[Juliette’s POV] ‘I’ll see you later.’ Ralph took a step forward— and I crashed into his back, my arms around his waist, hugging him tight. He stiffened and spun around his waist. ‘For God’s sake, Juliette! Are you trying to give me a new headache?!’ ‘Stay, please. For a while more.’ I snuggled my face into his shirt, inhaling his masculine scent, and he relaxed with a helpless sigh and covered my hands with his. Finally, he got to scoop me up in his arms. Mine went back around his neck and I clutched onto him and buried my face into the crook of his neck. ‘Didn’t you say you’re handling it alone?’ He tried to lay me down on the bed but I wouldn’t let him go. I could feel something coming and it made me scared. I need him to be around. ‘Juliette….’ I rubbed my forehead against his collar. He sighed again and laid down with me. I snuggled into his embrace and his body covered mine like a blanket. I clamped his legs with mine and heard a chuckle above my head. ‘I’m sorry,’
[Ralph’s POV]As soon as I stepped off the limousine, Randy’s housekeeper greeted me—a man as old as Margaret but twice as crafty—those eyes, the eyes of a vulture, they never miss a detail. So I’m always on alert whenever I visit this place. ‘Good evening, Don Ralph.’ The thin lips spread into a condescending smile. Fuck this old man—he’s using my name to differentiate me from my father because he sees a difference. I kept my chin high and focused on the entrance to the mansion. ‘I’m here to see—.’ ‘Master Randy is in Miss Jewel’s quarters, Sir. You may have to come back later.’ I scoffed at the marble floor my feet were stepping on then turned my cheek casually to flash an ordinary kind smile at the elderly—the kind that would pissed him off. ‘I have not met a staff of the Virtus clan who would order the head of the clan around.’ I purposefully left out his name, to show him its insignificance. ‘Perhaps it’s your wish for me to remember your name?’ I heaved a sigh and chuckle
[Ralph's POV]Cold water from the shower rained hard on me. I needed it. The reminder of my cruel reality; one where I was doubted; one where my possessions were ripped from my palms; one where everyone got their benefits from burning me alive. Ever since Juliette, I seemed to have forgotten the violent streak in my family line. The belief that violence will and can solve anything is hard wired in every single person down the bloodline. Who am I to change it? BANG!I glared at my palm flattened on the slick walls. All those eyes devouring what belonged to me. It's mine. Juliette is mine. That soft, flawless skin is meant for my eyes only. WHAM!Pain shot from my knuckles to my skull, but it was useless. The urge to kill was still strong. *****I threw the towel on the sink counter and moved to the exit of the bathroom of the presidential suite. Fuck, I miss her. I want her to imprint on my skin, become a part of me. Sick. The door slid open and I entered the living room. Yo
[Randy's POV]'Ke, ke, ke…!' The limped figure in the shadows cackled a satisfied laugh. 'She's finally come to her senses.'Randy didn't like this, her baby girl being used as a fucking pawn by a pathetic druggie—he raised his daughter to be a princess, not some fucking rag—and a rag for the likes of a rat from the gutters. He nodded and the black suit tore open a tiny bag of cocaine.White powder sprinkled right between the dirty toes of the badly battered creature. Instantly, the desperation sprung into life—his feet kicking and clawing in fierce hunger. Shackles of the other retrained limbs clanked furiously like gunshots. 'ARGH!!! GIVE ME THAT!' Saliva spurt from the lips trembling with sheer need. A smirk appeared on the clean aged face. Randy removed the cigarette from his lips and smoke blew through the metal bars of the cage that imprisoned the junkie. Then, the smirk spread into a satisfied smile. 'Gotta applaud your guts, Alf.' The tip of his leather shoes crushed out
[Ralph’s POV]I watched my knuckles glide over the silky skin and focused on her regular breathing. The sight of her sleeping face, her gentle features relaxed and at peace, always calms the current inside me. I leaned over and pressed my lips on the side of her forehead and waited for her tiny purr of happiness. Then, I backed away and caressed her hair with my thumb before I finally slid quietly off the bed. After putting on my sweatpants, I moved to the glass wall and stared at the city beyond it. The maze of buildings never failed to arrest my senses and let my thoughts take over. I’ve got so much on my mind now, I don’t need another Jewel issue. That bitch is one hell of a problem worse than Alfeo—the son of a bitch knows it, that’s why he tried to get Jewel on his side. From her reactions, as well as old Randy’s, the druggie has pretty much succeeded. What will Jewel do next? Now that I’ve openly declared that my priority is Juliette and not her, even though she’s family. Wh
[Juliette's POV] I looked at Ralph in the mirror and the lipstick halted on my lips. 'So your conclusion is nothing happened to her on the boat.' The man with the strapping build of a wrestler and the stoic expression of a bull pulled one end of the dark blue tie forward and wound it around the knot. I pursed my lips and put down the lipstick. 'She could be embarrassed about her situation so she pretended to sleep. Have you thought about that?' Those brown eyes studied mine and then he sighed and walked over. He kissed my right ear and let his lips lingered an inch from my earlobe. 'Jewel is not an average woman, Juliette.' 'But she's still a woman. And she was alone with sixty seven men for five nights.' He kissed my earlobe and a shudder passed through me. His arms came around my shoulder and he buried his face in the side of my neck. 'You can tell the exact number of men at one glance?' I leaned against him and sighed. 'Ralph….' I meant to tell him to kiss me but m
[Juliette’s POV]‘So he went ahead with my recommendation and picked his PA!’ I beamed at the sexy hunk sitting across me. ‘That’s great news, right?’ ‘Because he’s warming up to you?’ asked Ralph before tipping his glass of wine. ‘Uh-huh.’ I watched my fingers rub the base of the glass stem. ‘This means that I’m one step closer to becoming a part of your family.’ I lifted my gaze and he was watching me meaningfully. ‘You’re already family.’ ‘Just on paper.’ I held his gaze. ‘Aren’t you happy that I made progress?’ ‘I am.’ ‘You don’t look happy.’ I pouted. He put down his wine glass and his gaze softened. ‘That’s because you’ve been talking about another man for the past thirty minutes. And I’ve told you, I’m a very suspicious man.’ ‘But it’s Fillipo I was talking about—your favourite guy—okay.’ I grinned at his brows in their warning knit and added, ‘Ben settled Marco. So now all of your Directors have their own PA. I’ll send you a summary of their bio later.’ ‘That’s one th
[Juliette’s POV]The door closed and the lock clicked. This is expected of Randy Virtus's household—maximum security and zero humanity. I scanned the room and realised that it was the guest room—the least important room of all rooms in a rich man's mansion—and sighed a helpless sigh. I’m in big trouble. There’s nothing here that I can use. The room is almost empty except for the furniture. And I can’t leave. Plus, I have to finish cleaning or they’ll be suspicious. One mistake and you leave. No pay, no coming back here. Humph! That dull expression of the housekeeper, a large lady with breasts the size of two pumpkins stuffed in the most boring black dress (black again). That grey expression can zap the fun out of a lollipop.Let’s see… let’s start with dusting then. I still remember it, Margaret. Dust, change the sheets then vacuum. I took the feather duster and started at the row of cabinets next to the main exit. There are no drawers… no shelves… no books… no photo frames…. Je