|| Kiera Stevens's POV ||
" Mumma!", my little happiness shouted from the stairs, jogging in his small feet all the way down. I screamed back instinctively, snapping back to the reality that I was a mother not any model,
" Be careful, Ryan!"
My son giggled, throwing himself at me as we both knocked on the ground. I kept showering peeper kisses on his face, his smiles taking all the uneasiness from my heart. Even Luca's warning disappeared from my mind as soon as I saw him. Ryan wrapped his arms around my head, his tight felt possessive as if I would vanish in a moment.
" You can't believe how long he has been waiting for you!", Aisha spoke from the stairs in her night gown. I thanked God several times to bless me with this best friend of mine. In my absence, Aisha took care of Ryan's needs always. I knew my baby well. He preferred Aisha's company more than his grandfather.
I smiled, standing up from the ground,
" Thanks mate!"
Aisha rolled her eyes in response. She didn't like to hear my apology every now and then. Before she could give me her lecture, her eyes stared down at me in concern. She spoke, turning around to find her maid,
" You look dreadful today. Were you working too much, Ki? Wanna get some drinks?"
I nodded gratefully, hoping that a drink would clear my thoughts. Mixed emotions hit me hard when I looked down at my four year old son, Ryan Stevens. He got nothing like me. His eyes were dark grey, an overly fair skin unlike mine. His hairs were ink-black, so opposite than mine. Sometimes, I was in such difficult thoughts that I feared about switching my baby in the hospital.
Ryan left my lap when he spotted Aisha's pet dog in a little distance. A bittersweet exhale left my mouth when I thought about the proposal, Luca made to me.
A mistress, whore?
What will Ryan think of me when he grows up that her mother was someone's bed partner?
24 hours!
I had 24 hours to feel how my consequences would be if I tried to deny Luca's proposal. In the last 24 hours, I have enjoyed the best moments of my life. My dream band, Lenora had come at my door just because I was attached to Luca. Even Molly said that she had received several offers for brand endorsement. But I refused to accept a single offer. Because I knew that all this came for Luca not because of my hard work or merit.
" Is everything okay with you,Ki?", Aisha dropped the glass in front of me, her eyes stuck on me with concern. I stifled a smile, grabbing the glass to finish it in a gulp,
" Yeah, why? Do I look pale?"
Aisha nodded her head before letting out a heavy exhale. She suggested, placing a hand over my palms,
" Ki, I know that you are worried about your son but generally, I suggest you find a father for Ryan. Do you know what he asked me today?"
My pulse was racing at high speed. I taught my son well from his early childhood. He grew up to believe that his father didn't want us and lived abroad. Ever since that day, he has considered me his whole world. I stammered, glancing back at my son who was busy playing with Aisha's dog,
" Wh... what..?"
Aisha hesitated uneasily, peeked at the look of Ryan before whispering nervously,
" That.. what's his father's name? He asked me because you don't want to tell him. I think, it's time that you should give him a proper identity. At least, get a boyfriend."
_____________
The next day,
I woke up to hear my phone ringing consistently. Last night, I cried, sobbed and blamed myself repeatedly until I fell asleep. Perhaps, I was so consumed into my career that I stopped seeing through my son's emotions. He, asking for a father after years hit my emotions hard,made me feel guilty as a mother.
" Kiera, what the fuck have you done?", Molly screamed through the speaker, causing my ears to brust literally. I stumbled over my bedsheet, after swallowing hard to ask,
" Wh.. what..."
Before I could ask for more, Molly sent me multiple links, freezing my phone for a second. I tapped on the links with a bit shaky hands, gasping midway to see the headline,
" KIERA STEVENS! A SEDUCTRESS OR SPOILED HEIR?"
" VIEWERS CLAIMED THAT KIERA WAS ALL OVER MR.AZRAEL THAT NIGHT!"
" HER EX-BOYFRIEND LEFT HER FOR HER CHARACTER! QUESTION: ARE WE SHIPPING A SEDUCTRESS AS AN IDOL?"
Tears of shock slipped from my eyes. Luca had done everything like he promised. With a snap of his finger, the press had turned their back on me. Even yesterday, they were just writing gossip. But today, they all attacked with all their might.
Damn! I was finished!
Maintaining a public image was the key to a public figure. I hurried back to my office without breakfast. Molly was on her computer, fuming and muttering curses silently. She got up after seeing me and held her forehead,
" Kiera,did you see the articles? For fuck, why did you had to slap him? Do you have any idea how much power he holds? All the newspapers are writing trash about you. If it doesn't stop, your career will end in less than a week. I have received two contract breaching letters already."
" OUT!", I managed to blurt furiously, tears stung from my eyes. Molly opened her mouth to say something but I shut her up again with a coarse voice,
" LEAVE ME ALONE!"
Molly jumped off on her feet then left after a heavy sigh. I fell on the chair as soon as she left, my eyes reading the contents on the screen. Never in my life have I faced such a huge scandal. Most likely all the tabloids were claiming that I slapped him to earn his attention. Some fuckers also testified that I was clinging to Mr.Azrael De Luca that night.
____
The press was like fire. If you try to suppress them, it will erupt like a volcano. After sobbing for hours, it was nearly evening, I got up from my sleep. Three contract termination letters were lying in my emails. It was some small companies that I signed for endorsement recently. They were afraid that Luca would show their wrath on them. But I knew that it wasn't the end. More termination letters were on their way to reach my emails. No company would like to offend such a big investor like Luca, the mafia king.
Coming out of my office, I saw that Molly had left already. I felt guilty for shouting at her. After all, it was me who was at fault. Wiping the tears from my eyes, I headed for the backdoor to exit in case those papparazis were waiting for me on the front door.
It was dark and gloomy in the evening when I came for my car, making sure that no one was around. Not long after that, a voice scared me to death,
" Miss Stevens!"
I jumped, whipping my head back to see a white bearded man. Barely, I recalled him from my father's business meeting. He gave me his cocky smile before saying,
" Sorry, I was looking for you in your office. I hope, I didn't scare you. Well, can we talk about a collaboration?"
My brows tightened in suspension. Just today, I got tons of scandals. It was impossible to get a new offer today. Besides, I wasn't in my mood to talk about collaboration or anything else. I mumbled, intending to get in my car,
" I can't.. Maybe later..I have to go.."
Just when I got on my feet to climb inside, his words froze me midway abruptly,
" I can help you to get rid of Mr.Luca, Girl!"
|| Kiera Stevens's POV || My steps paused in an unexpected shock, staring mutely at his bearded face until some distant road lights flashed across his face. The man was above 50 years old, almost catching my father's age. If my consciousness was caught right, he runs some company in the town. But there was something different, coming from his eyes. It was mysterious, lustful something like that. Although my instinct was pushing me to go away, I stood there numbly to hear the rest of his words. Because I was doomed practically from every corner. Swallowing, I tilted my head back at him to ask nervously, still wobbling on my knees, " What.. what do you mean?" The man gave me a cocky smile which I didn't like. Approaching me closer, he continued in an arrogant voice, tapping on his chin, " Well, I am the owner of DGK Enterprise. You can become our brand ambassador. Trust me, Azrael can't have his influence on my company." DGK was a well known cosmetic brand who run different busines
|| Kiera Stevens's POV ||He just left.....After imprinting a forever haunting dream of shooting someone in my mind, he left without words. His dogs followed him hurriedly. Cluelessly, I remained there, shivering. A few guards were left behind who showed no pity on me. That man kept begging for mercy but who was I to forgive him? I was sure that Luca didn't give a shit about me. After all, I was his play tool only.As soon as the door was closed, I stumbled, backing out to fall on the chair. Only that time, I got some reaction from the guards," Miss..."One of them approached me, uncertain about how to touch or grab me. He spoke pretty politely," Are you feeling good?"I hummed, massaging the back of my head," I...I..am..fine..."How could a human feel fine after shooting a person for the first time?It felt crazy to recall the moment. Thankfully, the guards took him away from here, allowing me to breathe properly. I had no idea for how long I had to stay there but Luca was going
|| AZRAEL DE LUCA'S POV ||Another lie! Another attempt to strip me down from my position!Did these people think that I was so naive to believe in their lies?That girl was choking on her breath. She dared to lie, looking straight into my eyes. She deserved death but not before telling that who sent her for me. She coughed vigorously, stammered her words out shakily," I..I.. didn't..lie..."I groped her chin hard. She flinched in pain, eyes gathering tears in fear. I shouted at her face, asking for a damn answer," Tell me the fucking truth! You said that you had C-section? Where's the scar? Where's the scar, bitch?"Her eyes went wide, realizing that she had fucked up with her own plans of lying. She pressed her lips tightly without giving me any answer. Something dangerous gleamed from her eyes. I knew at that exact moment, she was someone from my rivals or else none of this fucking bastards had the powers to look into my eyes.Out of nowhere, she stretched her arms out to grab th
|| Kiera Stevens's POV ||A new beginning...Or A new walk to destruction...I was here to seal the deal with the devil, to submit my soul so that he could turn me into ashes. Tears blurred the vision of his haunted house in front of me. It was 3 a.m at night already. Surprisingly, I didn't know how I arrived at this place without any fear.Inhaling another deep breath, I walked into the entrance numbly, my legs wobbling all the way into the house. Matteo was heading outside. A look of surprise flashed across his gaze when he saw me. He asked, nodding his head politely," Where did you go, Miss? I was going to look for you.. Luca..He seems angry over you sudden disappearing. "I didn't care about his thoughts. My father was in the hospital and nothing else mattered to me. Skipping his questions, I blurted out of my breath," I want to talk with Luca. Can you..can you.. take me to his room?"His eyes slightly widened at my request. After coming here, I never visited his bedroom. It was
|| Kiera Stevens's POV ||" Do you touch yourself?", his voice grew the goosebumps over my skin. I felt like a caged animal, trying to find my way out. Although I kept my eyes shut tightly, I could feel his dominating presence. He was enjoying my obedient demeanor.I obliged his words, now lying on his bed. My legs were parted for his view. Swallowing hard, I could feel the intensity in his eyes." No..I.. never..did..", I sutured, licking my lips dry. All this dirty talk was turning me on. I hated to know that he could excite me." Then do it..I want to see you..", he spat like an order, giving me a long stare. My cheeks got hot within a moment. I had never done this before. Especially in his presence, it was too shameful to do it.I refused, shaking my head weakly," N..No..I... don't know.. how to..Ahh.."I cried out in surprise when he pulled my ankle down unexpectedly. His cold touch awakened the dirty desire inside me. He kept my ankles wide apart, gritted his words out huskily,
|| Kiera Stevens's POV ||My defense got weak against him...He referred to Ryan when he talked about my little secret. Ryan was the only one secret in my life. He knew it very well. Perhaps, he had also known that I could use myself as a shield against a bullet for Ryan. So, he wanted me to know that he was on control of everything. My little body stiffened hard at the thought of seeing Ryan cry.I brought myself strong, replied after sucking a deep breath," Go..Got it..."His eyes narrowed with a gleam of victory once again. Releasing his arms from my waist, he replied in a deep voice," Good! Now, GET OUT!"__________He wanted me 'OUT' as soon as I acted being obedient. I could be a brat sometimes but when it comes to Ryan, I could do nothing. But the smug look on his eyes when he made me 'cum' was still lingering in my thoughts. How could someone can make me disgusted and craved at the same time?I kept squeezing my thighs together in front of the mirror table whenever images fr
|| Kiera Stevens's POV ||The entire hall went silent around me. I could already tell that Anastasia was smirking at me. Maybe, she had already seen through how fucked up our relationship was. A bowl of bucket water froze me as soon as his words fell out," Miss Stevens is very beautiful. It's an honor to feel attracted by her."I blinked a few times in disbelief. He got with the answer just like that, confident, arrogant and creepy. It was something like he was already prepared for the tricky questions that those reporters made for him. Now, I was more convinced that he was the lead of the Mafias.Murmurs from those witty girls broke my attention from the TV. In a snap of the moment, their attitude began to change towards me. Their gazes told me that they were scared of me now.Power..Money..That all could do to you.."He is interested in you surely.", Jk spoke shaking his head slightly with a smile. I just returned a stiff smile, unsure about how to react because I never wanted to b
|| AZRAEL DE LUCA'S POV ||I was hating some facts about her. First of all, she was becoming my possession, a guilty pleasure that I couldn't ignore at any cost. It made me mad when Jack told me that she was seeing her ex. Oh come on! I had everything money, powers. Did she think him better than me?I kicked the door shut, startling Jack who was acting clueless behind my rage. Well me too! Deep down, I wanted her to see me only. Fuck! I should have included it in our contract. She couldn't see any man except me but I wasn't her boyfriend. Why would she listen to me at first?Matteo bowed to my present, notifying me after gesturing at a closed door," She is there, Luca! "The rage was all returning. Clenching my teeth hard, I barged inside my room to find her on my bed. She wasn't even startled to hear the door slamming. I guess, she was slowly adapting to my lifestyle." Looks like you had fun tonight!", I voiced, staring at her sober face. Those times whenever she entered my place,