LOGINI chuckled, staring down at the empty glass shot before me. It’s crazy how loyalty and honesty don’t count in today’s world. I’ve always been a good girl, and yet I was betrayed by the people I trusted and loved the most in the world.
I honestly had no idea why I thought I could cover up for the ladies who were trained to entertain very important guests.
“I don’t remember telling you my story.” I attacked.
The moment I got here, I spent a good amount of time in the restroom, crying my eyes out, before I finally came to sit by the counter for drinks.
Harry gave me an obvious look. “This is a club. Happy people come here; sad people also. So I can tell what’s up with you. I bet someone is going to replace you after you take your leave.” He gestured to where I was seated.
“Wow!!! Men must really be dickheads!”
“If you say so! But why do you even think I’ll choose you!”
“Because I am a virgin.”
Harry stared at me as though I had horns in my head.
“You are really untouched, and you let me waste my time in engaging in conversation with you?”
“You’ve had quite a number to drink, how come your speech is still clear?” He added.
“I’m a good girl, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to do the bad stuff.”
Harry parted his lips to say something, but I guess words failed him.
I had no power over the words that were rolling off my tongue. All I knew was that I was tired of being trampled on and, most importantly, I needed something to take my mind off this betrayal.
“Don is not having it. He said he’s going to leave in five minutes.” The staff from earlier said, looking worried as hell. “Did you get through to Nancy?”
“We need to act fast. Our job is at stake.” He panicked.
I could feel Harry’s eyes on me.
I continued to stare at the empty glass shot before me, pretending I had no idea what was going on around me.
“Are you sure you are up to the task?” Harry directed at me.
“I don’t do business with people who look down on me,” I answered, still not looking into his eyes.
“Look, sorry if I was harsh! Don is our biggest client. We only give him the best.”
“Then good luck with finding him the best!” I picked up my purse, then was almost getting off the stool when his voice came through again.
“Why go home and continue to sob on your couch when there’s an opportunity to have the time of your life?”
I finally looked into Harry’s eyes. “So now you believe in me?”
He shrugged! “Don is not into men, so there’s little I can do. I let you have a good time with a man anyone would die to have. In return, you help me keep my job.”
I rolled my eyes as I got off the stool.
“Don’t be a sucker! What better way to get revenge against your ex than screwing someone richer, hotter, and sexier than him?”
“Don doesn’t do virgins!” I mocked.
“You can take your leave. Let him know that someone will be there in a few.” He said to the staff who obeyed.
“You didn’t have to say that out loud.”
I arched a brow at the dude before me.
“Keep that between us. Don doesn’t have to know.”
I folded my arms. “And who says I’m in?”
“I don’t trust people, but I’m going to give you a chance,” Harry said, but before I could say a word to defend myself, he disappeared from my face.
“Asshole!” I mumbled as I opened my purse, trying to see if I still had some cash in there to take a taxi home.
Sadly, there was nothing there—just my phone, which I had run out of battery on.
“Perfect!” I huffed! I spent all my money on alcohol, and here I was. Stranded.
“Let’s go!” That familiar voice said, bringing me out of my thoughts.
It was Harry who was now standing beside me with his apron discarded.
“Huh?”
He grabbed my hand and let me out of the bar through a “staff only” door.
We got into the dressing room, and then he let go of my hand.
A lady in a very short dress and wine hair approached us. “Her dress is perfect, but please do something to her face and hair. Simple but classy. You got just one minute.”
Before I could have a say, the lady called Mary pushed me into a chair and began to work on my face. Through the mirror before me, I could see Harry standing behind us, watching Mary closely.
Mary was done with my face in no time, then she moved to my hair, fixing the curls as fast as she could.
“All done, Boss.” She said to Harry as she turned the chair around so I could face him.
“Better! Let’s go.”
“Huh?!” At this point, my reality dawned on me.
What the hell did I agree to?
“You have only one option. Getting the job done.” Harry said sternly. “I also do not forgive easily, so think twice before you ruin things.”
“You’re threatening me?” I said in disbelief. I was literally helping out here. Shouldn’t he be more grateful than commanding?
“I’m just being realistic, Amore. I need you to channel the betrayal into something positive. Make the best of this night. Look back and have no regrets!” Harry said, then took slow steps toward me. “I think I know your type, and it’s time to bring to life all the fiery and beastly desires that you’ve buried inside of you! Forget about me and my job. Go in there and make yourself proud. This is all about you.”
I swallowed painfully.
“After what felt like forever, Harry brought me before a door. “Don is all yours! He doesn’t need to know this is your first time. Bon appétit!” Harry reminded, then disappeared in a flash.
My heart began to race as I stared at the door before me. I was trying so hard not to think of the consequences of what was about to happen. I agree that I used to be a very calculated person, but where has that gotten me? I was done playing by the ethical rules of life. Even though it was just for tonight.
I heaved a silent sigh as I connected my hand to the door handle and pushed the door open.
ISABELLEAs I began to dry my body, my towel caught my nipple—just briefly, just a graze—and the sting of it shot straight through me before I could do anything about it.I went still.My body had exactly one response to that sensation.And that response had a name.I stood in the middle of my bathroom like someone had pressed pause on me, towel in hand, acutely aware of every inch of my own skin in a deeply inconvenient way.“Absolutely not,” I said out loud, but my body didn’t care.I finished drying off with significantly more caution than I had started, wrapped myself in a clean, dry towel, and walked into my bedroom. I sat on the edge of the bed and tried to think about something—anything—else.The quarterly report I hadn’t finished. The email from HR I needed to respond to. The fact that I hadn’t called my mother in four days.And then, uninvited, completely unwelcome—my subconscious spoke.Matteo.“No,” I said out loud, firm and final.Remember the Bahamas.“I said no.”Remembe
MATTEOI got out of the car to Lucia leaning against her own. Arms folded. Watching me with the particular expression she reserved for moments when she had already decided she wasn’t leaving without answers.I walked over. “How long have you been here?”“Long enough.” Her eyes moved over me the way they always did—taking everything in before she said anything. Then they stilled. “Matteo.”“Don’t.”“You look—”“I know how I look.”I moved past her toward the front door. She followed without being asked.……………….The house was exactly as I’d left it—dark, too quiet, carrying the particular emptiness of a space that had stopped feeling like home for a while now. Lucia went straight to the nearest window like she couldn’t help herself.“Leave it,” I said.She left it. But she didn’t leave.I headed to the kitchen without a word. She followed anyway.I stood there with both hands braced against the counter, staring at nothing.“When did you last eat?” she asked.“Lucia—”“I’m asking a simpl
ISABELLE I spotted her car immediately—the familiar silver of it tucked between two others, hazard lights blinking. I made my way over and pulled the passenger door open, dropping into the seat and setting my bag by my feet.“Hey, you.” Sage’s smile was immediate and warm.“Hey.”She reached over before I could even settle properly, her hand finding my stomach with the ease of someone who had already claimed this as her right.“Hi baby,” she said softly. Then to me: “How are we feeling today?”“Tired,” I admitted.“Expected.” She pulled her hand back and pointed at me. “When the baby comes, I’m taking her to her first concert. I’ve already decided.”“She’s not even born yet.”“Exactly. Plenty of time to plan.” She grinned. “Also, I’m thinking matching outfits for the first six months—”“Absolutely not.”“—just hear me out—”“Sage.”“Fine. First year.”I laughed despite myself.She reached for the ignition, then stopped with a sigh and turned toward me.And that was when I noticed it.
Hi all, apologies for repeating chapter 134 in 137. It has been ammended. So if you're reading this chapter before 12th to 13th July 2026, Please read chapter 141 again before this one. Thank you for your support. MATTEOSmall. Warm. Tucked between a bookstore and a florist on Elliot Street, like it had always been there and had never needed to announce itself.I sat in the car across the street and watched it for a moment.Through the glass, I could see maybe six tables. Soft lighting. A display case running along one wall. Two customers with laptops.And her.She was sitting near the window. Laptop open. Headphones around her neck. A half-eaten pastry beside her that she hadn’t touched in a while.I knew her from Bella’s description alone.My phone buzzed.Coast is clear. Two customers finishing up. Five minutes.I set the phone down.And waited.I had no business doing this. Bella and I had agreed that whatever existed between us stayed between us. No family. No outside involvement
MATTEO“Matteo.” Her voice was gentle but careful. “You know I can’t discuss anything regarding a patient.”“She’s not just a patient.” The words came out before I could stop them. “I brought her here. I registered her under my name. I set up her entire account at this clinic—”“Which she subsequently had herself removed from,” Dr. Helene said quietly.I stopped.She held my gaze steadily.“When a patient removes associated contacts and updates their billing independently, that becomes their right. And it means the previous party is no longer considered relevant to their care.”I looked at her. “You’re telling me nothing.”“I’m telling you what I can.”“Helene.” Something in my voice must have shifted because her expression changed slightly. “I haven’t slept. I drove to her apartment at 2am because I couldn’t function. I look the way I look because I haven’t been able to eat or sleep or think about anything else since—” I stopped. Pressed my hand flat against her desk. “She won’t see m
MATTEOIsabelle slammed the door in my face before I could say anything else.“Isa…Bella…” I moved close, trying to push it open, but she had already fixed the lock from inside.I was almost throwing a punch at the door when my fisted hand stopped mid-air. She was already mad at me. The last thing I wanted was to make things worse.Out of nowhere, Abigail’s final moments at the hospital crept back into my memory. The way I held her tiny hands while she fought hard for her life. I ran a hand over my face.That was a pain I hadn’t gotten over. Heaven knows I couldn’t deal with any more loss.Did she miscarry because I stayed away from her? Did she get rid of it because of what I had said?I ran my fingers through my hair. What have you done, Matteo?I took one more glance at the door. Torn between knocking and letting go. The latter wasn’t even an option. If anything, I felt worse than when I arrived.I pulled my phone from my pocket and scrolled through my contacts. My hand hovered over







