Scarlett rushed to the door, and opened it. Her brows shot up in surprise, her mouth fell open.
“Good morning Scarlett,” Cameron greeted. He took in her shocked expression. She looked slightly dishevelled. Her hair was tied atop her head in a messy bun and she had on a big t-shirt and from her pointy nipples poking through the shirt, he assumed she had nothing on underneath. The mere thought of it, of her made him grow stiff in the pants. He cussed under his breath. It was futile to try to rein his feelings were it concerned her. They seemed to have a mind of their own and went wild at will, “Scarlett?”His calm voice jolted her, she opened the doors wider, giving him room to walk in, “I’m sorry, I was just surprised to see you,” she explained. He was casually dressed in casual pants and a shirt, it made him look much younger and then there was her, she hadn’t showered all morning, her hair was a bird’s nest on her head and she had on only a shirt, that stoppedHadley was back at her family home, and she hated being there. It didn’t offer her any warmth or kindness at all. Right now, she was in the living room, her head bowed, clutching tightly to her purse.“He’s just a man, Hadley, a normal man,” Mrs. Coleman chirped in. She was a tall, slim woman, her height accentuated by the six-inch heel she had on, with identical blonde hair like Hadley. Despite the annoyance in her voice, her face remained stiff, owing to the years of Botox she had injected into it. “He’s even promiscuous. It shouldn’t be that hard to get a proposal. That was how I got...” She halted.Hadley shot up to look at her, then glanced at her father, whose frown deepened.“No need to mince words, Crystal. Everybody on the bloody earth knows you married me for the money,” he, a way older man, tall and lanky, said.Mrs. Coleman looked away. “That’s beside the point. We are addressing our daughter right now. That is what’s more important.”“It’s not my fault you didn’t teach yo
Belinda Grayson hurried down the stairs, her brunette hair tied up in a ponytail. "Hadley?"Hadley rose to her feet when she saw her. "Mrs. Grayson."Belinda opened her arms wide for a hug. "Silly, I’ve told you, you can call me mother."Hadley shut her eyes and leaned closer for a hug. "Mother," it warmed her heart in a different way. She lingered in her arms.Belinda pulled away and peered at her, cupping her cheeks. "When the housekeeper told me you were here, I was pleasantly surprised. The last time we spoke, you told me you’d be out of the country by this time."She smiled politely at her. "Yeah, about that. I cancelled. I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind to work."Belinda searched her face. "Are you okay, hun? Is everything alright?"She heaved a deep sigh. Belinda grabbed her hand and led her to the couch. "What is it? You didn’t tell me you were coming, and also what happened? You had a
Cameron didn’t respond immediately, he buried his head in his hands and sat still. He was trying so hard to win Scarlett back, and when it looked like he was making progress, something would always just come up.Belinda’s brows creased in worry as she watched him. She had imagined what his reaction would be. Her best bet was he would flare up in anger and shout. She was used to that, she had listened to one too many of his temper tantrums as a growing child. That, she could handle, she was his mother after all, not this defeated silence. She couldn’t bear seeing him look like this, his shoulders slouched, his face buried, like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. “Cameron....” She tried to break the ice.He didn’t respond immediately.She swallowed.“What do you mean by plans are underway for you two to be married?” he asked.She almost sighed in relief, thankful that he was at least still talking to her. An argument wa
“No, I couldn’t bear to watch you break your hearts countless times, searching for something that isn’t there, that just doesn’t exist for you,” she replied. “You two are friends, and I tell you, that’s all you need to have a wonderful marriage, Cameron.”“I disagree,” he said in a flat tone. “When all of you made the marriage arrangements, you didn’t plan it with either of us in mind. You sought a way to preserve your wealth, to increase it, to keep it amongst yourselves...” He trailed off.She shook her head, "Cameron, let me..."“It was all monetary benefits for you, for father, for the Colemans when you arranged our marriage and buried it under layers and layers of contracts. You wanted to ensure we were trapped, unable to get out of it because that was the only way you could ensure that your empire expanded.”She shook her head, “You two were never going to be able to find someone who truly loves you simply for who you are.”
When Cameron walked into work that morning, he found Lucious speaking excitedly with someone outside his office.“Good morning, Mr. Grayson,” Lucious greeted with a wave and a wide smile plastered on his face.Cameron tipped his head at him, “Good morning, Lucious.” He was curious about what had him so excited early in the morning. It was typical of him, but there was something more.He was disappointed when he walked through Scarlett’s office and she wasn’t seated. He always looked forward to seeing her every morning, she brightened his day. He plopped down on his chair and let out a huge sigh. Maybe the reason she wasn’t yet seated was that he woke up way too early than usual and rushed down to work just to see her. It was pathetic, but it was the truth. He could barely sleep or do anything now that she wasn’t speaking to him.He dived right into work, there were stacks of files on his table, pending workload that had been backtracked from the previous day. He was nose-deep into hi
Lucious was still whining when she walked into Cameron’s office. He looked up at her, “Shut the door after you.”It wasn’t supposed to mean anything, yet it made her heart beat faster in her chest. Suddenly, the energy in the room was supercharged. The door clicked shut, and she was alone with Cameron in his office. If experience had taught her anything, it was that she and Cameron never fared well alone. They always made the wrong decisions, and even as she was standing at his doorway, admiring the man sitting across from her, the serious look on his face as he typed on his laptop, she realized that she didn’t care if they made the wrong decisions again today. Heck, she wanted...“Are you going to sit down, or are you going to stand guard at my office?” he peered at her, with a look of amusement on his face.She smiled sheepishly, “I...I...I’m just going to sit,” she pointed at the chair and walked up to it.“I’d like that very much,” he replied. He watched her as she sat down and la
The words hung in the air between them. He didn’t miss the sadness in her voice when she said it. He didn’t want to push or pry. He wanted her to open up to him of her own free will, so he waited. The emotions danced around her face as she battled with the idea of opening up. Finally, she exhaled and looked up at him, “Until the woman came and Christmas was never the same again...” She paused, “My dad suddenly had to be at work every Christmas morning, and every other holiday. The first year, my mother and I had Christmas on our own...” She shook her head, “It wasn’t the same, but we held out hope for the next year...”He nodded.“Of course, my mother found out earlier, and she let me believe the lie that he was working and he couldn’t make time for a couple of years...” She dryly chuckled, “I was so dumb.”He took her hand in his, “No, you weren’t.”She glanced at their linked hands, grateful for the warmth they provided her, “I found o
Jaxon gently tugged at her hand as they walked out of the office and into the elevators. He was fighting the urge to yank her violently down the hallway. His grip around her wrist was tight, and yet he managed to flash a smile at a few persons who recognized him. He waved at the security man at the exit and led her to the car park. He opened the door for her, helped her in, then turned around, got into the car, and shut the door.They sat in silence for a while. He rested his head against the steering wheel while she sat impossibly stiff, scared that if she moved, he’d flip.Her heart pounded in her chest. The silence that stretched between them was agonizing. “Jaxon...”“You slept with your boss at the office!” He yelled and slammed the wheel, the horn going off, startling her.What would she answer to that? Was there a correct answer to his question? The truth would anger him, and the bigger truth, well, she hoped she never had to tell him. She couldn’t imagine what he would do.She
Lucious arrived fashionably late, as always, for Mrs. Grayson’s birthday celebration. Through no fault of his own, his flight had been delayed. He rushed in when the party was already underway, grabbed a glass of champagne, and blended in with the merry crowd. His eyes searched the room for familiar faces, and then he spotted her: Scarlett Knowles.She looked beautiful in the blue and white floral dress she was wearing. He rushed towards her, grabbed her shoulders from behind, and exclaimed, “Hello, Scarlett!”She turned around sharply, her eyes widening in excitement. “Lucious! You got here late. I was beginning to think you wouldn’t come anymore!”He rolled his eyes. “I had the most hectic flight, you won’t believe it…” He let out a big exhale and fanned himself with his hands. “The flight got delayed, and we encountered some difficulties on the way here. I should have just listened to Mr. King's advice and flown private…”Scarlett gave him a knowing gaze. “Mr. King, huh?”Lucious g
“Happy birthday to you...” Everyone's voices rose together in a slightly off-key rendition of "Happy Birthday."Belinda beamed, glowing as her family and friends sang together for her. They were all gathered at a hall in the resort. Her birthday celebration was a small, cozy event. At the end of the rendition, everyone stepped forward to personally wish her a happy birthday and hug her.Her husband, Mr. Grayson walked up to her, beaming with smiles. He opened a jewelry box and revealed a diamond necklace. “I had one especially made just for you, there’s only one special gem, just like you...” He leaned close and kissed the top of her head.There were a lot of "aww's" from the crowd.She shut her eyes. “Thank you, my love.”Her grandchildren, Loretta and Levi, had brought gifts for her: handmade cards and letters. It was the cutest thing. Levi’s gifts were mostly illegible scribblings, while Loretta’s were more meaningful, but she loved and appreciated every one of them.Cameron and Va
Vanessa walked into the lounge, her hands folded across her chest, “Cameron! Cameron!” She yelled aloud as she walked in.He rolled his eyes, “Nessa, it says relaxing lounge for a reason,” he gestured towards the sign at the door.She glanced at it and back at her scruffy-looking brother, “Yes, I can see that it clearly says relaxing lounge and has a no alcohol policy so what’s that about?” she pointed at the half-full bottle of whisky by his side.He exhaled, “Does it matter? We bought out the whole place. The rules don’t apply anymore.”She walked up to him, “I don’t think that’s how rules work, but you’ve never been one to abide by any rule ever, so I can’t say I’m surprised.”He groaned, the last thing, okay maybe not the last thing. The second to last thing he wanted to hear was his sister’s bickering. The last thing was definitely his mother's voice chiding him for something, “What are you here for, Vanessa?”She gave him a long look. He lay on the couch, his hair overgrown, spo
Cameron bit down on his lips, liking the way she called out his name softly. It made him rock hard. “I want to bend you over right now, right here, and make love to you until your body shakes in excitement. I’d like to hear you cry out my name as you beg me to make love to you, knowing no other man will ever give you pleasure like I would, knowing it will never be enough…”Scarlett let out a small squeak. He spun her around until she was facing him and pulled her close. Her breasts were pressed up against him, almost spilling out of her dress. He stared at them with a burning look of desire in his eyes.Jaxon was fuming where he stood. Somewhere in the middle of the song, he had stopped pretending like he wanted to dance. He just stopped and stared at them. His hands were clenched into fists. Cameron’s hands were roaming, whispering into Scarlett’s ears, and she looked like she was enjoying it, every bit of it. Her eyes were shut, and she was leaning into Cameron. She had no fear for
It was going to be fun, alright! Cameron gulped down two more shots, loving the burn of the liquid as it trickled down his throat. This was what he needed. He turned around to leave. Jaxon finalized their order before he left.Cameron was only halfway towards Scarlett and Hadley when a familiar song came on the speakers. He stopped in his tracks to listen, his lips curling into a small smile. He looked up to meet those bright blue eyes staring at him with flushed cheeks. He knew exactly what she was thinking about at the moment. He walked up to her and grabbed her, “Shall I have the first dance, Scarr?”Scarlett looked around in worry.Hadley opened her mouth in protest, “Cam—”“Oh, it’s only an old-fashioned dance, love,” he cut in. “It will be good for us, remember?” he used her exact words against her.Hadley frowned.“What the hell, man?” Jaxon protested when he saw Cameron was holding hands with her.Cameron spun around to face Jaxon, still holding onto her. “Oh, it’s only a danc
As they got out of the car, Hadley leaned forward, cupped his cheeks, and kissed him, “This will be good for us.”Cameron stared at her hesitantly.“I promise.” She leaned into him, grabbed his hand, and put it around her waist, “You’ve been stuck up all day, overthinking, worrying...” She pulled at his cheeks, “You’re beginning to have worry lines. You’re in need of a good rest…”He gave her a look.She burst into soft laughter, “Yes, you need rest and you’ll rest later tonight. You’re also in need of some fun. I don’t think you have enjoyed any bit of our trip here. You can’t keep wallowing in your problems, let loose and let’s party!”He glanced at the neon flashing sign; it read Club Dazzle. They had driven a long way to find the club. Apparently, it was a hotspot for tourists. He could easily blend in without being noticed, and maybe that was what he needed. A night without Scarlett, a wild night drinking and dancing might just be enough to stop thinking about her. He hardly beli
Jaxon peered into the room with a frown on his face, “Are you sure the petals are enough?” he asked.The young brunette girl nodded, “There isn’t a lot to work with here. The twin-sized beds don't really help..."” She trailed off.His frown deepened, “Have you checked with the staff? Are there no available rooms?”She nodded, “This resort is fully booked by the Graysons. The neighboring lodges are fully booked at this time of year. The nearest hotel room is two hours away…”Damn you, Cameron! Jaxon cursed under his breath. His plans to take Scarlett to bed were getting frustrating each and every day. He hated sleeping next to her yet unable to touch her. She usually slept with her back to him and a blanket covering her head. It was like she was taking extra care to get further away from him as she possibly could. There were no other rooms available, and he had no car to make the two-hour journey.He had to improvise and make do with what he had. He couldn’t continue to hold back, it w
Cameron stepped out for a walk, and this time he truly needed the time alone and the fresh air. He needed to settle with his thoughts and clear his head. He had walked for a long distance, without his phone or his headphones, and then a thought hit him, Levi! He had been so caught up in his life falling apart; he hadn’t given his son much thought. He walked straight to the suite he shared with Ms. Sharma, and to his amazement, Scarlett was there.She stared wide-eyed at him when he walked in. She was sitting on the bed, with Levi in her arms. Ms. Sharma was giggling about something she said; she stopped when she saw him.Cameron took in her appearance. She was wearing a pale pink robe, her hair was tied up in a messy bun atop her head. Her suite was not far from Levi’s, so she had probably made a quick stop. He had hoped to catch her alone since the first day he spotted her at the airport. He had memorized a long list of questions he hoped to ask her when he did, m
Hadley stared at her reflection in the mirror, her blonde hair styled to perfection and cascading in waves down her back. She reapplied her bright red lipstick and admired her reflection in the mirror. She had on lacy lingerie that left next to nothing to the imagination. Of course, it was bright red lingerie. Red was Cameron's favorite color, something she had learned only a few hours ago, which was pathetic. But she wasn’t going to put herself down, not today. Today was great, she and Cameron had gotten a lot closer. She had half-expected him to push her off when she started kissing him earlier, but he didn’t. He let her, all of that in front of Scarlett. She would be dumb not to get the message that Cameron was hers and hers alone.As if on cue, the doors opened, and he walked in. He froze and stared at her. For some unexplainable reason, she was unnerved by his piercing stare. She had done this a couple of times. She was a model, being seductive was her job. S