Hannah“If you bend over a little bit more, I might just give you a bigger tip.” A huge guy in a red leather jacket said loudly as I cleared the table opposite his.“Damn girl are you on the menu too? I’d order you anytime.” His friend added whistling as they broke into raucous laughter.Those words weren’t new to me anymore. Catcalling was a regular thing with the men in Earthly Paradise nightclub. I’d heard it too many times and learned how to shove it all down instead of getting affected by it. Lately, I just flash a smile and move along whenever a customer makes a flirtatious advance about my beauty or crosses a line with an inappropriate sexual comment.I hated working here and did not want to entertain any more of their antics, but I did not have any other option. It was the only place I could find that would hire a college dropout with no degree.For years I blamed my sister, Lily for how our lives turned out. She tore our family apart. Years ago, our father won a contract de
HannahI felt a sharp headache as I slowly blinked my eyes open, wondering where I was.The room felt unfamiliar, decorated with tall ceilings, artworks, and designs as I scanned my eyes around.I tried to sit up, but a painful knot twisted in my stomach, forcing me back onto the bed. That’s when my eyes caught him, standing with arms crossed behind his back in front of the wide glass windows.Immediately, I panicked and my heart started racing, fearing the worst. He was wearing a black suit, with beautiful brown hair slicked backward.Suddenly he turned towards me and his gaze met mine instantly. I was struck by his features; blue eyes as deep as the ocean, a stubble jawline, and high cheekbones. It felt oddly strange. I wasn’t one to swoon easily, but something about this man made my heart skip.“Oh good you’re awake,” he said with a smile that sent chills down my spine.“Wh-who are you? Where am I?” I asked, forcing myself up from the bed, but before he could say anything, I sudde
Ethan‘After all these years, why am I still hung up on you?’ I sighed as Clint drove back home.I now realize why I was infatuated by her. She reminded me of Lily; her grace, her calmness, these were all things that Lily had, things I loved about her. But now that feeling had been replaced with something I wanted to let go of, but still couldn’t – resentment.A part of me despised and hated her for what she did to me, but another part of me still held on to her, wanting her despite the pain she’d caused me.Seeing Hannah that night stirred some conflicting feelings inside me. Feelings about Lily. I wanted her to suffer, to be trampled with nothing but pain. To feel torn the same way I did when she left me. I wanted to be the one to cause her tears, but also dry them and love her softly as she dealt with that pain.Her betrayal stung so deeply. She was the last person I expected to ever do something like that to me, which was why I found it hard to get her off my mind. Lily wasn’t li
Ethan“How long?” I asked, my finger tracing the edge of the envelope.“How long have you had this?” Jane glanced at Reginald nervously and the latter avoided her gaze.“How long, Jane?!” I bellowed angrily, causing her to tremble in fear.“I’m-I’m sorry Master Ethan, I didn’t know how to tell you. I found the letter about a month ago in Ms. Young’s room.” Aunt Jane said quickly and breathed out as if a heavy load had been lifted from her chest.A soft scoff escaped my lips. It took a while to process what she had said. I couldn’t believe it, I didn't want to. This entire time, I imagined the worst had happened to her, but it turned out she wasn’t lost, she just didn’t want to come back to me. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks as a wry smile parted my lips.Slowly, I tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter, my heart beating faster as I unfolded it.“Ethan, I’m sorry I have to say goodbye this way. You deserve more than a piece of paper, but it’s the only way I can
HannahI rushed through my door and immediately headed to my bedroom, my mind still reeling from that strange offer.I couldn’t believe I was even still thinking about this. Five million dollars was a huge amount of money, but it wasn’t worth getting married to someone I did not know.Wiping my forehead nervously, I sat down and opened my laptop, glad that I had at least made it back home in time for the Screenwriter examination. Immediately, an email notification popped up on my screen from Royal Group, and anxiously, I clicked on it.My eyes widened in horror as I read the mail, “Rejected?” I blurted in disbelief, slumping into my seat.“But I haven’t even taken the examination yet.” I thought, trying to process what was happening. Soon as the realization set in, my whole body weakened and tears welled up in my eyes. This was my dream, my only hope of taking care of my mother’s medical bills. I’d done everything right, and followed all the application rules, so why was I rejected?
HannahI thought signing my signature on that contract would be the toughest thing, but walking back home, legally married to a man you did not know topped it.My mind shook still as I walked back home. My thoughts racing, a mix of disbelief and fear. I didn’t even know my husband’s name, but judging from everything he did just to get me to sign this contract, I surmised he must have been a big-time figure. Still, for all I knew he could have been a cold ruthless man. Any man who gave tough ultimatums on the condition of a marriage had to be.‘What did I get myself into?’ I muttered to myself as I continued walking down the street, tears welling in my eyes.I tried to look at the bright side of things. I now had five million dollars to my name, but the cost of it made it more difficult to feel good about it.For years, I’d promised myself that I wouldn’t fall victim to the games of another man, or bare my heart so open to the point it gets broken, but he had left me no choice.Here
Hannah shrieked at the sound of the voice and recoiled immediately, scanning her eyes around to find the source of it. As soon as her face landed on the small figure, she patted her forehead in relief, holding her chest in her hands.“Don’t do that Grace.” She said in relief, tossing her bag over a chair.Grace was Hannah’s best friend, or at least she called herself that. In the actual sense of it, she was Hannah’s only friend since she came to the city. Despite having other friends, and trying to introduce them to Hannah. She found out it was a futile attempt, and decided to just let it go. “Do what? Walk into my best friend’s house when she’s not around? How else am I supposed to find the man she’s been hiding away all this time?” Grace teased with a warm smile and stood up.“What man?” Hannah suddenly asked, her brows arching in confusion.“C’mon Hannah. You know that act doesn’t work on me. A man left you flowers at your doorstep with a letter. Why didn’t you tell me you were s
“What are you talking about?” Grace asked, shooting her a curious stare.Hannah looked disturbed, there was no easy way to say this. She knew what Grace’s reaction would be the minute she told her that she had gotten married. “Well say it already Hannah? What is it?” Grace interrupted her train of thought.Hannah heaved a deep sigh, stood from the bed, and walked toward her bedroom window with a troubled expression. Looking outside, she wished this could all go away. Her life had completely changed in just a few hours and she was losing control.The worst part of this is that she knew she was trapped. There was nothing else to do, and even if there was, she had already signed the marriage contract and had just a few hours to hand it over to Ethan, and with Alfred Wolfe now after her, all her hopes of getting her life back had slithered away. If she refused to marry Ethan Ford, surely it wouldn’t take long for Alfred to find her. But on the other hand, if she went ahead with this sha
Author’s POV“What is a letter doing here?” Hannah wondered, still staring at the letter curiously. After a while, she approached the dress, gently picked it up, and observed the intricate designs, and then her gaze shifted back to the letter. Hannah heaved a deep sigh, glancing at the door. At first, she thought it was Ethan, but they shared a room and Hannah could not imagine what it was he had to say that he just couldn’t say to her. Slowly, she picked up the letter and tore open the seal. However, as soon as she noticed who it was from, she froze in shock and the letter fell right out of her hands. Without thinking, Hannah turned and ran out of the room into the hallway, scanning her eyes around hoping to find the waitress from before, but she was too late, she was already gone. After some more time searching the hallways and trying to describe the waitress from earlier even though she had barely gotten a good look at her, Hannah finally gave up and returned to her room.She pace
Author’s POV“You want me to do what?!” Hannah exclaimed, the weight of the words still hanging in the air.She could feel her heart racing already from the thought of it. Her relationship with Ethan was already rocky enough as it was, the last thing she wanted to do was to complicate that with a kiss. “Come on, Hannah, this shouldn’t be difficult to do. All I’m asking is that you kiss your husband. How difficult could that be?” He replied with a hint of sarcasm.Hannah paced around the room frantically. She was afraid when she came to this party, knowing she’d have to act unnaturally close to Ethan to sell off their act as a real married couple, but she never expected that she’d have to kiss him.Things had just escalated quickly. “I can’t do it. I won’t.” Hannah replied sharply.A deep sigh returned on the other end of the line, and then went silent for a while. “Hannah, look we both have to do things we don’t want to do to get what we want. You of all people should know that. Yo
Author’s POV“You want me to do what?!” Hannah exclaimed, the weight of the words still hanging in the air.She could feel her heart racing already from the thought of it. Her relationship with Ethan was already rocky enough as it was, the last thing she wanted to do was to complicate that with a kiss. “Come on, Hannah, this shouldn’t be difficult to do. All I’m asking is that you kiss your husband. How difficult could that be?” He replied with a hint of sarcasm.Hannah paced around the room frantically. She was afraid when she came to this party, knowing she’d have to act unnaturally close to Ethan to sell off their act as a real married couple, but she never expected that she’d have to kiss him.Things had just escalated quickly. “I can’t do it. I won’t.” Hannah replied sharply.A deep sigh returned on the other end of the line, and then went silent for a while. “Hannah, look we both have to do things we don’t want to do to get what we want. You of all people should know that. Yo
Author’s POV“How do you know Liam?” Hannah repeated, sensing a hidden truth there. Julienne hesitated for a while, and then said, “Liam? He’s just my brother’s annoying old friend.” She replied.Hannah was not convinced but she accepted Julienne’s explanation.“What did you say Ethan was doing?” Julienne asked curiously.“He has been staring at his old friend as if he wants to drill a hole through his head, and he’s not subtle about how he feels about Liam either. I’m afraid he’s going to ruin this deal he’s trying to sign, and spend the rest of the trip making it uncomfortable for everyone, which just so happens to be only me,” Hannah complained.“Can you talk to him, get him to bury this Liam thing before the party? It’s in a couple of hours and I’ll appreciate if Ethan isn’t cranky the whole time.”Julienne remained quiet for a while, as if thinking over it, and then said “Alright. I’ll see how I can help.” But before Hannah could say anything, she quickly added, “Do you know wha
Author’s POV“Okay, what’s this thing with you and Liam?” Hannah asked as soon as they stepped inside.“Can we not talk about it? I’m not really in the mood.” Ethan said dismissively.“We can drop it if you stop acting like a jerk around him.” She sneered.Ethan took one look at her and threw up his arms in frustration, “How do you even know that loser?”“What? Liam? He worked with me at the Nightclub.” Hannah replied.When Ethan heard this, his eyes widened in surprise. “Did you say he worked with you at the nightclub?” He repeated.“Yes, what’s the matter?” “Nothing,” Ethan gave in and went to the room, grabbed another duvet, and brought it back to the living room. “Tomorrow’s going to be a busy day. You should get some rest, Hannah.” Ethan said and laid on the couch. Hannah remained frozen, staring at him for a while, and then sighed and walked away.She returned to the room and looked without checking her phone, she went back to bed.***The next morning, Ethan was awoken by th
Author’s POVHannah stormed out of the room with no hesitation. Her mind was racing uncontrollably, and all she wanted was a little break to just process everything. She strode towards the balcony, overlooking the view of the river behind it. Liam stood at the corner of the hallway, watching her intently, and then summoned a smile, and slowly approached her.Hannah gasped in shock when she suddenly saw him,“Liam,” she exhaled.“What are you doing here?” Liam ignored her and just slowly approached her with a smile on his face,“Sorry, Hannah. I didn’t mean to scare you.” He paused and stared at her deeply as if trying to note something.“Why are you looking at me like that?” Hannah’s brow raised uncomfortably as she looked at him.“Does he know?” Liam asked with curiosity.Hannah shot her gaze away, confused by what Liam was asking. Seeing her perplexed expression, Liam smirked and stepped closer to the balcony, tracing his fingers along the cold metal rail.“Your husband, Ethan. I
Author’s POV“Liam?” Hannah called, still in shock. “What are you doing here?” She added as Liam suddenly stopped in front of her. “It’s nice to see you again Hannah, you didn’t even inform us at the nightclub that you were quitting your job,” Liam said teasingly.Hannah look flustered. She still couldn’t believe that Liam was standing in front of her. How did he even get into an exclusive event like this?‘Liam must have scored a very sweet gig here.’ She thought, looking around the place again.“I’m sorry Liam, it all just kind of happened so fast,” Hannah said and quickly added, changing the conversation, “So are you here on a job?” She asked and a wry smile appeared across Liam’s face. However, just as he was about to say something, Ethan emerged from the other end of the hallway and became instantly furious, “You!” He sneered angrily, approaching Liam.Immediately Hannah saw the stern expression on Ethan’s face she could tell something was wrong. She quickly got out of the way,
Author’s POV“Allow me to show you the inside,” Ethan said and led Hannah into the jet.After they entered the jet, Ethan gestured and the air hostesses brought a bottle of champagne.Ethan shifted his gaze to Hannah again and a smile flashed on his face. He could sense the shift in tension and the ease that was quickly settling in between them.“I know this week has been tense and difficult, but can we try to be relaxed around each other? We might just have a good time if we give it a try.” Ethan said earnestly.Hannah hesitated for a while, unsure what to say. Ethan drove a good bargain – the jet, the expensive wine. If she didn’t know better she would think that he was flirting with her. Hannah decided to temporarily ignore the rift between them, at least for the entirety of their flight. Surprisingly, the atmosphere of the jet suddenly changed. Hannah and Ethan engaged frequently in casual conversations, Hannah occasionally taking notes of certain things she liked about it.The w
Author’s POVThe moment they had both dreaded the whole week had arrived. Today was the departure date for the merger party and contract signing in Vienna. Hannah and Ethan had avoided each other for the rest of the week since Hannah’s bold accusations, which Ethan found too true, and ended up feeling mocked.That morning Clint packed their necessary luggage and pulled the car over to the front entrance, waiting nervously for Ethan and Hannah.Evidence of their tension was visible enough for everybody to see, and no one dared to interfere.Hannah descended the stairs with regular pants and a shirt, looking shabby. When all the maids saw this, they feared that Ethan was going to blow over, however, as they stood around, waiting for his reaction, they were surprised. Ethan just heaved a sigh and ignored Hannah. He already had too much on his mind and did not need another reason just to pick a fight with her. For all he cared, Hannah could wear sweatpants and he wouldn’t mind.The maids