69

AUDREY
For the next few minutes, that seemed like forever, he was fucking me without stopping, and I didn’t know anymore how many times I came. He was hitting the very end of my womb and my sensitive spots. And the next thing, he brought me to the living room and found me on top of him, then I rocked against him. The sensation was too much. I was already losing control, and my legs were giving out.
But as if he could feel my soreness, he rolled me over and sank into me from behind, and he just didn’t run out of energy. His tempo was speeding up in each round.
I’d never felt so full and so damned well-fucked compared to our previous sex. Each time, he’d show me that there was always something more to do with making love. For the rest of the night, he bent me over, pinned me to the wall, and then finally, he brought me to his bedroom, and he slowed down.
He brushed my cheek with his thumb and looked into my eyes intently. “I know this is not the good time to tell you this, but I mean what I said to you when…” he paused, and I gazed into his beautiful eyes. “When I asked you to move in with me, I wanted to take it more seriously, so when I asked you to marry me, I meant it, Audrey.”
“But Gabriel, how about the things you need to do and—”
“Shh…” He pressed a finger on my lip. “I know I don’t have a ring right now,” he chuckled, “but it’s okay if you don’t answer me now. But I want you to think about it because I want to be with you, okay? I’ll do this properly. I just want you to know what I feel about this.”
I smiled and nodded. “I will. I promise.”
He kissed my forehead and rolled onto his side of the bed. “My angel. I never really loved anyone else,” he confessed, and then he shifted his gaze again to my side. “It was always you…”
My heart fluttered, and I remembered the handsome, charming boy I met in the train station—the one that was so pure, and I realized it was the case for me too. I might not really love that boy back then. I loved the man he became.
I believed him, but I knew he still hadn’t moved on from the pain. I felt he was still insecure and could quickly get jealous or somewhat possessive. He couldn’t even stand it if I said his name. His real name.
Liam.
Deep inside, I knew he had to achieve what he’d always wanted—to get revenge on the man I thought was my father because if not, I was afraid the pain he was going through wouldn't completely go away.
***

“Charles, thanks for coming here,” I greeted him when I found him waiting in the company’s lobby the next day. Gabriel told me it’d be better if Charles would show up when he was present, and he came on time when I called him in the morning.
My childhood friend wandered his eyes around, and his sight lingered on the Stark Apparel Inc. letters embossed on the front desk.
“I can’t believe this is actually happening,” he said when we continued to stroll and rode an elevator. “I mean, he’s dead—not that I know what happened back then. I was already in Berlin, but I heard rumors he’s tragically murdered, and the killer was never found.”
“I guess my father told you about Liam—or the person you know now as Gabriel Stark.”
“But wow. He’s very wealthy now, Audrey.” He looked at me in astonishment. “I mean, look at the building. And as I can see, you’re dating him?” he asked curiously.
“I didn’t know that he was Liam, nor would I believe that he is because I thought he was; you know.” Charles watched me intently as I spoke.
“But your father seemed to be so surprised.”
“Because it’s him who did it to Gabriel. I was there. I saw how they hurt him,” I stated bitterly.
“What?” He scowled. “God, Audrey, but why didn’t you do anything? You’re a witness.”
“I know.” I heaved a sigh of frustration. “I was afraid back then, Charles. I ended up hurting him, too. My father turned out to be the man. He wasn’t who I thought he was. He’s never to be trusted, and I don’t need to tell you that.”
“Try me.” He looked at me sincerely. “I think my uncle is also hiding something from me—about his interest in your mother’s house, his business with your father that I don’t know about. He’s acting really weird, so I guess I want to know, too.”
I sighed. “Well, for starters, I found out that I’m not his daughter, but I don’t think I can forgive him for everything he did—to me, particularly.”
“I’m sorry about that.”
“But he can’t be that bad, can he?” he whispered.”
“He’s selling me to your dad,” I pointed. “If that’s not your idea of bad, then—”
“No, of course,” he inserted. “Of course, it’s that bad. Yes, you’re right. I should not trust him so easily. But don’t worry, I don’t trust my uncle either, so I understand where you’re coming from. Unfortunately, he turned out to be just as bad as my father.” He shook his head. Incredulity appeared across his face.
I frowned. “Why? What happened?”
“He wants to liquidate the company and do some business on his own. I don’t really care. You know what I really want, right? But it’s like he didn’t give me much of choice. My father might be cruel, but he loved the company more than he loved himself. It’s such a waste and too sudden.”
“So you’re returning to Berlin? Isn’t the company and your father’s assets the reason you’re here?” The elevator reached the executive’s floor, and I stepped out.
“Pretty much, but I guess I just can’t let him do whatever he wants. I’m open to negotiation, so I might stay a little longer.” He grinned.
I grinned back. “Ah, the restaurant plans, I see?”
He laughed softly. “You’re right.”
I strolled around the executive floor until I reached my desk. I picked up my notes first and invited him to Gabriel’s office.
My beautiful man was on the phone when we came in, and our eyes met with recognition. He held up a hand as a wait signal, so I offered Charles to sit first. A few more minutes later, Gabriel joined us.