All Chapters of ROSES ON FIRE: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

CLARISSAMy phone just kept ringing as I was trying to find it. Sometimes I hated mornings. People had no mercy and called me early in the morning. I hadn’t even woken up properly. I checked around me, under the sheets, and it kept ringing. Eventually I found it under my pillow. Darn it, why in the world did I put it there?“Hello...” I answered in a sleepy voice, trying to be as coherent as possible.“Hello, is this Miss Clarissa Ward?” a manly voice with rather broken English was trying to find me. I wondered who he was and why he had my phone number? Again, his accent was really weird. “Yer, it is her...” I said cautiously, sitting up.“This is Damien Moreau, Mr. Trottier’s assistant” And since then the conversation had become more familiar. It was clear from where he got my number. “Yes, how can I help you, Mr. Moreau?” “Mr Trottier told me you expected a call from me” “Yes, I am...” I acknowledged more happily than I expected.“Mr. Trottier contacted me and asked me to talk

ClarissaHer words hit me like a hammer throwing me so deep into my storm that I couldn’t seem to find a way out. It was like a maze with so many entrances, but no exits.“Don’t you dare play with me like that!” I cried out in pain, staring at her like I was waiting for her to take it back. “I’m not playing, Clarissa. Think about it! You need someone who understands you, your situation...” She tried to explain herself, but only pushed me even deeper. “My situation? I don’t have a situation! I had a life, and quite a nice one. And then that bastard...?” My words broke down in my throat and no matter how hard I tried to get them out, they wouldn’t come out. I no longer could control my nerves and I knew that throwing harsh words the way I did at my friend was not the solution. She was not to blame. And I learned over the years I was not either. “I’m sorry Hannah... I don’t know what came over me...” I slowed down, getting closer to her. The morning sun played beautifully in her hai

FabrizioI knew the CEO of the tabloid magazine would provide me with valuable information about Clarissa Ward. I would allow no one to mock my brother, much less a woman. Moreover, I had learned that Milena wasn’t exactly a church door and wasn’t too fond of the journalist. So it was my time to play that card. The fact that my brother was obsessed with this woman gave me all the more reason to bring her to him safely. It was necessary to keep an eye on Milena, I would say even closely. In less than ten minutes, I was on the private runway.“Mr. Serratore, welcome! This way please,” Paolo, the pilot who was to take me to London, greeted me. “Good morning, Paolo. Hurry up,” I urged him as I boarded the plane.Almost immediately, he spoke to me through the speakers.“Sir, please fasten your seat belt, we’ll be taking off soon” I did what he asked and waited anxiously to arrive in the UK. The same warning from Paolo two hours later, this time for landing. The plane landed safely, a

ClarissaIt was the sound of that low voice that caused me to freeze on the spot. I felt like I was paralyzed and no matter how hard I tried to move, my body wouldn’t listen. It was like he was hypnotizing me through the phone. My muscles refused to react. But somehow I had to get a few words out. “Yes, it is me… who is this?” I asked again, even though I heard him the first time loud and clear. Like doorbells ringing in my ears. Milena wasted no time and handled things as she pleased. Ugh, I hated it when she got into my life like that. How could she tangle me up with a mobster?“I already told you who I am. No need to do it again. So I will cut to the chase. I have a proposition for you, Miss Ward,” he said radically, keeping that low voice that was terrifying me. But at the same time, my anger level was rising alarmingly. From the terrifying experiences of my youth, no man could command or dominate me anymore. I had become a beast with no cure. I didn’t even want to heal because

ClarissaHis car took one more turn, and we stopped in front of a fancy restaurant. Damien, with his good manners, helped me get out of the car. I was not used to such gallantry, and this man emanated it from all of his pores. I felt like I was blushing again, so I hid my eyes from him. I still couldn’t explain what I was feeling around him, but I was sure of a mixture of fear and safety, both at the same time. He led me to the entrance of the restaurant.“Wow, this place is enormous!” I exclaimed as I glanced around, from the chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings to the elegantly set tables and their equally elegant occupants. Suddenly I felt my clothes no longer fit the setting. “I am glad you like it. Ri… Mr Trottier chose it for us so we can have a quiet conversation,” he added with a hesitation in his voice when he said Pierre’s name. “I see... Mr Trottier sure has wonderful taste” I didn’t know what else to say. I was just amazed and my words refused to come out. “Let