As soon as Alexander was gone I fell onto my bed and buried my face in my hands. My lips—God my lips still tingled from his kiss—my breath was still erratic and my heart was still pounding. I was embarrassed. However I was unable to ignore the reality at the same moment. I had given him a kiss. Furthermore I had desired it. I didnt fully understand the part of me that had yearned for a mans touch. I let him consume me and melted into him forgetting everything else for those fleeting moments.With a moan I leaned back against the headboard and pressed my fingers to my temples. Why in the world was I acting this way? I ought not to have permitted that to occur. The instant he leaned in and his lips touched mine I should have shoved him away. However I hadnt. He got what he wanted—no we both got what I had stood there and let him have.I traced the area where his mouth had been with my fingers to my lips. I could almost feel him there lingering and asserting. His hands holding me as tho
The sound of my phone buzzing sharply cut through the quiet of my room and vibrated against the bed. I wrapped a towel around my waist and exited the restroom steam curling behind me. I strode over to pick up the device dripping water from my hair onto my bare shoulders.A name appeared on the screen. Cole. my personal investigator. Quietly I hoped he had some good news. However I had a feeling that whatever he was going to say would be beneficial. I responded right away. "You have something tell me?"Coles tone was tinged with the satisfaction of a job well done and his voice was clear. "I have a lot more than that. I am in possession of everything." My heartbeat intensified. "Proceed." "Liam —where he goes what he does and who he hangs out with. He is constantly being watched."A slow smile pulled at my lip corner. "And?" "A penthouse is where he resides. luxurious confidential and safe. However he is not by himself. . . "A pause.I gripped the phone more tightly. “Ava?" With an
The darkness encircled me oppressive and dense. The sheets coiled around my body like shackles and the bed beneath me felt far away but I was immobile. I was confined. A sharp sound faint at first but getting louder reverberated in my mind.Let it drip.Pour. Let it drip. I was standing in a long deserted hospital hallway when my eyes opened—inside the dream. The white sterile walls extended indefinitely on either side and the harsh fluorescent lights flickered overhead. A chill ran down my spine as the chilly air pressed against my skin. Something metallic hung beneath the familiar antiseptic smell that filled my lungs. Blood. The steady rhythmic sound of dripping water grew louder hammering at my skull. Water was absent though.Only silence was heard. Then—action. A door at the far end of the hallway creaked open. My throat tightened with breath. Fiona. She entered the gloomy light radiant and complete. Her delicate features were unaffected by illness and her dark hair fell in ge
The floor of the bedroom was streaked with gold as the morning light came in through the curtains. However warmth did nothing to relieve the cold burden on my chest. The agonizing relics of the nightmare continued to replay in my head. The tears of Ava. the shot. the blood.With a sharp exhale I wiped my face. My head ached and a dull lingering migraine was developing behind my eyes. The visions that wouldnt go away had robbed the sleep. Air was what I needed. After hauling myself from bed I put on a shirt and went into the hallway. I felt the mansions eerie stillness as it encircled me in silence. Too little noise was made. Until—. the slight rumbling of motion. Before I could think my feet dragged me to the kitchen. The air smelled of something savory and fresh herbs as I got closer. Softly the rhythmic sound of a knife striking a cutting board reverberated.I stopped as I rounded a corner. Standing at the kitchen counter Ava chopped tomatoes with a practiced ease her dark hair loo
I woke up in a comfortable bed with the aroma of water and herbs still permeating the room. My body hurt but after the maids cleaned me up I felt so light. The tension was somewhat reduced by the warmth of the robe they had put on me but my heart's worries persisted. I had to see Caden. I had to explain everything.The situation that had developed between Ivy and me wasn't what she had said. I did not intentionally hurt her. He and I needed to talk. I couldn't bear the thought of him doubting me. I struggled to get out of the mattress. As I limped toward the door I winced because my legs were weak.Every step felt like it required more effort than the last but I continued driving down the quiet hallway while listening to the Packhouse remote. I could almost feel the silence as I passed through the packhouse. Although the thought of seeing Caden again made my heart race I was unable to stop myself at this point. I was forced to confront him. I had to help him understand. I paused when
I crawled into the nook of the bed, my knees drawn as much as my chest, and I let myself fall into the softness of the sheets.The room felt so massive and empty, more like my heart. It felt like everything had fallen apart in that one second when I noticed Caden with Ivy. The sound of my heart breaking echoed in my chest, and all I should do was to cry.Tears soaked my cheeks as I buried my face in my arms. My shoulders shook with every sob, and that i couldn’t stop it. I desired to scream, to run away from all of it, but where would i go? What would I do? there has been no escaping the harm inside me.I thought that I might want to consider him. I concept that everything he had said to me, each promise he had made, turned real. But now… now it felt like it changed into a lie.I wiped my face with my sleeve, but the tears simply kept coming. They wouldn’t stop, regardless of how awful it felt,I tried to hold them again. I felt so weak, so small.I ran my hand down my frame, feeling t
Tightening Caden's robe around my body I sat at the mattress with a tiny smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. I tried to hide the elation that welled up inside of me by twirling a lock of hair around my finger.Emerald had witnessed our moment. She had witnessed us together and that was precisely what I desired. I wanted her to realize that Caden was now mine and no matter how hard she tried she should never have him.My smile expanded as I heard the door creak open. There he was.Caden. His dark face and angry eyes were fixed on him as he stood in the doorway. I was unable to control the shiver of pleasure in my chest. This only marked the start.Caden said sharply "Ivy you shouldn't have done that." I feigned confusion by raising an eyebrow. With a harmless gamble I asked "What do you mean?. I didn't do anything wrong.""You know exactly what I mean," he yelled.His fingers were clenched at his sides as he approached me. "You were aware of her reactions. You were aware of the co
The tension between us was thick enough to sever with a knife and the dining room was eerily quiet. Alexander let out a deep breath and rubbed his temples as though he was trying to collect his thoughts while I stood motionless my hands clenched at my sides. His normally unreadable face was marked with something that nearly looked like regret and his jaw was clenched."Ava… "he said at last in a firm but low voice. "I have to share something with you." I squinted. "Whats it?."After a moments hesitation he went on. "I offered to help you because I also needed your assistance."He combed his hair with his hand. "You must behave like Fiona for me. . ."Perplexed I blinked. "What?." He took a deep breath and continued. "Those who own stock in our business the shareholders are unaware that Fiona is in a coma. They will destroy everything we created together if they find out. All of the things she strived for. At least temporarily I needed someone to replace her." I stepped back and shoo
While we were eating breakfast I couldnt resist observing Ava. She moved with ease and assurance as if she were at home in this situation. Everything about her smile and the delicate way she picked up her fork with her fingers felt so. . . natural. But my attention was captured by more than just her poise. It was the way she appeared to be completely present and unaffected by hesitation. Compared to the Ava I had known in the past she was different and I found it impossible to look away. I realized I had been staring too long.Forgotten a forkful of eggs hung halfway to my mouth. I was absorbed in my thoughts and totally engrossed in the silence until Avas little laugh jerked me out of it.With a lighthearted smile tugging at the corners of her lips she asked “Are you going to eat or just stare at your plate all morning?” I forced myself to refocus and blinked. Her laugh was warm and sincere and I couldnt help but smile as I shrugged and let out a little laugh. “I guess I became sid
I felt sad when I woke up.It was the kind of weight that came from the restless thoughts that had been bothering me all night not from the actual sleep. I had been tossing and turning unable to get rid of the worry that had been bothering me for days. Beyond what she was revealing there was a problem with Ava. The terror and the dreams seemed all too real. In an attempt to dispel the fog of the restless night I combed my hair as I got up and left my room. The morning light was still fading and having trouble peeping through the curtains in the dimly lit hallway.My intention was to go downstairs and get a coffee but I stopped myself before I could move. Ava. She was standing with her back to me gazing at nothing specific outside the window. She wasnt the only thing that surprised me though. No it was something completely different. It was the poised manner in which she stood so. . . different.She reminded me a lot of Fiona. As my breath caught in my throat I took a step closer my
I'm not sure how it happened.One minute the gentle hum of the night was drowning out the world outside my window as I fell asleep. Then I found myself in a nightmare that was too heavy and real to get out of. Initially it began similarly to any other dream. Keep quiet. void. Then the emptiness soon gave way to something suffocating and darker. I stood by myself in the middle of a huge deserted field. Beneath my feet the black charred grass was twisted.There was nothing but the deafening silence that went on forever—no sound no life. Above me the sky had a peculiar gray tint as if a storm had been approaching but had never materialized. It felt like the wind was whispering to me but the words were lost in the distance.The wind was cold and sharp. I couldnt quite put my finger on why but I felt a chill go down my spine and a sense of unease grow. A problem. Although my legs wouldnt move every part of me cried out that I had to get out and run but I wasnt sure what it was. They fel
The familiar empty silence surrounded me like a smothering blanket as I entered the house. The walls seemed to be waiting for something that would never arrive and the air felt colder than usual. I didnt bother to switch on the lights. Even in the dark I was aware of where everything was.Previously a home, the house now felt like a prison. I walked straight to my room with a heavy heart and even heavier steps following. Stop taking detours dwelling on the past and feigning to check in on people or things.The day was longer than usual. I was beginning to feel as though I might crack under the pressure of everything that was weighing me down. After softly clicking the door shut behind me I stood there for a moment just breathing. The silence was so loud that I could hear my own breathing. Despite the darkness in the room I could feel my own fatigue bearing down on me. This type of fatigue was not merely physical rather it seeped into your bones and sank into your spirit. I was sick
I was immediately struck by the hospital rooms cold sterile air as soon as I entered and the faint background noise of the machines served as a continual reminder of how precarious the boundary between life and death is. I hesitated for a second before flipping the switch to envelop the room in the harsh artificial light as the lights flickered overhead. Everything seemed out of place and incorrect but there was no way to go back at this point. With every step I took toward the bed my heart sank. It was unbelievable to me to be back here. I looked at her as she lay still in that immaculate white bed her face lifeless and pale. She didnt look like the person I used to know—the one who would joke with me over coffee in our kitchen or teasingly reprimand me for being late for appointments.But now? Now she was nothing more than a shell. Although it is a lovely shell it is still empty. I no longer had the woman I once loved deeply present in the manner that I required. In order to avoid
The room is now quiet save for the faint hum of the fan in the corner as the designers have completed their work. Still in awe of the woman staring back at me I stood in front of the mirror. My reflection appeared both strange and familiar like a past incarnation of myself. The hair, makeup and dress all represented a metamorphosis that extended beyond ones outward looks. I felt more composed and in charge as though I were on the brink of a brand-new existence. I gave my reflection a final glance savoring the way the navy dress embraced my curves the delicate waves of my hair framing my face and the striking yet sophisticated makeup that accentuated features I hadnt recently given much thought to. I could identify with this version of myself—the strong self-assured woman who was once widely shared on social media and who people looked up to for her grace confidence and sense of style. But I felt a nagging pain. Even though I liked the way I looked I couldnt help but feel a strange
Standing there observing Ava I experienced an odd mix of confusion and admiration. Before my eyes she was changing every step she took every brushstroke every bodily movement was like the reveal of a new person. Although she had always been attractive she had changed.I found it difficult to look away from her. Her posture was tall and elegant and her once hesitant steps had transformed into confident flowing ones. Her entire self-perception had changed. I felt as though I had met a different woman a few days prior. Her energy and appearance both showed the change. Her natural beauty was accentuated by her bold yet delicate makeup. She had a certain edge and allure that I hadnt anticipated because of her soft pink lips and dark eyeliner. Her face was perfectly framed by her hair which was styled in waves that fell just below her shoulders softening the previously sharp features.She looked up from the mirror catching my eye and I appreciated her smile. A sense of self-assurance that
Following breakfast, I experienced a surge of fresh vitality. The burden of the previous few days was still very much present but something about today—what Alex had in store for me—made it seem like a new beginning. I had showered allowing the warm water to remove some of the emotional weight that was holding me back in addition to the physical filth from the past. Although I was unsure of what to anticipate I was prepared for whatever this new chapter held. The women were already in the bedroom quietly getting ready when I returned. Monica, Clara and Sophia all moved professionally coordinating their motions as if they had practiced this a thousand times. There was a sense of purpose anticipation and something else I couldnt quite put my finger on in the room. With his arms folded Alex watched me intently from the doorway. Although he had warm expectant eyes there was more going on. Although I was unable to solve it I felt both anxious and in control.As I entered Monica grinned a
I gazed at Alex my head still spinning from the mysterious words he had just uttered. He said “They’re here” and all I could think about was what they might be.The room was tense and I found myself holding my breath in anticipation of an explanation. Alex smiled one of those comforting but slightly too mysterious smiles for my taste before I could ask him any more questions.He straightened his shirt got up and strode to the door. My curiosity was greatly stoked and my heart began to beat a little quicker. Who was coming what was happening and why was Alex behaving so calmly? He arrived at the door and without hesitation swung it open.Three stunning women entered the room and I watched with my mind racing. They all had an instant presence. The first lady exuded confidence and elegance with her tall stature long dark hair and sharp features. With her blond hair pulled back into a stylish ponytail the second exuded a softer more approachable vibe.The third appeared as though she had