Chapter 2: Mr. J. Carter

When Ann opened her eyes again, the sun was already high. Her head was throbbing like it was going to explode. She got up from the hotel bed and put away the blanket. What a surprise when she found herself completely naked, without any clothes!

Damn it! What happened last night?

The dress! Where were the clothes? Ann covered the front of her body with the blanket and fumbled for her clothes. She couldn't find her dress or pants. She didn't even know where her bra and panties were!

Frantically, Ann looked for a bathrobe in the wardrobe. Luckily the hotel room provided the bathrobe so she could roam around the hotel room freely. Ann pinched her temples, trying to remember what happened last night. But, unfortunately, her memory was a little blurry because she drank quite a lot of alcohol.

Ann's suitcase was still neatly locked and placed by the table. Ann intended to open the suitcase to retrieve her belongings, but she realized that it was still locked with an additional padlock manually. Therefore, she needed to find the key first, which she put in the purse.

Yes, that's right! Where's the purse? Ann suddenly turned pale and rushed to find her purse. She couldn't find it anywhere. Damn it! Did someone steal her purse? All the money, credit cards, ID cards, and luggage keys were there. How about this? What should her do?

Ann saw her cell phone plugged into a power outlet to charge the battery on the table. Oh, luckily the robber didn't take her cell phone. At least she could still do online transactions and asked for help. When Ann picked up her cell phone, a message was written on paper that was pressed under the phone.

There was a business card placed there with the handwritten “Call me!”

On the business card was written the person's name and title and his office address clearly printed. In addition, there was the person's cell phone number in handwriting. This was his cell phone number that his business partners didn't know.

Mr. J. Carter.

CEO Carter Corporation. CEO Carter Holding Group.

With a slight trembling and impatience, Ann pressed the phone screen and dialed the handwritten number.

[Hello...]

A man's voice sounded deep and charismatic. Ann's wild imagination immediately wandered to hear a voice so masculine and sexy.

[Hello. Is this Mr. J. Carter?]

[Yes, that's right. Who's this?]

[This is Ann. Ann Graham. I mean… Ann Davis. You told me to call this number.]

The man on the other end grinned happily. He already knew, the woman he met last night was Ann.

[Yes, Ann Davis. We met last night, but I'm only getting to know each other now. Nice to get a call from you.]

[Where's my purse? Did you steal my clothes too?]

[Your purse is safe with me. I have washed your clothes in the hotel laundry. They will deliver it to your room in a moment. I'll send a driver and a car to pick you up in thirty minutes. Get ready to have lunch together.]

Click. The phone connection was disconnected.

Ann got ready to take a shower to leave. She had no other choice but to obey the man's orders. Her purse was still in the man she met last night, and she had to retrieve it. The masculine scent of the man's body wafted in the bathroom. Maybe last night, the man used the shower, and the smell was still there.

Ann could imagine her hands touching the skin on the man's stomach. Ah, that must be fun! But, no, what did you imagine, Ann? Stop imagining nonsense.

According to the man's words, the hotel laundry clerk delivered Ann's clothes that had been washed clean and neatly folded. Ann put on her clothes and prepared to go down to the lobby. The hotel receptionist had called Ann to the room to tell her that her pick-up car was waiting.

A brand new black Maybach car picked up Ann at the hotel lobby. Ann got into the car, and the driver took her to a famous western-style restaurant that served the steak with the best wine.

The waiter escorted Ann to a special private room in the restaurant's interior, where the man was already waiting for Ann while playing with his cell phone with his fingers.

"J. Carter?" asked Ann.

"Hi, Ann. Please have a seat,” said J. Carter politely.

The waitress immediately prepared appetizers for the two of them, then left the room while closing the door.

Ann sat nervously. This man was really handsome. Ann's heart always pounded when she saw this man's face.

"Where's my purse?" asked Ann matter-of-factly.

"Don't worry, and I'll give it back to you after lunch. Let's enjoy the food leisurely. I want to get to know you better,” said J. Carter.

"Okay, okay, Mr. Carter," said Ann.

"Jace. Call me Jace, Ann. Or you can also call me J," said Jace Carter, smiling. His smile was so confident and charming.

"So, what happened last night? Can you explain what happened between us and why I woke up naked? Are we…” Ann asked, a little nervous and hesitant.

Jace Carter chuckled. He was amused to laugh at Ann's shyness with a flushed face. This woman had a charm that made Jace want to meet again and get to know her better.

“Last night, I took your clothes off and sent them to the hotel laundry together with my clothes. Before you faint, you vomit. Your clothes and mine are dirty, so I had to send them to the laundry last night. The housekeeping staff also cleaned up the vomit last night. After that, I went to shower, and after my clothes were dry, I left. And, yes, I brought your wallet because I wanted to get to know you better," said Jace Carter apologetically, although his expression was mischievous and unapologetic.

"Oh, so nothing happened," Ann said in an involuntarily regretful tone.

“Do you want something to happen between us, Ann?” Jace teased, enjoying Ann's blushing face.

“No, um… my purse. Can you return my purse now, please?” Ann asked, changing the subject.

"After lunch, Ann," Jace answered firmly.

"Okay," Ann said as she gorged herself on the mushroom cream of soup and appetizers. Her stomach was already hungry since earlier because she didn't have time to eat breakfast.

"By the way, thanks for saving me from last night's situation," Jace said.

"You are welcome. That woman, who is she to you?” asked Ann.

“She is the daughter of my business partner. So, of course, I couldn't refuse her rudely, but I was honestly annoyed by her attitude. Actually, I want to ask you a favor," Jace said again.

"Ask for what?" asked Ann.

The waiter came to serve the main meal.

“Can you pretend to be my lover? I will give you a place to stay at my house. We can get engaged and then get married on a year contract. You can also take revenge on your ex-husband. This is an offer that benefits both parties, isn't it?" Jace asked, grinning widely.

"How do you know? Are you investigating who I am?” asked Ann in a high-pitched voice.

“Yeah, I need to know who I'm dealing with. Ann Graham. You just divorced Hans Graham and moved out of his house. Your ex-husband is gay, and he hid this fact from you. However, recently you caught him cheating behind your back. Is it true?" Jace asked with a big grin.

“Why do you know such details?” Ann asked with suppressed anger.

"Relax, Ann. I don't want to insult or demean you. So instead, I will help you. But, of course, you have to cooperate with me. Is it sound good to you? Deal?” asked Jace Carter.

"What's in it for you?" asked Ann suspiciously.

“You can help me get rid of Merry Smith. I can help you get your revenge on Hans Graham. By the way, one of your husband's lovers, Franz Smith, is Merry Smith's older brother," said Jace Carter with a smirk.

What? Merry was Franz Smith's younger sister?

“Okay, deal,” Ann replied without hesitation. She shook Jace's hand tightly.

"Okay, this afternoon, my driver will pick you up at the hotel to transfer you to my house," Jace said.

“Alright, I still have time to enjoy the hotel facilities and get ready. Please give me back my purse now. I need to pay the hotel bill,” Ann said.

"No need. I already paid your hotel bill with my credit card. So please use the hotel facilities to your heart's content. I'll give you your purse when we meet again at my house," Jace said, grinning happily.

"Don't you believe me?" Ann asked, squinting her eyes.

“I'm just being a little careful, Ann. Oh yeah, one more. We have to look like lovers in public. I want Merry to be sure that we are an inseparable couple. You have to be the perfect girlfriend for J. Carter," said Jace.

"Oh, of course. I agree to your terms," Ann replied quickly.

"Then how about we practice a little?" he asked.

"Practice how?" asked Ann.

"Like this," said Jace. He rose from his seat and walked over to Ann.

Jace pulled Ann's waist and pressed Ann's body against his own. A dangerously masculine scent wafted and aroused Ann. Jace licked Ann's lips passionately. He slid his tongue into Ann's mouth, making Ann forget her surroundings and not want to let go of the man again.

“Aaah… Jace…” Ann sighed with pleasure. She let Jace's hand touch her body until she shivered with passion.