FLORA’S POV “You okay?” His voice was a low rumble, laced with a roughness that sent a shiver straight down my spine. I swallowed hard, forcing myself not to react to the heat emanating from him. His fingers tightened just slightly on my hips; a gentle but possessive touch that made every nerve in my body stand at attention. Then, ever so slowly, he turned me to face him. “I—I’m fine,” I stammered, trying to sound coherent. But it was hard to think straight when I was plastered against his bare, sculpted chest, drenched to the bone, and struggling not to combust on the spot. “You sure?” His eyes roamed over me, lingering on my face, my lips—my entire trembling body. Instead of stepping back, he leaned closer, his breath warm against the side of my neck. “You’re shaking.” Of course, I was shaking. How could I not be shaking? My brain screamed at me to move—to put some distance between us—but my body refused to cooperate. It was like my entire being was locked in a battle: the s
FLORA'S POV He didn’t stop until we were inside what had to be his bedroom. The space was massive, filled with muted colors and an air of quiet sophistication. He gently lowered me onto the edge of his ridiculously large bed, making sure I was steady before stepping back. “We’ll get you out of those wet clothes, get you warmed up, and then I’ll check your foot,” he said, his tone casual. Before I could process his words, he turned and disappeared into the adjoining walk-in closet. I blinked, still trying to catch up with what had just happened. He came back a moment later, dressed in a pair of loose navy shorts and a white tank top that clung to his broad chest in a way that did nothing to ease my frazzled nerves. He tossed me a shirt—one of his shirts. My fingers clenched around the soft fabric as I stared up at him, completely bewildered. “What...what am I supposed to do with this?” He arched a brow. “Wear it. Unless you would prefer to stay in those drenched clothes?” I sta
FLORA’S POV My heart felt like it was about to explode. The rapid, frantic beat was deafening, making my every breath sound louder in the thick, electric silence between us. "I—I didn’t mean to intrude. I just..." I stammered, my gaze darting around, trying to find anything—anything—to focus on other than the dangerous look in Alex’s eyes. But he didn’t seem remotely fazed by my weak attempt at an explanation. He took a step inside, closing the door behind him softly, sealing us inside together. The sound of the latch clicking felt like the toll of a bell—a point of no return. “No need to explain,” he murmured, his gaze raking over me like a physical touch. I felt pinned under it, every inch of my skin burning under his scrutiny. “But now that you’re here, Miss Roberts… perhaps you would like a proper lesson.” Heat, potent and overwhelming, assailed me as he took another step forward, closing the gap between us until his scent—clean, musky, with a hint of something dark and
ALEX’S POV My mind was in a whirlwind. I stared at the assistant application forms on my desk, but they weren’t the reason my thoughts were in turmoil. I glanced to my left at the brown manila envelope sitting there, practically taunting me. I knew what was inside it, and I didn’t like it. Not one bit. Last night had tested every ounce of my self-control. Watching Flora stand there, drenched and vulnerable, had me teetering on the edge of losing it. And then... when I caught her in my red room, her curious eyes taking in every inch of my private space... I nearly snapped. It had taken everything in me not to charge at her, to claim her in a way that would leave her breathless and utterly helpless in my hands. But I had reminded myself—she’s my employee. Don’t mix business with pleasure, my internal rule that had, until now, been unbreakable. But with Flora, that rule was becoming more of an illusion, a guideline I was finding harder and harder to follow. I don’t know what it is
FLORA’S POV My heart raced as I made my way to Mr. Bennett’s office. He had asked to see me after work, and I had a sinking feeling about why. If the ground could just open up and swallow me whole before I had to face him, I would take it. No questions asked. Vicky loved my designs and even asked me to create my own for Rockshire Fashion Week. I was ecstatic! After just a week working at Bennett Fashion, I had already earned a promotion. Miss Anderson’s team was full, so Vicky put me on team B, which was fine by me. Sure, no one really spoke to me, but at least I wasn’t being looked down on like before. I went from a lowly office assistant to someone with an actual place on a design team. Each time I thought about it, I had to stop myself from screaming with joy. But my happiness was quickly overshadowed by that message: Alexander Bennett wanted me in his office. Now. How on earth was I supposed to face him after that ridiculous dream I had this morning? Moaning his name out loud
FLORA’S POV Two weeks passed, and everything between Alex and me remained strictly professional. Just like he promised, he gave me all the time I needed to work on my designs, and sometimes, he even threw in a compliment or two, offering suggestions that surprisingly made sense. He had a way of making me laugh, and sometimes he would buy me lunch—much to my surprise, since I was used to fetching coffee for people, not the other way around. Still, every time I saw him, my heart would pound a little faster, and my pussy still clenched. I didn’t want to disappoint him, and I didn’t want to let those feelings ruin what was growing between us—a friendship, something I hadn’t expected. My studio was tucked away in the annex of his mansion, which used to belong to Vicky. It was far enough from the main house that some days, I wouldn’t even see him after hours of work. I only had two models because I started later than the others, but honestly, I was grateful for the smaller workload. Le
JAYDEN’S POV I watched from across the street as Flora stepped out of his car, her expression dazed, her steps slow as she made her way toward her house. My blood boiled. I’m losing my mind seeing them together like this. I hate Alex more and more with every passing second, especially for going after my wife. I knew Flora had met someone else—why else would she have so conveniently served me those divorce papers? But seeing that that someone was my estranged father made it even worse. Ever since that day she left my office, the man I asked to track her every move reported back that she had walked into The Bennett Group and then, later, ended up at Alex’s place, where she spent the night. That night, I couldn’t sleep a wink, tormented by the images of what they might have been doing. How could Flora possibly find a man twice her age attractive? But who was I kidding? I was lying to myself. Alex is handsome—no, he is the kind of handsome that makes heads turn wherever he goes, despit
ALEX’S POV I crossed a line I never should have crossed with Flora, and now I wasn’t sure if I could come back from it. After finding out Flora was married to my son, Jayden, I told myself she was strictly off-limits. But here I was, barely two weeks into trying to keep things professional, and I went ahead and ruined it all last night with one kiss. My original plan was to get Flora and Jayden back together. I had convinced myself it was the right thing to do. The position of my assistant was so that I would always be reminded that things needed to remain professional between us. Also, it was part of the plan to always get her to “bump into” Jayden—maybe rekindle whatever they had. She would accompany me everywhere—business trips, seminars, galas, socialite parties, and all the rest of those high-class events. I knew Jayden and Lisette would be at those same events. We always bumped into each other at those events, although we stayed clear of each other’s paths. I figured if Flo
FLORA’S POV I knew I was deluding myself the moment I bolted from the party, thinking I could outpace Alex and avoid him altogether. But of course, Alex was Alex, he didn’t let things go. His footsteps followed me down the stairs, even as I slipped off my heels and made a desperate attempt to disappear into the night. Jayden’s words shouldn't matter, especially those about the scandalous relationship between us, but somehow, they kept repeating in my head. Maybe this thing with Alex, whatever it was, needed to stop before it spiraled completely out of control. I can’t keep getting caught up in sordid affairs with older unavailable men. “Flora! Stop right there!” Alex’s voice thundered behind me as I darted into a dimly lit alley. But I didn’t plan to stop. I didn’t even know where I was headed; anywhere but away from him. As I heard his footsteps come closer, I took to my heels, and he chased after me. “I swear to God, Flora, I will punish you thoroughly for this!” His voice w
FLORA’S POV I met a few more people who were amazed by my presence. Before I was done talking to all those people, I felt better. As much as Cynthia’s little stunt earlier had rattled me, I wasn’t going to let one snooty wine heiress ruin my night. So, I let myself unwind and even flirted a little with some of the younger, single men. Every now and then, I felt Alex’s gaze on me. His eyes lingered just long enough to send a shiver down my spine, but he didn’t approach me. Instead, he remained engaged in conversation with Cynthia and the older man who had joined their little group earlier. After a while, the energy began to wane, and I found myself craving a quiet moment. As the music slowed and couples began to fill the dance floor, I slipped away to the rail overlooking the city skyline, still clutching the glass of champagne I had been nursing since the night began. “Can I have this dance, Ms. Roberts?” The smooth and familiar voice startled me. I spun around, and there he
FLORA’S POV “If that isn’t the charismatic Alexander Lee Bennett,” a sultry female voice chimed behind us, rich with amusement and laced with a faint accent. I felt Alex stiffen beside me, his grip on my hand tightening ever so slightly before he turned toward the source of the voice. I followed his gaze, my curiosity piqued, and my eyes met a piercing deep blue gaze staring into mine with a smirk. She looked stunning, and from her poise and the way she clutched her wine glass, I could tell she had been in this game for a long time. She was breathtaking, the kind of woman whose entire existence screamed old money, designer labels, and boarding school poise. Everything about her, her sleek, raven hair and her perfectly lined crimson lips, looked polished to perfection. She seemed familiar somehow, but I couldn’t place her face. “Cynthia,” Alex said with forced cheerfulness as he strode toward her. I watched as they exchanged kisses on the cheek, the kind of cheek kiss rich peo
ALEX’S POV “Are you nervous?” I asked as I stepped out and opened the car door for Flora, offering her my hand. She shook her head far too quickly, avoiding my gaze. “Not at all.” Liar. I could read her like an open book. Her fingers had trembled on the ride here, betraying the calm front she wore like armor. She had no idea just how much I noticed, every sigh, every nervous fidget, every time her teeth worried that soft bottom lip. One thing Flora doesn’t know about me is that I’m very observant, especially towards people I care about. And I care about Flora—a lot. And then there was that dress. Jesus Christ, that red sequin gown had me spiraling. It hugged every one of her curves as though it was custom-made to drive me insane. The slit up the side teased just enough of her smooth thigh to make my brain short-circuit. All the way to this goddamn event, I had been battling the overwhelming urge to pull her into my lap and take her right there in the backseat. I had been ro
FLORA’S POV As soon as I stepped out of the interview room, Vicky was waiting, her warm smile as radiant as ever. In one hand, she held a steaming mug of coffee, which she extended toward me. “Come here, my good luck charm,” she said, spreading her arms wide. I couldn’t help but return her smile as I walked into her embrace. The soft patting on my back was soothing, grounding me after the whirlwind of interviews and public appearances. “How was that interview?” she asked once we pulled apart, her eyes scanning my face with genuine interest. “It was... refreshing,” I replied as we started walking out of the building. Trailing behind us were her assistant and a couple of bodyguards. Vicky nodded approvingly. “Your story is inspiring, Flora. You’re now the new face of fashion in Rockshire. I knew you were a diamond the very first day I saw you, and I’m so glad you proved me right.” Her words sent warmth flooding through me. “Thank you, Vicky. I’m truly grateful for the opportu
MELISSA’S POV Five Days Later… “Miss Roberts, congratulations on such an incredible debut! Your designs were a showstopper and left the audience in awe, and your decision to walk the runway yourself was such a bold move. What inspired you to take on that challenge?" The interviewer’s voice droned from the TV. I rolled my eyes so hard they nearly stayed in the back of my head. Flora's smug smile on the screen was the cherry on top of the torture. She thought she was so clever, didn’t she? Riding on the back of pity to catapult herself into the limelight. Jayden, sitting beside me on the couch, leaned forward like a lovesick puppy. "Thank you so much!” Flora began. "To be honest, it wasn’t part of the plan at all. The day before the event, I found out my signature piece had been sabotaged. It was devastating. Someone had destroyed my dress, and all my sketches had been wiped from my system. To make things worse, my model called in sick just hours before the show." Jayden sighe
FLORA’S POV There was silence in the room for a while. Maybe Alex had finally come to realize the truth—that I wasn’t the perfect person he thought I was. I couldn’t bear the thought of setting myself up for disappointment. Sure, I basked in his praises, but deep down, I knew he could never see me as anything more than his Sub. Whatever we had was transactional, wasn’t it? And I didn’t want to delude myself otherwise, knowing the caliber of person he was. Especially after what happened with Jayden. “Jesus Christ,” Alex muttered, breaking the silence as he removed the blindfold from my eyes. I blinked rapidly, the sudden light making my vision blur. My gaze dropped to the space between us, avoiding his eyes like they were molten lava. But Alex wasn’t having it. His hand cupped my face, tilting my chin upward. “Give me your eyes, Flora,” he commanded. I obeyed, locking my gaze with his piercing amber eyes. “You are perfect,” he said firmly, like he was stating a universal truth.
FLORA’S POV I knew the answer he wanted to hear, but deep within, I wasn’t convinced I was perfect at all. Before I could answer, my phone began to ring, shattering the charged silence. Alex sighed and eased off the bed, and I waited with bated breath. “Can I at least answer my phone?” I asked. “No, you can’t,” Alex growled. There was silence for a moment before he added, “Your mom is calling.” My heart skipped a beat. Of course, she was calling. Alex had dragged me away so suddenly I hadn’t even had a chance to see my mom and sister. “Hello?” Alex said into the phone. “Hi,” my mother’s familiar voice floated through the speaker. “Can I speak to Flo?” “Oh, Flora is kind of busy right now,” Alex said, and I could imagine his wicked grin in my direction. “She’s, uh... got herself a punishment.” My jaw dropped. My mother’s silence on the other end spoke volumes. My chest tightened with tension as my brain scrambled to decode what Alex had just said, and what Mom might be imagi
FLORA’S POV Alex didn’t speak to me until we arrived at his place. Luckily, it was empty since Clarissa and the other housekeepers had left. He got out of the car, strode over to my side, and opened my door with a precision that only added to my confusion. Before I could ask what was happening, he lifted me off the ground, tossing me over his shoulder like a sack of flour. My stomach clenched in both fear and excitement. “What are you doing?” I asked, half-laughing, half-nervous. “Keep shut,” he growled, his voice was low and commanding. He carried me through the house, up the stairs with quick strides. I expected him to stop at his bedroom, but instead, he pushed the door to his infamous red room open. Before I could process it, I was tossed onto the bed, the softness of the sheets did little to cushion the shock of the moment. Alex loomed above me with a look masked with anger. “It’s time to get what you deserve, Flora.” His large hands grabbed my ankles and yanked me to