Chapter 4

  Selene’s POV

  Last night was…

  My body felt like it had been run over by a truck, as every muscle was screaming in protest. 

  The sun shouldn’t have been reflecting on my face like that because my curtains were always closed.

  

  My eyes fluttered open, and I winced at the brightness streaming through the floor-to-ceiling window.

  

  “What the hell?” I yawned, stretching, then hissed when a throbbing headache crashed over me like a tidal wave.

  

  The scent of lavender and cinnamon wrapped around me as I took in my surroundings.

  

  Then it hit me.

  

  We didn’t have floor-to-ceiling windows.

  I tried moving when I felt arms around me when memories from last night came rushing back in flashes.

  I winced, shutting eyes as a very vivid picture flashed in my head.

  The last thing I had remembered was his torso hovering over me, while he peppered kisses on my cheeks. 

  What happened after that?

  I winced, clutching my head and I stressed trying to remember what had happened for that

  Just how many shots had I even taken last night? 

  Five?

  Thirteen?

  

   I turned to face him and another memory interrupted me.

  

  “Come here.” He had said and I strode across the room straight into his arms. 

  

  Turning to face him, my eyes trailed down to the lips that had crashed onto mine yesterday. He had tasted like whiskey and bad decisions, with a hint of vanilla.

   

  What I couldn’t figure out was if we had sex? Because I wasn’t feeling anything except he had a small dick?

  

  Memories from before him suddenly hit me and I scrambled to untangle myself, only to freeze when my eyes landed on a crumpled heap of clothes in the corner…my panties.

  Oh. My. God.

  We did have SEX?

  I hurriedly slipped my panties into my pocket and without looking back at him, I slipped out, holding my heels and purse as I prepared for my walk of shame.

  I was glad he didn't wake up… it seemed like he really needed his sleep.

  

  Embarrassment crawled over my skin in goosebumps as I cursed under my breath as I descended the spiral staircase. 

  

  I must have looked desperate and sex starved!

  

  I took the stairs two at a time, glancing over my shoulder like he might appear and yell at me to stop and when I had gotten to the bottom, stumbled over something.

  

  A yelp escaped me as I struggled to regain my balance.

  

  A toy train lay on the floor, I frowned.

  

  “Daddy?” a small voice called.

  I turned and froze.

  

  A little boy stared at me with glossy eyes.

  

  What was a child doing here?

  

  Oh God.

  

  His mouth opened, and a shrill cry filled the house.

  

  “Hey, shuuushhh,” I cooed, rushing to his side. 

  

  He couldn’t be more than four, and his eyes caught my attention.

  

  Grey.

  

  Just like his fathers!

  

  “It’s okay,” I coaxed when he stretched his hands toward me. 

  

  A strange feeling overwhelmed me as I carried him, patting his back while he clung to me like a koala.

  

  How long was I supposed to stand here?

  

  What's the matter?” I cooed and he just rubbed his belly.

  

  Maybe I should have asked him where his mom was instead.

  

  I glanced back up towards the bedroom. 

  

  The last thing I wanted was for his crying to wake his father up before I could get out. 

  

  The kitchen was not hard to find. 

  

  However, the catastrophe I found inside caused me to halt in the doorway.

  

  There were two other girls in the kitchen, they looked somewhere around nine or probably ten years old.

  

  Twins, perhaps?

  

  One wore glasses, her hair packed into a ponytail, curious eyes fixed on me while the other had her hair tied into two pigtails, a cold, indifferent expression on her face as she regarded me.

  

  They were standing at the stove and with every surface in there soiled with a spill.

  

  I moved closer and turned off the stove, covering the pan with a lid before it would go and trigger the smoke alarm.

  

  "What is going on here?" I asked.

  

  The one with glasses mumbled something under her breath, while the other scoffed. 

  

  The boy was still clinging to me, sniffing my skin.

  

  “I’m hungry,” he whined.

  

  They were making him breakfast?

  

  Seeing as they were both uninterested in answering my questions,  I ushered them out and got to work.

  

  A while later , I went out to set the table. The kids were still there.

  

  The girls looked skeptical about the bacon and pancakes, watching them like they might explode if touched, the little boy, however, devoured it instantly. 

  

  “Did my dad employ you as the new chef?” the one with glasses asked.

  

  “Um… something like that?” I chuckled nervously, realizing I’d forgotten I was supposed to be sneaking out.

  

  “That wasn’t an answer. Are you friends with Aunt Vera? My dad’s fiancée?” the other one asked.

  

  I froze at the name.

  

  This was Vera’s fiancée?

  

  What were the odds that I let myself loose and ended up in bed with Vera fiancée or perhaps it was another of their plans to ruin me

  

  As soon as I stood, the little boy grabbed my dress.

  

  “Where are you going?” he asked, eyes wide and pleading.

  

  “I’ll be back soon, honey, I need to use the bathroom” I said, patting his hair.

  

  He reluctantly let go. I waited a few minutes, hoping they were focused on their food, then bolted for the door, walking on my tiptoes.

  

  I sighed in relief once I was outside and slipped on my heels.

  

  Last night was a disaster.

  

  Although he was Vera’s fiancé, she had said their relationship was just for show and that he was like a rock, immune to seduction. I wasn’t sure I believed that anymore, not after last night.

  

  My cheeks heated, and I cursed under my breath.

  

  I was so stupid. 

  

  After walking for what felt like hours, I finally reached the mansion’s gate and found a taxi. I sank into the back seat, exhausted to my bones.

  

  “Where are we going, miss?” the driver asked.

  

  I gave him the address and shut my eyes to rest.

  

  “Fuck, you’re so wet.” 

  

  My eyes flew open. 

  

  Of course my brain chose now to replay that. I scrubbed my hands over my face.

  

  I had never felt so ashamed. 

  

  My phone vibrated inside my purse, it was a private number.

  

  I frowned and picked up.

  

  “Hello?”

  

  “Miss Andrews, you left without a word.” Aries’ groggy sexy voice made me sit up, my spine going rigid. 

  

  A cry followed, and it sounded like his little boy.

  

  “Uh, I didn’t think we had anything to talk about. I’m already on my way home, Mr Dimitrios” I replied, chewing on my lip.

  

  I was certain I hadn't told him my name last night

  

  “We’re both aware you don’t have a home,” he said calmly. “I need you back here. I have a job proposal for you.”

  

  My eyes widened.

  “What are you talking about? I didn’t apply for any position, sir,” I asked, hoping he hadn’t meant last night was an application to benefits.

  “Why don’t you come and find out? I’ll be expecting…”

  “Stop right there,” I snapped, my chest tightening at his sick way of thinking, “I’m not going to be your… sex slave or whatever you want to call. This is where we part ways and act like we never met.”

  “We both know that won’t work. Either you come back, or I come get you myself,” he said, his tone bossy enough to make my blood boil.

  

  “Oh please, I don’t care—”

  

  “One million,” he interrupted. The little boy was still shrieking in the background.

  

  “Huh?”

  

  “Two million? Three? I’ll pay you three million if you work for me.”

  

  Three million?!

  

  That was a lot.

  

  Then again, he was the top multibillionaire CEO in the country.

  

  The offer was tempting. With that money, I could rebuild my life and fight for what is mine… in the meantime I could get a new apartment. Start cooking again. Maybe even…

  

  No.

  

  I couldn’t do it. 

  

  I didn’t know what he wanted, and I didn’t want anything tying me to another man especially one close to Vera

  

  “Miss Andrews?” he called.

  

  “I’m sorry,” I said, then hung up.

  

  I didn’t care what Aries wanted from me and honestly didn’t think I wanted to find out now. If he was Vera’s fiancée I would assume he knew nothing and I wanted it to stay that way.

  And just as the car pulled to a stop,  my attention shifted to the driveway.

  Matthew’s car.

  Oh well, this was going to be fun.