“There is paradise?”When Chantelle’s response to her morose question was to frown, narrowing her eyes Penny forced a smile and rolled over to the other side to hide her face. But Chantelle wasn’t having any of that. She sat on the bed and leaned over her body to look into her face.“You are not exactly a sunny sky on a normal day but you are a lot more melancholic than normal.”“Thanks?”Chantelle snorted. “You are deflecting. What happened?”“I don’t know what you are talking about.”“Penny you are not my boss anymore. You came to my house asking us to be friends and friends share problems in case you did not know that. I have seen you at your best and your worst,” Chantelle offered a smile. “Mostly your worst but…this side of you is new and weird.”Penny turned on her back and said nothing.“First you said you were going to see your parents who were sick and the next thing I know I was reading about your marriage that you said nothing about. I know you have always been a private pe
“Henry Maxime?” Penny nodded her head at Jay. It was almost midnight when she called him to tell him she would be coming back to work the next day. She hadn’t known it was that late but Jay had promised to arrive early the next day, regardless. He was concerned about her health and hoped that she would be well quick enough to fully return to the office. The phone lines were blowing up, he told her. There were campaigns all lined up and people ready to partner with them. Penny knew stalling her business was dangerous but right now all she really cared about was getting to the bottom of her problems. What good was her business if someone said a word to expose her past bringing her into the terrible limelight? She had to gain the upper hand. And fast. “What do you know about him?” “Never even heard that name before.” She eyed him suspiciously. “You want me to believe you have never heard of the underground dealer who sells expensive jewelry? Where do we get our jewelry, James?” “Pen
On a warm summer night, tucked in the seedy corner club-packed backstreet of 4th avenue, pop music blasted from within through the half-open doors and broken windows. Clubbers danced toward the bar, where a lone bartender served drinks and left a glass or two of cheap whiskey or bottles of beer. Red and blue florescent lights dimly illuminated the worn-out tables and chairs on which patrons sat, some clubbers swayed drunkenly to the music while others sat in groups tossing back their drinks.Among these, on a stool in front of the bar counter was a blond girl with her head bent over her bottle of untouched beer. She was a lone clubber. She shouldn’t be here, she knew that yet what choice did she have?Her boyfriend – if she could even call him that anymore – had broken things off that earlier that day. Why?Well because tomorrow she would be sold off to her father’s choice of a husband for her. It was all part of the job. As long as it benefits the “family” she had to do it. She had t
Penelope grabbed her purse off the dresser. Meeting with a client in an hour. She was the boss, she called called the meeting as CEO and owner of Exquisite, her modeling and advertising agency company and she had one rule. Punctuality. Her business was her baby and she would not let anything destroy it or take it away from her. She wasn’t called Ice Queen for nothing. As she prepared for another day of success the door downstairs opened and Nancy, her maid who works five days of the week, climbed up the stairs to her room with the subtlety of an elephant in a circus. She opened the door and paused at the doorway eyes widening. Even after working for Penelope c for years, she still could not get used to the woman’s punctuality. She was a perfectionist in every way. “Good morning, Miss Quinn.” Penelope merely nodded never looking away from her reflection in the mirror. A light touch of concealer hid the circles around her eyes. She had stayed awake the night before working on new des
Noel Greer… it brought back memories. 10 years ago, she had woken up beside him in the hotel. He was asleep and with his eyes closed, dark lashes fell over beautiful olive skin stretched over defined cheekbones. His full lips were relaxed and full and Penny yearned to reach over and kiss him. His strong, lean muscled body was stretched out on the bed, reminding her of a powerful panther leisurely sunbathing under the dim lights of the room, the red bedsheets heightened the lure of his tanned skin. She bit her lip shyly allowing her gaze trail down his hard shoulders to the solid wall of the chest that had crushed her breasts while he thrust inside her several times that night. She blushed and her gaze trailed lower to the washboard abs and even lower to the thick cock that drew her gaze magnetically. Even flaccid, it was huge. A blush crept up her neck and she looked away. She remembered thinking with excitement and guilt, Father would be appalled to know I was naked in bed with a co
The 20-floor building of steel, glass and concrete loomed ahead surrounded by equally large office complexes. In front of the building, written in cut-out 3d glass prints were the name: Greer Global Enterprise. He owned the biggest steel company in the city possibly the entire state. The Interior was every bit as imposing as the outside. The word in the street was Greer expected total commitment, hard work and loyalty from his employees and judging by the serious faces of workers behind glass cubicles and hardwood desks, that much was true. Rumors were that Noel spent his days and nights behind the closed doors of his office plotting the downfall of many rivals. And when he wasn’t doing that he was charming women, finding new wives, divorcing them and dating models. That much I can believe, Penny thought to herself. The elevator stopped at the 10th floor. A blonde lady in a pantsuit and white silk blouse stepped out from behind the desk in the waiting room in front of Noel’s offic
Her blood ran cold. Her legs wouldn’t take another step but she found the strength to slowly turn around mid-step to see that Noel was no longer leaning against the desk. He had moved a few feet towards her and was watching her reaction to his words with heat and pride burning in his eyes. The office suddenly felt small. The desk, chairs, and beeping computers displaying stocks and trade information suddenly cramped the space. Her throat was tight as she regarded the man she once fooled herself she loved. “What did you just say?” she asked slowly. “You heard me,” was his firm reply. Tears stung her eyes as she opened her mouth to defend her father, a man who had once gladly offered to sell her off to Noel Greer because he wanted to be recognized. Noel Greer was a new name at the time, a rising star to look out for and Hubert Nowak had seized the opportunity to ensnare him into marriage with her. “My father is an artist. He made his living replicating famous paintings, everyone know
Penelope held her breath until she walked into her car. Once she was behind the wheel, she clutched it in her hand so tight that her claws were white and forced herself to calm down. How had she forgotten about the wives he had after their disastrous wedding day? She had seen them all in celebrity lifestyle shows and magazines. His wife. The second. The third. Then there were the girlfriends. And every time she convinced herself she didn’t love him anymore. She would attend events on the arms of wealthy men, models and actors. And she would look across to see Noel with a new woman on his arm, force herself to smile and try to forget about him. And it seemed to her that he appeared in every event she was. It hurt that while she was still pining after him he didn’t care. Now he waltz into her life and demand her back?Why had she signed the papers anyway?She would have to find a lawyer who would help her dissolve the marriage. Once again they would be married for only a few hours. May