Vanessa POVIt was 4:03 a.m. when I heard the front door open.I hadn’t slept.Not after that text. Not after the way my body still burned from Edward’s touch in his office, the way he whispered filth and reverence in the same breath. My mind kept replaying every second of it, his fingers inside me, his mouth against my skin, the ache he left behind when he walked away.Now he was here.I heard the muffled voices. Donovan checking in, Edward’s low reply, and then the soft thud of his shoes moving through the house like he belonged to it.To me.I sat up in bed, my heartbeat thudding in my chest, every nerve on edge. The short silk night dress I wore clung to my skin, too thin, too teasing. My thighs pressed together instinctively, still sensitive, still wanting.The bedroom door creaked open.And there he was.Edward stepped into the moonlit room like something out of a fever dream, his shirt rumpled, his sleeves rolled to the elbows, his hair tousled like he’d run his hands through i
Vanessa POV The crowd of men cheered for me as I swayed my hips slowly, moving my ass in motion with my waist as one of my legs curled round the dancing pole. The night is still young and judging from the looks of it, I've made over a thousand dollars just from dancing seductively. Stripping was never a job option for me, coming out of law school I knew I had the biggest ambitions ahead. All of a sudden the plans changed and here I am, dressed in an all black lingerie and bra with black pointy heels and fish nets that clung to my curvy body. The masked theme of the strip club made it even much better for the strippers to feel comfortable. The only people who could see our faces were the men who paid big money. The elites. On a lively Saturday night like this one, they would surely be here in a few minutes. The girls and I were saving our energy so we could give them a show. If you're lucky, one would offer to fuck and we would make even more money. The music changed again,
Vanessa POV Edward ushered me into the room as he took his jacket off, placing it on the bed. "What is your name darling?" He asked me. I closed the room door and walked over to meet him. Should I tell him my real name? That will risk everything and he will remember. "I'm lady red." "That is so sexy. Your body is amazing too." He complimented. I went closer to him and straddled him while he sat on the bed. I put my arm around his neck and took in his handsomeness. I can't believe I once used to date this man. He is so successful now, and rich. "Are we going to keep talking or are you going to show me what you've got?" I said seductively. Without hesitation, Edward leaned into me for a kiss. I welcomed his advances, sinking my hands into his wonderful hair. His scent smelt the same, but is also enveloped in a more enticing expensive male cologne. Edward Pulled away from the kiss. "Have we met before?" He asked. His tone changed, becoming serious and interrogative. H
Vanessa POV I ran after him, gripping him by the arm. "Edward please, don't take my son away from me." I said, tears building up in my eyes. I never thought my Sunday morning would be like this. Why did Edward have to find out now? He pushed my hand away and turned to me, his face is boiling with anger, his eyes were so scary. It felt like I was staring at a different person. "Your Son? 5 fucking years Vanessa. How could you be so cruel and selfish? Did you hate me so much to keep my son away from me?" I could feel the pain in his voice. "I never wanted to keep him from you Edward. Please just let me explain." I begged not knowing what would come next. Edward looked so angry and devastated. "I'm taking you to court tomorrow. I will gain custody of my son." He began walking away from me and heading towards his car. People on the street were already starting to notice the heated argument and some were staring awkwardly as they passed. I could see Liam standing by t
Vanessa POV Edward's bodyguards helped in loading the SUV with our boxes as I ushered Liam into the car. "Where are we going mommy?" He asked me curiously. I didn't even know what to tell him cause I had no idea of what to expect. But I decided to be hopeful. "We're going to our new home Liam. You're going to love it." I hope my words are true "Yay" he responded to me as he returned his attention to his Nintendo game console. The car stopped and pulled over at a stunning white mansion. It was so beautiful. Nothing like I'd ever seen before in the city of New York. Edward must have just newly acquired this place. It seemed like he was just moving in too. The mansion had big see through gates circled all over it. The design of the gate was very rare and the color was mixed with shiny silver stones like rubies. The gate required a code and had a security camera right outside it. One of the body guards typed it in and the gates flew open, revealing a beautiful garden. The
Vanessa "You live here?" Susan laughed walking closer to me as her eyes scanned my appearance from my head to toe. I may not have much but my fashion style and taste is very classy and expensive. One wouldn't be able to tell I was an average person from just looking at me. I was dressed in a royal blue maxi dress that extenuated my curves and my long red hair was loose and complemented my dress. The only person who didn't appreciate me was Edward. "Yes, I do." i snapped back at her. My mind was roaming all over the place with so many possibilities. "Why?" She asked me. What business is it of hers? "It's complicated. Susan, why are you here?" She was testing my patience . "I'm going out with Edward Silver." She said smoothly, like she didn't know he was my ex and we used to be best friends. We fell out when she moved away from New York to Chicago and couldn't keep up with communication. Now she's back. "Since when?" I asked her, feeling irritated from her words. This thing betw
Vanessa POV2 weeks had passed since I moved in with Edward. He barely stayed at the mansion. Rumor has it from the maids that he spends most of his time in his penthouse. One of the high rise elite buildings in New York.He only came home during the weekends to spend time with his son then he would leave again.Liam was getting used to his new life and fitting in perfectly in his new school. Most children schooling there are rich so they treat each other with respect. Since I quit my job I've had more time to myself.Staring through the tinted window of the SUV, I adore the beautiful city of New York. I send Edward texts and calls every now and then, but he doesn't pick or respond to any.Instead I get texts from an unknown number saying "Stay away from Edward. He doesn't want you." I know Susan is the only one petty enough to do that, and the texts are getting more violent.Is this what I have to put up with for the next 6 months?My phone rang. It's my sister Mandi in the UK. She i
Vanessa POV I stood in the bathroom, brushing my teeth as my mind replayed the little scene that transpired between Edward and I last night. What came over him? And why was I so responsive to his advances? Edward has shown me these past few weeks that he doesn't give a shit about me. Now he suddenly wants to care and gain access to my body? Unbelievable. I couldn't drop Liam off at school today cause of this conference meeting. Edward's driver Donovan did it instead. Edward had left the house earlier at 7 to his penthouse. He told the maids to inform me he had an important zoom call. Why didn't he do the call here instead? After taking a bath, I changed into a black corporate long-sleeve dress. It has flare hands and a high slit at my left upper thigh. After styling my long red hair into a high pony tail, I wrapped it into a donut. Afterwards I decided to touch up my face with some make up. Staring at the finish product in the mirror in front of me, I was certain my looks w
Vanessa POVIt was 4:03 a.m. when I heard the front door open.I hadn’t slept.Not after that text. Not after the way my body still burned from Edward’s touch in his office, the way he whispered filth and reverence in the same breath. My mind kept replaying every second of it, his fingers inside me, his mouth against my skin, the ache he left behind when he walked away.Now he was here.I heard the muffled voices. Donovan checking in, Edward’s low reply, and then the soft thud of his shoes moving through the house like he belonged to it.To me.I sat up in bed, my heartbeat thudding in my chest, every nerve on edge. The short silk night dress I wore clung to my skin, too thin, too teasing. My thighs pressed together instinctively, still sensitive, still wanting.The bedroom door creaked open.And there he was.Edward stepped into the moonlit room like something out of a fever dream, his shirt rumpled, his sleeves rolled to the elbows, his hair tousled like he’d run his hands through i
Edward POVI watched the city lights blur past me, sights of light and shadow mixed together as the car sped through Manhattan. Every time I blinked, I saw Vanessa, pressed against my desk, flushed and breathless, the taste of her still on my lips. The ache she left behind hadn’t dulled. But I’d buried it beneath a harder truth:Someone had stolen from me.Not just from my company—but from the people I trusted, the people I protected. And now Jonathan said they had the bastard.The blacked-out SUV pulled up outside an old shipping warehouse by the Hudson. Abandoned on paper—but the NYPD and Jonathan had taken it over tonight like it was a war front.A uniformed officer met me at the door and nodded, radio clipped to his shoulder. “Mr. Silver, right this way.”I followed him down a narrow hallway that reeked of mildew and metal. Every footstep echoed, hollow and sharp. At the end, two detectives flanked Jonathan, who stood outside a room with one-way glass. His usual calm demeanor was
Vanessa POVThe city lights moved past me like a blur through the tinted windows of my car, but my mind was stuck. Somewhere between Edward’s mouth on mine and the rough whisper of his voice still echoing in my ear.“You’re my peace."I hadn’t said anything back. I Couldn’t.Not because I didn’t feel something. I did. God, I did.But because when a man like Edward says something like that, it demands more than a casual response. It demanded the kind of answer that changed everything.I pressed my fingers to my lips, still swollen from his kiss, as the car eased past the bridge. Donovan drove with soft r&b music filling the environment, giving me space, as always. I was grateful for it. My body guard Harris, sat beside him to accompany me too.Because right now, I was shaking inside.The feel of Edward’s hot body on mine… the way his fingers moved with both hunger and reverence… how his lips had claimed my skin like he was afraid I’d vanish if he didn’t taste me deep enough.It hadn’t
Edward POVI hadn’t left the penthouse in days.The world outside kept spinning. Meetings, board calls, messages piling up — but I was stuck. Drowning.The theft at the company had gutted a chunk of our reserve accounts. Tens of millions wired out before anyone noticed. No trace of the thief yet. Kaz was still out there, lurking like a phantom in the dark.And then… the attack at Liam’s school.Still a goddamn blur.The footage was too grainy, too fast. No clear shot of who orchestrated it, but I knew, deep down, Kaz’s stink was all over it.I ran a hand through my hair and stared at the pile of contracts and financial reports scattered across my desk. My tie was loose around my neck, sleeves rolled up, head pounding.I didn’t go back to the mansion. I couldn’t face Vanessa. Couldn’t face Mandi, Liam… the life I promised to protect but was failing miserably to.And her.Vanessa.God, her name haunted every breath I took.I missed her. I missed her laugh, the way she looked at me when
Vanessa’s POVMay 1stA new month. Four more months to go before my fate with Edward would be decided.Four more months before the contract that bound us together — and quietly unraveled everything inside me — would end.Nine more days before Liam’s birthday.I sat on the edge of my bed, staring blankly at my phone. The soft morning light filtered through the large windows of the mansion, painting everything in pale gold. Spring was in full bloom outside, but inside me, a quiet storm raged.I was supposed to be excited. Planning a birthday party for my son should’ve filled me with happiness and energy. It was his first real celebration since we moved here, and for the first time, I had the chance to give him something magical.But the question gnawed at me: Should it be big, or intimate and simple?Did Liam need balloons, crowds, clowns, and photographers? Or did he just need a backyard, a cake, and the people who loved him?I pulled my knees up to my chest, thinking about it.An ima
Daniel POVThe door slammed behind me, rattling in its frame. Silence swallowed the penthouse, the only sound my heavy breathing, still ragged from the argument. I dropped Wendy off at her apartment, I couldn’t stand her presence anywhere near me.I tore off the tailored jacket, flinging it across the back of the nearest chair. It slid off and hit the floor, but I didn’t care. I ripped at the buttons of my shirt next, needing to get free of the fabric, of the night, of everything Wendy Hawthorne had just dragged me into.I stalked across the room, ignoring the glittering skyline outside the windows. New York pulsed beyond the glass like a living thing, but I was numb to it. Numb and raw and furious.How the hell had it come to this?A fake engagement. A fake wedding date. August 10th, she had said. She’d even smiled, that sickly sweet, picture-perfect smile for the cameras, clinging to me like a trophy she didn’t deserve.The taste of the lie still burned in my mouth.I collapsed onto
Daniel POVThe night felt heavier than usual.I stood in front of the mirror, straightening the cuffs of my jacket, hating every second of this.Fake smiles.Fake stories.Fake love.The thoughts lingered deeply in my head.And the worst part?I was volunteering for it.For her.For Vanessa.I gritted my teeth and ran a hand through my hair. The dark navy suit clung too tightly to my frame, like it knew this whole thing was a goddamn lie.The media crew was already on stage in the studio, setting up lights, microphones, banners with the movie’s logo plastered across them.I glanced at my watch.Any minute now.Wendy had insisted on doing the interview in their studio, all glamorous and public.Because God forbid she missed an opportunity to flaunt her “perfect life” to the world.I heard her heels clicking down the hall backstage before I saw her.Wendy swept into the room, a vision of strategic perfection—silver gown clinging to her like a second skin, lips painted a bold red, her b
Vanessa POVEven at night time, I couldn’t sleep. My eyes remained wide open.With the distant hum of the lively New York city and the occasional thuds from running up through staircases, it felt like the walls themselves were holding their breath. I lay in my king-sized bed, staring at the ceiling, the silk sheets tangled around my legs.Sleep wouldn’t come. It had been this way for days.I turned over and reached for my phone on the nightstand, half-hoping to find a message from Edward. Anything. Even a simple “Are you okay?” would have been enough.But my screen was empty.Nothing.Biting my lip, I opened my messages anyway and typed:You up?I hovered my thumb over the send button. Then, at the last second, I deleted the text.No.I wasn’t going to chase him.Not tonight. He was under pressure, a theft in his company, the weight of protecting Liam and I. It was a lot to handle.I could easily go to his room to check if he’s there but that could escalate things. But No.I rolled on
Edward’s POVThe glass in my hand was sweating. I hadn’t even touched the damn drink yet. Whiskey, neat. My old go-to when I wanted to forget, when I wanted to feel something burn before the numbness settled in. It was a little past midnight, everyone at home was asleep. But I was restless.I sat in the back of my sleek, black rolls Royce, fingers drumming against the leather seat as the city lights flickered past the tinted windows. New York was still buzzing, as always, pretending like nothing was falling apart. But for me, everything in my world was unraveling—and fast.Kaz was back. My company was compromised. Vanessa… she wasn’t mine the way I wanted her to be. And Daniel. Fucking Daniel, always a step closer to her heart than I was.“Sir?” My driver turned his head slightly. “We’re here.”I looked up. The red neon sign of Club Volta buzzed above the entrance, hazy in the misty night air. The place where I first laid eyes on Vanessa after 5 years. Where her fire and defiance sla