[Ralph’s POV]“Satisfied?” I whispered into the damn woman’s ear, maintaining my smile so Juliette wouldn’t see through the disguise and ruin it. This woman flips her mind like a coin and is highly unpredictable when she gets upset. Jewel widened her grin and slipped out a satisfactory giggle. Then, she turned to me and said, “Not enough.” And gave me the look. With an inside groan of reluctance, I turned to Juliette and said, “The security will be here to escort you out.” From the corner of my eye, that psychotic bitch lifted her lips in a tiny smirk. But the purple eyes in front of me widened in a renewed surprise. Then, they grew feisty. “So this is it, huh? Everything that we’ve had boils down to this.” I swallowed and tucked my hands into my pockets to show that I do not give a damn about the ‘everything’ she pointed out, and replied, “You know I give a fuck more about this company than you.” Seeing her squint in puzzlement, I hastily added, “So we’re done. You don’t even

[Juliette’s POV] The car zoomed past the snow capped mountains skirting the valley of green forests veiled by a thin layer of gold from the evening sun. Inside, I was trying to keep my mind off Ralph and the reality of our divorce. Of course, I wanted it. I just… didn’t think that it’d happen this soon. “I don’t think he operated alone, J.” Luke suddenly said. I swung a surprise look at him as he stared ahead at the road. Then, calmly, I returned my gaze to my side of the road. “I agree. Five hundred per cashier for each of the sixty people—someone must’ve sponsored him.” Luke tapped his finger on the steering wheel. “I wonder who that could be.” I frowned at the ribbon of grey concrete stretching as far as my eyes could see. I know who the hell it is. Jewel Virtus. That’s why she knew how to stop this farce. “You’re thinking it’s Jewel Virtus, aren’t you?” Luke glanced at me and then back ahead. “J, you said that I’m your partner. This is the reason why I don’t feel so.

[Juliette’s POV] Sex is truly the way to forgiveness. “You like this, kitten?” He slid in and out of me, slowly and steadily, stretching me wide and good. I swallowed to catch up with my racing heart and mewed, “Yes….” I was in the driver’s seat, naked to bare skin, my back against the expensive leather, arms pinned on the headrest, knees lifted to each side of my breasts, thighs spread to their widest, and ankles dangling to each side of Ralph’s shoulders. This position is highly erotic, keeping me turned on and my breathing heavy and hard. Delighted moans and gasps thickened the space inside the car. The temperature grew warmer as the air grew humid. “Am I forgiven?” he whispered as I felt him sliding in again, this time drilling all the way to that sweet end. “Yes!” I gasped to the glorious feeling. Devil… he knows that I can’t resist him and he does this to me all the time. Fuck, I’m so—shit, this feels fucking good!—I’m so goddamn useless! A vibrating sound pierced

[Juliette’s POV]My voice burst into the cool,silent air as it asked, “So the cashier told you about this special contest?” Mr. Patterson’s aged voice came up after a slight pause. “Yes… get a can of the Chunky Tuna and win two hundred bucks. So I thought, why not?” “What’s the brand of the tuna?” “OCEANBITS. You know the red fishes swimming in the dark blue waves. Yeah, that one.” “Then what happens?” My voice asked. Mr. Patterson exclaimed, “Well, I can’t eat them! I’m allergic to seafood, you see. So I gave it to my neighbour cause my kind Gertha hates food wastage.”“So what happens next?” “This guy called Finney—I believe it’s Casey Finney—he knocked on my door the next day and gave me an envelope with more cash!” *****Jewel arrived ten minutes after we did with her lawyer—and her eyes were in raw rage. She looked like she wanted to claw my eyeballs out and strangle me to death. But Ralph was right—she was calm and collected, not resorting to any display of violence.

[Juliette's POV]The next morning, when I arrived at the office at eight, Ralph was already in his office. Strangely, even though Ben was now his PA, he was a roving one—he moved around the building and out in the streets. When Ralph needed him, he'd show up. And when the deed was done, he'd disappeared. It was almost like he had a personal teleportation system. So Ben didn't take my desk. But that didn't mean nothing's changed. My desk was shifted inside Ralph's office, facing the door. From where I was positioned, Ralph had the full sight of every movement I made. Such was the Mafia King's idea of 'not letting you out of my sight'. He certainly kept his word: things weren't the same as before. He was much colder and more ruthless to me—and only to me. Anyone in my place would feel absolute remorse and let go of whatever that's been holding the feelings back. Believe me, I really wanted to. But with all that I know, and everything I've been through, I have to choose between