*AMBROSE*
When Nolan took the liberty of inviting me to this club, I thought he'd at least accompany his old man and show me the ropes. "You need to relax, dad; you've been handling the affairs of the company, and I don't even remember the last time you had an actual day off." He sounded convincing back then, and unfortunately, I believed him. I checked my phone again and found no message from him. He was supposed to be here an hour ago, and I just haven't found the guts to leave this bar yet. I tried his number again, but it was going straight to voicemail, so I decided to order a drink. I might as well suck it up and enjoy the night while it's still young. I've worked hard all my life just to make sure that my son had everything he needed despite his mother's absence. But my boy is sensitive even though he'd never admit it. I chuckled softly to myself. "Is this seat taken?" A woman's voice asked, and I turned around to find a young woman. Brown chocolate hair and piercing blue eyes met mine, and I found myself staring at her a bit longer. She cleared her throat, and I snapped out of the daze and offered her the seat beside me. "You know it's rude to just randomly stare at people until you make them uncomfortable," she muttered quietly. I resisted the urge to smile. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable, you just looked familiar." In a sense, she did look a lot like her. I gulped down my drink as the amber-pale liquid burned my throat. The bartender came to take her order. "I'll have what this gentleman is having; just make it stronger," she muttered quietly. I fought the urge to turn to her, but my ego wouldn't let this moment go amiss. "Having a rough night?" She took off her jacket and remained in a white blouse. Our eyes locked in a frenzy as she tied her hair in a messy bun. She had some freckles on her nose. "I guess you could say that," she finally exclaimed bitterly. Her drink soon arrived, and we were silent again. "Are you going through a breakup?" I found myself asking, and she narrowed her eyes at me. She took a sip of her drink, and I watched her lips for a moment. Rose pink. "You'll never see me all worked up over some man, but since you're asking, it's work-related." I nodded quietly. "What about you?" She asked curiously. I shrugged carelessly. "Uh, I'm just an old man having a drink alone." She checked her phone, frowned, and scoffed in annoyance. "Trouble in paradise?" I taunted quietly. Her sharp gaze was fixed on my face, and a smirk curved her rose-pink lips. "For an old man, you're really nosy." I chuckled softly and raised my hand in defense. "I'm sorry; I just haven't been to a bar in years, so I'm kind of working on my people skills." She gulped down her drink in one go, and I tried to stop her, but it was too late. She's definitely going to feel the effects of the alcohol in the morning. She burst out laughing and touched my hand and I felt her touch leaving some kind of emotion inside me. " Can you believe my fucking grandfather; he wants me to fucking marry some asshole I've never met?" I gave her a small smile, and the waiter brought her the next drink. She began checking the contents of her purse and took out a credit card. "Keep the drinks coming, buddy, because I'm going to be here all night." When the bartender brought her the next drink, I took it from her. She glared at me, pouted her lips, and I found myself getting lost in her eyes again. I've never observed a woman this way in a long time. I released the breath I was holding and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Her cheeks turned a red hue. She smacked my hand away. "Are you some pervert? I swear your ass is gonna rot in prison if you try anything funny," she warned. I had a feeling that I was going to spend my evening babysitting this girl. "You never told me your name." She looked up, meeting my gaze, and there was that feeling again. I swallowed hard. "Dance with me." Like that, Doja cat began playing, and I've never been more disappointed in a playlist. I preferred something old school. She carefully got off her stool and began swaying to the music. She was ushering me to join her, and when I refused, she dragged me forcefully. "Why are you so uptight?" she whispered softly and wrapped her arms around my neck. This woman was dangerous. She leaned her head on my shoulder when Careless Whisper by George Michael began playing, and I've never felt so happy in my entire life. I placed my hand on her lower back as we swayed to the music slowly. I spun her around and smiled at her. Her gaze softened. "I'm guessing that this is your jam," she taunted quietly. I nodded quietly. "My dad used to listen to this song all the time, and believe it or not, it kind of grew on me," she admitted softly. She looked up, meeting my gaze, and it felt like time had come to a standstill. She reached out to touch my face despite the white beard. "Don't." She frowned at me. "Don't order me around." I felt amused. "Let me drop you off at home; you're too drunk." I watched her intensely. "Kiss me." My gaze lingered on her lips, but she was drunk, and I didn't want to take advantage of her. She'd probably regret all this in the morning. I made some distance between us, and she gave me a puzzled look. She looked angry. Before I could stop her, she grabbed her stuff and rushed out of the bar, and I found myself following her. The night air felt alluring, and I caught sight of her having a hard time finding her car keys. I gently grabbed her hand. "Why are you so pissed off right now?" She scoffed in annoyance. "I thought you were hitting on me, but I guess it's probably the alcohol making me see things that aren't probably real." I pulled her towards me. "You should be scared of asking any random man to just kiss you, little flower." I touched her cheek, brushing a strand of hair away from her eyes. Her cheeks turned crimson under the moonlight. I could feel the magnetic pull between us, and I slowly pushed her towards the car and leaned in slowly, and she closed her eyes. I kissed her on the cheek, and she gasped softly. "Let me drop you off at home." I took the keys from her, and I could see the shock on her face. She spun around, glaring at me. "You don't get to do that," she exclaimed angrily and crossed her arms over her chest. I cocked a brow at her. “Do what?” I taunted. She narrowed her eyes at me. “Play with my feelings.” I sat in the driver's seat, waiting for her tantrum to end. She huffed in annoyance and got in. I was probably hurting her ego. "Hey... I usually don't kiss people who are drunk, but I'll make an exception for you kid.” She frowned at me. "I'm not a child." I grasped her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Come here, piccolo fiore." She settled on my lap and placed her hand on my shoulders, and I fought the urge to groan when I felt her against me. Her eyes darkened dangerously. "Are we getting excited?" she taunted and bit her lower lip, and the control I was trying to maintain went out the window. I pulled her closer, crushing my lips on hers, and it was everything I had imagined. Raw passion and need. I slipped my hand underneath her shirt, and I felt her body tense. Perhaps I had taken it too far. I pulled away, breaking the kiss. "I'm sorry." She lowered her gaze, messing with the buttons on my shirt. "Don't be... just don't hold back," she whispered softly. Our eyes locked in a frenzy. "How old are you again?" She shook her head in disbelief and smiled. "Oh my god, will you stop age-shaming me? I'm not that young." Her lips met mine slowly, and I let her touch me, something I haven't let a woman do in a very long time. She let out a shaky exhale, and I helped her unbuckle my belt. "I don't have any condoms." She hummed softly. "I'm on the pill; don't worry..." I never thought I'd get laid in a bar parking lot. With nothing but a dark, deserted alley and the feel of her skin against mine, I buried myself inside her until she was begging me not to stop. "You still haven't told me your name, piccolo fiore..." I rasped softly in her ear. She wrapped her arms around my neck. "What does piccolo fiore mean?" She whispered softly. I chuckled darkly. "It means little flower." She looked up, meeting my gaze, and touched the ink on my skin. "Will I ever see you again?" I found myself asking. She remained silent, and I already knew the answer to my question. I entwined our hands, slowly pushing myself into her, enjoying the warmth of her body against mine. Her lips met mine in a slow haze, and I knew that this woman had me wrapped around her finger and there was no going back. She was mine. But when I woke up the next morning she was gone and the only reminder of our passionate night was the pair of red panties she left behind. I chuckled softly. My phone began to ring and answered the call and placed it to my ear. It was Nolan. “Dad, where the heck are you? It's my engagement today.” Shit.*AMBROSE* I hurriedly got dressed in the car and tucked the red thong into my pockets. I had a feeling that I was going to meet that woman someday and I'd personally return this to her."Are you at the bar?" Nolan asked curiously and I could tell that he was upset.I groaned deeply."Firstly, I deserve an apology, son, because you ditched your old man. I waited for you for hours, and you never even bothered to call or text to let me know that you weren't going to make it."Nolan remained silent."Okay I'm sorry for not informing you, but please don't tell me that you're at some random hotel with a woman in your bed."I chuckled softly."Actually, I'm in my car and the woman sneaked out while I was asleep."Nolan scoffed in annoyance."Eww, dad, I'm hanging up. Just meet me at your apartment. I've already bought your suit."I hung up and began driving to my apartment. Twenty minutes later, I arrived and spotted Nolan's car in the driveway.I went to the living room and found him stari
*BENEDYKTA* *FOUR HOURS EARLIER*I let out a yawn when I realized that it was morning, and I was stark naked in the arms of a complete stranger.I smiled to myself because he was still passed out from last night's events, and I couldn't blame him since we went all night long making love.I placed a kiss on his cheek, and he groaned deeply but kept his eyes closed.A part of me didn't want to abandon him, but what happened between us was just a one-night stand with no strings attached.I gathered my clothes and began to get dressed, but I couldn't find my panties anywhere, and I really wanted to leave before he woke up.I ditched them, got dressed, and with a heavy heart got out of his car carefully without making a sound. Soon enough, I was back on the road in my own car.My phone began ringing, and I fished it out of my purse and put the call on loudspeaker since I was driving.It was my grandfather, and I wondered what he wanted this time because he had clearly done enough damage t
*AMBROSE*When Ben finally found an excuse to slip away from the crowd I took a gulp of the champagne hoping that it would calm me down.My emotions were all over the place and it was because of this woman.I still couldn't believe that she was the same woman I had an affair with last night.I swallowed hard and Nolan approached me with a smile.He already looked smitten with Ben and it was going to break his heart when he learned the history between Ben and I."I thought you'd like her" he muttered quietly and I gave him a puzzled look."Ben?" I asked curiously and he nodded in response.He took the glass of champagne away from me."You tend to drink too much at social events when you're stressed out."He turned to look at Ben and when their eyes locked she blushed.Fuck.Nolan turned to look at me and I forced a smile."What's there not to like about her? She's pure perfection and I want is best for you son. If she makes you happy then I'm happy as well."Nolan still didn't look con
*BEN*I sighed with relief when Nolan cut in because I was on the verge of crying.What was I thinking last night? Asking some random man to just kiss me.Gosh we didn't even use protection last night and I haven't taken the pill yet.Once we were outside I released the breath I was holding and blinked away the tears."Did my father say something to you?" He asked in a worried tone.I shook my head negatively and remained silent and a lone tear rolled down my cheeks shamelessly.His words cut through me.I let out a shaky exhale.I'm not making the same mistake I made years ago.I'm not letting a man have that kind of power over me. He can't control my emotions. I wasn't just some random gold digger he picked up last night.It felt like it was something more and I was stupid to think that he felt the same way.Clearly I was nothing but a mere petty stop.One night he's being passionate and the next morning I'm met with a complete opposite stranger.I quickly wiped it away."Ben."I
*BEN*It was all smiles for the family when Nolan and his father bid us goodbye and after they were gone my grandfather turned to look at me with a scowl on his face.I crossed my arms over my chest."What were you thinking, Benedykta?!" He yelled furiously.I stared at him in disbelief."What have I done? I'm selling my dignity just to make you richer. What else do you want?" I kept my gaze on my mother and she looked away with guilt.Serves her right."You came home drunk knowing that you could potentially ruin this engagement and I won't let you ruin my plans."I scoffed in annoyance."I'm all doing you a fucking favor by marrying a man I don't even love so you should all be fucking grateful."My grandfather raised his hand to hit but my mother held him back stopping him.I smirked."Are we resolving to violence now?" He remained silent.I already knew my answer.I grabbed my car keys and left the mansion while my grandfather kept calling my name.This is why I moved out.I could
*BEN*It wasn’t long before Nolan showed up at my apartment as he took in my small home. I’m certain that he was probably expecting something grander since I am a Rebel.I cocked a brow at him.“What it’s not to your liking?” He shook his head negatively. “No it’s not the case I thought you were more like a fancy person just like your grandfather” he muttered.I nodded quietly and his gaze lingered on the burnt toast that was on the counter and our eyes locked in a frenzy and we both burst out laughing.I could see the twinkle in his eyes and he was staring at me the way he did after he kissed me yesterday.Nolan offers me his hand and I place my hand in his.He entwines our hands.“You’re perfect” he murmurs and I feel even guiltier for having a one night stand with his father.A few minutes later we are in the car heading to a café close to work because I have a meeting in thirty minutes.Once we got settled at the café we made our orders.“You haven’t r
BEN POVWith everything that was going on in my life I was on the verge of losing my mind and I was caught between two men who were related. The other despised my entire existence and he probably wished that I was never born while the other one made my heart flutter in a way I couldn’t even understand.Was I falling in love with Nolan? I sighed deeply and pulled out my phone to call my best friend.Luckily he picked up on the first ring and I moved the phone from my ear when I heard the blaring music from the background. Okay who seriously gets wasted in the morning?I rolled my eyes at the mere thought.“Hello?” He definitely sounded off.“Where are you?” I asked curiously even though I already knew the answer to my question. He chuckled softly.“I’m sorry Ben, is it a crime to get drunk? I am going through a horrible breakup and the only thing you fucking care about is my location?”He sounded pitchy as usual.It makes me wonder how we are still friends.“
AMBROSE POVI couldn’t get this issue off my mind, and it was clear that the fire that had happened at the vineyard was an accident.Something was definitely fishy, and I couldn’t seem to shake off the feeling that the past had come back to haunt me.I hadn’t even had the chance to face him and tell him about the night I spent with Ben. He was going to be broken when he learned the truth.I groaned deeply and stepped outside for some fresh air because I was on the verge of losing my mind.Maybe leaving New York for a few days would do me some good, and maybe I could finally get rid of the image of Ben and Nolan kissing.I pulled out my phone and decided to call Matteo.He picked up on the first ring.That’s what I liked about him. He was always reliable, and I could count on him.“Ambrose, what do I owe the pleasure of this call?”I desperately needed his advice.I chuckled softly.“There’s a situation, and I don’t want to lose Nolan in the process.”There was silence on the other end