I stand in front of a large window in my high-rise office building, staring out at the city, my mind wandering. There are a million things I should be doing right now, such as taking calls, reading emails, or going over the proposals on my desk. To be honest, I can't seem to concentrate on anything. Aliyah has taken over my thoughts, rendering me incapable of making sound business decisions.
I've been thinking about how to gently reveal a secret I've been keeping from her, but there isn't a good way to tell her. Maybe once I get this off my chest, I'll be able to breathe again.Will she despise me? What if she never speaks to me again?When she confronted me in the park, I should have told her the truth. I've never cared so much about a woman's feelings before, and now I'm agonizing over how to avoid hurting her too badly. I should have told her that day, damn it. Telling her now makes me appear guilty, and I don't want her to make the wrong assumptions.I'm theI keep my plan to keep my hands off her long enough to return to my apartment. We take a moment outside the front door as I find it difficult to get the keys out of my pocket before pressing myself against her back and kissing the nape of her neck. The soft scent of her perfume fills my senses, and all I can think about is removing her clothes."Are we going inside or are we going to put on a show for your neighbors?" " she inquires.I hand her the keys and run my hands down her tiny body. "Under the present circumstances, I don't think I'll be able to open the door. I'm a little distracted now, and what I'm focused on is a lot more fun," I say softly before kissing her neck and letting my hands roam freely. Aliyah fumbles with the lock for a few seconds before finally getting the door open. We barely cross the threshold before she turns on her heels and wraps her arms around my neck. I close the door and return Aliyah's embrace. Nothing compares to the sensation of
The sun's warmth bears down on my face, slowly waking me up from my deep slumber.I stretch my arms up over my head, my eyes still closed. Sex is, without a doubt, the ultimate form of exercise. Who knew something so blissful could cause such severe pain throughout your entire body? I reach for Jordan, but all I feel is the opulent linen beneath my fingertips. My eyes open slightly to ensure that I am indeed alone. I turn to look in the bathroom, but it's dark and deserted. What happened to him?My stomach rumbles, and my thoughts turn to food. Right now, an open-faced egg sandwich with feta cheese and green onions would be ideal. Based on what I know about Jordan and his lack of culinary knowledge, I'm confident that none of the ingredients I require are in his home.Perhaps he'll be up for a quick store run, or we can persuade Ed to pick up a few items for us. A glass of freshly squeezed orange juice would be ideal.I kick my feet around like a big kid, enjoyin
We look at the photo of us kissing outside the art gallery, locked in each other's arms. I'm kicking myself because I should've known better. A major exhibition like Shanelle's would undoubtedly attract a large number of journalists. I'm usually very careful to avoid the paparazzi, but I wasn't as careful last night.The photographer used a wide-angle lens and made sure they were hidden from view. This type of invasion of privacy is one of the primary reasons I avoid such public places. It's also why I prefer tinted windows in my cars, because these photographers have no boundaries. My personal life should not be open to public scrutiny over a cup of coffee and eggs in the morning.Amelia's early morning call about the photo, combined with the fact that the office phones had been ringing nonstop, made me sick to my stomach. The paparazzi give me a headache and are a major pain in the arse. The last thing I need right now is a slew of questions directed at me, or, worse, ru
I had to keep my promise and give Jordan another round after we finished eating. When my legs are fully functional again, I quickly gather my belongings and stumble back home like a baby deer discovering their legs for the first time. I'm a little achy all over, but nothing a long soak in the tub and some rest can't fix. He drains me completely, but the pleasure he provides is worth the side effects.I press the elevator button and lean against the wall as I wait for it to arrive at the lobby.I should have accepted Jordan's offer to carry me home.The elevator dings and the doors slide open, but Trixie and Mrs. Moralesblock my path."Oh my goodness, look at you. "You look like you had a bad night," she observes.Trixie pants loudly and attempts to jump on me."No, Trixie, come down." This morning, our young friend is not in the mood to wrestle with you."I shuffle by the two of them, embarrassed, but Mrs. Montgomery puts her hand against the door,
The leaked photo made me realize I had some loose ends to tie up that needed to be addressed right away before anything else leaked. What should have been a relaxing shower turned into a cold one thanks to Aliyah and her little striptease. I have work to do, and I can't do it with an aching erection. My thoughts race as I sit down at my home office desk and dial the private number that has come in handy on several occasions in the past."What's the matter, boss?" Nathan inquires.While I was still at home, I wanted to call the head of my security department. Not to sound paranoid, but the last thing I want is for anyone to overhear and sell Nathan's job to the media. They're already on my tail, looking for blood in any way they can. At least at home, I'm confident that my line is secure and that I'm not at risk of being exposed. I wouldn't put this task in the hands of anyone other than Nathan. For a long time, he's been my right-hand man behind the scenes."Well," I
I thought Romina’s sour attitude would subside after her buzz wore off, but I was wrong. In fact, her attitude is much worse than it has ever been, and I don’t know why. She’s been a total nightmare lately and I’m starting to come unhinged.“Make sure my son has enough sunscreen on,” she orders aggressively. “I don’t want him coming home burned.”Even though her bad attitude is in full bloom, she somehow managed to pull herself together enough to shower and comb her hair. Unfortunately, she hasn’t let the wine go just yet. I know she’s not drunk, but I also know she’s not sober. If this goes on for much longer, I’ll be the one needing a drink just to calm my frazzled nerves.She has some nerve being so nasty to me. I’ve never come home from an outing with Andrew being burned anywhere. She doesn’t even know what his sunscreen looks like, and what’s with this “my
My luck has clearly run out and my time is up. This is the long-awaited moment of truth that should have taken place ages ago. I pace the lobby nervously waiting on Aliyah to come over so I can talk to her. My palms are sweaty and I’m starting to develop a pounding headache.I should’ve told Aliyah the truth from day one. It’s bad enough I had anything to do with Romina, but adding in the possibility of Andrew being my son make me certain this relationship could be heading over a cliff.After a slow breath, fighting my lightheadedness, I look to the glass door. I’ve gone over my speech hundreds of times, but I’m still not mentally or physically prepared for this conversation.What if she blows up before ending things abruptly?My heart sinks considering the possibility of never seeing Aliyah again. I’ve had a million chances to tell her the truth and it will serve me right if she does decide to walk out of my life.
Rachel always seems to be out of the country when I need her the most. I despise hotels, and now I'm stuck in one, spending money I should be saving, especially given my recent layoff. I consider my next move after rolling onto my back and staring at the ceiling. I wasn't mentally prepared for what had happened over the last few days, but perhaps this was the push I needed to get me on the path to my heart's desires. My phone rings for the hundredth time, and I immediately regret turning it back on.If it's not Jordan at the end, it's Romina, and neither of them deserves my attention right now. They can save their apologies for someone who genuinely cares.If they really need to talk to someone, they should call each other.I grab my phone and hit the ignore button without looking at it. It's past time for me to start thinking about myself and prioritizing my own needs over those of others. My hands tremble as I scroll to the name I want and press the call butto
"Hey sweetheart," Dad said as he stepped outside to join me on the porch.I'd been estranged from both of my mom and dad for about a week. Zach hadn't been to the market in a week, either, or I hadn't started to notice him. I still felt so stupid for treating him that way and then fleeing. It terrified me that he'd gone to such lengths just to prove to me that he was deserving of me. All I wanted was for him to get sober. That was it."I noticed you've been a little down lately," Dad said as he sat and rocked a few times. "Boy problems?" ”"How come you didn't tell me?" " I couldn't help but inquire. "That his mother died?" That he'd gotten sober? That he purchased the plaza? ”"You went through so much when he overdosed. I didn't want to reopen old wounds.""I assumed he died.""He actually died for a few minutes.""That's not the same thing.""He was in a coma for a while.We assumed he would perish. Then he
"I can't believe you're going out with that lad again," Mom said as I arranged my artwork in a way that would allow me to transport it easily."I'm not going out with him," I said flatly. "He said I could sell my art at the tattoo shop where he works, so I'm going to do that.""He's just simply attempting to get a hold of you.""Well, if he sells all of this art, I think it's a pretty good ploy.""Honey, he works in a tattoo parlor.He's not much of a catch."I rolled my eyes and decided not to respond to her any longer. Dad sat on the couch, staring at us as we argued."Why don't you start leaving her alone, Maureen?" "Dad explained. "She's an adult now, and she's free to do whatever she wants."Mom turned to make an argument with him, and I took advantage of the distraction to sneak out of the house unnoticed. Dad nodded as he began to argue more vehemently to keep Mom interested in nag
I stood at the deli cash register, staring out the window into the empty store. I'd been scheduled to train to bake bread at a ridiculously early hour. So far, it's not going well; my coworker, Gwen, is too busy rushing around trying to get everything done to teach me anything. Fortunately, I've done this before as a teenager, so I believe I'll be able to do it again."We're getting ready to open. Are there enough sandwiches? " Gwen inquired, terrified.“Yep. "We're full up there," I replied. "I even had time to brew some coffee."“Oh. So, did you pay attention to my training? ”“Yep.”“Oh. Okay. Then I'm going to take a break. "Could you please keep an eye on the last round of bread?"“Yep.”"Excellent, thank you."I didn't turn to watch her walk away. I think I have another five or ten minutes before I have to return to the sandwich grind. People usually don't start coming in un
For a split second, my heart stops beating and time slows to a crawl. Everything around me is moving at a snail's pace, and my eyes well up with tears. I turnedaround to see if I'm dreaming or if everyone else is seeing what I'm seeing. My father has his arm around my mother's waist as she clutches Andrew in her arms, and Rachel gives me a positive reaction as she points her camera in my direction.The room has fallen silent, and all eyes have turned to me. Jordan coughs a few times as I turn my head to face him."This journey with you has been thrilling since the very first time we met. We've got to share so many wonderful moments together, and I want to continue sharing them with you as my wife. You've been everything I could have wished for: a supportive and loving partner, a wonderful mother to our son, and an ambitious and stunning woman in your own right. I don't deserve you, Aliyah; I've never deserved you. But I've always adored and loved you, and I don't
a year laterIf you had asked me a year ago where I thought I'd be now, I'd have said curled up on the floor with Andrew having to play with a pile of toys. I might have even mentioned cleaning and cooking and doing other job that fell under my responsibilities as a baby sitter. Never in a million years did I imagine myself sitting on a stage with six other graduates, listening to my culinary mentor speak about how far we've come.More than that, I never imagined I'd have both. And understanding what awaits me after this celebration is almost as exciting as what I'm accomplishing today.Fortunately, I'm surrounded by friends who not only believedin my food, but also in me. Tanner and Ray have both been helpful in my development, and I would not be where I am today without them.As I look out at the crowd thathad gathered in our honor, I fidgetednervously. Rachel smiles and waves at me, and I reciprocate with a small wave. M
Do I cling to the past, or do I let go and move forward with the man who has my heart? My mind is in an emotional fog, and I'm at odds with myself. Jordan's kiss is tender, but I can tell he's reading my body language. He's waiting for me to take the initiative. The last first move as I realize our relationship has progressed to a new level.I recline on the bed and pull Jordan to me in an attempt to begin the healing process. No man has ever made me feel the way he makes me feel, and I believe him when he says he and Romina had nothing in common.The realization that he is Andrew's father is both shocking and relieving. It broke my heart to think I'd never see the boy I'd grown to adore again. Knowing I'll be able to keep my relationship with Andrew is only a bonus to Jordan's reasoning, whether he realizes it or not.My body is craving a primal but necessary release right now. I reach for Jordan's shirt and unbutton it slowly. I run my hands down the front of
My plan is in shambles, and I can't stand listening to Aliyah sob into the phone like this. She requires my assistance immediately. I'm not sure what made me think I'd be able to straighten things over the phone, but I was completely wrong, and I need to think up a new strategy because I need her as well.I walk over to the elevator and press the button for Aliyah's floor, with no specific plan other than to get to her.“Aliyah? Hello? Can you hear what I'm saying? ”She's no longer screaming and shouting at me, but I can hear her crying in the background, so I know she's still there. This isn't what I had in mind. Hearingher cry and listening the pain in her voice twists my heart like a knife. I can only imagine what she's going through if I'm in this much pain.Romina clearly lied to her about the specifics, but I hope Aliyah will allow me to clear the air and set a record straight.I charge out of the elevator and down the hall
The sound of his voice on the other end of the phone ends up taking my breath away, and the cloud nine I'm riding on falls to the ground. My emotions come into conflict, and I'm not sure which one is correct. Part of me is happy to hear a familiar voice on the phone, while another part recalls everything Romina revealed.I'm on the phone with both the first and last people I want to talk to, and I'm not sure what to say. If he hadn't been the source of my grief, he would've been the first person I'd called for comfort, but he is the source. He is the sole cause of this disaster, and he had the ability to stop it at any time, but he did not. Jordan made his bed, and now he must face the consequences of his actions. He does not merit my time or attention."How did you come up with this number?" And why are you bothering to call me? " I yell angrily.It's suddenly difficult to breathe, and every breath I take feels like a labored exercise as I force myself to confr
For the millionth time, I checked my phone, but Nathan had not responded. Despite the fact that my world was collapsing around me, I dragged myself to work every day, sitting through one boring meeting after another. Contracts and business transactions used to consume all of my waking hours, but now all I want to do is go out and find Aliyah. I can't even pretend to be interested in the proposals being put forward.Nate assured me that he would find her and that I should simply trust him and his abilities. He's never let me down before. I stare off into space, completely unaware that my name is being called and that everyone in my office is staring at me.""Wait, what?""We're still waiting from you to agree to terms and sign off on everything so we can keep moving forward," Joe says, waving a thick stack of papers at me. "Have you had a chance to review the documents? We were hoping to resolve this today.""As I sift through the massive stack of papers i