Anacá I watched the jaw-dropped look on his face, and a sense of satisfaction coursed through my body.“Where were you? I looked for you everywhere. I thought you had left.” The fear in his eyes was clearly visible, and it felt good to know he wanted me to stay with him.“I went to grab a bite. After the way she insulted me, I had no wish to tolerate her.” I felt a little foolish for reacting to Acacia.“Oh, the food I ordered was for you. Why didn’t you have it?”“She snatched it from me.”Eros rolled his eyes in exasperation. “Anacá, you had the right to throw her out. You’re not just my PA. You’re the owner of Emerald as well. You should know and understand your rights.”My heart filled with an overwhelming urge to hug him. Did he really consider me the owner of his business? I hadn’t expected him to. “Oh, I am?” I couldn’t stop the urge any longer. Was he for real? We hadn’t been married for even a month, and he had already declared me the owner of his business. I didn’t need a s
AnacáThe door opened, and a uniformed staff greeted us. “Mr. Nikolaou is waiting for you in the great room.”Eros led me down the grand foyer towards the lavishly decorated great room. Everything about the villa was exotic and over the top. It was quite suffocating, hardly the home I’d like to live in. Thankfully, it wasn’t my home. Eros had built his own private sanctuary for us. He seemed the most sensible of the lot.His grip on my hand was so tight it hurt. Why was he crushing my hand? Maybe he was stressed. It was normal, given the circumstances he was in. Even I was stressed. I couldn’t wait for this ordeal to get over. Would I stay in Eros’s life as his wife by the end of the day?Relax, Anacá.Breathe.I must trust my husband. He promised me that no one could separate us.Voices echoed around us as we entered the lavish great room. I tried hard to remain calm at all costs. The whole family seemed to have gathered here. In fact, even Acacia was present, busy chatting up Lydia,
Eros“So, that’s my resume. I’m sure you know my qualifications, Eros. I’ll come down to the office tomorrow. With my experience, I can handle any top managerial job.”I gave Vincent a withered look. “Right now, we have no vacancy. Why don’t you apply at other companies?” I had no wish to induct him into my business. I would have avoided it if Dad hadn’t been so adamant. But with dad supporting them, I had no say in the matter. Victor had been trying to convince me for the last forty minutes in my dad’s study. It made me feel suffocated. Why couldn’t he get the idea?He gave me a shocked look. “Do you expect a Nikolaou to go begging others for a job? We are one of the top business families in the country, bro. Wouldn’t it tarnish your reputation?”I shook my head. “Nope. I’m an open-minded guy. Applying for jobs isn’t begging. With your qualifications, you’re serving a company, helping a business in return for money. It’s better than bothering others for money. That’s begging.” I coul
Anacá “I’m speechless! How did you convince Dad so easily? I had been trying for the last couple of years.” Eros drove away from his family mansion, looking flustered. “I hardly tried to convince him. All I did was offer to cook a good meal for him. My dad loved my cooking, and I miss feeding him.” I sighed at the memory. “Anyway, the place wasn’t conducive to his mental and physical well-being, Eros. There was so much toxicity, it was suffocating me.” I pondered over Acacia’s warning. Should I inform Eros about my hunch? I knew his extended family was planning something against him.“Yes, I know. That’s the reason I rarely come here. But this time, the situation was worse. So, did anyone insult you in my absence?” He glanced at me before steering the car onto the main roads. “No. Only Acacia warned me this would be the last time I could look around the mansion. She said that soon the house would belong to your uncle. I have a feeling they’re planning something against you, Eros.”
Anacá“Mmm! This is too good, Aunt Dana. I missed your meatballs so much.” I couldn’t help but close my eyes and chew, blocking out Josh’s scowling face opposite. I had agreed to stay back for Aunt Dana and Uncle Jeremy. They had done much for me, and I was indebted to them. But Josh seemed to get other ideas. I didn’t bother talking to him. So, he sat there sulking and glaring at me all the time. “Do you want to learn? You can make them for your husband. Do you know it’s a sure-shot way to win a man’s heart!” chuckled Aunt Dana. I opened my eyes, surprised to hear her joke in front of her crazy son. “Oh!” My cheeks were stained with color. Uncle Jeremy laughed too, while Josh glared daggers at me and his mom. “I’m sure she has touched his heart. Or he wouldn’t have pursued and married her!”“I don’t believe this! Are you supporting the man who has destroyed my career?” Josh rose in a fit of rage. “No, son. We’re just discussing Anacá’s husband. You have no reason to overreact,
Anacá DuVernay's POV“Why are we here, Anacá?” My best friend, Jessica, looked around the jewelry store we stepped into. She had no idea what was going on in my mind. It was something I hadn’t shared with anyone yet, not even with her. “I’m buying a ring for Josh.” I browsed through the collection before us, ignoring the jaw-dropped look on Jess’s face. Josh Hemmingway was the one my dad, Charles DuVernay, had chosen for me to marry. Although I didn’t love him, I had accepted him reluctantly. With my dad’s health slipping day by day, I had no choice but to keep him happy. He was the only family I had after my mom, Ana DuVernay, passed away four years ago. I didn’t want him to suffer a third cardiac arrest, as it would surely be fatal for him.The sales attendant catered to my low budget and showed me a few options. I chose a sapphire one for Josh, not because he loved blue, but because it was the cheapest. Jess came out of her trance and grabbed hold of my hand. “Don’t do it, Anacá
AnacáIn an instant, he grabbed my hand and pulled me up while his eyes held my gaze. I drowned in his hypnotic orbs, his touch causing my heart to skip a beat. “S-sir?” Josh’s startled cry brought me out of my dazed state and I broke the eye contact. Who was Josh’s sir? I turned to see the pale look on both Josh and Jordynn’s faces, and realization dawned on me. Was this man their boss? My first reaction was to flee, but with his iron-like grip on my hand, I couldn’t even budge an inch, let alone flee. “Is this what you do in my absence? Lunchtime was over five minutes ago. Where’s the weekly report for the Calligaris Project, Mr. Hemmingway?” My cheeks burned with embarrassment, realizing my folly. What had I done? I had proposed to my cheating boyfriend’s boss in front of the entire office. At that moment, I wanted the earth to open up so I could jump in and never emerge again!“Sir, I was about to report when Anacá arrived...” His boss held up his hand to stop his banter. “I
AnacáI tried hard to get a grip on myself. I was sure Eros could hear my heart pounding in its cage, ready to explode. “What?” I swallowed and straightened my spine to face him with confidence. All I needed to do was apologize for my mistake and escape. But sitting opposite to him, with his hawk-like gaze pinned on me, taking in every move of mine, I lost my mind. My eyes swept over him. He looked even more handsome in the sun-kissed restaurant than he did at his office. High cheekbones, a perfectly chiseled face, and full lips that could tempt an angel to sin. The way he filled out his suit made me imagine what kind of perfect body he was hiding underneath. “We can go over to my place if you need privacy.” His voice was laced with amusement, and for a moment, I felt he was playing a game with me. It brought me to my senses, and I focused my eyes on his face instead. My eyes widened, realizing what he had just suggested. I had to correct him right now. “No, I’m not interested. I m
Anacá“Mmm! This is too good, Aunt Dana. I missed your meatballs so much.” I couldn’t help but close my eyes and chew, blocking out Josh’s scowling face opposite. I had agreed to stay back for Aunt Dana and Uncle Jeremy. They had done much for me, and I was indebted to them. But Josh seemed to get other ideas. I didn’t bother talking to him. So, he sat there sulking and glaring at me all the time. “Do you want to learn? You can make them for your husband. Do you know it’s a sure-shot way to win a man’s heart!” chuckled Aunt Dana. I opened my eyes, surprised to hear her joke in front of her crazy son. “Oh!” My cheeks were stained with color. Uncle Jeremy laughed too, while Josh glared daggers at me and his mom. “I’m sure she has touched his heart. Or he wouldn’t have pursued and married her!”“I don’t believe this! Are you supporting the man who has destroyed my career?” Josh rose in a fit of rage. “No, son. We’re just discussing Anacá’s husband. You have no reason to overreact,
Anacá “I’m speechless! How did you convince Dad so easily? I had been trying for the last couple of years.” Eros drove away from his family mansion, looking flustered. “I hardly tried to convince him. All I did was offer to cook a good meal for him. My dad loved my cooking, and I miss feeding him.” I sighed at the memory. “Anyway, the place wasn’t conducive to his mental and physical well-being, Eros. There was so much toxicity, it was suffocating me.” I pondered over Acacia’s warning. Should I inform Eros about my hunch? I knew his extended family was planning something against him.“Yes, I know. That’s the reason I rarely come here. But this time, the situation was worse. So, did anyone insult you in my absence?” He glanced at me before steering the car onto the main roads. “No. Only Acacia warned me this would be the last time I could look around the mansion. She said that soon the house would belong to your uncle. I have a feeling they’re planning something against you, Eros.”
Eros“So, that’s my resume. I’m sure you know my qualifications, Eros. I’ll come down to the office tomorrow. With my experience, I can handle any top managerial job.”I gave Vincent a withered look. “Right now, we have no vacancy. Why don’t you apply at other companies?” I had no wish to induct him into my business. I would have avoided it if Dad hadn’t been so adamant. But with dad supporting them, I had no say in the matter. Victor had been trying to convince me for the last forty minutes in my dad’s study. It made me feel suffocated. Why couldn’t he get the idea?He gave me a shocked look. “Do you expect a Nikolaou to go begging others for a job? We are one of the top business families in the country, bro. Wouldn’t it tarnish your reputation?”I shook my head. “Nope. I’m an open-minded guy. Applying for jobs isn’t begging. With your qualifications, you’re serving a company, helping a business in return for money. It’s better than bothering others for money. That’s begging.” I coul
AnacáThe door opened, and a uniformed staff greeted us. “Mr. Nikolaou is waiting for you in the great room.”Eros led me down the grand foyer towards the lavishly decorated great room. Everything about the villa was exotic and over the top. It was quite suffocating, hardly the home I’d like to live in. Thankfully, it wasn’t my home. Eros had built his own private sanctuary for us. He seemed the most sensible of the lot.His grip on my hand was so tight it hurt. Why was he crushing my hand? Maybe he was stressed. It was normal, given the circumstances he was in. Even I was stressed. I couldn’t wait for this ordeal to get over. Would I stay in Eros’s life as his wife by the end of the day?Relax, Anacá.Breathe.I must trust my husband. He promised me that no one could separate us.Voices echoed around us as we entered the lavish great room. I tried hard to remain calm at all costs. The whole family seemed to have gathered here. In fact, even Acacia was present, busy chatting up Lydia,
Anacá I watched the jaw-dropped look on his face, and a sense of satisfaction coursed through my body.“Where were you? I looked for you everywhere. I thought you had left.” The fear in his eyes was clearly visible, and it felt good to know he wanted me to stay with him.“I went to grab a bite. After the way she insulted me, I had no wish to tolerate her.” I felt a little foolish for reacting to Acacia.“Oh, the food I ordered was for you. Why didn’t you have it?”“She snatched it from me.”Eros rolled his eyes in exasperation. “Anacá, you had the right to throw her out. You’re not just my PA. You’re the owner of Emerald as well. You should know and understand your rights.”My heart filled with an overwhelming urge to hug him. Did he really consider me the owner of his business? I hadn’t expected him to. “Oh, I am?” I couldn’t stop the urge any longer. Was he for real? We hadn’t been married for even a month, and he had already declared me the owner of his business. I didn’t need a s
ErosRelief washed over me at the sight of my wife in my office. She didn’t flee or bear a grudge against me professionally. She left home to shoulder her responsibilities. Despite having judged her wrong, my heart swelled with pride. Anacá had proved me wrong. She had proved herself. I knew I had made no mistake in choosing her as my PA.“Emergency? Why didn’t they inform me?” My eyebrows pinched together at her explanation.“They did. Your phone was muted, I guess.” She roped in the technical team to explain the situation in brief. “It’s taken care of. You can start your meeting anytime.”The door opened, and Maria from the Marketing team peered in. “Mr. Young has arrived, sir. Shall I escort him here?”“Yes, we’re ready to start.” The technical team walked out, leaving me with Anacá.“Umm, I’ll go to my office, then.” She gave me an indecisive look.“No. Stay here with me. I need you.” I watched her cheeks color at my double-edged words. “To record the minutes of the meeting, obvio
Eros I gazed at her beautiful face, so close to mine. If I dipped my head a few more inches, I could get a taste of heaven. Her lips were beckoning me to continue where we had left off. And then she licked her lips, her nervous gaze dropping to mine. I lost control. “Anacá,” I whispered her name almost like a prayer. “Yeah?” There was a shyness in her eyes that made my stomach tighten with arousal. I knew she wanted the kiss as much as I did. “Let me complete what we started earlier. I can’t sleep.” I could see the hot flush creep up her body, staining her cheeks and neck. It made me warm too, and my co*k responded instantly. “And what do you want to complete?” She tried hard to appear calm, but her hot breath came in gasps while her heart thumped wildly against her chest. I could feel every breath, every beat distinctly.Was she inviting me to do more than just a kiss? I leaned closer, and she gasped with surprise. “We can start with a kiss and see where it goes. Hmm?” “Okay.”
AnacáThe moment the door closed, Eros smiled at me, waving the document in the air. “I’m the happiest man alive tonight. Can you believe it? Dad has finally signed his business over to me. I never expected this day to happen so soon. And it’s only because of you, Anacá.” My jaw dropped to the floor. What? Didn’t his dad threaten to disown him if I didn’t leave him? Then how did this miracle happen? “I’m sure this has nothing to do with me, Eros. It’s your hard work that has paid off.” Maybe his dad didn’t have the heart to disown him. I was sure it had nothing to do with me. “I disagree. Dad had come prepared. If he disliked you, he would have shown his disapproval. He wouldn’t have transferred the business to my name. Instead, he would have asked me to get rid of you. He’s quite stubborn and difficult to please when you try. Surprisingly, he liked you at first sight.” He looked so excited, I couldn’t burst his happy bubble and tell him about my interaction with his dad. It was an
Anacá Dinner was bearable after his dad’s little reminder. I could feel the power he wielded over everyone present here, including Eros. After dinner, he declined the dessert I offered him. It hurt me, but I preferred hiding my feelings. “Dad has diabetes. He stays away from sugary treats.” Eros leaned in to whisper. It cheered me up again. I was glad Eros cleared the misunderstanding on my part. “We’ll leave, bro. Are you staying?” asked Uncle Enriquez. “Yes. I want to talk to Eros. You can go ahead. Eros will see you off.” They left, and Eros went downstairs to see them off. I felt acutely aware of his dad’s shrewd eyes watching me intently. “Come here, Anacá. I wanted to talk to you.” He gestured towards the opposite couch, and I complied. I wondered what he wanted to discuss with me. We just met, and he didn’t like me.” “Yes, Mr. Nikolaou.” My heart pounded in apprehension as I waited for him to start. Somehow, I had the feeling this wouldn’t be pleasant. “Look, I know yo