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No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 13
Lirael's POVZephyra blinked, her lips parting. The next moment, her expression shuttered. "I don't know what you're talking about. This is a high-profile project. It's Jovan's job to make sure everything runs smoothly."I supposed it wasn't a surprise she didn't want to discuss her boyfriend with me."Jovan and Rachel seem to have a good working relationship," I said. I didn't know why I said it. It could be because I sensed some undercurrent between Jovan and the beautiful blonde. Or maybe it was because I was an asshole and recognized a kindred spirit when I saw one. And there was no doubt in my mind that Jovan was an asshole. After all, he had broken up with her once already—which I should probably thank him for—then come crawling back.Zephyra stared down at the plans in her hands. When she raised her gaze again, there was a spark of anger in the deep green of her eyes. The sight sent a flare of heat through me."I'm not sure what you're trying to insinuate," she said, "but my pe
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 14
Lirael's POV"How's the project going?" Raphael asked."It's moving along. We're almost ready to sign off on several preliminary designs." It was late at night, and Raphael, Nathan, and I were probably the last people in the building. While Nathan remained in his office, Raphael and I encountered each other on the way to the elevator, so we decided to head down to our cars together."How's marketing?" I asked.He shrugged his shoulders and scowled. "We're doing our best to offset any new press about Dad's arrest by replacing it with everything positive we're doing, but it's an uphill battle.""Why is that?""The press is more interested in our private lives than what the company is doing. At yesterday's interview, the woman spent more time asking me about my reputation than our current projects and the effort we're putting into making our developments more sustainable.""What did you do?""Took her into the bathroom and fucked her."I shook my head. "That's not helpful, Raphael." I di
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 15
Zephyra's POV"Why are we doing this again?" I asked Freya as our Uber pulled up in front of the club. A long line of people snaked its way down the block."Not surprising, considering the hype behind this place. Tonight is its grand opening, but it's already being touted as the next big hotspot—where the rich, famous, and beautiful will go to be seen.""Because you've been working hard for weeks, first on your proposal, and now on the project, and you need a break. We both do," she replied.I patted her knee sympathetically. Things had been a bit rough for her since Jaxson left for LA. She had been struggling with the temporary separation. She had even started teaching interior design classes at a community center a few evenings a week to keep herself distracted. I guessed a night out on the town would do us both good.After paying the driver, we climbed out. I smoothed down my sparkly green minidress, the one Freya said matched the color of my eyes. With bare legs and a pair of stra
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 16
Lirael's POV"When was the last time the three of us were out together?" Raphael asked, raising his voice to be heard over the pounding beat.I swirled the whiskey in my glass. "It's been a while."While Raphael often attended our club openings, I only did occasionally, and Nathan rarely ever did. I was sure he considered it beneath him to fraternize with the commoners, let alone his brothers.But putting on a united front was more important than ever now, which is why we were all making an appearance at the opening of one of our recent investments. I had no clue if Nathan was enjoying himself or not. He reclined in his chair, drinking top-shelf whiskey, his cool gaze scanning the crowd while a hot blonde chattered in his ear about something I was sure he didn't give a fuck about.Even with the dim lighting in the VIP section, I could see shadows under his eyes. For the first time, I felt a pang of sympathy for him. It couldn't be easy, helming a vessel as large as ours while trying t
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 17
Lirael's POVHer mouth fell open. "You've got to be kidding me. Do you still think I'm stalking you? I didn't know this was one of your clubs. I didn't even know you owned clubs."The glittering strobe lights reflected in her eyes, distracting me from her reply, and we stared at each other for a heartbeat that seemed to last too long. Then she wet her lips. "What do you want to talk to me about, Lirael?""You know, your attitude leaves a lot to be desired," I said."So does yours."I moved closer, tipping my head toward hers and enjoying the way her eyes flared and her pulse fluttered in her throat."What attitude is that?""Constantly accusing me of trying to manipulate you. And never saying you're sorry.""You want an apology?"Her chin tipped up. "It would help.""Why?"She blinked at me. "Because... you're wrong. And because..." Her gaze dipped, then rose to meet mine. "Because you hurt me." Emotion threaded through her voice.I brushed my thumb over her cheek, then pressed it to
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 18
Zephyra's POVI scanned the crowd for Freya. When I spotted her at the bar, I rushed over. “Hey, do you mind if we leave?”Her brows drew together. “Are you okay?” She scanned the surrounding area. “Did he do someth—”Things blurred a little as I shook my head. Maybe I drank more than I thought tonight. Regardless, my head was all mixed up after what had just happened with Lirael. What had just happened with Lirael? I didn’t know, but any buzz I was feeling had gone, and knowing he was upstairs in the VIP section, ready to screw whatever model he was talking about, made me want to get as far from there as possible. Not that I wanted to be the one he was screwing. I had a boyfriend, after all. I just didn’t want to have the image of the two of them together in my head. “I’m not feeling it anymore. Do you mind?”“Of course not. Let’s get out of here.”We headed toward the door, and I refused to look up at the second floor. After we fought our way through the stream of people entering th
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 19
Zephyra's POVThe car dropped us off, and I marched for the door. I fumbled while trying to get the key in the lock, so Freya gently took it from me and let us in.I dropped my purse on the table. “I’m going to take a shower.”“I’m sorry, Zee. I really am.” Freya gave me a long hug.I let out a ragged breath. “You never liked him.”“Because I didn’t think he was good enough for you,” she said, pushing my hair away from my face.I nodded, hating that tears continued to burn the backs of my eyes every time I thought back to what I saw. Also hating that my mind kept going to Lirael and the fact that he knew. That he practically spelled it out for me, and I told him he didn’t know what he was talking about.I turned the shower on as hot as I could bear and let it cascade over me. Jovan hadn’t called, which either meant he hadn’t seen my message yet or he had and was too chicken shit to talk to me. A sudden rush of nausea hit me. How the hell could I face him and Rachel on Monday with the
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 20
Zephyra's POV I checked the time on my computer screen, then took a deep breath, picked up my phone, and connected to Lirael’s PA line. “Lirael Wright’s office,” Samson answered. “Hi. It’s Zephyra Zane from the architectural team. I was wondering if I could get a quick meeting with Mr. Wright sometime today?” “Hold on for a second.” The faint clicking of keys made its way across the line. “He had fifteen minutes available this afternoon at one o’clock. Did that work?” “Yes, that was fine. Thank you.” I lowered the receiver and clenched my fists. I did not want to do this. I really didn’t. But I would. That morning, I had done what I promised myself. I had walked into the office with my head high, even though my stomach was in knots. Jovan had been waiting by my desk, and the anger that surged through me at the sight of his face had taken my breath away. “Zephyra—” he had started, reaching for me. I had jerked back. “Don’t touch me.” His hand had dropped, but he had kept talk
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No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 79
Zephyra's POVLirael continues, unperturbed. "Your company has been facing difficulties for a while now—mismanagement, apparently. Your shares are at the lowest price they've been for a decade. I saw you come in, and I decided now was the right time to make the call. So no, you don't have some investments for me. You are an investment. And unfortunately for you, as of," Lirael checks his watch, "ten minutes ago, you're no longer CEO of Apex Industries. My brothers and I will appoint one of our own people to take over first thing tomorrow."My father stares at Lirael, shock and disbelief warring on his features. "Y-You can't be serious. That's... That's preposterous."Lirael turns his back on him, dismissing the conversation with a curt statement. "Are we all done, ladies?" Mom stands up gracefully, and I follow suit, mirroring her movement. "Yes, thank you, Lirael," she says with genuine appreciation. "The meal was absolutely delicious."Lirael responds with a smile that lights up hi
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 78
Zephyra's POVMom reaches over the table and squeezes my hand, a gentle smile playing on her lips. I could get used to this, I think to myself, the warmth of her touch a comforting reassurance in the midst of the elegant ambiance surrounding us.I take a moment to look around the restaurant where we're dining tonight. It's opulent, even by Lirael's high standards. While he and I frequent such upscale establishments often, we've also developed a penchant for cooking together at home. Surprisingly, Lirael has proven to be quite the adept home chef. Our late-night grilled cheese sandwiches remain a favorite indulgence.Yet, tonight marks a special occasion—it's Mom's birthday. Lirael's thoughtful gesture of sending his private jet to whisk her away to New York for the weekend speaks volumes about his generosity. The fact that we're hosting her in one of Lirael's luxurious hotel suites, with all expenses covered, adds an extra layer of appreciation for the privacy and comfort we can offer
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 77
Lirael's POVHer hand reaches out, coming to rest on my chest, right over my wildly beating heart. The warmth of her touch seeps through me, comforting and electrifying all at once. "And I really, really like what I see," she confesses, her eyes locking with mine in a moment of shared vulnerability.Relief floods through me, a weight lifting off my shoulders as her words sink in. Without hesitation, I take a step closer to her, my hand instinctively finding its way into her soft hair, fingers curling around the back of her neck as I pull her gently toward me. The closeness between us feels natural, inevitable, as if we've been dancing around this moment for far too long."I like what I see too," I murmur, my voice low and intimate, filled with unspoken promises and desires."Is that so?" Her voice is a breathless whisper, anticipation hanging in the air between us.I nod, a smile playing on my lips. "Yes, it is. In fact, I don't just like what I see," I confess, my gaze never leaving
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 76
Lirael's POV "Of course," I reply without hesitation, a hint of hurt tugging at my words. Didn't she believe me when I assured her that I wasn't going anywhere? "And you're helping Mom plant beets?" Zephyra inquires, her gaze flickering to the spade in my hand. I glance down at my fingers wrapped around the tool. "It would seem so," I confirm with a faint smile. Zephyra descends the steps towards us, and the sight of her approaching leaves me momentarily breathless. The way she moves, the way the sunlight catches her hair, it's all so mesmerizing. "Zephyra, do you mind finishing this off while I get dinner started?" Beth interjects, her tone carrying a hint of mischief as she exchanges a knowing look with me. My lips quirk up in response to Beth's subtle gesture, understanding the unspoken message. Zephyra stands gracefully, brushing the dirt off her knees, and takes the trowel from Beth, settling down next to me.The air is filled with the sweet scent of sunshine and wildflowers
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 75
Lirael's POVI pull up outside Zephyra's mom's house and shift the car into park. The decision to rent a vehicle instead of relying on a driver feels like a small step toward independence, a gesture of my commitment to staying here for the foreseeable future. The sunset paints the sky in hues of orange and pink, casting warm beams of light through the car window as I sit and contemplate my next moves.Recalibration is necessary. The impulse to buy things for Zephyra's mom, while well-intentioned, feels like a misstep now. She doesn't need my money; she needs genuine connection and support. It strikes me that perhaps my efforts to provide material comfort were more about easing my own guilt than truly helping. Zephyra, given time and opportunity, will undoubtedly be able to provide for her mom in ways I can't.Yet, despite this realization, I haven't formulated another plan. Every idea I entertain seems to circle back to money, a reminder of the limitations of my solutions. For now, al
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 74
Zephyra's POVHis eyes darken slightly, a mix of frustration and longing evident in his gaze. "Because it's the only thing I can offer you—the only thing I can give you that you need," he admits, his voice tinged with desperation.I meet his gaze, feeling a wave of sadness wash over me as I shake my head slowly. "No, Lirael. It's not. I don't need your money or what it can buy me. A relationship isn't supposed to be transactional like that. It's about being with someone because you can't imagine not being with them. It's about sharing your heart and soul with someone, knowing they see you for who you really are, that they understand you in a way no one else can."His jaw tightens as he absorbs my words, a silent acknowledgment of the truth in them. "Okay," he finally responds, his tone subdued yet accepting.I'm taken aback by his unexpected acquiescence. "Okay?" I repeat, searching his eyes for any hint of defiance or argument.He nods, taking a step closer and gently brushing a stra
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 73
Zephyra's POVThe next evening, I return home after my jog, my feet stuttering to a halt as I pull out my earphones, my mind racing with questions about the unfamiliar car in the driveway. What the hell? My first thought is that Lirael's back, having driven himself this time, but I know that's not it. The shiny red car is brand new, untouched by the usual signs of a journey. It's almost surreal, like a prop dropped into a scene.I walk up the path, each step heavy with curiosity and apprehension, and let myself into the house. There he is, sitting on the couch just as he was yesterday, his dark head a stark contrast to the muted colors of the living room. Mom sits opposite him, her demeanor calm as she sips her tea.Taking a moment to compose myself, I drop my keys on the sideboard with a clatter, drawing their attention. "Please tell me that's your car outside," I say, my voice a mix of surprise and disbelief, directed at Lirael.He stands immediately, his deep blue eyes raking over
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 72
Zephyra's POVI parked Mom's battered old car in the driveway, the familiar creak of its doors bringing back childhood memories. Gathering the groceries from the back seat, I carried them up the path to the house. Before I can put the key in the lock, the door swings open, revealing Mom's warm smile."Hey, Mom," I greet her, my own smile fading as I notice the serious expression on her face. "I got all the ingredients you wanted, and I picked up some ice cream for dessert. Do you..." I trail off, sensing something amiss.She reaches to take the bags from my hands, her touch gentle yet firm. "Lirael's here," she says quietly.My heart almost stops at the mention of his name. "What?" I manage to utter, disbelief and a tinge of panic creeping into my voice."Yeah, he's here," Mom confirms. "But it's up to you if he stays."I throttle the feeling of betrayal that swells in my chest. Mom wouldn't have let him in if he hadn't given her a good enough reason. I just don't have a clue what tha
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 71
Lirael's POV The driver pulls up, and I sit there for a moment, absorbing the nostalgic aura emanating from Zephyra's childhood home. Despite its modest size, the front yard boasts meticulous landscaping, with a delightful array of flowers and shrubs thoughtfully arranged in beds encircling the welcoming front porch. It's a curious feeling. While I struggle to visualize myself growing up in such surroundings, I can easily conjure images of a young Zephyra, carefree and radiant, darting through the sprinklers on sweltering summer afternoons. I can envision her kneeling alongside her mother, their hands digging into the soil as they lovingly planted flowers together, or lending a hand to carry groceries up the familiar porch steps. These seemingly mundane moments, ones that Zephyra may have taken for granted in her youth, are now treasures I yearn to have experienced firsthand. Perhaps then, understanding how to be present for her and fulfill her needs would come more naturally to me.
