"Is he? Do we know him by any chance? What does he do for a living?" she inquired suspiciously."He is. I don't know if you know him, but he's an investor from Cameria," I lied."An international investor? How old did you say he is?" she asked with a malicious tone that tasted bitter to me. "Is his age the problem? Is he close to your father's age?""No. But he is a bit older than me. He's 34," I asserted without backing down."He sounds like the perfect man. What else do you want to boast about without suspiciously giving me his name and surname?""I could boast about his blue eyes like the night sky, his thick black hair, or his height. But what's more important to me is why you doubt my words so much. We want to keep our relationship as private as possible," I argued, snaking around her questions. She laughed at me."I don't know who you're trying to fool, Mary. But stop and quit upsetting my daughter while she is preparing for the most important day of her life. We both know
It was interesting how the human mind worked during a manic episode. There I was, having proposed marriage to my boss in a fit of rage. He didn't improve my embarrassment by reaching to his desk and pressing a button to lower the blinds automatically, shielding us from prying eyes.Then, he clasped his hands in a prayer-like gesture. The silence in the office was killing me with nerves."Did you come to work drunk?" he asked patiently."I'm not drunk. N-nor am I high," I defended myself, stuttering."You sound and act like an intoxicated person to me." He leaned his face on one of his hands. "But that didn't bother you when you slept with me that night, did it?" I asked.At this, Lucius became serious, straightened up, and looked at me darkly. From accessible to armored, I watched him transform in a matter of seconds."If you want to go down the path of blackmail, you'd better give that up now. You and I both knew what we were doing. We both enjoyed it. Or will you say I took a
"I'll be submitting my resignation this afternoon. I'm sorry for my behavior; it was unprofessional," I mentioned, tears still falling.I heard a very deep sigh."There's no need," he said, sounding resigned. I looked at him hopefully. "We've all made bad decisions and had bad days. You don't deserve to be fired for one. But I won't accept your marriage proposal. It's ridiculous, Marianne."My chest loosened, relieved, and I could breathe normally again."Yes, it was ridiculous. I don't know what I was thinking," I reflected, playing with the handkerchief, then remembered something immediately. "There's something of yours I want to return."I didn't specify what I wanted to return. I left his office, pretending nothing was out of the ordinary, and took the envelope from my briefcase. Returning, I slid it across the desk. Lucius took it and opened it. He pulled out the card with his phone number and was surprised to see the $1000 he had given me. I had carried it with me for days,
A week had passed since the disaster at the bridal shop, and my wicked stepmother hadn't stopped pestering me for the name of my supposed fiance. But all I'd gotten from that infamous dating app were twenty dick pics, five offers for casual sex, and countless hours of frustration. I had no one to take to that party.I pulled at my hair, desperate and stressed. These emotions were so overwhelming that I realized I had yanked out a strand of hair, and I stared at it with the urge to cry."I'm worried about you. I mean it," Jenna said, sitting beside me in my cubicle. She handed me a coffee. "A mocha, to whet your appetite so we can go have lunch like the rest of the floor."It was lunchtime, and there was only one colleague in the private video conference booth at the end of the hall. I focused on my computer."I'm not hungry. I need to find a man for tonight," I told my friend."Still on that? Aren't you busy with our project?""I'm juggling both. Tomorrow I have a meeting with ou
"Nothing. I'm going to the equestrian club. It's Amanda's engagement dinner," I explained."What are you planning to sabotage this time? Don't tell me you've given up—that would be so boring of you."I looked at him, pressing my tongue against my cheek. I felt ridiculed and mocked, but there was no lower point for me to reach. If he wanted drama, I'd give him drama."I'll show up with an attractive fiance who will act like I'm the most charming woman in the world and make me appear sane, Mr. Brown," I bragged.I could see the smile in Lucius's eyes as he drove. The breeze tousling his hair made him even more irresistible."Did you blackmail this one too?" he joked cruelly."No, I paid him in advance," I retorted without guilt.He looked astonished, then burst into laughter. I didn't find it funny that he found this madness amusing. A woman had to do what she had to do. I clutched my purse to keep from blushing at the absurdity of what I had just said, keeping my head high."A w
Amelia was the name of my detestable stepmother. But I loathed her name so much that I tried not to remember it. It was the name my mother used to repeat incessantly when she was ill, blaming her for the destruction of her marriage. Even as a child, I understood that my father was more to blame for my mother's suffering than his mistress. Yet, my mother was fixated on blaming her. Amelia, that homewrecker. Amelia, that foreign tramp.Her name was like that of a ghost I preferred not to summon. And now, though she was a ghost to me, her reaction to Lucius was unsettling. It was like he was her ghost."Amelia," my father discreetly reprimanded his wife. "That's not an appropriate question to ask my successor.""What do you mean, your successor?" she asked, horrified, turning to Serge. "You never mentioned that.""Since when have you cared about the names of my business partners, woman?" he replied disdainfully, then turned to us. "Did you exchange words when he came to our house to c
"Don't be rude, Andrew. He's my guest. He came with me," I informed him, trying to keep him in check."He's your boss. He doesn't need to come with you anywhere," Andrew snapped, barely containing his anger.I rolled my eyes and walked past him."Don't be ridiculous. Control yourself," I whispered as I passed by.I took my seat at the long table where they directed me, and Lucius sat next to me. The table was filled with guests, including my father's wife a few seats away, and the engaged couple further down. I thanked the heavens that I didn't have to sit directly across from or next to any of those pests."Your sister's future husband is a pervert. He wants to get into your bed the moment you turn your back," Lucius whispered in my ear.Hearing his voice so close sent pleasant shivers through my body. I wasn't sure if it was the mojitos or the white wine I was sipping that made me feel so light and warm."Like you?" I teased playfully. "It's a shame both of you will be left wa
A stepmother on the floor, an apparent boyfriend who came out of nowhere, and more alcohol in my system than I should have. That's the summary of the scene I was living through at that moment. With Amelia passed out, Serge wasted no time in reacting. My father carried her in his arms, while Amanda followed behind, shouting in alarm. My ex-fiance shot me a dirty look before following after his future family."Do you think the witch is dead?" I asked Lucius."I don't think so. The grass must have cushioned her fall," he replied as we watched the guests gather at the tent where they had taken her. "And witches never die.""Just like liars. Why did you tell them you were my partner? Did the mojitos get to your head or what?" I asked, confused and stepping away from him."Maybe," he said, eyeing my purse. I snatched it from his hands.I didn't trust Lucius. I had no idea what he was planning or why he thought it was a good idea to be with me right now. There was a commotion around Amel