[Juliette’s POV]I should be happy. But I can’t smile. Even his knitted brows of concern couldn’t take my mind off what happened after lunch. It was going so well. What happened? Why was he hostile again? It was like the discussion we had this morning never happened—like I had been in a different dimension, or time zone, and I just got back from it. Something rough but warm covered my hand on the restaurant table and I looked down at it. The large hand securing over mine, shielding me from harm, from everything. ‘Do you need details about the emergency? Will that make you feel better?’ Ralph asked in his deep, calm voice of masculine sexiness. A voice that makes me want to crawl into him and wrap him around me and complain and whine. But if I did, he’d remember about the deal we had and take over. I don’t want the Virtus family members to accept me out of the Don’s orders; I want them to accept me for me, and because they want to. I turned to my left and gazed into those handsome
[Juliette’s POV] ‘I gave you the receipts, didn’t I?’ That look of disgust was hard to miss. The descendant of the command sergeant, Calum Virtus, Director of the Virtus Retails, was known to be the better—and prettier—version of Marco. And he was a clean freak. Arms crossed, the pretty guy snorted. ‘Ezio warned us all. So I sent them all to you yesterday. After working hours, of course. After all the real work was done.’ So my work is useless to the company, huh? My fingers tightened around the iPad pen. I sighed inwardly and maintained a cordial smile. ‘I really appreciate it, Mr. Calum.’ The sound of a formal address raised his brows, and suddenly he looked embarrassed. But only for a split second. ‘So why are we here?’ The fine chin tilted away haughtily. ‘I just told you I’ve got lots of stuff to catch up on. And you’ve got the nerve to call a Director in for this.’ ‘I have no choice. This can only be discussed with the Director of Virtus Retails.’ The proud gr
[Juliette’s POV]Dinner was at Sweet Like Heaven bar restaurant, atop one of the highest buildings in the city. I told him about this place a month ago, heard it from someone in the Lux Corp ladies’ room, and felt curious enough to try it. The place was hard to get a table—the long waiting list and all—but he managed to fix us up with one. It was flattering to know that he still remembered. But then, is he doing this out of guilt? For cancelling lunch with me to meet another woman. Is there really another woman? ‘Kitten?’ His voice feathered inside my ear and I blinked at the elevator door as we rose smoothly to level thirty-three, where the restaurant is. Then his warm lips were on the edge of my ear, pressing gently. ‘What’s on your mind?’ I turned to him and he caught something on my face and sighed with a frown. ‘What is it?’ He was as curt as a husband who was about to be confronted about his mistress. ‘Promise me you won’t get upset,’ I muttered, trying to sound less confron
[Juliette’s POV]Sluuurp! Muack! Lick, lick… kiss… nibble, kiss, nibble…. Sluuurp!‘Mmm….’ A moan in my voice sounded in my ear, and a giant shudder raced up my body, under my trembling skin. The dream of sunset colours evaporated into the expensive frame of the poster bed in my bedroom. And I’m back in the Lux mansion, lying in bed on my tummy, with my eyelids weighing like boulders, my flesh soaking up in pleasure, blood rushing, chest fluttering, tingles streaming incessantly from between my thighs, breasts grinding the soft sheets—and my swollen wet lips spread wide for the scorching, fierce lips and voracious wild tongue, dipping and prodding and devouring—-.‘Oh Fuck!’ My back lifted in a cobra pose as a powerful one consumed me, and then our lips found each other and he kissed me hard, as demanding as he was earlier—and a few hours ago—while fondling my breasts. I was lifted to my knees, and he entered me swiftly, clutching me hard to reach the deepest depth at one go, and t
[Juliette’s POV]‘Where’s Ben?’ I asked. The woman in the boss chair across the fancy antique desk, with every limb crossed, smirked and said, ‘He’s busy making sure that the models are focused on their training.’ My insides fell deadpan. Isn’t that her job? Or is she trying to get Ben out of the way? Outside, I maintained a cordial smile. ‘I see. So he’s been really helpful then.’ And her nose crunched with disgust. ‘As a gardener should.’ Jesus… There's really nothing likeable about this woman. Wonder what Ben sees in her. Maybe it’s all sensual for him—she does have all the curves, the perfect flesh-to-muscle proportion. She is afterall a runway model. ‘So what can I do for you?’ The fake smile on my face was starting to take toil on my cheeks. She leaned forward and whispered, ‘Leave Ralph.’ My heart nearly stopped. D-Did I hear wrongly? ‘Excuse me?’ I blinked. ‘You heard me.’ Her voice was low and threatening. ‘Leave Ralph. Divorce, separation, whatever. Get rid of you
[Juliette’s POV] Shit. I glanced down and checked the driver again. Swallowing a nervous lump, I slowly pulled my knees apart, my dress hiking up my thighs—. ‘There’s a good girl….’ The deep voice in my ear feathered. ‘Look how beautiful your skin is… I can almost feel it under my fingers….’ I shifted my phone to my left hand, holding it to my left ear, then slipped my right hand under my dress, moving it up my thigh, mimicking his hands whenever he caressed me… they way they ran to and fro… like a light breeze…. My knees spread wider, wanting more. I took another nervous glance at the driver before prodding further. ‘Put a finger in,’ he ordered. ‘Mmph.’ I bit my lower lip to stop a moaning protest as I sneaked another glance at the driver. ‘You know you want it, kitten….’ And I slipped it in—a bright sensation jolted through me, pushing my back against the seat, biting my lower lip harder. ‘Push it in deep….’ And my finger obeyed— reaching in and curling to cares
[Juliette's POV]Cafe hopping, huh? He shot dagger eyes at me. Behind them, I saw the pain of betrayal. 'I didn't want you to worry.' Was all I could say. But the ex-Mafia King cast me a look of disappointment before he stood and stalked out of the dining room. 'Ralph!' I hissed, running after him, wanting to explain about my meeting with Jewel, to redeem myself. But it was too late. As soon as I entered the main hall, Randy caught sight of me and charged forward like a bull to a red flag. Hand raised, he looked like he wanted to kill me with a slap, and I halted in fright, wincing in preparation for a piercing sting.But… nothing happened. 'Are you interfering now, Don Ralph?' Randy snarled. 'That's my wife you're about to hit, Randy,' replied a deep, guttural voice. Randy tried to shake off Ralph's grip. 'AND THAT'S MY DAUGHTER SHE HIT!' What?! My eyes nearly fell from their sockets. 'I never touched her!' That bitch framed me! 'And there you have it—so quietly leave, Ran
[Juliette's POV]The elevator door opened and Fillipo was standing there with crossed arms and a tight lip. Without a word, he moved aside. I gave a look of uncertainty to Ben who then swivelled an awkward gaze back to the young director and opened his mouth, ready to explain. But the younger guy beat him to it. 'Are you coming in or not?' His face upturned, his foot tapping nervously—or maybe it was simply embarrassment. Ben sank in relief while I sniffed a smile before dragging my suitcase out. ******'Will you be telling Ralph that I'll be here?' I wiped a Kleenex to my right eye and then blew into it. 'You know the drill, babe,' said Ben as he checked outside the window. After making sure of something, he left the window open and turned to me. 'But if you want me not to tell him—.'I shook my head, sobering up. 'I don't give a shit about that now.'Ben's right brow raised in surprise. 'What?' 'OK. I've waited long enough,' intercepted another voice. We turned to it and