Asher's hands balled into fists as he tried to resist the temptation of her nearness. "You're playing a dangerous game, Isabella," he warned. "Am I?" Isabella's voice was low and husky as she pressed herself even closer to him. "Maybe I like danger, Asher. Maybe I like the way you look at me when you're angry." . . After her sister's murder in New York City, Isabella Claire Robbinson is determined to bring the killer to justice, even if it means betraying her best friend Natasha Jackson, and marrying her unsuspecting fiancé, Asher Theodore Jonathan. As Isabella delves deeper into the investigation, Asher starts to question his loyalty to Natasha as he witnesses a side of Isabella he never expected, plunging him into a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Their connection grows stronger, fueled by an intense and forbidden desire that lingers beneath the surface. But as Isabella unravels the truth, she finds herself facing a difficult choice-one that could jeopardize everything. She carries a secret, a revelation that will forever bind her to Asher. Forced to keep her secret hidden, Isabella's life and the life of her most loved one become targets for her enemies. As they navigate the treacherous waters of their forced marriage, Isabella and Asher must confront their pasts, question their loyalties, and determine what they truly want in the future. Will Isabella's pursuit of justice lead her to the killer, or will her own desires and emotions betray her? Can Asher forgive Isabella's betrayal, or will it be too late to salvage their relationship? Amidst the dangerous web of deceit and intrigue, they embark on a desperate search for truth and redemption. Will they find the answers they seek, or will the shadows of their pasts consume them both? Join the journey of Asher and Isabella in 'Deadly Desire'; where lust and revenge collide.
Chapter 1 The Storm Breaks
"Passion and fury burned within us, igniting a fire that we couldn't extinguish, no matter how hard we tried."
Yes, yes!
She has asked herself thousands of times, is all of this worth it? The lies, the secrets, the sacrifice? Most importantly betraying her best friend of ten years.
She doesn't know anymore.
Isabella sat alone in her office, staring blankly at the wall. It had been two years since her sister passed away, but the pain never faded. She had lost her to the game of the business world, where success came at a price, and the price was often too high.
Like her, her sister had been ambitious, driven, and fiercely independent. She had always been her role model, her guiding light. But the more she climbed the ladder of success, the further away she seemed to drift.
She had watched her sister become a shell of her former self, consumed by her work, and her ambition. She had watched her become a stranger, someone she no longer recognized. And then, one day, she was gone, leaving behind a trail of broken dreams and shattered promises.
Now, she wondered if the success price was too high. Was it worth sacrificing everything, even the ones you love, to achieve your goals? She couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt and regret, wondering if she could have done more to save her sister, to keep her from falling down that dark path.
As she sat there lost in thought, Asher burst into her office, his forest-green eyes ablaze with anger. In his hand, he clutched a crumpled piece of paper, which he slammed down on her desk.
Isabella looked up from her computer screen, her light brown eyes curious as she observed his demeanor. "What's wrong, Asher?" she asked calmly.
Gritting his teeth, "What's wrong?" he asked. "That's all you have to ask. What the hell is this?!" he said, shoving the crumpled paper under her nose.
Without paying a glance at the paper, "Did you fail your language class, Asher? It is clearly written at the top: 'Marriage Contract', ever heard of one?" she asked with a sinfully sweet smile.
Asher's voice shook with fury as he spoke. "How could you do this to Natasha?" he demanded. "She's my fiancé, your best friend, and you're betraying her by taking me away from her."
Isabella raised an eyebrow at his outburst but didn't show any sign of backing down. "Natasha will get over it," she replied coolly. "And you should know by now that in business, there are no friends. Only competitors."
"She would never forgive you, never!" His voice roared in her perfectly decorated cabin.
"What makes you think I want her forgiveness?"
His hands shook with rage as he glared at Isabella, "You're a monster," he spat. "I don't love you, and I never will. So why are you doing this? What could you possibly gain by ruining my life and betraying your supposed best friend?"
Isabella stood up from her desk and walked towards Asher, her heels clicking on the floor. "You know exactly what I want," she said, her voice low and menacing. "I want your company. And I'm not afraid to take it from you, by any means necessary."
Asher felt his blood boil as he listened to her words. He couldn't believe he had ever trusted her, let alone been a friend to her at one point. "You're a soulless witch," he hissed, his fists clenching at his sides. "I'll never forgive you for this. You've destroyed my life, and for what? Money? Power? You're not fit to be in charge of anything, let alone a company."
Isabella smirked. "You should have known better than to mess with me, Asher," she said. "I always get what I want. And now, you're going to have to pay the price for crossing me."
"What did I do to you? Huh?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out."
Asher glared at her, his eyes blazing with hatred. "I won't let you win," he said. "I'll fight you every step of the way."
Isabella laughed a cruel sound that sent shivers down Asher's spine. "Oh, Asher," she said. "You don't even know what you're up against. I have more resources than you could ever dream of. And I'm not afraid to use them."
Asher felt a wave of fear wash over him. Was Isabella really capable of anything? Could she really destroy everything he had worked so hard for? "You're crazy," he said, his voice trembling.
Isabella shrugged. "Maybe," she said. "But I'm also the one holding all the cards. And you, my dear, are at my mercy."
Asher clenched his jaw, his mind racing as he tried to come up with a plan. He couldn't let Isabella win. He had to find a way to outsmart her. "I won't give up without a fight," he said, his voice firm.
Isabella smiled, a cold, calculating expression. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Asher," she said. "But trust me, you'll regret crossing me. You'll regret it more than you can ever imagine."
Isabella retrieved the marriage contract from her desk drawer and slid it toward Asher. He hesitated, his fingers hovering over the document as if it were a hot coal.
"Go on," Isabella said, gesturing to the contract. "Sign it."
He looked up at her with a mixture of anger and frustration. "How could you do this, Isabella?" he shouted, slamming his fists on the desk. "You're betraying your own best friend! Taking away the man she loves!"
Isabella remained calm, unfazed by Asher's outburst. "How many times will you repeat that?" she said coolly. "There are millions of men out there for her. But for you, I'm the only woman, offering you a way to save your company and keep your family off the streets. That's all that matters now."
Asher sneered at her, feeling like he was talking to a stone-hearted monster. "I don't love you, Isabella," he spat. "I never will. And no amount of money or power will ever change that."
As Isabella approached him, she placed a hand on his cheek, seeming to outsiders like a tender gesture. But the tightness in his jaw betrayed the anger he felt towards her.
"Love has nothing to do with this, Asher," she said, her voice low and menacing. "This is a business deal, pure and simple. You sign the contract and we both benefit. Or you don't, and you lose everything."
Asher's eyes narrowed; his fists clenched. He knew he had no choice, not if he wanted to protect his family's future. With a heavy sigh, he took the pen and signed his name on the dotted line.
Isabella picked up the contract and scanned it quickly, a satisfied smirk on her face. "Good," she said. "Now we can both move on with our lives. And don't forget the terms of the contract, Asher. I'll be keeping a close eye on you."
Asher glared at her, feeling like he had just sold his soul to the devil. "I won't forget," he said through gritted teeth. "And I'll never forgive you for what you've done."
Isabella shrugged, her expression cold and unfeeling. "That's your choice," she said. "But don't forget, breach the terms of this contract and your company will be merged with mine. And your family will be left with nothing."
As she was about to step back, he pulled her close by the waist, his eyes blazing with fury and desire. She could feel his breath on her neck as he whispered, "Just because you bought more than half of my company doesn't mean I'm not capable enough to snatch it back from a conniving snake like you. You made a big mistake, Isabella."
"Oh, don't be jealous, for once a woman is in control in your life Mr. Jonathan, embrace it."
Asher's grip tightened on Isabella's waist, pulling her closer to him. "You think that cold exterior of yours will protect you from me? It's just a facade, Isabella. And I'm going to break it down piece by piece," he whispered in her ear. "And once I've broken down your walls, I'll break you." Isabella's heart raced as she felt his breath on her skin, her body responding to his touch despite the anger that coursed through her. She tried to push him away, but he held her firmly, his eyes blazing with fury and something she couldn't
pinpoint.
As he forcefully released her, she stumbled backward., "Welcome to hell." He hissed, his voice dripping with venom as he stormed out of her office, leaving her standing there.
"I'm already in hell..." her voice trailed off as she turned around, picking a photo frame of her with her sister as she promised:
"I will make every move count. For you Kristen. For your memory. For the truth that was taken from you. The world may see your death as just another tragic suicide, but I know the truth. I know that someone took you from me, from our family. And I won't stop until I've unraveled the lies and exposed the murderer. I'll sacrifice anything to make it happen. Anything to make it worth it. Even if it is betraying my best friend and marrying her fiancé."
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