Lahat ng Kabanata ng Velvet and vengeance: stripped by the enemy : Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

Later that evening.........I snuck out of the mansion to clear my head and also meet up with the detective. We'd decided to meet at a cafe which was hidden in a corner of town. He was there, early as always, his face was hidden behind a newspaper, like some cliche out of an old movie.“You look like shit,” he said without looking up.“Good to see you too.” I took a seat. "What do you expect from someone who lives in a fucking hell hole."He dropped the newspaper. "Dony tell me you made me come out here just to listen to your sad tales."I took it out and slid a folded paper across the table. "Something that'll be of use to you." He reached out, picked it up then opened it, scanning the contents.His lips curved into a smile, revealing dimples I never knew he had. Well, I would have noticed if he didn't always come around with a frown."I must say, you've outdone yourself." In his hand was a list of shipment records I’d swiped from the study before the guards dragged me out. “This is

Jace’s POVWhen Lucian’s guard came to call me, I thought it was for another interrogation, or maybe another accusation. When I walked into his room and found a tuxedo laid out neatly across the bed, I couldn't hide my surprise.Lucian didn’t bother with pleasantries. He pointed at it and said, “Put it on.”I looked at him then at the tuxedo. “What? am I your dress-up doll now?” In as much as I tried to always reply normally, I ended up being sarcastic.He narrowed his eyes at me, sharp and cold. “You’re coming with me tonight so you'll need to look like you belong.”The tuxedo looked brand new, and very much expensive. It was ridiculous that me, a stripper turned cook, would be wearing a tuxedo that would probably cost more than my old apartment rent. I muttered under my breath but picked it up anyway and disappeared into the bathroom.Changing into it felt…strange. The fabric hugged me in all the right places, and I looked like those billionaire CEOs in movies. "Who would have kn

Jace's PovBy the time we got back to the mansion, I was yet to recover from Lucian's brutality that I had just witnessed.Lucian invited me to join him in the sauna. I wanted to say no but my aching body said otherwise. The sauna was hotter than hell itself. My lungs felt heavy with steam and sweat dripped down my body. I wanted to leave but Lucian said I should stay longer insisting that I “build stamina.” Of course, he looked completely unfazed, like the heat barely touched him.“You’re soft,” he said, his voice cutting through the haze. “This life will eat you alive if you can’t handle a little sweat.” he tipped his head backwards.I scoffed, leaning back against the wooden bench and I adjusted the towel shielding my nakedness. “Cooking in your kitchen is harder than this.”His mouth curved into a smirk. “That explains why you’re always scowling. Maybe you were never made for anything more than stirring pots.”I turned my head to glare at him, but that was a mistake. The bastard

Jace’s POVThe heat was unbearable that afternoon, the kind that clung to your skin and made you crave water or a dip in the pool. I could’ve stayed in my room with the AC on, but the thought of the indoor pool called to me. It was private and no one really went there at least, I'd be able to think of my next move.Private? That's what I thought.I walked down the marble steps barefoot, rolled up my trousers, and sat down at the edge of the pool while I scribbled things onto my notepad.How do I seduce Lucian without ending up in his bed? I scratched the back of my head. The water lapped against my calves, soothing, refreshing, just what I needed while I penned down my ideas. I'd noticed the way he looked at my shirtless body which was a sign that my antics were working but I had to push—Something or someone jumped into the pool, splashing water all over me. Lucian.Of course it was Lucian. Who else dove in like he owned the entire world? Which, in fairness, he kind of did actual

Lucian’s POVThe deal with the managers wrapped quicker than expected, but my attention wasn’t on the numbers. My eyes kept sliding across the floor to where Jace leaned against the bar, laughing with the lady. She was leaning in close, way too close for someone who was just having a conversation. Her hand brushed his arm and her lips painted in a smile that was all teeth. I’d seen women like her before—the kind that didn’t show up to a club without a reason.Jace, oblivious as ever, tilted his glass when she touched it, and she let her hand linger on his thigh.That’s when I saw it. The flash of silver between her fingers which she had taken the cover off. A vial tipped just over the rim.I moved before the thought, while my managers called out to me, wondering why I'd just left."Excuse me," I pushed a drunk man aside and he fell to the floor. In one smooth step, I was at Jace’s side. My hand shot out and I snatched the glass away from him, throwing it to the floor.The woman gas