Present
September 2016
Freezing in my tracks wasn't good, but I had turned to stone when I realized that Luc was not only in front of me, but he looked impeccable, radiating a mature beauty that his face had acquired over the years.
It had been seven years since the last time we saw each other.
It had been seven years since we said "I love you" for the last time.
It had been seven years since he lied to my face before leaving without looking back.
"Are you okay, Emma?" Alice asked when she noticed my condition.
That snapped me out of my stupor, and I nodded, forcing a smile in an attempt not to show how much it was affecting me. "You have to stay focused," I told myself to give the right impression.
"You're as beautiful as Rocco told us,” One of the brothers commented, and I smiled with enthusiasm. "I'm Adib, the eldest. These are my brothers Haid and Yusuf, and this gentleman is none other than Luciano Basciano, the CEO of the Basciano conglomerate."
I couldn't help but raise my eyebrows in surprise. It was impossible that Luc, the guy who came to the town with nothing, claiming to be an orphan, was the mysterious owner.
"Wow, it's a pleasure," Alice said politely.
Then Luc flirtatiously smiled at her, and at that moment, I lost it. The years of anger clouded my mind enough that I wanted to spit in his face. However, I had to restrain myself from doing something stupid, or Rocco himself would kill me, so I decided to pretend I didn't know him. Ignoring him was the best thing I could do.
"Do you know each other?" Haid asked.
So, I took the golden opportunity to completely deny knowing him.
"This is the first time I've had the honor of meeting the gentleman."
The reaction of all of them, except Luc, was laughter.
"The gentleman next to you could be said to own half the country."
I smiled very forcedly, incredulous because such a thing was unthinkable. It had to be a complete joke.
"In reality, my family is wealthy. I just work for them, looking after their assets."
Hearing his voice almost made me tremble; it was like remembering when it was just the two of us in a room, which was a damn problem.
"Don't be so modest, Luciano."
The fact that they addressed him as Luciano and not just Luc made my brain want to explode. The realization of that was causing me to have a damn breakdown.
One that I concealed as soon as the introductions were over, we sat down to eat, and I forced a smile while trying to engage in conversation as if I were on autopilot. I didn't want to be there; I just wanted to get away to digest the fact that the guy to whom I had given my heart was a damn billionaire who had played with me.
"Are you okay?" Alice asked me in a murmur, and I nodded.
Her look told me she wasn't entirely convinced.
"What kind of services do you offer?" Luc asked her without taking his eyes off me.
I took it as a personal affront, so I replied with a touch of venom, "We fulfill all kinds of fantasies."
"That must be... interesting."
"With that slogan, who wouldn't buy a service like that?"
Everyone laughed tentatively at the well-phrased remark by one of the brothers to ease the tense atmosphere that had developed.
"Is it heavy on the pocket?" Luc asked arrogantly.
His curiosity was nothing but provocation, so I had to control the urge to smash the wine glass I was holding into his face.
"It depends on what they request; it can range from four to five figures," my friend replied politely.
"A somewhat expensive company."
"We make every penny worth it," I replied boldly. He was being an idiot, looking at me as if I were an entirely amusing exhibition, so to highlight his cynicism, I took the glass.
"Then... let's raise a toast to the best of companies."
Everyone clinked their glasses, and I couldn't help but engage in a silent duel of gazes with him.
His gray eyes called to me, but my anger just wanted everything to burn.
I felt like I did seven years ago when I discovered that his hands had an effervescent effect on his body, where every part of my skin pulsed for his touch, his kisses, for each and every one of his caresses. It was a damn problem he read easily.
"Would you mind if I take this doll away from you?" Luc proposed so suddenly that I almost choked on my damn drink.
What the hell does he intend? I thought, on the brink of losing my patience.
"Do you want to take the fun away from us?" Haid asked as if nothing had happened. "Offer."
Alice looked at me, trying to understand what was going on, but I couldn't take my eyes off Luc.
"You can keep fifteen percent of the agreed increase, without paying the exemption for delivery, and the lovely redhead, you know, to seal the deal," Luc replied with a shameless smile, pointing to Alice before winking at me.
"May I ask what you're doing?" she asked cautiously. "Negotiating, honey. Mr. Basciano wants to spend the night with her."
Damn bastard, I thought with anger.
It had to be a damn joke, and I was going to cut it off at the root.
"Sorry, but my night is already booked with you guys," I said coquettishly. "You know the procedure, it's always by appointment and with our boss's approval, and the offer must be higher than the first one," I explained confidently.
In a crude attempt to insult him, one that I didn't expect would bite me in the ass a second later, he responded.
"Then I offer three times the agreed price for your service, and we can notify your boss without any problems. I don't think he'll refuse when he can make a nice profit off someone like me," he said confidently, and I hated it.
It was a clear challenge that, one way or another, he was going to end up in bed with me.
A part of me wanted to cry, another part of me wanted to challenge him, while my ambition told me to take the money because it would help me with my plans in the women's shelter.
"For us, don't bother, I don't think this fiery beauty will refuse a good game for double the amount," the youngest brother affirmed.
"So, it being that way, we'll take our leave, and I want a fiery blonde to fulfill my fantasies," Luc immediately got up, circled the table, and extended his hand to me.
I couldn't help but think he was insane, but I knew very well that if I didn't go with him, Rocco would be a pain in my ass. I concealed a sigh and looked at Alice, who was watching me with concern.
"I'll text you later," I told her and winked at her to reassure her. "Tell Lilly that I'll be fine. Enjoy the evening."
The others nodded politely, one that Luc didn't seem to appreciate because he immediately took me by the arm to get me out of there. It was almost impossible because everyone wanted to talk to the great man of the night, and many women in the room were looking at me with absolute interest.
"Please, let go of me, you're holding me too tight," I said carefully, and he turned to look at me.
"Don't even think for a second that I'm going to let you go, Emma." The way he said it, the tone, was my damn downfall.
He gestured to the security men, and after loosening his grip, he led me out of the room. That's when I realized that security had cleared the hallway leading to the marble staircase that led to the entrance.
"Where are we going?"
"We're going to a private and secure place."
I furrowed my brow because for me, there was no more practical place for him than the hotel. However, I understood the implications of the prodigal son of the city being seen with an escort, so I laughed.
I couldn't help but laugh in his face. "What's so funny?"
"Don't make me say it..."
"Tell me what's so funny, Emma."
"That not only are you a first-rate liar, but you're probably looking for a way to shut me up so I don't spill your tragic past from seven years ago, right?" I retorted, breaking free from his grip. "It's obvious that this is just a crude attempt to keep me from opening my mouth."
"Is that what you think of me?"
"No, the truth is, no..."
I gracefully descended the stairs, adjusting my red dress a bit, but he immediately followed me and took my wrists, turning me to face him. His expression could have won an Oscar. The pain in it wasn't normal, it was as if it added more years to his angular features, painting his hair with a caramel color and a few strands of sacrifice.
"What do you think of me?"
"It's easy to say, Luciano Basciano: you're a jerk."
At that very moment, one of his security personnel interrupted us.
"The limousine is ready, sir, you can leave now."
Luc let go of me and took my hand as if I hadn't insulted him, as if it were a trifle, and he knew that if he let go, he would have more than just problems. So, he led me outside and opened the car door.
"Get in."
"Where are we going?"
"I just told you, to a safe place, trust me."
"That's the problem, Luciano Basciano, you assume and don't think beyond your own nose. Tell me, how could I trust a liar like you?"
Present September 2016"At that moment, I couldn't tell you who I was, Emma...""I'm not interested in hearing your cheap lies, Mr. Basciano," I interrupted, "I'm only here because I'm fulfilling a service."With that, I got into the limousine, trying to hold back the anger that made me want to cry. He followed me immediately."Why did you become this?"If someone had told me that Luc would show up and question me about why I had become an escort, it would undoubtedly have been the epitome of comedy, so I couldn't help but laugh."What are you laughing at? I'm asking you something serious. How the hell did you end up being one of Rocco's girls?"The urgency in his voice, the veiled disappointment, stopped my laughter immediately. How could he even ask that?I didn't hesitate to respond gracefully before telling him to go to hell."What I was doesn't concern him; what I am now is what matters. I'm here to work, so I don't intend to talk about the past when I have a job to do. Just tel
PresentSeptember 2016His hoarse voice made my body come alive.It was as if I activated the muscle memory that had been dormant, waiting for the only man who could make me vibrate. So, I took all the muster of my willpower not to give in to it, to remind myself that what Luc was doing to me was a humiliation.That's why I didn't hesitate to turn things around."As you like, Mr. Basciano.He sat up in bed, with a cretino's expression to watch the spectacle.I smiled with amusement, took off my jacket and then his expression changed to an indecipherable one that I couldn't understand clearly. That made me almost faint before his gray eyes, before his perfect features that reflected expressions of longing that I instantly hated.I let go of the garment with some anger, pulled down my skirt gently, so blatantly that I could see a trace of annoyance in Luc. That prompted me to be more daring, I opened my top freeing my breasts and seeing that Luc's interest shamelessly I threw it in his
PresentSeptember 2016I gave boldness to my desire to make him swallow his words.I set out to make the same journey with greater ease and seduction than the night before, with an optimism based on driving him crazy, and I noticed that he liked what he saw, that, in spite of everything, he was as attracted to me as he had been in the past.I smiled slyly, crouched down like a panther, and walked over to the corner of the bed to turn it on more than it already was.He appreciated me with a different look, a raw, naked look and I could feel the growing bulge in his pants that gave me the answers I was looking for. I licked my lips to tease him more than usual.It was a delight to see him like that.I sat on my knees as I reached him and ran my hands down his legs to stimulate him, giving an alluring touch to the moment that he couldn't help. I didn't take my eyes off his face for anything in the world, I unzipped his pants and put my hand in to stimulate what he had caused.He let his
Present September 2016 I didn't see him coming, so I took a deep breath and answered him with annoyance. "That's none of my clients' business.” "I'm glad I'm no longer your customer!" He replied, handing me an envelope. “Here's your payment. Thank you for your service!” He bowed theatrically, a clear mockery that infuriated me. "You're welcome," I replied sharply, grabbed my things and left the room without looking back. What the hell did the think he was? It was too much for me at the time. I walked down the hall and down the stairs in a hurry that surprised me. I wasn't the fastest woman in the world, so you could tell I wanted to fly to the farthest place ever. I felt like I was a hallucination and that damn night was just a bad dream, some kind of nightmare that got the hang of it all when the realization of it all hit me hard. I had seen the only man who can love become a filthy rich billionaire capable of fulfilling his damn whims at my expense; He was a man I didn't
PresentSeptember 2016I didn't get rid of the check like I thought I would.The desire to break it into pieces was what was left over, however, I used it in something that really needed it: the women's shelter.This was my secret, my hidden place to help all the women like me who had difficult times, had to flee far away and had to stop being themselves to become someone else.The girls helped me with the shelter, so when I collected the money on Monday and sent it to the association, not only was there a party and happiness, but the green light was given to the project to expand it."I'm so grateful, Emma, you've been an angel to these women," Principal Chan told me."Just pretend it was someone else.”"It will be impossible, but I think I can help you with something.”She turned to look for some papers, so I frowned."What would it be?""I heard you're really into photography and were looking to specialize in photography, so I think you might be interested in this," he said before
PresentSeptember 2016Friday had arrived faster than I wanted and by the end of the night my phone rang for a message from an unknown number.I'm outside, get out before I'm forced to go in and get you. "You bastard," I blurted out as I read.It was obvious that he went to make sure that I wouldn't play one of my games to leave him standing, which not only spoke to the twistedness of the matter, but the control he had over me.He can't stop me from feeling bad."It's just another customer”.I said to myself like a mantra to remind myself that Luc couldn't affect me any more than I let him, so before I opened the door I put on a fake smile.He was leaning back in his spectacular car, and I couldn't help but catch a glimpse of how those dark jeans looked, how well the white shirt with the top buttons open and showing some of his tanned skin fitted, as well as the jacket that clung to his arms in a way that highlighted his worked muscles. The whole bearing was of a mature man, of a man
PresentSeptember 2016What started at the table made its way through the living room, the stairs and the furniture.Luc marked me wherever he wanted, as much as he wanted and he always did it looking me in the face, without letting go of the fact that he was the one who did it and that, whether I liked it or not, I wasn't enjoying it like I had ever until we had dinner."I never imagined we'd be this unstoppable, Emma." I stopped chewing as I listened to him talk. “My fantasies fall short.”"Well, are you pleased with the service, or are there more fantasies you want to explore? After all, it was your money that bought me.”At my monotone response, he looked at me as if he understood for the first time, since our reunion, that I was a different person and that I wasn't going to give in, so he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut after that.He didn't say anything else; he didn't want to go on, he just guided me to his room.The surprising thing when I walked in was that it bore a
Part II. The BeginningPastApril 2009 "Your mother killed herself.”Those aren't the words you want to hear as you come home from taking a calculus test at the end of a difficult day at the distinguished elite high school you attend at.Actually, I never expected anything from my family, not when it didn't function as a proper family set, however, hearing it from my neglected father when my little sister was in shock, was not what I thought would happen.Everything had turned into a mess in a matter of hours.I was supposed to do my usual role as a caregiver, I never expected to have to manage a loss like that. At the time, he was just another kid waiting for his mother, a woman diagnosed with bipolar disorder type two, to come in and finish off the bad joke.I couldn't believe it.I opened my mouth from the impact, about to say something stupid, but the hard look of Matteo Basciano, my father, was enough for me to even say anything. So, I turned my attention to my sister and went i