Novels by michael.xo

Skylar’s POVI take Carter's hand, and his fingers wrap around mine firmly, warm against my skin. He leads me out of the mansion, out onto the open field behind it.The moon is brightly lit tonight, and the air feels so fresh and peaceful. I catch the faint sweetness of flowers blooming somewhere in the gardens.We walk in silence, further and further, until the mansion slowly disappears behind us, and all I can see are towering trees stretching toward the sky and a quiet lake reflecting the moonlight.The Ford mansion is literally so big, and it's crazy we're still on the same property.Neither of us says anything for a while. I don't even know what to say anymore. Everything that happened inside is still fresh in my head, and honestly... I think this conversation belongs to him now.Finally... Carter exhales, breaking the silence. "I know experiencing Amy might have been uncomfortable for you." His voice is calm. "She usually isn't like this.""Oh really?" I glance sideways at him.

Skylar’s POV The closer the car gets to the Ford mansion, the more anxious I become, and I don't know why because, already, I'm dressed perfectly to the standard for a billionaire dinner but I think the problem is that my brain is genuinely struggling to process the fact that I’m on my way to have dinner with America’s unofficial royal family.That's huge.Once the car gets to the gate, it slowly slides open, and the driver pulls through.Damn! The mansion is enormous. Of course, it has to be. It glows with warm light against the night sky, exactly how it's portrayed in an old-money movie with the fountains, extensive gardens, and the long curvy driveway.Think The Great Gatsby.The car finally comes to a stop near the entrance, and I try to steady my breathing properly. The driver steps out first and opens the door for me politely.Immediately, I see Carter standing there waiting for me beneath the lights. I take a deep breath before stepping out in the blue dress, and Carter's eyes

Skylar’s POVCourtney’s collaboration launch event finally comes to an end, and my brain relaxes a bit. At least I can leave this space of too many cameras and too many celebrities casually existing in the same room like this is normal life.The New York evening air hits differently as Carter and I step outside the venue. The city glows around us while luxury cars line the street waiting for important people.Carter walks beside me toward the waiting Tesla while security keeps photographers at a distance exactly like he promised earlier, so there won't be any internet humiliation on my side.I slide into the backseat beside him again, and the drive back to the residence is quiet. We're both exhausted.Courtney’s voice still rings inside my head, "Bring your plus one tonight."So I'm really going to the Ford mansion today. Crazy.I glance beside me briefly, and Carter’s looking through something on his phone while loosening his tie, and somehow, that tiny movement is so sexy.“You’re

Skylar’s POVHow exactly am I supposed to say no to this?That’s the first thing running through my head as I stare at myself in the mirror of the restroom connected to the boardroom.What would Carrie do in my shoes? I've gotten my answer.Carter Ford didn’t even ask me properly, instead he concluded, like it was already decided.“You’ll be my plus one in an hour.”Normal people ask questions but billionaires... damn billionaires they just assign responsibilities.I smooth my hands down my skirt and I try to calm the panic building in my chest.His plus one.The Carter Ford’s plus one to a very public event.Oh my God! There are definitely going to be paparazzi there and I can already picture the headlines.AMY STONE ABSENT AS HUSBAND ARRIVES WITH UNKNOWN LADYI’m actually finished because this is how I lose my social dignity forever and the worst part is that I genuinely can’t tell if Carter understands how insane this looks or if rich people simply stop caring how the public view t

Skylar’s POVIt's been a whole month now, and somehow, I’m still surviving Ford Corporation.Not like I ever expected the worst but I've been thriving a little compared to my first week here which consisted of getting lost in elevators, almost dying from sexual tension and accidentally meeting Amy Stone Ford while internally panicking over the fact that I once made out with her husband.But now? I've gotten the hang of things, and I'm familiar with almost all the floors now, and my legal team is surprisingly sweet and cooperative. Mr. Hargrove, the senior legal advisor, has been patient with me despite the terrifying amount of work this corporation somehow produces daily.I’m currently seated in my office, flipping through acquisition files while trying to ignore the tiny thought forming in my brain.It's about Carter. I haven’t seen him physically in almost four weeks.Not once.Well, the internet keeps everyone posted, and we know his father’s presidential campaign is consuming half

Skylar’s POV By the time my first official workday finally ends, I genuinely feel like I’ve survived something. Indeed, I have.And honestly? My first day deserves historical documentation.Is it the awkward interaction with Amy Stone? Or the two elevator moments with Carter Ford?Nothing prepared me for them.The company car drops me back at the residence exactly the way Dan Wheeler said it would this morning. It seems Ford Corporation has every second of its employees' life scheduled.I step out of the car with my bag hanging off my shoulder and stare up at the building for a second.This is my life now.Crazy. From Carrie's cozy apartment in Atlanta to this? Life really changes in the twinkle of an eye.I step inside the elevator heading to my apartment, I pull my phone out to check my notifications and see if I have texts from Carrie because literally she is the only person I communicate with.Once I get inside my apartment, I kick my heels off and FaceTime her immediately. Carri