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Please continue reading if you’ve read the story starter – a very long Chapter 1 – and you’re ready to dive into the story with me.

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About the story: (short description. Click here for longer)

“Let Me Love You” is a tale of love and sacrifice and a poignant story of self-discovery, celebrating the human capacity to find love in the most unlikely of circumstances.

Please enjoy the current WIP of Iris and El. This will be published freely up to a point, like in the old days, and then the entire book will be posted for full download. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. And don’t forget to check out the companion stories. (Wicked Chances, Dreams of Reality, The Convenient Wife, The Other Side of Love, She Works Hard for the Money & Ravenous)

Enjoy, Your Author, Sylvia Hubbard

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Read more: Let Me Love You – Chapter 53✍🏾📚❤️ #SylLit #WIP #livestory 📖💓 #marriedwife #demandedconsensual #darkromance

AUTHOR’S NOTE: I like this chapter. I put so much in there, and it means so much to both of them. I really like how I weaved a lot of things that weren’t said but felt.

Let me know.

I’m slowly introducing the Bellini Family through out all the books. Can you name a couple of them you’ve seen them in.

Let me know.

We’re almost done with this story, and I just got one piece of the puzzle to fix and that’s how to stop her father. Are there any other unanswered storylines you don’t think I’ve addressed?

Let me know.

Your author, Sylvia Hubbard

Nervously, Iris pulled in the hotel’s valet. She checked her laptop and found a message from Aunt Rose with only a link to a news blog. The video footage of the incident at the St Royal in Detroit had the title: The Bad Boy Businessman magnate, El Olorun, feloniously assaulted Damien Wexford, son of Russell Wexford, to force the young man to transfer ownership of his family’s corporation.

The post went on to say Damien was in a fatal coma, which the doctors surmised he may never awake from. 

The article continued how El’s violent streak started in his teens when he was sentenced to five years in the army for resisting arrest and injuring an officer. Also, last year, he was accused of a shooting in New York, but the charges were mysteriously dropped. 

In her gut, Iris felt none was true, and she had nothing to worry about El.

Looking at the blog author, Iris winced reading Sharlie Costello’s name. That stupid journalist who had tried to get information out of her? The woman was diabolical and most likely working with all these other people trying to destroy El. Was his business that important to them? 

She could understand Russell’s animosity. El had gotten the man’s entire business under Russell’s nose using his son’s guilt. Iris didn’t feel remorse after what that man had done to her. Russell deserved more, and she wanted to do whatever she could to help El, even if it meant hurting Russell like he hurt her.

It was a demoniacal business deal that was most likely sealed in stone unless they found illegal intentions, which they were now trying to do.

Yet, these other players were confusing to her. Would El feel comfortable helping her understand everything that was happening? He was a man who didn’t want to be asked about his business and always wanted to do things on his own, hence his resistance to her helping him. He only wanted the people he allowed to be close to him to do as he ordered them to. 

She was used to doing that with her father and Dwayne, so this didn’t bother her about El. Yet, she was also good at putting things together, not just on paper. 

Before arriving in Chicago, Iris pulled into a truck stop and washed up, wiping down El’s vehicle. Inside her messenger bag was her small personal pouch, which allowed her to hit her hot spots and brush her teeth. Iris cringed as she leaned into the mirror and saw that Blaque’s mark was bruising worse than Dwayne’s. When she touched her cheek, she winced sharply from the pain. 

Perhaps that she-devil had hit her harder than Iris thought, and adrenaline was still coursing through her. Iris had a quick makeup bag and tried her best to cover the bruises so she could at least walk through the lobby without letting anyone know her face had been in a punching bag. She didn’t miss the days of covering the bruises, but right now, she appreciated the jacket and the makeup from her old days.

Fondly, she thought about how her life had changed since she’d met El. As complex as he was, he could provide a much simpler life for her, whether he was her lover or not, IF she stayed in Michigan.

After everything was over and done with in terms of their current drama, Iris could see herself becoming his full-time assistant and taking care of Clem for the rest of her life. Although she would constantly be worried that her father would interfere, being with El could be worth that risk. El’s affection would eventually wane, but she was strong enough to continue her work for him and stay to herself. 

Getting back on the road, Iris briefly wondered if Blaque would really hurt Dwayne like Salacious had implied and why. Although Salacious said something about earning the evil woman’s respect, did Iris want that? There was nothing currently Iris could do about what Blaque would do to Dwayne, but a minor concern and guilt haunted the back of her mind.

Your business with him is done with. By now, the divorce would be final. Would she still be appealing sexually to El? 

Damn! 

Before the valet came to El’s car to help her, Iris checked her makeup one last time. 

She walked to the lobby, overwhelmed by the luxury and feeling terribly underdressed in the simple homemade dress she’d pulled from Aunt Rose’s back closet. The Chicago hotel was much more decorated than the Detroit establishment, and she could tell the staff paid more attention to detail. 

“I like your dress,” a soft voice said beside her.

Looking at the black, regal, expensively dressed woman who’d walked to the front desk to have her vehicle called through valet, Iris was taken aback by this woman’s compliment.

Was she being condescending? 

“It looks very comfortable but with a touch of pretty,” the woman said with a warm smirk. “Where did you get that?”

Iris pushed away judgment and answered, “I made it years ago in college and pulled it out recently because I didn’t have a nice thing to wear.”

The woman smiled fondly. “I used to make my clothes long ago, but it was out of necessity until…” Her voice trailed off sadly, but she outstretched her hand. “I’m Kelsey Bellini.”

Iris introduced herself, shocked she was meeting a family of the illustrious Bellini family. From her research, Kelsy Bellini was an adopted daughter in the family, and she was over their art acquisition and sales from the many estates they acquired. “It’s really nice to meet you.” Her eyes were drawn to Kelsey’s wrist, and she noticed a concentrated area of eczema. 

Kelsey moved her hand away quickly, seeing Iris looking at her inflammation.

Not excusing her staring, Iris explained, “I’m sorry. That reminded me of my nephew. He used to get outbreaks like that, and now I slather him down with a lotion I make.”

“You make dresses and lotions?”

Iris blushed but pulled out her business card and a small container she always carried for Clem. “It’s a hobby.” 

Kelsey smelled the container she was handed and smiled. “It’s pleasant. May I try a little?”

Iris encouraged her and watched as the woman took a small dab to test the inflamed back side of her wrist. 

“Oh wow, it smells lovely and feels cool on my skin,” she praised.

“That’s the lavender and aloe mixed in,” Iris responded proudly. “I also mix a little sulfur in as well.”

“Are you staying in Chicago for long?” 

“No, just a couple of days. I’m here on business with my boss, Mr. Olorun.”

Kelsey’s eyebrow shot up, and Iris felt this woman knew what was happening with El and her family. “Well, I’m sorry to hear that,” the woman said, further solidifying her knowledge of what was happening.

“He didn’t do what people are saying,” Iris said. “I know you probably have no say in the matter, but I’m coming from Detroit late because I recorded some possibly incriminating information that could turn everything around.”

“You sound hopeful,” Kelsey said with a forceful smile and pulled out a business card. “I know I might sound silly, but if you’d like, could you have brunch with me before leaving town tomorrow or the next? It won’t have anything to do with your boss.”

“Oh, I should have some time here and there to squeeze in.” If not, Iris would make time! 

The valet came inside to let Kelsey know her car was ready.

“It was nice to meet you,” Kelsey said after bidding goodbye.

Iris almost skipped to the desk to retrieve the extra keycard El left for her, but she was instructed to take the private elevators away from the main lobby.

The Chicago St. Royal hotel was much more opulent and newer than its Detroit sister hotel.

As she rode the elevator to the floor where she had been instructed, she could see the care and detail the staff put into every nook and cranny of the hotel. 

Before she stepped off the elevator, Iris noticed the door of El’s room open, and he impatiently waited for her to come to him. He only wore a dress shirt and pants with socks, but how else did she expect from this man who was always ready to conduct business? There was a vibrational energy leaping from every cell of his skin. Staring up into his intense eyes, Iris could almost feel the words he wanted to say, but she knew he would never say words she would love to hear, and she forced herself not to feel anything for this man, but that wasn’t easy. 

He pressed a finger under her chin and moved her face from side to side, inspecting the damage. Up close, she knew El could see the beating her face took, and then remorse came over his face. 

Smiling while rolling her eyes, she told him visually it was right. 

He frowned because he was displeased by her acceptance.

She started to speak to break the tension, but he put a finger over her lips and brought her into the hotel room. He helped her off with her coat, and she immediately removed her shoes. Unique rugs were all over the floor by the door, and she knew this was El’s touch to the room.

When she heard the zipper to her dress coming down, Iris forgot about accessing the room visually. When her dress fell to her feet, she wasn’t this shy woman anymore. 

Slowly, she turned around, ready for Iris to step out of the box and enjoy El. She didn’t know how long she would enjoy him, but she wouldn’t waste a minute worrying about the future. She stepped closer, waiting for him to take her in, understanding his condition and how smell was important to him. 

“You washed up?” El noticed.

Blushing, knowing how aware he was of her body, she said, “I didn’t want to-“

El pulled her instantly into his arms and kissed her. Gawd, she didn’t realize how much she missed kissing him and wrapped her arms around his neck, touched he could stand her scent just enough to kiss her to show he missed her too. 

End of This Chapter | Post your thoughts in the comment | Let the author know what’s going on in your head

Let Me Love You (c) 2024 Sylvia Hubbard All Rights Reserved

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual person, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
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