I woke up with a headache and a searing pain at the back of my head. The light coming in from the window made it even harder as it kept burning through every part of my body. I flicked my eyes open and nearly cursed at how the headache doubled from the action.I closed my eyes back and immediately turned to at least prevent the sun from assaulting my eyes. The moment I turned around, my eyes fell on a naked male body. I screamed my lungs out, my headache and pain temporarily forgotten."Why are you screaming?" Xavier asked.I clasped my mouth shut immediately. I looked at him and I noticed that he didn't even open his eyes. The deceiving man! As if he heard my thoughts, he chuckled loudly. His eyes were still kept shut though."Told you, didn't I?" He finally opened his eyes to look at me."Told me what?" I asked, confused."That you would regret it in the morning." He chuckled.I had no idea what he went on about. But seeing how the man gloated, I could tell that whatever he said I w
Well slow down, will ya? Before you wrench my arm out of its socket." Susie said as I dragged her down the hallway and into the room. To say I was mortified was an understatement. This was the second time she had caught I and Xavier in a rather intimate position and I felt very ashamed. My face burned as I recalled how nice it had felt to touch him, to hear his short pants and feel his heavy breathing on my skin. It had felt surprisingly good. Goodness, if my grandmother knew all the things that ran through my head, she would kill me. "Looks like someone is lost in Xavy land." Susie grinned as we stepped into the room. "Can't get over his big-"I turned around quickly and clamped a hand over her mouth. Something wet hit my palm and I wrenched it off, screaming in disgust. "You licked my palm?! Ewwww Susie!"Of course, she gave a non-committed shrug in response. I wouldn't have expected anything else from Susie. She strutted towards my bed and then stopped midway."Wait, that wasn'
I know that a few moments ago he had told me I was nothing special. But the way he looked at me. The way his eyes were soft and hooded as he stared down at me, I couldn't help it. I felt special. And I wanted to show him that I was too. So I took a step back, holding his gaze and slowly let the robe drop to my feet. Every inch of my skin burned under his gaze as I waited for him to take in his fill of me. "Fuck, Hailey," he groaned, stepping closer to me. "You... You're-" He seemed unable to form coherent words and I frowned. I didn't think I looked bad. I thought I was quite good looking so why did it seem as if he was choking?"Are you okay?"He nodded, then shook his head and stormed towards me, collapsing together with me on the bed. The soft sheets caressed my very naked self and I moaned when I felt a certain hardness pressing up against my spot. "Oh... Oh, that feels good." I whispered, looking up at Xavier's amused face. "You like that?" Xavier teased and I nodded shyly.
"Liar." She spat at me and grabbed her son. Silently I watched them leave my room and stood there for what seemed like Forever. Xavier hadn't defended me. He wasn't human, he was a pig and he deserved worse than a pig. It was almost impossible that the man who had stared at me so passionately a few moments ago turned cold stone and left me to be insulted and ravaged by his mother. At least now you know your place, my mind consoled. Now you know what you are to them."A mere pawn," I whispered. Tears rolled down my cheeks and for the umpteenth time in past weeks, I felt alone. ***"Rain drizzle and the drops slid down my skin as I walked down the street blindly. I wasn't so sure where I was, I had left Lowell's home about an hour ago, tired of the constant suffocating walls and tired of being a pushover. Susie had been asleep when I went to her room for comfort and I couldn't blame her. She had spent the past months helping me with my problems, she deserved a break from it. Everyon
Susie always did say I was quite dumb. And right at the moment, I agree. Because there would be no other reason why I would be standing right in front of my estranged father's house, the same jackass who abandoned me before I could spell "preposterous" if I wasn't stupid. But hey, between a bastard for a husband who couldn't stand up to his mother and a bastard for a father who at least thought not to leave me to die in the cold, I'd pick the latter any day. Besides, he owed me a lot of hot teas and biscuits in the past, I was simply collecting my dues. "Come on in." He urged eyeing me softly as I glared at the building before me. It was a suburban duplex. A freaking modern home with all the dandy flowers by the lawn and the garage on the left side of the house. If he could afford to live in such a place, why hadn't he come back for me? Why had he left? Shaking my head, I pulled my face into a grim look, or at least what I imagined to be a grim look and motioned with my head for
"So what is it going to be Laura?" I asked ignoring the repeating drops of rain that landed on my nose. "I'll show you!" She yelled and stormed into the house, successfully leaving the door open and available. I grinned at her retreating figure and walked into the house hearing her father sigh behind me. I could imagine Susie's encouraging words in my head. Oh, she would be so proud. My shoulders drooped at the thought as I recalled that I had left her at the Lowell's. She would be so worried sick. Heck, she'd probably have attacked Brenda thinking the woman had done something to me. I sighed again as we stepped into the living room. I would have to go back of course. I know I couldn't hide forever. But I was going to enjoy every minute of my temporary freedom. Starting now. My feet carried me to a smooth leather couch and I plopped on it like a piece of stone, marvelling at the luxury of the place. On the walls of the living room were two portraits, one of Laura and another of h
"You have a karaoke machine?!" I squealed running towards the rather rectangular box with a mini screen on it. "This is pretty cool. Grandma used to love karaoke but the diner that has it is quite far so we go like on Thursdays only."Laura was giving me a tour of the house. I hadn't asked for it or anything and I was quite ready in case she tried to shove me into a closet or hit me on the head with a vase or something. Living with so many backstabbers had made me conscious of the fact to always watch my back. We stood in the lounge, well she stood but I was busily palming the karaoke machine like it was my best friend. "My dad won that from his friend in Alaska. They had some bet or so." Laura said proudly. "Want to sing a song together?"I grinned widely at her. Forget the vase and the closet. I was going to have the time of my life without worrying about anything. An image of a very angry Xavier floated through my head and I immediately shook it out. I don't care what that idiot d
"Hailey!" He yelled again and we could all tell he was now in the living room. "Hailey," my father called. "I don't believe the whole sulking thing for a second. But if it's your wish to return to him, then I cannot hold you back."I gave him a brief nod because what else was I supposed to do? What was I even supposed to say? I have a raving mad husband stomping around my estranged father's living room. I was the epitome of total drama rama, I ought to be a lead character in it. My legs wobbled as I took steps towards the living room, mentally checking my appearance for if I looked too frightened or shaken. Xavier and his mom seemed to feed on fear to grow bigger and I would be damned if I fed them after all the things they put me through. I glanced back at Laura. I don't know why I did. Maybe a part of me wanted her to see through the stupid facade I was creating for myself, the facade that I was okay and happy with the golden Xavier Lowell. She scoffed however, shaking her head r
"Aww you look so beautiful," Laura commented, dabbing her eyes with a napkin as she pretended to cry. I laughed and twirled in my Cinderella wedding dress, feeling every bit like a Princess.Susie pouted, sitting on my bed and rolling her eyes. It had been a month since Xavier had dropped in on my launch day. We were finally getting married. A real marriage. I was super excited. Finally, Xavier and I would be together without the influence of the people or his mother. It was thrilling. It seemed that I was finally having my dream life. And it had been a long time coming. After all the betrayal, hurt, heartbreak and pain I had to endure. I deserved this. I deserved a happily ever after. And I was going to cling onto it forever. Susie however seemed less excited than I did. Which was quite understandable. "Aww, are you still sad that I'll be going for the honeymoon?" I teased and she huffed at my words. "Do you guys have to go that far? Who's going to do the accounts? You know numb
"When will you go to the Cafe?" He asked, his hands still doing crazy things on my skin. "Uhm... In an hour." I murmured sliding my hands under my breasts to prop them up further into his touch. "We've got time." He said, capturing my lips again, this time for an even deeper kiss. He tasted familiar. His kisses were hot and filled with so much passion, I thought I would combust. Hanging on to him tightly, I moaned as he slipped his tongue into mine, stroking and clashing with mine several times. "I need you," I whispered between kisses as we broke apart to catch our breaths at intervals. "We can't go too far baby," he hummed, lifting me up by the waist until my legs were wrapped around his. Striding towards my bed, he lowered himself to the bed, sitting with me on his lap. "Why not?" I protested, taking hold of my shirt and dragging it off. Xavier's breath hitched at the sight of my babies encased in a lacy black bra. "Oh Hailey," he murmured, unclipping the underwear behind m
"What?" I exclaimed, trying to wrap my head around what was happening right in front of me. Xavier smiled, his hands covered mine and he held them between us, holding my eyes. "I love you," He said again. "I don't want to let you go. I cannot do so. I tried this past month," he chuckled. "Let's just say more women would love my head on a pike right now." "But you... You always... You never..." I was a rambling mess at this point.His smile turned sad. "I know." He kissed my hands gently. "And I'll spend every day of my life making atonement for all I have said and done to you Hailey, only if you allow me to." "We're not married anymore. You don't have to do this to pacify me-""Technically, we are still married. I haven't divorced you yet." He grinned. "I could divorce you." Xavier chuckled and pulled me to his chest, wrapping his arms around me. "And then I'll marry you all over again." "Don't get cocky. I haven't said yes." I snapped, sinking into the warmth of his body despit
Without hesitation, I pushed the door open and stormed in. The scene before me was a surprised Xavier, lying on his bed with his hand wrapped around his junk. Holy smokes.My cheeks flamed up and I murmured a quick "Sorry," before turning to run out of the room. "Close the door Hailey," came his calm voice before I could slip out. "I'm covered, you can look now." Ashamed of my thoughts and actions, because who barges into someone's privacy thinking horrid things about them, I turned around slowly. "I'm sorry," I grumbled. "I heard sounds, I thought..." That you were balls deep in some woman? Bah, if I said that, he would probably laugh his head off."You thought?" Xavier urged, rising suddenly and I yelped in surprise. "I won't cover up if you don't tell me what you thought, Hailey." The deep timbre of his voice when he called my name had my thighs clenching with need. He was just a few meters away from me. Unclad. We were alone. The realization came with torrents of desire fl
Whatever it was that the two men had said to each other, nobody knew. And I doubted anyone would ever know. All we knew was Walter threw a punch at Xavier and even though he had been able to dodge it in time, there was no way Xavier Lowell would let it slide. He threw one at Walter's jaw in return. And a brawl broke out. "Oh shit," Susie cussed. "I'm guessing that means we can go out now," I murmured and raced out of the cafe. "Stop it right now!" The men, however, pig heads that they were, continued fighting as if I wasn't screaming my guts out, running from the other side of the road. "Stop it right now!" I yelled again when I reached them, trying to pry Xavier from pounding Walter's head to bits. "Xavier! Xavier stop it! Please!" But something had possessed Xavier and it seemed it wouldn't let go. For someone who had always cared what the people would think, he was acting quite recklessly. I latched onto his arm, tugging at it. "You're causing a scene!"That got him to let go
My world turned upside down and for a minute I just stared at him confused about how to react. Did he need me? What the hell was happening at the moment?! It better not be a prank. Fuck it, prank or not, I had work to do and he had to get out of here. So instead of swooning and falling at his feet, I opted for a second option.I laughed and shook my head. "Okay, seriously, why are you here?" Hurt slashed across his face and I was taken aback. I had never seen him look so vulnerable before and it was unsettling. He's pretending. A voice in my head whispered. You know he is. I knew. I did. But that didn't make me feel any better. Why would he need to pretend? "I..." A shadow fell on his face and he shook his head. The vulnerable look in his eyes was gone and replaced with the amused expression he always wore around me. I wasn't sure which one made me hurt worse.Taking a few steps back, he surveyed the kitchen and clasped his hands behind his back. "I just wanted to see. The news
"Sir!" I hissed, not wanting to yell because I didn't want to call people's attention to us. One paparazzi was already too much to handle. If all of them came to the counter, my first launch day would all be in the mud. The man in the hoodie stopped trying to get in through the side door. And then he lifted his head, staring me in the face with familiar dark blue eyes that grazed my entire body and sent me into freeze mode. "Xavier," I whispered, blinking rapidly to be sure he wasn't an apparition. Xavier stood before me, dressed in a hoodie and cargo pants. The last clothing I would ever imagine he would wear in public. It seemed he didn't want people to recognize him. "Let me in Hailey." He murmured. Susie gasped behind me when she heard his voice and shook her head. "Don't you dare! Go fuck yourself, Xavier." He ignored her, his eyes holding mine and sending my brain into overdrive. What was he doing here? He was not supposed to be anywhere near me! He was supposed to be in V
I eyed the crowd that had formed outside the cafe from the glass walls warily glanced back at Susie and mouthed "Oh my God." We stood in the cafe, setting the tables and getting ready for the launch which was in twelve minutes! To say I was nervous was an understatement. This was a huge deal for me. For Laura and Susie too. And it did not help that ever since I had stepped out of the house without the blonde wig, half the people we met on the road recognized me. One of them must have tipped off the paparazzi because that would explain how there were so many people with cameras and recorders, eagerly waiting. "I'm screwed," I told Susie and she shrugged beside me. "You knew this would happen." She said, I glared at her. "That doesn't mean I can't be nervous about it! Everyone will have questions! I can't handle a crowd that big!" She grinned and slid an arm over my shoulders. "You're not alone, woman. We got you. Look and you got Walter too." I looked in the direction she was tip
It was barely morning when I stumbled into Susie's car, my face stricken with tears. The sun had just begun to rise, lighting up the sky slowly. I slammed the door close and thankfully, Susie asked no questions. She simply drove out of Xavier's townhouse and sped down the road. Placing a hand over my mouth, I sobbed furiously, my head leaning against the window. It wasn't supposed to hurt so much. Leaving him finally. It wasn't supposed to feel like a part of me had been torn away and left behind with the many miles that increased between us. I closed my eyes as I recalled when I had woken up. It was my phone ringing somewhere in the house. I hadn't the slightest clue where I was at first but Xavier's peaceful snores and his heavy arm around me reminded me quickly. It had taken quite a while to slip away from the bed without awakening him and at first, I hadn't even been able to walk properly. Even now as I sat in the car, I was so sore. The caller had been Susie. We had planned th