Tangled in the web of lust
Chapter 13~14
★★★★
(Rule number 2#: No one says NO to a King.)
"NO!"
"Princess....."
"No!. Don't fùcking call me that!" Melanie spat, her eyes red and blotted with rage, she's shaking all over and even Lucy is scared of touching her as she backed away slightly. Her eyes Lazer focused on the agreement slip.
"Don't you dare curse at me, young lady" Martinez muttered with a stern look and Melanie groaned loudly. Her face buried in her palms as she lets out an animalistic sound she definitely hasn't made before.
"Who the fúck cares about that?. If I decide to curse at this situation, it's only because it's fùcking worth it!. You're shipping me off to a marriage contract that I did not approve of and you want me to stay quiet?. Impossible!" Melanie yelled, pacing around the small distance between she and her father.
"This is for the family's sake, princess" Martinez muttered and Melanie shakes her head.
"Great. Sacrificing me for the family" Melanie scoffed. "Fúcking perfect!" She spat.
"Stop this madness immediately!" Martinez snapped and Melanie glared at him.
"No!. You stop this madness!" Melanie closed the distance between them. "You are being fùcking selfish right now and you expect me to just accept whatever you throw my way?" Melanie seethe. "It's. Not. Going. To. Happen" she punctuate each word with her index finger thumping her father's chest.
Martinez sighed. Grabbing her hands and pulling her in for a hug as she breaks down completely. Her tears wetting his perfect shirt. Lucy furrowed her eyebrows at the agreement slip, Thane must be really smart. There's no way to forfeit this agreement if he doesn't approve it.
"Father I can't do this. I've seen this man. He's not the kind of man I want to end up with and getting married this early was never part of my plan as well. You can't do this to me." She muttered, her sobs coming out chopped and Martinez pulled away slightly to wipe her tears staining her cheeks.
"If you don't do this then everything would be taken away from us. My legacy. Your Mom's businesses. Your inheritance and everything you've spent the last seven years working for would disappear just like that" Martinez muttered and Melanie's eyes swelled with more tears. "You don't have a choice in this situation"
Melanie pulled away from Martinez completely, creating a safe distance between them as she dips her long fingers into her hair and closed her eyes.
"I'm not doing it" she muttered lowly but Martinez heard her loud and clear.
"I understand that you are in pain...."
"Fúck that!" Melanie cuts him off harshly. "I'm not sacrificing myself for the family. I just can't" Melanie's eyes clashed with her father's and the look he's giving her made her squirm. Fear slithering down her throat.
"You can't be defiant with the family's name, princess. This is not the time to act stubborn. Getting married doesn't mean you are giving your life away...."
"It's exactly what I will be doing" Melanie cuts him off again. "I will be throwing my life away to settle your goddamn mistake. $1 billion dollars?. You couldn't have possibly used it all right?. You can simply transfer it back into their accounts and I will be free right?. You can do that right?" Melanie asked with hope blazing her eyes but Martinez dropped his head over his shoulder and Melanie's eyes widened.
"The money is no longer in the family's account" Martinez muttered and Melanie drops to her knees in despair. "I used it"
"To do what?" Melanie blasted from her kneeling position. "What could you have possibly used a whole $1 billion dollars for?. An amount of money big enough to feed generations to come, what did you do with it?" Melanie asked with tears as Lucy immediately kneeled down beside her.
"The same project I've been working on but it failed" Martinez muttered, his cheeks red from embarrassment.
"Or you got duped" Melanie pointed out and he rubbed his forehead.
"It doesn't matter" Martinez muttered and Melanie laughed dryly.
"I can't believe this.... I just can't" Melanie muttered under her breath. Lucy sighed besides her, her hands coming out to soothe her aching shoulders.
"Well. If you think about this properly. Getting married to the first son and heir to the King's legacy isn't such a bad idea" Martinez muttered with a dark edge. "If you are able to bear him a son. That automatically makes you and your child the leading heir to those trillions" Martinez smiles and Melanie couldn't believe her ears. "It's a win-win"
"You are evil" Melanie muttered with disgust and Martinez shrugged.
"And you are about to get madly rich. Think about how this experience is going to change our lives for good" Martinez muttered and Melanie closed her eyes in disdain.
★
(Later. That. Night)
Melanie is curled up in her bed with the agreement slip in her grip, her face is red from all the crying and muling as she studies the instructions, she cocked her head sideways, contemplating on either trashing the piece of paper or signing it.
Her grip tightened on the piece of paper, the paper is so thick and slick, holding the future of what holds in her life, she drops the paper in front of her, pulling her legs forward and hugging her knees to herself.
The door opened and Lucy stepped in, her nightie hugging her skin like a glove, her chestnut dark hair is packed in a messy bun and her face is oily from all the skincare products she must have applied.
"Ms Melanie" Lucy called softly but Melanie doesn't answer.
"I don't think worrying yourself to death is going to solve anything. It's just going to add up to your stress." Lucy muttered again but Melanie doesn't respond. Her eyes are solely focused on the agreement slip in front of her.
"You have loads of shoots tomorrow morning. You need to sleep early, thinking about this problem isn't going to solve it. There's nothing you can do about it" Lucy muttered the last part under her breath and Melanie slowly lifted her eyes to look at her.
"Why do you think I'm this disturbed?" Melanie asked with a dark edge. Her voice barely audible. "I'm trapped in a sick deal. A deal I had no hand in but will suffer the consequences. I'm about to get stuck with a total psychopath. Do you know how much I hate myself right now?" Melanie asked, her lips quivering and Lucy immediately joined her in bed, sliding into the other side and hugging her to herself.
"It's just unfortunate that you have selfish parents. I remember how your Mom casted you aside when you were just ten" Lucy muttered, both of them staring at the inked signature of Thane and Martinez. "All they care about is themselves. Your happiness doesn't matter to them. It's just sad"
"I can't do this, Lucy. I just can't sacrifice myself." Melanie mumbled under her breath.
"This is the only way" Lucy muttered and Melanie shakes her head.
"There has to be another way" Melanie muttered, her eyes flitterd to Lucy. "Can you book me an appointment with Thane King?" She asked and Lucy gulped.
"It's not gonna be easy but I will see what I can do" Lucy muttered and Melanie smiled a little.
But her heart is shattering into pieces.
★
(That. Same. Night)
★Underground. Tunnel. Sin's party★
(Rule number 3#: Don't mistake a king's silence for stupidity)
The large room is covered in deep red lights as different people hover around, alcohol, explorers, newbies and oldies. Half naked girls serving booths and the stage is litterd with sensual dancers.
These parties are usually held in Cake-shop, an underground club in Arlington nightlife district, where many LGBTQ bars and clubs can be found. The collective does its best to ensure that its party is a safe space for everyone and reminds party-goers of its policy for each event: “There will be a zero-tolerance policy for harassment of any kind… Body shaming, slût shaming, racism, ableism, ageism, transphobia, homophobia, xenophobia, and fatphobia are not tolerated.”
The rules of this party has been strictly held and no reports of any form of harassment has been reported.
Sitting at the last booth on the end, Thane, Knox and Maverick are peering through everyone. Although while Maverick is looking for a willing hole, Knox is busy on his phone and Thane is watching the sensual dancers.
"I thought this was a sèx club" Knox muttered annoyingly as he drops his phone. "Why aren't I seeing the sèx?" He asked and Maverick's eyes narrowed into slits as he stared at him.
"If it weren't for the fact that you're smart, I would have called you dumb" Maverick leaned forward. "Look around you. We're in the lounge and you see those curtains on each sides?" Maverick pointed and indeed, each end of the corner has a passage. "Those are where the actual fun happens."
"Oh, yeah" Knox muttered, looking around and mentally mapping out the openings. "I'm going into one of those rooms. Stay boring brothers" Knox lifted his weight off the booth.
"Hey.... Don't leave without me" Maverick muttered, standing up as well but Thane simply waved them off. "Aren't you coming, Satan's heir?"
"Go on without me" Thane muttered and both of them shrugged, the crowd simply parted for them as they glide through, going straight for the exhibitionist room.
Thane simply smriked to himself, those rascals keep pretending as if he's the only voyeur in the group. He knows for a fact that they also love watching but will never admit it out loud. Crazy fuçkers.
Even in the dim room, Thane could see everything happening around him. Just because he's a King doesn't mean there are no threats hanging around, everyone has an enemy, he/she doesn't have to be harmed before they hurt you.
"Thane" a low slûttry voice calls from the side and Thane almost rolled his eyes. He doesn't need to turn around to know who the person is.
"Olivia" Thane muttered as a tall beauty walked up to him, her dyed blue hair making her look ragged even though it would look like shît on someone else. Her eyes are deep blue as well, even in the dark room, Thane could make out the red lipstick glossing her thin lips and her barely covered body.
"It's been so long since we met" she chuckled lightly, dropping onto his lap but he doesn't push her off. But his face morphed into a frown.
He used to find Olivia attractive, because she is. But there's something off about the way she feels today. Her scent is throwing him off and she's not as petite as he would want. And her hair isn't dark blonde and her eyes are way too blue for his liking. She's not fierce like a certain Sunshine who attacked him.
"Last week wasn't that long" Thane muttered and Olivia giggled. Wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders and placing a kiss on his neck.
The revolt that threatens to pull Thane under has him grinding his jaw together.
What the fúck is going on?
"I've missed you.... Let's get out of here and have a little reunion, don't you think?" She purrs, licking the shell of his ear but as her lips ghosts over his chin and towards his lips, his hand shoot out and grabbed her nape, yanking her backwards with so much force that she yelped and stumbled off his lap.
Fùcking hell.
Thane is glaring daggers at her as she struggles to stay upright, her eyes are laced with fear and she immediately backed away from him.
"Don't you dare try to kiss me. I don't do kisses, you know that" he muttered and she gulped.
"I just thought that maybe I could...."
"You can't and you will never be able to" Thane thundered and she squirms, moving backwards and putting enough distance. "Get lost" he adds and she immediately hurries out of his presence.
The rage boiling deep within him doesn't falter. Not even the naked bodies running around is turning him on. His angry and frustrated and downright bored.
Grabbing his phone, he shoots a text to the group chat.
Thane: Knox, Maverick.... I'm outta here.
Immediately Axel replied.
Axel: What the fúck?. You aren't having fun?
I need to get my hands on something new. But Thane doesn't type that.
Thane: I'm bored out of my fucking mind.
Knox: Jesus fúck!.... Maverick is getting wild in here.
Axel: Send videos!.
Knox: On it!.
Thane rolled his eyes and exited the chat. Grabbing his key and heading out of the clubhouse.
★
★The. Next. Day★
★IMG Models★
"Ms Melanie..... you really need to stop glaring at everyone." Lucy muttered as they stepped out of the car and Melanie sighed softly, not after glaring at a staff who walked past them and into the organization.
"I can't fùcking help it. Everything annoys right now" Melanie muttered, walking towards the sliding door and it immediately parted a passway for them. Melanie is cladded in a tight pencil-skirt, with a White sleeve shirt hugging her upper region firmly, her hair is laying all the way to her àss. She looks so professionally dressed for the first day after a long time.
"I understand" Lucy muttered, dressing as equally fitting as Melanie.
"Have you been able to get me an appointment?. I need to see him today" Melanie mumbled and Lucy gulped.
"Well.... My mails see being cancelled. I don't think your appointment would fit in" Lucy muttered and Melanie stopped walking, she turned around to glare at Lucy.
"Our mails are linked, Lucy. And since he's my future husband-to-be..." Melanie paused to swallow the nusea down her throat. "His staffs should know better than to ignore me. Keep trying until you get a response" Melanie ordered and Lucy nods.
Chattering from IMG's studio room reached Melanie's ears and when Lucy pulled the door open, her face falls.
"Mel..." Shaun cooed immediately he spots Melanie. "It's been days.... How are you doing?"
"Well.... As you can see, I'm doing great" Melanie muttered, pushing him aside to hug Britney.
"We were just talking about you" Shaun mumbles and Melanie pulled away from Britney.
"Oh really?." Melanie asked.
"Well, since you are back in business, I was just wondering if you would want to come back...."
"Never" Melanie muttered with a glare and Shaun's lips sealed shut.
"Ummm.... Melanie, you should..." Britney trails off as Melanie glared at her as well.
"I don't think we'll be able to carry on with our previous arrangements Shaun" Melanie huffed. "Just because I had a little problem, you decided to replace me, it doesn't work that way. I'm terminating my contract with your agency. You can have Sabrina Ollie as your permanent face to Vogue's fashion magazine"
Lucy simply slides behind Melanie.
"But Mel.... It hasn't come to this...."
"Yes, it has" Melanie muttered. "I have lots of agents, Shaun, I don't need to be on the cover of your magazine to get the fame I want. Feel free to discontinue from IMG Models too because I will never be working with you, ever again." Melanie muttered with finality as she turned around and walked towards the make-up section.
"Ms Melanie.....are you sure about this decision?" Lucy asked and Melanie scoffed.
"I'm hella sure, Lucy. And get me that appointment."
★
★Martinez Resident★
"How's she taking the news?" Samantha asked and Martinez rubbed his forehead. Leaning back on the seat, he's locked up in his study room.
"Not very happy" Martinez muttered. "I feel like shît"
"Well, you are an àss for putting our daughter in this mess" Samantha muttered with a snark. "I can't even imagine what will happen if she finds out that am in support of this madness"
"Do you ever think about anything but yourself?" Martinez asked with a frown and Samantha gasped lightly over the phone.
"Of course I do.... I'm not like you, àsshole" she blasted.
"Will you stop referring me to an àss?" Martinez asked exhaustedly. "I made a fùcking mistake. Big deal"
"It is a big deal" Samantha scoffed.
"Like how you decided it was fun to cheat?. Is that also not a big deal?" Martinez changed the subject so fast that Samantha's breath hitched over the phone.
"I never cheated" she mumbles.
"You hesitated" Martinez called her out.
"I didn't fúck anyone else, you idiot" Samantha muttered under her breath. "I'm a lot of things, but a cheater isn't one of them" she adds.
"But a liar is?" Martinez probed.
"You are so infuriating." Samantha chuckled dryly. "I hate you"
"I hate you too" Martinez snarled.
"Good" she hissed out.
"Perfect" he retorted.
"Good bye" she blurted out.
"Good bye to you too" he retorted.
And the line went off.
★
Walking furiously on her heels, the secretary of Kings Enterprises hissed under her breath. Her annoyance clearly visible.
"Mr Axel" she muttered, stepping into his office. "I don't know what else to do but I've been receiving series of mails from a certain.... Modeling agency company... Um, Mel's clothing, I think" she adds and Axel gently lifted his head to look at her.
"Have you now?" He asked with amusement. "For how long?"
"Since morning and despite my cancellations... It just won't stop" she muttered and Axel gestured for her to hand over her tab.
Grabbing his own tab... It didn't take long for him to link all three mails together and a thin smile tipped his lips.
"Ms Lucy Murrieta.... She's pretty good" Axel muttered to himself.
"What should I do?. Mr Thane is packed for the day and I can't afford to disrupt his schedule" the secretary muttered and Axel gently nods.
"Oh... There's nothing to disrupt when it comes to the family." Axel muttered and the secretary's eyes widened slightly with confusion.
"W-what?" She asked, her lashes fluttering over her cheeks.
"Let her in"
★
★King's Enterprises★
Melanie gently highlighted out of the car with Lucy besides her. Since this is her second time being here, she tried hiding the irritation bubbling under the surface, Lucy showed the officers their appointment approval and they were given easy access into the organization.
"Holy shît" Melanie's steps falter as they walked into the main building, the energy of staffs walking around and the exterior of the place has her lips parting. This place is exquisite.
"I don't think I will be allowed in" Lucy muttered and Melanie tightened her fists.
"Then seat at the reception and don't move" Melanie ordered, walking away and immediately the secretary stood up.
"Ms Melanie....."
"I'm here to see your boss" Melanie simply cuts her off and the secretary bites her tongue before forcing a smile.
"Straight ahead to your right and take the elevator to the tenth floor" the secretary muttered and Melanie rolled her eyes, brushing past her and furiously heading for the direction.
The ride on the elevator has Melanie's nerves quirking up. She's about to confront the King himself. Gosh, does she even stand a chance?. Looking at just his organization alone proves that he's indeed, the boss himself.
The elevator dinged open and Melanie braced herself. Summoning her courage as she strolls into the main, breathtaking office. Her eyes are laser focused on the huge man sitting on his seat and she closed the distance between them, slamming the agreement slip on the table and covering what he's reading in the process.
Thane doesn't flinch. He simply lifted his head and when their eyes clashed.... Something deep within him moved.
"I'm not doing this" Melanie cuts straight to the chase. "I'm not getting married to you"
Thane doesn't say a word. Instead his dark eyes are so focused on her lips and the way they moved gently despite talking angrily. He cocked his head sideways, observing just how small and yet perfect they look.
"Aren't you going to say something?. I just said that I'm not going to sign this goddamn paper!" Melanie yelled and Thane leaned back on his seat.
Was this the reason why he's suddenly getting bored in almost everything?.
Lips.
They don't faze him... As a matter of fact, he has never kissed anyone before.
He doesn't know what it feels like. Hasn't glued his mouth to anyone's before. Hasn't thought about it and he doesn't care.
But why does he suddenly feel this urge to suck her dry?
To devour her lips and have her gasping for more. To see what they would look like when full?
Dammit.
"Hellooooo!!!" Melanie yelled, slamming both hands on his table and leaning forward, her upper region hunched over his desk. "are you listening to me?"
Thane doesn't move. It's like he's in a trance.
This up close, her lips look even more inviting.
Is he suddenly obsessed with her lips?
But she's too young. Don't go hard on her.
Shut the fúck up....
"Answer me!. Seriously, what is wrong with you?" Melanie asked, leaning forward even more– her first mistake. She glared at Thane's unmoving body when his hand suddenly shoots out and grabbed her neck pulling her forward.
Shît!.
"What the fúck!?.." Melanie yelled, her stomach is plastered on his table as her feet dangled off the floor, her hands pressed against his chest as their faces are mere inches apart.
"You have really nice lips" he murmured for the first time and she blinks repeatedly. His grip on her neck tightening up.
"What are you....."
"And I can't help but imagine what it would look like when stuffed" he adds and she tried swallowing but it's impossible.
"Stuffed with what?.... " She asked, her mouth opened to say more and probably curse him as well but the next few words leaving his lips has her eyes widening.
"Stuffed with dîck, Sunshine" he smirks. "Mine preferably"
Holy shît.
★
TBC.
★