Despite the pleas raging in my skull and begging for me to stop, I refuse to let go of Jenna. My shock had been too many levels too high after Ethan introduced her as his daughter, and now, having her stand so close to me is doing so many things to my head.My hands go around her waist, and I drop my head down to graze my lips against her ear. She shivers at the words that leave my mouth, but that's the least one of our problems. "I thought I heard your voice. What is going on here?"I refrain from dropping my hand to quickly from her daughter's back. Instead, I raise my eyes to hers and flash a dazzling smile. "Dian, I didn't think you would still be up." I let my fingers relax and push Jenna softly away from myself. "Is your daughter always so clumsy? Or is it just an effect of being new to the working class?" I tease.Ethan's wife, Dian, smiles and visibly relaxes. "I guess she's so young and used to being fended for that she has a hard time getting used to the working environment
JENNAMy mind skips several beats after Mr. Jackson turns his very unwanted attention in my direction. My brain struggles to come up with a befitting response to help get us out of the gossiping mess we've found ourselves in thanks to Kim's unwillingness to quit interrogating me.I clear my throat and fix him with my most serious expression. "Well, as much as I'd love to share the ideas I already have as a market researcher, it is imperative that I get an insight into the possible cause in profit decline." I turn to face Kim then and arch a brow at her. "Is this profit decline a result of a decrease in sales, or an increase in cost. Or is it a result of the combination of both."By the time I turn back to face Mr. Jackson, his face is covered in a pleased expression. "Very well." He nods at me. "It appears that you have a deeper understanding of marketing strategies than I originally thought. Wrap this up quickly, and if you do it well enough, I just might put in a good word for both
JENNAMy mind and body have been going in two opposite directions a lot lately. On the surface, I'm a capable employee meeting the demands of her job and superiors, but on the inside, I'm on the verge of a mental breakdown.I'm still torn on what decision to make where Dylan is concerned. I don't know whether or be happy or upset that he fled the way he did the yesterday. While my head is telling me that having a relationship of any sort with my boss, despite the technicalities surrounding it, is a bad idea, my body completely melts whenever he's near.One touch from him and I'm ready to rip all of my clothes off. Hell, it only takes one look for me to be a dripping mess.I step out of the elevator, move in the direction of the office space I occupy amongst other interns, and freeze in place. What the actual fuck?!There's a huge as hell bouquet on my desk, and an angry Dylan is standing in front of it with his assistant, Donald."I have no idea, Sir. I thought it was sent by someone
"He would need to have the surgery within or before the end of three days." The doctor pauses and shoots me a look that's filled with sorrow and pity. "If he doesn't get it removed before then, the likelihood of his survival and absolute recovery would be zero."I dab at the tears that are making a freefall down my face. "Is there nothing else that can be done, doctor?"She shakes her head sadly. "There's not much else that we can do. You'd obviously amass more of the medical debts, but I'd assume that would be better than losing your brother entirely."I nod my head quickly to let her know that I completely understand. "Of course." I wipe more tears off my face. "Do whatever needs to be done to save his life, Doctor. I would find a way to gather the money and...""Sorry to interrupt, but you're being sought in the emergency unit, Dr. Maxwell." A nurse pokes her head in through the door that's cracked halfway open.Dr. Maxwell looks at the nurse and tilts her head in a professional no
Yesterday wasn't so bad. I mean it could have brnr so much worse, I can still remember the amount of embarrassment I was flooded with when Cat decided to rip my clothes to shreds, but then Rye had swooped in and saved the day; and that kiss at my dorm door? Boy! That kiss was heaven."What are you blushing about?" Diana comments from beside me, causing me to jolt back into the here and now.I smiled sheepishly at her. "Nothing. I was just lost in thought.""You never did tell me why it was that you left school before closing hours." She eyed me closely.My butt squirmed on the stool I was perched on as we had breakfast before heading for school. I think about all the different things I've had to live through this week, and it's only Thursday. "I ran into some trouble after P.E and I had to come back home." I lied through my teeth.Diana's face pulls into a grimace and she smiles at me. "Yikes. Only you would have such badluck to have your period immediately after your one night of fu
I heard the one thing I never thought I would at my own sister's wedding, and that was gunshots. Loud, precise and lethal.Dariole dropped to the floor with a gaping hole in the center of his head and Lajla gave a scream that was part pain and part hurt.My eyes, just before they began a quick scan of our surroundings, picked up on the moment rage won over anything else that she was feeling. She hitched her skirt up in the next instant, unstrapping a gun from her thigh and shooting into the air just before she pounced after the shooting men.They fell like swatted flies, the shooting popped as we all exchanged bullets, some with the need to protect, and others with the mere need to escape.You might be wondering how we got here? Well, let me take you through this story from the very beginning.My sister was dressed as a prim and proper lady. What a shock. I stared on with glistening eyes as she trudged down the aisle on the arm of one of our most trusted employees and Dad's second in
Yesterday wasn't so bad. I mean it could have brnr so much worse, I can still remember the amount of embarrassment I was flooded with when Cat decided to rip my clothes to shreds, but then Rye had swooped in and saved the day; and that kiss at my dorm door? Boy! That kiss was heaven."What are you blushing about?" Diana comments from beside me, causing me to jolt back into the here and now.I smiled sheepishly at her. "Nothing. I was just lost in thought.""You never did tell me why it was that you left school before closing hours." She eyed me closely.My butt squirmed on the stool I was perched on as we had breakfast before heading for school. I think about all the different things I've had to live through this week, and it's only Thursday. "I ran into some trouble after P.E and I had to come back home." I lied through my teeth.Diana's face pulls into a grimace and she smiles at me. "Yikes. Only you would have such badluck to have your period immediately after your one night of fu
"He would need to have the surgery within or before the end of three days." The doctor pauses and shoots me a look that's filled with sorrow and pity. "If he doesn't get it removed before then, the likelihood of his survival and absolute recovery would be zero."I dab at the tears that are making a freefall down my face. "Is there nothing else that can be done, doctor?"She shakes her head sadly. "There's not much else that we can do. You'd obviously amass more of the medical debts, but I'd assume that would be better than losing your brother entirely."I nod my head quickly to let her know that I completely understand. "Of course." I wipe more tears off my face. "Do whatever needs to be done to save his life, Doctor. I would find a way to gather the money and...""Sorry to interrupt, but you're being sought in the emergency unit, Dr. Maxwell." A nurse pokes her head in through the door that's cracked halfway open.Dr. Maxwell looks at the nurse and tilts her head in a professional no
I would go through everything in this world to get a fee of those good moments with Danil again. The moments when he held me in his arms and whispered comforting reassurances to me, the moments when he was both a friend and leader. So scary and capable and..."How much of a masochist am I?" I grumble out loud, my voice sounding tired and angry all at once."You love him, that doesn't make you a masochist." Hannah walks into the kitchen with a tray in hand and a look of understanding on her face."He doesnt deserve my love. He is a traitorous bastard." My declaration has another slice of red hot pain racing along my spine."You don't know that for sure, Xhelixia. For all we know he is just as much a victim as you are.""I saw them." I close my eyes against the tears that are already threatening to make an appearance, the visual of Danil smiling up at Hera flashing before my mind's eye. "I saw it all myself."Hannah walks over to me after putting the tray down on the counter top, then t
I would go through everything in this world to get a fee of those good moments with Danil again. The moments when he held me in his arms and whispered comforting reassurances to me, the moments when he was both a friend and leader. So scary and capable and..."How much of a masochist am I?" I grumble out loud, my voice sounding tired and angry all at once."You love him, that doesn't make you a masochist." Hannah walks into the kitchen with a tray in hand and a look of understanding on her face."He doesnt deserve my love. He is a traitorous bastard." My declaration has another slice of red hot pain racing along my spine."You don't know that for sure, Xhelixia. For all we know he is just as much a victim as you are.""I saw them." I close my eyes against the tears that are already threatening to make an appearance, the visual of Danil smiling up at Hera flashing before my mind's eye. "I saw it all myself."Hannah walks over to me after putting the tray down on the counter top, then t
DYLAN "How did it go with Mr. Drako?" Dominika asks over the phone. She has been calling me non-stop for the last 3 days, and I would be a liar if I said it didn't bother me to no end that she was constantly on my case. "I don't see how that's any of your business." My tone is curt and filled with disinterest. "But more importantly, how did you know I had a run- in with Drako?" She laughs softly. "Oh for the love of God, Dylan. I know about everything that's going on there in New York. Don't insult me." "You can only have information like that if you've been conversing with Donald. And for his sake, I hope he has not been feeding you sensitive information like that." "You offend me, Dylan. Why do you choose to treat me like a common stranger after everything we've been through?" Her tone is infused with hurt. "Whatever we shared is over now, Dominika." "You never believed I had nothing to do with your family's disappearance, did you?" She sighs into the phone. "I swear
RYEI smiled as the first rays of sunlight kissed my eyes this morning, stretching, with them still shut, against my pillow.It's been years since I've had such decent sleep. And I have the fiery silver head that spent the night curled up against me like a koala to thank for getting it last night. Sure, she had snuck out this morning - if you can even call it that - at the first crack of dawn; smelling a lot like fear and regret.There is something ridiculously special about that girl, and I have every intention if finding it out. I definitely do feel a tinge of regret for taking her virginity in that way, but it couldn't be helped. I didn't want her tied to me in ways that would restrict her freedom.My lounging is interrupted by the shrill ringing of my phone, and I groan. Who could it be this early in the morning?I roll over to grab the phone from the nightstand. "Father?""Lyrik. What the hell are you doing?" He thinders from the other end of the line."What do you think? I was
JENNA"Today has been too many forms of annoying. I don't think I can take any more of the weekend." I complain into my phone, drowning Kim in my sorrows.I would totally call Jenny right now, but I don't think I can just call on her with all of my baggage after months of barely there contact.Her laughter travels into my ears, pissing me off with its sweetness. "What's so wrong with the weekend? I thought we all wanted to have the time to chill out after a stressful week?"A groan slips past my throat. "You know what I'm talking about, Kim.""What the fuck is so wrong with having some time to chill? You need the rest more than anyone else.""But...""But what?" She counters then heaves a huge sigh, probably exhausted with my whining already. "Look, Jenna, you need to get your shit together. Why haven't you told him about it yet?""Eva showed up.""I'm sorry, what?!" She yells into the receiver. "You know what? Hold on, this is not a phone conversation."With that the call cuts off. F
DYLAN"Fuck." Jenna's soft mutter carries a lot of emotion, enough that I don't have to wonder if something is wrong. It most definitely is.I turn around to face the woman standing behind me. It was her voice and interruption that caused Jenna to freeze anyway."Can I help you?" I ask the definitely unfamiliar face.She looks down at me, dragging her attention away from Jenna, who looks positively unimpressed. "I'm sorry to barge in on you this way, Sir. But..." she pauses, her eyes wide and her mouth the shape of an o. "You are Dylan Carlson, the owner of Carlson's Inc. and our boss.""I don't see how you can call him your boss when you no longer work for the company." Jenna speaks up at the same time that I go..."In what department do you work?"She completely ignores Jenna and her question, choosing instead to bask me in all of her very unwanted attention. "I used to work for the marketing department, but I was unjustly laid off a few weeks ago, and I wondered why." Her gaze dar
JENNAEverything is wrong. Every single fucking thing is wrong."You need to calm down, Jenna. The baby would appreciate you for it." Kim's voice is the usual mask of intense calm that I envy.My head swivels in her direction and I fix her a glare. "The baby is exactly what the problem is, Kim. I don't know the first thing about being a mother and I am fucking pregnant.""Yeah, you are. I don't see what the issue is." She looks at me like I've gone insane and it just makes my blood boil.I throw my hands up in exasperation. "I am pregnant, Kim." My voice wobbles a bit.She rolls her eyes. "So you've said the last I don't know... million times? I don't see what's so wrong with being pregnant." Her hand moves over her body in a dramatic way. "I am a single mother, remember? Not the end of the world.""You know who the father of this baby is.""Dylan Carlson. Your boss and ex-lover. Yeah?""How the hell am I supposed to be fine when I'm carrying a child for my own boss?"She gets out of
Yesterday wasn't so bad. I mean it could have been so much worse, I can still remember the amount of embarrassment I was flooded with when Cat decided to rip my clothes to shreds, but then Rye had swooped in and saved the day; and that kiss at my dorm door? Boy! That kiss was heaven."What are you blushing about?" Diana comments from beside me, causing me to jolt back into the here and now.I smiled sheepishly at her. "Nothing. I was just lost in thought.""You never did tell me why it was that you left school before closing hours." She eyed me closely.My butt squirmed on the stool I was perched on as we had breakfast before heading for school. I think about all the different things I've had to live through this week, and it's only Thursday. "I ran into some trouble after P.E and I had to come back home." I lied through my teeth.Diana's face pulls into a grimace and she smiles at me. "Yikes. Only you would have such badluck to have your period immediately after your one night of fu
Anger takes over her features, and she glares at me. "What the hell is wrong with you? What gives you the right to speak to me that way?""I don't like to repeat myself, Jenna..."She cuts me off arrogantly. "That's just so sad, Dylan. Or is it Mr. Carlson? I would like to know which one I am talking to right now."My eyes burn into hers and it takes all of my self control to not bend her over my thighs and spank the fuck out of her."Jenna..."She cuts me off again. "I don't know what it is that is wrong with you, but it gives you no right to talk to me this way.""You ignored my texts." I state in a matter of fact tone.A single brow archs on her face and she rolls her eyes. "You were rude there too. And what are you? Thirteen?"She finally moves closer and takes a seat on one of the seats opposite mine. "What do you want?""Your mom's been calling me. Did you say anything to her about the incident?"Her head bobs in a nod. "Yeah, and I pled with her to keep it from Dad till I retur