All Chapters of BURNING FOR DADDY: Chapter 1 - Chapter 7

Isabella's POV I'd been staring at the whiskey glass for three minutes. Four ice cubes. Dad had always used four. Said three were for amateurs, five were trying too hard. Four was perfect.Fuck.I tossed it into my mouth before the memory could finish forming. The burn in my throat felt good. Real. Unlike the last two months since we buried him—those months had felt like I'd been living underwater, sound muffled, movements slow, nothing quite reaching me.Until tonight. Tonight I needed to feel something that wasn't the gaping hole where my father used to be, in my heart."Oh, darling. I'm so sorry."Some asshole bumped into me, pouring his drink all over my dress. His hands went straight for my thigh, playing concerned and nice while copping a feel. I should've cared. One year ago, I would've broken his nose.Tonight? I just let him.What did it matter anymore?Charlie, the manager, swooped in like always. "That's our exclusive customer Mister. If I think you're doing what it is y

Isabella's POV The rejection email stared right back at me as though daring me to say something.We regret to inform you that we will not be moving forward with your application at this time.I'd read it five times already, as if the words would rearrange themselves into something less humiliating. The New York Chronicle. My dream publication. The place where real journalists were made.And they didn't want me.I threw my phone across the bed and pressed my palms against my eyes until I saw stars. This was supposed to be my fresh start. New city, new life, new Isabella who had her shit together and definitely didn't make terrible decisions involving older men in strip clubs.Except I couldn't stop thinking about him.It had been three weeks since that night, and my body still remembered every single thing he'd done to me. The way his hands had gripped my hips. The gravelly sound of his voice when he'd whispered filthy promises against my skin. How he'd made me come so hard I'd seen s

Isabella's POV Cole Smith was of course exactly the kind of guy my mother would pick for me.He'd shown up with flowers, actual flowers, like this was 1952 and kissed Mom's cheek before turning to practice his charm on me."Isabella. I've heard so much about you." He said as he took my hand and brought it to his lips.I resisted the urge to pull away. Mom was watching me, and I'd promised myself I'd play nice. One lunch. I could survive one lunch."Cole. Nice to meet you.""The pleasure is all mine."We sat down at the dining table—where lunch had already been served. Mom now has a fleet of domestic staff at her disposal and she was clearly making the most of it.Damian had barely looked at me. Now he was the picture of the attentive husband, touching Mom's shoulder, refilling her wine glass, acting like I didn't exist.Good. That's what I wanted. The devil he was."So, Isabella," Cole said, his hand finding mine on the table. "Your mother tells me you're looking for internship oppor

Isabella's POVMom must have given him my number thinking he only wanted to get closer. The message was short, authoritative. The smugness that came with knowing I had no choice but to do what he wanted. He had leverage over me and I had nothing on him. For now I couldn't do anything but comply.Another message came in. The address. I sighed, rubbing my temple.I sat up, staring at the message. Cole definitely had information about my father's death and if he was right, then Damian played a role in it. I had never known or heard about Damian from my father so it didn't make sense. If Damian did cause Dad's death, then why? What was there to gain?My head felt like it would explode from all the unanswered questions. There was only one way to discover the truth. I had to get to Damian. I had to be invaluable to him, make him fall head over heels for me. So much that he wouldn't be able to resist a word I say.If he really was involved in Dad's death, then he isn't someone my mother shou