In His Dark World

The party was filled with rich and influential people—dangerous men, mafias, and gangsters. Talia and her friends weren’t supposed to be there, but they had snuck in, and now they were having the best time of their lives. Especially Talia. She wanted to escape—from her family, from college, from everything. "Truth or dare," one of her friends finally said. Talia, always the one who loved chaos, didn’t hesitate. "Dare." "I dare you to kiss the most handsome and hot man in this room," Megan grinned. Talia rolled her eyes, scanning the room. Then, her gaze landed on him. The most handsome, the most composed man in the entire club. He sat among a group of men, but unlike them—who were talking and laughing—he was just there, drinking, minding his own business. He wasn’t just attractive. He had a presence. He looked like a gentleman. "Him." Talia smirked, pointing at him. Her friends' eyes widened in panic. "You have to choose someone else," they protested. She frowned. "Why? Why are you all acting like he’s some kind of dangerous man? He doesn’t even look dangerous." "Talia, you can't kiss that man," Megan warned. But Talia was never one to listen. Stubborn and reckless, she walked straight toward him, her pace slow and deliberate. "Hello, guys," she greeted as she reached their table. The men acknowledged her presence—except for him. "I'm not here for you guys," she said, her eyes locked onto her chosen target. "I'm here for him." For the first time, he looked at her. "Hello, handsome," she smiled—and before anyone could stop her, she kissed him. Gasps echoed around them. Her friends stood frozen, their mouths agape. He didn’t push her away. He kissed her back, unfazed by the stares. When she finally pulled away, she searched his face, expecting amusement, irritation, something. But his expression remained unreadable. "Don't think too much about it," she said casually. "It was just a game. The kiss meant nothing." She turned to leave— But he caught her wrist. "Then let's play this game to the end," he said, his grip firm, his voice like ice. "You can't start what you can't finish." A shiver ran down her spine. "I don’t know what you’re talking about. The game is over. I kissed you, so I won." His smirk was slow, dark. "The game isn’t over until I say so. And you? You're not the winner yet." He leaned in slightly, his next words making her breath hitch. "Watch your back, Talia. This game has only just begun." He let go of her hand, and she forced herself to walk away. "Girls, let's go," she muttered, and walked away not waiting for them. She didn’t look back. But he did. Watching her disappear, he smirked. Then, without taking his eyes off the exit, he murmured to one of his men— "Find out everything about her." Emirate College "You should not have kissed that man," Megan said, her voice filled with urgency. Talia raised a brow. "Why?" Megan sighed in frustration. "That man is dangerous, Talia. The man you kissed is Xavier Montenegro, the most feared man in Italy." Talia scoffed. "So?" Megan looked at her like she had lost her mind. "‘So?’ Talia, Xavier Montenegro can ruin you within the blink of an eye! Just be careful. And don’t let your boyfriend find out—he’ll lose his mind!"* Before Talia could respond, a familiar voice called out. "Babe." Arnold appeared, pulling her in for a kiss. "Ugh, get a room, you two! Stop oppressing me; I’m single, remember?" Megan scoffed, rolling her eyes. Talia smirked. "Then go get a boyfriend and stop whining." She stuck her tongue out playfully. "Oh, I will. Just wait and see," Megan huffed before walking away. **** Meanwhile... Xavier sat in his dimly lit office, swirling a glass of whiskey in his hand, his sharp eyes fixed on the man in front of him. "So, her father owns the N Chocolate Company?" Xavier asked, his voice calm yet chilling. "Yes, Master," the man confirmed. "I also heard that one of the biggest chocolate companies in Poland wants to partner with him." Xavier smirked. "Make sure he doesn’t get the deal. I want her crawling to me. She may have started this game, but I will be the one to end it." --- Talia’s Home "No! This can't be possible!" Mr. Norman's voice echoed through the house. Talia paused at the doorway, confused. "There must be some mistake," Mrs. Norman said, pacing in distress. "They had already accepted the deal—why did they suddenly change their minds?" Talia stepped forward. "What’s going on?" Her mother sighed. "The investors from Poland just backed out of their partnership with us." Talia frowned. "What? But they already agreed!" "Don’t worry about it, sweetheart," her father said, forcing a reassuring smile. "We’ll fix this." Talia wasn’t convinced, but she nodded and headed to her room. As she pushed open the door, something immediately caught her attention—a black envelope lying on her bed. Her heart pounded as she picked it up, her fingers trembling slightly. Opening it, she found a letter written in elegant but ominous handwriting. "The game has just begun. I told you to watch your back. Get ready for another surprise." Her breath hitched. "It was him," she muttered. Xavier Montenegro. The man she had foolishly kissed. And now, he was playing a game she wasn’t sure she could win. Montenegro Villa Talia found her way into Xavier Montenegro’s villa with Megan’s help. Her heart pounded, but she kept her head high. Xavier sat there, smirking, like he had been expecting her all along. "You came on your own," he said, his deep voice calm but laced with amusement. "How could you do that?" Talia snapped. "My father worked so hard to get that contract!" Xavier leaned forward slightly, his gaze locked on hers. "You started the game, sweetheart. I’m just playing along." Talia swallowed hard as he stood up, moving closer. She took a step back, then another, but he didn’t stop until she hit the couch and fell onto it. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly. Xavier bent down, his lips almost brushing her ear. "I want to kiss you until you lose your breath and f**k you until you pass out," he whispered, his voice sending chills through her body. Talia’s breath hitched. Her chest tightened, and she cursed herself for the way her body reacted. "I have a boyfriend," she said quickly, her voice uneven. "You think I’d ever have anything to do with you?" Xavier’s eyes darkened. In a flash, his hand wrapped around her throat—not tight, but just enough to make her feel his power. "You had a boyfriend," he corrected. "And yet, you kissed me. No one makes a fool of me, Talia." She gasped as he pulled her into a rough, dominating kiss. It was too much—too fast—but her body betrayed her, heat spreading through her veins. No. This isn’t right. She shoved at his chest, pushing him away. "Let me go!" she snapped. Xavier licked his lips, smirking. "Are you sure? Because that’s not what your body is telling me." He reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Talia slapped his hand away. "What do you want?" "You," he said without hesitation. Talia clenched her fists. "I am not some treasure you can just claim whenever you feel like it!" She turned to leave, but his next words made her freeze. "I’m giving you a week to break up with that clown you call a boyfriend," Xavier said, his tone casual but firm. "I don’t share my property. If you don’t…" He tilted his head, his smirk returning. "Your father’s company will be destroyed. And trust me, little one, you can’t do anything about it. Talia’s hands shook, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of turning around. Instead, she walked out without another word. Xavier watched her go, smirking to himself. She’ll be back. And when she does… she won’t leave.