NOLANNolan you would never change, it is just in your nature to always mess things up.Those words echoed in my ear as I slowly opened my eyes, I was trying to make out my environment. But my head was heavy and beating fast.It felt like a bazooka had hit me and I had landed on a bomb about to detonate. What the hell happened last night? The last coherent memory I had was lunch with Chloe. Late lunch, stretching into the early evening with far too much wine, and… damn it, that's where the gap began.“Let me help you relax,” Chloe had said to me, her hands on my chest, she slowly massaged my neck, why didn't I push her away?Did I push her away? My memory was blurry and I couldn't make out any image of me resisting her advances. Panic clawed its way up my throat. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to force the missing pieces into place, but there was nothing. Just a dizzying emptiness. My breaths hitched, and with a groan, I finally forced my eyes open.Sunlight speared through the
ALANNAMummy!Mummy!Mummy! A gentle melodious sound that woke me up every morning. It is funny because these were the same sounds that kept me up at night. The sound when I heard my twin brother called out, all night. He must have been calling out for our mother when he had drowned.It is strange that the same sound that gave me joy also brought me a lot of sadness. Mummy! I heard the voice called out again and my eyes slowly opened. The symphony of giggles that woke me was the sweetest melody in the world.It was Lucas and Lucy. My bundle of joy. I stretched luxuriously, a smile already playing on my lips before my eyes even blinked open. There, standing at the foot of the bed, stood the masterminds of the morning serenade, my four-year-old twins, Lucy and Lucas.Lucy, a whirlwind of golden curls and boundless energy, launched herself onto the bed, her giggle infectious. "Mama! Mama! Wake up! It is already morning and we have to get up,"Lucas, ever the more reserved of the tw
BRADMaking a deal with the devil would mean you ultimately selling your soul. My stomach churned like a washing machine on high spin as I stood outside Mrs. Raina's office.They do call her the black widow for a reason, this place was as eerie and chilling as a morgue freezer.Well what can I expect from a woman who made her wealth by marrying a dying old man and ultimately inheriting his property. Asking for her support in the CEO vote felt like a Hail Mary pass, a desperate attempt to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Nolan always had a way of weaving his charm, and Mrs. Raina, bless her clueless widow's heart, seemed particularly susceptible to it. Still, desperate times called for desperate measures. Taking a fortifying breath, I rapped my knuckles against the imposing mahogany door.It swung open with surprising enthusiasm, revealing Mrs. Raina in all her impeccably tailored glory. Her sharp, intelligent eyes, the color of a stormy sea, missed nothing as they raked ove
BRADI'm taken aback by the transformation. Gone are the mahogany furniture and leather chairs, replaced instead with dark red velvet and metal restraints. The walls are adorned with various whips and chains, and a St. Andrew's cross stands prominently in the corner.Mrs. Raina, the woman I've been trying to impress for weeks in order to secure her vote for CEO, smirks at my reaction. "I see you like my little secret."I swallow hard, trying to process what I'm seeing. "I had no idea you were into...this."She steps closer to me, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor. "I like to dominate my men, Brad. Are you man enough to handle it?"My mind races as I consider the implications. I've come this far in my pursuit of the CEO position, and I can't back down now. I take a deep breath and nod. "Yes, I can handle it."She raises an eyebrow. "Take off your clothes."My heart races as I comply, my hands shaking as I undo my tie and slip off my jacket. I can feel her eyes on me as I un
ALANNAI am nervous, why do I always get this way when it comes to Nolan, I mean, I had faced the worst demons, but Nolan was both a dream and nightmare to me.My heart hammered a desperate beat against my ribs as the sleek black car pulled up to the quaint Parisian cafe. This was it. The first time I'd be facing Nolan one-on-one, since the bitter divorce, and not under the most ideal circumstances. I mean, even while we were married, he mostly avoided me and the only time we had sat to talk was about the terms of our divorce. A tense knot of anger and apprehension twisted in my gut.“I hate that he was making me go through such a dreadful process like this again,” I heaved,”I strode into the cafe gate, It was my favorite little haven in the city, a charming nook with checkered tablecloths and overflowing flower boxes that I'd always dreamed of bringing Nolan to. He'd never been one for "cute cafes," always opting for the trendy, high-end establishments. Taking a deep breath, I st
NOLANSeeing Alanna again after everything… the guilt, the longing, the sheer mess of it all, threatened to drown me. I am a mess.This wasn't just about the kids, not entirely. It was about a chance to open something between us.The cafe bell chimed as the door opened, and there she was. Alanna. Even after all this time, she took my breath away. Her hair, still the same cascade of fiery red, framed a face that somehow managed to be both fierce and vulnerable. She looked… different. Stronger, maybe. I stood as she approached, a nervous smile plastered on my face. "Alanna," I greeted, my voice cracking slightly. "Thanks for coming."Her gaze was cool, assessing. "Nolan," she replied simply, her voice devoid of warmth. "Let's get this over with."We settled into a booth, the silence thick with unspoken emotions. I cleared my throat, trying to break the ice. "This place… this was your favorite, right? You always wanted me to bring you here."A flicker of a smile played on her lips, fle
AlannaThe walk back to my office felt like I was walking on glass.Each step was a heavy effort, the weight of the ruined meeting clinging to me like a damp shroud. I hate him!I hate her!I hate my life!I hate myself for feeling so much for him! I cursed out loud. Tears welled up in my eyes again, blurring the already hazy cityscape. How could I have been so stupid? So naive? Nolan having sex with Chloe shouldn't have hurt this much. Logically, I knew it shouldn't. He was married to her, for crying out loud! Married people have sex, that's a fact of life. But logic wasn't winning this battle. My heart felt like a shattered glass, sharp shards of pain piercing me with every ragged breath. Reaching my office door, I fumbled for my key, my vision obscured by the traitorous tears. Finally, the door clicked open, and I practically stumbled inside, collapsing into the plush embrace of my armchair. Angela, bless her ever-observant heart, appeared at my desk in a flash. "Alanna?
ALANNAThis was the day, the day I had prepared for, for months. I felt a flood of emotions flood through me. I was both happy, anxious, nervous, sad and grateful all at once. The ballroom buzzed like a beehive, there was this certain elegance and refinement that could be felt in the air. A dazzling display of wealth and importance. Crystal clinked against crystal as champagne flutes collided in celebratory toasts.Excited chatter against the backdrop of the smooth jazz band. Tonight was the completion of months of tireless work, my fashion show – a vibrant display of my creativity – finally gracing the grand stage.“Congratulations Ms. Alanna,” a woman with a black dress greeted me, I didn't recognize her, so instead I responded to her with a smile. Despite the outward glamor, a knot of apprehension tightened in my stomach as I scanned the crowd. A sea of well-dressed bodies and expectant faces swirled before me. The city's elite were all here, of course: business moguls with