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BATTLE OF DESIRE

BATTLE OF DESIRE

Yin U.

5.0
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Marcia and Jullian were inseparable in college; they were like two halves of one whole. Everyone thought they were a forever couple. On the day of their graduation, Jullian vanished without a trace, and Marcia's world came crashing down. Five years later, after rebuilding her life abroad, Marcia is back home, fully focused on her new company, the new love of her life. Just as things are falling into place, Jullian suddenly reappears, still as captivating as ever. His reason for coming back? To "help" Marcia and to "correct" his past mistakes. Jullian has a proposal – one that feels more like a challenge – sell your company to me and let me take care of you the way I should have years ago. What follows is a battle of wills. Will Marcia hold on to the independence she fought so hard to achieve, or will Jullian's return and his offer of security be too much to resist? It's a showdown between the woman who craves freedom and the one who once let her go.

Chapter 1 Fragments of Desire

It was a cold Saturday morning – well, cold for Miami – and Marcia was at a business breakfast meeting with new clients. Sipping her coffee, she mused, it's been a while...

It had been a long while since she'd been in town, and she especially loved this area, with the cars going by and people walking along the sidewalk. As she sipped her coffee and listened to her clients chat, a message popped up on her phone.

It was from the office – the package had been delivered and was waiting for her inspection.

She put down her coffee cup and excused herself from her clients.

"Well, gentlemen, thank you very much for your time. As agreed, all the documents will be sent to you before the end of the week."

Everyone smiled, shook hands, and Marcia headed quickly to her office.

==========

"There! Follow her. Don't get too close," said the man with sandy brown hair and light blue eyes, seated in the back of a black Lexus. His eyes were intently focused on Marcia as she crossed the street, headed to the parking lot, and got into her red Mercedes.

Fifteen minutes later, Marcia parked her car and walked into her office, a two-story building with a full glass front on the ground floor, topped by a stylish wood exterior on the upper floor. Written on the entrance was the name of the company: Oltre Bacchus, a mix of Italian and French. It was one of the newest wine stores to hit the Miami Strip.

As Marcia walked in, the black Lexus parked opposite the building. The man in the passenger seat reached over, placed a hand on the driver, and said in a deep voice, "Wait here. I'll be right back."

He stepped out of the car, checked for oncoming vehicles, and crossed the road swiftly to the door. He stood outside for a moment, hand poised over the door handle, before taking a deep breath and walking in.

==========

Marcia was opening a recently delivered crate of wine from Europe, her back to the door, shoulders hunched over, head down. She turned around and looked up when she heard someone enter. "Oh, I'm so sorry, we're not open yet. If you could come back –"

She stopped mid-sentence, her mouth still open, as if all the air had left her lungs, because of the man – no, the ghost – that she saw in front of her.

Marcia stared at the visitor, her eyes widening, and she dropped the lid of the crate she had just opened.

Crash!

The secretary let out a yell, "Ma'am, are you okay?! Is everything all right?" he exclaimed as he hurried toward Marcia.

==========

Seeing the gentleman at the door, he turned to him apologetically, "Oh, I'm sorry, we're not open yet. Perhaps you could come back in an hour, maybe two?" He said nervously, gesturing with an outstretched hand for the visitor to leave, while still moving towards his boss; concern on his face for the sudden noise but wearing a professional smile for the potential customer.

The man didn't look at him, not even for a moment. His mind was preoccupied with the image he had seen as he walked through the doors; Marcia's slender back and shoulders moving gracefully as she worked the crate lid free, head down, with concentration etched on her profile. Her slim nose, full lips, and slender chin... it was all too familiar.

He looked back at Marcia and saw that the two were staring at each other without speaking. Finally, Marcia breathed in, stuttering, "You... Jullian... How...? Why...?"

Jullian stepped forward, approaching Marcia. She took a step back, raised her hand, and said, "Stop!" Jullian stopped instantly as if hit by an invisible wall.

The air grew thick with tension as the secretary glanced back and forth between the two, confused and unsure whether to say something or retreat to the storeroom he had just come out from. Luckily, Marcia saved him, "Kyle, please leave us. It's okay; I dropped the lid by mistake."

Kyle nodded and murmured his agreement to Marcia's request, leaving the room.

Jullian, the man who had entered the store, gazed intently at Marcia and started to speak. "Marcia..., I..."

"Stop," Marcia said, cutting him off, her usually soft voice trembling and barely above a whisper. "I don't..., you shouldn't..., why...? Leave, Jullian!" Her voice rose at the last two words.

"If you just give me –"

"I said leave!" Marcia cut in again, this time, without whisper or hesitation. Jullian's shoulders slumped slightly, almost imperceptibly, and for the first time since he entered the room, his eyes moved away from Marcia for a brief second before returning to her increasingly reddening face.

"Marcia, we need to talk." That voice, that same deep, sonorous, authoritative voice, made Marcia subconsciously look away, dipping her head to the side toward her right shoulder, which moved upward in a half-shrug. She stopped mid-motion, turning back to Jullian, her brown eyes blazing.

Marcia pursed her lips and stared defiantly at Jullian.

"I know the way we left things is wrong and hurtful, but if you give me –"

"Leave!" Marcia yelled, clenching her fists at her side.

"If you'd give me one minute, I can explain," Jullian continued in a steady voice, his beautiful light blue eyes locked with Marcia's deep brown ones.

"One minute to explain what you did five years ago?" Marcia responded incredulously. She turned away from Jullian, facing the wall, and took a few deep breaths. Turning her face to the side, her back still toward Jullian, hands on her slim waist, she continued, "I don't want to hear anything from you. You can leave, and you can leave right now."

==========

Jullian sighed, showing exasperation for the first time, well, Jullian's version of exasperation. He closed his eyes for three seconds and then took a step forward. "I know you don't want to hear what I have to say, but you have to hear it. I have to tell you what happened back then. I need to explain it."

"I don't need your explanation!" Marcia retorted, still with her back to Jullian, only the side of her slender face visible. "This is my space, and I want you out. You are not invited, and you are not welcome."

Jullian gave an aspirated sigh. "Okay, fine, I'll leave, but I'll be back later."

Marcia spun around at this and pointed aggressively at Jullian. "Don't you dare come back here! You have no business with me, and I have none with you!"

Jullian stepped forward, right up to Marcia's face, and grabbed her arm. "You have everything to do with me, and I have everything to do with you. I will leave now, as you requested, but I will be back. I will see you again." He strongly emphasized the last two 'will's.

They stared into each other's eyes, frozen in the moment, closer in their anger than they were with their faces almost touching, their breaths intermingling. Marcia sharply held her breath and deliberately leaned back, away from Jullian's intense demeanor, saying nothing, her brown eyes dark with anger.

Jullian released Marcia's arm, stepped back, and cleared his throat. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for doing that. I'll see you again." With that, Jullian gazed intently at Marcia one last time, turned around, and walked out.

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Chapters
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BATTLE OF DESIRE
1

Chapter 1 Fragments of Desire

04/11/2024

2

Chapter 2 A Bitter Reminder

04/11/2024

3

Chapter 3 A Spark in the Crowd

04/11/2024

4

Chapter 4 Building Bridges

04/11/2024

5

Chapter 5 Together Apart

04/11/2024

6

Chapter 6 Decisions and Rebirth

04/11/2024

7

Chapter 7 Storms Brewing

04/11/2024

8

Chapter 8 Unspoken Burdens

04/11/2024

9

Chapter 9 A Determined Heart

04/11/2024

10

Chapter 10 Demands and Afflictions

04/11/2024

11

Chapter 11 Fragile Peace

04/11/2024

12

Chapter 12 Dreams and Discontent

22/11/2024

13

Chapter 13 Dining at Parios

22/11/2024

14

Chapter 14 Wine and Secrets

23/11/2024

15

Chapter 15 Hidden Flirtations

23/11/2024

16

Chapter 16 Echoes of the Past

24/11/2024

17

Chapter 17 Bargains for Redemption

24/11/2024

18

Chapter 18 Secrets and Scars

28/11/2024

19

Chapter 19 Lines in the Sand

28/11/2024

20

Chapter 20 Stirring Tides

28/11/2024

21

Chapter 21 Of Butterflies and Wraiths

04/12/2024

22

Chapter 22 Tangled Threads

04/12/2024

23

Chapter 23 Thorns of a Rose

04/12/2024

24

Chapter 24 Master and Jailer

04/12/2024

25

Chapter 25 Grip of Shadows

05/12/2024

26

Chapter 26 The Secret Rendezvous

05/12/2024

27

Chapter 27 Treading Thin Ice

06/12/2024

28

Chapter 28 Tempting Boundaries

06/12/2024

29

Chapter 29 Shadows of Desire

06/12/2024

30

Chapter 30 Behind Closed Doors

07/12/2024

31

Chapter 31 Between Love and Loathing

07/12/2024

32

Chapter 32 Storming the Fortress

07/12/2024

33

Chapter 33 Terms of Engagement

10/12/2024

34

Chapter 34 Fragments of June

10/12/2024

35

Chapter 35 Between Fireflies and Butterflies

10/12/2024

36

Chapter 36 Trust in the Game

10/12/2024

37

Chapter 37 Dance of the Firefly

10/12/2024

38

Chapter 38 The Silent Betrayal

11/12/2024

39

Chapter 39 Tempting Fire

11/12/2024

40

Chapter 40 Through Luc's Eyes

11/12/2024