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Who the hell was Charlie? I didn’t want to look too eager, but it was like I was hearing something that shouldn’t matter, but the curiosity clawed at me. "How about we make it a celebratory lunch instead, that way Love can be here." Sebastian cuts through my thoughts. "That works for me." Her voice chirped as she extended her hand to touch Marley's back, her delicate fingers ran through his fur, and never in my life have I ever wanted to be a dog more. "Thank you for everything, Love," Sebastian said again, his voice steady but filled with gratitude. "This means more than I can say." She smiled, a soft, humble expression washed over her angelic face as she retrieved her hand and wrapped her palm against her cane. "You dont need to thank me. Just focus on what is in front of you. And right now I think Marley is up for a walk. How about we show him around, I'm sure he is going to love the garden." She didn’t seek any praise or recognition. Why? What made her so humble? I knew
I wanted to enter the room and break that bond that was forming so beautifully in front of my eyes yet I couldn't. I've already taken enough for him and perhaps this was the way the universe was finally going to punish me. Love, my perfect little fragile snowflake, my angel of light, someone who I can only call mine in my tortured thoughts. Then another thought hit my chest like a pound of rocks. What if the reason she won't let me get close to her is because she likes Sebastian? Perhaps she felt more identified with him... and what if my brother finds in her the meaning of companionship again? Will I be able to be happy for him? Will I be able to stand looking at that without going crazy? Will I have to put on a scale my love for my brother and the feelings I have for Love? I already know I will choose Sebastian, even if it kills me. My brother. My flesh and blood. The one I’ve always shared my life with, my thoughts, my past, my dreams... and now, possibly my future with
"I think Christian is also fine if you call him by his first name, all of this formality is unnecessary," Sebastian says as he pets Marley's head. "I've asked her to call me by my name many times now yet Miss Bennett is stubborn," I say as I watch Love bite her lower lip before pressing them in a tight, uncomfortable smile. "It's just that I... I..." It's obvious she was struggling to find an excuse, she didn't have one no matter how much she wanted to justify herself in her ways. "Well, I hear you calling Mrs.Swan formally and she addresses you accordingly and like her, I am also a part of your staff..." "Mrs.Swan saw us in diapers, that is why we address her formally. When we were little Christian was afraid of her, perhaps he still is." Sebastian jokes, at least I hope it was a joke. "Please Seb, do I need to remind you how you hid in the fireplace when you didn't eat your brussel sprouts? If anyone was afraid of her it was you." "No need to go down memory lane, the point is y
Love's POVI was touching him.My hand was on his skin.He put it there... and now I have no way of living after this. I'm stuck.And I would like to freeze this moment forever, with his warm skin underneath mine, the edge of his beard slightly poking me, my thumb dangerously close to his full, nude, lush lips.I avoided looking at his eyes, I rather focused on the vase behind his back while the dryness of my eyes reminded me to blink."Go on," Christian said as he inched himself closer to me to the point where our knees touched.His scent, his warmth, and his strength surrounded me and I swallowed hard, but my throat was dry, my body trembling as I fought against the gravity of this moment.My heart beat louder, thrumming in my chest, filling the space between us like it could drown us both. “Christian...” He smiled at the sound of his name leaving my lips not knowing it slipped out before I could stop it, barely a whisper as if it was the last breath I would ever take.“Shh.” His voi
"Christian, I dont want to be anything more than an employee to you. Best case scenario I can give you my friendship but that is it." But my words seem empty to him like he is sure he can make me change my mind and I kept feeling like we had this conversation many times before... or perhaps I did have it like a hundred times playing out in my head. "Love, I will change your mind," Christian says as he takes my hand into his. "But I dont want you to change my mind. I like it just the way it is." Because it's the only way it can be. "And I do not believe that. I think you have your very well-hidden reasons not to let me in your life the way I want but that doesn't mean you dont feel this pull that is happening between us." My reasons? I have but only one. And that is the lie I told you, the lie that the longer it goes on have greater potential to hurt you but if I tell the truth now you will most probably kick me out of your life and I am still not done with Sebastian."Christian, ple
"Thank you for the lunch, Grace. Everything was delicious." I say as I gather my things ready to leave."Thank you for everything, Love. And I hope your leg feels better tomorrow." So do I but at the same time, my leg is at the bottom of my list of problems. Tamara was currently at the top. No matter how much I wanted to escape this mansion I was not looking forward to talking with her."Are you ready?" Christian asks as he appears behind me."I'm sorry?" I ask as I slowly turn around to see him holding his car keys."The driver left so Christian will drive you home," Grace says as she puts her hands on my shoulders. Arguing with her would be as pointless as arguing with him.Christian moved toward me, his footsteps light but deliberate. "Shall we?" he asked, his voice smooth, as he gently nudged the door open."We shall."...Christian opened the car door for me with a practiced ease, his hand lingering just a moment longer than necessary on the edge of the frame breathing me in. I sl
"You have some explaining to do." Tamara says as she sits on the couch, Charlie in her lap enjoying how her hand passes through his fur. "I know," I say as I put down my bag... and the cane... and take off the sunglasses."Ohh I'm really looking forward to hearing what you have to say... I mean how will you justify getting that job on false pretences? Lying to people with such power could destroy you, and all of your dreams... I just dont know what were you thinking Love. How do you plan to get out of it?" I let out a heavy sigh, feeling the weight of her words settle around me like a thick fog. Tamara’s gaze is sharp, eyes filled with disappointment and concern. "It was a chance to help someone but at the same time help myself, help Mira. We would have lost this apartment that no matter how crapy it is it's still better than the street. I was in a tight spot so I just did it." It is the best I can do to justify myself. Is it good? Perhaps not, but lies aren't usually meant to have
Today marks the fiftyth day of my working for the Callahans. It went by so fast and so intense, with me helping Sebastian be more independent each day while at the same time falling in love with Christian more and more. I discovered he is funny, kind, talented, generous, committed, driven, stubborn... so human, in the best way possible. Yet still I didn't let myself allow him to get closer to me. I was still able to use Charlie as a way to run away from him. That little lost puppy helped me a lot but it now had Mira and me in a lot of trouble. "You can't kick us out... it's six days until Christmas where the hell do you want us to go!" Mira yelled, her voice shaking with frustration as she stood in front of the landlord, trying her best to look confident "The rules on your lees were clear, no pets allowed. That filthy mut probably ruined the place." This place was ruined even before we got here, quite frankly he was lucky we were so desperate. "Number one, our dog is not filthy. N
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!Everyone cheered at the time of saying goodbye to the old year and welcomed the new while watching the spectacular fireworks. I smiled, hugged my friends, and then turned to Christian, whose eyes sparkled with something deeper than just the reflection of the fireworks. The energy in the room was electric, everyone buzzing with the excitement of a fresh start.This was my new start. Ours.I felt his arms wrap around me as he pulled me close, his breath warm against my ear. "Happy New Year, Angel," he whispered, his voice sending a shiver down my spine. "Happy New Year," I replied softly, my fingers grazing his jawline as I lifted my face to meet his tho I was still scared of meeting his eyes. I feared that if we connected he would know that his Angel was a liar. I put all of my faith in Grace and that she had a way of getting me out of this even if this lie hung over my head for the rest of my life."I thin
Love's POVIt was so easy to be happy.It was easy not to think about anything else that wasn't Christian, to allow myself to be fully consumed by him and everything that he is. His smile and the look in his eyes were all too much, and yet, they were everything I ever wanted. I could lose myself in him and not mind it at all.His touch became everything I craved and I knew that soon enough I would be addicted to him, in the best... and worst way possible."It seems everyone abandoned our table," Christian says as we walk back into the ballroom, hand in hand, fingers interlocked, and I can’t help but smile, the warmth of his hand grounding me."They must be close by." I say as I see Tam approaching with Mira right behind her. They seemed tense, well Tam seemed tense Mira had that posture she did when she pretended everything was fine when it wasn't."Ohh here come your friends... do you mind if I leave you just for a second, I promised Seb I would save him from Mother's friends and I k
My mind races as I stare at the message on my phone Until we meet again. I can feel my pulse quicken, the earlier adrenaline rush settling into a simmering confusion and anger. How could he have gotten my number? And why do I feel like I’ve just been played, even though I’m supposed to be the one in control here?I glance around the room, as though expecting him to reappear from the crowd, his sharp eyes locking onto mine once again, but there’s nothing. No sign of him. Not even his men. It’s like they were never here at all, as if they melted into the shadows, vanishing without a trace."Can we go now?" Tamara asks as she reapers behind my back."What?" I ask before I can read the angry face that event that beautiful mask couldn't hide. "It's not New Year yet, there is still an hour until midnight.""I lost my good mood." She says."Why? Who called you?" I ask."My TO." Uhh no. "Your new friend must have done something.""First of all he is not my friend, tell me what happened." She
"You think I would be willing to put myself in the hands of a criminal?" I ask and Tamara’s expression doesn’t flicker. She meets my gaze with a calm, almost bored like she’s been expecting this question."It's about layers Mira. You might not fall for the criminal part... but what about the handsome part or the generous part..." She says as she glances at the necklace. "Perhaps you would fall for the part where he makes donations to hospitals, or funds the schools, cleans the streets, and builds workplaces... You Mira could fall for the gentleman part of him to the point that the criminal thing wouldn't bother you so much... because that is who you are Mira, you put things on a scale and pick the lesser evil, even when you dont want to admit it." Her words settle like a stone in my stomach. Damn her for knowing me so well."But if you already know all of this about him, about the people that work for him... why did you want to come to this party then?" I ask Tamara. She called me car
Mira's POVLove and Christian left the table and from the corner of my eye, I could see them disappear from the public eye while I was left at the table feeling like a sitting duck while everyone's eyes rested on me. More specifically on the thing hanging around my neck. Why did he do that? Who in their right mind gives away such a valuable thing to a stranger?"Girls will you excuse us for a moment, I know it's a bit rude to leave you in an unknown aviromant but Sebastian and I have some hoseting to do. I'm sure you understand." Grace says as she gets up and walks over to her son. I'm still trying to read her, from what Love has told me about her she seems a good person... with things to hide. People who tend to help others keep secrets are usually the ones who are the best at hiding their own. I would know.There’s a certain air of mystery around Grace, the way she holds herself it’s almost as if she’s always thinking two steps ahead, anticipating the reactions of everyone around he
The cool night air hits my skin as Christian leads me out onto the balcony, the sounds of the ballroom fading into the distance. I shiver slightly, but it's not from the cold it's because of him."Where were we? I thought we were still at the party. Or did you transport me to another planet?" My nerves make my mouth says the worst joke if one could even call it that."Uhh that would be a great power to have but for now I'll have to be happy with that I can whisk you away even if it's just a simple balcony..." He says as he touches my cheek so elegantly, so tenderly that it almost feels like being grazed by a feather. "Any place, any time is more special with you." I let my face fall into his palms as his words made my knees weak."Do you want me to melt?" I ask, my eyes closed, simply enjoying having him so close. Christian chuckles softly, the sound deep and warm, vibrating through me like a pleasant hum. His touch is steady, grounding me as his hands gently cradle my face. "If I wan
Love's POVI laugh at Christian stories about the wealthy society and the secrets they hide between them, who knew they were as mortal as the rest of us when he saw Mira walk back into the ballroom and he had to give up his seat?"Took you long enough, the final piece is here," Tamara says to Mira as she comes back to the table and sits down."Yeah well, I just had an encounter with your favorite criminal," Mira whispers as she glances at the table where Mr.DeLuca is taking a seat himself. Between the conversation with Grace and Christian, I didn't even notice his absence."What? Why would he talk to you?" Tamara asks surprised."Perhaps because I am an extremely beautiful woman," Mira says ironically as Grace and Christan watch as the last jewel is brought into the room, covered with a red, silky sheet. "I dont know why, Tam. He was just there when I left the restroom. I have to say, up close and even with that mask he is quite striking." She whispered. I could see the curiosity in h
Mira's POVI swear one could live in one of these restrooms, it's almost, almost the size of my last crapy apartment we luckily dont have to stay in anymore. The real luck is never seeing the landlord's face again because otherwise I would get highly motivated to use my medical practice for the wrong reasons. So thank you, Christian.I took off my mask and studied my reflection in the mirror, eyes running over the familiar face, but something felt different tonight I barely recognized the person looking back. Especially not in this dress that came straight out of a movie... God how good it would be to live like this every day... they say money doesn't buy happiness but boy does it help.I couldn’t help but laugh softly at the irony of it all. Just a few months ago, I was counting pennies, hoping I’d make it through the next day. And now I’m standing in a room full of people who are the pennies, the ones with the power, the money, the history that means something. They weren't like me,
The atmosphere between us shifts immediately like a switch being flipped. Christian’s voice, low and steady, holds an undeniable weight. He holds me closer, his arms wrapping around me in a way that feels protective, almost possessive. I take a deep breath, feeling the gentle sway of the dance floor beneath us, the music filling the spaces between us, and my mind races. Christian’s eyes remain steady, his expression full of hope... even more so he seems sure that my answer is going to be positive."Christian... ye..." "Good evening ladies and gentlemen." A woman's voice suddenly interrupts us as the music suddenly ends and everyone turns. "We oh so hope that you are having a wonderful time at the gala yet I'm here to ask you to return to your seats as the fundraiser auction is about to start. I would also like to remind you all that all the funds collected here will be distributed to countless medical research facilities and in the names of those who will shortly have better health c