Novel-novel oleh Gisele

SIMON’S POV“Are you sure that you won’t come in with me, Simon?”“Hmmm,” I replied, not even sparing her a glance.Bree sighed, the sound heavy with disappointment, before pushing the car door open. “I’ll be back soon,” she said, stepping out.The door shut, and just like that, I was alone.Finally.Bree had been going on and on about this designer for days now. Weeks, even. AKINA this, AKINA that, like the woman was some kind of goddess descended from the heavens to stitch lace and silk together.Sure, her pieces were exquisite. I had seen the pictures. Anyone with eyes could tell that much.But what I hated was this.This act.The way Bree moved, the way she spoke, the way she smiled like we were some normal couple in love, casually out here picking a wedding dress.Like this was something real.She could delude herself all she wanted. I had the money, I could buy her whatever she wanted, drown her in diamonds and silk if that was what it took to keep the peace.But I refused to be

ANIKA’S POV“You really did your big one on this didn’t you?” Felicia asked.Since I was back in town, what better person to show my new collection than my best friend?No one, she was the best.It was a bridal collection, the wedding gowns were unique, only one in the world would be worn by the lucky bride that would get to wear it.To craft beautiful wedding gowns had been my dream since forever, and ever since I met Liam, I guess more and more of my dreams seemed to be coming true every day.I smiled at Felicia “Really?”She scoffed “are you seriously asking me hat girl? Hell I wish I could just get married right about now already so that I could wear one of these beautiful pieces” she said.I laughed “thanks babes, this means a lot” I said.“Well you really need to give yourself more credit”The front door dinged open, signaling that someone had entered the shop.I looked to Felicia “could you help me tend to the person in the front, I will be out with you shortly” I said.She nar

SIMON’S POVIt had been days since that complete cluster fuck of an engagement party, and realistically, everything should have died down by now.The stares,The gossip.The unnecessary attention.Just, all of it.But apparently, the media did not get the memo.Because every single day that passed, there it was again, my name splashed across another ridiculous headline like I was some kind of circus attraction.“Unmasking the Truth: CEO Simon Smith humbled by multi billionaire Liam Danson, Is the perfect marriage already crumbling?”I clenched my jaw so hard it hurt.My grip tightened around my phone, and for a second, I genuinely considered throwing it across the room like it would make me feel better.This was all bullshit.Every single word of it.They did not know anything.It was one moment of weakness.One slip up.And somehow, Liam Danson had managed to turn it into a full blown public spectacle, and made me a laughing stock.My jaw ticked.I was not going to let that slide.No

ANIKA’S POV“Wait.”My heart was thumping rapidly against my chest. Okay, maybe I did not think this through well enough. Coming to this engagement party and then bumping into Simon like this.It sounded a lot smarter in my head.It was just that Liam had mentioned it, the fact that Simon had been skeptical when he heard my voice on the phone. And when that invitation came through, it just seemed like a good idea.I mean this was like, a golden opportunity and I’d be damned to let it pass me by.I was dressed in a red dress that clung to my body like it had been made for me, the fabric dipping low enough at the front to reveal just the right amount of cleavage, bold and unapologetic. It hugged my waist before flowing down smoothly, every step I took making it sway in a way that drew attention whether I wanted it or not.My hair, now cut to my shoulders, curved slightly inward, framing my face and resting softly against my chin. It still felt strange sometimes, but I loved it, it felt

SIMON’S POVI adjusted the mask on my face, making sure it sat just right, hiding half of my face effectively.This masquerade ball was not my idea.Not even close. If the sheer outrageousness of it all was anything to go by, then that alone should explain everything. The lights were too bright, the music too loud, everything was just s excessive and I wasn’t even interested, not in the slightest.But Bree had insisted on it.According to her, there would be no marriage without this huge engagement party. She said she refused to look like some ‘kept woman,’ whatever that even meant. And somehow, despite all my reluctance, I still ended up here.I honestly did not even know why I agreed.Actually, I did.Her parents.They had been so enthusiastic about the whole thing, and somehow managed to guilt tripping me into agreeing.“Hey babe.”I jerked slightly when I felt arms wrap around me from behind, fingers curling against my chest as she hugged me. For a brief second, my body tensed on

ANIKA’S POV“Good morning, my angel.”I needed to send offerings to whatever angel from above brought this man into my life, because how could someone be so perfect… and yes, it had everything to do with that and not the fact that he was standing there shirtless, dressed only in a pair of grey sweatpants that clung low on his hips, exposing that defined V line and that sinful trail of hair that disappeared beneath the waistband.He set the tray down in front of me like it was nothing, like he was not out here casually ruining my sanity before breakfast.“I know that I am good looking but Angel, if you keep looking at me this way I don’t think that you will have any time to eat,” he said.His gaze was heated, slow and deliberate, and then he bent down to kiss me.I pushed lightly against his chest. “Relax, babe, morning breath,” I said.“To hell with that,” he growled softly, his hand sliding to the back of my neck before he pulled me in and crushed his lips to mine.And just like that