[Juliette’s POV] Ralph remained silent. “Ralph!” I cried out in frustration and cursed in my head, what’s with the hesitation, damn it! “It’s confidential, Juliette!” He was gripping the wheel as tight as the veins on his arms were showing. “I don’t believe this.” I slumped into my seat with crossed arms and the look of grouch. Then, an idea came to me and I jolted upright. “Tell me the parts that aren’t confidential. How about that?” He glanced at me like I was both brilliant and crazy, then snorted in disbelief with a smile. “Alright, Juliette. You win this time.” It felt like I won because he let me. But I’ll take it. “So what is it?” I asked eagerly. He pondered for a quiet moment until his eyes lit up in recollection. “You may not like this… but it was actually your father who came to me with the contract.” I opened my mouth to refute it but then closed it again. What proof do I have to argue that Papa didn’t? Having a business connection with that dubious Micke
[Juliette’s POV] “Because it’s a McLaren,” he explained softly. “And she’ll be upset if we soiled her leather seats.” She? I blinked a few more times. He feminised his car? Frustration shooting up fast in my chest. I frowned. "You mean you'll get upset if we dirty the seats." "It's all the same," he said with a boyish grin. I groaned inwardly. What’s up with guys and cars! “I can’t believe you chose this car over me.” He flinched, looking slighted. “It’s not just any car, Juliette.” “Oh, so we’re back to ‘Juliette’, huh?” I groaned in annoyance and lifted myself off him to crawl back to my seat, when his hands landed on the side of my thighs to stop me. I glared at him like a disgruntled wife. “Oh, you changed your mind now? I’ve already lost the mood, RALPH.” Chuckling, he caressed my cheeks tenderly and said, “Let’s take a stroll.” Irritation pulled my features into a deadpan look. “Along the dusty highway? No, thank you.” “In the daisy field, kitten.” He presse
[Juliette’s POV]I felt confrontational, yet, somehow, I found myself spreading my lips into a smile before lifting it to him. "Very funny," I remarked sarcastically. His brows knitted in concern. "OK. Let's hear it. What's wrong with my idea?"Strangely, irritation seeped in. I chuckled to hide it. "Nothing's wrong with it, silly." His brows arched in the same astonishment that widened my gaze. Silly? I chastised myself. What are you gonna call him next—sweetheart?I blinked and was back to staring at the table top. Ralph lowered his voice slightly as he spoke. "Juliette, is there something you're not comfortable with? If there is, spit it out now."God, I groaned inwardly. Here goes. I looked up with a sweet smile and battered my lashes. "So how was that?"He was back to squinting at me. "I was practising." I glanced at my finger adjusting the fork slightly, then looked up again. "We're supposed to be 'very much in love', aren't we?"Those brown eyes studied me as he slowly r
[Juliette’s POV] “We’ll go when we have to.” Came the usual curt reply, which, at this moment, sounded colder than usual. “I see.” I eyed sorrowfully at the cedar trees outlining the path like cheerleaders with pom poms. I better not get too settled in for the next few weeks, or it’ll be hard to leave when I do. As soon as my mind was made up, the car entered the space in front of the main door and came to a smooth stop. Eagerly, I stepped out of the car and the cool breeze from the snowy mountains embraced my face. I caught a whiff of the forest and the heavy weight of insecurity was lifted off my chest. I turned to the main entrance, and a few figures were rushing down the steps, making their way towards me. “Miss!” The sharp squeals of joy hit my ears even before their feet touched the ground. Samantha, my personal maid, was the first to arrive, and she threw her arms around me before I could even say her name, crushing me in her embrace as though I had returned from th
[Juliette’s POV] Every adolescent eye lit up with motivation once they realised what was happening. "Run, Rollfie, run!" Tommy shrieked his loudest. I nearly choked. Rollfie? I watched in silent awe as the Mafia King, in his colossal frame, started running away from the miniature captors. He looked even more carefree than he was at the daisy field. That large grin on his face was so infectious, I found myself smiling along as well. "You know…," began Agatha. "There's something odd about that man. Firstly, he's a Virtus—and they've always been the vicious sort…." "Secondly, we heard that people called him The Devil. So we expected the worst." I looked at Agatha knowingly when she continued, "We were all scared. We've never experienced a cruel leader since the heads of the Lux family have always been wise and benevolent." I glanced at the grass in shame. As the head of the family, I couldn't even protect my own people. "Don't feel bad, Julie," consoled Agatha. "We never th
[Juliette’s POV]My feet continued moving along, struggling to keep up with those long, powerful strides. Five minutes later, the walking had calmed us down. Ralph had slowed down his pace and his grip had loosened. I slipped my fingers through his and held his hand. We arrived at the stables and Thomas was just coming through the door. When the lanky teenager saw us, he grinned broadly. “Miss Jules! I thought old Stables was joking when he said you were back!” He rushed towards me, wanting to give me a hug, when an arm stretched out to stop him. “Mr. Ralph, Sir!” Thomas gave a salute in Ralph’s direction. “Thank you for bringing Miss Jules back! We really miss her!” Ralph patted his shoulder. “Can you please excuse us, Thomas? Miss Jules and I….” He looked down at me with a meaningful gaze. “Have something to discuss.” He emphasised the last word. I threw him a glare. Ironic, since I was holding his hands tightly. “Gladly! I’ll let the others know. We’ll take a break for now.
[Juliette's POV]His lips tore away and were back on that erogenous zone below my earlobe. “Come with me, kitten,” he grunted and then kissed hard on it over and over again. My body tensed up, arching like a strained bow against him, as euphoria tore through me. “Ralph!” A tiny scream squeezed through my quivering lips, my eyes shutting tightly as another current of rapture tore through me. He finally released my hands and I hugged him close, my trembling body clinging desperately onto him. *****[Ralph’s POV]She was jealous. The second those purple eyes turned feisty when that waitress came near me, I knew. I had seen it on the faces of those women who thought I cared. But I don't give a shit about them or their plastic hearts. The cheaters, I let them go. The troublemakers, I sent them running. The fussers, I axed them out of my life. With women, it has always been a transaction: I give them the adrenaline rush of drama and power, being The Devil's woman, and they fulfil my
[Juliette’s POV] The horse throttled calmly up the slope of the Misty Hills. The cool, damp air caressed my cheeks, and the smell of it, mixed with dewy grass, leaves and soil, filled my nose, sinking my insides into a tranquil mode. The feel of Ralph’s strong arms around my waist spread my lips into a satiated smile. My back was leaning against his muscular chest, and I exhaled a peaceful sigh. We had been chatting about the time he spent here in the Lux mansion and the sights he saw during the tour, as well as the people he met, especially Tommy. He chuckled above my head. “What do you think Tommy said to me? I asked him for permission to punish his aunt, and he said she deserves to be punished.” I knitted my brows slightly. “That little rascal.” “He’s a charmer.” I looked over my head and then up at him. “You’re the real charmer, I heard.” “What?” He laughed lightly. I turned back to the front and said, “Agatha told me that Tommy’s been following you around, didn’