"Stop."

But I didn't dare to. From the moment I heard him plead for me to stop, I continued further unto my plan. Besides, my position is rather comfortable and beneficial for my part. I won't trade anything as pleasant because of a word.

"Elle, NOT TODAY..."

His words made me stop, staring at him for a moment. I can feel my lips quirking up into a smile.

"Elle. Not now..."

I stared back at him, disliking the way his eyebrows were furrowed. Now I have to deal with the snappy old Gabe again. I get off his desk and strut around his chair, earning another groan from him.

"Elle--"

"Okay, Okay. I'm going out now." I stated in a nonchalant tone, shrugging my shoulders. But before I completely went out, I gave him something to remember.

I lean down on his seat, a smile plastered on my face. I grabbed his cheek using both of my hands and kissed him. I pulled his lower lip with my teeth, hearing him groan, "El-"

"Elleana Cassidy!" Oops, almost full name. Oh, well. I still won't stop, Mr. West.

I grin. No one really knows Gabriel West as well as I do.

It was all a misunderstanding. People thought he was heartless and a git, and I thought so too when I married him. It's not like we married because we fell in love. It was all just a partnership - a partnership that has created a very powerful company, Greene-West Holdings Inc.

This dog's dinner all started a year ago.

When my father called me from Paris to get my ass back here in New York right at that very moment, I knew something was up. I am worried sick because he won't tell me the reason. I thought it was my mom or something that concerned my past, but as I stepped out of the cab, I knew that the reason why I was there had nothing to do with my family. Or even me.

It was for the freaking company.

The memory was so vivid that I had to smile every time I reminisced that day. The day that my husband and I met back at his father's office. We both went mad when they announced the agreement, but we did nothing to stop it.

We are born to comply.

The craziest thing is that we even have to marry before the end of the month. Not to mention the fact that we had only two weeks to prepare, not enough time to plan for a very grand celebration. The wedding was simple and close to the paparazzi. It happened inside a chapel in Italy, with only our relatives and close friends witnessing it, but privacy was not maintained. Soon, a couple of paparazzi came to our reception, spoiling our supposed-to-be first dance.

Of course, a billion worth of marriage is breaking news! Two rival families joined as one is a century's worth of history.

It was that kind of cliché - the not-so-normal billionaire cliché.

But the fact that Gabriel had actually moved to his penthouse after the reception had finished was insane - for me, at least. Not to mention the week-long honeymoon vacation spent only by me in Miami. Only me, swimming on the beach while he types away on that piece of metal they call 'laptop' somewhere inside his 'cave.'

Yet the assumption of us not going to have a chance at this marriage changed the moment we got back to New York.

It was all because of that chocolate cake I gave him for his birthday. If I only knew that a chocolate cake was the key to our relationship, I would have acceded to making pastries and offered him all the chocolate cakes I could ever bake.

I did not expect that he would open up to me right after he had his first bite. I guess I'd never get the chance to possess his heart if I didn't choose to bake the blasted cake. It was an effort not wasted, indeed.

I was so engrossed in reminiscing about our past that I hadn't realized that I was now sitting on his lap again. My hands rake his hair as I moan, grinding myself against his John Thomas.

"Elleana...oh, Dio!" He groaned, crashing his head on my neck as he took a whiff.

I was about to start undressing him and let him do the DID to me, as I was currently up for it, when his phone rang. "MIO DIO!" He spat, pulling his phone from his pocket.

"West," he answered, his eyes not leaving me as his lips flattened themselves into a line. A slight frown developed on them as he listened to the voice from the other side, his expression growing gloomy. I sat there, feeling awkward, as I slipped my blouse on and fixed my skirt. Gabriel raises an eyebrow at my action and turns his attention back to the call.

I sigh, getting up from his lap only to sit on his desk. I watch him as he talks on the phone. He was speaking in Italian so fluently that I hadn't had the chance to understand a single thing. I wish I have taken a liking to it rather than my French class. Who knows if I will marry an Italian someday?

I am almost ready to give myself to him completely, but I guess now is not a perfect time. I was taken aback when he stood, ending the call before looking down at me, his eyes wild with emotions: Fear, anger, loss, and guilt.

"What happened, Gabe? Tell me, Bello..." I tried to grab his arm, but he pulled away, raking his hands on his hair. "It's Papa..." He stated, his voice breaking before he ran out of the door.

"Gabriel," I ran down the stairs, following his steps, but his strides were longer than mine.

"Gabe!" We were out of the house now. He swiftly entered the garage, the lights switching on their own accord as he went farther, taking his keys and clicking a button to unlock his car.

"Gabe..." He abruptly stopped and stared back at me before he made a move to open the car door. "Gabriel," I latch myself on him as though my life depended on it. We stand there, looking at each other with so many words unspoken between the two of us. Gabriel shakes his head before he kisses my forehead and says, "Ti Amo..."

I know then that everything will change.

*

"We've done all that we could, but we cannot save him."

"There's too much blood lost."

"We found him in his office, already dead."

"The gun is nowhere in sight."

"The company needs you..."

"You are the appointed heir, and you cannot escape this, Gabriel."

"We need to process the documents as fast as possible."

"The company depends on you now,"

*

I was lying down on our bed, sheets tangled on my feet, mourning someone that hasn't really left me. I silently cried, holding tight to the sheets as I folded myself in a fetal position. The dusk has settled, and slowly, the night begins to capture my surroundings as though it were a thin blanket being draped over the land. I sniffled and sighed.

I am almost there.

I'd never seen this coming, and I never expected this after all that had happened a couple of months ago. I thought everything was going alright, that everything I had worked for and cultivated over the months would finally bear fruit. I've never imagined that something like this would change everything, that this kind of happening would alter the current "US."

I thought that everything was perfect.

I thought he finally accepted me, that he was willing to risk the chances and be with me. I thought that we were going to have a chance in this relationship, but I was wrong. So wrong. I haven't seen this coming.

Now, Gabriel's beyond my reach, a billion miles away. He's so cold, so rude. He doesn't care, nor would he even care what happens to me. He's now back to being an insensitive jerk like he was a year ago. He had shut himself off not only from me but from the world, also.

He's back to that shell of a man he once was.

Gone is the one I have fallen the most. Gone is he, to the deepest of the earth. I know that he's not going to come back, but I'm still hoping. I am waiting for him to fight and resurrect - give me his smiles, those smoldering looks that feel as though he is holding me. He'll cuddle me in, peppering kisses, and he'll hug me to death. Too much wishful thinking is for I know that it's not likely to happen.

We've had so many fights these days that I thought about giving up. It has been five months now since his father's passing. It shattered me to think that he blamed me for it. He thought that it was my family who plotted the murder of his father. I thought it would change when we had already found who the killer was, but as the days passed, he chose to forget my presence. He dwells more on his grief and neglects the fact that he has a wife to lean upon.

I'm nothing in his eyes.

Sometimes, in a mere second, his cold mask is gone, and he'll smile at me, but as fast as it came, it is as fast as it fades. He'll give me that poker face again and let me suffer into oblivion. I don't understand why he blamed me for it. I didn't do anything wrong for him to suspect me, and if it is his only excuse to make me guilty and leave him, that will never happen.

I really missed him, and even though he's so cold to me, I still love him.

I lost track of seconds, hours turning to days, days transitioning to nights. Those memories we've had from the past few months faded in the background, and my lips trembled as I tried so hard to hold unto them.

I twisted my body and stared up at the ceiling, my thoughts running. He always made me feel alone and empty every time he left. I frown. It would have been nice to have some company. A small smile tugged at my lips, and the feeling it brought me was so bizarre, for I hadn't felt this happy before. He won't like the idea of it, but I decided right then and there that I want something he doesn't want.

I'm determined to have my way. I would do it one way or another.

ELLE

"So, Gabe, Elle...when are you going to give us something like her?"

Mom carried my niece up in her arms as she gave us that look. My face felt like someone had set it on fire, and I felt Gabriel's arms tensing around my waist as he cleared his throat.

We are currently at a party thrown by my mother for our first anniversary. Yes, it's been a year since our wedding; a year since all of these started. This is the first party after the conflict that happened. It was also the first one to which Gabriel agreed to go with me.

I was startled when my dad suddenly piped in, "We're so old. We still wanted to play with our grandkids, see them grow...you know?" Dad muses as he snatches the baby from mom, "Oh, you little pumpkin. Don't you look a lot like your grandmother?" He laughed, making my niece cry. I sigh, scratching my forehead as I pull away from Gabriel, surprising him.

"Dad, let me take her back to Cassandra. I'm sure little Cece here wanted to be with her mom now." I smiled at them, taking the infant in my arms and chancing a look at my husband.

Gabriel is frowning down at his shoes like he's trying to solve a very complicated problem. He appears to be in some kind of pain. My heart aches for him, but I shake my head. I have tried a couple of times before to offer him my help, but he refused, ignoring me. If only he would tell me what to do or how I could help him.

It has been six months now since that nightmare happened, destroying everything I've worked for. I am not blaming Enrico, Gabriel's father, and I am blaming myself, for I am not able to secure something that has blossomed. Since then, I have found it hard to reach out to Gabriel. He has built a wall between us; he started refusing to come home and leaving me to myself every time we were asked to go to some conventions. He will take weeks overseas, spending more time in his company than with me. He deemed me worthless, an accessory he doesn't even bother to display in public.

I do not know how I can show him how I feel. I do not know how to tell him how much I love him. We are back to how we started a year ago, living like total strangers.

I smiled bitterly, tucking a hair on my ear. I remember the first time we met at the company, The West Holdings. It is where our love/hate relationship was born.

"Gabe, are you okay?" I tried to grab his hand, but he shoved it inside his pocket. He looks down at little Cece and me before giving me half a smile that tugs on my heartstrings. "I'm fine, Elle. Maybe, I just need a drink or two?" He held out his two fingers, biting his lip as he looked at me.

Oh, no. You don't. I know that it won't be just two. You will get drunk again and cry about your father's death. Plus, you are driving me back to.

"Okay," Oh my ...where did that come from?!

"Elle, give me back my Cece." I glared at my cousin, sighing in exasperation as I turned and found that my husband was long gone.

That git, he just doesn't care!

"Elle, Come on. Let's have some fun. It's your anniversary! I mean... birthday?" the blonde imp hiccups and smiles as he makes his way down to us, sporting a shimmering blue onesie. "Either." Frances mused, dragging me to the dance floor.

This family - I always wondered how I would be able to relate to them. They are so eccentric and...odd. Very odd.

I removed my heels and stared at my cousin, "What now, Frances? What scheme-?" They didn't give me a chance to stand my ground and protest when Frances carried me in his arms and shoved me on the dance floor. "Frances! You're making me dizzy, just put me ba--AAhhh!!!" The glass crash as I collapse on the drink display.

I struggled with my wet dress, glaring at the crazy cousin of my husband. He freaking pushed me!

"Ha-ha-Elle. Uh, I'm so sorry but, uh," He gave me a constipated look before bursting out, laughing, spluttering his drink around the other guest who looked at him with delight dancing in their eyes. Bizarre! "You just, hahaha--Looks like a cat thrown out while it is raining. You are soaked like a wet pussy--Hahaha! PUSSY !" He throws his head back before strutting to the dance floor, leaving me with the mess he made.

"Damn it, Frances! Help me out." I called out. I blindly grope around, trying to hold myself up, when I felt someone hauling me up. I quickly raised my head to see who it was when Cassandra gave me a disapproving look. She ushered me up to the front door, calling for Taylor - our personal driver slash assistant.

I followed her out of the hotel and to the parking lot. Taylor opened the door for me, but before I entered, Cassandra yelled, her hands on her waist. "Clean yourself from head to foot, or else I'm going to bathe you the same as I do with little Cece! You smell like a minibar, Elle, seriously." She pushed me inside and closed the door behind her as I struggled further inside the car with my wet gown and heels. Taylor looks at me from the mirror, and I shrug at him, disliking how the evening turns out.

Taylor offered me a kind smile, and I smiled back at him. He was like the good old uncle I have never had, and I am glad he is our personal driver. I look down at my hands and huff, glaring down at the wet gown.

I wonder why ladies needed a balloon skirt and high heels. It's freaking stupid. And who made these damn heels? It makes my life harder. Even if it gave me a little addition to my height, it is still a pain in the as*.

I was surprised when the engine stopped, and Taylor opened the door for me. "Mrs. West, let me assist you," He started to carry my gown, which made me stand in haste. "No, Taylor. I can do this myself..." I can feel the heat rushing up my cheeks as I walk past him.

I was about to open the doors when I came with a thought, "Taylor?" He looked back at me as I smiled at him, "Mrs. West?"

"Oh, please...stop calling me that. Just call me Elle." I gave him another smile as he bowed, ushering me inside the mansion. I went up the flight of stairs, grumbling with every step I took. I was delighted to reach our room at the end of the hallway. I made my way inside the bathroom and stripped off every item on my body.

Hmph...like I care!

'Elle,'

"Who's that?!" I jump out of the shower and wrap myself up in a fluffy towel.

'Elleeee!'

"Wait, I'm in the bathroom!" I opened up the door only to see no one. "Gabe? Stop kidding me!"

'ELLEANA!' oh, I hate that name. I sound like a fucking alien.

I look around, but he's not in here, so WHERE IS HE?!

"Gabe, stop kidding me! Show yourself right at this moment or--"

'Help me up!' I can hear shuffling from the other side of the room, which means he's outside.

"Coming, Mister." I turned the knob only to feel his body slump back unto my knees, making me stumble with him on the floor

"Gabriel, you're so heavy!" I whined, trying to pull my husband up, but I failed. "Gabe, wake up. Please..." I looked at him, but he just gave me a lazy smile and kissed me.

WTF! HE DIDN'T JUST KISS MY LIPS...oh well!

"Gabriel, stop!" he gave me a laugh before deepening his kiss and carrying me, "Gabe--"

He throws me down on the bed as I grip the towel tight. "Gabe, I think, I think you're not ready. We're not ready, and you're drunk. You don't know what you're doing. You just--"

"NO! I know what I'm doing, and you don't have the right to correct me!" He yanked the towel off and stared at me, "I want you, and I'll have you, now or never..."

I can see his tense muscles beneath his dress shirt as he lowers himself down at me. He unbuttons his pants and slips them down to reveal himself camping in those boxers, his very excited John Thomas trying to poke out of them.

"Gabe, please. You are drunk. We can't--"

"Stop it!" he pulled my hand up and placed them above my head as he straddled me. I can feel excitement overcoming my nervousness as his hands start skimming my chest, brushing my hair aside, "Don't push me farther away, Elle. I've had enough."

"But we can't-"

"I need you. I NEED YOU..."

That made me gulp. Damn, he is turning me on with his words. So hot, but am I really up for it? I shake my head and frown in concentration - I am a married woman, and this is my husband, and I have needs, so why not?

He interrupted my thoughts as he leaned down, making me speechless as my thoughts ran wild in my cranium. I am unable to comprehend. What should I do? Should I, really?

I am surprised when my body suddenly responds with such intensity I didn't know I was capable of doing. I am now relying on my instinct - the animal that has been slumbering within.

I began kissing him back with so much passion that I found myself leaning up. I want to kiss him with all the want I have been bottling up for the five whole months that he showed no affection to me. He shut himself away because of the incident for which I'm not responsible. All the feelings we tried to suppress for the past months came rushing back with a hard recoil. It was making us shake with the passion of our feelings. Our fingers traced each flesh, wandering unto every part of our body that is better left out of the description.

He skimmed his hands on my face, pushing tendrils of hair to the side as he reached my neck. He leans in and imprints a love bite. "Beautiful. My beautiful girl. All mine..."

I could not help but moan, my hands struggling to break free as he sucked a bit on my neck. He slipped his mouth down on my chest as he took one of my nipples, nibbling at it.

"Gabe," I mentally shake my head as I hear my own voice. So, needy. Pathetic, even. I cannot just moan here and let him do it all.

I need to move.

I yanked my hand off his grip and unbuttoned his shirt, trying to memorize every contour of his sculpted chest before I slipped my hand down his biceps, pushing down his white dress shirt as I reached his hips, slipping my hands lower and lower...

"Gabe!" I tried not to shake as he slipped his finger into my core, turning them into a circular motion. "Don't--" I plead, but my husband just looks at me. His eyes twinkled with amusement as he pushed another finger.

So, he wants it. Then let us make things equal.

With that thought, I slipped my hand into his boxers and pushed them down. His body stiffened as he stared at me with eyes wide as saucers, "Mio Dio! What are you trying to prove, amóre?" he asked, his voice stopping in an edge as he used the same endearment that almost made me stop.

"Shit, Elle..." He moaned in my ears as I pulled at it and stroked, his member hardening at every move. After a while, he recovered, pushing his fingers to move farther into my core. He circled them in my folds as both of us screamed each name.

I've never expected this to happen cause I would never have imagined doing this with him.

Especially him.

I am brought back to the situation I'm in as I felt his member enter me, which made me stiff. I whimpered as it penetrated deeper, making me cry out in pain, and he stopped, "You're a virgin!?" He frowned, his member throbbing inside of me.

"God, I'm so I'm so sorry I--"

"Shhh...No, I'm not." Lie. "I'm... adjusting. I need you, Gabe. Please, don't stop...just do it, now." Faster and harder this time, our bodies tangled and sweating. Our breathing labored as I tried to remove my hands from his grip and entangle them in his hair. I dug my nails into his back as I arched my hips to meet his. His hips buck on me as he moves in haste, pounding my body and making the bed shake.

I grasped his hair with my hand, pushing myself up as I tried to keep up with his speed. I could feel something building up inside my stomach, and then it happened; his hips buckling as he had his release. I can feel his seed flowing inside of me, giving a warm feeling to my lower stomach as we grab each other. We are trying to catch our breath as we glisten with sweat, dazed with passion.

I was surprised when he suddenly turned me, throwing me down as he lay me on my stomach, entering me from behind.

"Now, I'll fuck you..."

We've done it three times, his breath hitching on every thrust. I was surprised when he suddenly collapsed on me after his third release, knocked out cold and asleep. I caressed his face as I whispered in a gentle voice, hoping that we would stay like this forever.

"I love you, Gabe. Why can't you see that?"

ELLE

I woke up in haste.

I could feel the cold wind hit my back as I stretched out, feeling sore and tired as I turned, groaning. The sun burns my eyelids, and I raise my arm to shield my face from its glare. I'm close to sleeping again, only to hear the devil speak,

"You're awake now..."

I open my eyes and realize that the devil again possessed the affectionate man I slept with last night. What happened last night made me blush both in embarrassment and anger.

Why must he be so cold and heartless now when I feel great? He loves to ruin my precious moments.

Without looking at him, I muttered in a small voice, "Yes, I am."

I waited another minute for him to go and let me sleep, but when I opened my eyes, I still saw him there - sitting on the couch, watching me like dirt on his carpet.

"Why are you still here? Don't you have to go to your office?" I glance at the clock at my bedside table and huff, "It's 9 in the morning. Don't you have some meetings to attend?"

He rolled his eyes at me and I gulped. Am I going to be berated because of what I said? I bit my lip, having this urge to slap myself. "I waited for you to wake up." He snapped, his gaze lingering on my blushing face. I hastily bowed my head, for my cheeks felt hot, and I couldn't stop.

"And--?" I urge him to continue, pulling the comforter high on my chin as I sit up and muster the courage to stare at him. He sighs, running his hands through his hair, "I waited to apologize about what happened last night." He confessed.

"Oh? That's all you're going to say?" I bit my lip and nodded my head, saying, "It's okay-"

"No! Don't say that it is okay," Gabriel stared at me, his gaze intensified so that I could feel my cheeks blushing again. He stood from his seat and made his way to me. I bowed my head. "I wanted to clarify that you shouldn't assume I will be nicer after this. I want to rectify the situation and make our positions clear in this relationship," he clenched his jaw, holding my gaze as I stared at him. He leans down at me and continues, "I don't want to make you long for my love. Elle, I can be a husband to you – I can protect you and provide for you – but I cannot love you the same as you do to me. Please, listen..."

I was startled when he snapped his fingers, pulling my chin to make me look at him. "I'm so sorry if I took advantage of you last night, and I promise it won't happen again. I promise." With those words, he straightens up, leaving me shocked as I try to understand what he just said. I look up at him, and he surprises me more when he leans down swiftly, kissing my cheek. "I need to be at the office at ten. I'll see you tonight..."

I watch as he takes his leave, shutting the door behind him. The tears I'd been trying to suppress from the last ten minutes he was in front of me betrayed me, falling hot against my cheek as I sobbed. And what is the use of trying to stop them? He isn't here to judge me or bully me. I am all alone, Always alone. Gabriel had made it clear of our positions - I will always be a step behind him, for we are always in sync, even from the very start of our relationship.

Still, I had hoped.

I thought we were perfect last night, that we finally had a chance to fix our relationship and get back to how we were before, but he shut himself off again, returning to that monster I had feared. It hurts me that he keeps treating me like this and doesn't care about me or what I do. I wouldn't say I like the fact that he treats me like trash after he's done with me.

How could I be so stupid that I give it all to him?

I'm used.

I know full well that we married because of the company's sake and not because of love, but then...we fell. Or so I thought. Was it just me that had fallen to that cheeky bastard?

AM I WRONG? Am I wrong to fall for his tricks and yearn for him to love me back?

I thought he finally accepted me last night, yet I have made myself believe a drunken man's words. I am foolish and stupid, and I hate that I turn like this with him. If only I could, I would bring back memories - that way, we were together only about a few months ago, living in simplicity and happiness as we culture the love that is developing between us.

But now it seems impossible. He's back to that monster I have married...

I grab the sheets and cringe when I see blood on them. My virginity, I gave it to him and even lied to him because I am a fool, a fool who is in love with a man that has so many issues. I yank the sheets off to change them with a new ones.

I don't care if he's going to be like this forever. I'm pretty sure the divorce papers are on their way, and he couldn't wait to get rid of me. He's probably waiting for the right time for me to give in and let him be. Besides, the year is up. He wants me to yield and have him win this.

Though I won't be the one that is going to wave the white flag, I know that in the end, it will be him.

Oh, before I forget, I muttered to myself, "Happy Birthday to me."