“Anyway, my point is the character wasn’t worth shit. I might as well have picked according to status.” I said, swirling the ice around my drink.
“Well, luckily for me I figured that out a long time ago. Long before I would’ve found myself hosting one of these.” He proudly declares.“Oh, is that why you’re a bit of a slut?” The words come out before my brain has an opportunity to register them. I slap my hands over my mouth, embarrassed by what I just said. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. That was so rude, I wasn’t thinking.” I say from behind my hands.“That’s okay.” He laughs, “yes, that is why I am a bit of a slut.” He was clearly enjoying this a bit too much. “Though I wouldn’t say I pick according to status. I’m more of a appearance kind of guy, myself.”“If I decided to forsake character, that would probably make it on my shortlist. That would probably be the only way you’d make it, since you Blackburn men are probably all the same.” I say, probably getting too comfortable with him.It was true though. His playboy nature aside, Alec was the youngest and most successful of the Blackburn seniors. Being an oopsie baby born when Camden’s grandparents were well into their fifties, the closest sibling to him in age was almost out of high school when he was born. He is a tech entrepreneur and somewhat of a venture capitalist. Any business venture that his hands touch turns to gold.“Well the same can be said for you. You have insulted me so much in the past five minutes I don’t think your personality would even attract me that much.” He retorts.“Ouch, you wound me, Alec.” I bring my hand up and clutch my chest in faux pain. “But only just a bit. It would hurt a little bit more if you didn’t just just admit to thinking that I’m pretty.”I tilt my head to the side and look him up and down, “I’m flattered, truly. But I think I’ve had enough Blackburn dick to last me a lifetime.” I say coyly, deciding to attend to my drink.I don’t even look up when I hear him drag his barstool closer to me. He gets so close that I can feel his breath against my skin when he says what he does next. “It’s probably a good thing, too. If you’re so tired out by a boy… a man just might break you.” He says, the challenge in his tone clear.“Is there really much of a difference? Like I said, you Blackburn men are all the same. You take any little comment as a challenge.” I flirt back.“Why don’t you come up to mine and see just how much of a… difference there is.” He whispers.“Tsk tsk tsk. The impropriety, what will the people say?” I ask, casually reminding him of the fact that we were in a room full of people.“You can’t back down now, darling. Where is all that nerve you had just a second ago?”“Still here.” I reply.“Will it still be here at the end of the night?” I nod in response. “Good, then when you’re ready, you know where to find me.” Be slips a piece of paper into my hand; and with that he got up from his seat and walked out of the reception venue.**************Right now the party was starting to dwindle, people were ready to go home. I should probably consider leaving, myself. I don’t need to be here for the wrap up, the vendors already know what to do.I do my rounds, thanking everyone for coming and bidding them a good night; as it was steadily creating toward midnight at this point.My feet were killing me so I was somewhat stumbling to the exit. Every movement brought my attention to something that was scraping against my chest. All night I had been bothered by this scratching, I just thought it was a tag I forgot to cut off.I reach into my dress to find the source of my discomfort. A folded up piece of paper.I unravel it to see that on it there was a address. A room number in a nearby hotel.At the end of the short ride, I paid the driver and proceed to make my way to the elevators, up to the ninth floor. When the doors open, I walk down the corridor to the room number that was on my paper.I can feel my heartbeat pick up pace as I bring my hand up to knock. It beats even faster as I wait for an answer.Alec opens the door wearing nothing but a pair of silk pijama bottoms. I take a moment to appreciate his bare torso before I bring my eyes up to meet his.“You came. I was beginning to think you’d have me waiting all night.” He said, his eyes gleaming with obvious amusement at the fact that he caught me ogling him.“I had to see for myself what all the hype was about.” I smiled.He held out his hand for me to take “come see, then.”I took his hand and he dragged me inside, swiftly closing the door behind us. His mouth was on mine before the door even clicked shut.The kiss was passionate and urgent. It was definitely not the kind I was used to. We both knew what we wanted from each other, and we weren’t going to waste each others time.I brought my arms around his neck to pull him closer to me. I felt him palm my ass before he picked me up and put me on top of the entryway table. His hands began to inch up my skirt; and his mouth left mine as he started trailing kisses down my neck. His mouth finds the delicate spot behind my ear, he gives it a light suck and pulls a soft moan from me. I feel him smiling against my skin.His hands still up my skirt; one cupping my ass, the other one tracing my folds though my underwear. When his thumb grazes my clit through the fabric, it sends a delicious shiver down my spine. I start to move my hips, trying to get more from him.“You’re very eager.” He whispers into my ear, and I can only offer a small whimper in response.He pulls my underwear to the side and I take a relieved breath as he plunges a single finger into me. He pulls it out slowly, torturously, before adding another one. He brings his mouth back onto mine, swallowing my gasp. He begins to rub my clit as he pumps his fingers in and out of me.I ride his hand, bringing myself closer to the edge.“That’s right, ride my fingers.” He breaths onto my lips.He starts to go faster and faster, and I feel myself on the cusp of an orgasm. He hooks his fingers inside me, reaching a sweet spot; and I just lose it. I throw my head back and clench my thighs as I ride out the orgasm.When I come back down from my high, I open my eyes look back at him.“Open.” He says, looking at my lips. I do as he says. He pulls his fingers out of my pussy and brings them to my lips to taste.I lick my cum off of his fingers, and he gives me a devious smile.This is going to end up being a very good night.The elevator dings open and I begin the unusually long walk to my office like I didn’t just spend the last two weeks not showering and eating my weight in ice-cream.When I got back to the apartment I used to share with Cam the morning after my ravenous night with Alec, the full weight of the previous day’s events fell on me like a semi truck. Walking into that apartment was like being woken up from a blissful sleep by having ice water dumped on you. I immediately got to work packing all of Cam’s stuff and putting them into boxes. I then had my brother, and Cam’s (ex?)best friend, come pick them up from from my apartment and drop them off at Cam’s parents’ house; not before making him promise not to tell them anything if Cam hadn’t already.When I could no longer distract myself with my spring cleaning project, I took in just how devastatingly empty my apartment looked. It felt so cold and hollow. The first couple of nights there I couldn’t even bring myself to sleep in the bed. The
I was deep in thought, reviewing the small changes to the plans for the shopping centre that I instructed my team to adjust before I left. I was making the final touches when Rachel sauntered into my office. “Hi,” she chirped, pulling me out of my concentration. “Do you have any plans for lunch?”I looked at the time and noticed that it was already slightly after noon. I had been haunched over my desk for almost four hours and I didn’t even notice.“Um, no.” I reply, “ just let me finish this up this one thing real quick and I’ll be right with you.” She makes her way to the lounge area in the corner of my office and dramatically plops down into one of the seats. “These are pretty, did you get them yourself?” She asks, noticing the flowers on the coffee table. “No, someone sent them.” I answer carefully. I didn’t want to give more information, but I didn’t exactly want to lie. Rachel knows me too well for me to be able to get away with lying to her; and if she detects even the smalle
The rest of the week had gone by without a hitch. Work had gotten busier so I didn’t have time to fester on the potential mess with Alec and our potentially intertwined business interests. I met with a few more clients for home designs, and finalised a partnership with a real estate development company. All in all I was grateful for the opportunity to throw myself into my work this week. It’s Friday and it’s getting late. I’m supposed to be meeting Emma, Rory and Rachel at Melody Line, a jazz club downtown, for our weekly cool down. It’s been a tradition of ours since we moved back here after our semester abroad in our final year. I was shutting down my computer and getting ready to leave when I heard a knock at my door. “Come in.” I said, wondering who was still here at this hour. Liliana had already left, along with the rest of the floor. “You have to make it quick, I’m on my way out.” I say without looking up at whoever just walked in through the door. “I promise I won’t be lon
“Wow, what a cunt!” Rory was on her third Long Island; and being the lightweight she is, all sense of propriety had left a long time ago.Rory had started coming along to our weekly nights shortly after we met at one of the first of Cam’s family’s get togethers that I had been invited to a little over three years ago. We got on like a house on fire, and soon started hanging out regularly outside of those family events. She integrated into the group very easily, winning the girls over with her crass charm.“You can’t go around calling people cunts so loudly.” Rachel chastises her. Ever the sensible one, she decided to stick with virgin cocktails for the night.“Well if the shoe fits this well I can just start calling her Cinderella.” She retorts“I think you’ve had enough, you’re starting to not make sense.” Rachel goes to reach for Rory’s drink. Rory pulls her drink away from Rachel’s reach and pouts like a child.“She’s right though, that was cunt behaviour” Emma says while going to
****Alec****What I said to the girls last night wasn’t a lie, and Rachel had been right on the money. Life in the UK had gotten a bit repetitive and therefore boring. I went, I saw, I conquered, and did it so many times over the last fifteen years that I’d gotten bored.The irony of my return is not lost on me. I initially left home and decided to settle elsewhere because I felt there was nothing here for me. My brothers were already out there in the world, doing shit, conquering life in their own way. I couldn’t go anywhere without seeming like I was following my brothers around like a lost puppy. I couldn’t go anywhere or do anything without being harassed by my brothers’ shadows. Everyone only ever saw me as an extension of them, I hated it. So, I decided immediately after college that I’d put as much distance between us as possible, a whole ocean’s worth, and make a name for myself that wouldn’t be tainted with my brothers’ legacies. But at this point, I’ve built enough. I have
“And why wouldn’t they? I picked based on which firm would be best able to execute my vision, I wasn’t going to disqualify Brokk just because you have a problem with their CEO.” I say, my tone final.“You don’t have a problem with how she abandoned and hurt your nephew on their wedding day?” Adeline started to get louder.“How SHE hurt Cam?” A dry laugh comes out of RoryAt this point the whole table was silent, watching the conversation unfold. Camden just kept his head down.“I think what Adeline is trying to say is that Dariana has shown, through her character, that she’s incapable of bearing any kind of responsibility.” Lachlan says calmly and places his hand on Adeline’s in an effort to try and calm the conversation.“Are you serious?” Rory exclaims. “You’re seriously just going to sit there and let them shit talk Dari’s?” Stares daggers at Cam.“It’s just their opinion.” Cam mumbles without looking up at any of us, electing to focus on his plate.“You know your perfect son isn’t
****Dariana****Tonight marks the first time in three years that I’m not at one of Adeline’s monthly dinners. This is nailed in by the fact that I’m sitting at home alone having takeout with a coconut mask in my hair that’s keeps leaking out of my shower cap and on to my forehead.One of the things I’ll never forgive Cam for is depriving me of his mothers cooking. Adeline was an amazing cook. When Barret, her youngest, was school age she opened a restaurant right in the heart of the city. Her specialty was Italian and French cuisine, but every so often she’d incorporate flavours and cooking styles from all over the world in her dishes.Truly that woman has a gift. One that I will never get to experience as I can never set foot in her restaurant again; seeing as she probably views me as the flakey bitch who broke her little boys heart.Just as I’m about to finish up my food, there comes a knock at my door. Curious, I dust my hands off on my robe and I go to answer it.Standing on the o
Walking into this Monday morning, I feel refreshed. I feel like I’m slowly starting to adjust to everything. Having George popping in and out of my apartment this weekend helped to make everything feel a lot less lonely. Not to mention, we had finally managed to figure out how to place those large rollers on my head; so now I have the extra benefit of a perfect hair day to kick off the week.As usual, Liliana was ready to greet me at my door with my schedule for today. This week, however, she did not hold back.Today was supposed to be my first official day back; so there was a lot that I needed to attend to.After giving me the rundown for the week, Liliana left my office. Only to, like last week, return with a bouquet. “Another one came for you this morning. Still no card; and this time it’s just the flowers, so no package.” She said.“Oh, okay. Just put them on the coffee table.” I point to the flowers from last week that had begun to wilt. “You can throw those out.” I say.“You
Alec I spent the rest of the afternoon anxiously waiting for five o’clock to arrive. In my relatively longe career I have dealt with many kinds of people. When you spend a portion of your time and fortune investing in many different types of projects, you’re bound to encounter an array of characters.I’ve met my share of “hard” business people, or at least those who tried their best to present themselves as intimidating; and some who genuinely were. But never have I ever walked into a negotiation with someone who would quite literally have no problem shooting me the moment I step outside the line I probably wouldn’t even know is there. I am so deep in my internal freak out that I don’t even pay attention when someone had opened my door and walked straight into my office without announcing themselves. Thinking that it is likely just Henry dropping off some files, I choose to pay the person no mind.I realise soon enough, though, that it is not Henry when the person in question walk
Alec“I’m happy to see that at least one of you has their heads screwed on right.” Moreno says as he picks up the phone. “I’ll send my men to fetch you at five pm so we can discuss details.”“How sure are you that I’m not just calling to tell you to fuck off?” I ask.I hear him laugh on the other line. “Because you are a good man, Mr Blackburn. And unfortunately that makes you useful to unscrupulous characters such as myself… and your brothers, I suppose.”Useful? Or usable?“But never mind that. Five pm. Be ready.” He says. And with that he cuts the call. It was just then, as I was putting down the phone, that Dominic walked into my office. “What was that about?” He asks“Nothing.” I wave him off. “It can’t be nothing, you look like someone shat in your lunch.” He teases me while leisurely plopping himself into a chair and putting his feet up on my desk like he owns it. “Maybe I’m upset because my partner is never where he’s supposed to be. Why is it that I always find myself hav
Dariana I manage to make it to Monday morning without knocking myself out in one way or another. Though I almost didn’t as a result of Emma’s bad influence. If she had it her way, I would have started the work week hungover. Luckily I am grown enough to know better than to get wine-drunk on a Sunday. Emma stuck around to keep me company for the rest of the day. Though I had to kick her out around seven pm lest Tom starts accusing me of monopolising his wife’s time. I did, thankfully, manage to swear her to secrecy concerning the whole ‘Alec is married’ ordeal. Not only is this something I feel some shame for, but I don’t actually know what the situation is. And I do not want this getting to more people that could a) potentially judge me more than they already do and b) know something about Alec that he clearly doesn’t want them to know. I will only do him that much. I’d consider that a little parting gift, it would be my closure. It is for the best. I manage to get through
Dariana** Sunday Morning **I try to force myself to stay asleep, despite my exhaustion having run out a long time ago. I am hoping that I can sleep today away to avoid thinking about anything; then tomorrow I can get to work as early as possible and thrust myself into as many projects as possible. Burry myself in so much work that there won’t be enough space in my brain for thoughts of a particular black-haired British lady.Great.Now I’ve gone and ruined my own morning by involuntarily conjuring up her image in my mind. That smug, condescending as she revealed her identity to me like she’s some kind of telenovela villain. She might actually be one, she fits the profile. Dark-haired and bitchy. But if she’s a novela villain, that would mean that my life has somehow devolved into a Spanish soap opera. I cannot lie, it does feel that way some days.My thoughts, however, are not the only things interrupting my sleep. It’s my stomach. There is a wonderfully delicious smell that is
Carter I didn’t manage to get to sleep after Brea left. It was the first restless night I have had since she came into my life. I’ve never really been good at sleeping on my own. My whole life I have been an insomniac; never being able to catch more than an hour of sleep at a time. I had already begun to get used to the idea of that being my reality for the rest of my life when I met Brea. Right from the beginning we were inseparable— in that I could not be away from her. Whenever I was around her the world seemed a little brighter and everything was a whole lot easier. After a while I noticed that I could do without the sleeping pills whenever she slept over (which very quickly became almost every night). I knew then that I had found my peace. The other half of my soul. I haven’t been away from her since then. Until now. And clearly my body could tell. That was the worst night of sleep I have had in over two decades. I have to drag my exhausted, wifeless ass to Lachlan’s fo
Carter Alec curls his lip in disgust at the sight of my hand on his shoulder. The sight of his open disdain toward me is jarring. And I must say it hurts. “Don’t you dare fucking touch me.” He hisses, swatting my hand away from him like it’s infected. “I’m only going to say this once, so you make sure your partner in crime Lachlan gets the message.” He says, his voice getting low. “I will do this, but not for you. I’ll do it because I don’t want that mad man potentially dragging my nephews and niece into this. If it were just about you two, I’d probably just let you suffer the consequences of your own stupidity.” Jesus. I never thought I’d see the day when my own brother openly hated me this much. Sure, he and I were never as close as Lachlan and I. I will admit that I’m a bit of a prick for not noticing until Brea pointed it out. But that was not really my fault. The age gap made it near impossible to relate to him the way Lachlan and I did. “After this? You two can continu
AlecI could barely manage to keep my composure for the rest of the night. The second Carlos left that conference room I wanted to rush to Carter or Lachlan and smack the shit out of them for ending up in this situation.More importantly, they deserve to have their shit rocked for hiding it until their fuck up was forced on me. I guess that habit is hereditary. Can’t blame Cam anymore for his bad genes. It’s a wonder I turned out the way I did. It’s a wonder Barry or Rory turned out so much better than their parents.It takes all of my will power to put a pause on my anger and continue with the evening. As the host, I can’t just leave while the party is going hot, so to speak. I have to paste a smile on my face and put on the performance of a lifetime despite my own feelings about the direction the night has taken.I’m just about done with these people. And to make matters even worse, when I came out of the conference room and returned to the banquet hall, Dariana and Rachel had lef
Alec I don’t know what she’s doing here, but clearly her plans for the evening do not involve getting herself back in my good graces. If they do, she has a really fucked up way of showing. About fifteen minutes after Dom and I walked away from Hadley and we went on to shmooze some more; I see Hadley move across the room from where she was stewing and plotting all the way to the table where Dari and Rachel are sat. I internally cross my fingers, hoping that she’s not there to cause trouble. There are some heavy hitters in the finance industry sitting at that table. Aaron Pryce alone would be a decent sized fish that could introduce Carrington Holdings into the workings of the game this side of the pond. Im hoping she can be mature and put potential business interests over her personal ones. Besides, she knows fuck all about what could possibly be between Dari and I. Hadley approaching her sideways would be jumping the gun on an unsure situation, and she’s too strategic, too
AlecIt took quite a bit of time and a lot of deep breaths and unsavoury thoughts for me to calm myself down after I let Dari out of the bathroom. I would have probably enjoyed the alternative a lot more, but that would have been a lot messier and harder to hide.I walk out of that bathroom almost ten minutes later, and I go to try reconnect with this crowd of people as best as I can. I spot Dom at our table, with a sour look on his face that he probably doesn’t realise he’s making as he talks to someone who’s face I cannot see as they are turned away from me. But I don’t need to see her face to know who it is, because only one raven haired head could put that expression on Dom’s face.And once his eyes meet mine, I can tell he’s more annoyed with me for putting him in this situation than he is with Hadley for yapping his ear off. “So it seems you were serious about coming.” I say, standing next to Dom. “Of course I was. But you probably had a feeling, seeing as you went through a