, nodding toward the lifeless form sprawled on the floor, "but one got caught in the shootout and didn't make it." His gaze flicked toward the surviving trio, a predator sizing up his prey.One of the men, a scrappy guy with a wild look in his eyes, squirmed in his chair, a desperate plea creeping into his voice. "Look, I'll cooperate! I'll tell you anything you want to know, just don't kill me."A humorless grin stretched across my face, a reflection of my disdain for his delusions. "You really think you'll walk out of here alive?" I stepped closer, my presence looming over him. "Who sent you?
LIAMThe warehouse was eerily silent when I arrived, tension so thick you could slice through it. The four workers stood before me, a mix of fear and confusion on their faces. I could see it in their eyes—none of them had a clue what was happening, or at least, that's what they wanted me to believe. I wasn't buying it. I didn't trust anyone fully at this point. One of them could've easily been in on it.I looked each one of them in the eye, my gaze hard. "What do you know about the attack?" I asked, my voice even but carrying a sneer.One by one, they fumbled through their answers, all variations of the same thing—we don't know anything, boss. Their voices desperate and nervous. It was hard to tell who was genuinely clueless and who was faking, because I was completely blinded by rage.But I was also not a fool. Trust wasn't something I handed out easily. After what happened, if one person could betray me, then why not all of them? Maybe they were in this together, covering for each o