I leave the apartment with a heavy heart, I’m trying to dismiss all the things that have been said between Olivia and me, but I have to come back here. I wonder what she’s going to tell her parents, then again, it doesn’t matter. Marco’s the reason I came here. I came to destroy him. I’ll get close to him and then find out his secrets then I’ll reveal them and let the whole world know the true monster he is and give him what he deserves.

Destruction. False hope.

Once he takes my virginity, that’s the last thing he’ll take from me. I’ll give it to him on a silver platter, and then I’ll get my revenge. That part I’m sure about because once he’s at his weakest, that’s when I’ll be able to make my move.

“Ready?” David asks as I stand outside my apartment door.

I look at my phone with the cracked screen and simply nod my head. I try to smile, but the guilt is the only thing stopping me from leaving right now.

I shake my head as I take the lead down the hallway to him. The man that destroyed my family and the one I intend to bring down to his knees.

“David, how long have you worked for Mr. Raco?”

He stops in his tracks as if he’s surprised by my question, but I want to know how much he knows about the man he works for. Does he know that he’s a monster? One that gets a kick out of ruining everyone else’s life?

“About five years now.”

Wow, his answer takes me by surprise. I didn’t even think he was that old. I’m about to ask him another question; maybe he senses it, so he avoids it by saying, “He’s waiting for us downstairs.”

As he reaches the elevator, he presses the button. But that doesn’t stop me asking exactly what’s on my mind.

“You don’t look old enough. I thought that we’re the same age. I…”

He raises his hand as soon as the elevator door opens.

“I don’t mind you talking to me. But if the questions are about Mr. Raco then you need to ask him yourself. I work for him, and he’s an employer who’s a lot better than the other ones I’ve had in the past. I want to keep it that way.”

I nod my head, thinking how I’ve gone below the belt. I’m clutching at straws thinking of ways to try and justify my actions. The fact that I’m going somewhere with a complete stranger…A man as dangerous as Marco Raco makes me feel as if I’ve lost my mind. I should be sending money to my stepsister, going home and making sure my mom’s okay and even worse seeing Olivia and apologizing for being so selfish.

Instead, I’m heading out of the elevator with a big smile on my face. This time it’s not David that’s holding the door open, but Marco.

“I thought that you changed your mind.”

I shake my head. I feel as if my lips are stuck together. They’re glued by the guilt I want to shake off, and they keep replaying in my mind.

“Good. Don’t worry you’ll be earning a lot more by spending time with me than you would do working in the diner.”

I hold on to the limo door. No longer feeling as if I want to go with him as he’s talking about me as if I’m some whore. He needs to fall for me. Not fucking pay to sleep with him. Not after everything I’ve sacrificed to get here until now. “I don’t want to be paid,” I hiss and then I continue to say, “I didn’t mean what I said earlier about repaying you. I want to be with you. I’ve never met a man like you.”

He kisses me gently on the lips and smiles. “You don’t know how much that means to me.”

His gentle gesture takes me completely by surprise. I didn’t expect it. I know he’s been married before, so I knew there was a chance of reaching his heart for that reason. He’s opened it up before. What didn’t surprise me were the circumstances in which she died, there was speculation that she killed herself and rumors online about there being foul play. The police, investigators couldn’t prove her death wasn’t suicide. I’ve only been speaking to him properly for one afternoon and maybe it’s too soon to be spending a whole weekend with him? He seems sensitive. Vulnerable… something that I didn’t think was possible for the man who destroyed my life.

“I think I’m going to enjoy this weekend.” I smile as I enter the limo.

Marco sits next to me, he closes the door and says, “That’s exactly what I had in mind. I wouldn’t want it any other way. Now buckle up and let’s get this show on the road.”

“Marco?”

“Yes?” He hesitates, as he’s just about to press the intercom. No doubt to tell David that we’re ready to leave.

“Should I go upstairs and get the dresses that you bought me? Where are we going?”

He smiles at me, but doesn’t answer as he tells David to drive to the airport. Then he looks at me and says, “I’m taking you somewhere you’ve never been before.”

I fold my arms defensively. “Well, who says that I haven’t been to wherever we’re flying to?”

“We’re flying to my island. Somewhere that I’m sure you’ve never been to because I own it.”

He’s taking me to his private island. I know for sure now, I’ll win a lot more than his heart in a record of time.