Lahat ng Kabanata ng Hockey Boyfriend For Pay: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

{ Anastasia }Monday mornings at Bloom Beauty are always the same. Organized chaos. Everyone's going around the open-floor office, chattering about campaigns and new product drops while I sit inside my own private office trying not to lose my mind.I take a sip of my coffee and glance at my schedule for today. My early team meetings, a call with JG Models. And then, the post-it I added last week. 9:30 a.m. New hire orientation.Abraham Kent. "Agh. Right," I murmur, getting annoyed all over again. I don't know anything about this guy, except he's a charity case. Someone my dad told me to be nice to, because he'll be here only for a short amount of time. As a favor to a friend. Just a ‘dumb jock', my dad called him. That's going to be very annoying to navigate, especially since I already don't like anyone in my team.A knock at the door startles me. It's Nora, my assistant. "He's here," she says with wide sparkly eyes and a huge smile."The new hire?" "Yep, the new guy," she says,

{ Abraham Kent } So... yes, I fell from grace, all the way down to Rock Bottom City, let's get that out of the way real quick. I'm a sob-story, a has-been and a current-loser. But just one year ago, my life was perfect. I was living every man's dream. I had it all: the fame, the money and the glory. I felt powerful. I was playing for the Vancouver Seagulls, one of the best teams in the country. In the world, to be honest. I got paid millions of dollars to play the sport I love, surrounded by guys that I considered my brothers. I was getting invited to red carpets, fundraises, dinners with celebrities and I had models texting ME first. I was somebody. Then, it happened. I was riding my Ducati, flying down the highway while also flying on coke. I thought I was invincible. Untouchable. Next thing I remember, I woke up in a hospital bed with my left leg, left shoulder and left arm broken. The doctors said the injuries weren't career-ending, that I'd probably recover enough

I'm listening. I swear I am listening to what Anastasia is saying as she walks from one side to the other in front of me in the conference room, explaining... something. But it's too early and her voice is too soft, so it's not sticking into my brain. This is also only my second day working. Ever. Half of the words she's throwing at me are completely new in my vocabulary. "And that," she says, pointing at the projection behind her, "Is the difference between brand awareness and brand positioning. Does that make sense?" Not even a little. But she looks hopeful, and she obviously worked on this whole presentation (with mostly images) only for me, to help me understand this shit better, so I nod. "Yeah. Totally," I lie. She blinks once, like she knows I'm full of shit but is too nice to say it. "If something confuses you, you can ask. Really,” she pushes me, so I do ask. "Okay, so, in short. Awareness is...?" "What people know about the brand." "And positioning is..

"Morning, Ana," Bram murmurs when he catches me approaching, annoyingly unbothered. He's wearing another black shirt over fancy dark wash jeans. His hair is damp and the sight of him creates turmoil inside of me once again. I was not ready to see him so soon after that insane dream and the even more insane thing I did in the shower afterwards. With nothing but him in my mind. "Good morning," I manage to say, quietly. I should walk away and disappear already, but I can't. He's too hot and I haven't felt the touch of a man in almost two whole years. I need at least visual stimulation, "Did you go to the gym again?" "Yep, I try to go every day… now," he murmurs the last part with a weird sigh and closes the lid of his plastic bottle, then gives me a smile, "Want some protein shake?” He starts shaking his bottle while looking at me, probably waiting for a response. But I’m too busy focusing on his arm going up and down in slow-motion. My mouth gets dry again. His arms are j

"So, the real reason I forced you here today," my dad continues, starting to attack his steak, "The annual Bloom Beauty charity gala is happening next month." "I know. I'm going to be networking on the event..." I start, but he shuts me up with a look. Oh, he's serious about this, "That's what we agreed on. You told me—" "Yes, four months ago. I was hoping you'd be cured by now," he lets out. Chloe slaps his arm, "Not 'cured', sorry. I just thought... honestly, I fully thought being back home would fix everything for you. I'm realizing maybe that's not the case, so I'll be implementing a few more steps. One, I want you to go to the gala next month, not to network but to actually be present and enjoy yourself, get to meet some people and maybe even get a little tipsy, why not. And not only that, but I want you to attend every event, just like Chlo and Celeste. I'm forcing them to introduce you to more people... excluding men." "Excluding men?" Celeste repeats, confused, "I thought