Hello. Just one update today. Sorry. xoxo Lisa Salman-author
She closed her eyes and tried to swallow her tears. His nearness was again making it all hard to…He pulled back and eyed her carefully.“Have you been crying?” he held her chin between his thumb and forefinger, “What is it?” She was in no position to speak so she just shook her head.“Bella?” he called her, but she just smiled.Somehow it was embarrassing for her that he was always there to witness her weak moment.“You can keep your guard down. Remember? It's me. Marwick!” he tried to assure her. And then pulled her back to him.“Let’s get you out of here,” River instantly shook her head and spoke for the first time.“My make-up. I must be looking…”“You look beautiful. If you want to go to your room for a touch-up, then that’s fine. But trust me. You are the most beautiful woman in that goddamn room, little lamb!”For some reason that made her chuckle. She sniffed her nose and tilted her head up to look at him, “thank you… for making me feel better.”“Pleasure!” he offered her his
He kept walking around attending to his guests and didn’t leave her hand for even a single second. Though she couldn’t understand a single word of the business language they were using, but still she felt happy. She didn’t care if the language was alien. She could only feel his hand holding her. Every now and then his thumb used to make circles on her palm unconsciously and she found it intimate. All she wanted to do was lean into his touch. As Marwick smoothly guided her through the crowd, she kept studying people around her. But the man beside her was the main subject. She couldn't help but steal glances at the man who seemed to effortlessly command the room. “Mr. Garner.” A woman approached them with a plate of hors d'oeuvres, “I’m planning to visit sycamore city soon. Would love to meet you there. Can I…” The young woman seemed energetic and ambitious. River had seen her somewhere. She looked at River with a smile, “How are you? I saw you when you made your way to the confere
River’s heart was drumming in her ears when she started getting ready for him. She hadn’t got enough lingerie in her luggage, but she decided to keep it simple. She took a shower and then shaved her legs. While slathering vanilla-scented body butter on her body she could almost imagine his hands roaming on her body. With a soft exhale, she reached for a deep maroon bra that was both elegant and pretty. The matching underwear was adorned with the same lace pattern. She carefully slipped into the lingerie, the sensation of the lace against her skin sending a tingling shiver down her spine. The deep maroon was complimenting her complexion, highlighting the subtle curves and contours of her body. She blow-dried her hair and left it cascading in loose waves around her shoulders, framing her face in a cascade of raven silk. As she admired herself in the mirror, she couldn't help but imagine his reaction when he would finally lay eyes on her. Now all she had to do was wear a light chiff
She wanted to tie her legs around his waist. But she waited until he went down and started sliding down his panties.She gulped down her own spit and lifted her legs. After tossing it away on the floor he looked straight at her.Only his gaze was enough to melt her.They both were not wearing anything and by now River wasn’t feeling embarrassed at her nakedness.She was burning. Her whole body was in flames. The place between her legs seemed to be blazing. There was a raw need in every fiber of her body. When she could not take it anymore, she closed her eyes and shook her head, “what’s happening to me?”She opened her eyes and looked at him nervously yet excitedly and licked her dry lips.The little action caught his attention. Holding her by her legs, he almost dragged her on the mattress to pull her to his hot body. Only to find hers was hotter.“Wait a minute,” he quickly got up from the bed and wrapped a towel around his waist. She frowned when he left the room.What was the matt
“I hope I didn’t hurt you,” he asked her, gently shifting her hair back, “I’ve never made love to a virgin and …” “You what?” she got up momentarily forgetting the sheets to cover herself. His eyes immediately dropped to her boo*bs. “Eyes here, Marwick.” She snapped the fingers of her good hand, “Who told you that I am a virgin?” Marwick who was slowly descending his head to kiss her bud, stopped right there. His eyes shot up in surprise, “You … I thought…” Now he rested his palms on the bed and sat up, “Last time when we were kissing during that hashbrown issue…” She nodded with a smile at the memory. “You said you are not much experienced in that department. So, I assumed…” “No! Oh!” she laughed, “I meant, I wasn’t experienced in the kissing department. Never got a chance with a good kisser who could train me.” She murmured and lifted her hand to touch the skin of his taut abs. “But no. I am not a virgin. Do you have any problem with that, Mr. Garner?” she was looking for any
Ashton Garner threw away the phone. It landed on the floor and crashed. Chad was looking at it open-mouthed.Today Ashton Garner called him to his place for telling him the good news that his job was almost ninety-nine percent confirmed.“Hell!” he balled his hands into fists, “how dare he?” Ashton Garner spat in anger.“That fu*cker! How dare he?” Ashton walked to the glass cupboard that had all the marble and glass decorations, collected from around the world.He looked around when his gaze fell on the paperweight. Without giving it much thought he picked it up and threw it on the glass showcase with full force.“Mr. Garner!” Chad went to him and tied his arms around his waist, “Please control yourself!” Chad tried to console him, but Ashton’s face was turning crimson in rage with each passing minute.“My friend is very close to Marwick and Marwick takes him as his mentor. This man promised me that he will not only talk to Marwick but will also make sure that you are hired. He had a
Her hand was searching for him beside her. It was the coldness that made her open her eyes and sit up in bed. He must have left quite early.She found it rude and that made her furious. How dare he?He seemed to like her. For God's sake, they made love last night and here he had…Couldn’t he wait for her? Or was he out, bringing breakfast or something? She jumped out of bed, with her sheet still wrapped around her.After the shower, she didn’t call for Greta and got ready without her help. It did take time, but she was angry and a little hurt too.She wore a cream-colored, off-shoulder top with black skin-fitting jeans.When Greta saw her coming out of the room, she panicked, “You are awake. You should have called me, ma’am.” River just nodded her head politely and walked to the small kitchen of the cottage.“I can order food for you from cottage service,” Greta offered looking at her face carefully, but she kept doing her work.The conference room was just across the living room, and
When she kept standing there drumming her fingers on her other arm, Marwick released a sigh and closed his eyes.“Ok. Sit down.” River nodded in appreciation and took a seat around the large table. Marwick sat beside her and picked up the intercom.“Greta. Please send breakfast for three people inside the conference room,” he barked and placed the receiver.“Now spill. What it is?” River demanded.Gerald raised his hand to ask for Marwick’s permission. When Marwick nodded, Gerald cleared his throat.“Marwick came here on my insistence so that we can get the bidding. And we succeeded. It was necessary for our international market. This bidding is signed and now we are again number one on the international market.”“Ok, that’s good.” River was aware of it because last night’s party was the celebration for securing the position back to number one.“The problem is these small biddings from local vendors. We are failing in it. Yesterday when we got this bidding, we also failed to grab a sm
(2 years later) “I went to the school today. The management is quite happy with Mimi’s progress,” Arabella told Jeff’s partner, Fione who moved to their house for her girls’ better education and job opportunities. Two years back, Marwick had offered Fiona to join his company. Even if she wouldn’t have moved here, Marwick had promised her long ago that he would take responsibility for Jeff’s family in his absence. Whether his girlfriend wanted to do a job or some business or even if she wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. He had promised himself that he would support the family as much as he could. There was an annex at a little distance from their giant house that was built especially for the family. “You should start dating, Fiona. You are still young,” the girl smiled and shook her head. There was a sketch of Jeff’s older daughter that was made by Arabella as promised to Mimi’s father. “Where are the twins?” Arabella asked her, looking around. “Oh, they just went to sleep. You wer
(Aniya: One month later)“Finally, we are here,” Aniya told Derek who held her hand and leaned to kiss her cheek.“Yeah. Finally!” He looked happy too. It was almost a dream come true. His dream girl was at last by his side.They had just landed at the Sydney Airport and they both knew that their fate had brought them here. The same fate that brought them together.Aniya took out her phone when it vibrated. She had received millions in her bank account. Her mouth was hung open.There was a message from Gerald.“Take it as your gift from Garner Empire. I know you will never accept it. But this is a joint gift from me, Ashley, and Marwick so that you can start your life without worry.”Aniya felt strange. As a director, Derek did receive a good chunk of his due funds after he resigned. But why Gerald, Ashley, and Marwick were giving her so much money? For God's sake, this meant only one thing. Now she was a billionaire.“What’s the matter, darling?” Derek asked her while walking to the
“What? Resign?” Gerald was looking at Aniya open-mouthed, “Are you nuts? Who makes such impulsive decisions, Aniya?” “I do!” Aniya lifted her chin up and there was this stubbornness evident on her face, “I have decided to follow him.” She flipped back her shoulder-length hair with style. That same Aniya style. Her smile did waver a bit when she felt Gerald’s pointed gaze on her face. “What?” She sounded defensive, “People do leave jobs and shift to other countries. I need to accompany him if we want a future together. I am quite sure my happiness lies with him.” “You were quite sure when you followed Marwick here and packed up your cleaning business. Just to be a receptionist in his office.” Gerald pointed out and that brought rage on her face. “Mr. Gerald Oliver. Are you questioning my decisions?” she cocked up a challenging brow at him. “No, Aniya,” Gerald leaned back in Marwick’s seat. After he left for Turkey, Gerald was taking care of everything behind him, “I am your frie
“Yes?” Ashton just got done fuc*king a dame and now he was smoking while scrolling his phone when he got this call.“Sir. I have bomb news.” The man on the other side told him with excitement. “Shoot!” he pressed the cigarette between his finger and thumb and flipped it towards the ashtray on the nightstand. The girl beside him was sleeping without bothering to cover herself and Ashton's hand was stroking her a*ss after getting rid of the cigarette. “It’s about your son, Mr. Ashton. Marwick Garner,”Ashton threw a quick glance towards the girl and decided to leave the room. He came out while knotting the robe around his gown.“I told you not to bother me about my son. I just wanted to know about Arabella Den. She is fuc*king eighteen and I was thinking that Marwick must have gotten rid of her by now.But no. She is still residing there.” Frustration was evident in his tone. “Or maybe my son is also taking advantage of her beauty,” Ashton said with a low chuckle. Arabella Den. E
From a very young age, he had been taking care of his business. His father being a womanizer could never pay attention to the family.As a result, Marwick had an indecisive mother who could never take a stand for her husband’s cheating.Marwick Garner started acting like a man of his family from his teens. His grandfather started trusting him and did something that he could never do to his son.He gave the business reins to Marwick without any interference. Ashton Garner got furious. He could never enjoy his father’s money this freely. And just when he thought he would soon have everything. All the wealth was handed over to Marwick Garner on a silver platter.Marwick worked hard and took the business to an international level. He had this knack for business from a very young age. Nobody could manipulate him that easily.But this girl River Brown?She took advantage of her sickness. She used him as a pawn and convinced him to go to Turkey. He thought, the couple really needed help.How
“So, are you seriously going to Turkey? Just to settle the couple?” Gerald asked him when Marwick was putting his passport in a leather pouch, “I can’t believe it. Don’t you think it’s an absurd demand?”“Sir. I have packed your bags.” Marwick’s butler informed him, “Please let me know if you need any more assistance,”Marwick dismissed him with a slight shake of his head and looked towards Gerald.“I have a very trustworthy staff, but I would really appreciate it if you stop mentioning the country repeatedly. The newly married couple might be dead due to your carelessness,” Marwick hissed but Gerald knew why he was frustrated.“Are you scared that you might bump into her?” Marwick zipped the pouch as if he wanted to zip Gerald’s mouth.“Nobody knows which city she flew to. She didn’t even inform River or Keanu about her whereabouts. I am not going for her. I am going for River and Keanu. Will help them initially and return. I have a business to run. Remember?”He went into the bathro
Aniya frowned and looked at Derek when someone whispered from behind, “The bride seems to be a cancer survivor. Such a brave girl she is.” That was the moment Aniya noticed her newly grown short hair under the veil.“Derek,” she breathed after leaning towards Derek.“I know, love. I know. We will talk about it later,” Derek kissed her hand lightly and looked ahead to witness the vows. ***“You may now kiss the bride,” The priest announced, and River kneeled in front of the wheelchair, where Keanu lifted her veil with a teary chuckle and bent down to kiss the bride.The small audience started cheering for them.“I love you so much,” Keanu almost choked on his tears. River wiped his cheeks and chuckled.“I love you too, Mr. Keanu. I am lucky to have you in my life. As my lover and as my husband.”“Not lucky as me, Mrs. Keanu,” He bent again to kiss his bride. They both were not embarrassed to cry and kissing each other again and again in front of a bunch of people.“Thank you so much.”
(1 month later)Aniya was standing before a full-length mirror pouting at her image. She lifted her black hair off her neck to examine herself, “I think a bun at the top will look more suitable,”The bathroom door opened, and Derek stepped out with a towel around him. He ran a slow gaze at Aniya who was wearing a blush pink gown that flowed just below her knees. The off-shoulder neckline that was lined with lace was giving her an ethereal look.He tried his best to take his eyes off her and started dressing up. After buttoning up his tailored charcoal gray suit jacket, he smirked.She was still confused about her hairstyle.“Whatever style you will decide, believe me. You will ace it.” He said and started brushing his fingers through his partially wet hair.When she didn’t respond and the pout stayed there on her lips, he walked up behind her and placed his hands on her bare shoulders. “What’s the fuss about?” he muttered close to her ear, causing goosebumps on her skin.“I can’t deci
Marwick and Keanu got busy with River. They used to feed her bone broth, fruits, and veggies. The daily multivitamin intake was a must. River had to be strong enough to get the chemo. Her next head shave was also due. The first one was done by Keanu. Garner Empire was still bustling with people and business. Gerald was taking care of all the meetings and Aniya was managing all the online commitments along with Mr. Penks. They wanted to give maximum time to Marwick so that he could spend most of his time with River. “River. Now don’t act like a bratty kid,” he heard Keanu’s stern voice who was trying to feed chicken corn soup to River. “I can’t. It’s been so many days since I last ate a burger or a pizza,” she had been puking everything and the doctor had asked them to feed her soft food. At last, Marwick who was working on his laptop got on his feet and placed the laptop aside, “Give it to me,” Marwick reached out to hold the bowl, “If you have any errands to run then you can g