LOGINBANKS POVHer boutique is less expansive than the old-money heritage houses I typically frequent. It's operating instead as a highly focused, stringently controlled workspace of emerging high-end ambition. The air lacks the oppressive weight of centuries-old privilege, but it carries the sharp, clinical scent of raw textile potential and intentional luxe. "We have a selection of vintage Amarone, a limited-reserve single malt, and champagne crisping," Rita says, maintaining a precise two-step distance beside me as I scan the bespoke racks. Behind her, an assistant seamlessly presents a polished silver tray displaying the exact bottles she mentioned."I prefer a flute of the Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame," I say, a simple gesture toward the prestige cuvée."Right away, Mr. Wellington.""A highly disciplined atelier you have curated here, Rita." She smiles, her head tilting into a precise angle of corporate deference. "It is an absolute privilege to host your private consultation today
"I thought you stopped smoking," Anthony says from behind me, walking over."A man that doesn’t smoke, puffing an expensive Davidoff cigar on a rooftop at midnight, looking ahead towards his own roof with a very specific, disturbed face... It can only mean one thing."I puff the smoke out, watching it curl into the cold air. The nicotine is doing nothing to calm the roar in my head. It doesn't fade the rage of seeing my woman attacked unprotected on a public floor. It doesn't clear the vision of seeing Eleanor cozy with Dean. And it doesn't soothe the quiet fury at how disobedient she has become even after each punishment."It can only be love. Thinking about Little Thing, right?""Her name is Eleanor.""So it’s Little Thing." Anthony shrugs. He has a talent for provoking. Reacting is a waste."You must feel bad" I look at him"with all your money, owning a precise private defense operation, and your woman was attacked without a single guard present." I take a long drag. "I'm not in
I need to sweep any saved digital copies." Carlton adds, his voice tight."Get in." Carlton slides into the passenger seat, handing his phone to Rooke in the driver’s seat. The car roars out of the compound."What could be making our dear, emotion constipated Banks so angry?" Anthony sing songs, typing fast on his phone. "There it is!" He screams and I pull down my tie. "This is brutal. Little thing is quite feisty " Anthony comments, grinning at his screen. I yank his phone from him. It’s a live stream. I see Eleanor yanking another woman’s hair. I see the flash of camera phones. The sheer public spectacle is making my blood boil."Why are we not there yet Rooke?""He won't fly tiger. This is a car not superpower ""Quiet Anthony ""Always rude." "We are moving as fast as possible, sir." Rooke replies, stepping on the gas. "You rudely ignore me, Banks." My eyes turn red on the screen. Someone slaps Eleanor. The sound is a sharp crack through the tiny speaker. All the blood in my
Banks’s POV - The Hour of the Ambush> Mine: I can’t come to your office, Banks. I’ll come to the penthouse instead.> Me: Send your location, Anor, or have Vandiver bring you over now.I look at the text I sent exactly twenty seconds ago. No reply. The silence is irritating. I run my hand through my hair, the tension in my shoulders ratcheting up another notch."...Profit share has increased by another 244% since the Prince’s successful high-risk escort operation. Several other ruling families from Asia and Eastern Europe are already inquiring about our services." My Chief Operating Officer continues his presentation, pointing at the projection."Excellent." I praise them and seats shift, gazes locking on me. Eleanor still doesn't reply"When are the recruits coming?" I send more texts. Mind totally clocked out of this meeting. I need her with me. Last night was when we saw each other because I had an impromptu meeting"Thirty got stationed today " someone reply me and I nod, trying
Banks voice cuts through the chaos like a thunderclap. I look toward the door, my heart stopping. Banks is walking or flying toward me, his face a mask of absolute, terrifying fury. Directly behind him is a very familiar, grim-looking Carlton, and beside him... a tall, strikingly handsome.... That wicked smirk and arrogant posture belongs to a very familiar person I doubt should be here.The crowd instantly parts like the Red Sea. The girl I am holding starts sobbing, stretching her hand towards Banks."M-Mr. Wellington..." the minion stammers on the floor, her voice shaking violently as she adjusts her ruined clothes, standing up. "She was..." My grip loosen on them and the minion push me down. I fall onto the floor as my gaze lock on Banks."Eleanor!" Dean screams, I catch him rushing forward."Don't you dare touch her" Banks order, halting Dean's step.'What's Banks doing here?' He reaches down, his large hands immediately lifting me from the floor. My stomach flip flop at the shee
"I'll make sure to have every single one of you sued for defamation of character," he warns, his voice thick, loud, and vibrating with authority. The women flinch slightly, but who seems like the ringleader; a woman I recognize as one of Montana’s loyal minions from the charity luncheon, steps forward."We... I mean, it’s the truth! She came between a married couple!" My chest beats painfully fast against my ribs at the wrong accusation."I didn't!" I scream, slamming my hands on the table as I stand up. The nearby patrons scramble back, dragging their chairs away from the sudden explosion."Lady Montana and Mr. Wellington were happily married until you came along and forced your voluptuous, loud body onto him!" Montana. Montana. Montana. It is always her name."Says who?!" I step out from behind the table, my vision tunneling."They were divorced long before I met him!" I feel more eyes turn toward us. Most of the people in this section are faces I recognize from my driving class and
BANKS POVEleanor shifts beside me and I pull her closer, flattening her chest against mine. My arm tightens around her waist. She groans softly, then settles — and I exhale into her hair, letting myself believe, just for a moment, that I know how to do this. How to hold someone and not ruin it. Le
ELEANOR POVYesterday's therapy session was entirely too much, and my soul desperately needed a temporary break from the mental unpacking. I just arrived back at the penthouse after enduring a grueling, strenuous hour of convincing Banks that I needed to visit my own apartment to create my new perf
ELEANOR I’m not a nun. I’m not a virgin. So when he looked at me, kissed me and said driver will pick me up- I knew I'm here to get fucked. And here I am, standing in a room that's bathed in deep red lighting. Whips, chains, and cuffs line the walls with toys I've never seen but can't wait to
BANKS POV The moment I step inside this perfume store, a sweet voice wrapped in fury greets me. She is facing off against a typical, entitled customer. "Customers are always right!" the man, maybe fifty years old and puffing with self-importance, barks. "That's a getaway mantra for retards with no o







