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BOLTING

Author: J.O Made
last update Last Updated: 2025-07-24 16:58:43

ELENA’S POV

I blinked, confused. What was he saying? What was he implying with his words? What the hell am I hearing as soon as I wake up?

He was staring deep into my eyes, even as he said those words. It must have been my imagination, but I could see the raw emotions expressly written in the hazel glow of his eyes as the rays of the sun rested on them. It was safe to say, in spite of my fear, I was drawn in, shaken to my core.

But was I hallucinating? Imagining this feeling? My chest tightened, and each breath burn into my lungs. What was this feeling, if I could say I was imagining it all. I blinked again, still in a maze from his words, like I could blink away the many emotions running through me. 

I could feel it now, the longer we sat silently, staring at each other. A wave of tension brushed against my skin, evoking a prickling sensation that ran down my spine. The silence, I could say, was thick and heavy, the type that didn’t need words to say everything it needed to. I shivered.

Damien must have mistaken my response to this sensation as cold that he rushed to cover me with the blanket, his hand grazing my bare arms. I jumped as though I had been badly burned, and he blinked at me, wondering why I reacted that way.

“Is something wrong, Elena?” he asked, looking worried. I shook my head vehemently, my smile clipped as I got off the bed, putting a good distance between us.

“I’m perfectly fine, thank you. I-uh, I need to take a shower, you know, that thing you do when you want to clean up?” I was rambling, and no matter how much I tried to rein myself in, to stop myself from continuing, I couldn’t seem to stop. “You should do it too. Aren’t you going to work today? It’s already late.”

I mentally cursed myself for that brief period of word vomit I just spewed, suddenly wishing I’d actually vomited rather than ramble out some nonsense. He was still staring, not understanding why I was suddenly bolting far away from him. But he stood up. 

“I’ll not be going to work for the time being, not until I’m certain you’ve recovered,” he said.

Oh, sweet mother of baby Jesus!

“I’m fine, as you can see. Never been better. So you don’t really need to skip work,” I cried, laughing nervously.

He furrowed his brows, still perplexed at my sudden agility. And need for him to go back to work.

“What’s going on?” he asked, looking at me suspiciously.

“Nothing. Nothing at all.”

“Then why are you so eager to send me out? Or did you plan to run away?”

Are you fucking kidding me right now? I paused, eyeing him with a stare. “Is that what you take me for? If I wanted to run away, I’d only use your card once and leave only one clue with no trail,” I snarled at him.

“Then you shouldn’t have a problem with me being around. Can’t have my goods damaged or unusable for our plan,” he stated, and I growled in anger.

So much for thinking he actually cared. Or that he could be feeling something. But no, his heart is as stony and icy as ever, still dangling the contract over my head. Sending me mixed signals and having my heart race, all for nothing.

Were you expecting anything from him? What feeling are you thinking he’ll have for you?

Of course, why am I having these thoughts? I know it can only lead to one thing: messy heartbreaks and runny mascara plus snot-filled tears. Something I wasn’t sure I could deal with. I should focus on the most important thing ahead of us, me getting revenge for being framed, and him punishing his brother’s actual killers.

I cleared my throat, huffing in annoyance. “I want to take a shower. You’re going to stand there and watch me undress?” I asked, tilting my head in a taunt. But I soon realized that was a mistake after I let it slip because I swore his eyes clouded over, like he was actually considering it.

Then it was gone, and he turned without a word, shutting the door behind him. I sighed, holding on to the edge of my bed for support before I crashed down.

Despite my protests, he refused to leave me alone for even a split second, waiting on me hand and foot for the next three days. If I hadn’t known better, I’d think he actually felt something for me.

But he didn’t.

Soon, the D-day to the Carter Cosmetics anniversary came around. In the morning, he came around my room, leaning by the door. “I’d like to take you out on a date,” he said suddenly, when he saw my raised eyebrow.

This man sure has a way to shock me and throw my heart off guard.

“Excuse me?”

“Let’s go on a date, go get you some clothes for the event tonight, and eat out while we’re at it,” he replied, shrugging.

I don’t trust this proposal one bit, it reeks of suspicious activities. “Why are you suggesting this? What do you stand to gain in all this?” I asked, skeptical.

He only shrugged, giving no answer to my questions. “Just get dressed in thirty minutes, let’s go,” was all he said, leaving me with that.

I groaned. Shopping alone, I could handle. It was fun. Shopping with Damien, on the other hand, I couldn’t say the same. I don’t really know what to expect with him. I sighed, reluctantly trudging out of bed.

There was only one way to find out.

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  • WOUNDS OF DECEIT   LEAKED

    Elena POVThe event was winding down, that quiet lull just before people started making polite exits, when this happened.At first, it was just a flicker. Someone’s head dipped. Then another. The soft glow of phone screens started popping up all over the ballroom like fireflies. People went still, brows furrowed.Then came the gasps.Not loud. Just enough to shift the mood like the air pressure had dropped.I felt it before I saw it. That tight, pulsing awareness that something was about to explode. My fingers curled around the stem of my champagne glass. Beside me, Damien didn’t move, but I felt him tense.“What the hell…?” someone whispered from across the room.Murmurs followed, growing louder. Like a wave. You could feel it rolling toward us.And then someone said it clearly as a bell:“Oh my god. That’s Adrian.”Silence. The kind that sucks the air right out of the room.Across the ballroom, Charlotte stood frozen, phone in her hand. Her expression was unreadable at first. Then h

  • WOUNDS OF DECEIT   FOR THE CAMERAS

    Elena POVAdrian extended his hand, the smile on his face bordering on arrogant. “Care to steal her for a dance?”I felt Damien’s hesitation ripple through his body like an aftershock. His hand twitched against my waist, as if unsure whether to pull me closer or push me away. Then, slowly—grudgingly—he let go.“Okay,” he said, his voice tight. “Go ahead.”My eyes snapped to him. “What?” I whispered, incredulous. But he was already stepping back, jaw locked, eyes refusing to meet mine.I turned to Adrian, swallowing the sick taste rising in my throat. The man standing before me was the man I once watched destroy everything I loved he was grinning like a wolf with blood on its teeth. He had no idea who I was. My new face, my new name, and the carefully sculpted mask I wore—it had worked.He didn’t recognize the woman he’d helped ruin.I slid my hand into his with a composure I didn’t feel.“For the cameras,” I told myself.The ballroom melted into gold and motion again as we began to da

  • WOUNDS OF DECEIT   ELABORATE LIE

    Elena POV“This is Celine Vance. My wife and the love of my life.”The world stopped. I didn’t blink. I couldn’t blink.Cameras flashed like lightning strikes. Reporters surged forward, mics stretching toward us like vines. I stood beside Damien, my heart a caged bird, pounding against its prison. I hated crowds—hated the press even more. They reminded me of that courtroom, the echoing silence just before the judge uttered “guilty.” The day my life was sentenced to death.“Is it true you murdered Damien Vance’s brother?”The words sliced through me like a blade. My lungs closed up. My chest burned. A panic attack clawed at the edges of my mind, but then—Damien laced his fingers through mine.The touch was gentle, but I felt the tremor in his hand. Subtle. Real. It grounded me—anchored me in this elaborate lie we were living. A performance as carefully choreographed as a ballet.This wasn’t spontaneous. It was planned. Calculated.I tilted my head slightly toward him, just enough to l

  • WOUNDS OF DECEIT   SHOPPING

    ELENA’S POVWe approached the Dior store, where a small group of staff were already waiting for us outside. “Welcome, Mr Vance, Miss Celine. We’re honored to have you,” the store manager greeted, bowing with the rest of the staff as they led us in. I looked behind me, watching as they all moved about like clockwork, one turning over the open sign over and locking the store, others going to different areas in the store to bring out several collections of outfits. Like they were expecting us.Like, Damien had bought the whole store for today.He sure is speaking the language of money. Maybe I should make good use of it and shop to my heart’s content.After the third hour, I looked ready to die. Die from trying out so many dresses. I huffed as the staff got me out of yet another gown and shoved another into the changing room where I was. I was ready to break down in tears if I tried one more gown, or one more jewelry to pair with it, who knew a day would come when shopping could bore m

  • WOUNDS OF DECEIT   BOLTING

    ELENA’S POVI blinked, confused. What was he saying? What was he implying with his words? What the hell am I hearing as soon as I wake up? He was staring deep into my eyes, even as he said those words. It must have been my imagination, but I could see the raw emotions expressly written in the hazel glow of his eyes as the rays of the sun rested on them. It was safe to say, in spite of my fear, I was drawn in, shaken to my core. But was I hallucinating? Imagining this feeling? My chest tightened, and each breath burn into my lungs. What was this feeling, if I could say I was imagining it all. I blinked again, still in a maze from his words, like I could blink away the many emotions running through me. I could feel it now, the longer we sat silently, staring at each other. A wave of tension brushed against my skin, evoking a prickling sensation that ran down my spine. The silence, I could say, was thick and heavy, the type that didn’t need words to say everything it needed to. I shi

  • WOUNDS OF DECEIT   HANGOVER

    ELENA’S POVI could hear loud voices and arguments. We were in a club and I blinked wondering how I ended up here. But I ran towards the sound, rushing in quickly to find out what was wrong. I saw Charlotte and Adrian on one side of the room. Adrian was shielding my sister with his hands with a look of disdain in his eyes toward the other person in the room. “HEY!” I shrieked and the three pairs of eyes turned to face me. “What are you doing?” I questioned the intruder. “He’s just a stalker,” Charlotte was quick to speak. The new person cursed loudly. “What the fuck? You’re calling me a stalker. You’ve been such a bitch the last couple of days. You think I won’t tell her?” he threatened and Charlotte’s eyes grew wide. Even Adrian’s expression darkened. “Leave here, now,” she commanded, finally bold enough to throw jacket guy out. When he won’t budge, she screamed, grabbing a bottle and smashed it against the table. Jacket guy’s expression changed to shock and he backed away. I st

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