Tangled in the web of lust
Chapter 21~22
★★★★
What the fúck?
Melanie stared at the message while rotted in place, Samantha and Lucy are already inside the car, chattering and still yet to have figured out that Melanie hasn't joined them.
All of Melanie's life..... She has known normal.
She has lived by it too. But the past few weeks of her life has been a whirlwind of... Absurdity.
Her Dad stealing.... She paying the price.
Being forced into the devil's tomb.... Her name engraved boldly on it with stripes of dripping blood painting the stone.
She's in the devil's lair now.... And that normal that she's used to?..... Is gone.
Melanie: What the hell is that supposed to mean?.... Black wedding dress?
Melanie started walking towards the car as she awaits his reply. Her teeth gawning on her bottom lip as different emotions swirl inside of her.
Unknown number: Yes. Black wedding dress. Imagine how you would look dressed like an evil gothic barbie doll.... With your lips paint black and your eyes shining with defiance, and lust.
Melanie actually gasped. Pulling the door open, she flops on the seat, tuning Lucy and Samantha's chattering out and focusing on her phone.
Melanie: Are you sick?
Unknown number: Thought we've already established that fact?. I'm demented, Sunshine.
Melanie: You need help... And prayers to go with it.
Unknown number: Would it be considered me praying if you are the one on your knees?
Melanie's grip on her phone tightened.
Melanie: You are a sick pervert.
Unknown number: I didn't know you were so good at talking dirty. But that's besides the point. Tell me Sunshine. Black wedding dress?
Melanie: No.
Unknown: Why?
Melanie: I don't know. You don't need to know either.
Unknown number: oh I get it.... You prefer white because the thrill of seeing your vîrgin blood drip all over it turns you on, don't worry, your secret is safe with me.
A gasp threatened to escape Melanie's mouth but she forced it down.
Melanie: How would you know if I'm actually a vîrgin?
Unknown number: Eh, just had a hunch.... Am I right though?
Melanie: No, you are not.. and stop talking to me.
Unknown number: This whole conversation wouldn't have ensured if you had just ignored me from the start.
Melanie sealed her eyes shut as she exited the text app.
Fuçking cocky bastard.
Why does he always have an upper hand?
It's because he's older..... Oh shut up, it's not just that.
He's just a pure narcissist.
"Why are you frowning like that?" Samantha asked and Melanie raised an eyebrow, turning slightly to look at her. The ride towards Kulture's Wears is about forty minutes away.
"I'm not frowning" Melanie muttered under her breath.
Samantha gave her a knowing smile as she raised her phone and the next thing, the flash of her phone camera made Melanie to roll her eyes.
"What does this look like?" Samantha asked, pointing her screen towards Melanie, her scowling face reflecting on it.
"Stop trying to be funny, Mother" Melanie muttered and Samantha shrugged.
The driver pulled up at Kulture's Wears after some minutes of silence, Melanie's thoughts are scattered around as they hopped out and strolled towards the biggest clothing brand in Arlington.
Pushing the door open, Melanie was hit in the face by the beautiful view on the inside, white and pink walls, clothing liners with different designs, employees chatting with the customers around.
"This place is magnificent" Samantha muttered under her breath, the appreciation shining deep in her eyes as the clicking of heels resounded besides them.
"Melanie Canolly" Kulture, CEO of the Agency, is walking up to them with a bright smile plastered on her face.
Lucy and Samantha furrowed their eyebrows, including Melanie, because how in the hell did she know her name?
"Hi" Melanie muttered, seemingly out of place and Kulture smiles.
"I'm Samantha Canolly, her mother" Samantha stretched out her hand and Kulture took it in a firm handshake.
"It's so nice to meet you" Kulture beams. "It's more than a honour to be in charge of your wedding dress fitting. I kid you not. Nonna King actually threatened to shut down my company if I don't give you the perfect dress" Kulture muttered with a smile but Melanie's face morphed into a glare.
Why would she say something like that?
"Well..... here we are" Samantha muttered and Lucy chuckled lightly, not bothering to introduce herself.
"Come on, let's get into the VIP section" Kulture beams, walking towards the stairs that leads to the upper floor. Lucy, Samantha and Melanie trailed behind her, their heels echoing through as they climbed.
Black wedding dress.
Gothic barbie doll.
Vîrgin....
Oh fúck you, Thane King. He couldn't have possibly known.
Entering the VIP section, a light gasp escaped Melanie's lips, even Samantha and Lucy are surprised, beautiful wedding dresses are hanging off each lines. It's hard to pick one for a fitting.
"Well... Here are some of our best dresses in Arlington. Definitely meant for royalty" Kulture muttered with a lopsided grin and Melanie gulped.
"I don't want something.... Fancy" she muttered.
"Are you kidding me?" Kulture sounds surprised. "You are getting married to Thane King, you need to look fancy, catchy, blowing minds.... His included" Kulture winked and Samantha held Melanie's shoulders.
How can she possibly tell Kulture that this marriage is a contract and she's literally being forced into it?
"Just.... Pick something unique. It doesn't have to be fancy" Samantha muttered and Melanie's eyes clashed with Lucy's who gave her a supportive nod.
All of a sudden.... Thane's words sprang into her mind, playing simultaneously like a loop.
Her eyes coming in contact with a particular dress, plain and untouched, perfect for her new idea.
"Ms Kulture.... I know this sounds weird but I want that dress" Melanie points to the other end and Kulture followed her line of vision.
Lucy raised an eyebrow. Samantha is looking at Melanie like she has gone crazy and Kulture couldn't believe her eyes.
"A-are you sure?" Kulture asked.
"Yes, I'm very sure"
★
★King's Enterprises★
The main office filled with cubicles for different workers is buzzing with so much energy.
One, mainly because that's how it has always been and two..... The fuçking message posted on the website for 'Employees Only'
"So lemme get this straight" Sarah. The main gossip of the organization stood right in the middle of coworkers gathered around. "Thane King, our boss, my forever crush, is getting married.... And not just to anyone worthy of his status but her?.... Melanie Martinez Canolly?.... Seriously?. What the fúck?"
"Why do you sound so surprised?.... It's about time he gets married..." David, an intern, muttered and Sarah glared at him.
"I know that" Sarah snapped. "What I don't get however is..... Why her?"
"Why not her?" Simon, an accountant in the organization blurted out incredulously. "Have you seen Melanie Canolly?... She's super hot. I love her" he mused and Emily smacked the back of his head.
"She's fuçking twenty!" Sarah blurted out in distain. "She's not even up to his standards" she adds.
"And you think you are?" Lima asked with a taunting smrik and Sarah gasp.
"No offense but I think you are not even up to anyone's standards" Lindsey voiced out and Sarah's cheeks turned red out of embarrassment.
"You are just jealous.... She doesn't deserve him" Sarah muttered.
"And yet they're getting married..... How ironic?" Lima mused and Emily chuckled lightly.
"Heard they were spotted at Arlington's jewelries.... "
"Oh my goodness!.... They're definitely serious about getting married...." Emily chuckled, clapping her hands together enthusiastically.
"Well.... My baby and I are getting married too soon" Jordyn, a fellow intern muttered, hugging her fiance and everyone beams.
"Lovers make me sick" Sarah muttered with a knowing smile and Jordyn rolled her eyes, placing a soft kiss on her fiance lips– Aiden, and hoots filled the air.
"But.... Do you guys think Mr Thane and Melanie love each other.... Like are they in love?" Lindsay asked and everywhere went silent.
"She's has a boyfriend... Travis Maine" Lima muttered and Sarah's eyes darted everywhere. "And they haven't broken up yet.... Guys, what does that mean?"
"Wait... What?" Emily rushes to add, her confused face mirroring that of everyone's.
"Melanie is in a relationship of two years and now she's suddenly getting married without breaking up with him, isn't that suspicious?" Lima asked and Simon pinched the bridge of his nose.
"What if the marriage isn't.... Mutual?" Simon asked.
"Like a forced marriage?.... An arranged marriage?" Emily gasped, covering her mouth.
Sarah's eyes lit up as everyone started piecing the puzzles together.
"Exactly.... If I'm correct, Mr Thane and Melanie definitely don't know each other before and suddenly they're getting married. It's mad suspicious" Simon voiced out and everywhere went silent for a minute.
"Why would Mr Thane force Melanie to marry him?. He's the most attractive man on earth, has enough money to last hundreds of generations to come and many testifies he's a tyrant in bed..... So why would he possibly force a girl who's ten years younger than him to into an arranged marriage?" Lima pointed out and Simon snapped his fingers.
"Maybe Melanie did something" Simon muttered and Sarah clicked her tongue.
"No.... I don't think so." Sarah muttered. "If this is an arranged marriage then it only means one thing" she paused to study everyone's faces. "Melanie owes him something"
"Or her family does...." Emily trails off.
"Exactly" Sarah muttered begrudgingly.
★
★Cindy's Crawford Agency★
Melanie walked out of the changing room in the dress made for her photo shoot, Cindy Crawford's design. Although while Melanie has high taste in fashion, she can't help but admire Cindy's design.
The studio is buzzing as she walked into the Hair and Makeup station, flopping down on the chair in front of the mirror and immediately the makeup artist gets to work.
Lucy strolls inside with two hangers, Cindy's designer dresses for the other two shoots and gently placed them on a empty chair.
"Your shot is in five minutes" Lucy muttered as Melanie's face gets covered in beautiful makeup.
"Thanks, Lucy" Melanie muttered.
Another presence feeling the room as Melanie staring at the mirror, reflecting the image of Carolina who walked in with two dresses as well, her prim and proper dressing and tight bun making her look like the modern version of jezebel.
She smiles, raising her hands higher and showcasing the dresses.
"Your shot is in five minutes and I've got your dresses for the other two shots, I think the makeup is enough, Lisa" Carolina muttered and Melanie raised an incredious eyebrow.
Lucy reered her head back, regarding Carolina with a stink eye.
"Carolina..... I already know when my time is up, plus that's what Lucy's here for, and I don't think you have the right to come over here and start ordering around..." Melanie blurted out and Carolina's smile faded immediately.
"I'm your new manager.... She doesn't have a place here" Carolina muttered and Lucy smiled to herself.
"The only person who doesn't have a place here is you" Melanie voiced out and Lisa subconsciously chuckled under her breath, Carolina's cruel gaze snapped towards her and Lisa straightened up.
"You are all set" Lisa muttered, packing up her stuff and Melanie stood up. Looking fully ready for the shoot.
"Thank you" Melanie muttered, facing Lucy who helped her out in-between the chair and table and Melanie smiled appreciatingly, using her hands to smooth out her dress.
"Ms Melanie.... Cindy Crawford would be very upset if she finds out that Lucy isn't gone. I was hired to be your new manager and that's how it's meant to be" Carolina muttered and Lucy shakes her head.
"Well, Cindy should get ready to terminate our deal then. I can't work with you"
"But...."
"No buts Carolina" Melanie snapped harshly. "Plus the dresses you are holding aren't even the ones I will be using. Lucy already brought them for me, so off you go" Melanie claps her hands, shooing Carolina off and she gasp.
"You heard what she said" Lucy steps forward a little. "Get out"
Carolina glared at Lucy unblinkingly, her long fingers curling around the hangers she's holding up, threatening to snap them off.
"This isn't over.... Lucifer" Carolina spat, walking away and Lucy eyes widened. She tried going after her but Melanie was quick enough to grab her hand.
"She just called me Lucifer...."
"Just let it go.... It's very obvious she's jealous of you" Melanie muttered and Lucy clenched her fists angrily.
The clicking of heels made both Lucy and Melanie raised their heads, spotting Cindy walking inside the station, her steps faltered immediately she spotted Lucy and a look of irritation crosses her eyes.
"You are ready!" Cindy called out and Melanie beams lightly, loving the dress and the way she look.
"Can I go now?" Melanie asked.
"Yeah, everyone is ready, we're just waiting for you before we start" Cindy muttered and Melanie smiles a little, rounding past her and heading for the main studio.
Lucy immediately follows behind but the feel of someone grabbing her mid-arm and pulling her backwards interrupted her movements, she turned around to see Cindy taking out a spray bottle and spraying it all over her hand she used in pulling her backwards.
Lucy's glare doubled at that.
"Lucy.... Don't force my hands into doing something terrible, I already told you" Cindy muttered in distain. "A Murrieta can not and will never work for me. You think I wouldn't figure out that you are his daughter. You think the contact lenses and new hair would hide your real identity?." Cindy muttered with a deadly expression and Lucy gulped.
"I have nothing to do with him...." Lucy managed to utter and Cindy smirks.
"But he has been looking for you everywhere for how many years now?" Cindy muttered. "And if he finds out that I let you work with me then you know what's going to happen...."
"Cindy...."
"No daughter of a criminal is ever going to work with me. Do you hear that?" Cindy muttered under her breath and Lucy's eyes watered.
"Yes, Ms Cindy Crawford" Lucy mumbles in defeat.
★
★King's Resident★
(Rule #5: You are nothing unless you mean something to the Kings)
Beatrice climbs down through the stairs from the guest room, she got to the landing and a small smile tipped her lips at the scene in front of her.
"Fuçking hell, Maverick, I think you broke my tongue" Knox muttered while holding up a mirror and checking out his piercing.
Maverick raised his head from his phone, a bored expression on his face and he slowly lowered himself from the highlander, strolling towards Knox.
"Will you stop bitçhing already?" Maverick rolled his eyes. "A tongue piercing usually takes up to four-six weeks before proper healing...." Maverick paused to see a bag of chips laying beside Knox on the couch. "Did you eat that?" He asked in horror.
"Yeah... I was starving...."
"You FOOL!" Maverick yelled and Knox flinched, the mirror he's holding clattering to the ground. Beatrice chuckled lightly as she leaned on the staircase. "You are not supposed to eat anything solid for at least three weeks, you dummy!" Maverick raved and Knox's eyes widened.
"Why didn't you tell me that in the first place!?" Knox yelled, wincing as a sharp pain sliced through his tongue.
"I did!... You weren't listening!" Maverick pointed out, rubbing his forehead with his thumb.
Beatrice slaps a hand over her mouth to muffle her laugher.
"My tongue hurts, bro" Knox muttered in pain then paused. "I think I'm gonna die.... Yep.That's it. I should have listened to Axel when he said you would break my tongue!" Knox flops on the couch and Maverick leaned forward, placing his index finger underneath Knox's chin.
"Relax. Open your mouth" Maverick ordered.
"Why?"
"Just fuçking do it" Maverick snapped and Knox slowly opened his mouth, sticking his tongue out and revealing the high-quality, implant grade sliver jewelry. The piercing is still swollen and tender but it's not bleeding. That made Maverick sigh in relief.
"Is it bad?" Knox asked as Maverick pulled back.
"You'll survive." Maverick shrugged. "Come on, I've got something to help reduce the pain." Maverick started walking towards the back and Knox followed him immediately.
Beatrice chuckled as she watched them leave to Maverick's basement. Axel isn't home and she's kinda bored..... A small smile tipped her lips as she climbed up and towards the elevator, hitting the fourth button as she steps in.
The elevator dinged and immediately it opens, the perfect view of Thane's super-large and cozy personal apartment comes into view. Each brothers have their own personal apartment but Thane's much bigger.
She casually walked in, inhaling his amazing scent as she stops in the middle of the living room when footsteps climbing down the stairs reached her ears.
Is he home already?
Operation snoop around Thane's apartment has failed woefully.
"Thane.... You are home already?. How did you get in?" She asked, clinging onto Maverick's t-shirt that stops right below her àss, showcasing her beautiful long legs.
"I came in through the back.... What are you doing in here, B?" Thane asked, eyeing her suspiciously and she bites her lips, her eyes dropping low with sluttry energy as she walked up to him. He's still cladded in his office suit but the jacket is gone and a few buttons on the white sleeve shirt is undone.
"Well.... I wanna play" she muttered, wrapping her hands around his sculpted waist, a lean one fitting his broad body.
"Go meet the others" Thane simply muttered, despite being pressed against her like this, he doesn't feel anything satisfying. In fact... He's getting angry.
Beatrice pouted, her lower lip pushing forward and Thane's eyes tracked the movement.....
Expecting that thud. That sudden rush. That sudden tightness he feels each time he thinks of his Sunshine but.... It doesn't happen.
Beatrice lips are lucious.... But they are not her's.
"Knox is crying over his pierced tongue, Maverick seems to be in his.... Off mood and Axel is no where to be found" Beatrice placed a soft kiss on his exposed chest. "I need you" she muttered.
Thane swallowed down the irritation bubbling under the surface.
"No" his response comes sharp.
"Why?" She asked, baffled by his rejection.
"I'm not in the mood. Go play with yourself" he peered off her grip and her eyes lit up.
"You wanna watch me?" She asked, heading for the couch but Thane's response stops her.
"No" comes the hard reply.
At this point, Beatrice is beyond surprised.
"But you love watching.... Are you seriously saying no to me?" She thunders and Thane regards her with a pointed look.
"Yes.... I'm saying no to you" he voiced out. "I'm not interested"
A knowing smile stretches across her face as she walked up to him again, grabbing the front of his shirt, she pushed her front against his, grinding on him but the disappointment that frames her face has her pulling back.
He's not hard.
Oh no.
"Thane" she muttered, reaching for the hem of her t-shirt and yanking it off her body, all her naked glory comes into view but Thane isn't feeling it, not even a little bit. "It's not considered cheating if you aren't married to her yet" she muttered, touching her boobs and feeling her face.
If it were to be before. Her screams would have been blasting loudly from the four corners of his living room.
But today.... Nah.
"Get out"
"What?..... Are you serious?"
"Go fuçk yourself, Beatrice." Thane smirked. "You sound desperate right now and it's a huge turn off" he adds and her eyes widened.
"How dare you!?" She yelled, embarrassment coloring her neck as she raised her hand to hit his chest but he caught it mid-air, a deadly expression on his face and she swallowed deep, fear invading her lungs and looping around her neck.
Thane suddenly grabbed her neck with his other hand, lifting her to eyes level with him, a choked scream leaves her muffled vocal cords, her legs dangling off the ground as she clutched onto his hand choking her neck with both tiny hands.
His eyes are filled with rage and disgust.
"Just because we give you access into our lives doesn't give you the right to fúck with me. Beatrice. Why feeling so entitled?. You think you own us?. You are nothing but a fúck toy and just like the rest of them, your place is out the fuçking door. Do you get that?. You are nothing but a slût. So don't you dare try to act like a clinging girlfriend" He snarled, pushing her off and she falls on the ground with a thud.
She's coughing as she grabbed her t-shirt, struggling to breathe properly as she glared at him.
"Once upon a time, I dated Axel.... " She spat. Refuting his words about calling her a slût.
"And once upon a time, he let us fuçk you and taking turns" he smirks evilly. "While he watched" he adds and her stomach coiled.
The look and realization hits her square in the face.
"Think about that when you get home" Thane muttered, walking towards the stairs and leaving her to wobble in shame.
★
★Melanie's Penthouse★
Melanie scrolls through her phone as Lucy walked up to her, looking dressed up and Melanie raised an eyebrow as she looks up.
"Going somewhere important?" She asked. "It's almost 6pm"
"Uhn, yes. I need to go get something" Lucy muttered, her face awkwardly stretched in a forced smile and Melanie drops her phone.
"What are you getting?. Can I come with you?" Melanie asked with a smile.
"No!" Lucy immediately declined and cursed herself under her breath before forcing a big smile. "I will be right back, Ms Melanie. I promise" Lucy muttered, heading for the door and Melanie looks confused.
"Sure?" Melanie muttered unsure as Lucy gave her a side smile before walking out the door.
"Hmm, she's acting suspicious. She's been like this ever since we went for the shoot a few days ago... Did Cindy do something to her?... Or is it Carolina" Melanie muttered to herself. "That bitçh better not mess with Lucy or else...." The dinging of the doorbell has Melanie shaking off her thousand thoughts and paddling her bare feet to the door.
"Lucy, it's fine if you don't want me to go with you, don't feel guilty about having a secret....." Melanie trails off as she opens the door fully and her eyes doubled up in size. "Travis?"
Travis is standing right in front of the porch, dressed in a baggy jean and hoodie, his wild natural blonde curls framing his face and Melanie's throat dried up.
She totally forgot she still has a hot boyfriend to break up with.
"Hi, Mel" he muttered, his eyes boring holes into her face and she steps out, closing the door behind her.
"What are you doing here?...."
"So it's true?"
"Huh?"
"You don't look happy to see me, so it's definitely true.... You are getting married" he blurted out and Melanie's jaw dropped instantly.
Shock. Remorse. Anger.... All the fuçking emotions coursing through her veins as she looks away.
"I was gonna tell you.." she muttered.
"When?" He sounds hurt. "When you are fuçking married to him and he would have completely taken what's mine?" He adds, his anger visible.
"Thought you wanted to be in an open relationship?" She snarked.
"This is fuçking different. I knew I said that shît but I never meant it" he voiced out and she scoffed lightly.
The silence between them stretches further and he grabbed her hands, pulling her close to him and she closed her eyes. The feel of having him this close is affecting her madly but... But there's something missing.
This doesn't feel... Real.
"Baby" he cooed. "I wanna keep you in a world where it's just the two of us" he muttered and her heart skipped several beats. "I love you. Okay. I never stopped"
Immediately, tears builds behind her eyes and she tried pulling away.
"Travis.... I can't, it's too late" she muttered.
"You can't or you won't?" He sounds pained and she hate herself for making him feel this way.
"It's complicated." She breaks down. "I can't escape this nightmare and I don't want to drag you into his orbit. Just... Forget about us. It's over. I'm getting married" she blurted and he closed his eyes, nodding off lightly.
"Two fuçking years and he's the one who gets to have you completely..."
"Travis..."
"I waited for you to be ready and now this?. You are tossing me aside like I mean nothing"
"Travis... please" she mumbled lowly, tears falling free and his hands sneaked behind her, grabbing her waist and pulling her flushed against him.
"If this is going to be our last time then let me in, Mel" he muttered, leaning downward and she looks up at him, her light sobs coming out in steams. "Let me make sweet love to you and show you what it feels like to actually be loved before fleeing into the nightmare that awaits." He adds and her heart skipped severally again.
They are just inches apart from each other now. His hot breath hitting her face and she shakes her head.
"Travis... This isn't right" she muttered but the look in her eyes says otherwise.
"Then put the blame on me, baby" he muttered, closing the distance between them in a flash and slamming his lips against her's hard.
An unmistakable moan tearing from deep within her throat in the process.
★
★
TBC.
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