Kaelia's POV After breakfast, Freddy and I returned to our room, and I changed into a light blue active wear for the occasion, pulling my hair up into a messy bun.Whoever had packed was smart with the cloth choices. Sundae, I suspected. Freddy mumbled something about tennis when I asked what he would be doing with the men. However, he escorted me to the yoga room so I would not get lost, even though I told him a million times that Sandie had sent me directions and I knew the way. I made him stop at the door anyway. Armed with my water bottle in one arm and yoga mat in the other, I entered. I was a little bit late, so they had started without me.The yoga instructor, a graceful woman in her forties with storm-gray hair and limbs like silk, greeted her with a serene smile.“Welcome…”“Lilyanna. Lilyanna Montgomery,”“Okay. Welcome, Lilyanna.”I saw Sandie waving at me and I went over to where she was sitting. “I didn't think you'd make it,” she said, smiling. I smiled back, sprea
Kaelia's POV It seemed Freddy shared in my celebratory mood. I should have known he had planned something from the mischief in his eyes as we walked hand in hand into the mansion. I saw luggage, ten of them, packed and waiting in the grand sitting room. I looked up at Freddy in confusion, “Uh, what's going on?” I asked as I looked at the boxes with raised brows. He turned to me with a cocky smile, “We’re going on a trip.”A trip? “To where? When? Right now?”“Napa. A business partner of mine just opened a new resort there. He offered us a complimentary stay for a week. A way of saying thank you for the investment advice.”Firstly, that was exciting.Secondly, I had a love-hate relationship with these surprises. I loved them because they were luxurious, spontaneous, and filled with unforgettable moments. On the other hand, I hated them because they always had me scrambling to make up excuses for Asher. Thankfully, I had accumulated leave days cashed in for moments like this. So I
Kaelia's POV “Let's…” Freddy said when we finally pulled away from each other. He dragged a hand down his face. “Let's …”“Let's what?” I was shy as hell, I couldn't look in his eyes, “You wanna talk?”“Okay,” He exhaled as he ran a hand through his hair, “What do you want to talk about?”Sex, I screamed in my mind. I want to talk about how bad I want you to ruin me.“Uhhh…” I remembered the strange pictures I had seen on the wall in that dumb corridor.Yeah, we should talk about that.“The paintings,” I said, “The one in the passage behind…”I turned around to point at the door I had gone through, “...that door. I meant to ask before,”His expression seemed to darken, and he turned away, bracing his hand on the countertop.“My mother painted those.” He said simply.Even though I had suspected it, I was so surprised, “She did?”He nodded, “Like just about everything else, she started after she found out about my father's affair. At first, it was just a hobby. She started from paintin
Kaelia's POV Freddy's strong hands gripped mine as he helped me up from the floor of his office.As I stood, I felt the edges of the pictures I had tucked into the pocket of my robe pressing against my hip bone.My fingers twitched at my side, itching to scratch the spot they were pressed against, but with Freddy's gaze on me, I had no chance of doing that. “Come on. You've spent enough time on the floor tonight. Let's get you a proper distraction,”He didn't let go of my hand as he led me through the corridor. When we reached the kitchen, he finally let my hand go to open the gleaming fridge. The cold air rushed out like a wave. For a moment, I expected to grab a bottle of water or perhaps something more luxurious and elaborate, like caviar. Imagine my surprise when he pulled out a jar of cookies instead.Homemade chocolate chip cookies.“You're joking,” I snickered.He grinned at me as he unscrewed the lid, “Not what you expected, huh?”“At all,” I replied, loving the look of e
Freddy's Pov When I turned, my hand landed on a space – soft silk, in place of smooth, warm skin – and I jerked awake. I blinked in the darkness, my eyes adjusting to the faint rays of moonlight spilling in through the crack in the window.She was not here.Lilyanna wasn't here.A pang of unease shot through my chest. She wasn't used to this side of the mansion. She could easily get lost.I sat up, dragging a hand down my face, trying to rationalize my thoughts.Maybe she couldn't sleep.Maybe she went back to her room.I stood from the bed, then picked up my robe from the chair where I had dropped it. I draped it over my shoulder, not bothering to tie it up. I started down the hallway, looking both ways, thinking of where she could have gone. The house was massive, bigger than anyone would ever need. My office, maybe. I had seen her fascination with books. Maybe she had gone back to read more. I turned and headed towards my office, each step heavy but quick.As I neared my offi
Kaelia's POV Goosebumps filled my skin as I looked around.It felt wrong. It felt like I was stepping onto sacred ground that I had no right to tread.Moonlight poured in through the large windows, spilling onto the rows of bookshelves and the huge table.What was I doing? I asked myself again.My heart pounded fiercely. “This is a mistake,” I whispered to myself.But Landon's threat echoing in my skull pushed me further.The real question was, even if I found something, would I be able to hand it over?I stared at Freddy's desk, my eyes assessing the books I saw there.What would happen if he caught me?How would I explain that I had invaded his private space to find something that could ruin him?Would he throw me out of the house?“I'd certainly end up in jail,” I said to myself, the shiver in my voice surprising me. The thought of what Freddy would do if he found me here burned worse than any threat Landon had made.But it was not just about me anymore.The world now knew that