ELLE Don’t ask me what I was doing in the kitchen right now because I had no fucking idea. Okay, scratch that. I knew, but I refused to admit it out loud. Not to myself, not the staff and not the chef who was looking at me like I had walked into the kitchen naked or that I had made a wrong turn. “Madam, are you lost?” The chef even stuttered, and I eyed him with a little bit of annoyance, but I couldn’t be mad at him. “Do I look like I am lost?” I asked him with a deadpanned expression and hands around my waist. He gave me another once-over like he was secretly checking for any injuries or waiting for me to laugh and tell him that I was messing with him, but when none came, he grunted and turned back to continue chopping vegetables while casting subtle but curious glances in my direction every second. I didn’t blame him. I had never set foot in the kitchen since I got married to Theon because my husband had chefs on a clock rotation schedule that attended to every meal. As
THEONI couldn’t sleep much last night. Somehow, I knew it was because I wasn’t at home. I had gotten used to sleeping beside Elle that her absence felt wrong.Julian had suggested staying for an extra day if we could but with things tense between us and my new inability to sleep properly without my wife, I didn’t think I would be able to stay behind for one more unnecessary day. The clock had barely but 6 am when I took a shower and by 7, I stepped out of my bedroom ready to go through all the meetings we had lined up for today. The suite was quiet when I exited my room. Julian’s door was shut and there was no sign of life on the other end of the door. I would have been worried if I didn’t hear him come back late at night. I’d heard the muffled thump of his steps when he came back, followed by the quiet click of his door.I waited, thinking he would attempt to reach out and apologize for his behaviour but he didn’t and I wasn’t going to be reaching out first wither because this ti
AUTHOR’S POV Jeremy stepped out of the house and saw Malone waiting. He was leaning against his car, arms folded, as he watched Jeremy walk towards him. Jeremy loved how handsome Malone looked today. He could see Malone had put extra effort into dressing up, so he felt better knowing he wasn’t the only one who was trying to make an effort. Malone was dressed in casual jeans and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He had accessories and rings that elevated the look from casual to magazine cover worthy, and Jeremy particularly liked the black stud earrings he was wearing. “You look amazing, baby” Malone whistled as his gaze swept all over Malone, who was trying hard not to fade into the ground at the nickname. He had turned a full shade of tomato red as he glanced around the compound, eager to set his eyes on anything that wasn’t the infuriating expression on Malone’s face. “Thank you” He squeaked, then smacked himself mentally “You don’t look so bad yourself” he mumbled
AUTHOR’S POV “I’ll pick you up at 3. Wear something cute” Jeremy had dropped his phone as if it burned him as soon as the message from Malone came in. He eyed the phone with trepidation. Malone asked him out on a date. An actual date with just the two of them, and he was struggling with how to reply. Did he want to go on that date? Of course, he wanted to. He had dreamed of the brown skinned and golden-eyed boy on more times than he could count, but now that his dream was actually becoming a reality, he was scared and didn't know how to react. With shaky hands, he picked up the discarded phone on the bed and reread the message more than five times before he texted back an okay. His mind has been constantly plagued by the kiss last night. The firm press of Malone’s lips against his, the way it stole the air from his lungs and the embarrassing moment he melted into the kiss like it was his salvation. He didn’t want to think about how Elle and Sophie had been there to witnes
ELLE I eyed the lit screen with hesitation. I was still drunk on the aftermath of everything that happened today from spending time with my family and the confrontation with Amanda that I hadn’t thought of Theon up until this moment. Maybe I should have called in the morning to ask if he had arrived safely and now, I felt guilty and I hated that he made me feel guilty. I hated that his absence was suddenly defeaning. I hated how I realized that he usually filled this space like it was his. I hated how I remember how he would take up space on my bed as he talked in that deep, low voice what always made my nerves tingle in ways I would rather not admit. The way he would reach for me in the dark when he thought I was asleep and hold me like I wasn’t the woman he was contracted to but someone he needed. I hated him for all of it, and I hated myself for always giving in every time. I had been so lost in my head that I forgot to answer the call, and it ended. Guilt crept up my sp
THEON The board meeting had finally ended, and I couldn’t be more relieved. I was sure that everyone present shared the same relief that I did. Nobody wanted to work on the weekends, me especially but the new branch was scheduled to be opened soon and there was a lot of things that was yet to be done. Hours of drawn-out planning, tense arguments with the engineering team, and overseeing budget adjustments had left a dull throb pulsing at the back of my skull. Me and Julian had arrived at the site makeshift conference room straight from the airport, so I was still jetlagged, and I needed to rest soon. Julian on the other hand didn’t seem like he was tired. He had a big grin on his face as we walked out of the site to our car. “You don’t look tired” I told him as we took our seats at the back seat of the car. “I’m one push from shutting down” I grumbled, and he laughed. “You want to go for drinks when we get to the hotel? We deserve it after a long day” He suggested. We were g