Prologue 2

Prologue 2

Charlotte sat inside her office, leisurely sipping from her glass when one of her workers came to inform her that George Wellington wanted to see her. She hastily instructed the girl to bring him to her office.

In the next heartbeat, George was sitting across from her, his eyes glinting with something sinister. His potbelly and thinning brown hair were unmistakable, as was the satisfied gleam in his eyes, hinting at the pleasure he'd just enjoyed with one of his favorite girls.

He liked his women young, fresh, innocent, and, if possible, untainted. He was Charlotte's biggest customer and the one she feared the most. That reputation wasn't only because he never missed a night in her brothel, it went past that.

"I was told you wanted to see me. I hope everything is okay? Did my girls not do a good job tonight?" Charlotte asked, focusing her gaze on George.

Charlotte wasn't the type to be intimidated by men, but George was different. With a single snap of his finger he could destroy everything she'd built.

"Relax Chaz. They were beautiful, especially the strawberry head with model legs," he laughed, revealing two missing canines in his lower mouth.

Charlotte knew at once he was talking about Rosie, she was one of her new girls, and a lot had said the same.

"She almost sent me to my maker with those sucking skills." George continued, earning a laugh from Charlotte.

Seeing he wasn't in her office to complain about not getting satisfied, she let her shoulders relax.

"I only want to know how much progress you've made with your niece." The lighthearted atmosphere slowly dissipated.

"I told you to be patient, she's definitely going to be yours, and soon. You need not worry about her." Charlotte reassured him.

"You told me the same thing a few weeks ago, and now there are rumors that she's galavanting with a young boy. You know I do not like my properties touched, Chaz. And if you're afraid that I won't treat her well, you need not be. I'm capable of taking care of her–anything she desires, she only has to name it."

Charlotte's smile brightened. "I trust you, George. And I assure you my niece is yours. You do not need to worry about any of those rumors you heard. You only have to keep doing what you do for my business." She took a swig of her wine. "I don't want their eyes here, ever."

George Wellington was a powerful man with many corrupt cops and influential figures in his pocket. Charlotte kept George's third leg satisfied, and in return, he shielded her operations– trafficking, underage prostitution, and laundering dirty money for politicians. Credit to brothels being a heavy-cash business, making it difficult to suspect something. Despite that, she wanted to keep George close, Incase of any fallout.

After George left, Charlotte paced her tastefully furnished office with a scowl on her face.

She had almost had Ashley right where she wanted her. Just a little more time, and the girl would've been so far gone, that she would've begged George for attention. But no, that damn boy who always hovered around her like a guard dog had to play the hero. Charlotte's fingers clenched around her glass as she imagined the look on his face when he thought he'd saved her.

"What a fool." She hissed.

She needed another plan, a better one that wouldn't fail. George's words echoed in her mind: 'That boy... could be a problem.' Charlotte shook her head. "Not for much longer. I'll make sure of that."

A month had passed since that fateful night, and for Ashley, it had been the best month of her life. After waiting for what felt like forever–waiting for Lorenzo to finally ask her out, to finally admit he felt the same way. He had at last done so after she shamelessly lost her virginity to him.

Ashley was proudly Lorenzo's girlfriend now, and it was the best birthday gift she'd received. Only those who had longed and waited for a dream to become real would understand the overwhelming joy she felt as she lay beneath the evening sky, nestled against the new love of her life, watching the stars.

At least that's what you'd think she was doing, but in reality, she was watching the man lying beside her, looking like he'd just walked off some painting.

She remembered Lorenzo's guilt-ridden apologies, his concern that he'd taken advantage of her vulnerable state after their intimate encounter. But she had made sure to talk him out of it, confessing her long-held obsession with him.

"What's going on in that tiny head of yours, Sunshine?" Lorenzo rolled her onto his chest, a teasing smirk playing on his lips.

Ashley gasped at the sudden movement. "Nothing," she lied. But the way Lorenzo arched a brow said he didn't believe her.

"I know when you're lying. You squint your eyes." He teased, rolling her beneath him this time.

Ashley giggled. "Just admit you're so obsessed with me that you've memorized all my expressions, even the silly ones."

Lorenzo propped himself up on his elbow, stealing a kiss. It was supposed to be brief—a soft brush of his lips against hers, but the little temptress beneath him had other plans. She deepened the kiss, drinking him in as if she would never get enough.

"I'm not just obsessed, Sunshine," Lorenzo murmured against her lips. "You drive me crazy."

A delicious heat spread through Ashley's body at his words. She moaned softly, writhing against the blanket they had laid on the grass. Her hand guided his beneath her skirt, and his eyes darkened when he made contact with bare skin.

"You're not wearing any panties," he rasped, his breath uneven.

Ashley bit her lip, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Lorenzo exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "You're going to be the death of me, Sunshine," he husked, undoing his belt and sliding into her in one smooth motion.

A gasp escaped her lips as their bodies became one beneath the stars.

Moments after their intimacy, Lorenzo and Ashley headed home, hands clasped as they talked about random things."

"I didn't think it was possible to love someone this much in such a short time." Ashley suddenly blurted, making Lorenzo's ears turn a bright shade of red In the dark.

He paused on his track and so did Ashley. He cupped her face, his thumbs tenderly caressing before he briefly kissed her on her hair which was the color of the night.

"I love you more than your mind can ever comprehend, Ashley." His whisper was soft like the gentle night breeze, cradling ashley like a lullaby. "I've loved you from the very first moment I laid eyes on you. And just like that day, I'll always protect you, sunshine." he pulled her into a hug, the world around them blurring away.

After that heart melting confession, Ashley fell harder. Everything was great–the random sex, the games, sneaking in through each other's windows at night, the late night conversations. They were so deeply in love that it hurt.

But that was until he left.

No single quarrel

No single fight.

Their love ended without a warning.