Natalia’s POVBending backward to protect me? My fingers curled on my phone screen as I tried to process her words. I could smell different emotions swirling around her words, from pride to hurt but the most outstanding was rage. pure rage.My face remained calm as I seethed, “I perfectly understand your hatred towards me which I really don't give a fuck about but what exactly do you mean by Leandro bending backward to protect me?”She scoffed, “That's none of your business, all I want from you right now is to get your miserable ass up and get ready,” she snarled at me, arms crossed.“I'll do that but on one condition” I spoke up after a minute of contemplation, “that no matter what happens at this so-called introduction party, you and Leandro would let me have some sort of freedom to talk to whoever I want to.”My plan was simple. It appeared this introduction party or whatever they had going on would definitely reel in the likes of Leandro from all over the city. Who knows? One of
Natalia's POV I watched in shock as Giovanni walked past me to the kind stranger who looked totally unbothered by his presence. “It’s been a long time Eduardo…It's a miracle you showed up today,” Giovanni shook hands with him, pulling him into a hug. My brows furrowed instantly, so the kind stranger’s name is Eduardo. “I could say the same for you, how have you been?” Eduardo responded blandly. “Great! Have you seen Leandro?” Giovanni asked, scanning his eyes around the tents. Eduardo scoffed, “I'm not Leandro's keeper, Gio,” “You're his right hand man Eduardo, you should know his whereabouts” Giovanni pressed on. “Well I don't. How's that for an answer?” Eduardo didn't wait to get a reply from Giovanni before he strutted to a group of women winking at him. As soon as he had left completely, I pulled Giovanni and snarled the dozen questions I had at him, “what the fuck are you doing here, huh? Did you follow me down here? And how do you even know someone as good as
Natalia's pov"See you tomorrow dad." I leaned down and gave my father a gentle kiss on his forehead, his pale skin feeling cool against my lips. His eyes fluttered open, the corners crinkling as he smiled weakly at me. Seeing him so withered and helpless in the stiff hospital bed made my heart clench painfully. "Be safe, my dearest girl," he whispered, his voice a rattling rasp. I squeezed his bony hand lightly, trying to return his smile despite the lump burning in my throat. It's been 6 years since Mom died after an accident and that's when we found out he had stage 4 cancer. "Always dad. I'll spend the night praying for you while on my shift." I responded. Tears stung my eyes as I turned away, not wanting him to see me break down. I couldn't let him know how terrified I was of losing him. I hurried down the stark, overlit corridor, the harsh neon lights exaggerating the hollows under my eyes. The cloying antiseptic smell seemed to cling to my clothes and hair. I needed to ge
Natalia's povWe all turned our heads whipping around to the doorway just to confirm whose voice it was and that's when we saw him. Gio, our selfish and egoistic boss. His cold gaze swept over us appraisingly while his thin combover was slicked back with so much greasy product it looked wet. Speak of the devil. "Alright, that's enough gossiping, ladies," he barked, his trademark rasp somehow cutting through the pumping bass. "Get those tight asses out on the floor. We've got a big whale coming in tonight, and I want my best girls putting on a good show." He spun around and shot me an intense look with a defiant pose that only meant one thing. Fury. “Including you Natalia” he added after he noticed how hesitant I was to put on my mask. Tense silence enveloped us like a mushroom before Gio spoke again. “Don't tell me you won't be working tonight because of that tramp I heard you spill from your mouth minutes ago?” he asked in the iciest tone ever. I breathed deeply before respond
Natalia's pov My steps faltered as I neared him lounging against the bar. Anxiety rolled over me in waves, despite my determination. The weight of his stare pinned me to the floor. And unlike the first time I saw him, I was finally beginning to take in every single detail of his. From his impeccably tailored expensive suit to those rugged yet refined Italian features. Such a striking masculinity that wasn't quite like the rest of the Italian men I've been with, I couldn't help but feel intimidated by his presence. His slanted blue eyes raked over me lazily, seeming to drink in every detail without even looking up from his glass making a shiver ripple through me. 'Get it together. This is just another asshole with money. You've handled worse Nat.' I chanted repeatedly in my head. For a moment, I wavered under his intense stare. Feeling utterly insignificant. Like I could easily be disposed of and no one would blink. This wasn't some drunken frat boy. This was a man who had whatev
Natalia's pov(7 months later)My heart pounded nervously as I slipped through the back door of Voyeur. Even though it was Gio who had called me here, saying he needed to discuss something important, I couldn't shake the feeling of being pulled back into the club's seedy underworld against my better judgement. The thumping bass and raunchy laughter wrapped around me like a vice as I made my way to the dressing room. It’s been seven months now since that fateful night I robbed him blind and vanished without a trace. I had finally hung up my lingeries and quit stripping at the club, using the riches I stole for Gio to pay for my dad's life-saving surgery. For the first time in years, I felt a huge weight being lifted off my shoulders. I was free from the world of stripping and robbing billionaires – an act that I’ve always detested.I entered the dressing room, and was welcomed by the excited shrieks and laughter erupting from my former co-workers as they noticed me. "Oh my god, Nat
NATALIA'S POVMy head ached, it felt like a thousand arrows were piercing through it, all at once.Groaning, I kept my eyes shut, trying to let the pain flicker away as I racked my brain for what happened. But the more I tried, the blurrier the images in my head became. Until I finally mustered up the courage to open my eyes, and when I did, it all rushed back.Leandro. His threats. Being hauled into the car and then…I slept! Who sleeps in the middle of something so serious?Breathing heavily, I panicked as I looked around my surroundings. Thoughts of my sick father reeled into my head almost immediately, doubling my panic.God, I really hope he's safe!Running definitely wasn't the best option right, I was sure Leandro probably had his men holding my father at gunpoint, ready to pull the trigger at his command.I don't know how I knew this, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that my assumptions were correct.When the door creaked open to reveal Leandro shirtless with just pants on,
Natalia's povAfter struggling for over 30minutes trying to zip up the white dress I picked from the enormous wardrobe in the room. I stared at my reflection in the mirror and couldn't help but frown the more over how pretty I looked with my disheveled hair and partially smudged makeup.Damnit! I'm supposed to look ugly! Not pretty! Thoughts of escaping reeled into my head, but where could I possibly escape to that Leandro won't find me? How far will I even be able to run? What about my dad?And to worsen it, he has my phone too. As disappointing as it is, it took me hours later after he had left to remember that I had my phone before he dragged me into his car.I sighed and fell back on the bed, feeling totally hopeless.A rattling from the corner of the bed made my heart stumble violently. Last I checked I was the only occupant in this room, so what's that noise I'm hearing?It sounded like someone was cutting off the wires in a signal fetcher. Suddenly a familiar voice cut through