ASTRID “Don’t you dare walk out on me, Astrid, this is all your fault!” Tristan barks, his eyes bulging as rage burns in their depth.He’s being ridiculous and the last thing I want to do tonight is stand here and listen to him act like a fucking child. I grab the door handle and cross the threshold, stepping into the balcony. Before I can take another step, I hear his footsteps hard and fast behind me, and then the scent of his cologne wafts into my nostrils, making me feel nauseous and irritated.“Go away, Tristan. I have nothing to say to you.” I mutter, closing my eyes as the cold air brushes my skin. The sun has set and the cloud is darkening with an intensity that matches the storm brewing inside of me, casting an ominous shadow over everything I’ve believed in for the past three years.Tristan and I met at a fundraiser three years ago. It wasn’t love at first sight but a bond that was fostered by our parents’ stance in society. His father, Keith Blackwood owns half the city
JORDANTill death do us part.The words rattle in my mind as I step into the sun, pulling down the large sunglasses to protect my eyes from the glaring beam. Oddly, the chaos I’ve been feeling since I stepped foot back in the City that was once like a home to me dissipates as I walk towards the gravestone with my wife’s name boldly inscribed on it.We had promised each other forever. Ours was a whirlwind romance with one date and we were already planning our future and checking out townhouses and beach houses in Barcelona for family vacations.“Mr. Remington.”I pause mid-stride, turning around to glance behind me. My brows wrinkle slightly as I try to recall the face of the younger man before me. He appears to be in his late twenties and in his hands are roses and a bottle of wine. Wine? That’s odd.Perhaps he finally perceives my curiosity and flashes me a smile. “I’m the caretaker. I took over after my dad died last month. He told me about you.” His glance shifts towards the direc
ASTRIDThe moonlight that looms over the tall building gives a mysterious quality. I glance around the parking lot as Lilly puts the car in park.“It’s jam-packed. Why don’t we check out another bar, Ritz Perhaps?” I ask Lilly, my voice betraying my chagrin.A host of bitter feeling hurdles in my belly as the past week flickers in my mind. Tristan has been texting nonstop making millions of promises and vowing his devotion. I hate the intrusion. The fact that he’s failed to see there’s nothing left for us makes me resent him more.How can he not see that what we shared was toxic? We fought about everything and he was ever – barely on the same page with him. If I suggest we visit a certain location for vacation, he’d end up booking suites in another country and cajoling me into accepting his decision.Foolish me! I always did! I was so blind, so enamored by his charms and the man he pretended to be when he wasn’t acting like a dick.“You’re going to ruin my car seat if you keep on grip
ASTRID “You’re the most beautiful woman in here. Your hair... what color is it?”I flush at the compliment. “Ginger blonde.”He raises his hand and pushes his fingers into my hair, massaging my scalp. It’s soothing. I lean into his touch, loving every bit of it.“I’ve never heard a name like that. I like it. I love your hair.”“What else do you like?” I ask, nestling my head on the curve of his neck. It’s not a slow song, but then, whatever is brewing between us doesn’t need help manifesting itself. It’s so real and so easy.“Your smile. When I walked in through the door earlier and caught your frown, I imagined you smiling instead and the image I created is not different from what I eventually saw. Your smile is therapeutic. It’s like a lighthouse in a darkened forest. A balmy expression that is capable of turning everything to glitter.”“Now you’re exaggerating.” I laugh lightly, but my heart is soaring with glee.He lowers his face and kisses my head, burying his nose in my hair.
ASTRID With my finger linked through his, the man who has my body in knots leads me to a car parked at the curb."I was here with friends. And I think I saw you with a girl, right?"I nod, wondering why he's bringing up other people when he's supposed to be rushing into the backseat of the car with me.The driver, a tall man with sunglasses, holds the door open and bows his head."Good evening, Sir. Ma'am."The older man beckons me to slide into the car first, then turns around to face the driver."David, I need you to go and tell the others that I'm leaving.""Alright, Sir."He steps into the car, then David closes the door, and walks back into the building.I lean in and kiss him leisurely on the lips. "I had no idea you came here with anyone."He savors my lips for a long minute, cupping my face with his large palms. When he pulls back, his vivid blue eyes gleam with arousal."I did it in exchange for a favor. At first, I didn't want to come. Spaces like this are not in my wheelho
ASTRID All through the drive to wherever he's taking me, our fingers remain intertwined. He seems to be staring at the streets with raised browns filled with questions. When we get to the Central Park Tower, he pushes forward and scans the magnificent building like he's seeing it for the first time.His actions arouse so many questions and even earlier, when he said he only came by the bar because his friends asked, I wanted to ask him why they did that and why he couldn't say no. I'm in the same boat as him tonight. Lilly literally forced me to get in the car after she coaxed me into tugging on my black jeans and a white lace top.It's my twenty-first birthday and she had denied me the choice of staying indoors tonight and cussing out Tristan.I sigh and relax into the hard body beside me, reveling in his warmth and sturdy build."I wasn't supposed to be out tonight. Lilly too, she turned deaf ears to my pleas and presented a thousand and one reasons I needed to celebrate tonight. A
JORDAN I stand at the window in my office and refuse to pace as a jumbled mess of thoughts swirls in my mind. Last night was more than I expected. When Ethan and Marcus requested that I tag along to the bar, I wasn't keen on the idea. For starters, I just got back from Italy, and the last thing I want to do is socialize. I have several appointments lined up, dinner meetings, and the search for my childhood best friend is also on the schedule.Ethan has promised to provide me with information, but I still have to play my part.Footsteps echo outside the door and then a rap before I notice the handle twisting."Good morning, Mr. Remington."I whip my head around to face her. It's Madison, my PA here. "Is it time already?""Yes, Sir. Everyone is seated in the conference room." She hands me a file and an iPad. "There, I've compiled the names of all the board members, their shares, and the contact information since you just got a new phone."I thumb through the lighted screen. True to her
ASTRID I skim my eyes across the list before lifting my gaze to meet my mom’s overly cheerful expression. “I can’t believe I skipped having lunch with my colleagues for this.”My mom raises her brows, her expression dark with disapproval. “You spend all day with them. I’m just asking for a few hours.”“To go over some lame list? Mom, I don’t care about these parties. You know that.”“Well, I do, but it doesn’t hurt to try dragging you into it.” She perches on the corner of the desk, crossing her hands. “So, what do you think about the list?”We’re in Dad’s study, going over the guest list for the party my mom is hosting this week. They got back late Saturday night and I didn’t expect to see them until later in the week.“You are my daughter and you must do this with me. Your dad is looking at expanding to Australia. We need investors, partners, and advisors. This party is strictly for business.” She goes on to say.“Then make it a conference meeting or a press release. Why a party?
Astrid“Please.”“You are not allowed to cum until I say so,” his voice is thickly raspy and aroused.He starts to fuck me in a lazy pace, frustrating me. He thrust his cock from the rear, teasing my cunt without penetrating me. He rubs my clit furiously again but before I can cum he stops. I groan, so desperate.Without warning, he buries his cock deep inside me. I think my soul just left my body. He fucks me so hard and so deep that it feels like I’m going to pass out.He thrust two fingers into my asshole, fucking me. He is fucking me deep and hard in both holes. I scream. I don’t know what his house keeper will think, but I don’t really give a damn about it. I finally have what I wanted.I’m at the edge but before I can get there Jordan stops. No thrust, no pulling out, he just stops. I whimper, trying to roll my hips to keep him moving but his grip on my waist halt my movement.He pulls out completely from me. I’m about to complain when he harshly stuffs every inch back inside m
ASTRID I stand frozen in the doorway, my heart hammering in my chest at the sight before me.I was angry when I left the party, furious, even because Jordan had left without a word. So I came here, to his house, to confront him about it all.About the mess of feelings swirling inside me. The anger, the confusion about everything, about him, how I feel, and how he makes me feel.When I arrived at his house, I knocked on the door, hesitated for a moment, wondering if it was a terrible idea.Before I could overthink it any further, the door swung open, and his housekeeper stood, smiling warmly.She informed me that he was in the shower and asked me to wait for him. I wanted to, but then I decided to wait in his room. Immediately, I stepped into his room, I heard a grunt, or more like a growl from the bathroom, as if he were in pain.I thought something bad had happened. Well, something is happening to him all right, but it’s not the dangerous type I was concerned about.Or maybe it is
JORDANIt feels like a bolt of lightning when my eyes finally land on Astrid in the crowd. I’ve been searching for her since I walked into the room, and now that I’ve found her, I can’t look away. The dress she’s wearing doesn’t leave anything to the imagination, and I can’t seem to take my eyes off her.She's wearing a deep emerald dress that hugs her body perfectly, flowing down in elegant, soft waves.The neckline dips low, enough to tease her cleavages, and the slit at the side runs above her thighs, revealing her smooth skin that has me swallowing hard.Her ginger hair cascades down her shoulder, framing her face in a way that makes her look effortlessly stunning. Breathtaking.“My girl looks stunning, doesn’t she?” Peter speaks beside me.Peter and I arrived at the same time, we were together until a few minutes ago when he went to greet someone.I didn’t even notice that he was back beside me.I nod, unable to say a word. For my sake, I hope he didn’t notice the way I looked a
JORDAN "Do you?" I ask, skepticism dripping from my words."Yeah." He shifts on the sofa, his expression turning a little more serious. "I came to ask if you’ve considered hiring Astrid."There it is, the conversation I was dreading. I stifle a groan, but I can't hide the way my body tenses at the mention of her name."I’m worried about her," Peter continues, leaning forward. "I don’t like where she’s working now. And with everything that happened recently, I just... I don’t trust those people. I’d feel better if she was working with someone I could trust."The air in the room seems to thicken, and I force myself to keep my expression neutral.Trust? Does he think Astrid will be safe with me? He has no idea that I’m the big wolf he should be protecting her from.The thought of having Astrid working here, in my space, every single day has my brain spiraling in directions I shouldn’t even entertain. I can already feel my resistance crumbling.“I don’t know, Peter…” I rub my jaw, tryin
JordanI decline Astrid’s call for the fifth time, my thumb hovering over the screen before I let it drop onto my desk. I can’t bring myself to speak to her. Not after what almost happened at her house. My phone beeps with another message from her, but I ignore it, clenching my jaw so tight.If her friend hadn’t walked in when she did… God, what was I thinking? I scrub my hand over my face, trying to shake off the memory.What if it had been Peter who walked in on us instead of her friend? The thought alone makes my stomach twist.I can’t even begin to imagine what Peter would do if he found out how close I was to claiming his little girl, or that I already did –twice. He would castrate me for touching his little girl, for making her cum twice in one night and putting my hands on her.But no matter how much I try to push her out of my mind, remind myself that she’s Peter’s daughter and therefore she should be off limits to me. Forbidden even, I can’t.God, she’s invading every part
ASTRID “Astrid,” he says, more softly, he might have noticed the pain on my face.“I care about you a lot.”“Because I’m your goddaughter?” he doesn’t answer. After a few minutes of silence, he says,“I didn’t come here to take advantage of you. I came here because I was worried about you. I know it must be hard on you.”“If you care about me, then you will make me happy.” He shakes his head.“Fucking you right now will be me being a selfish bastard. You are too vulnerable right now.” I nod, even though I don’t understand him.“See yourself out and let the door hit you on your way out. I have a date with my vibrator, it can do what you’re too scared to do.” I barely make it to the living room when Jordan grips me forcefully, spinning me to face him.He’s livid. Is he jealous of my vibrator?“You will not touch yourself while I’m here.”“You are welcome to watch.”“It’s not going to happen.”I open my mouth to protest and he seals his lips over mine, shutting me up with a lush kiss. H
ASTRIDI can’t put a name to my feelings. Anger, sadness, frustration…everything’s tangled up. All different shades of emotions coalesce together to form this infuriating need to be wrapped in Jordan’s arm.I’m supposed to hate Jordan. I should hate him for being the reason my life is messed up. It makes no sense that I want him so badly.I should hate him. He’s the one who keeps driving me crazy, who keeps rejecting me, pushing me away, but no matter how many times I remind myself of that, I still want him.God I hate how much I want him. It’s infuriating.God knows I’m trying so hard to get that man off my head, but he’s stuck in my head! The thought of him makes my heart race. I hate how my body tingles at the sight of him. Just thinking about him makes me tingle, my skin burning with this unbearable desire.I don’t understand him. He said he didn’t want anything to do with me, yet he showed up at my family dinner where he knew I would be there. I know Jordan, if he didn’t want t
JORDAN“Come on, you have to help her out.”I stifle a groan. Peter is putting me in a tight spot. He’s hell-bent on having me hire Astrid to work for me. He doesn’t know the danger he’s putting me in.Hiring Astrid is a terrible idea. If she’s working with me, in close proximity every day, there’s no way I’d be able to keep my hands off her. Not when she’s already driving me insane, even when she is not in my space.“Peter, it’s not –”“Jordan, Astrid is your goddaughter. That’s reason enough for you to give her a shot at your company. She is good at what she does. I don’t want her working with these people anymore.”“I’m sure Astrid is more than qualified, but –”“No buts,” Peter cuts me off, shaking his head. “She’s had a rough time with that mess at her firm. You’re in a position to help her, and you know she’s got the talent. Just give her a chance.”About the mess she got into with the AXT, Peter told me about it, and I’ve been worried about her. Peter is worried, too. I wanted
ASTRID“How the hell did you make such a silly mistake, Astrid?” I flinch physically and mentally as Pete Bishop’s voice slices through the thick air of his office.He’s livid, and the look in his eyes makes me want to crawl under the rug and disappear.I blink rapidly, trying to steady my breathing but I feel sick to my stomach, shock pulses through me, morphing into an ice that freezes me. Pete is so mad. I’ve never seen him this furious before, not even when another consultant messed up.No, I can’t compare that to my mess. I’ve really messed up. This client is one of our best, one of our biggest accounts, AXT Corporation. They have been with us for years, bringing in multi-million-dollar contracts. Pete recently introduced me to them and handed me the project to continue from where the former consultant stopped.A lot of people wanted to work with them but Pete chose me, and I somehow managed to screw up their financial projections. A simple quarterly forecast is something I ca