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?
View MoreAshley'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 The smell of coffee drifted through my penthouse before the sun had even fully come up. I stood by the stove, flipping pancakes half awake, wearing the same sweatpants I'd crashed in. My hair was a mess, eyes still a bit swollen from sleep, but Jess always liked breakfast early. And I'd promised.The kitchen was quiet except for the soft noise of the pans and the low sound of the fridge. Jess came down a few minutes later, barefoot, wearing an old hoodie of mine she’d found in the guest room closet. She smiled when she saw me cooking.“Now this is a sight,” she said, sitting down on a stool. “Mikey in his natural habitat.”I smiled, barely. “I told you I got you.”She watched me for a second. “You didn't sleep, did you?.”I shrugged. “Did you?” “Like a baby.”When I was done, I handed her a plate and sat across from her with my own meal in hand. She dug in immediately, humming like she used to when we were kids, and Aunt Marie made cinnamon rolls on Sundays. It should
MICHEAL'S POVThe numbers on my screen blurred together. I blinked once. Twice. Still nothing. I'd been staring at the same email for fifteen minutes, maybe even more. I couldn’t even remember what it was about anymore. My fingers hovered over the keyboard like they forgot how to type. I leaned back in my chair, rubbing the back of my head. Ashley.I couldn't stop thinking about her. She'd been off lately. Not cold exactly, just…distant. Her smile didn't reach her eyes anymore. Her laugh, the one that used to hit me right in the chest, now felt forced. Too quick, like she was trying to convince herself that it was real.And ever since she ran into him, Ryan, she hadn't been the same. I hated that name. Hated that I even know it now. Could she possibly still have feelings for him? I shook off the thought as soon as it came to mind.I used to think Ashley was an open book, but now? It was like someone glued the pages shut. Each time I asked, She said she was fine. Tired, distracted, w
ASHLEY'S POV The restaurant was nice. Too nice, maybe. Low lights, soft jazz, white napkins folded like they mattered. Micheal decided to take me out for lunch because my tummy wouldn't stop growling earlier. And the minute we got here. I fell in love with this place. Now the issue is…I couldn't stop thinking about Ryan. Don't get me wrong, I don't want him back or anything like that, but why was he here? Why now that I'm in a safe place? I told myself I'd gotten the closure I seek, but that one look from him made me question everything I believed. Micheal sat across from me, talking about something….work, I think, but his voice felt distant. Like background noise in a movie, I wasn't really watching. I nodded, smiled at the right moments. sipped my wine like I wasn't screaming inside. But I felt it. That stare. That burned on my back even as I walked away earlier, but I pretended I didn't. I had to, and Micheal was there.Ryan.God, why did he still get to make me feel like this?
RYAN'S POV REGRET.The only emotion I felt after she left me.She didn't even flinch.She just got up and walked away with him like I was invincible. Like I was a stranger asking for directions in a park she didn't want to be in.I sat there for a while after they left. Still. Quiet. I tried not to let it show that my chest felt like someone had stuck their hand in and twisted it. I wasn't going to chase. I wasn't going to make a scene. But God…it burned.I should’ve never texted her. That's what I told myself. But I didn't believe we were done. Not really. I needed to see her. Needed to look in her eyes and know if what we had was really gone, or if maybe, just maybe, there was still something more there. And for a second…I thought there was.She showed up. That had to mean something.She could’ve ignored me and blocked my number.But she came. And that gave me hope. Dumb, reckless, fragile hope.Until he showed up.The way he said her name. Like he already owned her.And the way
MICHEAL'S POV I wasn't supposed to be there.I was just walking by the park, cutting through like I always did when heading back from Jayden's place. It was supposed to be a regular night. Headphones in, mind on nothing important. But my house felt stuffy and damn too quiet. It always did. So I decided to get some air. To just move around and clear my head. But then I saw her.Ashley.She was sitting on a bench with some guy. I stood there, stuck in place, the weight of what I was seeing nailed me to the ground. Then I took slow steps closer, pulled out my earbuds, and watched from a distance.I noticed Ashley shifted slightly, just enough to put space between them. But not enough to quiet the storm rising in my chest.Was this a date? Was I too late?I hated the way my mind spiralled. I hated the way I spy on her just because I felt insecure.I should’ve walked away, but I didn't.Instead, I took a few steps towards them. Not loud enough to interrupt. Just enough to see his face. H
ASHLEY'S POV I sat on the park bench, waiting for Ryan to be here so we could get this done with. My heart raced in my chest, with different thoughts swirling in it. Was I doing the right thing? Do I really seek closure? But one thing is sure, I wasn't here for him, I was here for me. To prove to him that I wasn't that girl he knew anymore.Ryan showed up exactly ten minutes late. Typical. Some things never changed. He walked towards me in slow steps, his hands shoved into his pockets, his face filled with guilt. He looked the same as ever, but not in a way that stirred anything inside me. There was a time when seeing him would have made me blush secretly, my heart racing. Now, all I felt was stillness. When he finally reached me, he hesitated before speaking.“Hey, Ash.”The sound of his voice had that effect on me, but not in the same way that made my body shake with desire.“Ryan.” I said, my voice soft but firm.He sat down beside me, but i moved aside a bit, creating enough spac
ASHLEY'S POV As soon as I got to my apartment, I couldn't help but think about the trip. I felt different since i came back, It was as if a heavy weight had been lifted off my chest. The trip with Micheal had given me something I've always wanted…peace. And for the first time in a long time, I wasn't overthinking, I wasn't worrying or feeling sad about anything. I was just me. And it felt really good. After I've freshened up, I decided to reach out to my friends and meet up with them. We haven't met since Austin’s birthday party and I missed them. What happened that night was something I kept to myself because I wasn't ready to talk about it. I knew they would demand answers and I'm ready to give them.We met at our usual spot, a nice little cafe in an expensive estate.The moment I walked in, I saw them sitting at our usual spot, already waiting for me. Sophie was the first to notice me as I approached them.“There she is,” she said dramatically, throwing her hands up in the air. “
ASHLEY'S POV I woke up to the sound of waves crashing outside. It was very soothing, so much that I found it difficult to get out of bed. so for a moment, I laid there, wrapped up in the warmth of the sheets. I haven't had a good sleep like this in months . It was peaceful, too peaceful.Then I turned over to the other side of the bed, expecting him to be there, but it was empty. Then I perceived it, the faint smell of bacon filled the air. I slipped out of bed and did a little exercise before making my way downstairs.The sight in the kitchen made me pause.Micheal stood shirtless by the counter with his hair slightly messy. He wore grey sweatpants that hung low on his hip, moving around the kitchen as he prepared breakfast. He kept flipping the pancakes like a pro while he had a fresh pot of coffee beside him. The counter was filled with breakfast: bacon, toast, scramble eggs, with some fresh fruits on the side. I leaned against the doorway, crossing my arms against my chest. “S
I glanced at Ashley beside me as I drove past the city. She was staring at the window as she drew small patterns on the glass. She seemed deep in thought, and her shoulders were tense. Clearly, she looked exhausted, but aside from that, I could see something else, something she's trying hard to bury within her. I knew she was going through a lot after the incident at the club, which is why I decided to do this for her. It will serve as an escape from reality.I placed my palm on her hands, my fingers brushing it lightly. “Trust me, Ash, you're going to love the place.”She turned her head towards me, “You said that earlier, but I still don't know where you're taking me.”I smiled “Now where's the fun in ruining the surprise.”She smiled softly while shaking her head “You and your surprises“Uncle Micheal, why are you doing all this?” She asked suddenly as she looked at me with curiosity in her eyes.My gaze found hers for a second before I returned my focus back to the road. “Doing wh
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