Azalea's POV
The moment I was seated in the bar, the stranger ordered a drink for himself and asked me what I'd like to drink. I told him to choose a drink for me because in all honesty, I didn't know shit about alcoholic drinks. I didn't fail to notice how the bartender left other customers unattended to attend to my handsome stranger and none of them seemed to care about the biased behavior. “So tell me, what's a good girl like you doing in a bad place for sinners like me to forget their sins and sorrows?" He asked as he handed me my drink. “I am not a good girl. I am as bad as every other lady in this club." I said arrogantly, raising my chin up in unnecessary annoyance. “Oh really? I can tell you're a very very bad girl. It's so obvious with your summer dress, bedroom worthy hair style, duck slippers, and awkward personality that you are a very bad girl." He deadpanned, sarcasm oozing out of him in waves. I drowned the contents of the cup, trying not to cringe at the sore toxic taste. “I am a bad girl. I just like being comfortable in clubs." I lie through my teeth. “You can barely hold your drink in." He pointed out, raising his eyebrows at me. I ignored his statement, knowing that I didn't have a valid point to back up my bad girl claims. “He was wrong though." He said in a low voice, almost as if he didn't want me to hear. “What?" “That guy from earlier, he was wrong. I think you're the hottest girl here. You aren't dressed in revealing clothes and makeup isn't packed on your face and yet, you caught my attention faster than any girl here. I literally had to leave my friends at the VIP lounge to speak with you." Colour rushed to my cheeks as I drowned another glass of alcohol. I was above tipsy at this point. I was already loosening up and having a good time. I knew it was the alcohol speaking when I flirted back. “And I almost got knocked off my feet when I saw your face. You are every girl's wet dream." He smiled, watching me in admiration. “I just want to kiss those pretty lips of yours." Maybe it was the alcohol. Maybe it was the pent up frustration from my parents and older sister's degrading attitude towards me. Maybe it was the wild girl in me wanting me to do something crazy tonight. But I shifted closer to him, using the bar counter to maneuver my way smoothly until I'm arching my back, staring directly into his eyes. “What is stopping you?" I challenged, giving him a look I only hoped was seductive and not repulsive. I swear, that wasn't me. It was the alcohol. He slammed the bill for drinks on the table, hurriedly grabbed my hand, and gently helped me down. “Let us get out of here." He took me to his fancy car and before I could fully admire it, he helped me into it. “Where are we going?" I asked, cluelessly batting my eyelashes at him. “A hotel. So, what's your name, beautiful?" He asked as he glanced at me before looking back at the road. Even in my alcohol induced state, my responsible side was still somewhat active. I knew we would hook-up when we got to the hotel but I also knew I might regret my actions the next morning. Scratch that, I would definitely regret it when the effect of the alcohol is gone. Knowing each other would only make things awkward and complicated so I preferred we kept things about ourselves private. "Beautiful." "What?" He chuckled as he eventually pulled the car to a stop. I stared out of the window and realized we were already in front of a hotel. I had passed by this hotel several times and heard many things about it, it was the most expensive hotel in town. From everything I had seen, I knew he was rich which made me even more curious about his identity, but I swallowed my curiosity. "So, you're not gonna tell me your name?" He asked, bringing my attention to his eyes that were practicing stripping me. Something stirred inside of me at that moment, either it was the side effect of the alcohol or because no man has ever stared at me that way. "Let's just keep it that way." I answered, my voice barely above a whisper. My heated gaze roamed his body and I wanted nothing but to strip off his clothes right there. I normally wouldn't think of something like that, but the alcohol was really messing with my head and I didn't care about anything else in that moment. He was probably feeling the same thing, he rushed out of the car, went over to my side and opened up my door. He took me by the hand and walked in, the receptionist giving him an access card without asking him questions or asking for payments. “I visit here often. They already know what I want." He explained when he saw my questioning look. He had barely locked the door when he smashed his lips on mine, tasting and unveiling me for himself. His hands roamed my body as he kissed me, groping my ass as he moved me towards the bed. I felt hot and I wanted my clothes away from my body. As if he knew what I was thinking, he stopped kissing me and took off his clothes while I took mine off too, leaving us both in panties and briefs. "Damn!" I exclaimed as I eyed his body lustfully. This man was singled out and handmade by God himself. "Put your hands on me, pretty boy." I said almost breathlessly. Patience, I lost the meaning behind it. "No need to rush, we have all night." He mumbled as he stared at my chest in amazement. I kissed him with as much vigour, my hands wrapping around his legs as I let him hoist me up. His lips tasted exactly the way I imagined it would be- a sweet combination of the alcohol drink he had and a sweet peculiar taste I couldn't quite place my finger on. He placed me on the bed, not stopping his kiss for once. His lips moved down to my neck, kissing it and giving it a little bite that would most likely leave a hickey. He goes further down and doesn't stop until he reached my boobs. He takes a nipple in his mouth, his other hand going to the other breast and rubbing it gently, preparing it for the same treatment. He runs his tongue over my nipple before sucking like a hungry child. A moan escaped my lips as I arched my back off the bed, my hands flew to his hair and I pulled him closer to my breast. I couldn't stop the moans from leaving my mouth as I watched him pleasure me, teasingly biting and then sucking it to ease the pleasurable pain. He went to my second nipple, giving it the same treatment he gave the first one. As he tortured my nipples with pleasure, his hand trailed my ribcage, sending shivers down my belly and causing me to arch my back. There's something about every little thing he does. When he played with my nipple and kissed my inner thighs, I didn't want him to stop. His hands went downward and the next moment, I felt and heard the sound of my panties being ripped apart. He hasn't even touched me yet but I already felt so good.Escola's POVWatching him rush after Azalea, something twisted in my chest. I almost couldn’t believe it. Seeing Ace Black, yes, Ace Black, the man my father wanted me to marry in support of his campaign, dashing after her like that made my heart flutter in a way I didn't expect.Why was I jealous? What the hell was wrong with me?In my mind, I had pictured someone else entirely. A rich, cold-blooded heir, puffed-up, full of himself, a caricature of arrogance. But it turned out to be Ace, and he looked utterly different in person tonight. His shirt was slightly rumpled, sleeves rolled up, and his face was etched with concern and panic that went beyond play-acting when he saw Azalea. I realized then I was drawn to something real. His worry, his immediate reaction… it touched something inside me.Even earlier at the bar when his text, “You’re late,” flashed on my phone, I’d felt irritated. I thought, 'Who does he think he is?' I sat in the car and was deliberately a few minutes late
Ace's POV The chair I was sitting on fell backward with a loud, awkward clatter. My heart slammed hard against my ribcage, and from the look on Escola’s face, I wasn’t the only one shocked.“What happened?” Escola asked, turning around to follow my frozen stare.I barely heard her. My eyes were locked on Azalea, the one woman I had desperately hoped wouldn’t be here tonight, not like this, not seeing what she just saw.Her friend was jogging towards her, worry plastered all over her face.I didn't even think twice. My body moved on its own as I followed them, weaving past people, ignoring the lingering stares and whispered conversations.I wanted to explain. I needed to.I had only just arrived at that table. Escola was joking, hell, I was about to shut her down myself. I wasn’t here to get married, wasn’t here to follow my father’s ridiculous plan. And despite everything, despite how much of a wreck I was, I found myself getting attached to Azalea more than I ever thought possible.
Azalea's POV“Oh my goodness, look at the stars,” Lara exclaimed as we sat by the pool, completely exhausted from today’s activities.Even though I was pregnant, I didn’t let that stop me from having fun. I swam and even went to the game yard. It had been such a long time since I played soccer, and of course, we started the day with spa treatments. That was the very first thing we went for. My body still felt soft from the massage, but my legs were screaming from all the soccer.“I’m so exhausted,” I groaned, not taking my eyes off the stars Lara was pointing at.“Of course, you should be,” she laughed, shaking her head at me. “You’re carrying a whole human inside you and you did all that? I’m so proud of you,” she grinned, her smile stretching wide across her face.I returned her smile, feeling that familiar warmth in my chest. She stood up carefully and stretched out her hands to me. “Let’s go back to the room,” she said.“And maybe grab some drinks,” I winked, teasing her.“Nope,”
Ace's POV I sat in my car in the parking lot, my hands gripping the steering wheel so tight my knuckles had turned white.“Please, do this for your dad.” My mom’s voice echoed in my head. She sounded soft and tired from the phone call earlier.I let my head fall back against the seat, staring at the roof of the car, like it could somehow give me answers. I didn’t want to do this. I didn’t want to be here. I didn’t want to hand over my company like some peace offering to the man who never saw me as enough.The same man who spent years building his empire while tearing down every ounce of self-worth I ever had.And yet… my mom. After all the years. After all the bruises, seen and unseen, she still begged on his behalf.I squeezed my eyes shut, my jaw clenching so hard my teeth started to ache. The steering wheel creaked under my grip, and before I could stop myself, my fist slammed into it.The sharp sting in my knuckles barely scratched the surface of the storm brewing inside me.I sh
Azalea's POVIt was a brilliant sunny morning, one of those rare days when the sky looked immense and my heart hinted at hope. Lara and I had turned my room upside down, rifling through every dress, every touch of fabric in search of something perfect. I’d just told her about Ace showing up at my door, unannounced, helped assemble the baby playset, and left flowers. She dropped a sunflower yellow dress onto the bed, her eyes wide."Oh my goodness, he did all that?" Her voice was full of both awe and skepticism."Yes," I confirmed, lifting a pastel pink dress, just brilliant enough for a resort opening without being too showy. I turned toward her, trying to decide.“He came here to me, like that,” I said softly.Lara walked over and gathered me in a hug. “He’s the father of your baby,” she replied, half laughing, half reassuring. “And he showed up and built a play set for it. That’s more than most men do.”I bit my lip, nervous but strangely comforted. “I still feel so confused.”“Of
Ace's POVIt didn’t go how I pictured it.Honestly, I thought I’d be standing on the porch right now, humiliated, maybe with flowers thrown in my face and the door slammed shut.I’d prepared for that.I told myself I’d deserve it.But here I was, sitting in her living room, organizing the baby playhouse, like some suburban dad who actually had his life together.The playset clicked into place as I tightened the last piece. It wasn’t rocket science, but for some reason, my heart swelled with this weird, unfamiliar pride when I looked at it all done.Azalea hovered nearby, her arms crossed, watching me. She offered to grab me something to drink, but I waved her off.“I’ll get it,” I told her. “Relax.”Without thinking twice, I made my way to the kitchen like I’d been there before, like I belonged here, even though part of me knew I didn’t.The kitchen was small, but cozy, just like the rest of her place. Warm, welcoming. It screamed home.I could hear her footsteps behind me as she foll