It was a beautiful afternoon, and Elena and Syria were sitting in their favorite corner of the local coffee shop, sipping on their lattes. The atmosphere was cozy, with soft music playing in the background and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. As they chatted about life, love, and dreams, Elena hesitated for a moment before gathering her courage to share her big news."Syria," Elena began with a smile, her eyes shining with excitement, "I have something important to ask you." She paused, taking a deep breath, and then continued, "Will you be my maid of honor at my wedding?"Syria's eyes widened in surprise, and then a wide grin spread across her face. "Oh my goodness, Elena! Are you serious? Of course, I will!" she exclaimed, unable to contain her joy. She leaned forward and hugged her best friend tightly. "I'm so honored and thrilled to be a part of your special day!"Elena felt a wave of relief and happiness wash over her as Syria's response was exactly what she ha
The day Elena's world changed was just like every usual day. The day she realized her parents were not who they said they were began like every normal day. The Mario's started with breakfast in their mansion, packed with servants and maids."Your father and I will go on a trip soon," Elena's mother, Kelsey announced as they were having breakfast. "Again? Why?" Elena asked. Her parents were business tycoons who barely spent time at home. They were always away on business deals and meetings, leaving Elena always alone at home. "You and Dad just got back from Spain last week."Her father, Rocco, leaned in and smiled at her. "My dear child, we know we have not been spending time with you but we are just trying to give you a bright future. The business has been stressful and our attention is needed. Don't worry, we won't be traveling anytime soon after this trip.""That's what you said the last time," Elena replied, her face laced with sadness. Her mother shook her head slightly. "Look,
The next day after her father was taken, Elena decided to visit Andrea. She stood alone on a deserted sidewalk and lifted her head to the top of Andrea's penthouse in the clouds. She exhaled slowly as she thought about her family's situation. She was the only one who could save her father. But could she do it? Talk to Andrea Santino. It was almost impossible. Except she had to. She couldn't secure an appointment with him despite calling over a dozen times the previous day. According to his secretary, only reputable businessmen could secure an appointment with him. And since her father had embezzled money from his company, she knew she was the last person that could get an appointment with him. "I'm not scared of him. I will save my father." She repeated to herself, clutching the folder she had in her hands. "I would have to speak to the devil himself to save my father."But the truth was that she had never really believed her father was guilty. She'd held on to the hope that it was
"Give me a minute and have a seat," Andrea said as they walked into his office. He immediately walked over to his desk and accessed the file on Rocco on his laptop. And there he found the brief reference to Elena as Elena Mario, Rocco's only child who was just twenty-two years old. She must have been so precious to him for him to keep her out of the limelight. But he didn't blame Rocco at all. A girl so beautiful deserved to be hidden from the world. She was far too precious to be let out. He took a quick glance at her and inhaled. Her blonde hair which fell carefully across her face highlighted her beautiful features. Her lips were full and he wondered if anyone had tasted them. Snapping himself out of his thoughts, he decided it was time to hear what she had to say about her father. "Miss Elena," he drawled, casually leaning back in his chair. "Why have you come?""I told you earlier." She replied quickly. "I want to talk about my father." "I'm surprised you think I would be i
Elena blinked rapidly, trying to understand if one of the wealthiest and most ruthless men in L.A was trying to make such a proposal with her. "I don't understand," she breathed. "You want me?""Yes," Andrea replied casually. "Are you always this slow to figure things out?""Are you talking about sex?""What else?" He said shrugging. "I want you to be my mistress in exchange for your father.""Is this some kind of test?""I don't do tests."Elena studied him for some seconds, sitting proudly behind his desk, in his beautifully tailored designer suit. He was dashingly handsome but she pushed the thoughts at the back of her mind immediately. "Are you saying that you will keep my father out of prison if I sleep with you?" She asked."Yes." Elena was shocked by his revelation. Indeed, everyone had a price but Andrea's was nearly impossible to fulfill. "Don't you think that's wrong? Sleeping with me in exchange for my father?""We're two consenting adults. It's your choice to make, Elen
Elena stared at Andrea with shock as he pulled away from the kiss. She couldn't believe he kissed her. She touched her lips slightly and shivered. Elena truly didn't believe he was going to kiss her. Not until she felt his mouth against her own. As he lowered his head to hers, she just stared up at him in shock.Then she felt his lips against hers, rough and hot, hard and sensual as silk. She gasped, closing her eyes as she felt the caress of his embrace like a thousand shards of light.When he finally pulled away, she sagged against him, dazed beneath the force of her own surrender.But Andrea just sat back against the seat as if he hadn’t just changed her whole world—forever.“Why...” she whispered, touching her tingling, bruised lips. “Why did you kiss me?”Andrea glanced back at her. “Oh, that?” He shrugged, then drawled, “I can barely call that a kiss."Elena had never thought of herself as a violent person. If anything, she was the type to hide and quiver from conflict. But at
Rocco slowly shook his distinguished head. "I’ll have nothing left, not even my independence.""Do you really care about wealth now? Don't you care about your life in jail?" Elena questioned her father anxiously. She had told him about her endeavors with Andrea, leaving out the part where she had to become his mistress to save him. She had only mentioned that he was willing to let him go if they became friends. She didn't know how her father would take the news that she was selling her freedom in exchange for his. Her family meant everything to her and she was willing to do anything to save them."I would say that I still have a good chance of being set free if they do not find any evidence"Elena frowned. "Andrea said that you confessed to your crimes. What did he mean by that? Your confession will stand against you in court.""I didn't confess to my crimes. He has no proof that I embezzled money from his company," Rocco reminded her. "That will give me a chance in court. Although m
The next day, Elena drove slowly to the nursery in the van. There was nothing more that she could do for her father at present, she thought unhappily. He was going to have to deal with the fact that his life was never going to be the same again, but that would take time. Her brow was pounding out her tension. Reasoning was a challenge when she felt as though the shock of recent events had set up a barrier between her and her family. She was still struggling to accept that, in the space of five days, her whole life had fallen down round her like a house of cards and with it the future that she had taken for granted. The city where she had lived from birth would no longer be her home. She would be barred from the gardens where she had grown up and happily worked whenever she had a moment free. The business she had labored so hard to build would pass on to a stranger and might not even survive. After all, the profit margins at the nursery were low and, with Andrea taking over her fat