"Let's go," Will placed his hand at the base of Arabella's spine and guided her to the table.The eye contact occurred when Arabella decided she was ready to face Damon and not dwell on the taste he had.Damon seemed to be at home, in a completely comfortable environment for him. His commanding yet relaxed posture showed that he was not far from his comfort zone. On the other hand, Arabella was completely far from what she considered normal."Do we have room for one more?" Will looked at Damon, then at the women at the table. They were all young, between their twenties and thirties. All of them, also, possessed undeniably captivating beauty."We always have room for one more," one of the women, the brunette, murmured, already moving aside to make space."Welcome, Miss Collins," the blonde, Damon's companion, smiled.From the women's postures, Arabella understood what this gathering was about. The women were not welcoming her simply because they liked her, but because the end of the n
"I can still manage my fucking time, Arabella."Upon hearing those words and letting them take effect, Arabella stopped. She simply froze, right in the middle of the hall. She thought about it, and almost wanted to laugh. Turning to Damon again, she began to speak her first thought, without filters: "You are here because you saw the perfect opportunity to bring a model. do not act like your effort is for me, because despite having the chance to be with me, you still prefer them."Damon took a step toward Arabella to ensure more privacy. In their current position, his lips were only inches away from her ear. The proximity sparked electricity, but they were too exposed to release the energy. Arabella felt her body react internally, but the only expression she had was a soft sigh."You have no idea of the effort I would make for you," he whispered."You do not need to make an effort, Mr. Banks. Your intentions are clear," she retorted."Are they really? Because you still seem irritated
Instinctively, she halted in her tracks, her senses on high alert. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled with a mixture of apprehension and disbelief. Could it be? "You are a good bitch, aren't you?" the voices continued.Heart pounding in her chest, Arabella's steps faltered as she strained to discern the voices. And then, amidst the chorus of groans, a voice rose above the rest... a voice she knew all too well. It was Mason's voice, laden with an intensity that sent a chill coursing through her veins.Frozen in place, a torrent of emotions surged within Arabella — confusion, anger, and a gnawing sense of humiliation. With trembling hands and a racing mind, Arabella contemplated her next move. Should she confront Mason? Demand answers? Or should she retreat, pretend she hadn't heard anything, and confront him later when she had gathered her thoughts?Caught in the throes of indecision, Arabella stood rooted to the spot. "Keep on your knees, Arabella," Mason's voice echoed f
"Collins residence," Victor's voice greeted her on the other end of the line, tinged with a hint of weariness."Dad?" Arabella's confusion was evident in her voice. "Where's the secretary?"There was a pause on the other end of the line, a pregnant silence that spoke volumes. "Ah... Arabella, dear. Well, she..." Victor's voice faltered slightly, as if he were searching for the right words. "We no longer have a secretary."Arabella's brow furrowed in disbelief. "What? Why?""It's a very high cost, dear," Victor explained, his tone apologetic."But you sold the..." Arabella's words trailed off, her mind racing. "Is the money gone?""Arabella, why did you call?" Victor attempted to deflect, but Arabella was not so easily swayed."Answer me, Victor. Is the money gone?" Her voice was firm, her resolve unyielding."Arabella, when you last visited, Eleonor was with you, and I did not want to add another burden to your shoulders," Victor began, his voice heavy with sorrow. "Yes, I sold the c
"You might think..." the woman began, but she was interrupted."I can assure it."Damon approached Arabella, but she stepped back. Regaining her composure and quickly putting some distance between them, she felt intimidated. At this stage of the game, she knew it would only be a matter of opportunity until she surrendered completely, and the last thing she wanted was to have Eleonor tormenting her life for discovering her weakness: Damon Banks."How many times did I give in to your advances?" the woman raised her chin slightly, with confidence and a hint of audacity.The storage room was relatively spacious, but it felt cramped as he walked the few steps separating him from Arabella. The man wanted to say something, however, feeling that perfume that he had stored in his mind was like applying amnesia to his brain. Every inch of proximity was poisonous; a dose that would not leave them sober anytime soon."None," she said, taking his silence as an answer.Arabella did not flinch when
Damon nodded before walking out of the room. When he reached the door, he glanced back. Arabella was subtly flushed, not with shame, but with a certain flush from the effort she had made. Her brown locks were charmingly disheveled. The man had to use all his self-control not to go back, something he never thought of doing before."See you later.""Do not make promises you can't keep, Banks," Arabella raised an eyebrow."That's the only kind of promise I know," he said.The sexual tension still lingered. It was the natural reaction of bodies that could still reproduce contact. Not even distance was able to dissipate the mist of excitement in the air."Think of me when considering the project," Arabella murmured."I am here just because I think of you."**At that night...Banks gently laid her down on the crisp white sheets, covering her body with his own. His eyes swam with emotion as his jaw tightened. They gazed at each other, feeling the need that drove every subsequent action an
"As you are well aware, we're not confined to any one sector. Our reach spans agriculture, communication, industry," he swept his gaze around the table, "And our ambition knows no bounds. We sought a project that could revolutionize across the board. Hence, we initiated a campaign, inviting smaller, forward-thinking companies to propose ventures for collaboration with Valiant East," he pressed on. "From the multitude of submissions, each meticulously scrutinized, selecting just one wasn't an easy task. Our board labored tirelessly amidst a deluge of proposals," his eyes now fixed on Arabella, "Yet we unearthed the gem. The long-distance communication device from Phantom Group."Applause rippled through the room, directed at Mason, the presumed architect of the project. Unbeknownst to them, it was Arabella's genius at work. Mason rose. "Mr. Banks, I extend my gratitude for the consideration," he continued, his words filled with self-importance. Arabella's attention waned, her focus
"No," Arabella whimpered, her voice trembling with fear and desperation.With a violent shove, Mason hurled her forcefully to the ground, the impact knocking the breath from her lungs as she crumpled into a helpless heap on the cold floor. "I won't end you now because we're in the hospital," he snarled, his eyes ablaze with unbridled rage.Cowering in the corner of the room, Arabella trembled as she braced herself for what would come next. "But know this, Arabella," Mason's voice dripped with malice. "You were on the verge of earning my trust and kindness. Almost. Now, you will endure a hell unlike anything you've ever known in this marriage."Mason loomed over Arabella, his figure cast in ominous shadows as he prowled around the room like a predator circling its prey. With each step, his presence seemed to suffocate the air."You thought you could deceive me, did not you?" Mason's voice was laced with disdain, his eyes ablaze with a twisted combination of fury and satisfaction. "You