AnacáThe moment the door closed, Eros smiled at me, waving the document in the air. “I’m the happiest man alive tonight. Can you believe it? Dad has finally signed his business over to me. I never expected this day to happen so soon. And it’s only because of you, Anacá.” My jaw dropped to the floor. What? Didn’t his dad threaten to disown him if I didn’t leave him? Then how did this miracle happen? “I’m sure this has nothing to do with me, Eros. It’s your hard work that has paid off.” Maybe his dad didn’t have the heart to disown him. I was sure it had nothing to do with me. “I disagree. Dad had come prepared. If he disliked you, he would have shown his disapproval. He wouldn’t have transferred the business to my name. Instead, he would have asked me to get rid of you. He’s quite stubborn and difficult to please when you try. Surprisingly, he liked you at first sight.” He looked so excited, I couldn’t burst his happy bubble and tell him about my interaction with his dad. It was an
Eros I gazed at her beautiful face, so close to mine. If I dipped my head a few more inches, I could get a taste of heaven. Her lips were beckoning me to continue where we had left off. And then she licked her lips, her nervous gaze dropping to mine. I lost control. “Anacá,” I whispered her name almost like a prayer. “Yeah?” There was a shyness in her eyes that made my stomach tighten with arousal. I knew she wanted the kiss as much as I did. “Let me complete what we started earlier. I can’t sleep.” I could see the hot flush creep up her body, staining her cheeks and neck. It made me warm too, and my co*k responded instantly. “And what do you want to complete?” She tried hard to appear calm, but her hot breath came in gasps while her heart thumped wildly against her chest. I could feel every breath, every beat distinctly.Was she inviting me to do more than just a kiss? I leaned closer, and she gasped with surprise. “We can start with a kiss and see where it goes. Hmm?” “Okay.”
ErosRelief washed over me at the sight of my wife in my office. She didn’t flee or bear a grudge against me professionally. She left home to shoulder her responsibilities. Despite having judged her wrong, my heart swelled with pride. Anacá had proved me wrong. She had proved herself. I knew I had made no mistake in choosing her as my PA.“Emergency? Why didn’t they inform me?” My eyebrows pinched together at her explanation.“They did. Your phone was muted, I guess.” She roped in the technical team to explain the situation in brief. “It’s taken care of. You can start your meeting anytime.”The door opened, and Maria from the Marketing team peered in. “Mr. Young has arrived, sir. Shall I escort him here?”“Yes, we’re ready to start.” The technical team walked out, leaving me with Anacá.“Umm, I’ll go to my office, then.” She gave me an indecisive look.“No. Stay here with me. I need you.” I watched her cheeks color at my double-edged words. “To record the minutes of the meeting, obvio
Anacá I watched the jaw-dropped look on his face, and a sense of satisfaction coursed through my body.“Where were you? I looked for you everywhere. I thought you had left.” The fear in his eyes was clearly visible, and it felt good to know he wanted me to stay with him.“I went to grab a bite. After the way she insulted me, I had no wish to tolerate her.” I felt a little foolish for reacting to Acacia.“Oh, the food I ordered was for you. Why didn’t you have it?”“She snatched it from me.”Eros rolled his eyes in exasperation. “Anacá, you had the right to throw her out. You’re not just my PA. You’re the owner of Emerald as well. You should know and understand your rights.”My heart filled with an overwhelming urge to hug him. Did he really consider me the owner of his business? I hadn’t expected him to. “Oh, I am?” I couldn’t stop the urge any longer. Was he for real? We hadn’t been married for even a month, and he had already declared me the owner of his business. I didn’t need a s
Anacá DuVernay's POV“Why are we here, Anacá?” My best friend, Jessica, looked around the jewelry store we stepped into. She had no idea what was going on in my mind. It was something I hadn’t shared with anyone yet, not even with her. “I’m buying a ring for Josh.” I browsed through the collection before us, ignoring the jaw-dropped look on Jess’s face. Josh Hemmingway was the one my dad, Charles DuVernay, had chosen for me to marry. Although I didn’t love him, I had accepted him reluctantly. With my dad’s health slipping day by day, I had no choice but to keep him happy. He was the only family I had after my mom, Ana DuVernay, passed away four years ago. I didn’t want him to suffer a third cardiac arrest, as it would surely be fatal for him.The sales attendant catered to my low budget and showed me a few options. I chose a sapphire one for Josh, not because he loved blue, but because it was the cheapest. Jess came out of her trance and grabbed hold of my hand. “Don’t do it, Anacá
AnacáIn an instant, he grabbed my hand and pulled me up while his eyes held my gaze. I drowned in his hypnotic orbs, his touch causing my heart to skip a beat. “S-sir?” Josh’s startled cry brought me out of my dazed state and I broke the eye contact. Who was Josh’s sir? I turned to see the pale look on both Josh and Jordynn’s faces, and realization dawned on me. Was this man their boss? My first reaction was to flee, but with his iron-like grip on my hand, I couldn’t even budge an inch, let alone flee. “Is this what you do in my absence? Lunchtime was over five minutes ago. Where’s the weekly report for the Calligaris Project, Mr. Hemmingway?” My cheeks burned with embarrassment, realizing my folly. What had I done? I had proposed to my cheating boyfriend’s boss in front of the entire office. At that moment, I wanted the earth to open up so I could jump in and never emerge again!“Sir, I was about to report when Anacá arrived...” His boss held up his hand to stop his banter. “I
AnacáI tried hard to get a grip on myself. I was sure Eros could hear my heart pounding in its cage, ready to explode. “What?” I swallowed and straightened my spine to face him with confidence. All I needed to do was apologize for my mistake and escape. But sitting opposite to him, with his hawk-like gaze pinned on me, taking in every move of mine, I lost my mind. My eyes swept over him. He looked even more handsome in the sun-kissed restaurant than he did at his office. High cheekbones, a perfectly chiseled face, and full lips that could tempt an angel to sin. The way he filled out his suit made me imagine what kind of perfect body he was hiding underneath. “We can go over to my place if you need privacy.” His voice was laced with amusement, and for a moment, I felt he was playing a game with me. It brought me to my senses, and I focused my eyes on his face instead. My eyes widened, realizing what he had just suggested. I had to correct him right now. “No, I’m not interested. I m
Anacá The moment I opened the door, my dad stormed in with an annoyed scowl on his face. I stepped back and watched him warily. Did he know what I had done? What would I tell him if he asked? Obviously, I would be honest with him. I couldn’t entertain Josh’s request and hide his fault.“So, you’re here. We have been waiting for you at Jeremy’s place.” He scowled more as he went straight to the living room. “Since when have you become so irresponsible, Anacá?”“No, dad. I..” Before I could think of an answer or close the door, another car stopped in our driveway, and Josh’s parents emerged. My mouth hung open, realizing what was in store for me now. How would I face them? What would I tell them?Picking up my phone, I quickly typed a message to Josh.Your parents are at our house to grill me. I’ll be totally honest.–Anacá.My phone instantly pinged with a reply from Josh. It didn’t look like he was focused on his job.Don’t tell them about Jordynn. It’s an urgent request–Josh. I roll
Anacá I watched the jaw-dropped look on his face, and a sense of satisfaction coursed through my body.“Where were you? I looked for you everywhere. I thought you had left.” The fear in his eyes was clearly visible, and it felt good to know he wanted me to stay with him.“I went to grab a bite. After the way she insulted me, I had no wish to tolerate her.” I felt a little foolish for reacting to Acacia.“Oh, the food I ordered was for you. Why didn’t you have it?”“She snatched it from me.”Eros rolled his eyes in exasperation. “Anacá, you had the right to throw her out. You’re not just my PA. You’re the owner of Emerald as well. You should know and understand your rights.”My heart filled with an overwhelming urge to hug him. Did he really consider me the owner of his business? I hadn’t expected him to. “Oh, I am?” I couldn’t stop the urge any longer. Was he for real? We hadn’t been married for even a month, and he had already declared me the owner of his business. I didn’t need a s
ErosRelief washed over me at the sight of my wife in my office. She didn’t flee or bear a grudge against me professionally. She left home to shoulder her responsibilities. Despite having judged her wrong, my heart swelled with pride. Anacá had proved me wrong. She had proved herself. I knew I had made no mistake in choosing her as my PA.“Emergency? Why didn’t they inform me?” My eyebrows pinched together at her explanation.“They did. Your phone was muted, I guess.” She roped in the technical team to explain the situation in brief. “It’s taken care of. You can start your meeting anytime.”The door opened, and Maria from the Marketing team peered in. “Mr. Young has arrived, sir. Shall I escort him here?”“Yes, we’re ready to start.” The technical team walked out, leaving me with Anacá.“Umm, I’ll go to my office, then.” She gave me an indecisive look.“No. Stay here with me. I need you.” I watched her cheeks color at my double-edged words. “To record the minutes of the meeting, obvio
Eros I gazed at her beautiful face, so close to mine. If I dipped my head a few more inches, I could get a taste of heaven. Her lips were beckoning me to continue where we had left off. And then she licked her lips, her nervous gaze dropping to mine. I lost control. “Anacá,” I whispered her name almost like a prayer. “Yeah?” There was a shyness in her eyes that made my stomach tighten with arousal. I knew she wanted the kiss as much as I did. “Let me complete what we started earlier. I can’t sleep.” I could see the hot flush creep up her body, staining her cheeks and neck. It made me warm too, and my co*k responded instantly. “And what do you want to complete?” She tried hard to appear calm, but her hot breath came in gasps while her heart thumped wildly against her chest. I could feel every breath, every beat distinctly.Was she inviting me to do more than just a kiss? I leaned closer, and she gasped with surprise. “We can start with a kiss and see where it goes. Hmm?” “Okay.”
AnacáThe moment the door closed, Eros smiled at me, waving the document in the air. “I’m the happiest man alive tonight. Can you believe it? Dad has finally signed his business over to me. I never expected this day to happen so soon. And it’s only because of you, Anacá.” My jaw dropped to the floor. What? Didn’t his dad threaten to disown him if I didn’t leave him? Then how did this miracle happen? “I’m sure this has nothing to do with me, Eros. It’s your hard work that has paid off.” Maybe his dad didn’t have the heart to disown him. I was sure it had nothing to do with me. “I disagree. Dad had come prepared. If he disliked you, he would have shown his disapproval. He wouldn’t have transferred the business to my name. Instead, he would have asked me to get rid of you. He’s quite stubborn and difficult to please when you try. Surprisingly, he liked you at first sight.” He looked so excited, I couldn’t burst his happy bubble and tell him about my interaction with his dad. It was an
Anacá Dinner was bearable after his dad’s little reminder. I could feel the power he wielded over everyone present here, including Eros. After dinner, he declined the dessert I offered him. It hurt me, but I preferred hiding my feelings. “Dad has diabetes. He stays away from sugary treats.” Eros leaned in to whisper. It cheered me up again. I was glad Eros cleared the misunderstanding on my part. “We’ll leave, bro. Are you staying?” asked Uncle Enriquez. “Yes. I want to talk to Eros. You can go ahead. Eros will see you off.” They left, and Eros went downstairs to see them off. I felt acutely aware of his dad’s shrewd eyes watching me intently. “Come here, Anacá. I wanted to talk to you.” He gestured towards the opposite couch, and I complied. I wondered what he wanted to discuss with me. We just met, and he didn’t like me.” “Yes, Mr. Nikolaou.” My heart pounded in apprehension as I waited for him to start. Somehow, I had the feeling this wouldn’t be pleasant. “Look, I know yo
Anacá “Uh.” My eyes widened as he leaned closer. The world ceased to revolve around me, and it seemed that there were only the two of us in the room. How he looked at me set a flutter in my stomach. I stood transfixed to the spot, watching him with delirious eyes. He pulled my face toward him and brushed my lips lightly with his. The soft touch was enough to send my senses into overdrive. A throbbing started deep down, and I needed the kiss to quell the desire I felt. “F*ck!” He raised his head to look into my eyes, and I gasped at the burning desire I saw in them. His fingers tangled into my hair as he crashed his lips to mine, this time yanking my head back to gain better access. His tongue probed into my mouth, colliding with my tongue, and all my inhibitions flew out of the windows. I needed him as much as he needed me. At that moment, I forgot we had an audience. A moan echoed around us, and surprisingly, it was from him. The kiss grew desperate, and I wrapped my arms around
Anacá I walked into the bedroom while Lucy preferred following Eros to the kitchen. It seemed more than me; his charm had bowled over my pet dog. I entered the enormous walk-in closet that was almost empty. With only one side occupied, I had the rest of the space to myself for my new and old belongings. This was a work I hated, but what choice did I have? I couldn’t call Jess here to help me. In fact, Jess had completely disappeared from my life. Even my calls to her went unanswered. I wondered what she was up to. “Woof!” Lucy trotted inside to rub her body against my legs. I stroked her head and smiled. “Where’s your new buddy? Did you ditch him downstairs?” I chuckled at my joke. “Why? Are you missing me? I’m all yours.” His voice echoed from behind, and I jumped out of my skin. Wasn’t he downstairs making dinner for us? I whirled around to find him leaning against the doorframe of the closet. His words echoed in my head. I’m all yours.He was mine. A warm flush crept up my c
Anacá He drove on with a smug look on his face. It seemed he felt happy to rile me up. His words were so disturbing, they echoed in my head. I had thought he had forgotten about the kiss! So would he expect me to kiss him once we reached his house? More than a kiss, I wondered if I would have to perform my wifely duties now. “What’s got you so worked up?” He chuckled, enjoying my state. “I’m worried about meeting your parents.” I sighed, my heart sinking at the thought. “It’s just dad and my extended family: uncles, aunts, and cousins. They usually avoid me. So you can relax.” He steered the car into a heavily guarded, luxurious four-story condominium in the most sought-after location of the Kifissia-Kelafari neighborhood. “Is this your home or your dad’s?” I needed to be sure. “The building belongs to me. Right now, I only occupy the top two floors. Maybe I will spread out when we multiply.” He cast a mischievous look in my direction, but I ignored his remark. To multiply, we w
ErosI was in a dilemma. While I wanted her to move in with me, I couldn’t overcome my fear of dogs. There seemed no other way than to accept them in my life. “I’m intolerant towards dogs.” She gave me a weird look and shrugged. “I can understand. I’ll head home then. See you tomorrow. Don’t worry, I’ll be here on time.” Anacá was about to leave when I grabbed hold of her hand. She hardly gave me time to get a grip on myself. It was such a tough decision for me. I sucked in a deep breath. What was the worst thing that could happen? The dog would bite me, right? I would end up with shots. But at least Anacá would be near me. At least I could face my dad with pride. He couldn’t mock me for getting married without his permission. But mostly I would get to see Anacá 24/7. “You can move in with your dog. I’ll have your car delivered home. So, shall we go?” The shocked look on her face satisfied me. I waited for her to protest, but she shrugged and followed me out. “Umm, can we go to m