Meera
Hushed whispers reached my ears as I walked down the lobby of my office building, trying my best to keep my tears at bay as I realised that everyone here found out about the immaculate demotion that I had just received.I bit the inside of my cheeks as I tried to gather my emotions, knowing well enough that when I come back here tomorrow, I wouldn't be a paralegal, but instead, Alejandro Harrington's personal secretary.And I know that I cannot run, I cannot let him fire me, because a lot many important things depend on me keeping this job.I cannot allow Alejandro to take away the mere semblance of happiness that I have conjured up for myself.The moment I step out of the building, my hair curtains my face from both sides as I step into the pouring rain, seeming as if even the skies are weeping at the turn my fate has taken.I don't have an umbrella to protect myself from the biting cold showers pouring down from above, but instead of the cold, I focus on rushing out of this place as I cross the boulevard in front of my office building and start walking down the street towards where I usually get a cab back to my place.I don't want to speak with anyone from my office right now. Because everyone knows about my demotion and I would rather have the ground split open and eat me whole than be more humiliated about it. Anyways this Monday is going to bring a lot more embarrassment to me when I finally do start as Ace's personal secretary.But for this weekend, I just need to lick my wounds and prepare myself for the hell that my ex husband is going to bring back.Deep in my thoughts, I turn to cross the street, without realising that the traffic lights hadn't yet turned red until a car comes to a screeching halt right in front of me, almost having hit me if I hadn't jumped back and the driver hadn't pulled on the breaks at the right time.My jaw slackens with fear as I look up at the black Rolls Royce standing tall and proud in front of me, knowing well enough that I am in for a good tongue lashing by whoever the driver is.That is when the rear door opens and I see the glint of Ace's deep brown hair as he steps out of the car, facing me with an insidious expression on his face.My heart thunders in my chest as I look around, hoping to find someone to help me, but all around me are people rushing up and down the street, trying to avoid the rain while the cars honk past Ace's vehicle stopped in the middle of the lane."Get in." His words snap at me in a more icy manner than the water currently seeping through my clothes.However, even then, my feet are stuck to the ground, unable to move.I am not getting in that car with the man who plans to torture me.I am not going to relive the month of horrific things that Serena did to me, and from what I know, he was the one commanding her to do all that to me; I will never forgive him for that."It's late, Alejandro, let me go back home." I respond in a meek voice, but even then, I know that nothing is going to make him change his mind.Ace always gets what he wants.Always.Instead of saying anything, he seems to roll his eyes before sliding out an umbrella from the door of his car before dashing towards me, with the umbrella looming over his head.He shelters me from the rain but the price of that unnecessary relief is that now his breath is fanning my face and I am unable to think clearly about anything anymore."Have you forgotten what I told you?" He snaps, "you are to become my shadow. My personal assistant inside the office and my housekeeper outside of it. Or have you forgotten that I can ruin your life in more ways than one?"My eyes widen, "but...my job is supposed to start on Monday...I still have to go home and prepare for everything.” I sputtered, afraid that he would just take me away from every semblance of joy I ever knew and plunge me into a deep abyss of sadness. Just like he has done in the past.“Your job starts when I say it does. And I say it starts today. Come on, I have a gala tomorrow morning, and you better make sure that it is a blast because guess what?” A sinister smile overtakes his lips, “I have given an off to every single one of my staff for this weekend, it is all up to you how tomorrow goes.”My eyes widen as tears threaten to spring free into my eyes as I look into his unrelenting green eyes, knowing well enough that he is not going go budge.He was serious about making my life hell and he would stop at nothing until he has achieved his goals.“Get in.” He spits, anger evident in his eyes making it clear to me that if I refuse now, he is going to force me into the car.And so, with my head bowed low, I gulp at the lump of emotions forming in my throat and get inside his car, knowing well enough that I have signed my life away to the devil.Meera"Wallowing in self pity at what your life has turned into?" Ace's voice breaks through the silence in his car as we enter the parking space underneath the building where he lives at the top floor penthouse. I look at the sleek and admirable collection of his cars in the private parking space that is reserved for just the owner of the building where the other tenants are not allowed to enter and I am reminded of how easy money always came to my husband. He was born in one of the richest mafia families of Europe and with all the blood money they have, they can make the heavens look cheap. "No, Mr. Harrington, I am simply waiting for whatever devious plans you have for me." I chide with an indifferent expression as I continue to stare outside the window until the car comes to a stop right in front of the elevator. Four fully armed guards are standing in front of the elevator as they approach our vehicle. Two of them stand in their place while two come to a stop at both sides of
AceThe clicking of Serena's heels agitates my senses as I sit in my office located within the underground club that I own in this city as she saunters inside the room and walking around to where I am sitting, she leans back until she is perched on top of my table, facing me with that sultry look on her face."You look particularly disheveled today, Mr. Harrington." She whispers, placing her hand on my chest and I have to clench my hands into fists because they are currently itching to reach for my gun holstered against my thigh. "Mind if I help you with something?" She asks suggestively as her hand starts to travel down my chest, following the length of my torso before finally stopping just above the waist band of my tailored dress pants. I immediately reach down and wrap my hand around her wrist, stopping her right at that moment as I take her hand in a vice grip. It doesn't seem to bother her one bit. If anything, she is more excited and enticed by the idea of me being forceful.
AceThe elevator dings open, catching my attention away from my phone as I straighten up, taking in a deep breath just as the doors part and my ears catch onto a frenzy of noises coming from inside my penthouse. CLANG!The sound of utensils falling to the floor catches my attention as my eyes widen and my feet are making their way to the expansive kitchen of my penthouse. I still in my tracks the moment my eyes take in what's in front of me and my veins flood with simmering rage.Jo, the brute that Serena has hired to keep an eye on me is standing near the kitchen counter with his hands around my Meera's neck, squeezing the life out of her body as she claws at his hands trying to get him to stop. "Stop it." The words come out in a ragged hiss as I glare at Jo, making it a mental promise to myself that I will give him the worst possible death once I have defeated the Van Dykes. Jo stops in his assault of my wife as I catch the sight of a tear glimmering down Meera's cheek that sen
MeeraSerena's taunting laughter echoes through the cold room where she has me trapped as she steps back after beating me endlessly once again. My entire body aches and bleeds in places I didn't think was possible while Serena's white pointed toe heels make her appear taller as she stands over me with her foot pressed against the back of my neck. "You are filth, Florence." She spits, her heel digging into the side of my neck as more tears escape my eyes. "You are good for nothing. Your entire family has been killed by the way, and soon enough, you will die too." My heart cracks in my chest as the faces of my loving family flash through my mind. The same family I hadn't seen in two years since getting married to Alejandro. The same family who had stood by my side as I had accepted the marriage proposal made by my father's biggest rivals, thinking that Alejandro would make a good husband. Tears streak down the bridge of my nose as I keep lying there on the cold ground, limp and hope
Meera’s POV The morning comes with a flurry of clanging utensils, screaming cooks, and scared and nimble waitstaff making their way in and out of the grand kitchen of Alejandro’s penthouse as the charity gala— for lord knows what— commences in full swing out on the expansive terrace and pool area attached to the living space of this outrageously luxurious home. “Girl! One of the waitresses twisted her ankle and spilled champagne on one of the guests! Go clean up after her!” Marta— the head chef of Alejandro’s kitchen pushes a wiping rag in my hands— the sheer quality of the cloth making me wince. Nodding my head, I take the cloth from her and the wiper that Jo, one of the cleaners hands me, and make my way outside. If Alejandro wants me to be his maid, his secretary, his cleaning lady, then that is what he will get. And for now, I just have to hold on until I can manage to escape again. Even though I know just how unlikely that is. I keep my head down as I enter the swarm of wel
Ace's POV My heart ached watching my wife being disrespected and mishandled by Serena but what shocked me the most was what she said about Cairn. Oh, the utter horror I saw in Meera's eyes and the way they had widened with nothing but pure, liquid fear, was something that made my blood boil in my veins. Cairn and Serena ought to have done something extremely wrong to Meera while I had left her in that hellhole, and I am going to find out what it was before I make her pay. I will do that by hook or by crook. And then that bitch had made the mistake of pushing my wife onto the ground— another thing added to her list of offences. Serena Van Dyke will die in the most brutal and dangerous manner possible and I will make it a spectacle for the world to watch. Meera left after cleaning the floor a while ago and I found myself making small talk with one of the guests who had come all the way from Korea for this gala. To the world, this gala was being held by my company to celebrat
Meera's POV I hurtle into the nearest powder room that I can find, bursting through the door I allow the contents of my tray to go crashing down onto the floor before slamming the door shut as my tears start streaming down my face as I rush towards the toilet, attempting to hurl up anything that might be in my stomach. Nothing comes out. That figures since the last meal I had was two days ago. I slide down to the ground, resting my head against the wall as I try to swallow the taste of sheer disgust and horrifying disdain that I can still feel from the phantom sensation of Ace's hands grabbing at my body right in front of that...that monster...that demon who was looking at me with such hungry eyes since the moment I stepped into that damn room. I cannot believe the level of utter disrespect and cruelty that Ace has stooped to and I wonder where I went so wrong in the three years that I was married to him. I mean...even in those initial days when he didn't know me well enough, he
|Ace’s POV|My heart is racing inside my chest, threatening to jump out of my own mouth as I search room after room for Meera. The gala wrapped up an hour ago and all the guests have left for their respective homes. The sun sets upon the horizon of New York city, drenching my entire penthouse in the golden hues of the evening but as the tangerine turns violet, my worries grow because I still haven’t had any success in finding my wife. I haven’t seen her since she left my study this morning after I practically assaulted her in front of a pervert just so I could keep his paws off of her. Serena enjoyed the shit out of that show and I was left with nothing but utter despair and disgust with myself for having treated my wife in such a lewd manner. But after that, Serena had left me with Viktor for about fifteen minutes— probably disappearing to raise hell somewhere else— and in those fifteen minutes, Viktor had the gall to enquire about my wife at least twice before I had subtly warne