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No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 58
Zephyra's POVThe doorbell rings and my heart racesits a reaction Im still getting used to. After a quick glance in the mirror to run my fingers through my hair, I open the front door. Butterflies take flight in my stomach and my mouth goes dry when I see Lirael.It's been two days since he was last here. Two days since we made pancakes in my kitchen and ate them as I sat on his lap. He'd called me at work later that day to cancel our original plans for the weekend, telling me there was a situation he had to resolve, so when I got his message an hour ago asking if he could come over, I was excited. Im finding it harder and harder to be away from him, and I hope this means he feels the same way.I smile at him, then rise on my toes to press my lips to his.His hands go to my waist, his fingers curling into my skin, but he doesnt pull me into him the way Im expecting. I drop down and search his face. His jaw is tense, that familiar muscle twitching in it. Nerves tumble through me, and I
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 59
Zephyra's POVI take in my reflection in the mirror as I dab at my red lipstick. From the moment I agreed to go with Freya until now, I've avoided really thinking about the whole concept of visiting a sex club. It was easier just to leave it as an abstract idea. Now that Ive been approved as a guest and Im preparing to step firmly outside my comfort zone, nerves are practically vibrating through me.Freya, though, is untroubled. She dances over with two glasses of white wine and passes one to me. Her expression is soft when she meets my gaze in the mirror. You look beautiful.I smile back. You do too. Her glossy dark curls and espresso-brown eyes are a vibrant contrast to my wavy brownish-blond hair and blue eyes. I eye Freya's outfit. She's wearing a plunging red halter top and skin-tight leather pants that highlight all of her curves. I arch a brow at the pants. I dont know much about sex clubs, but I assumed the easier the access, the better.She laughs. True. But I'm not plannin
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 60
Zephyra's POVThe uber pulls up outside a discreet entrance nestled between two unassuming buildings in a quieter part of Manhattan. Theres no indication of the clubs presence other than a man in a tailored black suit standing outside a plain black door. Rather than the stereotypical big, burly bouncer, this guy is compact and neatly put together. The intensity with which he scrutinizes Freya and me as we approach, though, makes it clear that he knows how to take care of trouble.Freya hands him a matte black card, which he scans with a small device he pulls out of his pocket. When he holds it out to her, she presses her thumb against it. I raise my brows, baffled at this whole secrecy thing. Not to mention the idea that my friend is a part of it.The machine beeps, and he hands her card back. He stares down at the screen, then up at me, probably confirming my identity against the photo identification I had to provide with my details.With a small nod, he pockets the device again. Enj
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 61
Zephyra's POVThank god the design phase of the project is almost over. Another two weeks and all the detailed plans will be finalized, then I can get out of here. Not only out of this building, but out of New York. At least temporarily. Possibly permanently.It's been two weeks since Lirael broke my heart. One week since news of the engagement went public. I havent seen him since he left my apartment. Weekly meetings have been taken over by Raphael, much to my relief. Having to sit across a table from Lirael right now would be unbearable.The morning after Lirael's visit, I sucked it up and spoke to Jovan, notifying him of my intention to take a leave of absence after the final designs have been signed off. As much as I might like to stay through the construction phase, my heart is too sore to allow it. The thought of running into Scottie around the buildingor worse, Lirael and Scottie together is too much to bear. Instead, I'm going home to spend some time with Mom and maybe intervi
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 62
Zephyra's POV"Do I really have to go?" I groan, burying my face deeper into the plush hotel pillows. It's two weeks later, a whole fortnight since I poured my heart and soul into those damn hotel designs. The Wright Group's in-house construction planning team finally received the finalised plans, and with a sigh of relief, I considered the project done.Lirael, in a rare display of appreciation, decided to throw an extravagant dinner tonight to celebrate everyone's hard work. "Everyone," apparently, included me. Except, I wasn't going. A strategically placed migraine – a complete fabrication, of course – had earned me a reprieve. Jovan, bless his heart, tried to strong-arm me into attending, but I held firm. The thought of facing Lirael at the award ceremony tomorrow was already enough to churn my stomach. Sitting across a table from him for hours on end tonight? Intolerable."Yes, Freya, you heard me right," I mumble, my voice muffled by the pillows. "I have to go?"Freya, eve
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 63
Zephyra's POVThe crystal flute trembled in my hand, its coolness a stark contrast to the feverish heat rising in my chest. The ballroom shimmered with an opulent display of wealth, the air thick with murmured conversations about investments and renovations. Usually, I'd relish the opportunity to delve into the intricacies of sustainable design with these influential figures. But tonight, my mind was a whirlwind of worry, fixated on the impending arrival of Lirael and the inevitable confrontation. Every rustle of silk and every peal of laughter sent my nerves into overdrive, yet they remained frustratingly absent.Freya's pep talk, laced with bravado and biting wit, had temporarily bolstered my resolve. But as the minutes bled into one another, that carefully constructed facade began to crumble. My fingers brushed against a passing waiter's tray, and with a surge of defiance, I snagged a champagne flute, the icy bubbles a poor substitute for the calm I craved."Hello, Zephyra."The si
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 64
Zephyra's POV "Why are you doing this?" I stammer, my voice barely audible above the din of the crowded venue. Raphael meets my gaze, his expression turning serious. A dark cloud seems to flicker across his features, momentarily extinguishing the amusement that danced there a moment before. "Because at one time," he replies, his voice low and intense, "we actually were brothers." While I don't possess the full narrative of Raphael and Nathan's strained relationship with Lirael, I know it's laced with a deep, unspoken pain. Compelled by empathy, I reach out and place a comforting hand on his arm. "You'll always be brothers, Raphael," I say gently. "Don't throw that away just because things are difficult right now. You all still have each other." His gaze locks onto mine for a long moment, an unreadable emotion swirling within its depths. Then, just as abruptly as it appeared, the familiar mischievous spark reignites in his eyes. "Seems my brother is truly making a colossal mistake,"
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 65
Lirael's POVI strode into Nathan's office, the plush leather of the chair conforming comfortably around me as I settled in. Today, I carried the weight of the latest Paradise-1 numbers, a project I'd been pouring my heart into. A sliver of nervous excitement danced in my stomach, but I forced a confident smile as Nathan's gaze flickered up from his computer screen."Good," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of surprise, perhaps because my usual Monday morning jitters were absent. "Raphael should be here in a moment."Our usual routine involved convening in Raphael's office, a space that mirrored his personality – sharp and sophisticated, with a touch of old-world charm. But this morning, renovations were underway, the rhythmic thrum of construction a stark contrast to the typical symphony of the city that usually hummed outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. Nathan, ever the accommodating host, had offered his office as a temporary substitute.The cityscape stretched out before me,
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