LOGIN~RYAN~ “What do you want?”, he asked, his jaw ticking. “What do I want? Hmmm…a very nice question” “You catch on really fast”, I grinned, entertained by the whole conversation. “Good boy”, I added, smiling in satisfaction as his eyes burned with a rage he desperately struggled to suppress. “I’ll let you know Carlos”, I replied turning and walking away. His entourage parted for my men and me as we approached. They knew what I was capable of. I made my way to the snack bar, ordering a variety of pastries packaged to go, before moving to the buffet section to request two meals packed for takeout. I wanted to bring them to Mila. I couldn’t wait to see her. Gary took the bags from the waiters and we exited the building. When we reached my car, Todd hopped into the driver’s seat and started the engine. Gary held the door open for me as I got in, then slid into the front passenger seat. My phone rang, my mother’s name lighting up the screen instantly bringing a smile to my face.
~RYAN~ “After careful examination and deliberation, the jeweler selected for this partnership is…Ryan Anderson.” The room broke into murmurs before erupting in applause. I didn’t rush. I turned slowly, locking eyes with Carlos. I offered him a smirk, the kind a winner gives a loser. Standing up, I adjusted my suit jacket and walked towards the stage with a smile. “Congratulations Mr. Anderson”, the presenter said smiling as she offered a professional handshake. “Thank you”, I replied returning the gesture. Turning to face the crowd, I spoke confidently, “Thank you to the esteemed board members and the panel of judges of Legacy Gem Gallery for choosing me for this project. It is a rare privilege and I am grateful.” “I promise to do my very best in this project.” “Thank you once again.” I offered a curt, graceful bow to the board members and the panel of judges, then made my way back to my seat as the audience applauded. I didn’t even spare Carlos a second glance. The prese
~ RYAN~ “Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed members of the board and our distinguished panel of judges, welcome. It is a pleasure to have you all here this evening”, a tall elegant woman in a skirt suit spoke confidently on stage. Four judges and the five members of the board of the Legacy Gems Gallery sat at a massive mahogany table in the front row. “Our annual auction is approaching, and this year, we have decided to showcase an exclusive collection of new high-end jewelry. That is the reason you have been invited here tonight”. “Thank you for honoring the invitation”. “To be in this room is to be among the best in the industry. You are all incredibly talented and it is a pleasure to have such expertise in one room”. The room erupted in a round of applause. “The last time we auctioned new jewelry pieces, we featured three jewelers.” She paused, her gaze sweeping across the room before locking on the front row. We featured Esmeralda owned by Mr. Ryan Anderson, Sovereign Carlos o
~MILA~ I woke up feeling sore all over, especially between my legs. I squinted, struggling to adjust to the bright light that filled the room. The bed was empty. I was alone. I sighed in relief, at least I could take the walk of shame without anyone watching. Facing Ryan this morning wasn’t something I was prepared for. The last thing I wanted was for him to look at me with disgust. I’d rather cherish the memories of last night and take it with me. A smile tugged at my lips as the memories of last night rushed back. It still felt unreal that I could be desired by such a man. I scrambled out of the bed, fumbling to pull my clothes back on. I needed to leave as fast as possible. Suddenly I remembered. This was a suite. That meant he might be in the living room. Oh no.. How did I not remember this? I guess I’ll have to face him. I braced myself and drew in a sharp steadying breath. I schooled my features, pulling on a mask of indifference. I opened the door expecting to see h
~RYAN~ “We are here Sir”, Todd’s voice cut through the haze. I looked up blinking as our surroundings registered. I hadn’t even noticed the car had come to a stop. I was too distracted by thoughts of the little vixen to think of anything else. “Give me a minute”, I commanded. “Alright sir”, Todd replied keeping his eyes forward. My pulse was still hammering but I forced it to settle. I took a deep breath and reined myself in. I cleared my head, shoving thoughts of Mila down and replacing them with what mattered right now. The deal. It was mine. After I secured it, I would celebrate with Mila. I hoped she was having a great time. I’d made sure everything she could possibly need was available before I left for work. When I returned, I was going to devour that sexy body again and again if she let me. Honestly, I didn’t mind begging for it. I glanced toward the window. The Legacy Gems stood tall, a massive building of glass and polished stone. It was a beautiful building, one
~ RYAN~ I reviewed my presentation for the day again ensuring that everything was perfect. This deal was mine. I wouldn’t let anyone beat me to it especially not Carlos. Carlos and I met in college. While we both studied Jewelry design at the Gemological Institute of America, our backgrounds couldn’t have been more different. My mother funded my education through the hard-earned profits from her restaurant while Carlos was born with a silver spoon. His parents were filthy rich and influential. Carlos hated me. He resented me for always being top in class and hated me even more because the girls he desperately wanted liked me instead. It never made sense to me. He had everything, the money, the looks, and the connections, yet they chose me. Don’t get me wrong, I knew I was a catch but Carlos was rich. Girls loved money so I always assumed that was enough to win them over. The tension between us reached a breaking point when the hottest girl on campus kissed me in public. She was t
~ MILA ~ The club was bursting with excitement, loud music blasted from the speakers and two exotic dancers danced seductively with the pole on stage. The red and purple lights flashed reminding me of my pathetic display the other day when I was trying to please Cooper. How foolish I must h
~ MILA~ Immediately the door opened, I rushed and grabbed Cooper by his shirt. He was now putting on a shirt while the girl wore a silk gown leaving nothing to the imagination. Her skin was flushed and she was smirking at me. He loved her dress but I looked like a hippo in mine. The song p
~MILA~ It’s been three days since that night. I had buried myself in my new job, leaving for work by 6pm and coming back in the morning by 8am. Cooper didn’t care as always even when I had told him about my new job. He didn’t care that I would be out at night, he wasn’t interested in knowin
~ MILA ~ “I want to start working, I’m going job hunting today”, I say softly but firmly to Cooper as I clear his dishes. He just had his favorite breakfast, pancakes, sausages, and fried eggs. “Okay”, he replied shocking me. “Okay?” “That’s it?”, I asked, the surprise evident in my voi







