All Chapters of Craved By My Husband's Best Friend : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Marissa POV"Xavier?!" Alina’s voice echoed off the lobby’s marble tiles, sharp and accusing. "What the hell are you wearing?!"The tall man holding my waist froze instantly, his fingers tightening against my side. My drunken brain tried to process the name falling out of Alina's mouth, but my eyelids were too heavy, the world spinning in soft, blurry edges.Alina took a step closer, squinting at the silver masquerade mask resting over his features. Then, her eyes widened in a sudden flush of panic. She cleared her throat loudly, taking a quick step back and hugging her grocery bag tightly against her chest."Oh! Oh my gosh, I am so sorry," Alina stammered, her voice pitching an octave higher as she offered a forced, nervous laugh. "I—I totally misread the height and the suit! I thought you were someone else. My bad! Wow, nice mask, man."It was a lie, and a terribly executed one at that. The realization had clearly hit her like a freight train...she knew exactly who was standing unde

Marissa POVThankfully, today was the very first day of a glorious, highly anticipated three-day holidays.After the absolute circus of the past forty-eight hours between Ethan’s pathetic spiral, my boss’s terrifying level of possessiveness, and a silver-masked man sitting in my living room all night—I needed a break from reality. Yeah that's right... My life has been spiralling out of control like a telenovela. I have been through drama after drama and I think the author of my life has forsaken me.Sterling Holdings had surprisingly handed out massive holiday bonuses to the entire architecture block, explicitly earmarked for "shopping, personal wellness, and self-care." I suspect Xavier probably signed off on those bonuses just so his overworked staff wouldn't collectively stage a mutiny, but I wasn't going to argue with free money.After finishing my breakfast and downing a second cup of strong coffee, I pulled out my phone and called Hailey."If you are calling to ask me to hide

Marissa POVWith our hair styled to perfection, our nails shining, and our bodies thoroughly relaxed, Hailey and I were guided into the final stage of our royal treatment.... the private haute couture showroom.Racks of crisp silk blouses, structured Italian blazers, and dramatic floor length gowns lined the room like a curated museum exhibit. A personal stylist stood by with fresh champagne, holding up armfuls of high end pieces in our exact sizes before we even had to ask."Marissa, look at this," Hailey gasped, holding up a sleek, emerald-green silk dress with a subtle cowl neckline and a daring open back. "This was literally made for you. Put it on right now."I took the dress into the plush, velvet curtained fitting room. The smooth silk glided over my skin, hugging my waist perfectly while the rich emerald color set off my newly dyed chestnut hair. When I stepped out onto the pedestal, Hailey nearly dropped her glass."If you don't wear that to the next corporate gala, I am revo

Marissa POVThe warm steam from the hot pot continued to rise between us, carrying the rich, savory aroma of spicy broth and garlic. For a few long seconds, the only sound in the room was the quiet bubbling of the pot and Alina aggressively munching on a fish ball.I kept my eyes fixed on my bowl, chewing slowly. The taste of the tender beef Xavier had placed in my bowl lingered, but it was the quiet, weight of his gaze that really made my skin flush.I set my chopsticks down with a soft click against the porcelain."Look," I began, my voice dropping into a quieter, far more genuine tone as I finally looked across the table directly into Xavier’s eyes. "I know I blew up at you earlier, Xavier. And... maybe I was taking out a lot of my frustration with Ethan on you. You've done a lot for me more than any boss or neighbor ever would. So... I am sorry for yelling at you and calling you names."Xavier’s posture softened immediately. The remaining traces of his playful, teasing demeanor co

Marissa POVBreakfast turned out to be a surprisingly chaotic, domestic affair.Xavier’s driver delivered a mountain of fresh, flaky croissants, fruit tarts, and savory pastries from the French bakery downtown within twenty minutes. My hands were full from grabbing it but then Xavier was quick to come and get it from me and I smiled at him.Alina immediately abandoned her dramatic protest on the couch, diving into the spread like she hadn't eaten in days, while Xavier sat across from me at the kitchen island, quietly sipping his coffee and watching me with that unreadable, intense gaze.By noon, Alina announced she had a salon appointment and scooted out the door, leaving Xavier and me standing alone in the quiet space of his apartment."I should get back to my place," I said, setting my empty coffee mug in his pristine sink and wiping my hands on a cloth napkin. "I need to go through my updated blueprints for the Kensington project before Monday."Xavier leaned his hip against the ma