Olivia’s POV “Who the fuck is it?” I muttered as my doorbell rang, insistently. I swing my door open and it was my Simon, standing there with his boxes, his face covered in frustration and anger. The sight of him caused a jolt of shock to run through me. “What are you doing here? And with your boxes.” I demanded, my voice sharp and urgent. He dropped the boxes unceremoniously on the floor and glared at me. “I did what you asked me to. Tried to fuck Catherine and Alexander caught me.” My stomach churned as I tried to process his words. “How could you be so sloppy?” I asked, my voice tinged with exasperation. “He was supposed to be in Spain!” He shot back, his voice rising in frustration. “How was I to know he’d be back early? You did this, you did this to me!” “I didn’t ask you to go there and get caught!” I shout fiercely. “Well I did and he kicked me out, not just out of the Manor… out of the Company too.” “What! No no no no.” I paced, my anxiety bubbling over. “What the fu
Catherine’s POV I woke up disoriented, my body tangled in unfamiliar sheets. My mind struggled to process the details of the room—his room. How did I end up here? I distinctly remembered falling asleep in my own bedroom, fuming over the latest argument. The sound of water running in the bathroom brought my thoughts back to the present. He was in the shower. I felt a surge of anger rumble inside me and then a tinge of desire to go join him but I was mad at him—furious, actually—but there was no denying the pull he had over me. As he stepped out of the bathroom, steam swirling around his muscular frame, my breath caught. His hair was damp, droplets of water tracing a path down his chest. I bit my lip, willing myself to stay mad, to remember why I was so upset. “What are you doing here?” I blurted out, trying to mask the tremor in my voice. He raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. “This is my bedroom,” He answers casually, running a towel down his naked torso. Focus
Simon’s POV I was in Alexander’s office, my heart pounding in my chest as I sifted through documents on his computer. I need to go through his Email, for the latest Intel on his meeting with the Spanish investors. If I was going to make a move for one of them, I needed to know what they had agree with Alexander. The humiliation of being kicked out of the company still stung, but thankfully, Alexander was late, he must not find me here. I needed to hurry and leave before he arrives. If Alexander found me here, it would ruin everything. I moved quickly, my hands shaking as I rummaged through the system for any and every information that could help our plan. The door suddenly creaked open. My heart stopped. I turned around to see his assistant, Jennifer, standing there, surprise etched across her face. “Are you looking for something Mr. Simon?" she asked, suspicion lacing her tone. . My appointment with Clifford had not been terminated officially but I needed to know if Alexander
Olivia POV I brought my car to a quick stop, few blocks from the Manor when I sighted Ophelia about to turn into the Manor gate. I had been waiting for her for longer than a few minutes. She was bearing bags of groceries in her hands. Clearly, she was returning from the market. Slowly, I pulled up beside her and rolled down the window. "Ophelia," I called out, my voice sweet but with an edge of authority. She stopped, her eyes widening in fear when she saw me. Good. She knew better than to ignore me. "Get in," I said, nodding towards the passenger seat. She hesitated for a moment, “The groceries.” “Drop it and get in.” I commanded steely. Frantically, she dropped the bags and climbed into the car. I could see her hands trembling slightly as she buckled her seatbelt. I drove a little further, ensuring we were far enough from prying eyes, and then parked the car. Turning to face her, I did not bother with pleasantries. "Are you still doing what I asked?" Her eyes darted around n
Olivia’s POV I sat at the bar, nursing my third drink, the amber liquid burning its way down my throat. The soft murmur of conversations around me blended with the melancholic tune playing from the jukebox, creating a shroud of isolation around me. I was having one of those nights, my head was a mess and I sought refuge in the pool of alcohol. As I stared into my glass, the flash back of the past began to unfurl, vivid and relentless. When I started crushing on Alexander, he was just a boy, barely fifteen and I was well around my mid-twenties. He reminded me so much of myself at that age. Lonely and troubled. I was beyond attracted to him; I could say that I was smitten by him. It was an unbelievable attraction that I never tried to deny even though, he was just a boy. Growing up in the chaotic world that I did, I did not turn out normal and I embraced my uniqueness effortlessly. From the first day I saw him, I wanted to fuck him. He was lanky and recluse and something about his glo
Catherine’s POV The first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over the bedroom. I stirred, slowly waking up and stretching beneath the warm covers. As I blinked the sleep from my eyes, I notice Alexander, by my bedside. "Good morning," He said softly, his voice filled with an unusual tenderness. “What? No note today?” I teased. I was not used to waking up to him. He smiled, a small but endearing one. “I thought the real thing would be better this time. Happy birthday Ms. Kent.” I looked at him, surprised. "How did you know?" I replied, my curiosity piqued. “I have my ways Ms. Kent.” He turned fetching a beautifully wrapped red box in his hands. “Here.” I lifted myself, still taken by surprise. Alexander Clifford, giving me a birthday gift. My fingers and toes tingled and the hairs at the back of my neck budded. As I carefully untied the ribbon and lifted the cover off the box, I gasped—My forbidden book!My hands trembled as I picked it
Catherine’s POV Alexander parked his Cliff 500 at an alleyway and shot off the car. He got down, went around and pulled my door open. “Thank you,” I said, alighting. He shut my door and took my hand in his. I followed behind him, my nerves fluttering, my heart racing with peaked anxiety as we strode through a glass door. Standing inside, I quickly realized it was a Bookstore. My eyes toured the glass walled room and I was both confused and stunned. “What’s going on Alexander?” My voice wavered slightly. “It’s yours.” He said. My heart lurched; my jaw dipped in a gape of astonishment. “What do you mean?” “Happy birthday Ms. Kent.” He said, My heart did summersaults under my chest, my feet glued to the ground as my eyes toured the perimeter of the room. The bookstore was like something out of a dream. Shelves upon shelves of romantic novels lined the walls, creating a beautiful array of colors. The space was decorated with cozy reading nooks, each one furnished with plush armc
Alexander’s POV I sat in my usual silent solitude behind my desk, rustling through piles of paper on my table. I felt different today. I was not wearing my usual cloak of arrogance. I felt a sense of ease, one I could not remember ever feeling. Maybe it was listening to Catherine sob into my shoulders all night or maybe it was admitting my feelings to her in the Bookstore I had just acquired for her. I was shifting and it was as exciting as it was terrifying and I could not silence the deep fear that it was all an illusion. The door to my office swung open without a knock, barging into my thoughts and Uncle Richard stormed in. His face, the usual blend of anger and satisfaction, his eyes flashing with a cold, hard gleam. I looked up, not the least bit shaken by his sudden intrusion. “Alexander,” He said, his voice coursed with barely concealed contempt. “Dear Nephew,” His gaze swept my office with desire and longing. “What do you want Uncle Richard?” I dropped my ball ben, trying