Chapter Three

Leonel

"Hi baby," Nadia Mohammad purred, smacking her bow-shaped, heavily lined lips. Her tanned skin was smooth to perfection and when her eyes ripped boldly over mine, something disturbing flashed through me.

Nadia, one of the numerous daughters of Eve, was the worst mistake my raging dick caused me. 

Four years ago, she waltzed into my life at Harvard Business School. She was great, more intelligent than most of our classmates and I enjoyed hanging out with her. 

 Naturally, we began dating and having bouts of sex, until that fateful night when my dad yelled at me for sleeping with our arch-rival's daughter.

 Her dad, Nasir Mohammad, was a business mogul from Dubai and had the sole aim of stealing our spotlight in the real estate business. His daughter deceived me, and every atom of lust I once felt morphed into hate. 

Now that my 'fake girlfriend' was here, I had to stand my ground.

"Haven't I warned you to stop coming here?" I started to say but my Afghan hound barked behind me, snarling at Nadia with its jowls sticking out. 

Even my dog knew Nadia was a demon sent to torture me, an addiction that made me high and then regret it afterward. I was sexually attracted to her, no doubt, but she was my enemy's daughter

She moved closer, tempting me with her perfume, a blend of OUD, sandalwood, and rose.

"Make me, baby," her hand circled my equipment, causing an intense sexual craving to sweep through me.

"Damn it, Nadia," I sucked my breath. "You're not welcome here."

"Your angry face moistens my thighs," she chuckled, tracing my chest with her manicured finger, sending the pit of my stomach into a wild swirl.

"Let's go upstairs, Leonel. I can't wait to feel your shaft swell and suck you like a cat."

Powerless, I watched her kiss me. Her mouth was tender, sultry, and addicting. 

Where the fuck was Calvin when I need him?

Like lightning, I pulled away and created a space between us. "Leave, Nadia. Don't ever barge into my house. Your father sent you here to gather tidbits of information and eventually destroy my business."

"Spare me the boring details, honey," she yawned. "It's not my fault you can't separate business from pleasure. I don't care about your feud with my papa, so get your sexy self..."

"I'll pass. I have a girlfriend," I snapped, watching her reaction.

She went completely still, narrowing her gaze. "You're never a good liar."

Her voice lowered a few octaves. Then she burst out into maniacal laughter, reminding me of those witches in those horror films I watched as a kid.

"C'mon Leo," she waved her hand to the air. "You're a celebrity. Why hasn't the news carried your relationship upgrade?"

"There's a term called privacy. My relationship is nobody's business"

She moved closer, an amused glint in her eyes. "In that case, she needs to take lessons from me on how to suck your dick good. Perhaps we should do a threesome."

"Sucking dick is not enough to sustain a relationship," I mumbled and picked up my keys. "Since you don't want to leave, I'll head out."

"Leonel!" She called after me. "Are you truly leaving me high and dry?"

"I'm sure you have a plan B. Better still, walk into an adult shop and get a huge dildo to satisfy your needs."

Driving out, I sighed, proud of myself for overcoming that temptation. I navigated to the Neon Lounge, a popular spot located in downtown Beverly Hills that opened from six p.m. to two a.m.  

My friends were sitting on the rooftop and when I walked past the fire pit, Calvin sighted me. A small smile appeared on his face when I dodged a blonde, swaying-hipped daughter of Eve in a red dress.

"Ah. Look who decided to join us. Did your little Missy chase you away from your house?" Bart, the loudest among my friends, said with a laugh while Alex sipped his drink quietly.

Bart, Alex, and I have been friends since childhood since we met Calvin in college. Calvin works as my PA. Alex is a neurosurgeon, and Bart's dad owns the biggest investment bank in the country.

"We need to do something about Nadia. She's a stubborn mule," I grumbled, calling for the barman.

"She's dickmatized. Cheers to that," Bart raised a toast and tugged my cheek. "Calvin said your fake girlfriend was so jealous."

My head snapped up to Calvin. "Didn't I tell you to take her upstairs?"

"I did," Calvin shrugged. "But she kept asking numerous questions about whether Nadia was your girlfriend."

"Tell us about this exotic girl," Alex said to Calvin. "Is she fire?"

Calvin laughed. "An untamed beauty, I tell you. She doesn't know her natural curves can make a man go wild. God helps Leo to not shag her before the contract is over."

"She's no different from every other woman I've seen," I said, sounding bored. "I don't do innocent and naive girls."

Calvin winked at me. "We'll see about that."

Chugging my drink down, I ignored my friends, who kept referring to fictional star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet, Jack and Rose, and Edward, and Bella, until I couldn't take it.

"Let's not forget Leo is shortsighted," Bart said to the guys. "It will take a while to notice her."

They laughed at my expense. I ignored them, enjoying my drink. Curvy or not, I had no plans to do anything with the girl.

"Enough with the movie references already. I have a headache. All I want is to nip my brother in the bud."

"Cheers to that," Alex raised his glass, and we toasted.

My dad's will stated that the first person to fall in love should assume the role of CEO. I wanted that more than life itself. I wanted to win against my brother.

"Do you trust her to be silent?" Alex asked. 

"She wouldn't dare," Calvin said. "She needs the money."

I woke up with a groan the next morning, feeling a headache and hangover from last night.

Cursing loudly, I rushed to the bathroom, shaved, and took a quick shower. I had ten minutes to get ready for work.

I was the CEO's son, but had an important board meeting today, and I couldn't afford to be late, so my brother wouldn't gloat at my inefficiency.

Barely noticing my housekeeper, Maria, I poured myself a large cup of black coffee, needing the caffeine to clear my mind. 

The bitter taste of the hot liquid burned my tongue and throat, and I grimaced, hoping that the coffee would do its magic.

Miracle walked in, dressed in glowing pajama shorts that made her look like a disco ball, and I almost choked on my coffee. I couldn't hide it, and I grew openly amused and burst out laughing.

She stopped in her tracks, confused, and was about to leave when I stopped her.

"Come here."

She blinked in confusion, like a deer caught in the middle of the road, and rubbed her palm against her shirt.

"Are you bipolar?" She asked, in a small, frightened voice, searching around the kitchen anxiously.

Calvin was right. This girl was fucking beautiful. She looked a hundred times better without the ridiculous makeup she had on yesterday.

"I'm not," I sipped my coffee, watching her beneath my lashes.

She perched on one of the stools and was quiet until Maria asked if she wanted some scrambled eggs.

"Here," I took out one of my credit cards. "Go shopping."

She stared at the platinum card for a moment, not having any plans to take it, so I shoved it into her hand. 

Feeling a strange sensation, I pulled away immediately, and without saying goodbye. I took my car keys and briefcase and walked fast away from her.

L&L, a fifteen-storey skyscraper, was built with glass walls and marble floors. I pressed the elevator button for the top floor, where my office and the boardroom were located.

Taking a deep breath, I reminded myself for the umpteenth time to behave and not let my brother, Lenny get the better part of my temper. 

Almost everyone who mattered was seated in the boardroom: my mom and Calvin were already showing them the latest data and reports on the projector.

After greeting them warmly, I started the meeting. "Thank you all for coming. We must discuss the government contract awarded to our company. It is a huge opportunity for us to expand our business. We need to make our real estate projects available and accessible for the average user, and win the trust of the government and the public."

"So what's your plan?" my mom asked, sipping some water. 

"Simple modular housing. We will use prefabricated units and customize them. We can also use solar panels and better waste management systems to save costs and..."

My annoying brother interrupted, walking in with his swagger. "Sorry I'm late, guys, but I heard my little brother blabbering about his silly plan, which I beg to differ because it's impractical. It will be the worst thing that will ever happen to this company."

Fury almost choked me. "Lenny, I put in enough time, effort, and research for this."

"Spare me," his expression clouded in mockery. "We need more money. Your plan is too cheap for our market because we are a luxury real estate company whose goal is to cater to the rich, not to the poor and ordinary. We must focus on building mega-mansions and huge complexes, not your tiny units."

I facepalmed, and although I promised myself not to snap, I couldn't help it. "Do you realize we are in a recession? People are losing their jobs and their homes. Everyone needs cheaper and simpler options, not fancier ones."

Lenny was about to argue when my mom banged the table, interrupting us. "Stop it now, both of you. Stop embarrassing yourselves in front of the board."

She adjourned the meeting, and tension hung in the air after the members excused themselves, leaving me with my mom, Uncle Diego, and my brother. 

"Why should adults and professionals fight like sworn enemies?" My mum spat, furious.

Uncle Diego looked less angry, but there was a frown on his face. "I don't understand the need to outshine and outperform the other."

Lifting my head, I burst into an arrogant laugh, feeling puffed up about my girlfriend and deciding to break the news.

"I'm doing everything to carry my dad's legacy because he worked hard to get here. That reminds me, I'm in a real relationship with someone who loves and supports me."

My mom's mouth fell open in shock. Uncle Diego was excited and Lenny looked like he was about to strangle me.

"That's wonderful. Congratulations to you." Uncle Diego said.

"He's a liar who made this up to fool himself," Lenny said.

"Do I know her?" my mom asked.

"Too many questions," I chuckled maliciously, enjoying how my brother's face crumpled like a crying child. "But don't worry. You all will see her very soon."