Layla POVI open my eyes and smile as I feel Richard’s arm resting across my stomach. Today I am going to get his Christmas present, and I have to say that I am extremely excited about it. I can’t wait to see his face. I can’t wait to see his reaction. I look at my phone that is resting on the table next to the bed, and I have no notifications. Jo hasn’t messaged or called since she left a few weeks ago. This is the longest we have been without talking, and I am worried about her. I need to call her and see how she is. This has gone way out of hand, and if she doesn’t contact me, I will contact her. We have been friends forever, and we need to sort this out. I know she didn’t mean what she said. I miss her, and I need her close by. I need my best friend around. Especially with what I am about to do. I move Richard’s arm from

Layla POV “Thank you for your help,” I tell Mia, and she nods, smiling. I wrap my arm around her waist as she wraps her around my shoulders, and we just look at the big Christmas tree in front of us. Her smile is massive, so big I never thought she would smile like this.  “You’re welcome. I can’t wait to see Dad’s face,” she tells me, and I nod. I look around the room, and I can’t believe we managed to pull this off. Obviously, we had some help from Dylan and Fred. Fred knew what we were doing, and he kept asking Fred to take his sweet time in the locker room so Richard would stay out longer than he would like to. “Do you think he’s going to like it?” I ask, and she nods. Her smile is wider as she looks at the candy canes hanging from the ceiling. I basically made the living room into a mini North Pole. The fake snow machine starts working, and it looks magical. All the lights and all the decorations, even the t

Richard POV “Oh MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD,” Mia behaves historically, jumping up and down and smiling like a child. I can’t believe how happy she looks, and I never thought she would react like this, not in my wildest dreams.  “Dad? Why didn’t you tell me?” She asks when she stops jumping. I look at Layla, and my heart is still beating fast, so fast that it actually hurts.  “Because I wanted it to be a surprise to the both of you,” I say as I bend down on one knee and do what I was supposed to do all alone, be the one proposing. I slide the ring into her finger, and her hand is trembling. Her other hand is resting over her heart.  “I want to see,” Mia says as she pulls Layla’s hand in her direction and smiles with wide eyes. “It’s beautiful and HUUUGE,” she says. Layla giggles, and she looks at her ring wit

Layla POV After the silent auction, we are all taken to the dining area. This is an event like a wedding, with round tables with beautiful linen spread all around the room. Big vases with red and green flowers and ornaments. I have to say that Cruella can definitely put on a show. She really knows what she is doing. Kudos to her. Mia walks to her table, and she scrunches her nose when she notices who’s sitting next to her.  Richard walks to her, checking on the sitting chart, and I can tell he is not happy either. I have no clue where we’re sitting, and when he offers me his hand, I take it, and he places a small kiss on my finger next to my beautiful diamond ring. I can feel my cheeks go warm. Damn, this man has the ability to leave me flushed.  “I promise I will make this right,” he says, and I frown, looking at Mia and then at Richard, and that’s when I realize

Layla POV“James, let me go,” I plea as he tightens the zip ties around my wrists. It hurts me, and I flinch as he stands in front of me, his nose almost touching me. I feel the tears rolling down my cheek while he smiles and rubs his nose over my cheek as he inhales deeply. I shut my eyes tightly, turning my head away from him. “You smell so good,” he finally says, and I feel my stomach turning. I have no clue where we are, it’s dark and there’s only a small light in the corner of the room. I can see windows, but it’s too dark outside to even know where we are. “James, please, let me go,” I cry but he doesn’t move. He stays in front of me, and slowly, he places both his hands on my legs I try to push him away but my ankles, but I can’t. I have zip ties around my ankles as well, holding me on the chai