Trina's POV Sitting down with my butt flat on the floor, I closed my eyes and tried to process it all. The call I received two months ago from Justin when I was still in Paris, my return, the job offer and now Justin's warning. Taking a deep breath, I asked myself, did I make the right decision? Is it really worth taking the risk? But then, as the memories of what happened two months ago came flooding back to me, I knew I just had to do it. This is a leap of faith that I will gladly take for the sake of my beloved family…Two months ago, I became very worried when I couldn't reach either Mason or Aunt Pamela anymore. Panicked, I asked Justin to help me investigate and find out why my brother and his guardian were both unreachable. And a few days later, the call that made my world come crashing down around me had come. Justin's voice had been heavy with the burden of tragic and devastating news he was about to deliver."Trina" he had said, his words careful and measured, "I'm so sorr
Trina’s POV The buzzing sound of the alarm jolted me awake. As I sat up on the bed, stretching and yawning, I realized that it was still dark outside as there's no sign of morning light through the curtains. However, I know I just couldn't afford to be lazy enough to lay back down as today is the D-day– my first day working for the enigmatic Mr. McAllister.I made my way to Eleanor’s room, gently rousing her. "Wake up, sweetie. It's time for our new adventure!"Ella rubbed her eyes, confusion giving way to excitement as she remembered. "We're going to the big house today, right, Mummy?""That's right, baby. Now, let's get you dressed in your prettiest dress!"An hour later, we were all set and ready and as soon as we heard a car stop, we quickly got out. A black Rolls Royce had pulled up, and Randolph emerged from the passenger seat with a smile on his face."Good morning, Ms. Trina, Miss Eleanor. Are you ready for your first day?"After exchanging pleasantries, we got into the sleek
Trina's POV Taking a deep breath, I made my way back to the ultra-modern kitchen with the tray. To my relief, the friendly housekeeper, Lila, had returned to the kitchen and so together, we snacked on the desserts and coffee while having small talk.Later, Lila went about her duties, leaving me to start prepping for lunch. I felt kind of lonely when she left because the vastness of the mansion, the opulence and splendor… it all made me feel overwhelmed. Though I was born in wealth, my scheming father and stepmom never let us enjoy our mother's vast wealth and hence, I'm not used to such opulence. However, as I moved through the kitchen, preparing lunch, I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of belonging. The atmosphere in the grand mansion is quite welcoming and the occupants very accommodating.In fact, the way all the domestic staff treated me, it was quite amazing. Just like they did earlier when I made breakfast, no sooner had I finished cooking lunch than Sally and Anna came
Trina's POV Finally, after lots and lots of careful thinking and meticulous cooking in the spectacular kitchen, I finished preparing dinner. And as Anna and Sally helped me set the table, I carefully set Mr. McAllister’s own portion of the meals in a very attractive set of food warmers I found in one of the kitchen cabinets.And later as we sat down to dinner, I couldn't help but smile as I watched Eleanor choose a seat right next to Jayden on the large, exquisite dining table that could accommodate up to thirty dinner guests. She had really taken a huge liking to him, almost as if she looked up to him as her idol and role model ever since they met. Was it just yesterday? It feels like ages ago due to how close we’ve all gotten in such a short time!But as the three of us were all seated, my gaze shifted to Randolph, Lila, Sally and Anna who were all standing dutifully at attention near the wall. I instantly felt uncomfortable at how formal and odd everything felt to me. They're all
Zane’s POV As soon as the three hour long international conference call finally ended, I loosened my tie a bit as I leaned back in my leather seat, releasing a deep sigh of relief. It has been a very long but fruitful day as once again, I have succeeded in closing a multi-billion dollar deal for my personal company, McAllister Enterprises.As I shut down my MacBook, my eyes fell on the Rolex on my wrist and my left brow raised a little as I saw the time– 7:46 pm. Yet another unavoidable late night at the office. Even though I was quite used to staying very late into the night at the office in the past, I had made it a point of duty to ensure that I return home as early as possible ever since my son Jayden was born. Since I'm the only parent he had, I need to be there for him whenever he needs me.A soft knock came on the door, breaking into my thoughts. "Come in," I called out.My secretary, Claire, walked into my office with a file folder in her hands and seeing that, I instantly sa
Zane’s POV As soon as Ms. Ryder stepped foot into my office, the very appetizing aroma of food instantly wafted to my nostrils, reminding me that I haven't had a single meal throughout the day, as I had just been taking coffee since morning.“Good evening Mr. McAllister Sir,” she said in a voice almost as cheerful as her cute daughter's own. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything too important. I’ve brought your dinner.”Without saying word, I simply gestured to her to keep the picnic basket she was holding on the table in front of the sofa at the far corner of the office. As she did so, I decided to seize the opportunity to gather more information. Perhaps a bit of questioning could bear more fruit than even Claire's investigation.In my most calm, casual tone which most people still find intimidating and cold, I simply asked. "Ms. Ryder, as my personal chef and hotel manager, I just realized that I don't know much about your background. Where did you go to high school? Was it here
Trina’s POV As soon as I stepped foot out of Mr. McAllister’s state-of-the-art office, I released a shaky breath that I wasn't even aware I was holding as I leaned my back against the wall. Phew! Finally! Mr. McAllister’s office might look like one straight out of one of those posh magazines but it is also suffocating— at least to me!Or perhaps it's the effect of the man himself, not his office. I already know how intimidating and charismatic he is but in that lavish office, sitting behind that massive desk and with those piercing, steely gray eyes on me… oo la la! I felt as if he could see right through me, my lies and half-truths when he fixed those intimidating and piercing orbs on me!Zane McAllister. Even his name screams authority and oozes of power and influence. Standing there in front of him as he questioned me with those piercing eyes scrutinizing my every reaction, I felt like a bundle of nerves– all hot and bothered.Taking a deep breath, I pulled away from the wall and
Trina's POV I was seated in one of the plush seats in the lobby, deep in thoughts when I heard a feminine voice address me.“Ms. Ryder, right?”I raised my head up to see an elegantly dressed woman in suits with her red hair pulled back into a bun looking down at me with a condescending look on her face. I ignored the look as I smiled at her, “Yes, Ms. Trina Ryder.”She didn't return the smile as she quickly turned and started walking away, muttering “Follow me” in an authoritative voice.Shaking my head, I simply got up and did as she said, wondering why the unknown woman is acting so arrogant towards me when I don't even know her, talkless of knowing what I might have done to offend her. As if she read my mind, I heard her muttering not so subtly– as if she deliberately wanted me to overhear. “As the secretary to the CEO, I have so many better things to do than showing some… wannabe staff member around as if I’m her escort!I didn't know when a small smile spread across my face b
Trina's POV Zane's words hit me like a terrible physical blow and as they sank into my brain, I felt the whole world crumble beneath me. My legs gave out beneath me and I collapsed onto the edge of the bed while my body began trembling as the room seemed to tilt and spin around me. Zane had made so many staggering revelations all at once that my brain was finding it too hard to process it all. He said my name– my real full name– the same name my dad and evil stepmom had ensured that it doesn't exist anymore as they have completely erased it from all databases. So how on earth did he find out about it?! But that's not even what shocked me the most or what made my entire world shake in an instant. Zane… is that mysterious handsome stranger who I slept with in this same room six years ago?!I stared at him, withmy eyes as wide as saucers while the red lace lingerie I had no idea were still clutched in my shaking hands slipped to the ground. My breath came in shallow, uneven gasps as m
Trina's POV Every night since that last heated kiss we shared in Texas, try as hard as I may, I just couldn’t stop dreaming about Zane. Slowly and surely, he had dominated my thoughts both when I am awake and when I am asleep. I keep having vivid, erotic dreams of him with his hands exploring all over my body with an unrelenting hunger and his lips following shortly after. Sometimes I wake up breathless, tangled in my sheets, with my heart pounding with an ache I didn’t want to acknowledge and at other times, I wake up startled, horrified by the realization that I wanted more— not just in my dreams, but in reality. I wanted him so badly and not just for him to kiss me or touch me erotically but to make full-fledged wild, passionate and sweet love with me.And that was what scared me most of all. I know I just can't resist him any longer so I began to avoid him. And when we returned to New York, I deliberately planned my usual routine in such a way that I could continue to prevent our
Zane’s POV Rising, I met her lips in a toe-curling kiss while my arms wrapped her waist and lifted her off the desk in one fluid motion. She wrapped her legs around my waist instinctively, with her arms looping around my neck as I carried her to the plush sofa in the corner of my office. With my foot, I pressed the button to convert it into a sofa bed before I gently laid her down, pausing only to strip off my hanging shirt, leaving us skin to skin.I pressed my body against hers, groaning at the heat of her skin beneath mine. My lips found her neck, her collarbone, her breasts once more. I took my time, savoring the taste of her, the way her body arched and writhed beneath me as I explored every inch of her. Her soft cries and whispered gasps were a symphony, driving me to the edge of control.When my lips found the sensitive spot just below her ear, she let out a low, shuddering moan that sent fire coursing through me. My name came out like a breathless plea on her lips, and I capt
Zane’s POV I didn’t think at all, I only felt and acted on those feelings. Trina’s lips were so warm and soft beneath mine, and the moment they parted for me, an uncontrollable fire ignited. I kissed her hungrily and passionately as if my entire life depends on it, as if kissing her is my source of oxygen and livelihood. I devoured her, with my tongue tangling with hers in a dance of unrestrained need. Her taste was intoxicating, like sweet temptation, and I just couldn’t get enough. My hands tightened on her waist, pulling her flush against me until every curve of her body molded perfectly against the hard planes of mine.She melted completely into the kiss, with her fingers clutching at my shirt as though she needed something to hold onto, as if she's light-headed and dizzy from our steamy kisses. The sound undid me. In response, I deepened the kiss, with my lips moving over hers with a fierceness that spoke volumes of my desperation. Her hands fumbled at the buttons of my shirt, a
Zane's POV For the second night in a row, I just couldn't bring myself to fall asleep and just as I did the previous night, I kept tossing and turning on the bed in the guest room but to no avail. The knowledge of the presence of the subject of all my desires, who is gradually becoming the bane of my existence in the room just a few doors away, was a constant, maddening reminder of our heated kisses and what I was missing right now. It took every ounce of self-control to remain where I was, to not give in to the overwhelming urge to go to her.That was how I spent the night without sleeping even a wink and as dawn broke, my phone's shrill ring pierced through the silence. Grateful for the distraction, I answered immediately, with my voice rough from lack of sleep.It was my CFO and he immediately went straight to the point."Mr. McAllister Sir, there's an urgent situation at the headquarters that requires your immediate attention.”I sat up, instantly alert. "I'll be there as soon
Zane’s POVSince I was preoccupied with disturbing and tumultuous thoughts and feelings, sleep had eluded me for most of that eventful night, because try as hard as I may,I just couldn't stop thinking about Trina. And not just about the passionate kiss we shared and the way my body was aching for more. No, I was also thinking about the possibilities that she might be the mysterious woman I had a one night stand with.Despite my reputation of being a human iceberg and a man of control, I know without any iota of doubt that there's no way I can be able to sleep in the same room with Trina without touching her. No, it has already been established that she makes me lose any kind of control. Therefore, I had made my way to one of the spare guest rooms in our wing after making sure no one was around. However, after taking yet another cold shower and laying down, I just couldn't fall asleep. The bed felt both too large and suffocatingly small as I kept on tossing and turning all through the
Zane’s POV After we returned to the ranch house from the pharmacy, I made sure Mandy took the right dosage of the drug that Noah had prescribed for her but as I attempted to leave the guest room Nicola had accommodated her in, she kept coming up with excuses to make me stay longer. I humored her for a little while but after some time, I couldn't handle it any longer. She and Nicola had interrupted us when things were just beginning to get heated up and even though I pride myself in self control, I I don't think I can withhold the pent up feelings inside of me any longer. I need a release and I need it now!However, after I finally extracted myself from Mandy and I stepped into our dimly lit room, what I saw made me stop dead on my tracks. My eyes were immediately drawn to Trina's still form on the bed. Her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, with her face turned away from me. To any onlooker, she appears to be peacefully asleep but as I looked closer, I instantly realized that s
Trina’s POV Just as things were about to escalate further, just as those lips that have driven me crazy with their erotic ministrations on my skin were about to close around a part of me which longed for them– my tingling, erect nipple, a sound penetrated through the haze of desire surrounding us. At first, it sounded faint and faraway, barely registering in my brain which is foggy due to immense desire. However, the sound came again, louder and more insistent this time around, and that was when it finally registered in my hazy brain.Knocking. Someone was knocking at the door.Zane and I both froze on our spots as both our eyes, which I was even aware were closed, fluttered open. For a moment, we just stood there, staring at each other, with chests panting and heaving as if we had just finished a marathon race. The look in Zane's eyes… it simply took my breath away. Ever since I met him, I have never seen his eyes look as expressive as they were now. His usually guarded and inexpre
Trina’s POV The moment our mouths collided, it was as though a firestorm erupted between us. His lips were warm, firm, and utterly intoxicating. I kissed him with everything I had, pouring all the tension, frustration, and desire I had been holding back for a long time, perhaps ever since I first met him, into that kiss.For a heartbeat, he froze, with his hands hovering in the air as if he’s undecided, perhaps still worried about me having a ‘boyfriend’. But then, like a dam breaking loose, his emotions won against his rational thought and broke loose, and his hands suddenly gripped my waist with a force that made me gasp as he took charge. He pulled me flush against him, and I felt every inch of his hard body molding against my soft one as his lips moved against mine with fierce hunger.Zane kissed me like a man that has starved for far too long. His lips moved against mine with an urgency that sent shivers racing down my spine while his hands tightened their grip around my waist a