As an entrepreneur, Ashley West has spent most of her time focusing on business, but she decided to take a break from work and go on a vacation to explore and have fun. What happens when she had a one night stand with a stranger who turned out to be her father's best friend and business partner. Caught between loyalty to her father and a desire she can no longer deny, Ashley faces a dangerous game of forbidden attraction. As emotions flare and boundaries blur, she must decide. Will she follow her heart and risk losing her father's trust or give up on her feelings for peace to reign?
Lihat lebih banyakAshley's POV
“Ashley, Do you have plans for tomorrow?” My Dad asked me over the phone, interrupting my thoughts.” “I don't have any plans, Dad, I will just stay in and watch a few movies, I'm here on a break, remember?” I replied, laying on the cozy bed in my hotel room ‘it's so comfy’ I told myself. “It didn't seem that way to me. All you ever did since you got there was business.” “Touché, but I'm done with all that, and now I'm going to explore the city of Paris.” I said out of excitement, thinking of all the fun I will have. “I think it's too late for that, sweetheart, I need you here. Micheal is coming back into town, and I'm inviting him for dinner to Welcome him home. I need you to be here when he arrives. You've always liked Micheal since you were a child, you will get to see him again and maybe discuss business with him. it's a win-win for you.” I froze on hearing that name that reminds me of most of my childhood memories. Micheal Kingston. I did not get to see him much because he left New York when I was ten . My father's best friend and business Partner, the one who had always been a father figure to me. He practically watched me grow. I can't wait to see him but I would like to stay a bit longer in Paris. “But Dad…” He interrupted me before I could speak further. “No buts Ashley, Micheal is not just anyone to us, he's family and you know that. I expect you to be in New York tomorrow.” “Fine, I will be there. See you soon dad.” I came to Paris to take a break from work ,but it has been all about business since I arrived. But because tonight is my last night in Paris, I am going to have fun and possibly make new friends, before I have to put on a serious face for whatever it was my father had planned for tomorrow. ****** I entered the finest club in Paris later that night. And the smell of luxury perfumes and expensive champagne hit me as I walked closer to the bar. I was here to have fun and enjoy myself. I ordered a wine, and the bartender slide it to me across the counter with a knowing smile. I glanced around the crowd, It's pretty much what I imagined it would be, different people drinking champagne, smoking expensive cigars, and men flirting with women. I wasn't expecting anything else. Then he walked in. He was a tall, well built man with a sharp jawline. He had on an Armani suit that screams luxury, his dark brown hair was perfectly styled, and his face showed no expression. He exchanged geeetings with the bartender and ordered a drink. He looks old, but his young features make it difficult for one to notice He looked at me and our eyes met for a brief moment, I looked at him for a bit longer than I intended ‘Bitch you are staring’ I said to myself. I shake my head to remove any thoughts of him. Then I took a sip of my wine. I couldn't help but look at him once more and I caught him staring, he did not look away. He just came over and stood directly in front of me. “ Why is a damsel like you, Sitting alone in a place like this? you could use a friend, don't you think? He asked, obviously flirting with me. I simply glanced at him, pretending like I hadn't been checking him out ever since he stepped in. “Oh trust me I'm not alone, my boyfriend is out there on a phone call.” I lied, and from the way he's smiling now, I think he knew.” He burst out laughing, holding his drink with one hand as he shook his head. “And you think I will believe that lie of yours, Are you that scared of me?” I forced a smile, feeling a bit embarrassed. “What gave it away?” “This isn't my first time in the club darling, most girls say that to get rid of guys. Nice try tho.” I snorted, trying not to smile. “I'm not most girls and I'm not scared of you. I'm capable of being by myself.” “Oh really? He leaned in a little closer “I can be your boyfriend for tonight you know, to help you keep the guys off your back.” I looked away to hide my face from him. I was blushing to the point of being unable to bear it but I was certainly not going to let him see that he affected me in this way. “You are being a little too confident, don't you think?” “I can be anything just to have you darling.” ‘Damn! Why is it so hot here?’ I asked myself. This man is making me feel all sorts of things but I knew better than to fall for a stranger's charm, someone who looks almost twice my age. But for some reason unknown to me, I wish to know more about this man. Just for the sake of getting to know him, I decided to ask him a few questions “What do you do? it's okay if u dont want me in your business though.” He smiled, sensing my curiosity. “It's okay. I'm a businessman. But tonight, I'm here to have fun.” “So you do this often? Flirting with girls? That's how you have fun?” “He leaned in closer to me, his breath wrams my skin. “Maybe, but none of them had my attention like you have right now. Have spent more than 10 minutes with you, which is a good sign. I guess I was just waiting for the right woman to come along and show me what real fun looks like.” I swallowed hard. He definitely had a way with words, I will give him that but I wasn't about to fall for his charms so easily. “You will have to do better, those sweet words don't work on me.” His smile deepened but he appears to be challenging now. “Oh I will, And I don't plan on leaving. Not until you are ready to have some fun.” I moved closer to him, our faces just an inch apart as I whispered in his ear. “I don't give in easily, you will have to try better than that.” “Is that a challenge?” He leaned in even closer, his breath fanned my skin. “You are playing hard to get, aren't you? I shook, my heart thudding against my chest but I forced myself to be calm. “Maybe I am, or maybe I'm just bored.” “Sweetheart, you are anything but bored.” Without uttering another word, he pressed his lips against mine, he was hesitant at first, to see if I was going to stop him or pull back but when he saw that none happened, he allowed his hands to find their way into my hair and pull me in closer to deepen the kiss. I kissed him back and he moaned Into my mouth. I was so caught up in the heat of the moment to care about where we were. All the sensible part of me screamed at me to stop, that I was kissing a man old enough to be my father but I didn't care. This was reckless but yet, I wanted it. His phone buzzed with a message which interrupted our moment, we pulled apart for a brief second to catch our breath. “You want to get out of here? Let's go somewhere private. I booked a place nearby.” I simply nodded, not knowing how to reply. “Good” he took my hands in his, leading me to the club's exit. My mind raced as I followed him, but I didn't pull away, i didnt stop him. I knew exactly where this is going and how it's going to end but I still wanted it. I might regret my actions tomorrow but I didn't care. For the first time in a long time, I don't want to care about the consequences. I just want to have fun and enjoy myself.MICHEAL'S POV I had my face glued to the screen when Ashley walked into my office, wearing nothing but one of my shirts that was barely buttoned. Her long legs bare, hair tousled from our earlier nap. I glanced at her, and my heart skipped, but my fingers stayed glued to the keyboard. There were contracts, numbers, deadlines…so much work I couldn't afford to postpone.She curled up on my lap like a kitten, her hands tracing slow circles on my chest. “You miss me?” She whispered, lips brushing my jaw.I smiled but didn't look away from the screen.“Always, baby. Just give me five more minutes.”She pouted, shifting to straddle me. Her hands wandered around my body, lips grazing my neck, teasing me softly. “But you've said that five times already.” She whined.I groaned, gripping her waist to keep her still.“Ashley,…baby I need to work.”So I did just that, and I continued working.She tried everything—little kisses, running her fingers beneath my shirt, resting her head on my shoulde
AUSTIN’S POV I didn't move for a long time after she left.Just sat there on the edge of the couch, staring at the front door like it might swing open again. Like she might walk back in and say she didn't mean any of it. That it was just the heat of the moment. That she was confused. That she still needed me.But she didn't.The key still sat on the kitchen counter.To me, it wasn't just a key. It was a damn symbol of everything we'd been through. Everything I'd been for her. The friend. The rock. The one she cried to at 2.am. The one who held her hair when she drank too much. The one who stayed up all night with her when she thought she'd broken beyond repair.And yeah, somewhere along the way, I let myself hope.Hope that one day she'd look at me and realize I was the one who'd always been there. Maybe, maybe, just maybe, I could be more than the safe choice.But what happened today made it clear. I was never a choice.I was just…there.I stood up slowly, ran a hand through my hair
ASHLEY'S POV The first thing I felt when I opened my eyes was the pounding behind them—a dull, nauseating ache that made everyone feel too blurry, too loud. My mouth was dry. My body felt sore in ways I couldn't explain. And the pillow under my head…it didn't smell like mine.It smelled manly….like Micheal.I sat up too fast and regret punched me square in the gut. My stomach churned, and with it came a rush of memories. The lounge. Clara’s smug face, the yelling, and me grabbing the drink from the table. Then everything got blurry. My body had felt…off. It felt warm, too needy. I remembered Michael’s arms around me. His voice telling me to hold on.And then nothing.I glanced around.This wasn't my room. It was his. We were back at his penthouse. My heart twisted painfully in my chest when I remembered how we were at the moment.The door creaked open, and Micheal stepped inside. Dressed in Grey t-shirt, black sweatpants, hair still damp like he'd just showered— but his face? Co
MICHEAL'S POV I didn't plan to see Clara. Hell, I didn't even want to open the damn message when it came in. But I did. Big mistake.Clara: Hey, we should catch up before I leave New York. Drinks?”I stared at the screen for a long time, thumb frozen over the keyboard, my jaw tight.Ashley’s face kept flashing in my mind—her tears, the kiss, the guilt in her voice when she tried to explain. I hated it. I hated what she did. But worse than that… I hated how much I still loved her. Because loving her right now hurts more than anything else.So I did what I always do when things spiral—I buried myself in work.I stayed locked in my office, surrounded by files, numbers, and reports…anything that could dull the ache in my heart. I pretend as if nothing happened. Pretend like she doesn't matter. And for a while, it worked.Jayden popped in mid-afternoon, tossing a folder on my desk.“The company's 10th anniversary is in two weeks,” he said, “we need to finalize the details.”I nodded, fli
JAYDEN’S POV Micheal was dead weight.Logan and I had to half- carry and half-drag him into the room. He wasn’t drunk enough to pass out like this, but something in him had just…shut down. The man who normally carried the weight of a billion-dollar company on his back with his chin up… was now silent, slumped, and barely aware. I sent Logan off with some wads of cash just to appreciate him, and he was out as air in a second.He mumbled something I couldn't catch as I laid him properly on the bed, his suit still on, with shoes and all. I reached into his suit pocket when I heard the faint buzz of his phone, twice. Then I glanced at the screen to see it was a text from his secretary, chloe.I didn't answer, I slipped the phone back into his pocket. Whatever It was could wait until the morning. Whatever this was—it wasn't just an urge to drink. Something deep had cracked inside him. Something happened tonight.**************Morning came with me brewing coffee in the kitchen and the s
ASHLEY'S POV My lips were still frozen. Still tingling from the kiss. I'm still trying to make sense of what had just happened. I didn't kiss him back. I didn't even move from the spot. But all that doesn't matter now. Because now I look like a betrayal. Austin kissed me. And worst of all, Michael saw it.The sound of the door slamming shut behind him pulled me out of my shock like a cold water splashed to the face.“Michael,” I whispered, my voice seized in my throat as I turned to face him, but all that stood before me was just a shadow of the man I hurt.Austin was still standing before me, his brow raised, guilt already spreading across his face.“Ashley, I…”“What the hell was that for?” I snapped, my voice trembling with rage. “Why would you even do that? Are you insane?”“I wasn't trying to—” he paused. “I wasn't trying to mess things up for you. I just…I just want you to know how I felt too. I need you to feel what I've been dealing with.”He looked down. Guilt settling in
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