CHAPTER 1. INTRUSION

Arthur groaned at the vibration from his phone on the nightstand.

His hand roamed on the nightstand till the phone was in his grasp. With a yawn, he clicked on the message.

*Don't be late*

“Fuck!“ He hurried down the bed, sliding his feet into a pair of flip-flops. He glanced at the clock. “Dammit!“ He was late.

His hurried pace to the bathroom slowed at the scent that filled his nostrils. Strawberry.

Arthur clenched his fist in fury, turning around. His jawline twitched at his effort to keep his fury in check. The logical reaction would be to shred her into pieces. But he dreaded the scandal that would follow after.

“I know you're awake. Get up and get out.“ He rasped, pointing at the exit. 

“Come on, Arthur. Let me sleep some more.“ Ursula smiled sleepily, sitting up. The duvet had rolled down to her waist region. Firm, round boobs were insights. “You should get a little more sleep too.“

Arthur muttered profanities under his breath. The sight of Ursula's boobs did nothing but aggravate his fury. He was fed up with her seduction. It was becoming more of an ugly nuisance now.

“How did you get in?“ His gritted teeth released those words with so much force.

“The door?“ She replied casually, rolling slightly to the side. The duvet rolled but was not quick enough to cover her butt. She was naked underneath those sheets.

Arthur swallowed past a lump in his throat. It was from the disgust he was feeling. 

“You wanna tell me why you're here?“ The struggle to keep his cool was proving to be a hard one. His patience has reached its limits. He feared what he might do in the next few seconds.

“I thought you needed some company.“ Ursula got down from the bed. She closed up the distance between them. Slowly, she released the duvet. “ I thought...“ she bit his lower lip. “...you could use...“ she bathed his cheek with butterfly kisses. “...some fine company. “

“You just don't get it, do you?“ Arthur grabbed her arms, piercing his long nails into her delicate skin. She squirmed in pain, struggling to free herself. “Maybe this will help rid you of your insane obsession.“

“Let me go!“ 

“I plan on.“ He hurled her to the bed. She landed face-first, turning to him immediately with a murderous look.

“What do I have to do to make you realize how much your presence disgusts me?“ Arthur picked up the duvet and roughly wrapped it around her. “Pray tell, Ursula.“

She slapped his hands off. “I only thought you needed some company.“

“If I did, I'd have gotten myself a cat. They make better company than you ever will.“

“How dare you keep treating me like some lowlife?!“ Ursula was well-known for her temper. She was not the type to accept rejection in good faith.

“I'm fed up with your nonsense. Barging into my office. Picking my apartment locks. Invading my privacy.“ Arthur flung her bag and clothes to the door. “Get lost. Stay lost, forever. Is that too much to ask?!“

Ursula trembled in anger. She stood from the bed, stalking towards him. “You know you don't mean that. Deep down, I know you're craving to have me.“

“You just tell me what I gotta do to rid you of that goddamn illusion.“

“It's no illusion. It's reality. Arthur Belmont, you need me.“ Ursula said to his face with so much confidence. 

Arthur's brows furrowed at what might be the reason behind her silly confidence. Another glance at the clock and the thought vanished.

“I hope I ne'er see you around here again, Ursula. You look more pathetic than ever.“ Arthur shoved past her, hurrying to the bathroom. “Better not be here when I get out!“ He slammed the bathroom door.

Arthur Belmont could not help but think of this day as inauspicious. Late for a meeting with the Japanese architects. Waking up next to Ursula. What could be next? An avalanche?

He was exhausted. Not from staying up all night. But from Ursula's incessant disturbance. He'd put up with it long enough. He had no more patience for it.

When he came back to the bedroom, she was gone. There was a note on the bed.

He took it and scanned through it.

“I'm just a call away when you need someone to make you straight.“ Arthur read out loud. The words made no sense. Another scheme of hers.

Ursula Devon has been on his case ever since he arrived in California. It's been six months already. Each day, he was subjected to her insane demands and seductions. At first, he thought it was like any other accosting by the female folks. It was till it grew to an obsession that he realized just how messy it was. 

Ursula was an international model. More than that, she was the only child of Mr. Devon Flakes. Second in the aristocrats' hierarchy. Arthur was third. Mr. Devon had helped him save his company from meeting its ruins. The old man had funded all Arthur's projects. Arthur was highly indebted to him.

That was his ill luck and the only reason he had to put up with Ursula. 

Arthur arrived at his company half an hour later. He barely made it to his office before Richard walked in.

“Rough morning?“ Richard pulled up a seat across his table. 

Arthur ran a hand through his hair in exhaustion. “I'm sorry. I got your text.“

“It doesn't look like you did.“ He checked his wristwatch. “You're twenty minutes late.“

“And the meeting?“

“Never happened.“ Richard shrugged. “Their flights were delayed.“

“For how long?“

“They arrive tomorrow. “

Arthur exhaled in relief. His head was deep in the clouds, searching for a possible way to get rid of Ursula. He was not in the right state to hold a business meeting.

“Something wrong?“ Richard narrowed his eyes on him. He arched a brow, urging him to spill.

Austin hesitated. He knew Richard could be trusted with any problems he encountered. He was just tired of discussing Ursula's insanity with him.

Richard Tyson was his partner and friend. The two men had such striking resemblance.

Black, wavy hair which danced to the nape. Chiseled good looks. Twenty-nine years old. Billionaires.

Their differences were insignificant. Arthur towered above Richard with a few inches. Richard had exquisite blue eyes. Arthur's dark eyes were intense and seemed to have a striking deepness in them. The duo could pass up as brothers.

“Ursula.“ Arthur breathed out. His face was buried in his palms. 

Richard could not resist rolling his eyes. Ursula's obsession was becoming a tiring, boring story.

“What is it this time?“

“I woke up next to her.“

“You what?“ Richard stared incredulously at him. “After everything, you still ate from that tree?“

“Fucking no!“ Arthur snapped disgustedly. “She picked my locks and joined me in my bed...“

“Ursula picked your locks?“ Richard let out a dry chuckle. “She's gone too far, man.“

“My thoughts exactly. I don't know what to do with her.“

Richard threw a magazine on the table. “Then let's do something about this instead.“

Arthur picked up the paper. A picture of him and Richard made the front page. His brows creased at the headline.

He looked up with a stunning look. “They think...we're lovers?“

“Imagine that. Now everyone's talking about us. I had to come into the building through the back door. I took the stairs to avoid prying eyes in the elevator. I even had to make the Japanese miss the meeting.“ Richard admitted frustratedly.

“You did what?!“

“Come on, man. Imagine being in a meeting and all they'll do is stare at us, wondering how much of a loving couple we are. I couldn't take that risk.“

Arthur scanned through the paper again. The story was completely absurd. Ridiculous.

“Where did they get such an insane idea about us?“

“I don't know. But we're doomed.“ Richard sank into his chair.

Arthur gave it just a thought and then it hit him. Ursula had asked him to call her if he needed to be straight. “That witch!“ Arthur muttered furiously, crumpling the magazine.