SYDNEY'S POVThe both of us just remained there as we let his words hang in the air. His eyes stared into mine and mine into his. He seemed to be baring his emotions as he looked at me and let me look at him but he wasn't. There was still the unfathomable glint in his eyes that caused the hair on my body to stand at alert…as if my body might betray me.I tried to figure out if he meant what he said…He was joking, I told myself. He had to be joking because the last thing I would do is share his bed. I might be desperate to protect my company and prevent it from collapsing and becoming a shadow of its former self but I was not that desperate. If worse comes to worse then we would simply shut Luxe Vogue down and carry on with Atelier Studios."Are you still there, Sydney?" His breath fanned my face and his fingers made contact with my wrist as he attempted to bring my attention back to him.I kicked my lips. "I should be asking you if your senses are still intact?"His face lit up as he
SYDNEY'S POVFEW DAYS LATER"GT Group is really optimistic about Luxe Vogue," the reporter shook his head as the other one enunciated about the turn of events for Luxe Vogue. "It seems the company still has a promising future!""Of course," the other man said enthusiastically, "GT Group has invested a huge sum in the company and have you seen the rapid rise of their stock in just a few days? It's crazy, I tell you." Then he turned to the screen, "The men's clothing line of the Luxe Vogue is the new big fish. Investors are rushing at it, companies want to partner with it and their stock price keeps rising by the minute!"My gaze shifted from my laptop's screen to my office door that was just banged open. Grace burst into my office, her face alight with joy, "Sydney! Have you seen this?" She had her iPad in her grasp."I'm currently watching it," I laughed, my insides bursting with joy.She set her iPad on my desk as she took a seat on the other side. "Girl! Our company is the talk of t
SYDNEY'S POVGrace asked the moment I dropped the phone with brows creased her eyes alight with curiosity. "Did I just hear you say Sandra?" The name dripped from her lips with so much contempt, "Why was that name uttered in your conversation with Mark? Make it make sense."I placed my phone on the desk. "What you pieced together is what it is.""Come on, Sydney, lay it out to me. It doesn't make sense.""See? And yet you say he's your idol." I mocked and her eyes narrowed as she shot me a teasing warning glare. "Your idol is with your old rival, Sandra now. The claw lady whom Steven held up so she could claw your face."Grace groaned, "Oh please, don't even remind me of that."I laughed lightly. " Anyway. They're currently together so it's not your turn to be with your idol. You would have to wait for them to break up." Even though I sound like I didn't give a damn, which I don't, I still can't help but wonder why it had to be Sandra. Of all the women he could have chosen from. It ha
I got dressed in a simple little black dress, my feet were clad in nude heels with a matching purse. I part my hair in two and let each side frame my face. Lucas was finely tucked in a fine tuxedo - we decided to match colors so his tuxedo was black, with a nude shirt underneath.My and Lucas' arms were linked as we walked to the entrance of the auction. The security at the entranceway searched us with a beeping machine before we were allowed in.The auction house was already flooded by people when we got in and If Lucas had not specially had a seat reserved in his name at the VIP section in the front row, we probably would have ended up standing throughout the event. One of the ushers led us to our seats.As we approached our seat, I felt Lucas' hold on my hand tightened. I had been slightly distracted by the beautiful artworks on display but now that I looked ahead, I saw that the seats that the usher was leading us to were side by side with Mark's.Mark, whose attention wason an ug
"And look at this beauty!" The auctioneer's voice broke through my erratic train of panicky thoughts."The starting price for this one is Two hundred thousand dollars, nothing less."I knew the auctioneer was still talking but my mind didn't register any of his words. I could not get that glare that Mark gave me out of my head. Just thinking about it made my hand tremble. I plucked my purse from my lap and held it with a strong grip. Thankfully, my hands stopped shaking.I took a deep breath and looked up. Just as the auctioneer grinned widely - someone had probably increased the amount - and opened his mouth to speak, I heard Lucas say, "Five hundred thousand dollars."I whipped my head round to face him,my eyes bulging, "What?" I whisper-yelled."I asked if you wanted it, but you didn't respond.""So why are you bidding for it?" Even though the original amount of the bracelet was way more than that, I couldn't let him get it."Seven hundred thousand."Just as he looked over my shoul
I pressed my palm on the partition, willing it to swallow me as Mark intently stared at me in silence, the rage on his face made my heart skip beats. I could almost hear the fast beating of my heart as I tentatively watched him, panicked."You're in the lady's restroom," I uttered helplessly. Perhaps, he'd get to his senses, realize he was where he wasn't supposed to be and leave but he just gave me a blank look."I'm well aware," his voice came out low as though he was refraining from lashing out.I swallowed and my mind raced as I tried to come up with what to say to break the silence and hopefully make him leave. His stare was getting uncomfortable, it made me want to run far away from him and tuck myself safely in Lucas' arms.And didn't Lucas say he'd keep an eye on him? Why didn't he call me when he was coming?"You hung up on Bella," I said very causiously, hoping none of my rapidly thought dialogues wouldn't further anger him."I do not give a fuck who I hung up on," he snarle
Sydney 's POV:"Sydney, are you okay? The doctor said…"I tuned out and everything Lucas said fell on deaf ears. First, I felt the surface I laid on; it felt familiar. I recognized the shirt I had on; it was one of Lucas'.Immediately I woke up, I had a quick replay of the last time I was awake. I remembered falling into Lucas' arms and falling unconscious as he screamed if I was okay. I had half expected that I would be in a hospital room but here I was, on the familiar feel of my bed and sheets.Lucas' face was the last face I saw and now, his face was still the first image I opened my eyes to."Are you okay?" He reiterated and held my hands. His brows were furrowed and concern filled his eyes as they searched mine. He seemed to have gotten the hint that I wasn't listening to him."I'm fine," my voice came out scratchy as I murmured my response and tried to sit up. Lucas quickly rushed to me. He arranged the pillow I laid my head on and propped them up so I could rest my back then h
My body went rigid and blood drained from my face."I will text her the hospital address," Mark said then the line went dead."Oh God," sensing the urgency of the situation, Lucas quickly rolled off me and I jumped out of bed. "Lucas, I need to get there quickly." I didn't bother to search for the clothes we had blindly flung across the room. I ran straight to my wardrobe and reached for the first outfit I saw - a dress shirt.I reached for my underwear and strapped it on. My hands trembled as I struggled with the buttons of the shirt. Lucas was suddenly before me. He gently and wordlessly took the shirt from me, undid the buttons and put the shirt over my head and did the button. I just stood there and let him dress me up.Even though Doris was not my biological grandma, even though she was the grandma of a man I once loathed, she still meant so much to me. Grandma Doris is one of the few people that treated me well. She was the one who gave me an inkling of how it felt to have a mot