Olivia’s POV:Brandon tilted his head as my lips meet his aggressively and cupped my jaw with his hand to pull me snugly and comfortably as he ducks lower. Not that I’m surprised or complaining. Pushing his fingers into the underside of my hair, clamping me to him possessively and taking immediate control.I have a severe weakness for this man dominating me the second kissing is involved. Weirdly, as in life, I hated it whenever he exerts his authority over me at any other time. He’s an alpha male, though, and in this, I don’t want his submission.Right now, I want him to devour me. He’s most impressive when he is in control. He makes me feel desirable and addicted when he overpowers me sexually. Damn.He kissed me softly at first and then opens his lips to tease mine with them and traced my tongue with his. Sensations are swirling, making me dizzy and giddy all at once. Waves of flutters rush from my head to my toes, and my body responded quickly.Brandon kissed me tenderly rather th
Olivia’s POV:Unfortunately, he tried again and this time I was prepared to control myself. Brandon tilted his head and cupped my jaw with his hand to pull me snugly and comfortably as he ducked lower. Not that I’m surprised or complaining. Pushing his fingers into the underside of my hair, clamping me to him possessively and taking immediate control. I have a severe weakness for this man dominating me the second kissing is involved. Weirdly, as in life, I hate it when he exerts his authority over me at any other time. Before I took over the hotel, he was the alpha male and I don’t want his submission.God. He makes me feel desirable and addicted when he overpowers me sexually.He kissed me softly at first and then opened his lips to tease mine with them and traces my tongue with his. Sensations are swirling, making me dizzy and giddy all at once. Waves of flutters rush from my head to my toes, and my body responds quickly.“The movie tonight is ‘The Godfather’” Brandon pulls away, a
Brandon left his apartment with a cool attitude, but as soon as he closes the door behind him and ensuring that Olivia won’t follow him----he rushed to the stairs and saw Alice leaning on his motorbike. She had her car parked a few feet away from it. If Olivia would peek through one of the windows, she would definitely see them. Like a thief, he snatched the woman to the corner where Olivia’s view was blocked by the roof.His blood boiled. “What are you doing here?”She smirked at him and challenged his glare. “I’m supposed to ask you, Brandon. I wasn’t informed about this little shenanigan with Olivia. What? You’re operating on your own now? Are you pushing me to side now?”“Alice,” his tone lowered, he couldn’t risk arguing with her right then and there. “I’m sorry. It was a spur of the moment. I was about to text you but I was driving. Baby.”“Hmph.” Alice placed her arms across her chest in haughty derision and surveyed the building he came from. “Brandon, you took her here. You n
Olivia and Brandon’s private meetings became more frequent over the weeks. He constantly visits her office and that gesture brought gossips among hotel staff. The flowers for her arrived rarer and whenever they do, Brandon makes sure the staff recycles them as décor for the reception desk.There was even a time when Olivia heard some of them talk about her personal life in the pantry and that brought her back to her senses. If the people are talking, that means she’s no longer in control of her precious ‘work-life balance’.It’s five minutes before six in the evening. The nightshift staff had logged in for their shift and those who work in the office have left one hour ago to be with their families. Even her secretary left an hour ago. Olivia is a firm believer of ‘what you can do for today, do not leave for tomorrow’. She had no intentions of working too late that night. Since having Ethan in custody, she tries to be home before his bedtime so she could spend more time with his nephe
Olivia’s POV:This morning, however, in the cold light of day with a headache and fuzzy brain, waking up by his side, all my doubts and fears dive right back in. We didn’t have s*x. I told him I’m not feeling well and he was okay with it----all night was just cuddles. I know I had to indulge myself for the last time.Harvey was right. I shouldn’t forget who he is and what he could do. I have to be smart and keep my heart shielded until I figure it out if this thing between us can work. There is a lot at risk.Though Harvey did not say it directly but I could put two and two together, Brandon Pembroke is still an outsider in my life, an enemy under that pretty face. I haven’t given him cause to show it yet. He is on the charm offensive because I’m something he wants. Of that I am sure. When the novelty wears off, or I give him a reason to be mad, then we shall indeed see who he is. The genuine proof of whether I can trust him will be when I disobey him and make him angrier than hell.
Brandon glanced down at his phone lighting up in the center console of his car and sighed as Alice’s name flashed on the screen. That air of irritation and anxiety mingled together and pushed solidly to the surface. He was running late as it was, which he hated like crazy, but he knew for a fact that whatever she wanted, he would give in to.Alice just had a way of getting under his skin, even when she was being as infuriating as in the past months, and try as he might, he had no willpower when it came to her. Hitting his dash connected to his phone, her voice rang around the car's interior as soon as he pressed it. He was on his way to a client meeting.He used his car because he knew he had to. Olivia didn’t want people to see him parked whole night and whole day in her townhouse. This was his last meeting for the day. And he looked forward to fulfilling that promise to Olivia tonight.“Brandon…? Are you there?” She was slurring badly, most likely way too drunk.His temper rose inte
Olivia’s POV:Best friend?A female best friend?I’ve known Brandon for some time now and we’ve talked about an array of things, work-related and personal but this friend never came up. Until now. My gut tells me I have to meet this friend. Of course, I couldn’t and wouldn’t impose that on Brandon. We don’t exactly have a label to begin with, right?I was almost ready to cut off what we have this morning. Now that this special friend showed up, maybe I’d have a better reason to end things with Brandon. It’s always easier to put a blame on someone than explaining why you are scared to trust and allow people inside your carefully crafted wall.I padded through the townhouse in my fluffy slippers. I realized my stomach is grumbling so I decided to make my way to the kitchen and fix something. I have two staffs here who take care of everything for me and Ethan. As I did so, I noticed that the house needed more stuff for the boy and made a mental note to browse the internet for essentials
“What was that?” Brandon frowns at her, anger well hidden beneath that cool and calm exterior in which he excelled.“I had a few drinks…or more, that’s what.” Alice shrugged nonchalantly. “You found me, yay.”“Alice, this sh*t is getting old. What’s the problem?” Brandon tugged her with him by the hand, turning away without waiting for more of a response. His manner is all hostile, even if he seems fine to the untrained eye. He’s mad at her, that’s clear.When they got outside into the night air, Brandon lets Alice go to walk ahead to the car, she almost stumbled clumsily. Catching her heel on an uneven paving stone. He guides her to the car silently, in a controlled manner, his face deadpan. Alice can sense the distance between them. Her nerves are gnawing at her, mood wary, skin tingling with apprehension that something is off and different this time. She knows that lately, they haven’t exactly been getting on.For weeks now, there’s been a coolness between them, but right now, besi
Olivia’s POV:I lift a little higher, pausing and looking away to his chest, letting his eyes scan all of me as he stands motionless, listening, watching, taking it in and analyzing me with that quick brain. I get nothing from him, even when he slides his gaze down over my naked breasts and curves and comes slowly back up to lock on mine with a serious look that penetrates my soul. The smile faded away, but he still has a joyous aura surrounding him. “I will never give up on you. If you want this, you will never get rid of me again. I swear. I’m in this for the long haul, Liv.” “Good. Now take your clothes off, get over here and make love to me. It’s about time we stopped fucking around and got down to the real business.” I smirk as I say it. Hardly a sweet romantic seduction, but one thing I have learned is that I need to find my backbone with him.I was made to deal with this arrogant man. I need to remember that when dealing with him. He then breaks into the most gorgeous ungua
Olivia’s POV:I like this apartment; it somehow seems like I have been here before even though I have never laid eyes on it. I love the open space and simple furnishings. Nothing overly showy or flashy, nothing fussy. Just enough to feel comfy and relaxed in a way that invites you to come in and lounge your cares away. It’s peaceful and feels like home, even though I’m a stranger within its walls.It’s no surprise I like it, though; one thing I found when making the club gorgeous was that Lexi and I have a similar taste in décor, and we gel well in terms of style. We can argue about most things, but we never argued over styling choices.I waste no time in sinking into the hot bath and letting my weary bones blend with the water, turning my limbs to fluid weightlessness. I exhale with relief at the comforting feel of hot liquid overtaking my skin as it submerges and slides over all the tiny marks and grazes, littering the surface, cleansing them of grime and blood. Stings and nips beco
Olivia’s POV: She smiles again, nothing but warmth in that wrinkled little face, and I wonder if she was an attempt at giving himself a stand-in mother. She has that maternal vibe, and I could see why he wouldn’t want the hassle of a live-in maid whom he has banged. He hates women trailing around after him when he’s done with them.He made himself what he lacked, and I can see why he never let me come here before. A cozy home he never lets on is his, a dog and a motherly maid. Like his small apartment, this place is somewhere he can be someone else, and it feeds a side of him that his mother never nurtured. “Of course.” I falter, covering my sheer lack of knowing what’s happening or even something as basic about him as not liking reheated food. It’s not something that ever came up, seeing as I don’t cook for him or have ever had to get food for him. A girlfriend should know these things, though. I want to know these things about him.After today I guess that’s a moot subject, and I
Olivia's POV:Walking in the door, ushered by Orlie, we are all in complete silence. I don’t even take the time to acknowledge him. I have no words anyway. I'm disheveled, filthy, and broken inside as I’m led into a massive open plan penthouse apartment that I would never think of putting him in. A building in Upper Manhattan’s most luxurious area.“He owns this.” Orlie stated as if reading my mind.It’s warmer and homelier than the other one he took me to. There are substantial soft corner couches, side tables, and furniture for lounging and laying cups by your side, in front of vast windows spanning entire walls and showing New York at its finest in sweeping views. I feel like we are on top of the world as we are so high up in a vast modern yet comfy home. My eyes scan the roaring glass fire in the natural brick pillar standing imposingly in the middle of the room, giving no natural heat, so it’s a digital screen. It serves as a divider to the metal railed stairway behind it at the
Olivia’s POV:Oh, God no.He twists my wrist painfully, causing me to release the shoe finally and its clatters to the ground with an anticlimactic little noise as it slides from his gaping wound. My only hope of fighting a man this size. He overpowers me cruelly, and all I can do is grasp at his legs to stop myself crying out with the pain he’s inflicting. He is going for a broken bone.And then, she’s there. Alice.“Well, look at you. Not so pretty in a disheveled state are you?”“Boss, we can play with her, right?” The other man insisted.“Not yet. I’m waiting for Harvey. He’s on his way here, say, fifteen minutes with the documents because Olivia here will transfer all her money to me. Did you know, it was our original plan, me and Brandon? Unfortunately, he fell in love with you----so the money comes first and then, I’ll take him back. And we live happily ever after because you are dead.”“You’re lying.”“Oh, wait until Harvey shows up. I sent him the photos and the record and hop
Brandon’s POV:I stopped just when Harvey was about to ride with us. An idea dawned on me. I know Alice. I know how she thinks. “Harvey, go back to your office. Alice will call you. She will want Olivia’s money in exchange for her life. I’m sure. Don’t let her know that you already know. I’ll open my GPS, you know what to do.”Harvey nodded. I thought he was going to be difficult. “Okay, be safe. Take care of her. I’ll take of things on my end.”I hope I know how Alice mind works. Or else.Olivia’s POV:The noise in the alley comes back down towards me, echoing eerily, and I completely freeze, pushing my attention fully on Brandon to zone out the fear. He is quiet, but I can hear noises on his end as I clutch it to my ear. I think he is checking his screen for my location and leaving the call open, but he isn’t listening. I can hear voices in the background, Orlie and the other men as he tells them which turn to take. I can hear so much of where he is and the fact they are on the mov
Olivia’s POV:These are not from the hotel’s security. They might be the men Brandon warned me about, I just gave them all of me, with my stupidity. God knows how long they have been hanging at a distance watching the comings and goings in case they got a chance at picking me off. It’s horrifying to imagine they may have been out here this whole time, waiting for a time like this.I glance at him moving in, and the man from the car is now behind me, blocking my path. Eyes doing a quick scan of every avenue around me. I am aware of both, and my senses tell me how far away from actually touching them. I am more aware of the one behind me as it instils a higher fear factor, but my brain calms, and the part that works well in a crisis moves in to formulate an exit strategy. Adrenaline kicks in, and I do what I do best. I lift my feet and run like a bat out of hell crazy woman with no desire to die, to my right, down the alley.I used to be an athlete so I’m pretty swift in my departure. T
Brandon’s POV:“Where are you, Olivia? I told you to stay. Damn, how stubborn can she be?” I asked myself out loud, pacing her office for the nth time.“Relax, for all we know, she’s here and there’s nothing to worry about, sir.” Orlie tried to calm me but I can’t help myself.I’ve given her strict orders not to go anywhere alone. My guts tell me that Alice was just biding her time and she’s not really walking away even if I bribed her with money. She’s better than that, cunning and dangerous all rolled into one. My phone is in my hand and I’ve dialed her number so many times and sent her text messages that went from pleading to threatening if she didn’t show up any moment from now.The door knob to her office moved and I braced myself. But it wasn’t her. It was Harvey and the moment the lawyer laid his eyes on me----he was instantly enraged. He scanned the office before returning his gaze on me.“You…” he seethed. “Where is Olivia?”I shrugged. “That makes the two of us. I can’t find
Olivia’s POV:I wander a little further onto the cracked concrete pavement and walk in small circles for a while, hidden from view by the tall half-standing wall that used to be some sort of barrier. It’s high enough to act as a shade for me. I pace absentmindedly to try to calm my erratic swishing insides and breathless angst until the air penetrates my clothes and cools me down to a mild shiver. One eye on the group of men for no real reason and satisfied they haven’t acknowledged me over here at all.It’s not overly freezing today, and my dress is made of wool, so it’s warm enough not to go in for a jacket. I keep moving until I’m around fifteen feet from them, gazing out into the street and the traffic coming and going at the far end of the long lane ahead. The hotel nestles in a side alley not far from the main road, so the immediate area in front of me is car-free even though it's noisy out here. It can be peaceful if you walk far enough from milling security groups.I stare up