THE MAN_CADEN HOLT.

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The hip hop music boomed around the little portable club. The sound of laughter, yelling, and ocassion moans could be heard from different side of the club.

She stared at the people dancing at the club, and sighed... Then her eyes moved to the people making out in the open and she screwed her face in disgust... But then frowned, realizing she once did this.

Presley sighed looking around, at nothing in particular.

"Here's your drink baby girl" The male flashed her a smile and placed the glass of wine, in front of her.

Presley was restless...

Beyond restless..

Right now... She just wished maybe she was just dreaming, either way it was not a good sign but it's better.

Her heart thumped violently against her chest, her hands trembled as she clutched the drink , all because of one man.

Caden Holt.

Just his name made her knees weak. Just seeing him today had stiled up feelings she buried years ago. Feelings she promised never to surface again -not after everything he did to her. But the way he looked at her in the meeting, the words he said to her_ like he still owned her, like nothing had changed.

Like he never let her go. Did he even let her go in the first place?

" I am taking you away from him. Little doll" His words still make her shiver, still ran through her head- like a haunted melody, and she couldn't breathe.

She sighed and dived her fingers through her hair, as she thought of the whole situation she was in.

Her heart was pounding- pounding widely as she thought of the situation she was in.. Right now she don't even feel safe anymore as she looked around the hall trying to see if that one person was staring at her.

If his grey dark eyes would meet hers ... That stare alone that could command her, make her fall on his feet.

If she sees him staring at her, she won't be surprise because he had always been like that.

Watching her every move like a predator, stalking it's prey.

Yet she loved it...

“Spill it out sweetheart. What's wrong? You were acting strange during the meeting" Elena who sat beside her says, drinking from her wine.

They were at the the club eventually. She wasn't not use to coming here though, but when they invited her, she just jumped into the invite, because she needed to clear her head... After all, her husband was out probably fucking some bitch.

"Nothing" she replied after a long silence, sighing loudly.

"That's definitely not nothing" Drake chimed in from behind the bar, grinning as usual.

Presely rolled her eyes but she didn't reply him... She didn't want to tell anyone.

Drake is a Spanish guy who work as a bartender at the club, and Elena husband to be.

She forced out a tight smile "I'm fine."

They didn't push her, and she was greatful for that, because she just needed to dwell in her own thoughts.

That didn't mean they believed her, because they kept staring at her with concern.

"Is it about your husband?" Drake cut through the silence gripping his fist tightly. Elena slapped him lightly, indicating he should shut up.

The male rolled his eyes, and moved to the other side of the counter.

The silence became awkward, everyone avoiding her gaze.

Well. He was not lying about it. Her husband was also one of the reason she's restless.

She turned to the side only to see maltida staring at her.

She had so much questions written all over her face.

"We will be back guys" Maltida says to the other, and she slowly took her hand and walked away.

They pushed through the sweaty pace of people dancing, toward a quieter Corner. "Hey what's up beauties" A group of boys hollowed at them.

"Fuck off assholes. We are married" Maltilda snapped, earning disappointing looks from the boys who walked away.

As they got to the corner, maltida released her hand. She crossed her hand as she leaned against the wall. "Talk to me presely. What's wrong?_ "And don't tell me it's nothing. I did not want you to feel uncomfortable talking about whatever it is In front of them so you can tell me what it is that's killing you"

It was killing her indeed.

Presely hesitated, swallowing hard but the look maltida gave her, was no joke- she was serious.

"I saw Caden today-He's the boss of the new company we signed a contract with" She dropped the bomb, even trembling as she let the sweet name roll out of her mouth like a sin_ A sin she was struggling not to fall victim o.

Maltilda stared at her for some moment as if trying to detect the word she had said, and then her eyes widened that Presley feared it was gonna fall out.

Her friends knew him or maybe maltida did... They knew that wasn't not a man to mess with- they knew he has always been crazy over her, obsessed with her like a freak.

"What the fuck girl!" Maltida exclaimed.

"I thought he was in prison" Maltilda whispered looking around, as if she feared the man was going to show up.

Presely choke her head.

"I don't know Maltilda" Presley choked out running her hands through her hair. "I was surprised too when he showed up in the conference room. Walked in like he owned the place, and God Tilda, he looked more dangerous... Powerful... Like..." She said panicky as if the reality has just dwell on her.

Maltida's face shifted from shock to worry. "Did he do anything to you?"

"Did he do anything to you?" Maltilda asked, in concern.

They both knew who he was... Who she was dealing with.

That man was a psychopath that needs to healing... A man who wouldn't change even at a gun being pointed at his face.

Presley frozed, her mind flashing back to the recent event at the office, and she trembled yet again Just at the thought of it.

‘Oh God! Help me’ She muttered inside of her.

He hesitated again as she tried to forget about the scene.

"Presely?" Maltida called, making presely jolt.

"He didn't do anything to you. Right?" She asked again.

"He didn't do anything at first and Just wanted me to read out the plan which I did" Presley murmered pitching the bridge of her pierced noss "And then when the meeting was over_ she stopped taking a deep breath. "He pinned me to the wall... said he wants me back" Presley explaine, breathing heavily as if now the situation she was in scare her more.

Caden Holt...

He was the man who ruined her for any other man out there..she was the only man who would made her kneel for him without hesitation.

Maltida exhaled sharply "You are fucked Presley" Maltilda murmered, her eyes flattering with pity.

Her friends knew him right from the very first day.

They know how he had tamed her, ruin her to his taste so no other man could look her way.

He was known as the school’s bad boy—feared by many, untouchable, and wild. But the moment he laid eyes on her, he made a vow to have that innocent girl trembling beneath him.

Her friends warned her to stay away, but could she?

Could she really ignore the way her body reacted to him—how it betrayed her every time he was near?

She would shiver under the intensity of his gaze. He'd slap her ass playfully as she walked past him, smirking devilishly, never caring who was around. And despite herself, despite the danger, she felt something she didn’t understand.

She tried to resist. God knows she did.

But Caden wasn’t the kind of man to give up.

He stalked her relentlessly—after school, during her part-time shifts, even following her home. But she stood her ground, refusing to give in, not when she knew what he was capable of.

“Oh, pretty... I enjoy the chase. I’m going to have so much fun taming you,” he’d whisper darkly into her ear, his breath brushing her skin. It made her shiver—not just in fear, but in something new. Something forbidden.

“Let the innocent girl be, Caden!” one of his friends would shout as the group approached them. Presley would drop her gaze, heart pounding.

“What? Not when she’s playing hard to get,” Caden would smirk, exhaling cigarette smoke right into her face, making her cough and scrunch her nose in disgust.

“Walk away, Mi Amore,” he’d murmur. “Show the man obsessed with you how that round ass bounces.”

His dirty words made her shiver. She clutched her notebook tightly and started to walk past him—only to freeze when his hand landed on her butt with a sharp smack.

“F*ck! It’s so soft. The way it jiggles—perfect,” he hissed, biting his lip as he stared shamelessly.

She spun around. “Don’t try that again... or I’ll report you—to my brother,” she murmured, voice trembling.

Caden scoffed, then chuckled darkly, sending a chill down her spine.

He stepped closer and grabbed her ass again, making her gasp, yelped in surprise “He won’t stop me from taking what’s mine, darling.” His hand slipped dangerously beneath her skirt. “I wouldn’t mind f*cking you in front of him ,” he smirked, his dark eyes boring into hers, watching her tremble like prey caught in his grip.

“F*ck, man! Let her go already,” his friend yelled, pulling him away.

Without looking back, she hurried away, head down. But she could feel his eyes glued to her. She turned briefly—there he was, still being held back, still staring at her ass like a predator.

Presley gulped, dragging her backpack down to cover herself, and behind her, laughter echoed from the group.

“Damn, why are you so bent on ruining that innocent girl?” someone asked.

But Caden didn’t respond.

And she knew.

She felt it.

He was watching her, tracking her every move.

“She better run... ignore me all she wants. Because at the end of the day, she’ll be under me—trembling, moaning my name like a prayer,” he muttered darkly, eyes fixed on her. “I like her. And I don’t let go of the things I fancy.”

Presley heard those words and ran faster, heart racing, trying to silence the echo of his voice in her head.

Later...

Everyone kept their distance from her.

They whispered.

They stared.

They called her the bad boy’s toy.

No boy dared come within two meters of her, which, in a strange way, was a relief. Presley hated the attention. She always thought being beautiful was annoying… or maybe it became annoying the moment she caught his attention.

And yet… she fell for him.

Crazy over him. Obsessed. Like a child with candy.

But what happened to that love story?

A soft sniff escaped her lips as the memories flooded back.

“Relax, Presley,” Maltilda whispered, squeezing her shoulder gently. But tears were already streaming down Presley’s cheeks.

“I’m f*cked, Maltilda,” she whispered, repeating her friend’s earlier words because they rang with brutal truth.

Maltilda sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose before wrapping her arm around Presley. “You work together. That’s it. He’s your ex-boyfriend—and that’s all he’ll ever be.”

Presley nodded slowly.

But they both know that wouldn't be easy... That man wouldn't let her be.

“Avoid him as much as you can. Don’t stay alone with him—ever. You know how that drives him crazy. Remind him you’re married. And most importantly…” Maltilda paused, making Presley glance up.

“Resist him, Presley. Please… just try your best to resist him.”

Presley blinked, then gave a soft nod.

“Everything’s going to be okay, babe,” Maltilda said, pulling her into a warm hug.

And Presley held on—because she needed something to hold her together.

The phone ringtone brought them out of their moment. Presely picked up the phone seeing the name hubby.

"Hey" she whispered as she picked up the call.

"Where the hell are you presely. You are supposed to be here by 8pm" he said, almost like he was yelling.

Presely eyes widened while maltida just stared at her confused.

"But you promised to pick me up" she yelled back, gripping her fist tightly, that it almost turned white.

"I was busy" he said. "Then you should have called me to let me know. You should gave them another reason to be mean to me" Presley half yelled, frustrated.

"Get yourself here presely" he stated and ended the call before she could even reply.

Presely scoffed staring at the phone in disbelief and then -she sighed softly.

"I need to go. Thanks by the way" Presely smiled great fully

"And yet you settled for something less_Anyway have fun with those annoying folks" Maltida kissed her cheek.

She smiled and walked to the other direction.

Presely sighed softly, the words lingering deep inside of her, as she walked back to the bar.

She rolled her eyes when she saw the couple kissing, not the sight of maltida on display.

"I need to go" She announced, grabbing her bag from the chair... They hummed, waving at her, and she chuckled- and walked