After a while of soaking in the music, I’m ready to get engrossed in something different than the clusterfuck of this entire morning. But I don’t go to the firm straight away, I head to the car company, where I have to sign some paperwork and show ID to prove I’m Dad’s next of kin so that I can get the dashcam’s files.Then I drive to the firm and snuggle up beside Jane in IT to enjoy the peace away from Nate’s watchful eyes. He has a meeting with the other partners anyway, so I’m safe for a little while.Jane offers to help me sort through the files’ different dates.We both sit with headphones on, listening to the recordings and watching the feeds. I choke on my own tears the whole time. Seeing Dad talking, driving, and alive forms a ball in my chest. It expands with each second and I don’t think it’ll ever deflate. Or maybe I’ll have some sort of a heart attack. Panic attack. Or any attack.I pause when I see the last person I expect get into Dad’s car. Aspen. She yanks the door op
Nathaniel“I thought you wouldn’t survive Mrs. Weaver.”I glare at my nephew as he slides on top of the conference table, facing me. The other partners left, but he stayed behind to play the bastard role.“You knew she was coming and didn’t tell me?”He raises his hands in the air. “Hey. I only got the call after she left. A furious one at that in all of Mrs. Weaver’s snobbish glory. She kept asking if I knew and then said of course I did and that I should bear the consequences if this becomes public and all that fun stuff. But most of all, she was royally pissed that “the little girl” kicked her out. Gwen really did that?”“Gwyneth. The name is Gwyneth.” And she did. She kicked out my mother even though she’s not the type who shows rudeness without a reason. Despite her smart tongue and sass, she’s not an antagonist. But she has a strong sense of justice and that’s what pushed her to talk to Mrs. Weaver that way.I’ve been in a gloomy mood ever since she left this morning. I’m surpri
“That was when I thought she was caught in one of your webs and would be another stepping stone, but turns out that’s not the case. Maybe it hasn’t been all along.” He hops off the table and taps my shoulder. “Best of luck, Nate.”“With what?”“Being caught in someone’s web for once.”And with that, he strolls out, humming a happy tune.His words keep playing at the back of my head all day long, refusing to shut up or disappear.When it’s time to go home, I’m ready to stop trying to ignore Gwyneth’s presence. She’s spent the whole day with the IT girl, according to Grace, and I know that’s one of her peaceful places, so I didn’t call for her. She gave my assistant all the work I asked of her anyway, so I didn’t have a reason to.Now, I do.Now, I need to sit her the fuck down and tell her about all her options. The ones I talk to my clients about so they have no rosy thoughts about what’s waiting for them in the real world.I never wanted Gwyneth to be on the receiving end of that, bu
GwynethI’m not drunk.Yes, I’m swaying and my body feels light and hot, but it’s only because of the music.And the dancing.I don’t usually like electro, but the buzzing of energy keeps me on a high. I dragged Christoph and Jane with me and even called Jen and Alex to join us. Jen couldn’t, but Alex is a party guy so he showed up soon after.They’re all party people, actually. I’m usually the fun-ruiner. The one with a words phobia and a general phobia of the outside world.But maybe I’m drunk, after all, so it doesn’t really matter.Alex is a few steps behind me, jumping to the upbeat music. He’s a bit taller than me, but he’s lean and fit because of all the cycling he does. Chris is dancing with me, letting me use his hand to twirl, even though he said we should go home an hour ago.He repeats it again, shouting over the music, “You’ve had too much to drink, Gwen. I’ll give you a ride.”“No! I’m not druuunk,” I slur. Okay, maybe I am. But only a little.“Gwen, come on.” Chris trie
I felt a surge of electricity run through my body as Nate's hand wrapped around my wrist, pulling me out of the darkness and into the bright lights of the party. My breath caught in my throat as I was pressed up against his hard, masculine body. I couldn't help but gasp at the sight of him - towering over me, his broad shoulders and chiseled features making him look like a giant among men.My mind raced as I tried to process what was happening. One minute I was lost in my thoughts, the next I was being pulled into the arms of the one person I couldn't resist. Nate's eyes blazed with intensity as he glared at me, his grip on my wrist tightening as if he was afraid I would slip away."Let her go," Alex slurred, his voice barely audible over the music. I didn't bother to look at him, my focus solely on Nate and the way my body was responding to his touch.Nate didn't move, his eyes never leaving mine as he seemed to be searching for something. I felt a flutter in my chest as his gaze roa
He pulls out of the parking lot and drives down the streets in silence. There’s no radio or words, and the more time passes, the tighter my grip on his jacket gets.“Aren’t you going to say something? Anything?” I try not to slur but do so anyway.“I said to shut your mouth, Gwyneth.”“I don’t want to shut up. I want to talk, okay?” It’s probably liquid courage—or stupidity or whatever—but it’s there and I’m taking the bull by the horns. “In case you didn’t notice, you ruined my evening.”“What the fuck did you just say?” He fixates me with a sideways glance and it pins me to my seat so forcefully, I hiccup. Or maybe that’s because of the alcohol.“My evening, Nate. I was having fun until you showed up.” I’m feigning nonchalance and lying through my teeth.No, I wasn’t having fun. I was miserable and headed down a path I didn’t like even in my intoxicated brain.“You were having fun grinding against those kids and I ruined it, is that what you’re saying?”“We…were dancing.”“I saw you
His strong hand wraps around my waist, under the dress that’s now bunched to my stomach. He jerks his hips up as I go down and I whimper. “You thought about me, huh?”“Yeah.”“What did you think about?”“Your strong hands and hard chest. I thought about your cock, too, and how big it is.” I’m dry-humping him now, my movements turned frantic by his thrusts.“What else?”“I thought about how much my pussy wants you. Not anyone else, you.”“Because it’s my pussy?”“Yeah. It is.”“And you’re a slut.Myslut.”“I am.” He didn’t ask, but I’m answering anyway. I’m sliding up and down, fucking myself on his bulge and I’m getting close, so close that my legs tremble.“Is my slut going to let anyone else but me touch her again?”“No…no…I won’t…”“That’s right, because if you do, I’ll fuck up their lives, Gwyneth. I mean it.”I come then. It’s so harsh and intense that I scream. I scream loud and uncensored, not caring that someone might pass by and see me becoming his slut.That someone could see
Nathaniel“Fuck!” I kick my shoes away and run to the pool.Where Gwyneth just jumped in because she wasn’t thinking and she’s drunk as fuck. If she had access to her brain, she would’ve remembered that she doesn’t know how to swim.She’s the type who always has some sort of a crutch, even when she’s in the shallow end of the pool. No matter how much King tried to teach her, she never learned to swim.The seconds tick by like a damn lifetime the more she doesn’t resurface. She’s not even flailing around like she usually does when the crutches are taken away.I curse under my breath as I plunge in after her, diving deep into the cold water.The more time I spend getting to her, the harder my fucking heart beats. It doesn’t slow down even after I grab her by the arm and haul her to the surface. She splutters for breath, coughing and choking on water.Her legs circle my waist and she uses me as a lifeline. Her entire body is wrapped around mine as I swim to where I can stand.I grab her
WhitneyThe insistent doorbell ring startles me out of sleep.Yawning, I swing a leg over the other, dragging my way out of the bed.I probably got maybe two hours of sleep. It took me forever to close my eyes last night, after the heartbreak Maddox put me through. I was restless, fidgety, and devastated. All the words he told me about falling for me meant nothing.If he was really invested, he wouldn’t use the first obstacle to dip out.It was my dad, but what else could it have been? Would he have used just a different excuse later on?A part of me wants to believe he has strong feelings for me, butdoesn’t wantto have them. He acted like he succumbed to it, but maybe he’s still fighting it. This isn’t a fight I can do for him.I’m aware of my love. But his? He has to own it.Sighing, I run into the bathroom, wash my eyes quickly. They’re still a bit puffy from all the late-night crying, but the doorbell keeps reminding me there’s someone out there who’s probably not a mail carrier d
She fishes her phone from her pocket. “Do you want to schedule a post about hmmm, the pictures you were tagged on?”“No. I couldn’t care less at this point. I wasn’t doing anything illegal. I was on a date with my boyfriend.”She puts her phone back in her pocket, then looks at me with a flicker of surprise in her blue eyes. “Boyfriend? Thisisa soap opera. I usually don’t enjoy them, but it’s different when you know the main characters.”I roll my eyes. I bet I’d enjoy it too if I wasn’t one of the main characters. “Talk to you tomorrow, Astrid,” I say, and turn around. I beeline to his table, shoulders straight and heart pumping its way up my throat.“Whitney,” he says when I slide into the booth and sit across from him.“What happened with Dan?” I ask, the professional in me not wanting personal things to take priority. Even if my nerves are pulsing through invisible knots right now. I keep my hand under the table, tapping my fingers on my lap, fidgeting.A flash of anger sparks in
WhitneyI walk into the club,and the first thing I see is Astrid on the corner. Why didn’t she text me back?I dash over to her, my gaze scanning for signs of Dan and Maddox, but because there are a few more patrons than usual, and I can’t find either. Thank goodness for Astrid’s hair color and bold fashion choices making her easy to find in a crowd.“What’s up?” I ask her.She peels her gaze from her phone then tilts her head at me. “Did you see your dad as you walked in? He just left.”My dad? I thought he was with his team on the opposite side of the property. Busy. “No.”“Maybe he took the other exit… the emergency one that leads right out of the hotel.”My shoulders sag. Shit. Does my dad already know? I thought I’d buy some time, at least a couple of hours until he found out. I need to get to Maddox first, before Dad talks to him. Or maybe I’m too late already. Apprehension sweeps over me. I stand in front of her, finding it hard to sit, my body restless. “What’s going on?”“Wel
He’s a coward.Anger rises in me again, and I reach my drink and take it to my lips.I’m enjoying it when I see Charles walk up to me. He’s told me he’d be working with his team until late on a small gathering they’re throwing the next day for people of the trade. I wave at him, and he comes to my table with a determined expression, and long strides like he knows what he’s looking for. Who he’s looking for.My gut clenches. Something isn’t right.Was Dan an ass to him too, on the way back? Did Dan say anything bad about Whitney?Or did a bastard like me do something bad to Whitney?Like fuck her, again and again? I feel color draining from my face, and when Charles gets on the table with a disappointed look on his face, I already know it.“You jerk! I trusted you all those years. My daughter, really?” Charles says, flushed.My throat is dry and tight.Somehow he found out, and denying it will only make him angrier.Guilt crawls its way into my chest, and it’s hard to breathe. How can I
Maddox“And this is where guests and locals come for drinks and music,” I say, gesturing as we emerge into the club. I see quite a few more patrons than the past few weeks, which shows me that Whitney’s efforts have worked. We’ve had more visitors and increased sales. Always a plus.I’d be a lot happier if it weren’t for the company.My body is still stiff, as I had to go through an entire dinner with Dan Walters who happens to be almost as annoying as he is misogynistic. I guess it’s been a while since I last sat through a meal with the guy. We’re not friends, and I’ve met him in social events and basically small talked.I want to give him the benefit of the doubt and say maybe the reason why he’s been talking about women nonstop and not under the best light is because of his divorce. Maybe he’s broken, and feels more powerful if he’s bragging about all the pussy he’s getting.But the cynical part of me knows better.This guy is a certified douchebag, and I hope Astrid can get a good
WhitneyI strideinto the hotel lobby.Right now, Dan Walters the politician should be having dinner with Maddox. Maybe dinner is already over and they’re touring the hotel. Astrid is there in the club, ready to snap a couple of pictures as planned, and then send it to a gossip columnist friend of ours.If this was another client, I wouldn’t be here. My presence isn’t required since Astrid is here, as per her text.But I am shamelessly using every excuse in the book to be around Maddox, to see him more often, to spend more time with him.Ever since our ax throwing date, I can’t stop thinking about how far we’ve come. From him avoiding me for years to hinting about having children together one day. Who would have thought?A ball of joy rolls inside me, like a bowling ball running down the lane. Striking out.I add a little bit more pep to my step, and my goal is to pass by the restaurant and see them without introducing myself. But before I make it there, I almost bump into them, with b
Maddox“Your turn,”she says, handing me the ax.I hold the weight of the tool, and clasp it. This is the first time visiting an ax throwing joint, and if at first the idea seemed silly at best, now I’m actually enjoying myself. Then again, why wouldn’t I? For the past few days, we’ve been together non-stop, or as much as our schedules allow.Still, it doesn’t feel like it’s enough.I shoot the damn thing at the target, hitting it right at buzz’s eye. She squeals, cheering me on, then takes a sip of her beer.She’s invited me here because she needed to come for an appearance and check out the place, take some pictures, then post about it later. So even though this should technically be work, it’s still relaxing. At least, to me.Besides, I get to see how she fills those skintight jeans and plaid shirt she’s wearing. I’ve seen how a couple of men looked at her, and wanted to punch each one.Though I know she’s mine.Mine forever.A warm glow flows through me, spreading into my veins. Wh
“Maybe,” Maddox says, then clears his throat. “I hate to cut this short, but I have some phone calls I need to make soon.”“Oh, sure, no problem,” Dad says, then stands. We’ll leave you to it.”I hold the arms of the chair and am about to surge to my feet, when his gaze connects with mine and pins me to the spot.“I still have a question for you, Whitney,” Maddox says. “About the posting you’ll do later.”“Sure,” I say, and plop down on the chair again.Dad leaves and closes the door behind him.Quietly, Maddox stands and walks up to the door, and locks it. “You’re upset,” he says, picking a chair next to mine and sitting.I cross my legs, then uncross them and cross them again. “What? No,” I say in a hissy voice that betrays my words. I’m upset, and also embarrassed for being upset about him not acknowledging he’s seeing someone to my father. And maybe a tad jealous. What if Dad really tries to find him a date? My heart lurches. The idea of him with another woman gives me instant aci
“There you are,” my dad says, walking up to us, bursting that bubble.I withdraw as if I’ve been burned.“Hey, Dad,” I say in an extra chipper voice. “What’s up?”“Can we all meet at the conference room for a quick meeting? I have some news to share.”I have some too, I say inwardly.I slept with your best friend and can’t wait to do it again.A twinge of guilt twists at my heart, like the sharp end of a new blade. My dad doesn’t deserve to be hurt in all this, but would his hurt last? Besides the immediate surprise, would he really put up a long lasting fight against our relationship? I doubt it.Dad isn’t the typical father.He tends to be more open minded than most. Growing up, I always kept a channel of communication open with him. I confided in him about tiffs with friends, dates gone wrong, and when things started to happen for me as a digital influencer, he was my biggest cheerleader. He encouraged me and my dreams.The thoughts keep me busy as the three of us walk through the h