"Lord Rolly! " “You need the company of a lady in your life.” And heirs, a lot of them. “ Every time I came over for Sunday supper, my mother’s statements seemed to repeat themselves. “Do I need one? I sat back and glanced at my younger brother,Xee, as I reached across the table for the bottle of red wine and poured myself a liberal quantity. Naturally, the little jerk smirked, but he refused to look me in the eyes. “Perhaps you should encourage Xee to find someone, Mom,” I said as I sipped from my wine glass. “You need a wife and an heir as Underboss.” She took a long drink from her own glass. My mom dared to say such things to me. My given name, Rolly Exruto Guevara,my mom used to call me Dong and was powerful enough to arouse terror in anybody who heard it. Everyone else was terrified that I would slit their neck while they slept. Of course, they’re incorrect. I slashed it while they were still awake and glared them down. “Besides, your younger brother isn’t old enough.”

Rolly pushed open the main door and entered. The heat of US surged into the air-conditioned inside, causing beads of perspiration to form on my temples almost instantly. Perhaps it had nothing to do with the heat and everything to do with the man approaching me with intent.I had to tilt my head back to retain my focus on his face as I watched him move. I saw my eyes were wide and my lips were apart as he came to a halt a foot from the front desk. I looked like some kind of star-struck knucklehead. At least, that’s how I felt.I blinked back to reality and focused on being professional because I was the only one in the front office at the time. “Hello,” I said quietly. His mouth curved as though he was trying to hide his smile. “I’m sorry,” I repeated loudly after clearing my throat. “Thank you for visiting Clover.” I only knew his first name from hearing it from others, and I didn’t want to address him as such. “How may I assist you?”I was captivated to the look of his hand, to the

I sighed and shook my head, but even the noise I made seemed forced, as if I was attempting to drive away what was directly in front of me. It was difficult to refute this reality. An unprogrammed number flashed on the screen of my cellphone on the coffee table. But I didn’t need my caller ID to figure out who it was from. When Exruto gave it to me, I had it almost memorized. I sat there gazing at the phone for a few moments, telling myself to let it go to voicemail. But I found myself reaching for it, pressing Accept, holding the phone up to my ear, and asking, “Hello.” Despite my exhaustion, and despite the fact that the truth was screaming in my face, I simply gazed at my now-closed laptop. I had no intention of declining Rolly Exruto’s offer. That, more than anything else, terrified me. Rolly had approached the Clover office three days prior and asked me out. I spent three days contemplating what I’d discovered about him on the internet. I felt on what I should do but not w

We were both silent, yet it wasn't oppressive or uncomfortable. His presence was almost soothing, like a warm blanket wrapped over me. I shifted in my leather seat as the proximity of Rolly Exruto made me feel unbalanced. Was there something wrong with me for being so taken with a man I'd just recently met? I cast a glance in his direction, but he was absorbed in his work, his gaze fixed on the road, the dashboard lights highlighting his imposing features. I wouldn't call him conventionally attractive, and I couldn't see him striding down the catwalk showcasing the latest fashion. He had a ruthless and ferocious demeanor. Rolly Exruto Guevara has a menacing aura about him. A scavenger. He was just like that. "I hope you appreciate true Italian," he remarked finally, jolting me out of my reverie. "I know a fantastic tiny Italian restaurant with a great ambience that I think you'll appreciate." He gave me a smoldering look as he cut a peek at me. My body had begun to chill slightly,