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No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 6
Zephyra's POVMy ringing phone woke me from a restless sleep. I fumbled around on my side table until I found it. “Hello?” I mumbled, squinting against the fingers of light finding their way past the edges of my bedroom curtains.“We got it!” Jovan’s loud voice made me wince.I sat up and rubbed my eyes. “Got what?”“The Wright Group project,” he said, and now I was wide awake. “Really?” I was simultaneously shocked, delighted, and wracked with nerves. Delighted that all our hard work had paid off, and excited at the knowledge that something I’d have a hand in designing would feature prominently in major cities around the US.But my stomach twisted at the thought of being in the same space as Lirael for an extended period.From the way he had looked at me during our presentation, it was obvious he was less than happy to see me. And I guessed I understood why. Lirael didn’t seem the type to be interested in mixing business with pleasure, particularly not when the pleasure was only ever
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 7
Zephyra's POVI cringed. “Yes. I didn’t know at the time, though.”“Holy shit,” she breathed. “I can’t believe it.” Then she laughed, her big brown eyes tearing up. “Oh my god, Zee. When you finally decided to let your hair down, you went full throttle and hooked up with one of the richest, most eligible bachelors in the country.”"Stop laughing," she said. "It was going to be so awkward, particularly during our one-on-one meeting."She wiggled her eyebrows. "Maybe it would have turned into a literal one-on-one meeting."The sip of coffee I had just taken almost choked me. "Jovan and I were back together. Plus, I worked for him, so that would have been completely inappropriate," I thought back to Lirael’s icy expression during our last meeting. "Not to mention, I was pretty sure he had no interest in a repeat performance.""From the minimal juicy details you gave of that night
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 8
Zephyra's POVIt was Monday, and I sat on the beautiful yet uncomfortable leather couch outside Lirael’s office, trying not to fidget. My heart hammered against my ribcage, and nervous sweat dampened my skin. Lirael’s PA, a young man who introduced himself as Samson, eyed me from across the space, and I wondered if he could tell how nervous I was.He picked up his phone, glanced at me, said something, and hung up. “You can go in, Miss Zane.”I smiled my thanks at him, then stood, smoothing down my gray pencil skirt. With Freya’s help, I had paired it with a cream sleeveless blouse with delicate little buttons running down the front of it. Black strappy heels finished off the look. As Freya put it, the outfit was classy, while still doing a fantastic job of highlighting my curves.Professional with a hint of sexy. Perfect to give me the confidence I needed to face this uncomfortable situation.Samson gave me a slightly concerned look, and I realized I had ground to a halt, standing fro
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 9
Zephyra's POVAnger whipped through me. What sort of cold, empty life would allow him to see a simple coincidence as some subterfuge to manipulate him? “Are you insinuating that I used my body to get this job for my firm? Because if you are, it sounds very much like you’re suggesting I prostituted myself.”He stalked closer and my breath caught. I hated that even though I was furious with him, my body reacted to his proximity. He was the only man who had given me such intense pleasure, and apparently my body didn’t care that he was insulting my integrity. It just wanted to relive the feeling of his head between my legs and the way he filled me so thoroughly.My gaze snapped back to his as I realized it had drifted down to his lips.My nipples tightened even more, and I was sure by now they must be visible. I crossed my arms as if I was bored with this conversation.Only the smirk curling his lips let me know I hadn’t succeeded.He was standing so close that I needed to angle my chin s
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 10
Lirael's POV“Are you listening?” Nathan’s voice brought my attention back to the discussion as my brothers and I sat around a table in his office, analyzing the Wright Group’s financials for the last quarter, as well as the projections for the next six months. 'Of course,' I said, despite the memory of my meeting with Zephyra that morning occupying most of my attention.She had surprised me. I was mostly convinced that our original encounter and what happened between us were a coincidence. The shock and horror on her face when I suggested otherwise had been believable enough that a part of me—a tiny part—actually felt bad about accusing her. But there were women out there who would do exactly that. Outside the bedroom, there had been plenty of people over the years who orchestrated meetings with me and my brothers to try to get something from us.In our position, trust had been scarce. I wasn’t sure there was anyone in my life I trusted completely. I knew my brothers wouldn’t screw m
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 11
Zephyra's POVI tapped my pen on my notepad as I studied the concept design I had drawn for the roof of the Chicago hotel. After doing some calculations, I turned to my other computer screen and scrolled through the U.S. Green Building Council website, checking over the information on their certification requirements. I took a few notes, then put my pen down and stretched.It had been Friday, and I had made it through my first week with the Wright Group. Aside from the confrontation with Lirael on Monday, it had been great. I scanned my surroundings and smiled. They had given us an impressive office, filled with sleek, modern workbenches, ergonomic chairs, and several drafting tables. Large windows lined two walls, allowing natural light to flood in and giving the space an airy, open feel. A small kitchen area with a fridge, microwave, and coffee machine was located at the far end.My desk sat in the corner, facing the rest of the room. The double computer screens blocked most of my v
No Escaping the Billionaire's Desire 12
Lirael's POV"Yes?" I glanced up from the email I had been reading. "Miss Zane and Mr. Specter were here for the meeting," I informed. I wondered what Jovan was up to with her."Keep them there," I barked before pushing back my chair and striding to the door. I jerked it open and stepped out.Zephyra and Jovan were waiting to come in. Zephyra held rolls of paper in her hands, and her green eyes locked on mine, a hint of pink tinting her cheeks. I shouldn't have liked making her nervous, but I did. My attention shifted to Jovan hovering close to her. I wondered if he sensed something, if he somehow picked up on the memories that rippled between Zephyra and me whenever we were in the same room together. The idea almost made me smile, but I refrained."Jovan, I'm sorry you wasted a trip here, but I asked to meet with only Miss Zane," I stated firmly. Jovan's eyes darted between Zephyra and me. Oh yeah, he sensed something alright, but I doubted he knew what. Would she have told him she s
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
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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.
