Daniella gripped Brynne’s shoulders to drill some sense into her head. “Can you face the wrath of all females for sleeping with the boss? He’s a womanizer, Brynne. He used you and left you. Did you think you were his real girl or something?” Brynne blinked to grasp her friend’s agitated speech. Boss? Who was the boss? How could Luke be their boss? She extricated herself from her hold and placed the food on the coffee table nearby. “You're not making sense, Dani. Luke offered me a fake dating deal to ward off his would-be fiancée on this trip. I agreed, and that’s all. Which boss are you talking about? Benson Sylvester? Why am I repeatedly being paired with him? He’s fit to be my grandfather.” Daniella gaped at her clueless friend. Was she that naïve to not recognize Lucien Sylvester, their boss? “Are you crazy? Why would they pair you with Benson Sylvester? He isn’t the boss anymore. Lucien Sylvester is our new boss.” She shook her head in disappointment. “Don’t you know who your Lu
“What are you doing here, Adam?” Brynne gritted out, her eyes flashing fire at the sight of the cause of all her worries. If he hadn’t betrayed her, none of this would have happened. She wouldn’t have been forced to leave the job she had worked so hard for. Adam hung his head in shame. “Can I come inside, please?” Brynne stared at the change in his demeanor. What was up with him now? “No, you can tell me what you want.” He hesitated, looking around him. He could see his boss’ bodyguard still hovering around. Mustering up all his courage, he looked Brynne in the eye. “I’m sorry for whatever happened, Brynne. Believe me, I didn’t want to hurt you. I fell in love with Miranda and I couldn’t muster the courage to tell you. I panicked. Please, can you forgive me? We can be friends like before. You know we never loved one another. Ours wasn’t a perfect relationship,” he rambled on apologetically while Brynne watched him in silence. “Why are you here? I know my forgiveness doesn’t matter
“Are they here for you, Brynne? That’s our boss’s bodyguard, right? The one he left behind for you.” She gasped and clutched at her heart. Brynne frowned at her reaction and watched them approach the pier. The speedboat stopped, and Drake jumped out. He grinned at the sight of them, his gaze more on Daniella than on her. “Hey, we meet again! Maybe we’re fated or something!” He chuckled at Daniella’s pissed-off expression. Daniella stood with her hands on her waist. “What the f*ck are you doing here?” “God! Are you a terrorist’s daughter?” asked Drake with a chuckle, leaning in towards Daniella. She gave him a clueless look. “What?” He shrugged. “You are, right? No wonder he produced a bombshell for a daughter!” His grin widened and even Brynne couldn’t stop the eye roll. “Haha, very funny. I wish I could murder you and bury your body here,” hissed Daniella, but Drake chuckled more. “See what I mean?” He winked at her. “Anyway, you’ll lose your job if you kill me, lady.” Danie
“Where should I drop you, Ms. Emerson?” Grant’s voice brought her back to reality. They had left the parking area of the busy Manhattan Cruise Terminal behind, and Brynne sighed. The much-awaited cruise tour was over. It was far from what she had expected, turning her life upside down. “499E, 49th St., Brooklyn.” It slipped out of her tongue before she knew it. But Brynne didn’t want to take advantage of Grant’s generosity. “You can drop me off after crossing Brooklyn Bridge. I’ll book an Uber.” Grant shook his head, instructing the chauffeur to head to Brooklyn. Brynne sat in a state of confusion. Maybe this was also part of the deal. Once Grant dropped her off at her house, the deal would be over in the true sense of the term. The car sped all the way to her home, and she watched in silence. It was back to her lonely life, as if the cruise hadn’t happened at all. The car stopped right in front of her humble home and Grant got out to unload her luggage. “Thank you so much. I’ll m
Brynne walked into the office with her breath stuck in her throat. She had expected to run straight into the usual office chaos: people gossiping about one another. Maybe this time she would be the hottest topic of discussion. But something bizarre was happening today. All her colleagues were busy at their cubicles, surprisingly working their ass off! That too on the first workday of the New Year!What was wrong with them? They didn’t even notice her enter. Brynne released the breath she was holding and walked over to her office. Maybe they wanted to impress their new CEO. Her gaze fell on Daniella at the accounts department opposite her office. She looked weird as if she had seen a ghost. Surely she knew she’d meet Drake here!Brynne couldn’t understand this eerie calm around her. Pulling her chair out, she sank in to start her day. She was almost halfway through her mail inbox when the main door opened and Drake strode in. He looked annoyed. His previous good mood had already van
“Now? At lunchtime?” groaned Brynne, as she trudged towards his office. Why did he summon her at such a time? Nora shrugged and left while Brynne hesitated. After tackling clients all morning, she was ravenous. Her stomach complained, and she was sure the entire office could hear her. Maybe she would grab a quick sandwich before heading to his office. Surely he would grant her that. She walked away and entered the cafeteria instead. Her gaze went towards Julia, Adrian, and Eric near the counter. “Hey, Brynne! Over here!” She waved at Brynne like a long-lost friend. Brynne waved back and inched her way towards her. “Hi, what are you having?”“Oh, it’s Andrew’s birthday treat. Let them get the food. We’ll occupy a table somewhere.” Julia pulled Brynne to a vacant table nearby, maybe the only one available. Daniella too joined in and smiled at Brynne, as if relieved to see her. “What’s up with you?” Brynne whispered to her. “Nothing. I got swamped with the workload.” Brynne knew it
“Shall we get to know one another better? After all, you’re my client-servicing girl. We will need to travel together.” His hooded look and raspy bedroom voice made her wet between the legs. What was he implying? How would she get to know him better? And why the f*ck would she travel with him?“W-what b-boss? I didn’t get you.” She gave him a blank look, her gaze dropping to his dewy lips and messed-up hair. Why did it seem as if he was inviting her to kiss him? He stood up, and she did a double take. Was he now coming over to kiss her? He skirted the table towards her, like a predator towards his prey. It made her jump from her seat and step backward in panic. “Stay right there, Luke, I mean boss. Don’t come near me. What are you planning to do? To have me on your desk?” She watched him stop for a moment as if to consider her suggestion. Shit! Why did she have to say it aloud?“Maybe to get your signature on this.” His lips twitched as a smirk fought to break free. Instead, he prod
Brynne watched the car speed towards Central Park instead of the airport. Was this some kind of joke? Why would Luke want her to go to the iconic park with her luggage? She patiently waited to reach her destination before voicing her thoughts. The car reached 57th Street, and she frowned at the luxurious skyscrapers on Billionaires’ Row. Why was she here? Brynne couldn’t wait any longer. She turned to Grant, who was busy talking to the chauffeur. “Why am I here, Grant? I thought we were heading to the airport.” “I have no idea, Miss. I’m just following Mr. Sylvester’s instructions.” The car entered the enormous gates of an iconic skyscraper. Central Park TerracesBrynne’s head swam at the grandeur of the building. She felt totally out of place. Why was she here? Who lived in such a grand place? She didn’t want to think of the obvious, her heart panicking at the thought. “Grant, can I go home, please?” “No, Ms. Emerson. This is Mr. Sylvester’s home, and he wants you here.” It was
Daniella I tried to block my ears to his silly banter with Mrs. Griffin. If we were to act as a married couple, these shouldn’t affect me, right? Yet it did. Coz this was uncharted territory, and all we shared was a kiss and a horse ride. “Okay, let’s start, everyone!” said Mrs. Griffin, walking away. Drake leaned in towards me, his eyes dancing with excitement. I wondered what he was so excited about! Me cooking or him watching me cook! “Make it finger-lickin' good! I’ll be watching you!” He turned to go, but I grabbed his hand. “Where do you think you’re going? Stay and help.” I released his hand and shoved the whole chicken towards him. “Massage the oil all over.” He gave me a lost look. “Are you sure?” I nodded and set about preparing the vegetables and ranch dressing. We were making grilled chicken in Wild West Sauce to start with. Although it was a very basic recipe, I was making the sauce for the first time. Mrs. Griffin yelled out her instructions while we struggled to
Daniella Toby’s saddle was perfect for double riding, but I couldn’t relax. It wasn’t because of the trauma I had just been through. It was because of the hottest male creature on earth perched behind me. With his body plastered to my back, I could feel every muscle ripple against me. I had seen him. And it worsened the situation. Even now, I could visualize him naked. He was a solid bulk of muscle with pure power emanating from every fibre of his body. I could feel his face inches from mine, and the temperature soared around us. Drake’s hot breath fanned my heated nape while his arms brushed against my sides as they handled the reins. He reached forward, his arms further encasing me inside his muscular body. I realized it was stupidity to mount in front of him. I should have known. “Are you okay, Daniella?” With his lips millimeters from my right ear, I could feel their movement as he spoke. “Yes,” I said, my voice a breathless whisper. My mind screamed in desperation, urging him
Daniella I tried to focus on my food instead of reacting to his admission. It was a difficult task indeed. “Must you flirt with every female you meet? You’re so pathetic, Drake Ashford!” “No, only you. All my efforts are now focused on you.” His face lost its goofiness as he spoke. If I didn’t know his true nature, I would have believed his shit and fallen for him already. “Why? Don’t tell me you’re short on offers. I’m sure there are others, easier to charm and easy to conquer.” Unconsciously, I held my breath, waiting for his reply.“I don’t want the others. I want you. Don’t worry, I love a clash before a conquest.” He grinned at my jaw-dropped look. I hadn’t expected that. “Overconfidence? You can’t conquer me. I’ll disappear from your life after the trip.” It wasn’t a future threat. I intended to do it. Staying around Drake challenged my emotional and mental well-being. I didn’t want to fall for the devil. This constant battle to resist him was taking a toll on me. If one kis
Daniella“Oh, thank you so much. We’re on a day trip from our honeymoon cruise. The cruise ship will leave Port Canaveral at 10 pm. So we should check out from here after dinner.” Drake winked at me before I could correct the cowgirl.What the fuck is he up to? Why was he pretending we were a honeymoon couple? Was he crazy? I glared at him, watching him chat with the receptionist. He completed the check-in formalities, totally ignoring my reaction.“Is there anything else you may need? We have a fifty percent discount on everything for honeymoon couples today. You’re our first couple! The rest are all families here for the rodeo.”My jaw dropped with surprise. “Oh! Why?”“It’s our owner, Mr. and Mrs. Griffin’s golden anniversary today!” she gasped, handing us our key card. “Your glamping tent is that way, sir, ma’am. Have an enjoyable stay.”“Thanks. That would be all for now. We’ll freshen up and bother you again.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me along. “Let’s go, baby! I can’t wait
Daniella Drake drove the rental car down the Florida Ramp towards Orlando Hwy, and a strange thrill coursed up my body. Knowing his reputation, I didn’t understand why I felt so excited to spend the day with Drake. Why was he killing me with his charm? Did he want to get into my pants? Definitely, yes. Yet my heart thumped wildly in my chest. My reaction to his attention surprised me. Why was I behaving like a hormonal teenager around her first crush? I was a twenty-five-year-old woman, having slept around with plenty of players like him. But there was something about Drake Ashford that pulled me towards him like a magnet. Somehow, I craved his attention. “Have you been to a dude ranch before?” His raspy bedroom voice brought me out of my thoughts. “No. My twin brothers prefer those. I’m more into the star-rated swanky hotels.” I hated the rustic, dirty camps and cabins in the countryside, with insects bothering me. The twins preferred glamping in those. “Oh, you’re lucky to have
DaniellaThe deafening sound of helicopter blades made me stir the next morning. Who was arriving on the cruise ship? “Wake up, sleepyhead. We’ll reach Port Canaveral in two hours. Let’s grab breakfast and head to Deck 4 to avoid the mad rush at the last minute,” said Julia, looking freshly showered and ready.I groaned and stretched, waking up finally. Why did we always have to rush around? Wasn’t this a vacation? “I want to laze around today! I’ve seen Port Canaveral and its attractions so many times.” She rolled her eyes and went over to the tiny window to check. “I haven’t, and you’re coming with me. Surely you aren’t planning to spend time with Drake Ashford, are you?”I turned to give her a sharp look. “No. Why should I?” Julia shrugged and sat down with her makeup kit. “Never mind. Hurry!” I didn’t share her enthusiasm, but I got ready, nevertheless. What would I do alone on a humongous cruise ship? After two hours, we lined up at Deck 4 to watch the cruise ship enter the p
DaniellaIt was evening, and Julia forced me to meet up with the gang for dinner. I had no wish to join them, but she was adamant. “What’s wrong with you? Are you sulking or what?” I gaped at her. Was I? “No. Why should I? Can’t a girl laze around for once?” My behavior surprised me. I didn’t f*cking care so much about a guy before. Then why was I overreacting to the player, Drake Ashford? “Then have dinner with us. I’m not opting for room service.” Julia pulled me along towards the grand dining hall of the cruise ship. As we entered the hall, I gasped at the crowd. The place was teeming with passengers, and I could see our colleagues all over it. “It’s so claustrophobic here, Julia. I don’t think we’ll get a place to sit.” I scanned the place to see our gang occupying a table right in the middle. “Oh, they’ve found a table. C’mon, it’ll be fun.” She pulled me along when my gaze fell upon Drake, sauntering in with the same woman. Blood boiled in my veins at the sight of him. So h
DaniellaI couldn’t stop the gasp of surprise as I stared at Drake. How did he know I had kissed Adrian on the cheek? Was he stalking me? “How do you know? It was a thank you peck on the cheek, not a kiss.”His handsome features lit up as he flashed me a crooked grin. “I was watching you. Whatever it was, you can do better for a ring.” His eyes dropped to my lips, and I licked them nervously. Why was I reacting so much to him? Wasn’t I immune to such pickup lines? ‘He’s flirting with you, Dani,’ I advised myself to stop the pounding of my heart. Yet shyness gripped my body, and I tried not to let the deep timbre of his voice throw me off. “You can’t buy me with expensive gifts, Drake. It’s the feeling behind it, the gesture that touches my heart. Did you go down on one knee? So?” I shrugged and eased out of his hold. I was terribly disappointed with my life. I had expected better from Drake. He almost made it look like a joke, slipping a fake ring onto my finger. Even Ted did bette
DrakeI couldn’t believe she was leading me back to my room. Did she think she would get away with kissing me in private? No. I wanted to rub it in Melissa’s face. She had to see us kissing. I lost my patience and grabbed hold of Daniella’s arm. “Why are we going back to the room?” I muttered once we were out of Melissa’s earshot. Daniella rolled her eyes as if I had asked the dumbest question on earth. “For your damn kiss. Why else?” she muttered back, looking mad at me. “Not behind closed doors! I need the damn kiss right under Melissa’s nose. I want her to see us kissing.” “Hell. No. That’s not happening at all. I’m not kissing you before a ship full of colleagues.” She walked ahead, tagging me along. What the hell! I had never begged for a kiss in my life. I was the hottest male on this ship, and women usually got an orgasm at the sight of me. And here was a woman who had seen me naked! Yet she refused to kiss me! Was she for real?“What difference does it make? They know we’r