The event had been exhausting. The endless small talk, the fake smiles, and the way Ethan’s eyes followed me all night—I felt like a bird in a gilded cage. By the time the everything ended, all I wanted was to disappear into the quiet sanctuary of my room. I lingered near the grand staircase of the pottery studio, pretending to be engrossed in my phone as people around me trickled out. I could feel Ethan’s gaze on me even before I looked up. When I finally did, there he was, cutting through the crowd like he owned the world. His suit was stained with clay from the exercise and he wiped the spot profusely as he walked towards me. “Ms Taylor,” he said as he approached, his voice lower than usual, as if he were trying not to startle me. I froze, gripping my purse tighter. “Mr King” “You're going home with me” he said, his tone soft but firm. The words hung between us like a challenge and the bystanders who had heard what he said gasped and stared daggers at me. My instinct screamed
"That's fucking stupid" "What the hell were you thinking?" Ethan continued to yell and throw tantrums. It was just one ride, how would he have reacted if I went home with Harry? "Answer me for Christ sake, why did you accept a ride from a stranger?" He barked. "He's not a stranger, he's your brother" I replied casually. "it was just a ride, you're overreacting" I shrugged.I watched as Ethan’s jaw stiffened. He said nothing else in return and left to the confines of his home office.~The aroma of roasted garlic and basil wafted through the living room air, almost enough to distract me from the sour taste already forming in my mouth. The chef must have gone all out and I dashed into the kitchen hoping to snag a quick recipe I would recreate.Mt feet froze when I spotted Samantha by the counter, chef Aubrey was beside her stirring something in a skillet, her hair tied up in loose bun. She didn’t even look up when I entered, but Aubrey mouthed a brief hello.My eyes fell on the
The usual Seattle morning rush had begun and I was more than grateful to God for preventing me from being run over by an angry taxi driver.I wasn’t expecting anything unusual that morning. My routine had been the same for months—grab coffee, power through emails, and shield myself for whatever chaos might erupt during the day. My lock had been jammed again. We had a meeting in a few minutes and it took the maintenance manager an entire lifetime to get to my office.He rattled the keys severally and after several hits, the door unlocked revealing a large box of chocolates and an envelope which sat neatly on my desk, standing out against the usual clutter."You've got an admirer, miss" the maintenance man teased."When waa this delivered?" I asked as I observed the large box."Probably yesterday because we've not had any deliveries today" he shrugged.I paused, my hand hovering over the box. It wasn’t my birthday or any kind of special occasion. The envelope was unmarked, but it was a
~ETHAN ~ "I don't care about Samantha, I've done everything to prove that to you".Madison threw her gaze to the large window."I don't want Harry near you and that's final", I said, turning her chin to face me. "You can't decide who comes near me when you still play house with your darling Sammy" she said firmly."Then I'd just have to kill him" I hissed. Madison’s face turned pale and she gasped at my words."He's your brother" she gasped."And I'd cut off his fingers for touching what's mine" I growled. "I don't belong to you" she said, shifting her gaze."You know that's a lie, Madison" I said as I inched closer to her."It's not" she argued.I wrapped my hand around her small waist and after several attempts to break free, she accepted her fate and relaxed. "You're so fucking gorgeous and it would suck to have my brother's blood ruin this gorgeous blouse" I said slowly as I sniffed her neck.She moaned lightly and cussed under her breath..I loved how sensitive she was. The
"Such a disgrace," I heard my stepmother hiss just as I entered the bathroom."I wish Harold could rewrite his will, that child doesn't deserve shit," she said as she slammed her fist into the table.Her condescending words meant nothing to me. She was a mistress who caused my parent's marriage to fall apart, she had no right to judge me.I relaxed into the large marble sink and examined my busted lip in the mirror. Harry was lucky to have landed that punch just as the security men restrained me. Those unfortunate fuckers would pay for interfering.I winced as my finger grazed the sore part of the injury. I grabbed the first aid box and wiped my injury with a wet towel.From the corner of my eye, I saw Madison’s small frame slip into the bathroom and lock the door behind her."Done sucking faces with your boyfriend?" I said coldly."Ethan, stop it," she frowned.I sighed and returned to fiddling with the dry cotton pads."Let me help you with that," Madison said softly as she snatched
~MADISON~"Nothing, never mind," he said coldly.I knew something was wrong,I felt it the moment his body went stiff, his fingers stilling against my skin. The air shifted. The heat between us vanished like someone had flipped a switch.I frowned. "Ethan?"He looked away, distraught like he had done something bad.His jaw clenched, his eyes dark, unreadable. Then, without a word, he pulled my skirt down, smoothed it over my thighs like nothing had just happened between us, and stepped back.My heart dropped. "Ethan—"He turned and walked out of the bathroom. Just like that.I sat there, legs still parted, breath uneven, skin flushed and tingling from where his hands had been. My head spun. What the hell just happened?Frustration bubbled up inside me. He wanted me. I knew he wanted me. So why did he stop?I jumped off the sink, yanked my panties back into place, and stormed out after him.I walked out of the bathroom to find Mrs. King standing in front of the bathroom door.Her lips
The restaurant was breathtaking.It was one of those places you only saw in movies with high ceilings with sparkling chandeliers, elegant candlelit tables and floor-to-ceiling windows that showcased the glittering lights of the city .The scent of freshly baked bread and expensive wine filled the air, making my stomach growl in anticipation.I took a deep breath and walked up to the receptionist, a tall woman with sleek blonde hair and an expression so cold she could probably freeze water."Bonsoir, madame. Do you have a reservation?" she asked in a clipped tone, her French accent thick and refined.I hesitated. Reservation? Ethan never mentioned a reservation."Uh…" I cleared my throat. "I’m here to meet someone—Ethan King."Her eyes flickered with recognition, but her expression didn’t soften. Instead, she arched her perfectly sculpted brow."I'm sorry, madame, but without a reservation, I cannot let you in."I blinked. "What?"Did Ethan seriously invite me here and not put my name
The cool Paris air brushed against my skin as we stepped out of the restaurant. I was still in a daze from everything that had happened, the proposal and the way Ethan had looked at me like I was the only woman in the world.I clutched his arm as we walked toward the car but instead of heading straight to the hotel, Ethan asked the driver to make a quick stop.“I want to show you something,” he said, his voice low and mysterious.I raised a brow. “What is it?”“You’ll see.”With that, he led me through the cobbled streets, past glowing streetlamps and small cafés where people still lingered over glasses of wine and tea. The night felt alive, buzzing with laughter, music and the scent of fresh pastries from the local bakeries.After a few minutes of walking, the street opened up into a bustling night market. Rows of vendors lined the sidewalks, their stalls glowing under the warm light of hanging lanterns. The air was thick with the scent of spices, grilled meats, and something sweet I
The cool Paris air brushed against my skin as we stepped out of the restaurant. I was still in a daze from everything that had happened, the proposal and the way Ethan had looked at me like I was the only woman in the world.I clutched his arm as we walked toward the car but instead of heading straight to the hotel, Ethan asked the driver to make a quick stop.“I want to show you something,” he said, his voice low and mysterious.I raised a brow. “What is it?”“You’ll see.”With that, he led me through the cobbled streets, past glowing streetlamps and small cafés where people still lingered over glasses of wine and tea. The night felt alive, buzzing with laughter, music and the scent of fresh pastries from the local bakeries.After a few minutes of walking, the street opened up into a bustling night market. Rows of vendors lined the sidewalks, their stalls glowing under the warm light of hanging lanterns. The air was thick with the scent of spices, grilled meats, and something sweet I
The restaurant was breathtaking.It was one of those places you only saw in movies with high ceilings with sparkling chandeliers, elegant candlelit tables and floor-to-ceiling windows that showcased the glittering lights of the city .The scent of freshly baked bread and expensive wine filled the air, making my stomach growl in anticipation.I took a deep breath and walked up to the receptionist, a tall woman with sleek blonde hair and an expression so cold she could probably freeze water."Bonsoir, madame. Do you have a reservation?" she asked in a clipped tone, her French accent thick and refined.I hesitated. Reservation? Ethan never mentioned a reservation."Uh…" I cleared my throat. "I’m here to meet someone—Ethan King."Her eyes flickered with recognition, but her expression didn’t soften. Instead, she arched her perfectly sculpted brow."I'm sorry, madame, but without a reservation, I cannot let you in."I blinked. "What?"Did Ethan seriously invite me here and not put my name
~MADISON~"Nothing, never mind," he said coldly.I knew something was wrong,I felt it the moment his body went stiff, his fingers stilling against my skin. The air shifted. The heat between us vanished like someone had flipped a switch.I frowned. "Ethan?"He looked away, distraught like he had done something bad.His jaw clenched, his eyes dark, unreadable. Then, without a word, he pulled my skirt down, smoothed it over my thighs like nothing had just happened between us, and stepped back.My heart dropped. "Ethan—"He turned and walked out of the bathroom. Just like that.I sat there, legs still parted, breath uneven, skin flushed and tingling from where his hands had been. My head spun. What the hell just happened?Frustration bubbled up inside me. He wanted me. I knew he wanted me. So why did he stop?I jumped off the sink, yanked my panties back into place, and stormed out after him.I walked out of the bathroom to find Mrs. King standing in front of the bathroom door.Her lips
"Such a disgrace," I heard my stepmother hiss just as I entered the bathroom."I wish Harold could rewrite his will, that child doesn't deserve shit," she said as she slammed her fist into the table.Her condescending words meant nothing to me. She was a mistress who caused my parent's marriage to fall apart, she had no right to judge me.I relaxed into the large marble sink and examined my busted lip in the mirror. Harry was lucky to have landed that punch just as the security men restrained me. Those unfortunate fuckers would pay for interfering.I winced as my finger grazed the sore part of the injury. I grabbed the first aid box and wiped my injury with a wet towel.From the corner of my eye, I saw Madison’s small frame slip into the bathroom and lock the door behind her."Done sucking faces with your boyfriend?" I said coldly."Ethan, stop it," she frowned.I sighed and returned to fiddling with the dry cotton pads."Let me help you with that," Madison said softly as she snatched
~ETHAN ~ "I don't care about Samantha, I've done everything to prove that to you".Madison threw her gaze to the large window."I don't want Harry near you and that's final", I said, turning her chin to face me. "You can't decide who comes near me when you still play house with your darling Sammy" she said firmly."Then I'd just have to kill him" I hissed. Madison’s face turned pale and she gasped at my words."He's your brother" she gasped."And I'd cut off his fingers for touching what's mine" I growled. "I don't belong to you" she said, shifting her gaze."You know that's a lie, Madison" I said as I inched closer to her."It's not" she argued.I wrapped my hand around her small waist and after several attempts to break free, she accepted her fate and relaxed. "You're so fucking gorgeous and it would suck to have my brother's blood ruin this gorgeous blouse" I said slowly as I sniffed her neck.She moaned lightly and cussed under her breath..I loved how sensitive she was. The
The usual Seattle morning rush had begun and I was more than grateful to God for preventing me from being run over by an angry taxi driver.I wasn’t expecting anything unusual that morning. My routine had been the same for months—grab coffee, power through emails, and shield myself for whatever chaos might erupt during the day. My lock had been jammed again. We had a meeting in a few minutes and it took the maintenance manager an entire lifetime to get to my office.He rattled the keys severally and after several hits, the door unlocked revealing a large box of chocolates and an envelope which sat neatly on my desk, standing out against the usual clutter."You've got an admirer, miss" the maintenance man teased."When waa this delivered?" I asked as I observed the large box."Probably yesterday because we've not had any deliveries today" he shrugged.I paused, my hand hovering over the box. It wasn’t my birthday or any kind of special occasion. The envelope was unmarked, but it was a
"That's fucking stupid" "What the hell were you thinking?" Ethan continued to yell and throw tantrums. It was just one ride, how would he have reacted if I went home with Harry? "Answer me for Christ sake, why did you accept a ride from a stranger?" He barked. "He's not a stranger, he's your brother" I replied casually. "it was just a ride, you're overreacting" I shrugged.I watched as Ethan’s jaw stiffened. He said nothing else in return and left to the confines of his home office.~The aroma of roasted garlic and basil wafted through the living room air, almost enough to distract me from the sour taste already forming in my mouth. The chef must have gone all out and I dashed into the kitchen hoping to snag a quick recipe I would recreate.Mt feet froze when I spotted Samantha by the counter, chef Aubrey was beside her stirring something in a skillet, her hair tied up in loose bun. She didn’t even look up when I entered, but Aubrey mouthed a brief hello.My eyes fell on the
The event had been exhausting. The endless small talk, the fake smiles, and the way Ethan’s eyes followed me all night—I felt like a bird in a gilded cage. By the time the everything ended, all I wanted was to disappear into the quiet sanctuary of my room. I lingered near the grand staircase of the pottery studio, pretending to be engrossed in my phone as people around me trickled out. I could feel Ethan’s gaze on me even before I looked up. When I finally did, there he was, cutting through the crowd like he owned the world. His suit was stained with clay from the exercise and he wiped the spot profusely as he walked towards me. “Ms Taylor,” he said as he approached, his voice lower than usual, as if he were trying not to startle me. I froze, gripping my purse tighter. “Mr King” “You're going home with me” he said, his tone soft but firm. The words hung between us like a challenge and the bystanders who had heard what he said gasped and stared daggers at me. My instinct screamed
~ETHAN The air was thick with awkward tension as I walked into the brightly lit pottery studio. It was an unconventional place for a corporate team-building exercise, but King Enterprises had recently partnered with this studio as part of a local arts initiative. My PR team insisted this event would be good for employee morale and our public image. I wasn’t convinced. The large room smelled of clay and faintly of paint, with rows of pottery wheels and long tables neatly arranged. The studio walls were decorated with shelves of colorful pottery, cheerful and inviting—a sharp contrast to the stiff, uneasy energy radiating from my employees. I scanned the room quickly, my gaze landing on Maddy at the far end. She was standing alone, looking painfully out of place amidst the clusters of coworkers who whispered and laughed amongst themselves. Samantha, of course, was front and center, making sure everyone noticed her. She tossed her hair back dramatically and laughed a little too loud