EvelynI lose Mira five minutes after we walk into the club. First, it was the issue with the bouncer who wouldn't let us in because Mira didn't inform me about needing a pass.I had to pay some money after she flashed her doe eyes at me, and then we walked into a loud, dark place where we bumped into everyone we passed.I was in the process of trying to get through all the people when I lost Mira.And I wouldn't look for her, but she has my purse.If I'm going to get a drink I need to find her. Thankfully, she wore a bright pink shirt that will be a dead giveaway.I push through people, offering muttered excuses and squeezing myself through until I finally see her shirt. She's dancing with someone already, and he has his arm around her, so I try to get her attention without alerting the guy."Mira," I shout over the music, moving with them. "Mira.""Mira," I say a little louder, tapping her arm.The man turns around first, and my jaw drops when I see it's Ken. Ken, Connor's friend an
Evelyn"What do you want? I am trying to enjoy myself," I immediately pounce. "Tell me you didn't follow me here just to make more snide comments."He waves his hand, beckoning to the bartender. "You can rest easy. The only reason I said that was because you were going to ruin the night for both our friends. I didn't want you to do that on my behalf."On his behalf? This man must have some giant ego issues. I wonder how many people have had to bend to his wishes to make him who he is today.He doesn't know that his position or status doesn't move me when I've been in circles with men from countries all over the world, with wealth and power."I didn't do it on your behalf," I correct him. "I needed Mira to hold my purse while I used the restroom, so I took her hand. I don't know why you think I'd factor you into the equation."The bartender brings my drink and takes Connor's order. I hold my drink and wonder if I down it all here or take it and leave. Without another thought I tip the
ConnorMy jaw twitches, and I stare at Evelyn dancing with some other dude—his arm around her waist and her back pressed against his chest.I know the feeling that courses through my body is jealousy, and I don't want to feel it, but I can't help it. I hate the fact that she's dancing with someone else when it could be me.When it's supposed to be me."Hey," long red nails touch my chest in a way that is supposed to be seductive, but it irks me. "Do you want to dance?"I grab her hand and push it away."Don't touch me," I say harshly.But the woman doesn't seem to listen as her hand sneaks up again, this time close to my ears. Her lips, too."Are you sure? Because for you, baby boy, I'll do anything."This time around, I turn to her with a scowl on my face."Do I look like I want whatever you're offering?"Her hand drops and her lips pucker up. "What was I supposed to think? You've been standing here for the past thirty minutes, looking like you've got a broken heart."Just as she fin
ConnorI don't know how long we danced, but Evelyn finally pulls away. I sense the reluctance before I see it in her eyes."I have to go home," she says. "I need to get Mira first.""Right," I mutter.I don't want to let her go. But I do."I'll call Ken," I offer.She gives me a grateful smile.As I take out my phone, I see a message from Ken. I smile and hand the phone over to her, but Evelyn groans."What?" I ask.She shakes her head.I grab her chin gently and make her look me in the eye, but my words die on my lips as we lock eyes. It takes more than a minute to remember what I intended to say."What's wrong?" I ask."I can't drive myself home. I drank too much.""You don't look drunk to me," I say tentatively, trying to get a definitive answer from her without seeming forward.I don't want the moment that passed between us to be a result of the alcohol.She shakes her head."Not that drunk. Most of what I had left when I was dancing, but I'm not sober enough either.""Why don't I
ConnorSoon enough, our clothes are on the floor, and left in our underwear, I take her hand, leading through the doors to my bedroom. Despite my vast sexual experience, I have never brought anyone here before. It's the only room that no one enters. Yet, it feels right to bring Evelyn to it.I hit the switch for the light as we stumble in the dark, holding on to each other and trying to find our way."Isn't this your room?" Evelyn says with a laugh. "You should be able to in know your way in the dark."A warm light enters the room, and I let my eyes feast on her again. "You have my mind completely occupied and I am having trouble thinking about anything else, Evelyn."She scrunches her nose in disbelief. "Yeah, yeah. You're just saying that to get into my pants."I overtake her steps to the bed, grabbing her hand and pulling her flush against my body. My hand goes under her chin, as I've noticed she avoids eye contact when things get hot and heavy."You don't believe me, do you?"She
EvelynHow do I look him in the eye after last night?I wonder, holding a file to my chest and standing in front of Connor's door, wondering if I should give up and drop the file with his secretary. But I'm not the type of person to hide behind someone else. At least when it comes to every other thing in life.Sex and entanglements are two areas that I'm willing to admit I have very little expertise in—after all, I've only ever been with two other people apart from Connor."Which is why I should have said no last night," I berate myself.There was enough time, from when he asked me to dance with him to the ride in the elevator. I cannot claim that I didn't see him punch in his floor number, but all I had in my head at that moment was sex.How would it feel to finally do it with him? What happens when I throw caution to the wind for a night?"Well, now you know," I put my forehead in my hand. "You've gone and done it with not only the person you're working for but your insufferable nei
Evelyn"Guess what?" Is the first thing Mira says as she walks into my apartment hours after work."What?" I return, following her to the living room. She grabs a throw pillow from a chair, settles on the couch, and flashes me one of the goofiest grins ever."I'm staying.""Oh...okay. Where? Here?" I ask. "Did they postpone your exhibition?"She shakes her head. "Nope. Nothing of the sort. And I'm not staying in your house. We might be friends, but I know how much you love your space. I am staying in the city to be with Ken."My jaw hits the ground with the force of a blacksmith's hammer. "What? Why? And which Ken? The one I know?"Mira gets up and dances around the room, clutching the throw pillow to her chest. I stare at her in confusion until she stops in front of me."Have you ever fallen in love at first sight?"I nod. "Yeah. With certain food, some jobs, definitely not a man I met last night."My best friend shrugs. "It doesn't matter if we just met last night. What matters is t
Connor "You know," Ken says as he walks in after I open the door, "we might have been friends for nearly a decade, but sometimes it still feels like I don't know you." "What do you mean?" I say as I collect the bottle of whisky from him. He gives me a knowing look before walking away. "You know what I mean. I suggested that we have a small party to celebrate the deal you closed, but you thought your apartment had seen one too many parties already." "Which," he plops down on a chair, "is unlike you. Then you called me three hours ago, asking if I still wanted to have that party. Why would you change your mind?" I try to appear calm as I shrug. "Because I changed my mind. Get used to it, Ken. Everyone else will be arriving in thirty minutes to an hour, and it'll be a total of twenty people. No more." He nods. "Sure." I take a minute to drop the bottle in the built-in wall bar of the dining room. I take a bottle of red wine instead and two glasses.ConnorNot only did she run, bu
Connor"Take the day off and come somewhere with me," I hold Evelyn's hand to keep her from leaving.She hasn't looked at my face since she walked into my office, but the worrying aspect is that I haven't seen her one-on-one since the party two days ago. It might have been forty-eight hours for her, but it feels like forever to me."The project," she complains. "There is a lot to be done.""A lot that you haven't done yet? You are the hardest working person I know, Evelyn, which means that whatever you want to do, you have done it already. Maybe ten times already."She pulls her arm, but I don't let go."Please? I'm worried you're overworking yourself, and I need you. My company needs you. Take the rest of the day off. Let's go somewhere fun.""Where is somewhere fun?" she asks.***Two hours later, we arrive at an old industrial building. I rush to her side to open the door and offer my hand."You don't have to do this, you know," Evelyn comments. "This place is very cool but I doubt
EvelynFive minutes after Connor leaves, an older woman approaches me. I sense the hostility in her eyes before she opens her mouth."I've been watching you," she says.I groan inwardly. Right. I do have an actual target on my back. "Nice to meet you, too."She doesn't try to mask her dislike for me. "There is nothing nice about our meeting. Why are you with Connor Everest? For the money?"Money? If this bleached blonde, tacky jewelry-wearing woman knew who I was, she wouldn't say those words. I let her go on, though. Bringing my parents into the conversation means this might get back to them, and I'll have my mother to deal with."My daughter, Alicia, is a better woman than you will ever be, you gold digger," she spits, figuratively. "And I have been waiting for the right moment to introduce them, so I don't know what you've done to be with him, but I suggest you undo it."I turn to look into the hall. Where is Connor with that much-needed drink?"Look," I decide to fight my battle w
Evelyn"You look ravishing," Connor says as I get out of the car, with him holding my hand, "but I wish you had come let me get you."I shake my head. "You wouldn't have wanted to see my parents, trust me. I spared you from getting an interrogation this evening when they dropped by my apartment unannounced."It was an hour before the non-profit, tech-related event that Connor and I decided we would use to announce our relationship—precisely two weeks and five days before the unveiling, that my parents showed up.My mom said she was worried because I wouldn't let her help me and getting them out of my apartment came with me promising that I would tell her all the details later, and telling my father that if my career failed, I would join him. I lied through my teeth, of course, but it got them out.Which was why I texted Connor to leave without me.He kisses the back of my palm. "If you asked me to, I would walk on hot coals for you."My cheeks lit up at the sexy drawl of his tone, and
Connor"I didn't think you were going to get engaged before I did," Ken says jokingly when we meet at a bar later that evening. "But congratulations, my man."I take a shot and relish the slight burn as the liquid slides down my throat. "Congratulations? Did you hear a word I just said?"He nods. "Yup, I did. Loud and clear. To avoid a scandal that you didn't tell me about, even though I am your right-hand man, you are now in an official relationship with Evelyn. Your neighbor and the woman you are in love with."I groan. "I am not—""You're going to say you're not falling in love with her?" Ken does not hesitate to call me out. "Come on, I've seen the two of you. The double date we were supposed to go on was a chance for you two...to bond or something.""Mira wasn't sick?" I ask.He shakes his head, grinning slyly. "Nope, she wasn't. It was her idea to give you guys an opportunity to go on a date because you were too chicken to ask Evelyn out, and Evelyn has no idea how you feel even
ConnorI might wear a path in the carpet of my office floor if I keep pacing, but I cannot stop. My mind is on edge, and my body isn't cooperating, so the best thing to do is keep walking.I am also wondering why Evelyn hasn't come around since she said two days ago that she needed time to think.Of course, she would need some time. I mean, I asked her to get engaged. Of course, I clarified after the initial shock passed that it was a ploy to distract the media so the reporter and everyone involved would stop digging into my life, but I understand an engagement is a serious thing nonetheless."Did I scare her off?" I wonder aloud.For a brief moment, I imagine Evelyn walking in and handing over her resignation letter."I don't know why you would ask me to do such a thing after all I've done for this project. It is your problem to solve, not mine," she would rage.Or would she? God, I'm going to lose it.The second I hear the doorknob I turn my head around.There is no smile on Evelyn'
Evelyn"We were starting to think you had forgotten about today," my mom says when I go to the house the next day. "I was going to call, but your father decided against it.""He probably wanted something to hold over my head," I mutter as I walk in, holding a gift bag.If I hadn't set a reminder, I would have forgotten that today was my dad's birthday. So, I'm not mad that he didn't call me. I'll let him stew in his guilt when he realizes he thought badly of me."Darling," my mom calls out, "your daughter is here."My father's footsteps down the stairs are deliberate, as though he's trying to meet his fitness goals. But it's been like that all my life, and it was the sole reason why every time we attended an event, eyes would turn once we walked in.That, and my mother's flare for being fashionably late and her keen sense of style. As a divorce lawyer, my mother always told me there was no need to wear somber clothing in the courtroom as she wasn't trying to sway anyone's opinion in h
Connor"Sir," my secretary's tone carries urgency as she walks in, "someone is here to see you. He doesn't have an appointment, but he says he's a reporter, and he knows something you might want to hear."I doubt that.I've had my fair share of reporters pester me, and while none of their shenanigans have damaged my reputation over the years, our interactions have never been pretty. I should turn this one away, but I've never had one come to my office."Send him in."When the door opens again, a man in a blue dress shirt buttoned to the throat and khaki pants walks in. He flashes the ID around his neck."I'm Arnold Goldsmith," he introduces himself. "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice."I shake my head. "Don't thank me yet. I have no idea why you're here, and I might ask you to leave once you tell me."He sounds confident when he replies, "I don't think you will, sir. I came to give you a heads-up, sort of. My brother works here, Adam," he scratches his half-beard, "he ran i
Evelyn.As I stand in front of Connor's door, I contemplate knocking or turning away, partly because of the noise that is deafening and also because of my racing heart.I shouldn't be this nervous, as it's not my first time in his apartment. It is not the first time we've met at a party either.Yet, I am, and I know why.Because he came to my door two hours ago, caught me off-guard with the kiss that swept me off my feet, and whispered in my ear that he was hosting a party and wanted me to come."If you don't want to, then I'll cancel it. I don't want to disturb you."My heart fluttered at that, and I smiled so hard I thought my lips would get stuck to my teeth. Thirty minutes before the party, I decided to pick out an outfit. I told myself it was just a party on the floor above mine, so I didn't have to overthink."Yet my bedroom is overrun with clothes," I mutter, reaching out to knock.Why does he not have a doorbell like everyone else?Then it occurs to me that if he did, I would
ConnorI cannot stop staring at her.I don't want to stop either, but there's no way to hide it when we are both seated in the back of the car, being driven to the testing center.I knew I should have sat up front in the passenger's seat. The need to be close to Evelyn kept me from doing so because I can't, for the life of me, figure out what she is thinking. It's been a week since we had sex, and she's said nothing about it.Perhaps I should speak up like I did the last time, but I want whatever happens next to be on her terms. I don't want to come off as clingy when I tell Evelyn that sex with her is the best I have ever had and that I'd do anything to spend more time with her.She would most likely laugh and tell me to stop teasing her, but it is the truth. It might have started as sexual attraction, but I want more of her now. I think about taking her golfing again so I can teach her to swing while standing behind her.I want to watch her roll the ball at a bowling alley and see h