Mag-log inGabriella's POV
"Excuse me?" His voice snapped me out of my daze. "Huh?" I looked up at him. God he was more handsome up closer. His eyes were deep like whirlpools slowly dragging me in. "I believe you must be in the wrong place." He said, his voice was deep but the sound slid through my ears and turned my brain to mush. "Wrong?" I looked around now seeing the setting of people seated around. I stood up immediately, the slight alcohol making my cheeks hot. "I am so sorry. I didn't notice... I'll go now." I made to move quickly before any club employee came and disgraced me for forgetting to check before I sat. As I was about to pass, a large arm grabbed me in place. I looked up in confusion, my eyes widening at the close proximity and staring deep into those eyes. "Do they scare you?" His face was etched with curiosity. "What? Of course not." I shook my head. "They are absolutely beautiful and so unique. I'm sorry if it sounds like fake flattery but I have only heard of heterochromia. Seeing one up close—" "Is a new thing?" "Yes." I honestly replied. "Sit with me." He pulled me back to the couch and before I could refuse he used a finger to push me down. He sat right beside me and before I could utter a refusal, he dismissed the men around him. Except for one that was currently glaring at me. "Vincent, take your eyes from the lady." The man looked reluctant before he nodded. He turned away from me and began speaking in a language I could only assume to be Spanish or Italian. The man just nodded and waved him away. Then it was just us. Alone. "Topolina, now I wonder what someone like you is doing in a place like this." That made me scrunch up my face. "Meaning? It's a club. I can be in a club. Do I look like a child?" I bit out. Instead of getting offended he just laughed, a mischievous amused glint dancing in his eyes. "Ay, it seems you've got fire in you. Tigrotta will be better suited for you." "I care not for your pet names," I tried steeling myself even though I was squealing like I was still a schoolgirl. He just raised a brow and leaned closer. "Really? Strangely I don't believe you." I moved back, trying to merge myself with the couch. Anything to get away from the way my head was swimming with excitement and confusion. I gulped, thinking it must have been the drink. Maybe something was slipped inside. To think I never thought it was because of my everlasting virgin status. "Relax. I'm not going to hurt you." His eyes went stern. "It is not my nature or upbringing." I shouldn't have believed him. Men lie on a daily basis. It was evident from what I found about Davis just a few hours ago. But I did. His eyes were steady but held so much certainty. And it didn't help that I could feel my body heating up with his strong gaze. "I understand but—" I trailed off, glancing up at him nervously. "Speak tigrotta. I don't bite.... unless you want me to." He smirked. I giggled. "That's the thing," I leaned away from the couch and came so close that our noses brushed,"What if I want you to bite?” He froze in place, his gaze becoming pointed and scrutinizing. The silence stretched over a few seconds. "I'm so sorry..." I spluttered out ready to bolt,"I shouldn't have said that." "You didn't say anything offensive." He pulled me closer. "I just have a question." "Yes?" "Do you know what you implied? Because you don't seem like the type to know." "Of course I know," I puffed up my chest. What is it with these men and thinking I wasn't capable of making decisions. "Really?" "Yes, I'm asking you to have sex with me." The words flew out of my mouth without me thinking. I avoided his gaze until I felt a hard palm gently grab my chin and it was pulled up till I locked eyes with him. God. His eyes were dark. Filled with desire that I had only seen when my father saw a profitable deal. But this time I didn't feel like an object but something worth that yearning. "Tigrotta, I will only ask this once. Do you know what you are asking because I am ready to take you up on the offer but only if you are ready." His concern fought through the desire. That one act solidified my decision. He asked for my consent. For my opinion. I took a deep breath, knowing I wouldn't be able to come back from this. I placed both palms on both sides of his face and pulled him closer, till our lips touched. In an instant, his hands wrapped themselves around my waist, bringing me flushed against him. His lips took over, plundering my mouth like a thirsty man finding water. I moaned at the sensation. My hands slipped down to rest on his chiseled chest. My mind was officially gone and he pried his tongue and painted every inch of my mouth. The lack of breath made me dizzy but I couldn't fathom moving away. Seconds before I would have fainted, his lips left mine and trailed down my neck, sucking and lightly nibbling. "Oh my God." I gasped as he focused on a part near my pulse. My hands fell to his pants and landed on a very hard thing. Instinctively I grabbed it and he hissed suddenly making me jump. "Are you okay?" I was wide eyed looking if I had hurt him. He just kissed me again, shaking with laughter. " No, but with the way you jumped one would think you have not seen a cock before." The vulgar words mixed with my inexperience made heat rise in my cheeks. His laugh receded. "Tigrotta, are you a virgin?" I nodded. "Is that a problem?" He didn't say anything for a while. Just stared at my lips and then took out his phone. "Let's go." He pulled me up to my feet. I didn't get to say a word as his men reassembled along with a cross looking Vincent. He held my hand as we went through the club and entered the main hotel. We entered an elevator with just two men and Vincent. Within two minutes we reached the floor I can only assume was the top floor and entered a lavish looking room. From top to bottom it was screaming elegance and luxury without being tacky or trying too hard. He dismissed Vincent and the men. Again we were alone. He stayed a distance, unraveling his shirt. "I will ask again—" "I want this," I interrupted him stepping closer, the weight of his gaze now giving me confidence. "I am not backing down.”Gabriella's POV "Gabriella." Davis stepped directly toward me, his face tight. His voice was low, fast, and urgent. "You are making a massive scene in front of the board members. Please. Stop talking right now.""Why should I stop?" I asked him, staring back at him. "Because I am telling the absolute truth to their faces? Because I am saying out loud what every single person here is thinking in secret?"Davis reached out and grabbed my upper arm with his hand. His grip was incredibly tight, his fingers digging into my skin through the fabric of my black dress. "You are making a fatal mistake right now, Gabriella.""Let go of my arm immediately," I said, glaring at his fingers."Gabriella, listen to me—""I said let go of me, Davis."He slowly released his grip, dropping his hand back to his side. His face was bright red with embarrassment, and his jaw muscle was twitching violently. But he did not say another word to me in front of the guests.I turned my back on him, walked straight
Gabriella's POV We stepped out of our car and walked inside the front doors.The main foyer was completely packed with guests. People were standing around in tight clusters, talking to one another in low, hushed whispers. I recognized several of their faces from the grand family gathering that had occurred weeks ago. Others in the crowd were complete strangers to me. All of them looked exactly like they belonged to a wealthy corporate world that I did not understand at all.A uniformed servant appeared in front of us, offering refreshments from a silver tray. My mother took a glass of water. My father shook his head in refusal. Raphael stepped up right beside me, placing his hand firmly on my lower back."Stay very close to me," he whispered in my ear. "Do not wander off alone into the rooms.""I will not leave your side," I promised him.Suddenly, Davis appeared from the middle of the crowd. He was wearing a dark black suit, a white silk tie, and a very somber, sad expression on his
Gabriella's POV I nodded my head. "I know. I will be very careful around him."My mother stood up from the mattress. "There is something else you need to know. Something I need to tell you before tomorrow morning.""What is it?" I asked, looking up at her."The senior members of the Castillo family are holding a public memorial service for Mariano tomorrow," she explained. "It is a massive public event. Everyone connected to the family business is expected to attend."I felt my stomach drop with sudden nausea. "A memorial service? He is not even dead, Mom. The authorities have not even found an actual body in the river.""I know that," she said, her voice dropping. "But Davis's faction wants to move forward immediately. They want to show the public a sense of total unity. They want to present a strong financial front to the investors.""Whose specific idea was this?""It is Davis's branch of the family. They are the ones who are actively pushing for the service. They want to official
Gabriella's POVMy mother sat on the edge of my mattress with her hands tightly clasped together in her lap and her eyes fixed directly on my face. She looked exactly like she was bracing her entire body for a piece of terrible news. I did not blame her for that reaction at all. I had just told her that a man whom the entire city believed to be dead was actually breathing, and that her own daughter had been intentionally lying to everyone in the family for days."Tell me everything, Gabriella," she said. Her voice sounded steady, but I could see the visible tension tightening the muscles in her shoulders. "From the very beginning of the incident. Do not leave a single detail out of the story."I took a deep breath, expanded my lungs, and started talking to her. I told her about the high-speed car crash and the loud explosion that followed it. I described the exact moment Vincent had pulled Mariano's body out from the burning wreckage right before the fire consumed the entire vehicle.
Gabriella's POV "Mariano," I said, and the moment his name left my lips, I started crying. I could not control the emotional reaction. The tears came out fast, hot, and heavy, streaming down my face. "Oh my god, Mariano. You are okay. You are really alive.""I am fine, Tigrotta," he said through the speaker. His voice sounded much weaker and more breathless than usual, but he was speaking to me. He was breathing. He was functional. "I am so sorry I was unable to call your line sooner. I have been trying to get a secure cellular signal from this location for three days.""I do not care about that," I said, wiping my cheeks with my free hand. "I do not care how many days it took you. You are alive. That is the single thing that matters to me in this world.""I am alive," he confirmed, letting out a low grunt of pain as he shifted. "I am badly hurt, but I am alive.""Where exactly are you staying?" I asked, leaning forward on the mattress. "Can I come to the location to see you?""No,"
Gabriella's POV "But I am not broken down," I said, my jaw tightening. "I am angry.""I know you are strong," Raphael said, squeezing my hand again to calm me. "But Davis does not need to know that. He must never suspect it. I know this is incredibly difficult for you. I know every instinct in your body wants to fight him openly. I know you want to tell our parents and the world the absolute truth about his character. But you cannot do it. Not yet. There are far too many powerful people involved in this conspiracy. Too many people who want Mariano buried permanently.""What do you mean by that?" I asked, my heart hammering against my ribs. "Who else is involved?"Raphael glanced quickly over his shoulder at our parents. They were completely distracted. The distant sound of clinking porcelain came from the kitchen where my mother was working. My father was still staring silently out the front window, lost in his own thoughts."Someone very high up inside the Castillo family structure
Gabriella's Pov He stayed there for a moment. His forehead dropped to my shoulder. His breathing was heavy against my back.Then he pulled out slowly and turned me over and pulled me against his chest.We lay there on the couch. The room was dark. His heart was beating against my cheek."Are you o
Gabriella's POVThe hospital elevator was slow. Mariano stood beside me with his hands in his pockets. We did not touch. We did not speak. The doors opened and we walked across the lobby and out into the night air.Vincent had the car waiting at the curb.Mariano opened the back door and I got in.
Gabriella's POV "No, Dad. No." I stood up from my chair. "He came here to talk about a wedding date while you are in a hospital bed. He does not care about you. He does not care about Mom. He cares about the contract."Davis's face went red. "That is not true.""Then ask him how he is feeling," I
Gabriella's POVMy father turned his face back from the window after a long minute. He did not look at me. He looked at the ceiling."Close the door," he said.I closed the door.My mother was still standing beside his bed. Her hand was on his arm. She looked at me and then at him and then back at







