The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the kitchen, curling into the stillness of the morning. Antonio leaned against the counter, sleeves rolled to the forearms, one hand absent mindedly stirring the steaming mug in front of him.At the other side of the dining table sat a small tray with a glass of water, painkillers, and a bowl of warm soup. A hangover was unpleasant, but there's no way Elosie would be escaping it so she would need it.He scoffed realizing she was still sleeping when he couldn't get a wink of sleep. Not because of work or another threat brewing from his uncle, but because every time he closed his eyes, he saw her. Felt her. Heard her.That moan. God, that moan.It had lodged in his head, a sound that snapped every restraint he's been summoning since she moved into his house and wore his shirt.The sound that was soft, breathless, sinful. The kind of sound that made a man forget his name. He could still hear it echoing in his skull, feel it shiver through his bon
“Mm…” She rested her chin on his chest, grinning wickedly. “If you kiss me, I’ll be in trouble too. But you won’t… because....Antonio doesn’t like to kiss.”Antonio’s jaw flexed. “I told you—there’s an exception.”Her smile widened. “Will you kiss me then?”He swallowed, voice dropping. “You have no idea.”“Hm? What did you say?”“Nothing.”She sucked her teeth, pouting. “Always nothing. Always. That’s why I don’t like you.” She gave his cheek a light slap. “I don’t like when I can’t tell what you’re thinking… or what you really mean.”He smirked. “Do you want to know that much?”Eloise nodded lazily, her eyes closing.She was stepping onto the last step when she stumbled but he caught her, her body crashing against his in a way that made his breath hitch, and his heart pounding.She turned her head to look at him, lashes blinking slowly, their eyes locking like neither of them could break away.The air was still. Only their breathing and the thud of his heartbeat filled the silence.
“ Sir, sir,” Tedros paused before calling louder, “ Sir.” Mason flinched. He turned to look at the three men seated on the sofa next to his right side. Their call had jolted him out of his trance and they could see clearly that he was distracted. “ Is everything okay, sir?” Tedros, the new managing director asked. The other two men exchanged a glance; they could guess the reason behind his distraction. In fact, almost every employee in the company would guess that. The news about his divorce had circulated the company, and it's only a matter of time before it reaches the media. There has also been gossip that Eloise would get her company back from him. “ What's it?” Mason's stern voice asked, glaring at them, “ Um,” Tedros didn't know how to start all over again so he went straight to the point, “ The Angelito cooperation refused our proposal, sir,” “ Why? Is the profit share not enough?” “ It's not the profit share, sir; the company is known for not collaborating with
“ Sir, sir,” Tedros paused before calling louder, “ Sir.” Mason flinched. He turned to look at the three men seated on the sofa next to his right side. Their call had jolted him out of his trance and they could see clearly that he was distracted. “ Is everything okay, sir?” Tedros, the new managing director asked. The other two men exchanged a glance; they could guess the reason behind his distraction. In fact, almost every employee in the company would guess that. The news about his divorce had circulated the company, and it's only a matter of time before it reaches the media. There has also been gossip that Eloise would get her company back from him. “ What's it?” Mason's stern voice asked, glaring at them, “ Um,” Tedros didn't know how to start all over again so he went straight to the point, “ The Angelito cooperation refused our proposal, sir,” “ Why? Is the profit share not enough?” “ It's not the profit share, sir; the company is known for not collaborating with firms,
“ Thank you, mum,” Eloise muttered under her breath, with a half smile as she took her seat opposite Dayse. Warm tea was prepared for her and placed on the small and circular table in the middle of the yard, a little further away from the house. The cool breath did nothing to cool her racing chest, even though Tamara was nowhere in sight, she had no idea what Tamara had told her, had no idea why exactly Dayse had called her, but her heart ached with the thought that…this might be the end of their relationship. “ How are you doing, dear?” Dayse asked with a friendly smile, “ I'm fine, and you?” “ No, I’m not. You’ve forgotten about me, you barely come to visit me now.” Eloise gave a not-so-sure grin. Dayse’s expressions and words make her doubt if she knows anything about what was going on at all, and if Tamara really didn't tell her anything. “ I'm so sorry, Mum, things have just been somehow lately,” “ Hope everything is good?” She asked, her voice laced with worries that mad
“ Would you believe me if I kissed you right now?” His heart thudded against his ribs as his gaze met hers. He felt it—under his fingers—her tremble. The soft gasp that slipped past her lips. The wild rhythm of her pulse beneath his thumb.He hadn’t meant to pull her this close. Okay… maybe he had. But he hadn’t expected that look in her eyes.Not fear. Not hatred. Something worse.Something dangerous. Something that said, ’I won’t pull away if you do.’And that thought was driving him insane.It took everything in him not to give in, not to devour her lips, not to strip her down and make her his until she couldn’t remember her own name.He always had control. His rules were simple, no softness, no strings, no distractions.Because no one had ever been worth breaking them for.He didn’t think he had feelings. But now… he wasn’t so sure.Her lips parted slightly, like an invitation he knew he shouldn’t accept. Because once he did…there’d be no going back. No hiding. Not from her. Not