Anna's POVTrevor asked me out on a date. Yes, you heard right. It was a funny sight because he was a blushing and stuttering mess and I was gaping at him like a fish that had been brought out of water.My mind was empty, my brain was fried. It didn't make any sense. I couldn't understand why Trevor would ask me out on a date, he was insanely good looking and I was… Well, plain Jane. They were so many people he could have noticed like Tricia with the gorgeous caramel skin who was always eye fucking him, Lois who seemed to glow when she was talking to him and he could have easily chosen anyone.I couldn't believe Erica was right.“Are you going to say something?” Trevor was looking at me expectantly. I even forgot that he was still in front of me.“Um… Er… Yes,” I stuttered.“Yes?” he looked so excited that I couldn't help but tell him that wasn't what I meant.“Yes,” I tried to catch my breath.“Great! I’ll pick you up by seven” And he hopped off, leaving me standing there.It was alm
Anna's POVMother always said art was in and for everyone, it didn’t matter what you were doing and how you were doing it, she could swear it was lying deep within you.She always said this when she was brushing the red hair I inherited from her, only that hers was a bit more startling and wild. It was a furious shade of red that reminded you of the beauty of fire and the danger around it.It used to warm my heart that I took over her and it warmed my heart even more when people said it.She was always a dreamer, she made me one and it took me a while to realize the world wasn't a place for my unrealistic dreams.It wasn't a place for people like me.It wasn't a place for people like her either.That was why she drowned in alcohol. She died from her unrealistic dreams of thinking my father would change, thinking he would love her again and they'll be back to that childhood sweetheart they once were.But it never happened.On the night he left, his voice ran around the house like a vio
Caden's POVWhat could be worse than Father blowing up my phone and Rosey Claire?Today, I got an invitation to a hotel opening in Brooklyn, it was scheduled for tomorrow evening. It wasn't necessarily a new opening, it was an opening of another branch since Mike Taylor had one in California already. The Taylors was a first-class hotel with first-class services and I had an extra invitation card to come with my assistant which was a waste because I didn't have one…Wait a minute. I didn't have one true but I had a receptionist who played the role of a receptionist and a personal assistant.A particular redhead…I could give it to her but would she want to come? I knew the answer to that, I'd like to see her argue and I'll break it to her that I was the boss and it was mandatory.I wasn't lying, Mike Taylor was a big name, and honoring his invitation simply meant he'll honor mine. It was how the system worked, it was how the wealthy and affluent stayed up.Jimmy was going to be in town
Anna's POVTonight was the party and it was hard deciding what to wear- scratch that, I had nothing to wear making me grow frustrated.Erica sat on my bed eyeing me quietly while she munched on a pack of chips.“There you go” She threw a black dress that I hadn’t noticed her with at me.When I observed it, it was her favorite bodycon dress with long sleeves, a deep back, and a thigh-high slit.“No I can't wear this,” I threw it back at her“Yes you can”“No Erica, I know how much you love that dress moreover you've seen the scars on my back” I mumbled the last part quietly.“They are not as bad as you think” She assures me. “And if you want, you can let your hair down but trust me when I say that they are barely visible,” She told me.I don't know how Erica managed to do it, but here I was wearing the dress while she styled my hair.The doorbell rang and Erica ran to get it, allowing me to wear my shoes.When I came out, I wasn’t surprised it was the famous Caden Gallagher but what w
Anna's POV“You've been stuffing your face with food for the last five minutes,” the stranger with dirty blond hair and warm brown eyes said when he realized that I wasn't going to say anything.It made me blush from embarrassment and I looked around just to be sure the room wasn't in awe over my gluttony.He must have read my thoughts because he said “Don't worry, your secret is safe with me” he assured me, causing me to laugh.“Sebastian” his hand was in front of me.“Anna,” I said, taking his hand that felt very soft and I noticed the delicate rings he was wearing. I didn't speak gemstones but I knew those were rare and most have cost a fortune.He was one of them. The top dogs.I let go of his hand realizing I had been shaking it for too long.“Sorry,” I mumbled.“It's okay,” he assured me. “As long as you are not a thief who is going to try to cut off my hand later”Wow!Joke or not, I felt insulted by it.“Oh my God, I just realized how terrible that must have sounded. I am sorr
Caden’s POVIt was daring of her to wear that dress and not receive the attention she was getting now. But I couldn't understand why she didn't seem to notice the attention she was receiving, I couldn't understand why she seemed so careful - almost scared as if someone was watching her.Why?When I stopped to greet a group of senators, Anna looked like she was going to pass out. My face kept moving back and forth within them.All of those were long forgotten when I saw Dove Baldwin. She was an international model and we had a shoot together in England before I came down to New York.And as usual, we had a thing - sex. It was once and she was among the few women who didn't take it as anything serious. It made me like her genuinely.Dove introduced me to some of her friends. She was dating now because I noticed how the man in a red tux and multiple facial piercings kept wrapping his hands protectively around her waist causing her to blush constantly.We were lost in our conversation, h
Anna’s POVDid I cross the line? maybe I had a little but I just followed him into the car, unable to say anything.I sat at the farthest end of the passenger seat, I was afraid that if I sat too close or something he would hit me.His jaw clenched and his fists were clenched in a vice grip on the wheel and he looked so angry as if this entire situation was my fault, which it kind of was.After a minute of silence, I thought of speaking but nothing came out of my mouth. What could I possibly say that was going to make any difference? We got home and he parked by the side of the street, I was contemplating if I should just say good night or apologize.“I am sorry, I got so caught up in my head that I crossed the line, I shouldn’t have said those things…” My voice was a whisper barely audible but I didn’t get any reaction from him, he was staring straight out of the car like he had suddenly seen something interesting and not paying me any attention like I was saying bullshits.“Goodnig
Caden’s POVToday I decided to visit my aunt after procrastinating for a while. My cousin Sean - her son was coming back home today from Spain and I wanted to go with her to welcome him at the airport.“Pierre” my aunt called me by my middle name, just like Mama would before throwing her hands round my neck “How are you dear?” she asked between the hug.She had always looked so much like my mama. I tried to push it away.It didn't matter whether they had identical faces, they were not the same people. That was it. Nothing more nothing less.“I am doing alright, Aunt Marie, how are you?” I hugged her back with one arm.“I haven't changed in years and still haven't changed since the past weeks you saw me,” she chuckled, pulling away from the embrace. “You didn't want to come to see me,'' she said.“I'm here now,” I said grinning and pulling back the seat next to me to give her space and let her sit down.We chatted casually over some food. We talked for a long time catching up, I tol
Caden’s POVHow was I supposed to find her? I turned on the tracking app on my phone and followed its directions. She was in front of a hospital, curled in a corner.Her arms were wrapped around her as she rocked herself back and forth, rocking slowly. I hurried towards her. My feet stumbled over some debris and I almost fell. She didn't notice me yet but when she did... I froze with terror when I realized how fragile she looked. How much she needed help. The pain that was radiating off her wasn't physical; it was mental and emotional. It radiated from where I stood and all I wanted to do was wrap her up in my arms. Soothe her mind and take away this pain for good. Instead, I just watched her, afraid if I spoke or made even the slightest movement she might collapse and not wake again.She was mumbling words, words I couldn't hear and her eyes seemed to be fixed on something yet unfocussed.I hadn't seen such raw pain from anyone before and I could feel the heat of it coming off of her
Anna’s POVPanic engulfed me in a warm hug that grew tight, almost suffocating as I stared at the man in front of me.The hair in my arms stood straight up like spikes, my breath caught in my throat.I could hear my heartbeat racing and I couldn't think, could hardly breathe. I couldn't speak or move, as I tried to focus solely on his face, which seemed to glow with a light from within. His hair was dark like ink, and shiny.But his eyes, those eyes were cold and danced with mischief and danger. Like liquid ice.I knew those eyes. I had seen them so many times, burning in my nightmares. Eyes that looked deep into yours like they could read your deepest desires. Eyes that screamed chaos, he was looking at me like a cat playing with its food before devouring it and leaving the bones to crumble underneath the weight of his appetite. I knew those eyes. “Not exactly who you were expecting, am I right?” he murmured amusedly, taking in the sight of me as if he had planned this whole encoun
Anna’s POVIt was hard to decide but I decided that I needed therapy. I had to continue with my session if I wanted to be better and I needed to be better.Not just for anyone but for myself, too. It wasn’t as easy for me to get help in a professional setting but some people could. People like the person who had been there with me all through this whole process. She sat quietly in her chair in my room, listening to my every word with patience and understanding. She forced me to be better, ignoring the fact that I was a handful.I couldn't pretend that I wasn't anxious, it felt like it's been ages since the last session. It felt like the first day all over again.Beads of sweat formed on my forehead despite the cool air conditioning in the waiting room. The steady drip of water from a faucet sounded in the background and my heart beat faster than normal. Sweat dripped onto the table as well as the palms of my hands. A couple of strands of hair fell into my face and I brushed them bac
Caden’s POVSebastian and Anna sat not very far, she was so engrossed in whatever he was saying that she even giggled and threw her head back.Anger flew through me like lightning and I began to move to their table. The words came out of my mouth before I could stop them. “Are you fucking serious right now?” I growled, staring at them, his eyes were suddenly wide with fear. His jaw clenched tightly as if he wanted to say something but the words were stuck on the way down. Anna looked red like she had been caught doing what she was supposed to do. She bit her lower lip and turned to look away from me. Sebastian who observed everything just looked confused but soon his usual smile was back on his face as if nothing ever happened. He looked over at me, “Yeah, that’s a good way to sum it up,” he gave an awkward laugh. He seemed amused by me. And he was laughing at me. He couldn't have been more wrong! It wasn't funny!“Nice to see you, Caden”“We need to talk,” I said looking directly
Caden’s POVMy eyes trailed to her exposed thigh as she slept on my bed beside me. It was so smooth, so beautiful and so tempting to reach out to.I clenched my fist, fighting the temptation. My hand itched to touch her, to rub along her smooth leg, to explore every inch of her. I could feel the bulge in my pants, straining uncomfortably, at the thought of it.After a few seconds of contemplating, I heeded finally, tracing my fingertips in a buttery light way, across her exposed thigh, trailing from her knee, down to her midthigh. I kept my eyes glued on her face while I made my journey, taking special care not to wake her up. When I got lower, I paused and stared up at her face once again.My breathing quickened as I continued down. Her eyelashes fluttered, revealing her beautiful brown orbs, as she stared back at me in a dazed manner, while my finger kept trailing down to her entrance, my eyes still trained on her.“Caden?” She called out softly, as it sounded more like a restrai
Anna’s POVI couldn't believe I had let that happen. It wasn't like me to lose control like that, but it just happened. It felt like we were in the middle of a movie set – and we had just finished playing out one scene, and all of a sudden it was raining hard.I couldn't have been so stupid! I had begged him to touch me, I had screamed out his name over and over again last night while he slammed into me like an animal possessed. And now that I had finally gotten what I wanted… he had to say that.Shame washed over me, and tears stung my eyes as I walked down the street, trying to keep from crying in public. I could not believe this – not after everything we had done last night. But when I thought about how it had ended, my insides turned to ice.I didn't know what I was thinking, maybe that I had seen some level of vulnerability from him? But he was Caden Gallagher, the famous playboy. Why was I surprised that he would never want to give up his reputation for something as trivial as
Caden’s POV“I want this,” I heard her say.That was all it took for me to lose the self-control I was holding onto as I went back to kissing her, this time with urgency.It was like my entire world was spinning and I could barely focus. I was kissing her like there was nothing else in the whole world, the world, and everyone but her. Her fingers tangled in my hair as she tugged my hair in need, urging me to deepen the kiss. I didn't mind, I just kept kissing her.And then I lost all control of my actions, kissing her harder and faster as her body became heavier in my embrace, my hands traveling down, slipping underneath her shirt to trace along her skin.She arched into my touch causing me to lose my train of thought. I didn't think much about what I was doing, all I cared about was the warmth radiating from her body and the feeling of being completely engulfed in her presence.Her hand slid under my shirt tracing the curves on my chest, leaving a burning sensation in its wake. My h
Anna’s POV“Do you have any siblings?” The question was a whisper in the wind that night and yet I heard it clear every day as if my ear were ringing with it. I blinked once or twice before focusing on the man opposite me.“No. Erica Is the closest thing I have to one” My voice sounded sadder than I intended it to be.“And what about Erica?” He must have read the meaning behind my words and sensed that something was wrong.“I am not the definition of sunshine, maybe hurricanes and storms, and sometimes people like Erica get tired of dealing with people like me. I wouldn't blame her, I am a handful” The words spilled from my mouth like water out of an overflowing dam. Tears sprang into my eyes and I turned away to gaze at the moonlight shimmering in the sky above us on the rooftop of La Cuisine de Camile, for the first time Caden was letting me pay after much persuasion. I knew it was selfish but I wanted this moment to be special. Even though I had never really been one for physical
Anna’s POVI woke up with a throbbing headache and with the sun threatening to make me blind. I had no choice but to roll over in bed and close my eyes until the throbbing subsided, at least for the moment. I couldn't even find the words to describe my hangover. I only knew it was bad when my eyes stung like they would explode. The thought of doing anything more than lying in bed made me feel even more nauseous. But I knew that as long as I kept my eyes closed and didn’t move, then I’d be fine for now. But I thought wrong and too fast.This is why saying no to alcohol was the best option, I finally understood that.At least Caden had been there, and he brought me home.Sucker! I thought to myself as that fluttery feeling came back and I let out an annoyed grunt. This time instead of trying to suppress the urge to vomit, I felt worse than before, and I wished I could just sleep for at least another couple of hours. I don’t know if I was still drunk, or not hungover enough yet to de