Too much cuteness in that gif ⬆️⬆️ 😍😍

I told myself that I wouldn't post the first chapter of Imperial Love, but my stupid excitement got the best of me. *facepalms* So disappointed in myself lmao. 😂😂 Got too damn excited to get Arie out again. Fml! But oh well.

(Am I the only one who thinks that they look alike?)

Comment, vote, share, and enjoy!

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(Athena's POV)

"When will I get out of here?" She asks, her fingers nervously playing with one another.

          "I wish I could get you out of here right now," I smile meekly, taking her shaky hands into mine before sitting next to her on the bed. "But you're still not there yet."

          "I'm perfectly fine, baby," she whispers out desperately, squeezing my hands tightly instead. "Get me out of here. Please."

          My brows frown at her condition and the dire desire in her eyes that wish to escape. "You're not fine, mama." I purse my lips into a thin line, feeling so helpless. "When Leo sees fit, he'll let you come home then. You're not always lucid."

          Jerking her hands away from me in anger, she pouts like a child. "I've been here for years now, Athena. You said it yourself just a few minutes ago. I think it's time I should get out of here."

          "Your condition is no better," I remind her.

          No therapeutic ways have helped her so far, not much at least before Leo shifted her to this facility. Mom was never a druggie herself, but the trauma she endured from Fabian and the amount of drugs he injected into her system took a heavy toll on her just so he could get his despicable ways with me. And those drugs tampered with her medial temporal lobe, partially disrupting her episodic memories which resulted in dementia. She never really knew what he did to me until we all escaped those years ago, however, all his gut-wrenching doings were never undone and she still doesn't know all of it as there's no point considering she won't remember anything for long.

          "Why are you even listening to Leo?" She narrows her eyes at me, annoyed at the fact that Leo decided the course of her treatment. "You have a thing for him?"

"Mom, please!" I grit my teeth together at her ignorance. "You know he's like a brother, yet every time I'm here, it's the same old. This proves that you're showing no improvement."

"Sorry," she rolls her eyes and looks away, staring out the window that fans over the large, beautiful garden. "How's he doing anyways?"

"Not too good," I frown once again at the mere thought of that man hurting.

          "What do you mean?"

          "Nothing you need to worry about," I reassure her and rise from my seated position. "I have work. I'll see you some other time when you're... you again."

          Each time I've visited her, all those hidden emotions surface up without a warning whether lucid or not. It never fails to remind me of how weak and naive I was to fall into Fabian's trap as he put me through hell at an age where I was supposed to grow and learn about life, but instead I was smacked with the real world which was hell. Hell does reside on earth.

          I kiss her forehead and say my goodbyes before striding towards the door when her words stops me. "I miss her," she mutters slowly, her voice brittle and on the verge of breaking completely. "How is she?"

Without looking back at her, I swallow the sudden lump in my throat and sigh. "Breathing," I say and walk right out, not in the mood to discuss Addy's condition with mom who won't remember anything in a minute as usual. Being lucid for an hour at most is all I get from her in the span of multiple months before she ricochets back to the forgetful Edith, completely oblivious to the fact that she ever had kids, or that she married Fabian, the man who ruined us.

          "How did it go?" Jackson queries as I settle into the back of the Rolls Royce and sigh deeply.

It has been seven months and fifteen days exactly since she was last lucid and it scares me every time that she is. I don't have to worry about anything when she doesn't remember. The dread I feel in the pit of my stomach every time she looks at me as a mother wrenches my heart when she realizes how much she failed as a mother. But she didn't. She couldn't help me even if she wanted, but guilt is a sick thing that can eat you up alive. So call me heartless when I say it relieves me when she's not lucid and just living her life without a worry rather than when she remembers every little thing, the torture she was put through and the hell I bore.

          "It was alright."

"About Maddox Laird," he starts, but I stop his thoughts immediately.

"Don't say anything." My palms immediately ball up into fists at that name, but more so over my inefficiency. The massive knife scar spread across my back crawls at the thought of that sickening man. How the hell can he be alive? I pray that Burt boy is wrong because if not, then this would get filthy. "Just drive home."

Jackson obeys and begins heading towards my building. The evening sun dusts in through the tinted windows as I rest the back of my head on the headrest and shut my eyes for a moment.

"The king should know that he isn't dead."

          "Leo doesn't need to know anything regarding this," I speak through my gritted teeth, burning holes into the back of his skull. "He may not even be alive."

          "What if he is?" He counters, glancing at me through the rear view mirror. "The king has to know about that motherfucker being alive."

          "Watch your filthy tongue!" I roar before looking out the window. "If he's alive, I'll handle him myself. No one will breathe a word to Leo. I don't need to worry him with my problems when he has plenty of his own."

          "You don't think the king would learn of his existence when he's supposed to be rotting six feet below ground," he scoffs, shaking his head. "Someone gets a whiff of this and within minutes the news will reach the king. I'm surprised he doesn't know already."

          "I'll make sure he doesn't know." He sighs in defeat, turning onto another busy street. "Just shut your face and don't speak. I'll talk to Vincent because he got the biggest mouth and news reaches him first before he delivers it to Mike and Leo."

"If they know then they can eliminate Laird quickly before he tries anything and you know that," he tries to reason with me, but he can't change my mind when it's already made up.

"I don't want him to die so soon. I have plans to take him down my own way." I shift in my seat, looking out the window at the tall buildings that blur past us. "He played dirty, I'll play dirtier this time and make sure he wishes he never did what he did."

          "He'll recognize you right off the bat if that boy scores an interview with a surprisingly living Laird," he responds curtly, annoyed with the whole conversation.

"It's been more than three years, Jackson." Remembering Maddox, I torture myself by surfacing all the memories of that sickening day. "If he's been alive for that long, he would have come after me even after I bashed his head multiple times and shot him, but considering I'm sitting here with no major problems for the last three years, I'd say he either doesn't want to mess with me or just doesn't quite remember my face. Let's not forget I didn't encounter him on various occasions like Addy did. He only saw me once."

"I'll tighten the security on you if he's alive and get more men in that work under me," he declares, maneuvering into a different lane with one hand on the steering wheel and one typing into his phone.

"No, I need you to get me all the information on all men named Enrique that work or have worked for Leo in all fields."

"What?" He almost yelps. "You do realize there're millions upon millions that work for the king in the world knowingly and unknowingly."

"Should be easy with that name," I roll my eyes and scroll through my phone. "Vincent holds all the data on every men and women that have worked for the Bonferronis. Work with him and look for all named Enrique, not only in the states, but all over. Shouldn't be hard."

"I don't like that man," he says with a hint of disgust in his voice. "He thinks he's superior to me."

"That's because he is," I chuckle. "Vincent holds more authority than you. A lot more. Someone of your position should never see him unless you screw up really, really bad. Be glad you have a couple hundred under you and that someone with your little power is my bodyguard."

"Wow!" The playful shock and sarcasm in his voice doesn't seem to faze me. "That just made me feel so good about myself."

          "You're a good assassin and I wanted you as my bodyguard. Leo also saw you as a good one to protect me at extreme moments. He trusts you and so do I."

          "Okay, now that really does make me feel good," he laughs, basking in my compliment.

          After a couple more minutes of driving we finally reach my building. Jackson parks the car in the private parking lot before the other cars with my other bodyguards roll in. I step into the elevator with Jackson and Ruiz, prompting the others to disperse.

(Neymar as Ruiz. This boy is so damn sexy 😍😍😍)

          Placing my hand over the scanner on the inside, I set the elevator in motion to my penthouse. "You both will contact Vincent and look for this Enrique. I don't need you guys to ask around this time. Look over the data that Vincent provides you and track down all men with those names and bring them to me."

          "Yes, ma'am," Ruiz nods, standing straight in a disciplinary manner.

          "I heard you got engaged," I turn to Ruiz and arch my brow at the man whose posture doesn't falter one bit. "Who proposed? You or him?"

          "Zack did, ma'am," he answers firmly with his head high. Through his dark sunglasses I can't tell whether he's looking at me or at the elevator doors.

          "How did he propose?" I inquire in curiosity. In the years I've lived, I haven't witnessed many wedding proposals, so hearing about them elates me just a little even though many marriages go down the drain eventually with time which is why I don't believe in them. It's just temporary happiness until many of the true colors surface.

"Before your birthday party, ma'am," he clears his throat and continues. "He was one of the king's guards for the night and before they were to come to the party, he took me to the hospital to have my sick mother's blessings and proposed right in front of her."

"Adorable," I smile before returning to my bitchy expression. "When's the wedding?"

"We haven't talked about it yet, but we are thinking about sometime soon."

"Next week it is then," I declare, looking through my phone. "Jackson, get me in touch with Allaire Caro. Tell her I've a wedding for her."

"You don't have to do this, ma'am," he says, his voice monotonous as usual and very professional like all the other men and women trained in Leo's organization.

"People like a wedding and you've been a good bodyguard, so consider it a wedding present," I look up at him and lightly pat his upper arm. "You and Zack don't have to worry about anything. You both will wear the tuxedos from my new wedding collection that is yet to debut. The rest will be up to Alaire. The venue will be where she sees fit. I'll pay for it all."

"Thank you, Ms. Estle."

"How generous!" Jackson comments with a snicker. "I think Ruiz can afford a million dollar wedding considering the pay he gets from the king and you."

"You're jealous that Ruiz here is settling down while you're still having problems scoring panties to get into," I smile at him and watch a little scowl form on his face before the elevator doors open to my penthouse.

          All of a sudden, a little black cloud comes running in my direction, wobbling on its short little legs. The creature circles me, whining adorably, and... peeing on my heels. Brilliant! I lower myself to the salivating little black pug and cuddle it in my arms. A smile feathers my lips as that little cushiony monster licks my chin.

"I hope you don't mind me bringing a little guest," Rome hops into the foyer with crutches supporting him.

"It wouldn't have ended well if you brought some human guest without my permission," I scratch the pup's belly. "I can let a puppy slide."

"Well," he beams in mischief. "I guess Eros is so dead then."

"What do you mean?"

"See for yourself," he grins like a child and turns around, leading me into the hallway that locates Mr. Azallion room. Soft moans filter my ears along with the chanting of Mr. Azallion name by a woman which instantly fires up my blood. The nerve!

I hand the puppy to Jackson who immediately begins playing with the little creature. In anger, I throw the door open to find Mr. Azallion pounding his girlfriend from behind with his hand on the back of her neck, shoving her face into his mattress and being the one in control with her wrists tied up behind her back.

His naked chest shimmers the tattoos under the sweat beads that trickle down the defined pecs right before his eyes flicker up to mine in fear as his girlfriend yelps and stand up, her little teal dress completely intact, just ridden up from the back where Mr. Azallion was ramming his cock in mercilessly less than a minute ago.

          "Close your eyes, boys," I cover Rome's eyes who stands next to me with his jaw on the floor in amusement. My eyes refuse to look at the man's cock that I'm so tempted to cut off and stick down his throat. I could hear quick shuffling in the room before I heard her annoying voice.

          "What the hell is wrong with you?" I finally look at her, my fists curling up in anger. "Do you have any shame?" She screams, slipping her purse onto her arm and smoothing out her filthy sex hair.

          "Shame?" I scoff and step further into the room before the pup sprints past me and towards Mr. Azallion who's still shirtless, but has the decency to put some pants on. "You're the one who doesn't have any shame or class considering you're having sex in my house."

          "It was our private moment and you barged in like some sex police."

          "I think you should show her who the boss is," Rome whispers, bumping his shoulder into mine. "Alas! I don't blame the poor girl. Having an escort for a boyfriend can make you crazy, but the problem is that she doesn't even know," he fake sighs, winking at me.

"You're a little bitch," I whisper back and smirk. "And I like that."

"Whatever you two have to say, say it to my fucking face," Cornelia yells.

"I barged in because this is where I have sex with your boyfriend."

Mr. Azallion's eyes widen in shock as his girl fumes in rage. "Excuse me?"

          "You heard me," I smirk and saunter further into the room towards her. "This is where your boyfriend ties me up and gets all his dirty ways with me. Why do you think he's living here?"

"What are you doing?" Mr. Azallion finally finds his voice, glaring at me.

"I think it's about time she knows about your illicit affair with me," I flash an innocent smile at him before looking back at his enraged girlfriend. "We make love every night and all night long. He says I taste really sweet if you know what I mean." I wink, adding more gasoline to her blazing fire. She steps forth to lay her hands on me, but her boyfriend holds her back.

"Is this true?" She questions the man, her voice heavy with hurt as she brushes his hold off. The look on her face is painful for even me to watch and a very little part of me felt bad, but not really.

          "No..."

          "I don't think this should come as a surprise," I interrupt the man and sigh. "I pay for the sexual services he provides me just like all his other clients."

"What clients?" Her voice booms as it bounces off the tall ceiling and white walls.

"What do you mean 'what clients'?" I feign innocence. "The women that he pleasures at night with his mighty merchandise. You do realize that it's his job as a high profile escort." A look of sheer horror engulfs her features while Mr. Azallion's face shines crimson in color. "You don't know that he's an escort?" I fake gasp and pout. "Oops!"

"You fucking bitch!" She screams at me, her fists ready to throw a punch as I patiently anticipate them.

"I've been called worse," I smirk to myself.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Mr. Azallion sneers at me, stepping next to his fuming girl.

"You're an escort?" She turns to him and speaks softly.

"Baby," his voice falters. "I can.."

"Explain?" She roars and slaps the man across his face. "I love you and this is what I get. You lying cheating motherfucker!" Another slap lands on the man's face and I can't help but smile. This is what happens when you go behind your partner's back and fool around. A man should have the decency to tell his partner about his shenanigans even if it's a job. Maybe she would have understood or maybe not, but she wouldn't have been blindly falling in love with a man she barely knew and I can voice this too well. I saw my mother make that mistake.

"Now that the truth is out, I suggest you get the hell out of my place too."

She whips around, her eyes shoving daggers in my chest. "You have the nerve to sleep with my boyfriend and then talk to me like that."

"Honey, I sleep with him every night." My hand feathers down the side of her face, brushing over her smooth skin. "And as soon as you leave, I'm going to ride him like a pony to heaven."

She slaps my hand away and swiftly pulls out a gun from her purse and pins it to my chest. "You're a disgusting woman," she spits, tears pouring down her flushed cheeks.

"Fuck no!" I hear Rome shriek followed by a loud thump. "Cornhog has officially lost it. I just got shot. Not again." Within a second, Jackson and Ruiz come to my side with their guns aiming at Cornelia, but she doesn't care. All she sees is blood and the urge to kill the woman who has supposedly been sleeping with the man she loves.

Before she could pull the trigger, I smoothly disarm her, unloading the magazine and sliding it across the floor before I hand the empty gun back to her. Her nose flares even more at my little trick as Mr. Azallion watches wide-eyed.

"You bitch!" She raises her hand to slap me, but before she could have the honor to do so, I grab her wrist and twist it behind her back until it gets to it's breaking point.

"Wrong move," I hiss and twist her arm further up as she whines in pain. "Just a little more force and your arm breaks. I believe you don't want that." Throwing her on the marbled ground, I watch as Mr. Azallion immediately rushes to help her up to her feet only to get pushed away by that woman.

"You have no idea who my father is," she cries, stupidly threatening me. "He will kill you all."

"How about you get your father on the line right now," I suggest and grab Jackson's phone from his pocket to toss it at her. "Call him right now and let's see what daddy dearest has to say."

She immediately calls her father and after a few rings, he picks up. "Dad," she sobs in misery and continues talking. "This woman here insulted me and she even twisted my arm." She pauses for a second to let her father speak whose voice bellows through the phone which isn't on speaker, yet I could still hear the squeaks of his voice. "She slept with Eros and I'm going to kill her."

          "Let me talk to your father," I demand, nonchalantly.

          "She wants to talk to you," she tells her father before handing the phone over to me.

          "How dare you touch my daughter?" He growls as I put the call on speaker.

          "Hello, Zachariah," I greet the man who goes silent immediately, confused at my voice. "It's Athena Estle. I suppose you know who I am."

"Mr. Bonferroni's..."

"Yes," I cut him off and saunter over to the recliner in the corner, taking a seat on it and settling my right leg over my left knee. "You daughter is in my house, having sex with my employe like a little hooker and then she has the audacity to disrespect me," I unfold the events one by one. "She then pulled out a gun on me like a stupid little girl. Have you not taught your daughter anything?"

          "I apologize," his voice lowers shamefully.

          "That's not all," I stop him. "After that, she tried to slap me. Zachariah, I only have so much patience," I hiss through my teeth. "You know exactly what I'm capable of. Your daughter's idiocy may cost you very highly. Considering your business with Mr. Bonferroni, I'm letting your daughter slide this time. If this ever occurs again, you know what fate she'll meet and you don't want that. Make sure your daughter gets this embedded into her skull and teach her to stay in her limits because her smart mouth may bite her in the ass."

"I'm sorry, Athena," he apologizes once again. "I'll make sure she knows this well. May I speak to her?"

"The phone's on speaker, so go ahead," I look over at the weeping woman whose mouth was wide agape.

"Cornelia, come back to California immediately," he orders his daughter with a firm, authoritative tone.

"But dad..."

"Don't be a shame to me like Sophie," he yells in annoyance. "She became a disgrace by marrying that no named boy. Don't you dare be one. This is not how I raised you."

          "Thanks!" She spits. "You're the best father a daughter could ask for." Sarcasm rolls off her tongue like a disruptive river before she begins walking out, wiping her tears with the back of her hand as I hang up the call.

          "Cor..." Rome stands at the door with sympathy clinging onto his brows. Hell, even I feel bad for her. Being called a disgrace by one's own father is demeaning.

"You got something to say too, Rome?" She asks hurtfully. "Go ahead. Say something snarky as usual. Insult me if I haven't been insulted enough already by her, by my own boyfriend who constantly fucked other women." She turns around to look at the man who hangs his head low in shame. "I loved you. We've been together for more than two years now. You should've had the decency to at least tell me that. I would have never done you so dirty." She looks away in disgust as her eyes pool up in tears. "Do you have something to say, Rome, because I'm all ears, if not, then I'd like to go."

"I'm sorry," Rome whispers out loud enough for everyone to hear.

          "Save it, Rome. I don't need your fake apology when you enjoy insulting me all the time for reasons I don't know." She bumps his shoulder and storms out.

          With a nod of my head I motion Ruiz to see her out, but I can't help a part of me that feels bad. She's just a woman whose man messed around with other girls without her knowledge and I can see how that could be hurtful to force you to make irrational decisions such as pulling out a gun on someone you know nothing about. Being the bitch I am, I only fueled her anger more by lying about my intimacy with Mr. Azallion. But I can't lie, I did like riling her up.

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Yay or nay?

Okay, so I'm going to try something here. Drop your fav tv shows or movies and let's start a conversation. Don't be shy and let's talk. Who likes The Vampire Diaries? Put them hands way up where I can see them. 😂

Who do you guys think is Enrique? Or Maddox?

Who felt bad for Cornelia? I'm not going to lie, I did.

How do you think Eros is going to confront Athena about this stunt that she pulled?

Much love ❤️
~Reet