There’s no light in the hallway leading to the kitchen. From what I can see, the faint illumination is coming from the fireplace. My parched throat keeps me venturing from the guest room and out into the open space. The snow outside has worsened. Layers and layers of white almost covered the entirety of the glass-paned wall. Allowing only a sliver of light from the moon to shine through. The thunder that envelopes the sky every few seconds does a better job of leading me through Mr. Cane’s living room. The carpet absorbs my footsteps. I’ve never felt something more luxurious on my bare feet. Rounding the island, my eyesight treats me to a glorious sight. Mr. Cane, shirtless with sweats hanging loose on his pelvis. Spooning ice cream into his mouth. A sexy man and dessert. I don't know which one is more tempting for me. I’m spared from fainting because his back is facing me and the abs I’ve seen earlier aren’t assaulting my senses. But when lightning strikes again, I’m treate
Austin I don’t know what has come over me. First, practically adopting a stray dog? She just reminded me so much of my previous dog that I couldn’t in my right mind leave her behind in that cold weather; out in the streets during a storm. Even my ice-cold heart isn’t immune to a shivering puppy. Second, inviting the girl to my penthouse? Now I admit that one was uncharacteristic of me. I have never invited anyone into my personal space. This penthouse is sacred to me and only me. I never bring any girls here nor business associates. This place is just for me, even my ex-girlfriend has never stepped foot in here. In my defense, what were her other options? I couldn’t have left her there in the parking lot by herself to figure out how to go home in the middle of the storm. So now I’m stuck with two strays in my penthouse. Just my luck. Third, why did I stay and let her see my tattoos? And I’m not even going to think about that ice cream incident. I go straight to my shower and sw
“Listen. I need you to pick up stuff for the little one.” I nod. I knew this, Charlie would need the items from the vet - some toys, vitamins, and dog food. “She would have to be settled with her… things at the penthouse.” He pauses. He is deciding on something from the contemplative look on his face. “Okay, fine. You will have to go up and get her comfortable. Afterward, I have a meeting with the Engineering Department, I need you there to take notes.” Everything was alright until he told me this. “Excuse me? I mean, sir. I can’t just go to your place by myself..?” He crosses his arms. I knew by this gesture that he was peeved. “Are you questioning my orders, Ms. Blake? Or are you forgetting who’s the boss here?” That cold and distant tone again. “When I tell you to do something, you do it. No questions asked.” He stands and stares at the window of his office. “Do not presume that just because you’ve been to my penthouse and that you saw my life there, you have any right to q
“Where have you been?” Mr. Cane trains his death glare on me. “Lunch?” I hold up the paper bag of leftovers as proof. He narrows his eyes. Glances back at Tommy. “You’re early,” He remarks to Mr. Cane. “Is that not allowed, Mr. Ford?” “Oh, the formalities are back.” I take a seat before the bickering begins. I’m still full from my meal and I want to digest in peace. “Where are the rest of the team? Why aren’t they here yet?” “Again, you’re early, Austin.” Tommy checks his watch. “They’ve got fifteen more minutes.” “Then why are you both here already?” “I was planning to show Olivia around. Get her familiarized with my people and my area.” If a grown man can pout, I think he would have done it by this time. Mr. Cane is not amused. “So there’s a tour? Come on then, show us around.” “I said, it’s only with Olivia.” “No worries, I wanted to conduct an inspection anyway. Lead the way, Mr. Ford.” “But the meeting?” “They can wait.” Tommy sends me a look that can only be inter
“Oh my god! oh my god…” my mom’s voice jogs me into consciousness. I blink my eyes open but my vision is still blurry. I can hear Augustus taking his anger out on the furniture in the living room. I can’t see much from my position - lying motionless on the kitchen floor. Mom crawls toward me. “Can you hear me?” she asks in a hoarse voice. Delicately, she touches my swollen face. “Are you, are you okay?” I move to shake my head but it hurts so much. My heavy eyelids refuse to open wide. With the slits of my eyes barely seeing anything, my mom’s bloody face comes into view. Her hair is a mess, there’s a huge bruise on her arm and her right eye is closed and swollen. “What…?” I try to ask what happened, but I’m still out of it. Augustus had really done a number on my head with that particularly hard blow. She tries to get us to safety and drags me to the nearest room - my bedroom. With her own injuries, it takes her so long to get me to stand up or even to nudge me to a sitting po
Austin I survey the street below me. Buying a few more seconds to let my anger subside. “I’m driving you home from now on. End of discussion.” “But Mr. Cane..” “I said, that’s the end of that conversation.” I refrain from looking at my assistant. The sight of her injuries incites something primal in me. I want to kill whoever did that to her. “I appreciate it, sir. I’m not sure about driving me home every day, but I would really like not to be jostled more today.” She grimaced. Her condition must be so terrible that she swallowed her pride. If there’s anything I’ve observed about the girl, it’s that her pride rivals mine. The phone on my desk starts ringing. I sit down, she starts to stand and prepare to leave to give me privacy for the call. But finds it difficult to get up from her chair. The wince on her face and the way she clutches her sides make my blood boil. I raise up my hand, silently telling her not to move further, but I don’t answer the phone. She sits back dow
A ball of black fur greets me. “Charlie! How are you? What have you been up to, girl?” I aggressively fluff up her silky fur. The soft and luxurious rug in the living room is becoming my new favorite thing. I crouch down and play with the puppy while Mr. Cane disappears toward the corridor. “Were you good today, huh?” She barks and jumps, twirling around for good measure. “I know, I know, I had to visit you again!” She licks my face but I try to dodge her snout. I hug her tightly. She tries to squirm and playfully gnaws on my knuckles instead. “Goodness, are you hungry? You’re eating me,” I bumped her nose with my finger and she yelped at me. “I’m kidding, I’m kidding. I won’t boop your little nose anymore,” I tell her while doing so once more. The awful incident disappeared in my mind just like that. Puppy therapy at its finest. “Ow, ow! Alright, let’s move.” Her overexcited movements bumps into my sore side and we transfer to the couch. “I missed you so much. It’s been a few
“It’s a good thing that it’s Friday, but you might need your own clothes for next week,” he said while scooping some rice onto his plate. He drizzles the creamy curry sauce on top of it. “I definitely can’t wear this.” I try hard not to grin at the thought of wearing something of Mr. Cane’s at the office. “No, uh…” he glances down at the shirt I’m currently donning - his. The neckline swoops with my small frame, exposing a bit of my collarbone and shoulder. He clears his throat, going back to the food. “We can go back to your house or I can ask Ronnie to pick it up.” Oh. Yeah, I completely forgot that he has his own driver. So why does he always offer to drive me? “Okay, sir, thanks again.” Of course, he refuses to acknowledge my gratitude. His stoicism is sometimes unnerving. “We’ll report your father to the police first thing in the morning,” he just casually drops on me. I swallow the half-chewed curry in my mouth. Lay down my spoon. Drink some water to buy me some time to