"Maybe he had a reason, dear," Jane muttered. "It’s not too late to do that, is it?" Catherine asked, righteous indignation lighting up her face. "He shouldn’t get away with that! But I can talk to him and slap the asshole in the face for you." That’s her, Catherine: valiant champion of underdogs everywhere. She felt a rush of affection for her best friend and gave her a little shoulder shove. "I saw him earlier, in my sister-fiancée’s mansion." "Woah! My Dave? The asshole didn't even bother to see me?" Catherine asked. "I ignored the hell out of him and he offered me a job." Jane smirked. "I know where this is going." "Trust me, Jane, I'm going to make him pay for hurting the hell out of me." Catherine sighed, "Ah, that smarmy jerkwad would just have an excuse ready and waiting. Believe me, he’s agreed with so many of his advisors’ opinions that the man thinks the sun shines out of his ass and is responsible for our temperate London climate." Jane made a sympathetic noise. "
If she’d thought Dave had looked good in that T-shirt while at Sebastian's house one year ago—well, shut her mouth. And open it again, because those dimples were in danger of making Chelsea's jaw hit the floor. How could he look so good in a suit?He wore a dark navy suit, the jacket unbuttoned and the scarlet silk of his shirt making his skin almost glow. He’d tugged off his tie in the heat and was now absentmindedly wrapping it around and around his strong, graceful hands. His gorgeous eyes seemed to sparkle in the faint light of the torches and fireworks, and his hair fell in defiant curls around his face. A hint of stubble graced his cheeks, just enough to rasp against someone’s skin if he leaned down to claim their mouth with those full, pouty lips...Oops, Shawn was saying words. She should probably pay attention to Richmond’s words and not Dave’s lips and notice how Jane and Catherine are eying her like a mother hen.Though Dave’s lips were definitely more interesting.He’s got
The next morning, Chelsea dragged herself out of bed after a restless night’s sleep.Her new king-size bed feels so foreign and uncomfortable. Last night, she and Jane ended up so wasted that Shawn and Catherine brought them home. How could she not drown herself in the martini? Dave had just left with the bimbo and she was not happy about it.However, waking up to her new princess bedroom with its imported curtains and designer walls was still crazy too. Of course, she was used to this, but it had been the other side of her that she buried in Kenya. The famous model and elite Chelsea was gone. Flashes of last night’s awkward dinner and meeting Dave at the party skip through her brain, and she feels a sting in the pit of her stomach. Her tense meeting with Dave, the silence from Sebastian, and her sister’s pathetic attempt to get them all to become one happy family were all equally unpleasant, not to mention his appearance at Catherine and Shawn's party.Although, she has to admit tha
In just a few short minutes, she was back in the dining room looking down at a spread of hot buttermilk pancakes, bacon, ham and eggs, fruit, freshly brewed coffee, and a selection of freshly squeezed juices. Her eyes widened in awe. "Is this all for me?" she asked Marcel. "Yes, Miss Chelsea, and Mr. Brown left a note for you." He pointed at a white envelope placed on a small silver tray beside her plate. Her name has been written in cursive in the middle of it. "Is there anything else you require, Miss Chelsea?" "No, Marcel. That will be all. Thank you. And please, just call me Chelsea," she said with a warm smile. He nodded and left me for her breakfast. She sat down slowly and gazed again at the array of breakfast items in front of her, but soon her interest returned to the envelope. What could Dave have written in it? Bastard. She thought. The nerve. Minutes later, she found herself devouring a lot more breakfast than she anticipated. Not eating much last night has apparen
Dave brown grumbled, "Chelsea, I’m so glad you showed up. I wasn’t sure if you were still interested in the position," he mumbled, his voice firm but with a trace of wit. "Well, I’m still not either," she replied coolly, eager to hide all signs that she was still not over him. "Really? But you’re here anyway?" "Yes. I’ll see how the day goes," she stated, carving a fake smile. Dave responded with a sly grin, indicating that he finds our banter amusing. "Come with me. I’ll show you the rest of the building." He escorted her out of the office and back to the elevator. She took a quick breath in before entering. "Brown Inc., doesn't it just occupy this floor?" She asked although it is a multi-billion dollar company, stupid question, Chelsea. "Oh, no. I own the whole building," he grinned, a little too pompously. "The heart of the company occupies the other floors, and then there’s the lounge up on the penthouse level, and the cafeteria on the ground level." There was a brief sil
One week later.Dave became nothing but a pain in the ass.And it was mere luck that the man was gone for a meeting, so here she was, manning the phones, trying not to die of boredom, hunger, and second-hand entitlement from all the asshats who thought that ‘personal assistant’ was an archaic English word for ‘person put on Earth to cater to Dave's every whim and whom it was appropriate to scream at if she did not immediately divine his exact wishes through telepathy.’ Goodness, the man was a jerk. How did she even fall in love with this asshole anyway?She could see one of those female field asshats approaching, and it was with considerable relief that she saw one of the phones light up. She grabbed at it like a lifeline."Brown Inc., how can I help you?""Hey, Chelsea, it’s Catherine. Time to gossip?"Wow, she didn't call her on her phone, but here in the office. "Sure thing, ma’am, I’ll walk you through that right now. It should only take about an hour," she mumbled sweetly.Assha
Dear Diary,To say that I was surprised by my officemate's observations is an understatement. I ended up denying everything. What can I do? How do I tell them that the CEO is indeed my boss? Of course not.The next morning, I was awakened by the sound of my alarm clock. On the digital screen, the bright red number 6:00 blink.I sit up in bed and take in my surroundings. Outside, it is mostly dark, with only a few rays of sun filtering into my bedroom. Along with the gentle swishing of the trees, I hear the birds whistling and am reminded of Kenya. I close my eyes and immediately see snapshots of my kids. They’re bright, smiling faces playing under a clear blue sky. A loud knock on my door forces me out of my nostalgia."Miss Chelsea. Your breakfast is waiting for you in the dining hall. The driver is on standby to take you into the city," Marcel says warmly.Ah, yes. Today will be another day at the office.The realisation hits me like a ton of bricks and I slump down lazily under my
Warning Rated PG+18"It’s open, Diane. I’m just finishing up the-""It’s not Diane," comes Dave’s silky, masculine voice."Oh…" I say, a little embarrassed."Sorry to disappoint you.""It’s fine," I reply, dropping my gaze back down to my computer."I was wondering if you would like to join me for lunch? There is a really nice coffee shop just down the street."I am not sure if I should accept his offer. I am petrified about my mixed feelings for him and getting too close might ignite a fire that neither of us can diffuse.But on the other hand, I am so intrigued by him that I kind of want to get to know him.I want to see if there is another side to Dave Brown. A side that does not include dapper suits and an arrogant attitude."Okay," I finally said, daring to look back up at him.He chisels out a broad smile. "After you…""So, how is your day going?" Dave turns to me while leaning against the back of the elevator.I clasp my hands together and avoid eye contact. "It’s going pretty
Another rising moan. Chelsea chanted his name. Soft. A whimper. She threw her head back again, her soft hair sliding over his arms, her face flushed with arousal. Dave loved her like that. That perfect moment before her body clamped down like a vise on his, drawing out his hot release. Her unknowing song, her heat. The look on her face. It all combined to give him a fierce, primitive satisfaction and added to the wicked pleasure swamping his own body. The first wave hit her hard, consuming her. He drove deep, his shaft stretching her tight channel. A ripple went through her, from her womb to her belly and up to her breasts. He actually felt it. Another loud moan and her entire body locked around him, a vise that clamped down so hard for a moment that he couldn’t separate pain from pleasure. She shuddered again as another wave built. He felt the contraction move through her, through him, swelling like the tide, a shock wave jolting outward from her feminine sheath, surrounding him, vib
Over the next few weeks, I take Jane and Catherine’s advice and try to turn off my brain. Dave and I started going out together as a couple. Nothing explicit is said. We don’t wear little badges, but our interactions make it obvious. Jane and I were planning to finish the design of her gown, and I started going out with them. While Dave had started his own business, Christie and her son occupied our old apartment while I went to Dave's apartment in the city.When we’re out, Dave always touches me, but not in a way that makes me feel like he’s trying to mark his territory or show off. He’s just super physical. If I’m near him, his hand is somewhere on my body. Usually his palm is glued to the top of my ass, but sometimes he brushes my hair back or dangles his fingers over my shoulder. He kisses my temples and cheeks. Not once do I feel like he’s holding me back.The most important thing is that we’re happy—way happier than I’ve felt in a long time. Which is fucking mind-boggling. If so
40The trailer is damp and dark. Two solemn-looking officers sat on a table piled high with walkie-talkies, badges, and cold cups of coffee, facing a giant monitor. The fan in the corner does little to cool things down, and the whole place is wired shut like a prison cell, with no windows and thus no connection to the outside world. It's much smaller than I expected from the outside, and I find myself frozen in place for a few moments after entering."Chelsea," Christie says behind me, placing an arm around my shoulders. "Everything will be okay, sweetheart. The orphanage will not suffer, and Dave will be alright." She appears nervous but still manages to calm me down. That is my sister, brave as ever."They’re in!" shouts one of the agents. Christie and I shuffled our way around the table. We stare earnestly at the big screen, focusing on each movement while holding our breath. Inside the building, the two actors pretending to be investors are dressed to look the part perfectly. Thei
Dave encourages me not to worry on the way back to the flat, but it is difficult. No matter how many times he assures me that we will stop Sebastian, I have my doubts. I knew Sebastian was a horrible person, but I never dreamed he was capable of such atrocities, especially after Dave showed him the photographs of the community and the orphans. What will become of my darling children?! I push back the tears that threaten to spill from my eyes. As we carefully ascend the stairs to the apartment, my fingers begin to tremble.Dave walks quietly beside me and grips my hand tightly, silently reassuring me that everything will be okay."Chelsea," he whispers as we stand face-to-face at my door. "Chelsea, look at me..." He slips a finger under my chin and lifts my head to gaze into his eyes. I finally let the tears flow, the gravity of the situation too strong to overcome.Chelsea, we're going to fight this. Trust me..." I sniffle and gaze into his piercing blue eyes that offer some comfort.
"Yes but not tonight, maybe tomorrow," Dave said, shifting in his heels.The thought of him leaving without any intimate contact is driving Chelsea crazy. And I may just find myself running after him. I wait with bated breath for him to continue."Actually. I booked a room for a few days at a nearby hotel. I'd really like to see you tomorrow, Chelsea. Is that’s okay? I want to talk more about us." I stare at him like a young child opening presents on Christmas morning."Sure, I would like that," I say, releasing the smile I can no longer contain. "There's a great place just down the street where we can go for lunch." He grins. "Sounds great. I'll pick you up around 11? ""Sounds good.""Okay, well, have a good night's sleep, Chelsea.""Goodnight, Dave." I closed the door behind him and leaned back against it. My heart is giddy and my hands are shaky. He wants to talk about us? As in our relationship? Now that I am face-to-face with the reality of how much I want and miss him, it scar
Christie welcomes us to the living room. As we sit on the sofa, Dave takes another long breath before speaking. "I feel like we left a lot of things unanswered the last time we saw each other. I don't think anything was cleared up in the midst of all the yelling and screaming. But first and foremost, Christie, I need to apologise for Sebastian's harsh tone toward you. I can't claim to know what he was thinking at the time, but he had no right to speak to you in that manner.""He is an asshole, Dave, and the way he treated Christie is the same way he will treat those workers in Kenya." The animosity in my voice is clear. "Listen, Chelsea, I know you’re angry." He turns away from Christie and looks back at me. "But I need you to understand that I still care about you deeply and that everything we had was real. The truth is I know all about my partner’s activities in Kenya. But I'm not as involved in it as you think. I take care of the paperwork. But it doesn’t have much to do with me.
The space is considerably more apparent now that I am alone. Christie and I don't have any furniture, food, or money. And neither of us is employed. It will take months to restore this property to its previous glitzy splendour. I have no idea how to get us back on our feet, and I am quite frightened about starting the process. Christie, I'm sure, is as well. In that case, where are they?I get up from the floor mattress and walk to the bathroom. I let the water run over my fair skin and blond hair.Despite the heat, I find the water really calming.As it rushes over my body, the water represents my freedom. It envelops me, drop by drop, freeing my confined senses and conflicting emotions. It reminds me that I have returned home and am no longer burdened by the dreadful life I had at the mansion.I hurriedly exit the shower and grab my towel. I walk on tiptoe across the white tiles, around the empty flat, to my bag in the corner. I pull on a pair of jeans, a plain white t-shirt, and my
"Chelsea, don’t do this. You don’t know what you’re saying." I feel Dave’s strong hands around my right arm tighten. I glare up into his blue eyes. Our eyes interlock, and for a brief second, I am contained by lust. But the moment ends swiftly, and I pull my hand away, pushing him violently against the wall."Don’t you touch me!" I hurl at him. I take a large step away from him and turn back to Christie. "Come on, sister. Let’s get out of here!""I can’t, Chelsea, Sebastian is my fiancée.""So you’re choosing a man over your own sister?" I stared at her in shock."Chelsea, please don’t do this," Christie cries, her tears running wild down her face.Now is the time for me to make a quick exit. My suitcases thud on each step as I hurl them down the stairs. My sister trails behind me, upset as ever."Chelsea, wait! Please do not leave! "Just as I reach the large white double doors, I drop my suitcases and turn to face her again."Why don’t you just ask Sebastian Christie? Ask him if he’
I do not recognise my voice. It is thick with animosity. My hands are shaky and tears are threatening to spill from my eyes. Appearing to realise the seriousness of the situation, Dave turns to his colleagues. "Gentleman, please excuse me for a moment?"He gets up and strides over to me, gripping my forearm as he gently pulls me out of the room. We walk down a short corridor and into an empty office. Dave shuts the door and glares at me, anger fueling his eyes. "What the hell was that, Chelsea?!" he states, his tone biting."Explain this to me!" I half-shout, flinging the documents into his hands. "You lied about what the company is doing in Kenya. You have plans to use children? and exploit the people in an area that is too damn close to the orphanage I volunteered at. And you plan to pay the workers practically nothing!"He begins to scan the papers, his eyes darting back and forth hastily."How did you get this?!" he asks, puzzled yet still furious."What does it matter? It’s out i