All Chapters of WHEN THE VILLAIN FALLS IN LOVE: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

CHAPTER ONEThe Woman Behind the DeskAmara came back the next morning.Not because she wanted to.Because she needed the money.There was a difference.She stood outside the towering glass building at exactly 7:47 a.m., staring up at the silver letters engraved above the entrance.ROMANO HOLDINGS.She adjusted the strap of her handbag and exhaled.“Don't embarrass yourself,” she whispered.Her reflection stared back at her from the glass doors.Simple black trousers. White blouse. Cheap heels she'd polished twice that morning.She looked professional.Hopefully professional enough to survive whatever kind of woman Alessia Romano was.The security guard opened the door for her.“Good morning.”“Morning.”She stepped inside.Everything was expensive.The marble floor looked like it had never known dirt. The walls were decorated with abstract paintings that probably cost more than her entire education. Even the air smelled expensive.Amara approached the reception desk.“I'm here to see

The WarningAmara didn't go home.She thought about it.For exactly three minutes.Then she looked at the salary on her employment contract and decided she wasn't about to throw away the best opportunity she'd had in months because her boss knew her father's name.She had bills.Real ones.Not the kind rich people complained about over dinner.Her mother's medical bills.Rent.School fees.And a debt she had been pretending wasn't getting worse.So she stayed.By six thirty, most of the office had emptied.Amara was still at her desk, staring at a spreadsheet that had begun to blur together.She rubbed her eyes.“You're still here.”She looked up.Elena stood beside her.“Apparently.”“You were supposed to leave at five.”“I know.”“Then why are you still here?”Amara pointed toward the screen.“Because this isn't going to finish itself.”Elena smiled.“You're going to fit in perfectly.”“I thought you said working here was dangerous.”“It is.”“Then why does everyone act like I'm luc

Under Her Protection:Amara hated being watched.She hated it even more when the person watching her was Alessia Romano.It had been three days since the phone call.Three days since she discovered the photograph of her father.And three days since Alessia had apparently decided that Amara was incapable of going anywhere alone.There was always a driver waiting downstairs.Someone always seemed to know when she left the building.And whenever Amara looked toward Alessia's office, she caught those dark eyes following her.It was becoming irritating.“Are you going to keep staring?”Alessia looked up from her laptop.“I wasn't staring.”“You were.”“I was thinking.”“While looking directly at me?”“Yes.”Amara folded her arms.“That's still staring.”Alessia's lips twitched.“Come here.”“No.”“Amara.”“You're not my boss right now.”“I am always your boss.”“Unfortunately.”Alessia closed the laptop.“Come here.”Amara sighed and walked toward her desk.“What?”Alessia reached for a sm

Dinner With the Devil:Amara had expected Alessia's house to feel cold.It didn't.That was the first thing that surprised her.The entrance was enormous, with marble floors and high ceilings, but the lighting was warm. There were bookshelves along one wall, paintings that looked centuries old, and fresh flowers arranged on almost every table.It didn't feel like a house owned by a woman everyone called ruthless.It felt like a home.Almost.“You're staring.”Amara looked at Alessia.“I didn't say anything.”“You didn't have to.”“Do you always know what people are thinking?”“No.”Alessia continued walking.“Only when they're obvious.”Amara followed.“I'm not obvious.”“You are to me.”She stopped.Amara nearly walked into her.Alessia turned.For a second, they were standing far too close.Neither moved.Then Alessia stepped aside.“Dinner is this way.”Amara cleared her throat.“Right.”---The dining room was smaller than Amara expected.A long table could have seated twenty peop

The Morning After:Amara woke to the sound of rain.For a few seconds, she didn't remember where she was.Then she saw the unfamiliar ceiling.The heavy curtains.The dark wood furniture.And the woman sitting beside the window.Alessia.She was already dressed.Black trousers. White shirt. Her dark hair pulled away from her face.She looked calm.Too calm.Amara pushed herself upright."How long have you been sitting there?"Alessia glanced over."Twenty minutes.""Watching me sleep?""Making sure you were still breathing."Amara stared at her.Alessia looked away first.That was new."You could have just checked the security cameras.""I didn't want to."The honesty caught Amara off guard.She pulled the blanket around herself."Did you sleep?""No.""Why?"Alessia stood."Because someone broke into my estate last night specifically to get to you.""That's not an answer.""It is the only one you're getting."Amara sighed."You're impossible.""I've been called worse."A tiny smile t