A Scandal With Mr. Nightwood

How could he do this to me? Weren't we in love?

Tonight, on New Year's, where spirits were high, excitement in the air, my world crashed.

My trust, my love, my future, my emotions, everything died when I saw my 'forever' being pressed against the headboard, his hands gripping the hips of my best friend, Amie.

"E-Edric?"

The room went dead silent.

Edric sat upright, his hair a mess, his skin flushed with a heat that wasn't meant for me. He was shocked but not guilty or ashamed.

Amie didn't hide either, she simply leaned back, a slow, triumphant smirk spreading across her face.

"Kristine," Edric panted, wiping sweat from his brow, "You are early."

"Early enough to see the man I love fucking the woman I trusted?"

My vision was blurred. A single tear escaped, hot and stinging, trailing through my makeup.

"How could you...?" I choked out, tears blurring the sight of them.

"I thought... I thought we were building a life together, Edric,"

Impotent to carry the pain, the resonance of my sobbing echoed in the beautifully decorated suite yet it didn't bulge the asshole before me.

"A life? Together? When did I agree to such an absurd idea?"

The cruelty of his statement made me flinch.

I thought this was the worst my life could get. Boyfriend cheating on me with my friend on New Year's, right?

No. Because in my hands lies a fucking pregnancy test that showed the results 'POSITIVE' in digital ink.

I had envisioned this moment a thousand times. The candlelight, the champagne, and the look of pure joy on Edric's face when I told him he was going to be a father.

The future I dreamed of build shattered in one moment.

What could possibly be more painful than this?

"Both of you are assholes," I whimpered, steps stumbling due to overwhelming heartbreak and weakness.

"How could you betray me? What have I not done for you? I give you all my assets, my money, my love and this is what I get?"

Anguish coated my gray eyes. My black hair was in a mess, glaring outrageously through the salty tears at those two who returned a cocky smirk.

"So what? You are just a mess in the end. A pathetic woman. What do you have for me to desire you?"

Shaking violently, the papers in my hands almost ripped as my chest constricted with inexplicable heartbreak.

Praying, they hold a slightest glimpse of regret in those eyes but to no avail. They were enjoying it.

"How can you say this? Weren't we friends, Amie? Weren't we lovers, Edric?"

"Exactly. We were."

"Go home, Kristine. Find someone on your own level."

He laughed when Amie mocked me, purposely tightening her grip on him while pressing herself harder into him.

They had zero concern about my ache which flared my chest with the need to do the worst to them. They couldn't get away with this so easily.

"One day, you will regret betraying me, you will beg me for forgiveness... just watch!"

"You wish,"

No, I won't let it.

My grieve evoked a strong, uncontrollable wrath in me. They won't be forgiven easily.

I looked at the crystal vase on the side table. My mind shut down. I swung.

CRACK.

The vase shattered against Edric's temple. He slumped instantly, blood blooming across the white sheets.

Amie screamed, scrambling back, but I was already at the door.

"Happy New Year, assholes," I spat, wiping my useless tears before showing my middle finger to them as I slammed the door behind me

After getting my heart ruptured and experiencing a nightmarish start to the year, I was expressing my grief to my best friend Rose at a dimly-lit bar.

"How could he do this to me, Rose? What is going to happen to my baby now?" I sobbed, tears streaming down my face without any intention of halting, which I tried to hide in my palm.

"I always knew he was a dog, but Amie? That's bottom-tier behavior," Rose shrugged, taking a shot of tequila.

"I hope both of them suffer in the worst way possible," I muttered, tightening my grip over my drink, losing my composure.

The merest thought was my friend and boyfriend deceiving me for Lord knows how long it was breaking my heart beyond repair.

"Come on, Kristine, it's New Year. Maybe this is a sign for you to have a new start. He is not the last man on Earth," she suggested.

"Or a sign that my life has reached its lowest point and I have to raise this baby alone," I scoffed, wiping my tears roughly, pouring myself another drink.

"Come on, you are Kristine Iglesias, you don't need that man to raise a child," she tried to be optimistic, clicking her glass against mine.

"Fuck it, enjoy the New Year,"

I was utterly displeased, but soon the alcohol started to blur my perception. I mindlessly agreed in order to subdue the overwhelming pain.

Maybe denial will reduce it.

"Yeah... you are right... Why should I sob? We don't need a pathetic baby daddy, "

I pushed my messy hair, shaking my head to discard the anguish, getting pumped for the night and, surprisingly, it worked as I was immersed in the moment.

"I am done being the victim, Rose," I said, slamming my empty glass onto the table.

The tequila had finally numbed the sharp edges of my heartbreak, replacing it with a reckless heat.

"Good," Rose replied, her eyes darting toward the shadows of the VIP lounge.

"Because the most dangerous man in the room hasn't taken his eyes off you for the past twenty minutes."

"Who?" I followed her gaze.

Sitting in a booth that was carved was the irresistible billionaire who dominated his field like a King and discarded enemies like tissues.

Zayne Nightwood.

The most bewitching, powerful businessman in the states. Owner of Nightwood Corporation, having chains of airlines, shipments.

"Zayne... Nightwood?"

Our eyes locked, he raised his glass.

Surprisingly, tonight, he didn't look like a businessman, he looked like a predator and his target was me.

His breathtaking sapphire ones didn't break contact. Increasing the intensity of the moment, which amplified my heartbeats. I was stiff, staring back at him.

"Your ex's mortal enemy. How does that sound like ultimate revenge?"

I was shocked at her suggestion but then something wicked knocked in my mind. The alcohol fueled a sudden bravery.

I didn't just want to move on.

I wanted to burn Edric's world to the ground.

"How..." I smirked back, raising my glass too, "Perfect,"

I stood up, smoothed my black dress, and walked straight toward the man who made the city tremble. I didn't wait for an invitation. I stepped into his space, my fingers grazing the edge of his table.

"Mr. Nightwood," I purred, extending my hand out to him which he grabbed without hesitation, pulling me into his lap.

He seemed content, pressing me harder into him with his hot breaths on my neck, doing something magical to me.

"Where is that good-for-nothing boyfriend of yours, Miss Iglesias?"

"Ex," I corrected him sourly, taking a sip of my drink, sliding my hand to his thigh, biting my bottom lip seductively.

A wicked glimpse flickered in his eyes, as if it was the most felicitous news, and simultaneously, we both sensed a hidden intention.

"Finally decided to raise your standard?"

"Uh-huh,"

I was barely in my sense, giggling as my fingers traced over his chiseled jawline, running my fingers through the beard of this devilishly handsome man.

He saw lust clouding my eyes, pressing himself against me, running my finger down to his neck as he inhaled my scent.

"In that case,"

Holding my hand, he kissed my wrist while wrapping his other hand around my waist, blinding me in his spell and I subconsciously craved more of it.

"Would you like me to make your New Year unforgettable, sweetheart?"

"I would love to~"

The door to his place hadn't even fully clicked shut before he had me pinned against the wall possessively.

When his lips met mine in a magical way, I mindlessly reacted, feeling daring enough due to the alcohol and kissed him back.

He tasted like expensive bourbon and dark intentions, a mystic sync that drowned out the echoes of Edric's laughter and Amie's smirks.

He pulled back just an inch to catch his breath before trailing his finger to my neck.

With a low chuckle, he stepped back, his eyes dark with a hunger that made my blood pump faster.

I didn't want to be gentle.

I reached for his shirt, my fingers fumbling with the buttons until I ripped the fabric open, exposing his ripped muscles and inviting abs.

"Eager, are we?" Zayne's voice was a husky growl.

Before I could answer, he spun me around, pressing my back against the chilling wall, the predatory weight of his body crushing mine.

Locking my one hand beside my head, his grip on me was firm, chaining me against the wall like he won't release it, ever.

As if he owned me. As if his fingers burned to graze me.

As if I... belonged to him.

"You are shaking," he murmured, his hands sliding down to my hips, pressing me harder into his toned body, "Is it cold, Kristine? Or is it me?"

Leaving a trail of wet kisses from my shoulder, to my neck, down to my collarbones, ensuring every inch of my skin bore his scent and wetness.

Implanting his mark everywhere and surprisingly, I let him, moaning his name with a truthful answer.

"Y-You,"

Closing my eyes to sway along the heated rhythm, a mewl escaped my lips, resting all my weight on him, sensing his strong arousal.

"Fuck... you are so desirable, Kristine," He growled.

He moved with a tempting efficiency, stripping away my dress until I stood exposed in the moonlight, forming goosebumps all over my body.

"Good thing you left a loser like him. He was never worth it," He hummed.

His hands roughly moved across my skin, making every curve under his palm, biting my earlobe.

I instinctively started to cover myself, but Zayne caught my wrists. He held them above my head, his gaze raking over me with a terrifying intensity.

On one side, it felt immoral but on the other, the delicious taste of stepping out of my comfort zone pulled me back to him.

"Don't," He commanded, turning me around to face him sharply.

"I have wanted to see you like this since the moment you walked into that club. Finally, you are mine."

He lowered me onto the silk sheets, his body following. As he moved between my thighs, his movements were slow, agonizing.

Something hauntingly beautiful flashed in his eyes, as if he had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

Slowly crawling up to me, taking his amusement from every reaction.

He kissed my ankles, my inner thighs, his tongue trailing a path of liquid fire that made me clench the sheets, arching my back due to neediness.

"Zayne..."

"What? Do you want to back away?"

Burying his face down to suck on my nipples, he bit down, "Or continue."

"C-Continue, pl- please!" I moaned deafeningly, fingers clasped around his hair, granting him further access.

The way his tongue drenched my sensitive spot, I had never sensed this pleasure before, it defeated every other, it turned me blind.

He bit harshly which caused me to whimper, running my nails down on his toned back, pressing him more into me.

"Zayne!"

Moving upward, he started giving me butterfly kisses while rubbing me to check the wetness, noticing my lust was amplifying by each passing second.

Letting a soft hum, "You're wet."

He moved to my neck, biting it, marking me as his and completed his sentence.

"For me."

"Hmm... For you," I nodded in desperation, requiring more of it, more of him, to experience the sinful taste of euphoria.

His lips curved upward from one side menacingly when he pulled my legs apart, wrapping them around his torso.

"Are you sure?" He asked huskily, holding my wrist, kissing it gently before making an intense eye-contact that hastened my beats.

"I want you," I gasped, my voice breaking. "I want to burn everything else away."

The first thrust was a shock, a forceful, overwhelming presence that made me cry out in pain.

Zayne froze, his muscles locking as he stared down at me, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

"You-" He groaned, "You are so tight, Kristine,"

"This is my first time... like this," I confessed, my heart pounding madly when the sensation of him being inside me overwhelmed me.

"My first one-night stand."

I ended up squirming at the sensation of pain but pinning me by holding my wrist, his lips kissed my neck passionately, trying to hush me beautifully.

"Shh, shh, it's fine, you will get used to it,"

He began to move again slowly this time, allowing me to adjust to his size and relax eventually.

I bit my lips, looking out of the window, feeling strangely good when he pushed himself harder, surging a wave of euphoria.

"Zayne!"

I moaned loud enough for the walls to tremble and alarm the neighbours as the pain was now replaced with extreme pleasure.

Gradually his thrusts turned into a rough, driving pace. Every hit, every breath, every growl from his throat blinded me to scream for more.

He was not just fucking me, he was claiming every inch of my skin.

"Yes.. Yes... right Ah! There." I said senselessly, solely immersed in the endless bliss my love-deprieved body was receiving.

My grip over his hand became tight when Zayne picked pace and began to thrust harder, faster, driving me wild, mixing our groans and releasing one symphonic sound.

Edric never felt this amazing, this... perfect.

"Goddammit... ." He growled which made me shudder and made an unforeseen enunciation.

"You are mine now." He snarled, forcing me to stare into his obsessive gaze that intimidated me.

"And now that I have claimed this body... " His eyes darkened, commanding strictly, "No one else will... Understood?"

His dominance crushed me as he pressed all his weight upon me and gave me a rough thrust, enough to make me scream.

When I failed to response, his grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking me forward, "I said do you fucking understand?!"

My body reacted on its own, agreeing hastily, "Y-Yes.. I am all yours.."

The possessiveness should have scared me. Instead, it was the most intoxicating thing I had ever felt.

Why did it feel like it was much more than a one night stand to him?

Humming, he continued and soon could feel twitching around him, letting him know I was at my edge and could no longer last long.

"I.. I can't take it anymore, Zayne,"

"Then let go, let it all out of your head and focus on me entirely, Sweetheart,"

Excited to claim my body as his, he increased the speed so I won't be able to contemplate my surroundings.

Screaming his name, calling out like he was all I needed, to think only about the heavenly sensation as we both reached our climax.

"Oh..! Oh God...!"

"Fuck!" He growled when he came inside me, stopping gradually as I was shaking under him due to extreme pleasure surging in me.

"I bet Edric couldn't make you this satisfied, right?" He smirked proudly.

"Yes..." I agreed timidly.

Incapable to even breath or think, I let out a sigh of relief finally to show I had witnessed paradise just as I used to imagine in my dreams only.

"Fuck yeah..."

Regaining my composure, I noticed his bewitching features from up close, holding his face in my hands.

He kissed my palm as his eyes fell on the time and the clock twelve, indicating a new year had started.

Oh Lord, THAT'S how I am starting my new year!?

He laughed a little seductively before laying beside me, wrapping his strong arm around me, permitting me to lay on his chest and relax.

"So... how is the start of your New Year?"

I smiled and replied with one word.

"Heavens."

"Glad to hear it,"

Closing our eyes, we both collapsed into each other for a satisfied sleep after a night of ecstasy.

Sunlight penetrated through the window, cascading over my face, dragging me back to my senses as I woke up to a room that didn't belong to me.

My head throbbed, a reminder of too much tequila and a heartbreak that hadn't quite died.

I reached out, expecting to feel Zayne's warm skin, but the sheets beside me were cold. Empty.

"Huh..? Zayne?"

A note sat on the nightstand next to a tray of gourmet breakfast. 'Had to leave. Sorry.'

Professional. Cold. Just like the man himself.

I laughed bitterly, the sound echoing in the massive suite.

What did I expect? A confession of love? It was a one-night stand, a strategic move in his war against Edric.

He must have done this to claim his enemy's woman and I, out of heartache.

Smiling to myself feebly, I pushed my wet hair behind and since I was starving, I ate everything, grabbed my things, called a cab and left his place.

Rose and I were sharing an apartment after disowning my family - yes, I disowned them.

I went home, Rose was absent. Must be enjoying her night too.

Smirking coldly, I decided to rest for the time being before the top-class gathering where I had to solidify my steps.

By 8:00 PM, I was standing in front of the mirror, Rose watching me with a mix of awe and concern.

"You look like you are going to a funeral, Kristine," She smirked, wearing her shoes.

"I am," I smirked back, applying a coat of blood-red lipstick. "Edric's."

Feeling bold tonight, I had chosen a dress that was practically a weapon, floor-length black lace, backless, with a slit that climbed dangerously high.

All eyes must be latched on me. I was the CEO of Scents'n'Secrets, topnotch fragrances after all.

I was a woman of perfume and power. I wouldn't let them see me bleed.

Tonight, people would consider my attention a privilege.

"My, my, aren't you becoming bolder?" Rose teased, scanning me from top to bottom.

"One should be when they have to stand alone," I replied derisively, picking my purse, holding my head high and leaving for the party.

The second I entered, I could feel the eyes following me, studying me thoroughly, but I had decided to make it MY year.

I won't lose to them.

But, then, I felt it.

Him.

The air behind me shifted, growing heavy, powerful.

A hand, large and familiar, grazed at my back, tracing a line on my spine. The heat of it burned through my lace dress, sending a traitorous shiver straight to my core.

"Avoiding me already, Sweetheart?" Zayne's low, tempting tone reached my ears.

"I am not avoiding you, Mr. Nightwood," I didn't turn around. I couldn't, "I am just... sober now."

"Sober is boring," he murmured, his hand tightening slightly on my waist, pulling me back until my heels were locked between his.

"And you weren't boring last night. You were a masterpiece of screams."

I could feel myself getting excited by the thought of him pinning my hands, of making me scream his name, of turning me into a senseless mess-

What the fuck am I thinking!?

"Stop," Hoping to impede the attraction, I shifted to face him with my steps retreating, "It was one night. You left a note, remember?"

"I left breakfast too," he corrected, closing our distance with his gaze darkening, "And a warning, remember?"

"By the way, what a masterpiece you have created," He commented, pointing at Edric's bandaged head.

I rolled my eyes, folding my arms at my chest, indulging in the sight where he was making up excuses to hide his deed.

"I think I should go now,"

Before I could snap back, the sound of a fork hitting a crystal glass rang out. The room went silent.

"Everyone, on this auspicious day, I have an important announcement to make,"

Oh? The bastard even had to say something?

On the raised platform, Edric stood. He looked pathetic with the bandage wrapped around his head, but he was smiling.

He looked at the crowd, his eyes landed on me, distressing me. For a second, he faltered. Then, his gaze shifted to the woman beside him.

Amie.

He shifted to one knee, dropping my impishness.

"Amie, you are everything I could possibly desire, my love, my happiness, and will you do me the honor of showing you how much I love you for the rest of our lives?"

My chest constricted badly, the future we were supposed to create was purloined from me, brimming tears in my eyes.

The pain I was trying to hide through makeup, through lust, through any possible means burst when he offered Amie a ring.

"Will you marry me?"

"Oh my God, Edric! Yes! Yes!"

I stood miserably. Lips quivering, soul being torn apart, strength draining.

For how long was he taking advantage of me? For how long was this going on behind my back?

How could he do this to me?

My steps stumbled, colliding with Zayne's who was behind me all this time, observing my agonizing reaction with amusement.

He didn't offer a shoulder to cry on.

Instead, he gripped my shoulders firmly, forcing me to stand straight. He leaned down, his eyes boring into mine, cold and calculating.

"Don't you dare cry," he hissed, "Look at them. They think they won. Are you going to let them keep thinking that?"

"He's marrying her, Mr. Nightwood," My broken tone came, "He is giving her the life he promised me."

"Then take it back, Kristine" Zayne said, a wicked smirk playing on his lips, pressing it against my ear.

"Or better yet, take everything he owns. Including his dignity."

I looked at Edric, who was now kissing Amie, back to the heartless businessman, Zayne Nightwood - the man who hated Edric more than anyone.

Growling, I hit his chest, making him chuckle.

Indulging in my utter defeat, it infuriated me as I walked away with tears glistening in my eyes, cursing both of them.

I was back at the apartment, the black dress shredded on the floor. I wasn't crying anymore. I was pacing, my eyes wild.

"Kristine, stop," Rose pleaded, trying to grab my hands, "We can just leave. Move away. Start over."

"No," I snapped, "I won't run away. Not this time,"

"I wish they die, I wish the worst would happen to them. I wish they never live happily after what they did to me." I growled, throwing the nearby vase in the air, losing my composure and strength before falling on the ground.

"Hold yourself, Kristine. You can't lose. You have a child to think about,"

"They..."

Sniffling, I pulled away a little, wiping my teary eyes roughly, smearing the immaculate eye look, curling my hands in a fist.

"They will pay, Rose. Like hell they will get their happy ending after destroying mine."

Holding my hands to help me calm down, she asked softly, "But, what are you going to do?"

Shifting back, resting my back against the couch, I hugged my knees close to my chest as a fierce fire of revenge bloomed in my empty chest.

This won't end easily, I won't let it and for that, I would stoop to any level.

Placing my hand over my stomach, no longer in my right state of mind, breaking the boundaries of ethics, I enunciated darkly.

"I think I know exactly what to do, Rose. Edric will pay hell for betraying me."