DREAMING OF MR. STARR

DREAMING OF MR. STARR

last updateLast Updated : 2022-01-27
By:  Emma SwanCompleted
Language: English
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The innocent and romantic Gemma Wakefield overhears Declan Starr, a notorious playboy and the CEO of the company where she works, saying some terrible sexist things about women to his friend. Tired of his way of behaving, Gemma is set out to teach him a lesson and unleashes a media storm against Declan. She announces to the newspapers that Mr. Starr is finally going to settle down and get married… to her. What is going to follow is a tornado with more fury than she’d ever expected, since Declan is not going to take the news calmly. He’s furious and decides to demand that she act as his real fiancée as payback. What follows is going to change both their lives forever.

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Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

“Has he arrived yet?”

          Gemma approached slowly the reception desk. The girl working there looked at her a little puzzled.

“Come on, Adele! Don’t keep me hanging here! Is he already in the building?”

          She sat down at the reception desk, turning to face Adele who sat behind her. The receptionist gave her another bemused look and replied in the most innocent tone.

“Who? Elvis? Nope, he left the building a long time ago!”

          Adele tried not to laugh when Gemma started to shake her head and mimicked an amused expression.

“Oh, my God, you’re so funny! Your talent as a stand-up comedian is wasted at ‘Starr Computers’… You should save a spot at ‘Gotham Comedy Club’… They will appreciate your humor there.”  

          Sighing, Gemma gave her an impatient glance.

“Come on, Adele! Don't tease me this morning! I’m not in the mood to play around. So, please, answer my question, since you know very well who I’m referring to.”

          Her friend quirked one eyebrow.

“Had one of those nights, did you, Gems?”

“Morning, actually. So, help me because I’m dying here. Has he arrived?”

“Okay, okay! I gather you mean Mr. Starr? Then yes, Declan Starr arrived about ten minutes ago.”

“Damn it!”

          Gemma frowned her displeasure.

“Why do you ask? Why this slight desperation? Did you want to see him?”

“No… Not really.”

          She pursed her lips.

“I'm… He… Oh, shoot! How was he? What did he look like? Did you see him?”

          She watched the other girl closely. Adele gave her a strange look, dealing hurriedly with a call that came through on her switchboard. They weren't due to open until nine o'clock, and yet invariably there were calls coming through before then.

“How do you think he looked?” Adele replied finally. “How does he always look… Yummy, gorgeous, breathtaking… Just as tall, dark, and handsome as usual.”

“He didn't look… well… Erm… different?”

          Adele gave a firm shake of her head.

“Girl, Declan Starr always looks the same. He always acts the same. He walks in here, gives me an arrogant nod like I don’t matter in this world, and then walks straight into his private elevator. He does the same thing in the evenings, only in reverse. The man's as impersonal to his employees as the machines his company produces. Three years I've worked here now, and he still wouldn't recognize me if he saw me out in the street.”

          Their conversation was broken off as the office workers started to crowd into the building in preparation for starting work at nine. As the receptionist, Gemma found the next half an hour very busy, directing people up to the various offices and dealing with incoming calls and other mansions.

          The morning rush over, Gemma relaxed in her chair for a few minutes. Adele was kept busy with her switchboard, which gave Gemma time to think. She was a fool, a huge idiot.

          She was likely to lose her job for what she had done, and it was a good job, paying very high wages. She must have been temporarily insane, must have had a moment of pure madness in order to do what she had done.

          When she had seen the announcement in the newspapers this morning, Gemma had felt sick, physically sick. This wasn’t her real self… She wasn’t like this, petty and revengeful. Besides, he didn’t even know her. Never, not once, had Declan Starr acknowledged her presence. 

          Well, up until that moment, no one else had seen it… at least, no one had commented on it. But someone had to see it soon, it was so noticeable. It had seemed larger than life to her. It had been there in the newspaper for all to see… An intended marriage between Gemma Wakefield and Declan Starr. Her own engagement to the CEO of this prosperous computer company!

          And to make matters worse, he knew nothing about it… about her! She picked up the internal telephone on her desk as it began to ring.

“Gemma Wakefield speaking,” she said automatically.

“My office! NOW!” snapped a deep male voice.

          Gemma almost dropped the telephone in her panic. It was Declan Starr… It had to be! She cleared her throat.

“I… I beg your pardon?”

“Trust me, you'll do more than that once I'm finished with you,” he growled. “Be in my office in exactly five minutes.”

          The receiver was slammed down at the other end. Gemma didn't need to be told that Declan Starr knew about the announcement in the newspapers, the anger in his voice had been enough. Besides, he had hardly ever spoken to her before, and there could be only one reason he wanted to see her.

“Babe, you’re white as a sheet… Are you alright? Everything okay?” asked Adele, slightly touching her hand.

          Gemma realized with a start that she was still holding the receiver in her hand. She put it hurriedly back on its cradle.

“I… Um… I have to go up… to one of the offices. Would you… Uh… Would you look after the desk for me for a while?”

“Of course,” Adele agreed readily.

          She didn't quite know how she got into the private elevator for the tenth floor, but somehow, she seemed to have managed it. Gemma had only ever used this elevator once before in the six months she had worked for ‘Starr Computers’, and that had been two weeks ago when she had been induced to seek this terrible revenge on him.

          It had all started when the model had arrived to take the advertising photographs. No one else had been available to take her up to Declan Starr's office and so she had offered to take her up herself. It had been a good excuse to see him.

          As Adele had so rightly said, he walked in the mornings and out again at night, taking no notice of them in reception at all. As it had turned out Declan Starr's executive assistant had gone to lunch that day and the EA’s secretary was off sick.

          Gemma had hardly been able to believe her luck when she had stepped out into the outer office. The place had been deserted, which meant she would actually get to speak to Declan Starr herself.

          Since the day Gemma had begun work here, and Declan had walked into the building to begin his day's work, she had fallen for him, hard, madly, deeply. He was so gorgeous… like a film star or something.

          He was tall, well over six feet, with a lithe athletic body that suggested he did not spend all of his time in an office, his skin tanned from much time spent in the sun. His dark hair was always perfect, his deep grey eyes narrowed and enigmatic.

          But if she had been instantly attracted to him, he hadn't reacted at all. Those grey eyes looked right through her like she was made of glass or something. She knew she wasn't beautiful or anything, but she wasn't that plain either.

          Her golden hair swung easily down her shoulders in gleaming waves, her deep blue eyes surrounded by long thick lashes, her small uptilted nose, curving mouth that was never far from a smile, and slight slender figure all added up to an attractive young girl.

          And yet to Declan Starr, she might not even have been feminine. But she knew he wasn't always that reticent about noticing a woman's charms. He was reputed to have had many beautiful women in his life at one time or another. And his completely self-assured arrogance pointed to them not all being platonic relationships.

          No, here was a man who had shared his bed with many women, and he had known how to satisfy every one of them. In a way, it had been his confirmation of these conquests that had sparked off her desire to hit out at him.

          Leaving the model in the outer office, Gemma had passed through to the reception room. In here, she could hear the faint murmur of masculine voices and had realized Declan wasn't alone.

          Gemma soon knew the reason she could hear their voices too. The office door was slightly ajar. She was just about to knock on the door when she stilled when she heard the obnoxious words being murmured in her boss's deep throaty voice, his amusement obvious.

“I don’t care, man… I'm afraid I only find women good for one thing,” he scoffed lightly. “And I don't mean… housework. More… house calls... if you catch my drift,” Declan added with a laugh.

          She had stepped back with a gasp. What an arrogant ass! The nerve on this pompous prick! The meaning behind his words had been obvious and Gemma had waited open-mouthed for his companion's answer.

          Gemma knew she should really knock on the door, make them aware of her presence before they said anything else, but she was held mesmerized by the arrogance of the words she had just overheard.

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Comments

default avatar
Marena John Lambrou
Very good! Ty again Emma!
2023-12-04 14:19:48
2
user avatar
Malaeka
17.11.2023 beautiful as always..hugs xoxo E.S
2023-11-17 08:42:12
3
user avatar
Slawa Perun
ohhh that was lovely story, shame that it was short, but really good read recommending
2023-05-04 10:37:52
2
user avatar
Heaven Obahib
nice lovestory
2023-05-02 05:57:13
1
default avatar
Pallavi
Lovely .........
2023-05-01 19:17:17
1
default avatar
Allie
This author never disappoints. She is my favorite author. Her books are well written and captivating.
2023-05-01 09:10:21
1
default avatar
Traci Williams
Honestly, I was not as mad at the male lead in this book as I should have been. The female lead made a lot of impulsive decisions early on, and caused a lot of trouble. Overall, another great story I couldn’t put down. This was a different dynamic for the female lead in Emma Swan’s typical story.
2022-11-25 19:34:50
2
default avatar
kjad74
Looking forward to your next one. I do love reading this Author's books! Thanks for keeping us entertained Emma!
2022-02-07 09:37:10
2
user avatar
Lana West
Lovely story!
2022-02-04 04:11:42
1
user avatar
Alina Teodora Oprisan
Great job, Emma, your imagination is unlimited, the sky is your limit ...️...️
2022-01-31 02:53:20
1
default avatar
kjad74
Enjoying this story. Hating Queen....grr. Love how there are secrets slowly unfolding and not being rushed.
2022-01-18 09:46:06
2
default avatar
Kristina
This is a page turner. I enjoyed this book. I actually find humor in their constant bickering/spatting. A good read! Thank you author!
2023-07-05 08:34:31
2
user avatar
Deborah Johnson
Albeit the female lead unnerving me a few times, this was another excellent book from Emma. I can never get tired of your stories.
2023-04-14 04:03:55
1
32 Chapters
CHAPTER 1
“Has he arrived yet?”          Gemma approached slowly the reception desk. The girl working there looked at her a little puzzled.“Come on, Adele! Don’t keep me hanging here! Is he already in the building?”          She sat down at the reception desk, turning to face Adele who sat behind her. The receptionist gave her another bemused look and replied in the most innocent tone.“Who? Elvis? Nope, he left the building a long time ago!”          Adele tried not to laugh when Gemma started to shake her head and mimicked an amused expression.“Oh, my God, you’re so funny! Your talent as a stand-up comedian is wasted at ‘Starr Computers’… You should save a spot at ‘Gotham Comedy Club’… They will apprecia
last updateLast Updated : 2022-01-07
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CHAPTER 2
“Come on now, Declan,” the other man replied, this voice sounding younger.          He had called the first speaker Declan, confirming her belief that it was her boss the man behind that insulting remark about the female sex.“You like women as much as I do,” the man continued.“I enjoy them,” Declan Starr had corrected. “I don't know that I've ever actually really liked them. I've desired them, yes. But I find them preferable as bed-companions than as anything else.”“If one of them could hear the way you're talking...”          Oh, but one can, Gemma wanted to shout. She had never felt so disgusted and degraded. How a man as successful and good-looking as Declan Starr could judge all women by the type he had obviously been associating with for years was
last updateLast Updated : 2022-01-07
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CHAPTER 3
“Oh, you got back at me all right, Gemma Wakefield! This morning, not half an hour ago, in fact, I had a phone call from my friend, Jude Brennan congratulating me for my... engagement. I didn't know what the hell he was talking about,” Declan said forcefully. “I felt like a damned fool. But I managed to bluff my way out of it. Can you imagine what it felt like to be told by a third party that I'm supposed to be getting married? I didn't even know who Gemma Wakefield was, but I did know the name sounded familiar. Then I realized I hear it every morning when I entered the building.”“You called me… a mouse that day I came up here” Gemma reminded him resentfully. “A mouse…”“And for that, you landed us both in this mess?”          Gemma flicked back her hair.“It will be all right, Mr. Starr. We can just announce in the next issue tha
last updateLast Updated : 2022-01-07
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CHAPTER 4
“No, I wouldn't. But I do expect a little co-operation from you. This is all your fault, after all.”“All right, all right… I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!”          Declan looked unmoved.“Like I said, Gemma, it isn't enough.”          He opened the door further.“I have an important appointment in five minutes.”“Okay, I… But what do I tell everyone?” Gemma asked.“Oh, I don’t know… Tell them I've fallen madly in love with you and rushed you off your feet.”“Please… Don't tease…”          Her head was down bent. Declan wrenched her chin up roughly between thumb and forefinger.“Gemma, I don't know what the hell else you expect me to do. I can assu
last updateLast Updated : 2022-01-07
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CHAPTER 5
         Gemma stopped in her tracks, unconcerned when Declan turned to scowl his impatience.“But I don't want an engagement ring,” she declared.          Declan walked back the short distance between them, grasping her arm roughly and pulling her to one side of the sidewalk.“Too bad because you're going to get one. And, please, don't shout like that in the street!” he snapped.          She shook off his hand.“What else did you expect me to do? You walk so fast… You were miles away from me.”“Only because you deliberately hung back, behaving hysterically. What on earth is the matter with you? Surely you realize, since we are engaged, that I must give you a ring… People will be looking for that, especially this evening.”“I don't want a ring and I don
last updateLast Updated : 2022-01-10
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CHAPTER 6
          As it happened, she had exactly the right dress to wear to go out with this sophisticated man. It was a gown that had been bought for a special occasion that… had never taken place.          It was an expensive one, bought to impress a boyfriend that she had finished with before the promised evening out. How ironic that she should now wear the dress to go out with Declan Starr himself!“You’re so exhausting… Do you have to argue about everything?” Declan snapped.“I need to hold on to my identity against you,” Gemma answered defiantly.“Oh, God! You're impossible!”          He hailed a passing taxi, bundling her inside before sitting beside her.“Before you start a full-scale argument in the street,” he explained.“You're too dominant, t
last updateLast Updated : 2022-01-10
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CHAPTER 7
         Even so, Gemma wouldn't let him think he had got away with fooling her. Oh no, she would make sure she let him know his sordid little affair was known to her. And she wouldn't feel guilty anymore. Why should she?          It didn't take her long to find Declan among the crowd, his height and distinguished appearance making him conspicuous. Gemma moved swiftly through the people to be at his side. Declan turned to look down at her flushed face and gleaming eyes, raising one eyebrow questioningly.“I thought you'd got lost.”          Gemma took the glass of bubbly liquid he held out to her, flicking back her head haughtily and ignoring the curious stares of the other people.“You don't seem to be particularly bothered even if I had,” she replied coolly, sipping the chilled champagne.   &
last updateLast Updated : 2022-01-11
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CHAPTER 8
          Gemma's hand flew up to her pale cheek.“Oh, no!”“Oh yes,” Declan nodded curtly.“Well… Surely they wouldn't…”“I tell you they will.”“Oh, my God! What have I done…?”          Things seemed to go from bad to worse as far as she and Declan Starr were concerned. And it was all her own doing! Declan sighed.“I thought an engagement was bad enough, but this is something else completely. Marriages aren't so easy to get out of.”“Even so… I'm not marrying you, Mr. Starr!”“You may damn well have to,” Declan told her shortly.          Gemma wrenched the ring from her finger and threw it on to the dashboard of the car.“No! Not in this lifet
last updateLast Updated : 2022-01-12
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CHAPTER 9
          God… He was a master of the art of kissing… Gemma had no doubt about it, and her burning anger soon turned to something completely different. Instead of making her hate him, Declan Starr’s kiss had just confirmed that she was head over heels in love with him!          Gemma had been very nervous about meeting Declan again, but she needn't have bothered. He was acting as if nothing had happened between them. If anything, he was acting cooler than ever towards her, not having spoken more than a few sentences to her since she had got in the car.          Declan was looking vitally attractive in cream trousers and a black fitted shirt, turned back at the cuffs to expose a tanned length of an arm, the hair here lighter than the raven sheen of his head.          His clothing was
last updateLast Updated : 2022-01-13
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CHAPTER 10
         The room was his childhood bedroom… she just knew it. Everything around it was making that so obvious. His presence was imprinted in the walls, the furniture… everywhere.          Gemma turned almost guiltily as she heard a movement behind her, her eyes widening with shock as she took in Declan's bare chest and the way his trousers rested low down on his lean hips.          It was impossible to look away from him as his muscles rippled as he dried himself with a thick fluffy towel. Declan must have just taken a shower, and Gemma felt her cheeks color with embarrassment.          She dragged her eyes away from him with effort.“I-I'm sorry… I didn't realize you were…” she bit her lip nervously.“I'm perfectly decent, Gemma,” he t
last updateLast Updated : 2022-01-14
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