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|14| An old friend
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Zack’s POV
“Why the rush?” Riley’s voice croaked out, and I glanced at her—picking the rest of her stuff.
“I have some work at the RnB palace, so you have the entire suite for yourself.” I straightened my back—holding eye contact for a split of a second before she lowered her gaze to her stuff in my grasp.
“That’s great, also thanks for watching my stuff,” she urged, her band reaching for her stuff, but I pulled them away—making her look up at me—her hazel-green eyes locked with mine.
“It’s my pleasure, princess, and try not to have fun without…” I stopped in my sentence once I saw that familiar face in the corner of my eyes, Luciana.
My lips parted as my eyes locked with Luciana’s. A sheepish smile plastered on my lips, pretending not to know who she was as she did the same.
“I see you made a
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Riley's POVIf someone told me a week ago I would take a plane to Ibiza and then stay with a sexy playboy in a fancy hotel suite, agreeing to a stupid deal that a total stranger came up with just to prove to him that my heart isn't able to love again—I would've thought it was a joke.I'm mad at myself for agreeing because damn me and my stupid heart—I'm catching feelings… no I'm falling in love with that total stranger while I wanted to prove him the opposite.And it wasn't because he got me the extra cheesy burger I love or the homemade churros—well, food is typically the fastest way to a woman's heart, add a nice picnic spot preferably somewhere surrounded by nature, and voila you got yourself an instant crush.Zack was very aware of what he was doing, he was playing his cards right to gain my attention.Well… he did get my full attention. This might be my very first date after Chris and I know I should forget about him which I'm trying to do but it's a slow ongoing process.But th
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Zack's POVI traced my lips with my fingers with a goofiest grin on my face as I stared at the ceiling, replaying the intense make out in my brain for the hundredth time.It wasn't like I haven't kissed someone before, but Riley was… she's special, and I'm falling hard for her."Zack," her soft voice crooked out, and I was pulled out of my thoughts—returning back to the silent room."Yes, Riles," I answered her, feeling my chest tighten with concern—it was as if I could feel what she was feeling now. Fear."Nevermind." She sounded hesitant, and it wasn't the answer I was expecting. I sat up and looked at the opaque splitterCan you sleep with me?" SheI thought spending time with Zack would be a living hell, or awkward as hell but here I was having dinner with him, enjoying the sunset, and talking wi
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Riley's POVI thought spending time with Zack would be a living hell, or awkward as hell but here I was having dinner with him, enjoying the sunset, and talking with him—scratch that we were playing the twenty-question game to know each other well. It wasn't my idea, of course, but it was better than the dead-ass silence.We drifted into an entirely different conversation after he made a serious confusion."Pineapples don't belong on pizza," I argued as I stuffed my mouth with the mouthwatering extra cheesy burger—Zack gave me a dead-serious look, and I lowered the burger, eyeing him with disgust as I chewed on my food.He was serious about the pineapples on pizza."You could always give it a try," he needled, stretching a slice of his untouched pizza, and I eyed it with terror as if he was offering me a dead rat.A deep chuckle roared from his ch
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CEO on the island |37|
"So, how did you meet my brother? Friends with benefits, or are you a gold digger?" He blurted, and I blinked at him, shaking my head as if I didn't hear what he said."Excuse me?" I was about to take my hand out of his grasp, but he tightened his grasp around my hand, pulling me towards him.I swear I could smell the intoxicating smell of his expensive cologne. My stomach tightened once his gaze sharpened at me. "You must've mistaken me for someone else," I don't know how I told him that without a shaky tone.I tried to pull my hand away, but it was a bad idea—he only tightened his hand, his fingers were digging into my skin."Zack doesn't do relationships, and you don't look like one of his junkie bozos, so maybe a gold digger," he opened his mouth again, flickering his greenish eyes between mine."Did Tony pay you to lure him, princess?" He asked in a
CEO on the island |36|
Riley's POV"Is the blindfold necessary?" I questioned as I stumbled on a rock in the way—it wasn't like I saw it with this thing covering my eyes. Zack was supposed to be my eyes since he was holding my hand, and his other hand was on my waist—guiding me to this stupid picnic date.Apparently, he was as blind as me."I told you I'm sorry, stop being such a brat," he retorted, and I stopped in my place—snapping my head to where his face was supposed to be—instantly feeling his warm minty breath on my face."Did you just call me a brat?" I heard his light chuckle—feeling a little huff of air on my face as he chuckled.The heat traveled to my cheeks—I was embarrassing myself. "You literally stumble on everything," he remarked, and his words refreshed my mind, playing every scenario I stumbled on something and fell on him.It
CEO on the island |35|
Riley's POV"Is the blindfold necessary?" I questioned as I stumbled on a rock in the way—it wasn't like I saw it with this thing covering my eyes. Zack was supposed to be my eyes since he was holding my hand, and his other hand was on my waist—guiding me to this stupid picnic date.Apparently, he was as blind as me."I told you I'm sorry, stop being such a brat," he retorted, and I stopped in my place—snapping my head to where his face was supposed to be—instantly feeling his warm minty breath on my face."Did you just call me a brat?" I heard his light chuckle—feeling a little huff of air on my face as he chuckled.The heat traveled to my cheeks—I was embarrassing myself. "You literally stumble on everything," he remarked, and his words refreshed my mind, playing every scenario I stumbled on something and fell on him.It
CEO on the island |34|
Zack's POV"So, where are we going exactly?" Riley's voice broke over the soft music playing. I glanced at her, holding my breath as I absorbed in her beauty.The way the air flowed through her hair, touching her skin softly—her hazel eyes were focused on the trees as we passed them in a blur.That dress hugged her body at the right places, and yellow was definitely her color—it made her look happy. Not for a long time because every once she sneaks a quick glance at her phone, then her face changes to a worried, distressed one."It won't be a surprise if I told you, cupcake." She looked at me with a frown."Monkey feathers. My name isn't this hard, I can even help you spell it out," she quipped, and I gave her an impressed side glance before focusing on the road—a sinister smirk tugged on my lips as the dirty comment popped up in my mind.
CEO on the island |33|
Riley's POV"So, any excuses for being late?" I snapped my gaze at him, crossing my arms against my chest.Instead, he eyed me from head to toes before finally meeting my gaze with his breathtaking smile. "You look incredible, yellow is definitely your color," he faltered, sticking his hand out for me."Are you silencing me with a compliment?" I snorted, and that stupid boyish grin grew on his face.Remember how you fell on this date. The voice in the back of my head tried to remind me that I got myself into this.I just placed my hand into his warm grasp—and that electric feeling traveled down my spine, waking up the butterflies. Yeah… that's the feeling I despise the most.Yet he made me somehow like it."Let's just end this thing," I said with sass in my tone—thanking god that my voice didn't crack.
