Chapter 3 

Callan’s POV

I turned my phone on and it rang right away. It was my father calling me again. I turned it back off and decided to go walking some more. I took a swag of my bottle but realized it was empty. 

Where am I anyway? I’ve been walking and bar hopping since I left the wedding hours ago, and now I’m probably lost. I never knew New York looks so different when you’re not being driven by your driver everywhere. 

I sat on the pavement and sighed. Looking around, I realized it was a quiet street with only one store still open. A BAR!

Getting up, I almost lost my balance and realized I was a bit tipsier than I accepted. I crossed the road without even looking and stood outside the bar’s glass door, looking at the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen wiping one of the tables. 

Really? The most beautiful? We’re drunk, man. We might be adding more points than she deserves. My brain butted in. You always do that, brain. You always butt in and have your own opinion. For as long as I could remember, I’ve always talked to myself and I’ve stopped telling people this part about me because they think it’s weird and or tell me I’m crazy. 

I’m not drunk. She’s beautiful. Look at her. Look at those striking blue eyes and her shiny straight hair. And she’s a brunette. That’s our type! And hell, that body with those ripped jeans and a tight black shirt showing just the right amount of skin a guy needs to see to want more… I gotta go talk to her.

It was the first time it happened to me. One moment I was outside the bar gawking at the beautiful woman and the next thing I knew I was kissing her. I held her tight as I explored her mouth with my tongue. It felt great that she was kissing me back with as much intensity. I felt my cock harden and I ended the kiss. 

She looked stunned. I looked around and saw the bottle shattered on the floor and suddenly remembered I told her she didn’t have to pay me back if I let her kiss me. Damn, I’m smooth. 

I picked up my card from the bar table next to the register and went out of the bar, leaving her still dazzled and probably still wanting more of me. 

We gotta leave ‘em wanting more, right? 

Hell, yes. Always leave them wanting more.

Another black out or memory gap happened. I woke up to a man shaking me.

“Sir. Wake up. We’re in your hotel. Do you need me to take you up your room? Which room is yours?”

“All of it. It’s my hotel. Here. Thanks for the ride, buddy.”

“This is too much, sir.” The man, who looked like he was in his early forties, said while handing me the rest of the money I gave him. 

“Keep it.”

“Thank you!” He shouted as I got out of the taxi. 

“Good morning Mr. Callan. Your father’s been calling for you and told me to call him asap when you show up here.”

“And you’re not going to do that, right, Murray?” 

“Of course not, sir. We’re all loyal to you and you only.”

“Good. Good night, Murray. I need a hell of sleep before I face everyone tomorrow.”

“Good night, sir. And I’m sorry about the wedding.” 

“What do you mean? Why would you feel sorry for me?”

“Oh, because I imagine it must be hard to get left on the altar.” Murray said, pure confusion on his face.

“Oh, right. That. Yeah. It sucks, alright.” 

I woke up hours laters feeling like my head was about to break in half. Lucky for me, there was already a pill and some bloody mary on the bed side table. God, I love my very smart staff. You and me both, pal. Let’s never drink like that again. Those memory gaps were scary.

Right after those thoughts, images of that bartender flashed through my mind and made me smile. My cock twitched. I hurriedly got off the bed and took a quick shower, hoping to go to the bar again and talk to her.

I stood outside the hotel while Jim, my driver, took the car out of parking. It was a beautiful sunny day and it somehow gave me hope that everything in my life would work out fine even after what happened at the wedding. I decided not to think about my problems and focus on finding the woman whom I wanted to kiss so much again. 

Where was that bar? Think, Callan. Think hard. Shit. I can’t remember.

The sound of New York traffic wasn’t helping at all. I couldn’t concentrate with everyone moving so fast and talking loudly with themselves, looking like idiots because they were using airpods. The time’s sure have changed. At least I only talk to you in my mind, right? Yup. You’re crazy and nobody knows it but the two of us, pal.

“Are you ready to go, Mr Callan?” 

“What?” I looked at Jimmy and realized I must have been staring into nothing again. “Oh, yes.”

I got into my car and told Jimmy to drive around the near blocks before going to the office.

I felt hopeless when none of the streets looked familiar and I didn’t see the bar with the glass door. “Let’s go to the office now, Jim.”

My phone rang just as I was heading to the lobby and so I answered knowing it would be my father shouting at me. 

“Where the hell are you, Callan? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU’VE DONE TO ME?”

“Dad. I’m at the office. Don’t worry about a thing. I have a proposal for them which they can’t resist.” 

“Fine! You better fix this or I’m cutting you off and you’ll be left with nothing but your little clothing company! You hear me?”

“Yes, dad. Relax.” I said and cut the call off before he could yell at me some more. He hated the word relax and I chuckled thinking how pissier he was. I finally turned my focus on the way I was walking and when I looked up into the open elevator there she was looking down on her phone; Only she looked different. She looked sharp and not the laid back bartender I’ve been imagining. You were right, she is gorgeous and hot. My mind said to me before I entered the elevator and pretended not to recognize her. I had to be sure first. The button for the 14th floor was lit so it made me happy she was going there and it made me hopeful she’d be the new assistant secretary, Darla was talking about. 

God, you really love me so much. You even delivered her to my doorstep. Ah, my dream girl.

I got out of the elevator, told Darla to not bother me and went straight into my office. The piles of paper were arranged so well that I knew exactly which one had her files on it. I pulled out a green folder and opened it to see the beautiful face of Paige Miller. She’s a single creative writing graduate from a community college in New Jersey. According to the file she was recommended by my grandfather, making me more curious about her. After reading all I needed to know about her, I called Darla, knowing she’d bring her along.

I can't afford to be your next plaything, Mr. Holden.

Her words kept repeating in my mind and I kept laughing silently even after she left my office. Paige Miller sat behind her desk and Darla started talking to her. I expected she’ll warn her about my notorious reputation.  Never has a woman talked to me that way. Maybe it’s because she knows she’s beautiful and can have anyone eating at the palm of her hands. Damn. She's smart and head strong. I can’t wait to shut her the fuck up and tell her to take my cock like a good girl. 

I left right after signing the important papers, wanting to go buy Paige some sort of welcoming gift to make her swoon like all the others, but then as I entered the mall, my father called again and told me the meeting was to take place in our enemy's territory in half an hour and I had to be there.

When I got back to the office I saw them giggling and talking and so consumed in their gossip they didn't even noticed me already behind them. 

A few minutes later, I was in the car with Paige. My head was still reeling from how harshly she rejected me and suddenly laughed out loud when I thought about my original plans of fucking her in the car on the way to the meeting. 

“What’s so funny?” Paige asked when I couldn't hold my chuckles.

“I don’t think you’d want to know.” 

“Try me.”

“Okay, but promise you won’t get mad and quit.”

“Are you trying or going to flirt with me again?”

“No. Seriously, I’m over you. I was just finding it funny how…” I said, stopping and contemplating if she would also find it funny.

“What?”

“Promise first?”

“Jeez. What are you, five?” she chuckled and then rolled her eyes. It occured to me I liked that she was more relaxed and comfortable with me already. “Fine. I promise.”

“I was laughing because you rejected me. I had plans of us making love here and well, you definitely showed me how tough you are.” 

“In this car? While on the way to your meeting?”

“Yup. It's a really stressful meeting.”

“Did they all do that? Open their legs because you’re so handsome, hot and rich?”

“Don’t forget tall, smart and overall perfect.”

“Yeah, sure. All that too. Now did they?” She looked geniunely curious and shook her head in disapproval when I nodded.

“I was specifically clear with all of them it was a one time thing and they still opened up their legs and moaned like crazy.”

“Wow. You are something else, Mr. Holden.”

“Callan. Call me Callan from now on. My grandpa’s face flashes in my mind everytime you say Mr. Holden and it’s not a pretty picture.”

“Why do you hate your grandpa?”

“Hate him? Oh  no, I love him. I just can’t get the image of him humping his nurse out of my mind yet. It’s too recent.” I said and laughed at her super wide eyed reaction. Paige laughed along and my heart felt something I’ve never felt before. 

We arrived at our destination and I sighed. In a few minutes I was going to see my overbearing father, and Chandler Grimes, the CEO of the biggest clothing company in the USA and our family’s rivals since ancient history. 

“Wait here.” I told Paige as I pointed to a bench outside the glass-walled meeting room where I could see my dad talking to Chandler. All their bodyguards were displayed like wall flowers. 

“But—.”     “And no buts.” we say at the time. “I know what Darla instructed you, but I also told you the only reason I brought you here, so stay put.”

“Okay.” she answered softly and I chuckled as I walked away because I saw how she rolled her eyes at me.

The moment I entered the meeting room, my runaway bride’s father ran to me and started punching me as hard as he could on the face. It didn’t hurt as much as I thought. After all, he was already nearing 65. 

“You bastard. How could you let my daughter escape like that?”

“If you relax I can tell you, Grimes.” I said as my bodyguards were about to get him off me, but I signaled for them to stop because it was better for Grimes to get it out of his system. 

He punched me a couple of more times before he stopped and sat back down.

“Look. It must be hard for  you, but Lea begged me. She loves that man. And I don’t want to get married. Ever.”

“Then why did you sign this new contract?”

“Because I’m confident my company can achieve our terms before the deadline. Now, if  you'll excuse me, I think my lip is bleeding. Pleasure to see you, gents. Dad.” 

I left before my dad could say anything. The new contract was all that mattered to them anyway.

“Oh my God. You’re bleeding. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do when he was attacking you.” Paige ran to me the moment I came out of the glass door.

“Everything’s fine, Paige. It’s only a little blood.”

“No it’s not. Come on, let's go to the clinic.” I was shocked that she suddenly seemed to care about me. Paige took me to the clinic and when no one answered after we knocked, my eyes widened when she easily managed to pick the lock. 

“Whoa. You are something else.” I said as we got in.

“You bet.” She said before she looked for the first aid kit. When she found it, she made me sit on the clinic bed and dabbed betadine on the corner of my lower lip. My cock hardened the moment she was so close to me that my face was inches from her breasts.

“Why are you so good with this?” 

“My cousins used to fall all the time when we played and our mothers would rely on me to help them.”

“You come from a big family?”

“Yes. But my parents recently died. Car crash because of a drunk driver.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Do you want my parents? They’re the worst trying to sell me off just to keep them rich.” I said changing the topic to not make her feel sad.

“I’m sorry you got stood up at the altar.” Paige smiled softly and I couldn’t help but feel so strange like something was wrong with my stomach. 

“No, I didn’t. I helped the bride-to-be escape with her ordinary boyfriend. Her parents were forcing her to marry me. That’s why I got beaten up by her dear old dad up there.” 

“Oh. So you’re the good guy.”

“Of course I am. I’m a great guy. I’m a great boss. Ask anyone. That’s why you should join me for lunch.” I said as she put the first aid kit back in the drawer. 

“Okay. Lunch sounds good.” Paige said and her smile made me smile, hurting my lips.

I had the strongest urge to go for a kiss, but then remembered her request of leaving her alone. I never valued any woman’s warnings or pleas before. Whenever they rejected me, I knew they were only scared of being my next target, so I eventually always got to fuck them in the end. But as I sat there looking into Paige’s eyes, something was different. I was sure I wanted more than just sex with her. For the first time ever, somehow I wanted more.