Prologue

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. Don’t waste your savings on that *ssh*l*. He doesn’t deserve you.” 

I sighed, knowing how much she hated the guy. Josh didn’t care about anyone’s opinion, not even mine. In the last eighteen months we had been together, Josh hadn’t proposed yet. Therefore, his family and mine wanted me to take matters into my own hands and force him to settle down. After two months, I finally mustered up enough courage to do what he should have done: to propose on one knee! 

“I know, but I can’t hurt Dad, Jess. You know Dad is indebted to Uncle Jeremy.” 

Jeremy Hemmingway was Josh’s dad and had helped my father at his lowest. When he lost everything in his business, Uncle Jeremy helped him get a job in his office. It was because of him that my dad was alive today, or he would have ended his life the night he had gone bankrupt. My mom and I came much later when he was well settled again in his job. “Besides, Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Dana are the sweetest people I’ve ever met. They’re like a second set of parents for me. I can’t hurt their sentiments. Josh doesn’t deserve such wonderful parents.” 

Jess pursed her lips and watched me pay for the ring. We left the store quietly, and Jess turned to face me. “Where to now?” 

I hesitated to tell her the next part of my plans. “I’ll head home.” Ever since I quit my last job on a cruise line, I haven’t found a proper opening yet. Therefore, at twenty-four, I was jobless again.

She gave me a suspicious look and shrugged. “Fine. I’ll see you later.” Her office was a walking distance away, and I watched her go. I knew what I would do. 

Wasting no time, I walked over to the parking area. Within minutes, I was on my way to Kifisias Avenue in Downtown Athens, where Josh worked as the Senior Project Leader in Krypton Technologies. It was my first visit to his workplace, where he joined six months ago. Despite being his chosen life partner, I was the only one who was kept in the blue. But I would change that now. 

After I proposed, we would head out to lunch at Zimbra, an upscale Mediterranean restaurant in Kifissia, famed for their hand-crafted fusion dishes. It would be our first date as an engaged couple! 

I had planned everything well, and I couldn’t wait to announce our engagement to our parents. They would be so happy. 

After an hour of bracing the busy traffic on Kifisias Avenue, I reached the address and glanced at the gigantic skyscraper in front of me. Josh was so lucky to work in such a place. 

I headed towards the right wing, straight into the crowded elevator. On the sixteenth floor, I emerged to look for Krypton Technologies. It seemed the technological giant spanned the entire floor! The posh, sophisticated look of the office took my breath away as I walked up to the reception desk. 

“Good morning, ma’am! I’m Sheridan Moore. How may I help you?” asked the friendly receptionist. 

“Hi, I’m Anacá DuVernay, and I wish to meet my boyfriend, Josh Hemmingway, please.” 

“I’ll inform him right away.” 

“No, please. I want to surprise him with a proposal. Please?” I took out my ring and showed it to her, making her gasp. 

“Oh, my gosh! I can’t believe it. Anyway, it’s lunchtime, so I’ll take you to his office. Follow me.” She led me down the corridor to the Core Development Area, behind which were a series of cabins. My gaze immediately went to Josh’s cabin, and I smiled at Sheridan. 

“Thanks.” 

She smiled back. “You have ten minutes. All the best.” 

I smiled back and tried the door. It gave way, and I peered inside, hoping to give Josh a surprise. However, I was in for the biggest shock of my life to see Josh busy kissing a female colleague instead. 

What the f*ck! 

A mad fury surged through me, and I stormed into the cabin to confront Josh. Was he betraying me? Was he having a secret affair with the colleague? Maybe that was why he hadn’t proposed to me yet. 

Feeling insulted, I stood opposite them with my hands on my waist while my body trembled with fury. 

As if sensing my presence, they stopped eating each other’s faces and looked at me. Josh paled and pushed the woman away. “So that’s what you do at work! I should inform Uncle Jeremy, right? He would be so proud of you.”

Josh strode towards me in a fit of rage. “Yes, sure. Go ahead, tell him. I don’t f*ck*ng care anymore. I hate you, Anacá. How did you ever think I’d be with someone as prude as you? You need your dad’s permission to even kiss me. At twenty-four, you still hold on to your virginity like a prized possession. Do you need your dad’s permission to lose it to your so-called would-be life partner?” He chuckled, his eyes mirroring the hatred he felt for me. “Have you seen yourself in the mirror? You’re the most boring female I’ve ever seen. The thought of kissing you makes me wanna puke.” 

I had no idea he felt this way about me. It broke my heart, my confidence, and my trust in him. 

The other female chuckled, feeling proud of herself while I stood transfixed to the spot. She came forward and glared at me menacingly. “Did you hear him? Now get out of his life, b*tch. He loves me, and I’m expecting his baby. He’ll never, ever marry you. Why are you here anyway? How did she come in, baby?” She turned her attention towards Josh. 

“You could have told me you loved someone else, Josh. Why did you play games with me and your parents? Why did you agree to marry me if you hated me so much?” I trembled at the insult, watching the two of them snicker at me. 

“Yes, I love Jordynn. We’re meant for one another. But my parents can’t understand that. Do you think my parents can see past your greatness? To them, you’re the only one for me. They can’t accept anyone else in your place. Do you think I haven’t tried?” He came forward to shove me backwards with frustration. “For eighteen months, I’ve been tolerating your drama. I don’t need a perfect doll who doesn’t know how to kiss me, who sucks in bed. I want a real woman. So get your sorry *ss out of here Anacá DuVernay. You can die a virgin for all I care. No man will ever look your way. You’re pathetic!” 

I paled at his attack, as he shoved me backwards until my back touched the door. Words failed me, as I never felt this insulted in my twenty-four years of life. Was I so undesirable?

His gaze fell on the jewelry box in my hand, and he snickered. “Did you come here to propose?” He laughed and Jordynn joined in, too. 

“Who’ll marry you, b*tch? You’ll die a virgin while I enjoy my life with Josh and our grandchildren,” said Jordynn, and Josh kissed her forehead in agreement. 

He opened the door and gestured for me to leave. “Get out.” 

Just then, the elevator doors on the opposite side opened, and a tall, muscular man emerged, striding towards us with a scowl, like a predator on the prowl. He was devilishly handsome, with dark, wavy hair and hazel eyes that held me captive from the moment he stepped out of the elevator.

I lost my mind. Josh and Jordynn’s insulting words echoed in my head like a broken record. The wish to prove them wrong was so intense that I lost my good sense. The man pinned me with a brooding look, his eyes sweeping over my body for a minute. It was enough for me to decide what I wanted. It was the only way to get back at Josh, to prove what he had missed. I might be a virgin, but I wasn’t a prude. In fact, I was a more desirable woman than Jordynn could ever be. 

I walked towards the man with purpose, holding his gaze. Strangely, he stopped in his tracks and smirked at me. My heart skipped a beat as I drowned in his hazel eyes! He was the most gorgeous guy I had ever seen in my twenty-four years of life. Breathless, I stopped before him while he raised an eyebrow at me with interest. 

“Hi, I’m Anacá DuVernay. Are you single?” My breath hitched as I waited for his reply. There was a pin-dropped silence all around me, but I hardly cared. 

The man’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Yes.” 

“Great!” I waited no more and took out the ring I had bought using all my savings. Without a thought, I went down on one knee in front of the man. “Will you marry me?” I watched his eyes widen with surprise for a brief second before he shuttered his emotions. 

He glanced all around him, and for a moment, I feared he would let me down, insult me just like Josh did. Maybe I was the most undesirable woman on Earth. 

“Yes, I will, Anacá,” he said instead, holding out his finger to me. Shocked was an understatement compared to what I felt. Yet I pushed the ring in and it fitted perfectly, as if it was made for him.

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This is the third book of the Reckless Hearts Series. The first two:

Spark Of Love - Return With His Secret Child

A Bittersweet Revenge - Fighting The Reckless Billionaire

All books can be read as standalones.