Lexie’s Point Of View I swallowed hard, trying to push the thought away. No. I couldn’t be greedy. Alam ko naman kung anong setup namin, so I had to remind myself not to expect more. For now, I’d just go with it—enjoy whatever this was while it lasted. Wala nang isip-isip sa kung anong mangyayari bukas. I barely had time to gather my thoughts when Drew moved on top of me, pressing soft kisses on my forehead, cheeks, and nose before finally capturing my lips again. Pero hindi doon natapos ‘yon. His lips trailed down my neck, then lower, hanggang sa maramdaman kong nasa may dibdib ko na siya. My breathing hitched, and the lower he went, the more my body tensed. When he reached my stomach, that’s when it hit me—shit. I knew what he was about to do. “Oh, no. You will not—” “Shhh…” he muttered, cutting me off easily. His fingers hooked around my underwear, sliding it off smoothly before tossing it to the side like it was nothing. “Drew!” I gasped when he spread my legs apart. H
“In a moment, love,” he murmured, his voice thick with need. A few more hard, deep thrusts, and then, with a sharp groan, he pulled away just in time. Heat splashed against my skin as his release spilled over me, his heavy breathing matching my own. This… this was probably the most intense we had ever been. He stayed still for a second, catching his breath before he finally moved. Without a word, he reached for the tissues on the nightstand, gently wiping the mess off my skin before tossing them in the nearest bin. Then, with a tenderness that contradicted the fire from moments ago, he cupped my chin between his thumb and forefinger, pressing a soft kiss against my lips. Before I could say anything, he scooped me into his arms and carried me toward the bathroom. Once inside, he set me down carefully, his eyes never leaving mine as he reached for the shower. I thought we were just going to take a quick shower, but the moment I stepped inside, my eyes widened in surprise. The bat
Lexie's POV "You're kidding, right?" I gave him a look, setting my fork down. I was just trying to enjoy my breakfast, and here he was, bringing this up again. I mean, seriously? After everything last night? Yeah, I followed him to his hotel suite—don't ask me why. Maybe I was weak, or maybe I just didn't feel like saying no to him. "I already treated you to dinner. Why are we still talking about this?" Drew just smirked, leaning back like he had all the time in the world. "Well, for one thing, that wasn't exactly the kind of dinner I had in mind," he said, looking way too smug. "Takeout from our favorite restaurant, eating on your balcony—not that I'm complaining." "So, what exactly are you saying right now?" I asked, giving him a suspicious look. Ngumiti siya nang buo, 'yung tipong walang babaeng makakatanggi. "Well, I want to renegotiate the terms of our agreement." Umiling ako habang humihigop ng kape. "I don't think I like where this is going." Saglit akong tumigil bago
Lexie’s PoV "Where are we?" tanong ko habang hinahangaan ang pinong puting buhangin at ang malinaw na asul na dagat—kapareho ng kulay ng mga mata niya. "Iraklia," sagot niya, may halong yabang sa boses. "Would you believe na dalawa lang ang villages sa maliit na island na 'to? Do you think this is secluded enough para magawa natin ang kahit anong gusto natin without the prying eyes of the public?" Ngumiti lang ako sa kanya habang naglakad kami nang magkahawak-kamay. Nakabitin sa balikat niya ang camera niya, at halata sa mga mata niya ang excitement sa pag-explore namin sa isla. I was in awe of its traditional Cycladic architecture—ang white-washed houses, blue-domed churches, at ang tahimik na ambiance na malayo sa ingay ng siyudad. Habang naglalakad kami, panay naman ang pagkuha niya ng candid shots ko. Ang paborito niyang gawin? Ang hulihin ako sa litrato nang hindi ko alam—sa mga moments na least prepared ako. Sa isang punto, napansin kong nagiging conscious na ako sa
Lexie’s POV Kinabukasan, bigla akong nakatanggap ng tawag from Dione. She wanted to hang out before my flight back to New York tomorrow. We decided to meet at this café near my apartment—our go-to spot whenever we were in Mykonos. Pero now that I’m here, parang gusto ko na lang umatras. The way she was looking at me, parang binabasa niya yung thoughts ko like an open book. “What?” I huffed, rolling my eyes at her. She gave me a weird look, her eyes scanning my outfit before locking onto my face. “You do know we’re in the middle of summer, right? Anong kabaliwan yung nag-possess sa’yo para mag-turtleneck sa init na ‘to? Are you okay?” Speaking of my outfit, parang nagluluto na ako sa sariling pawis. But I had no choice—may malaking hickey sa leeg ko, courtesy of her older brother last night. Not that I was ever gonna admit that to her. “I just felt like wearing one.” Dione narrowed her eyes. “Are you all right, Lex? You’re sweating on purpose.” Mabilis kong pinahiran yung
Lexie’s POVDionne glanced around, making sure no one else was listening before continuing. “So, when he went home a few weeks ago, he was acting weird—always lost in thought, totally spaced out. I swear he was thinking about someone. Then, out of nowhere, he shows up here and actually attends the charity gala the other night? Like, hello? Since when does he willingly go to those things? And then—boom—he disappears again. He’s been acting suspiciously all weekend. I think he’s been bewitched by some girl.” I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, my heart pounding so hard I swore she could hear it. Did she know? No, impossible. Also, I knew for a fact that her brother wasn’t in love with me, so her assumption was totally off. I forced myself to act casual. “Y-You think?” “I believe so.” My mouth suddenly went dry. No one in our families knew about our secret… whatever this was. “Well, if that’s true, shouldn’t you be happy for him?” Dionne rolled her eyes before slamming her palm o
I took a sip of my iced coffee, refusing to acknowledge his presence. But even without looking, I could feel it—the way he kept glancing at me every now and then. It was annoying. Worse, it was making me feel things I had no business feeling. Habang nag-uusap si Dionne at ang kapatid niya, kunwari akong abala sa pagtingin sa tanawin sa harapan namin. Pero ang totoo? Every single word ng usapan nila, rinig na rinig ko. “That’s odd,” Dionne said, crossing her arms. “Who are you meeting today?” Drew shot her a glare. “Why are you being nosy today? Just a while ago, you were talking crap about me to your friend.” “I did not!” she huffed, looking offended. “I heard you, woman.” His sharp blue eyes locked onto his sister before shifting briefly in my direction. Napakabilis ng pag-iwas ko. No way in hell was I making eye contact with him. Alam kong kapag nagtagpo ang mga mata namin, mahihila na naman ako sa bitag niya. And I refused to give him that satisfaction. “Don’t mind my
Lexie’s POV That man had hovered the entire time, making sure I didn’t suddenly backtrack on our so-called agreement and start chasing after Luke again. Minsan feeling ko wala talaga siyang tiwala sa’kin pagdating sa pinsan niya. Kahit ilang beses ko nang sinabing wala na ‘yon, parang convinced pa rin siya na isang maling galaw ko lang, babalik ako kay Luke. “…Lexie?” Napatingin ako bigla kay Mr. Tristan, snapping out of my thoughts. I realized too late that I had zoned out. I forced a chuckle, shaking my head. “Ah, yeah. It was… eventful, to say the least.” Mr. Tristan chuckled, leaning back. “That sounds like a loaded answer.” “Let’s just say it wasn’t the peaceful vacation I imagined.” He nodded knowingly. “Family can be… unpredictable.” Unpredictable? That was an understatement. Kung alam lang niya. My trip home turned into an emotional battlefield, and Drew had been right at the center of it—watching my every move, making sure I didn’t slip up and
DREW’S POVI pressed my lips against hers again, stealing another kiss like a man starved. *God, I could never get enough of her.* *"Yes,"* I rasped against her mouth, my voice low and rough. *"And just so you know… that’s impossible."* Her brows furrowed slightly. *"What do you mean?"* she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. I smirked wickedly, brushing my thumb along her bottom lip. *"Simple,"* I drawled. *"We both have the same taste… in women."* She blinked slowly, clearly not following. But then, after a beat, her eyes widened in shock. Her cheeks flushed crimson, and she groaned dramatically, covering her face with both hands. *"Oh my god…"* she mumbled into her palms. *"I’m such an idiot. I can’t believe I acted like a jealous psycho."* I laughed, a deep, throaty sound, and gently pried her hands away from her face. *"Don’t you dare hide from me,"* I teased, planting soft kisses along her knuckles. *"I’ve missed you too much to let you do that."*
DREW’S POVI took a long swig of my drink, the burn of the alcohol barely registering anymore.No fucking way am I letting that happen.She was mine now.And I’d be damned if I let some other bastard take her away from me—especially my cousin.Luke will have to step over my dead body first before he gets Lexie back.I wouldn’t let go of the momentum I had with her. Not after everything.I had too much to lose now.I shouldn’t have let her in my life if I knew I’d be this terrified of losing her.No.I wasn’t backing down."Drew?"I looked up at the sound of her voice, instantly sobering.That soft, angelic voice I could recognize anywhere.Lexie.I blinked, my lips curving into a slow smile as she walked toward me. "Hey, beautiful," I greeted, my voice hoarse from the alcohol.Her brows furrowed instantly. "Are you drunk?"I quickly shook my head, but the motion made my vision tilt. Shit."No," I slurred slightly, forcing a grin. "Just… tipsy, I guess."Her frown deepened as she eyed
DREW’S POV"So, what’s the plan? You gonna drink yourself to death or are you finally gonna spill?"I shot Love a sharp glare as she slid onto the barstool beside me, looking way too amused for my liking. Her French accent was faint, barely noticeable now, but her smugness? Yeah, still there."Shut up," I muttered before downing another shot.Instead of being intimidated, she smirked and swirled her drink lazily. "You know, last time we talked, you were practically floating. Going on and on about how you finally had the girl you’ve been pining for all these years." She arched a brow. "What the hell happened?"I groaned, letting my forehead hit the bar with a dull thud. Tangina naman. Leave it to Love to rip open the wound I was trying to drown in alcohol.Just a few days ago, I was convinced I was winning Lexie over. Finally.Now? I was halfway drunk, seething with jealousy, and hating myself for it.Kasi yung interview kanina? It was a complete disaster.Seeing her with Luke? Putangi
### **Lexie’s POV** I glanced at my watch again. *Shit.* There was still time before the interview. I silently prayed that Drew would be late para hindi ako mapunta sa alanganing sitwasyon. I didn't understand why I was feeling on edge while waiting for Luke. *Baka nag-o-overthink lang ako,* I reasoned with myself. But just when I thought I could get away with it... *"Lexie. Sorry to keep you waiting."* Napapikit ako sa inis at napamura nang mahina sa isip ko. *Putangina talaga.* Of all the times, ngayon pa siya naging maaga. I slowly turned around and saw Drew walking towards me. His eyes were locked on mine, but there was a slight edge in them. *Great. Just perfect.* The last thing I wanted was for him to misunderstand the situation between me and his cousin. I forced a nervous smile. "You can pick the spot for the interview," I offered quickly, trying to avoid his eyes. *"I just need to meet someone first. It won’t take long, promise."* His eyes narrowed slight
Lexie’s POVIt had been a week since I started avoiding Drew.Yeah, call me stupid, pero wala akong pakialam. The moment I realized I was slowly falling for him, takot ang nauna. Takot na baka bumagsak na naman ako sa parehong bangin na pinaglaglagan ko noon.I had to remind myself: You’ve been here before, Lexie. You already loved one Veltrano and it nearly destroyed you.And now? History was repeating itself—with his cousin.It made me wonder if it was just some cruel coincidence or if the stars were just being assholes, making sure I’d fall for men who were related to each other.Pero bago pa mahulog nang tuluyan, I decided to protect myself. Before another Veltrano broke me.I had to. Drew never promised me anything. From the very beginning, this was just a no-strings, carefree affair. There were no talks of forever, no commitment, just fleeting moments in each other’s arms.And when he decided to walk away—which he eventually would—I’d be the one left nursing the scars.So, kahit
Lexie’s POVBigla akong natigilan. I knew he was just teasing, but the way he phrased it made me feel like he was digging for something. I let out a nervous laugh. “Not exactly. I just needed some time away.” “Right,” he mused, but there was a knowing look in his eyes. “Well, whoever he is, he has an interesting taste in gifts. Ares, the god of war, for your boss? Sounds like a challenge.” Napangiti na lang ako, trying to play along. “Or maybe he just thought you’d appreciate something unique.” “Hmm. I’ll take that as a compliment,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “Anyway, I should let you get back to work. Thanks for the gift, Lexie. It was unexpected but… amusing.” I nodded, watching as he stood up. “You’re welcome, Mr.—I mean, tristan” He grinned before walking out of my office, leaving me exhaling in relief. That was close. “Anyway,” he continued, “the reason I came to your office is that I heard from Kimberly that you’re friends with Drew Spiridakou. Is that tru
Lexie’s POV That man had hovered the entire time, making sure I didn’t suddenly backtrack on our so-called agreement and start chasing after Luke again. Minsan feeling ko wala talaga siyang tiwala sa’kin pagdating sa pinsan niya. Kahit ilang beses ko nang sinabing wala na ‘yon, parang convinced pa rin siya na isang maling galaw ko lang, babalik ako kay Luke. “…Lexie?” Napatingin ako bigla kay Mr. Tristan, snapping out of my thoughts. I realized too late that I had zoned out. I forced a chuckle, shaking my head. “Ah, yeah. It was… eventful, to say the least.” Mr. Tristan chuckled, leaning back. “That sounds like a loaded answer.” “Let’s just say it wasn’t the peaceful vacation I imagined.” He nodded knowingly. “Family can be… unpredictable.” Unpredictable? That was an understatement. Kung alam lang niya. My trip home turned into an emotional battlefield, and Drew had been right at the center of it—watching my every move, making sure I didn’t slip up and
I took a sip of my iced coffee, refusing to acknowledge his presence. But even without looking, I could feel it—the way he kept glancing at me every now and then. It was annoying. Worse, it was making me feel things I had no business feeling. Habang nag-uusap si Dionne at ang kapatid niya, kunwari akong abala sa pagtingin sa tanawin sa harapan namin. Pero ang totoo? Every single word ng usapan nila, rinig na rinig ko. “That’s odd,” Dionne said, crossing her arms. “Who are you meeting today?” Drew shot her a glare. “Why are you being nosy today? Just a while ago, you were talking crap about me to your friend.” “I did not!” she huffed, looking offended. “I heard you, woman.” His sharp blue eyes locked onto his sister before shifting briefly in my direction. Napakabilis ng pag-iwas ko. No way in hell was I making eye contact with him. Alam kong kapag nagtagpo ang mga mata namin, mahihila na naman ako sa bitag niya. And I refused to give him that satisfaction. “Don’t mind my
Lexie’s POVDionne glanced around, making sure no one else was listening before continuing. “So, when he went home a few weeks ago, he was acting weird—always lost in thought, totally spaced out. I swear he was thinking about someone. Then, out of nowhere, he shows up here and actually attends the charity gala the other night? Like, hello? Since when does he willingly go to those things? And then—boom—he disappears again. He’s been acting suspiciously all weekend. I think he’s been bewitched by some girl.” I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, my heart pounding so hard I swore she could hear it. Did she know? No, impossible. Also, I knew for a fact that her brother wasn’t in love with me, so her assumption was totally off. I forced myself to act casual. “Y-You think?” “I believe so.” My mouth suddenly went dry. No one in our families knew about our secret… whatever this was. “Well, if that’s true, shouldn’t you be happy for him?” Dionne rolled her eyes before slamming her palm o