Chapter 105: A Lost Soul.
Flora was the first to return home before her husband, after having lunch with her friends, Beauty and Fiona. The house was quiet when she stepped inside, the evening shadows slowly stretching across the living room.
Not long after, the sound of the front door opening drew her attention. Scott walked in, tall and commanding, his presence filling the room. He placed his briefcase on the chair before striding over to her.
"Husband, you're welcome," Flora greeted warmly as he wrapped his arms around her.
"I missed you," she whispered, her fingers brushing along the sharp line of his jaw. Tilting her head with playful eyes, she added softly, "And I know you missed me too, right?"
Scott didn't answer. His silence was filled with something deeper, his gaze locked on hers. Then, with a small smile, he leaned in and captured her lips in a deep kiss.
One of the maids passed by just then, eyes widening before she quickly darted into the kitchen.
"Oh, babe, stop," Flora murmured against his lips, cheeks flushing. "The maids are watching."
"Okay, okay," he chuckled, though his eyes still burned with desire. "But I want you, babe. I can't wait to have you."
Her smile widened as he swept her into his arms in a princess-like hold, carrying her toward the bedroom, her laughter soft against his chest.
By the time they reached the bedroom, the house was filled with the muffled rhythm of their closeness. The moans that escaped Flora's lips carried for several minutes before they faded into silence.
Scott lay beside her, his arm draped protectively across her waist. He brushed his lips against her temple, rubbed her two breasts and whispered, "Oh, baby, you are always so sweet... every single time."
Flora-still flushed from his words and touch-blushed deeply, a shy smile tugging at her lips.
But Scott's gaze soon darkened, his thoughts shifting elsewhere. Andrea. The name alone sent a chill through him. He tightened his hold on Flora as if to anchor her to safety.
"Babe," his voice grew firm, "you need to stay away from this man, Andrea. He's dangerous. I don't know what leverage he has on your parents-or even on our family-but his hands are in illegal businesses. Even if circumstances bring you close to him, don't trust him. Please, beware."
Flora looked up at him, her expression soft but steady. "Alright, babe. I promise. Honestly, even from the first time I met him, I felt uneasy. His eyes... it was like he was trying to read me, to take something I couldn't see. I don't know what he's planning, but whatever it is, we'll stay ahead of him."
Scott exhaled, a flicker of relief passing through his features. "Yes, babe, we will. But listen to me-whatever I ask you to do, please do it. I want you safe. Whenever you go out, let my men follow you. No exceptions. Tomorrow, you have that crucial meeting... I'll drive you to the office myself."
Flora smiled softly and kissed his lips in gratitude. "Thank you, babe. For everything."
Scott rested his forehead against hers, silently vowing to protect her from everything lurking in the shadows.
~~~~~
As Florence stepped out of the car, after receiving a bountiful kiss from her husband, she walked into the elevator, taken up from the aisle floor of the company.
She remembered the words of her husband, warning her against Andrea.
Just as she was about to open the meeting room door, she heard the voices of Mr. William, the manager, and Mr. Andrea coming out from inside.
She felt they had been waiting for her for a long time. That's their issue, she thought.
Pulling the door open, she walked in.
"Good morning, Mr. William. Good morning, Mr. Andrea," she greeted both of them.
However, he behaved as if he never heard her. He only nodded his head slightly, without even looking up at her.
"It's all right, never mind," Flora muttered, pulling out a chair and sitting down.
As she settled in, she didn't realize just how much he had already observed and scanned while walking into the room.
"So, Miss Flora, I can see you really want to show your beautiful marriage, even here in the company. Well, that's a good catch," Andrea said, smiling as he lifted his fist slightly.
Flora stared at him as though he were spitting nonsense. She didn't reply-just watched him speak.
"Oh, sorry, I mean Mrs. Silver," he corrected himself deliberately. Then, pointing at her stomach, he added, "And I can see that our little Mr. Silver is kicking."
Flora's face tightened. She felt his words were nothing but rude. Standing up, her palm pressed against the table, she snapped:
"Excuse me, Mr. Andrea. This is not a personal matter we're here for. This is purely a business meeting, nothing else between you and I."
"Oh, what has that come to?" she huffed in annoyance.
Andrea only smiled up at her. "Oh, you really think we have nothing to do with each other?" His words carried a teasing edge, almost like a threat.
Then, leaning back casually, he said, "Alright, Mrs. Silver, I'm so sorry. My bad. You can have your seat." He purposely dragged the words, his smile wicked.
Flora narrowed her eyes, unsettled by how strange and provoking this man felt. Still, she sat back down, determined to ignore him.
"Better," she murmured. "Alright, back to business. You can have a look at this. I'm sure you've gone through some of the reviews from my department."
She pushed the file across the table toward him.
Flora straightened her back, sliding the document toward herself. "Yes. So tell me-what do you think about the current situation of the project? Are there any adjustments you want to make? Or corrections?"
She kept her tone firm, professional, passing a copy of the document back to him.
"Yes, there's this area I don't like the way it's being drafted," Andrea started, his tone heavy with criticism as he flipped through the project file.
Flora watched him carefully. He's probably doing this on purpose, she thought, then collected the document back from him.
"Mr. Andrea, this company has a protocol to follow," she said firmly. "According to our portfolio, our standards, and our pattern, this is the way a project should go. If you're trying to grow or take the Plan B you're suggesting, it could cause delays-and even cost you more money. I'm sure money isn't the issue here. But if you truly want to work with us, and if you want this project to succeed, it's advisable you follow the company's protocol. Is that okay?"
Her eyes locked on him with a sharp, steady gaze.
Andrea faltered. He hadn't expected her firmness, nor the quiet authority in her voice. For a moment, he realized this woman was far more dangerous than he had assumed.
"Mr. William," Flora turned toward the manager, "are you not going to say anything to this?"
William shifted uneasily in his seat, glancing between the two of them. He knew Flora's husband was not someone to be toyed with. Yet he also didn't want to lose Andrea's money or the contract tied to him.
Finally, after a nervous pause, William cleared his throat. "Oh, oh... Mr. Andrea, let's just follow Ms. Flora's-no, I mean the company's-protocol. That will help both of us." He nodded quickly, trying to steady himself.
Flora shook her head, irritation flashing in her eyes as she looked at William. What a life. See what he has gotten himself into, she thought silently.
Then, straightening her bag on her shoulder, she said calmly, "If everyone is okay with that, then if you need me for anything else to discuss, you can call me. I'll be in my office. Thank you."
Without waiting for an answer, she picked up her bag and walked out of the room.
~~~~~
It was noon....
In a castle mansion, a grand room crafted from polished wooden beams, Diana lay stretched across a man's body, her skin warm against his. She kissed him once, then again, then again-each one hungrier than the last-before whispering against his lips,
"Baby... you know I've told you. Whenever you need me, just call on me. Why are you always so shy about that?"
Her arms slid around him, drawing him closer, both of them bare beneath the shadows.
He caught her gaze, voice low, rough, almost teasing. "You know I always want to love you. But sometimes... it feels like you're pushing me away. That's why I hold myself back."
She shook her head quickly, almost desperate, her breath warm against his neck. "No. I promise you-I'll always be yours. Forever. So call on me whenever you need me."
His mouth curved into a slow smile before crushing hers in a deeper kiss. His hands roamed her body, firm and claiming, until she shivered under his touch. Diana's nails dug into his thigh as she gasped, heat flooding through her.
With a sudden move, he rolled her beneath him, kissing her rough and hard, as though trying to devour every piece of her. She answered with the same urgency, her body trembling with want. Their breaths tangled, the king size bed groaning beneath the rhythm of their closeness.
Lost in each other, the noon carried them into that dangerous, breathless place where nothing else mattered-only their whispered confessions, their tangled bodies, and the fierce promise they sealed again and again.
"I love you, baby," Diana whispered against his ear.
"I love you more," he murmured back, his words swallowed into her mouth as they gave themselves over to the madness of their desire.
---
Whereas, in another big mansion in City Z, Arthur was waiting for Diana.
He didn't know what had happened, but his hands itched, crawling to hold her, to keep her on his lap. He wanted her to himself-completely. He had waited for several hours, expecting her to arrive, his mind restless with hunger. He longed to pull her into his own pleasure, to teach her his way of enjoyment.
But the hours stretched. Still, she did not come.
"Would she be coming anytime soon?" Black Eye asked, bowing low.
Arthur's eyes narrowed, his voice cutting sharp. "It's none of your business. Get out. I don't need your attention for now."
"Yes, boss," Black Eye muttered before leaving the mansion.
As he walked away, his thoughts lingered. He knew his boss had fallen in love with Diana-but he never imagined Arthur could ever fall this deep. The man had always relied on his secretary, keeping his pleasures routine and his nights predictable. But now? Now Diana had turned the pages, rewriting everything.
Inside, Arthur felt worse. His chest burned with impatience. He stalked toward the bar shelf, snatching a bottle and pouring drink after drink until the liquor clawed through him.
Memories of his secretary came unbidden-the one he used to take to his bed without hesitation. She had always been there, always ready. Yet, tonight, even the thought of her left a bitter taste.
"No... no... no," Arthur groaned under his breath, gripping the glass until it almost shattered. He never wanted that again. He didn't want routine, or empty flesh.
He only wanted Diana.
~~~~
The afternoon sun was a little dull. Seems it was simply waiting for its time to run off, so that the night can come.
Presch had gone to stay with her mother for some time. Things had not been going well with her husband, Broe, and her mother had insisted she should leave the house for a while.
"Do you want him to kill you? Is it until he kills you that you will learn that he never loves you?" Cylene shouted, her voice trembling with anger and fear as she looked at her daughter.
"No, Mom," Presch replied quickly, defending him as always. "Broe is not like that. He's going to change. It's that devilish lady he's moving with-that's the problem."
Cylene could only shake her head, sighing bitterly. Presch would always talk back whenever she mentioned Broe's faults.
Now, today, Presch was going back to her husband's house. Her mother had pleaded with her to wait longer, to think things through, but Presch was stubborn. She wanted to see her husband. She wanted to fight for her marriage.
"Well," Cylene said at last, her voice soft with resignation, "what more can I say? Go. But remember, I warned you."
Presch packed her small bag, determined.
When she stepped into her husband's house, she stopped. Everywhere looked well arranged-too well. The air was still, heavy. The silence was sharp, pressing against her ears. Not even the maids were moving about. It was strange.
Her heart beat faster as she dropped her bag and stepped further inside.
"Baby!" she called, her voice echoing through the hall.
Then, from somewhere deeper in the house, Broe's voice came-sharp, startling, almost like a growl.
She shouted his name three times, her voice trembling as it echoed through the empty house.
At last, heavy footsteps came from upstairs. Broe walked all the way down, his face hard, his eyes burning with something she could not read.
"Why are you back again?" he snapped, his voice loud and sharp like a whip. "I thought you would keep on living with that bastard widow woman you call your mother. Do you think you still have a home here? Do you think you still have a marriage?"
Presch's lips parted, her chest tightening, but before she could speak, he went on, his words striking her like stones.
"I've told you-your time is due. Since the day you killed our child, I erased you from my life. Since that day, I have forgotten that I ever had a woman. God punish you, Presch."
Tears blurred her eyes. She shook her head desperately, her voice breaking as she pleaded, "No, baby... that's not it. I told you-I did not kill our child. I would never do that."
Presch stood there, words spilling out of her, begging him to listen, but Broe only moved closer, his shadow falling over her. His eyes were cold, his jaw locked.
Then paaaa!-his hand cracked across her face. The sting burned through her cheek as she staggered back, her breath caught in her throat.
"Broe... what happened to you?" Presch's voice trembled, but she lifted her eyes to him, refusing to drop her gaze.
Before he could answer, footsteps echoed on the staircase. Presch turned, her heart skipping.
A woman appeared, moving slowly down the steps, hips swaying like she owned the house. Presch's chest tightened, her fists clenched.
"What is this bitch doing here?!" she screamed, her voice cutting the air like glass.
To be continued!