“Why would I introduce you to him?” grumbled Skylar, storming towards the billing counter. She didn't know why she always overreacted in Christian's presence. She had never met someone as persistent as him! “I won’t leave you until you do.” Skylar glared at the determined look on his face and seethed at his stubbornness. It was because of him she had to lie. Now it would be an impossible task to find herself a Mike. “You can persist until you give up. You can’t make me do stuff I don’t want to,” she gritted out in a low voice meant only for him to hear. “Then you don’t know me at all. I never give up on what I want!” With a grim expression on his face, he emptied her cart and handed them his bank card. Skylar’s mind went into overdrive. What did he mean by that? Why would he want her? Later, he picked up the packets and stormed away towards his car, with Skylar following him angrily. After that exchange, they didn’t say a word to each other. Skylar stared outside the window while
Skylar ignored Christian the rest of the time. It wasn’t a hard task to do since he was mostly engaged in conference calls all the time. She didn’t get to talk to Caleb as he returned late. She retired to her room early, just to avoid Christian. He would leave early the next morning and she could relax and enjoy herself for a few days before leaving for New York. She lay down with her phone, chatting with her girl group, when there was a soft knock on her door. Startled, she sat up straight. Was it Christian? Who else would knock on her door at 11 o’clock in the night? Ignoring it, she quietly lay down to sleep. She had no wish to face Christian now. There were two more knocks and then the footsteps faded away. Relieved, she tried to sleep but couldn’t. When nothing worked, she got up to drink some water. Maybe it would calm her down. At home, her granny always insisted on drinking some warm milk at bedtime and it always worked. But where would she get warm milk here? She would have
Skylar reached New York and immediately contacted her friends. They all planned to meet one another after months. After graduating from nursing school together, Eva and Sienna found an internship at Bellevue Hospital. Hayley had joined her dad’s hospitality business while Alyssa was in California at her grandparents’ place. Each of them was busy except Skylar. She knew it was time to think about her career. She couldn’t just waste her life doing nothing! She picked Hayley up from her house and drove over to the shopping mall nearby where the others would meet them. “Why do you have to join Christian? You can do an internship at Barclay International,” suggested Hayley. Barclay International was her dad’s business, and she handled it independently now. “Maybe I will. I haven’t thought about it, Hails. I could open a small restaurant, too.” It was the first time she had expressed her inner desire. “That’s a wonderful idea, Skye. I wish you all the success in the world. Plan it well
“Five Vodka and orange, five gin and tonic, and a whiskey please,” said Skylar, breathlessly. With her mind actively thinking of ways to ask Mike out, she could hardly concentrate on the drinks menu. “Straight?” She blinked and nodded.“Yes.” “Anything else?” “Yes, can I have your number, please?” Mike grinned and leaned in towards her with interest. “I go off in half an hour. I’ll wait for you.” Skylar grinned at the guy, unable to believe that she had behaved so recklessly. What could she do? She had to fix a Mike for herself before Christian attacked her again! “Sure.” With a satisfied smile, he fixed her the drinks when her friends joined her. “What’s taking you so long?” asked Alyssa with a knowing smile. “Have you ordered the food and the cake?” asked Skylar, having completely forgotten to order at the bar. With Mike busy, she didn’t disturb him again.“Yes, Alexander and I had a word with the manager. He’ll have them arranged for,” said Alyssa. They waited for their drin
“What the f*ck! You can’t order me around. I refuse to go to LA with you,” spat out Skylar, her whole body trembling with fury. He might have tricked her into coming here, but she wouldn’t dance to his tunes. “I can and I will. I won't leave you alone here to sleep around with every Mike you meet. So just do what I say or I will have to use force. Don’t mess with me, Skylar!” “What did you say? You’re the one who’s messing with me. I will sleep with a million Mikes if that’s what it takes to keep you away from me.” Christian clenched his teeth as wild fury coursed through his body. “Do you think it will keep me away from you? No, you’re very much mistaken. I will punish those million Mikes for taking what’s mine. That’s not all. I will punish you the most. So don’t even think about it in your wildest dreams. I know there’s no boyfriend. It’s all a hoax.” Skylar gaped at the man. How did he know? Did her grandparents give her away? “Whatever! I’ll get into a contract marriage with
“Oh! Do you have some work there?” Skylar asked, but he didn’t reply and went back to his laptop to read some documents. Maybe he would wrap up some work before returning home. Skylar didn’t disturb him and the idea of cuddling up in the bedroom with a good book seemed too good a suggestion to ignore. “I’ll rest for a while then.” She got up to leave, but he grabbed her wrist. “Have your lunch first. Flying on an empty stomach won’t do you any good.” Skylar gave him a suspicious look. How did he know she had skipped her breakfast and lunch? How did he know she had overslept? She sat down and faced him, needing a few answers now. Things were getting a little creepy here. He knew too much about her, while she had no idea about him. “How did you know I skipped my breakfast and lunch?” He went back to concentrating on his work. “Obviously, you overslept from the effect of all the alcohol that went into your system last night.” Her mouth hung open on hearing his creepy statement. “Wh
Skylar lay still, acutely aware of his gaze upon her. She could feel every nerve in her body pick up the sexual undercurrent that pulsated out of him. It was impossible to sleep under the circumstances. After ten minutes, she gave up and got up to go but her glance fell on Christian’s face. His eyes were closed, and it seemed he was indeed sleeping! She noticed the dark circles under his eyes, as if he had been overworking himself for the last couple of days. His lips were parted and his thick, curled lashes cast shadows on his cheekbones, leaving her under a spell. It was a sin to be so good-looking! Was she committing a grave mistake by agreeing to have a contract marriage with him? Although she didn’t wish to acknowledge it, there was an undeniable attraction building up between them with every passing minute. She didn’t want to succumb to the temptation. The man was a mystery! Why was he hell-bent on marrying her when there was no dearth of women willing to die to be his wife? D
Shocked at the roots of her hair, Skylar turned to gape at Christian. Did he bring her here for their engagement? “Skye, come, I have something important to show you,” said Lillian, pulling her away with her. Skylar glared at Christian all the way, her accusatory gaze holding him captive. He stood still, holding her gaze, feeling a swirl of emotions deep inside him. Although he wanted to admit his feelings to her, to explain why he kept it from her, nothing came out of his lips. He simply watched the hatred reflected in her beautiful eyes. “Chris, I’m so happy for you,” said Sebastian, coming forward to embrace his younger sibling. He was the only one who knew the depth of Christian’s feelings for Skylar right from the beginning. Lillian found out much later by chance when she overheard them. “Thanks, bro. It’s all because of you.” They say down with Caleb, Grandpa Ben, and Skylar’s grandparents while Christian wondered where Lilian took Skylar to. “Lilly bought a few dresses for