Hanna POV
I angrily clenched my fists and growled at the closed door, imagining it was Rowan I was glaring at.
If looks could kill, the fire in my eyes must have left him charred should he have the gall to stay.
This whole setup frustrates me.
I already put several hundred miles between us, thinking it was far enough to live my life undisrupted.
Now, I realize distance was never a deterrent for Rowan.
While starting mutinously at the closed door, I bunched the pillows on the bed and hit it several times with my fists. It did nothing to get me out of my situation,
Hanna POVHeat suffused my cheeks. How many times will Rowan embarrass me like this?But there’s nothing I can do about it now. Rowan will do anything to subdue me because he thinks the only way to get to Britney is through me. I sighed. At that exact moment, my phone rang. I winced when I saw the caller ID.Without bothering to answer the call, I turned off my phone and got dressed. I self-consciously walked out of the room Rowan sent me last night, tugging at the hem of my skirt. “Does the skirt make you uncomfortable?” Rowan’s voice startled me. I almost jumped in nervousness. “Relax. It’s just me.” My breath hitched when his eyes started to roam around my body. “I am sorry, that’s the only clothes I have. Don’t worry. I will fetch you from work later to shop for your clothes.” At the mention of work, my body froze. “Can you not do that?” His brows arched. Rowan looked like I said something offending. “And why is that?” Rowan’s eyes narrowed, and I gulped for lack
Hanna POVRowan's wishes won. He dropped me at the entrance to Hunter Hotel.To his credit, he at least relented.He did not insist on getting out to flash his newsworthy face, which I was grateful for."I will fetch you around five."I ignored his reminder because it was useless. Whether I agree or not, Rowan would still get his way.The driver opened the door for me, and I got out, self-consciously too aware of the curious looks thrown my way.I am just a new employee of Hunter Hotel Vega
Hanna POVAfter the initial shock, I turned around, fuming mad.I don’t care whether my action caused Rowan embarrassment, but given his thick-skinned nature, I highly doubt it.No one can shake the confidence of that man.Like his brothers, he was a man secure of his place on Earth. My action would not leave him in shame.I only hope that he stops now and retreats.Unfortunately, my prayers were left unanswered.And to my utter shame, instead of turning around to leave, Rowan aggravat
Hanna POVBut our reality kept intruding in my head. This doesn't seem right. My head screams as Rowan continues to plunder my mouth with his lips and tongue. Rowan has a girlfriend! At the thought of poor Linda, unaware that her boyfriend was kissing another girl, something rebelled inside me. In desperation, I pushed Rowan hard. Taking advantage of Rowan’s confusion, I quickly got out of the car to run inside the hotel. I half-run to the elevator, avoiding contact with anyone. Once inside the elevator's security, I felt relieved when I realized Rowan did not follow me. I fanned my face with my hands, feeling hot all over. The effect of Rowan’s lips lingered while I traced my lips with the tips of my fingers. When I reached our floor, I skipped our office and went straight to the restroom to hide from Rowan. I needed time to compose myself before going back to the office, and the ladies’ room provided a refuge to regulate my breathing. My phone rings, startling me. Scar
Hanna POVAt last, I heard the dial tone.I placed the receiver back in its cradle in relief. I know I am not off the hook yet, and my audacity would bring backlash later, but I decided not to think about it for now. There will be enough time for that from when I return to Rowan’s lair. I resumed working. My hunger had been completely gone, but I did not throw the food bag Rowan sent me. I don’t know, maybe it is a reminder to myself of how long I can endure. Afternoon break, I decided to forgo the employee cafeteria. Instead, I ordered takeout to eat at the pantry. It was cowardly, but I don’t think I was as thick-skinned as Rowan. Unlike him, I can’t walk with my head held high after the stunt he pulled. I was gunning for anonymity when I got here - keeping to myself and never letting anyone know my connection with Briana or my sister Britney. But Rowan shot that aim very neatly, creating disorder in my neat and orderly life away from Redwood. Now, I can fairly assume tha
Hanna POVI dreaded after office hours because I knew Rowan would fetch me. I did not understand what his game was. Was it not enough to keep me under duress that he had to create havoc in my professional life, too?Besides, he has a girlfriend. What would Linda think when news about Rowan’s stunts reached her ears? Was Linda’s feelings immaterial for his revenge plan against me?Until now, I was smarting from what happened earlier. All my efforts at anonymity went down the drain when Rowan publicized our nonexistent relationship to everyone. I looked up from my computer when I heard the notification on my phone. Without checking, I was not sure who it was from. Rowan. A quick glance at my desk clock confirmed my guess. It’s four in the afternoon. Rowan told me that he would pick me up around this time. Not wanting to make him wait for fear that he might pull another stunt to embarrass me at the Hotel, I decided to leave and gather my things. I took some folders, intending
Hanna POVAll through our ride, Rowan was silent. There was too much tension surrounding us that I kept to myself and stared out the window.Rowan did not make any effort to initiate a conversation between us, and it was fine by me. I was still bristling with his action at the hotel but did not want to start another fight. Besides, Rowan’s silence felt ominous. It was like he was a ticking time bomb ready to explode at the merest provocation. “We’re here, sir.” His driver announced after we stopped outside his mansion. My head lifted to take on the house’s exterior. Until now, I still can’t get over the fact that Rowan owns a mansion in Vegas. Curiosity abounds in my head. My tongue itched to ask, but I remembered I hated him and clamped my mouth shut.I did not wait for the driver to open my door. I clambered out of the car without turning back to see if Rowan did the same. I marched inside the house and hurriedly climbed the stairs to my room.“Hanna.” The warning in Rowa
Hanna POV“Shut up!” I hissed.I looked at Rowan in skepticism, trying to gauge the sincerity of his words, but however hard I tried to weigh the pros and the cons, it did not add up.The only explanation I could think of was that it was part of his plan. Rowan wanted to hurt me in the most despicable way and was using my attraction to his advantage.I wanted to blame myself for being transparent. I should have upped my guard against him, but I couldn’t.I wanted to blame him, too.I already put hundreds of miles between us to avoid contact, but he pursued me here. He found me to make me suffer.The thought made me sick to my stomach. How could I love someone so ruthless?So many times in the past, I wanted to seek medical help to know if there was something wrong with my head because what other plausible reason is there for me to keep loving someone who does not treat me
Flint POV“I don’t know what to think anymore,” I admitted to Brent while drinking vodka in a private room inside the Blue Canyon, a country club in Redwood where we both enjoyed VIP memberships.“Why don’t you ask her? Instead of overthinking and suspecting your brother, go to your wife and seek the answers to all the questions crowding your head.”“I really love talking to you, Brent. You are like a cold bath - scary but necessary.” I told him bluntly.Brent chuckled.“You needed it.”I clapped Brent on the back.“Thanks.”“Let’s go. It’s two in the morning, and the manager had been giving us deadly looks already. I think this club is closing for the day.”After Brent settled the bill, we rose from our seats and ambled back to his car.I left my c
Briana POVAfter the police officers took my three brothers, I got back on my desk and sat morosely there.“Where are your brothers? I thought you had an emergency meeting?” Noah asked, disrupting my solitude.I looked at him sharply. “They were at the police station.”Noah opened the door wider and walked in.He loosened his tie and slumped on the couch. He looked tired, but he was looking at me with love in his eyes.It had been four years since I took a chance on him, and his love never wavered. In truth, it had intensified through the years.
Flint POVI could not believe it.Brinaa had us arrested! The f*ck!After the police handcuffed the three of us, Briana took our phones.“Why are you confiscating our phones? I need that!” Marcus cried.Between the three of us, he was the most uncooperative and talkative.Briana ignored him. “You will get your phones later. For now, I am going to keep it.” She promised before the police officers led us out of her study.Downstairs, I saw the household staff gathered in
Flint POVRowan’s question, asking me about fathering Anna’s baby, hangs in the air.It wrapped around us like an elephant in the room.I took in my brothers’ look, feeling like the odd man out.Can’t I be man enough to take on my responsibility? Can I not be trusted to care for my own family?The dam inside me burst, and I lashed out at my brother, Rowan.“Yes, so don’t cross my line and stop meddling in my wife’s life. They don’t need you.”Rowan stared m
Flint POV“I am not talking to you, Flint. You embarrassed me in front of Linda, and that was unforgivable.”I winced, feeling guilty.In my eagerness to defend my family, I had forgotten that Briana was never an enemy.She was my sister.“I am sorry.”“I am just looking out for you. Haven’t you forgotten how hard women tried to trap you into marriage, not because they loved you but because they loved what you represented?” She lashed out at me.I chuckled. &ldqu
Anna/Linda POV“Hey, sis! ” Flint walked toward his sister with a wriggling Penelope in his arms.When he reached her, he stooped to kiss her cheeks.Penelope saw what he did and did the same. She kissed Briana’s cheek.Briana was left stunned, especially when Penelope showed her natural cuteness.She bounced in Flint’s arms, raising her hands to clap."Yay! Kwin ver gud!" Penelope said in a stilted manner.On the other hand, Flint looked like he was ready to burst into pride. He puffed
Anna/Linda POVWe spent three days secluded in the exclusive villa Flint rented for us. It was nothing short of idyllic. Penelope had a wonderful time. “Dad-dy!” She squealed and jumped on her little feet to evade the coming waves. “Bubbles!” She would cry in gibberish, pointing at the sea foam that crowded her feet and ankles. Then she would run to Flint, and Flint would swoop down to capture her and put her to dry sand. Then, she would stroll toward the waves again, repeating the same actions until Flint rescues her.“You are silent,” Flint said when he deposited Penelope beside me. I was sitting on the sand with my legs stretched out in front of me. He quickly worked on the sand, digging with his hands and throwing them to cover my legs. It attracted Penelope, and she mimicked her father. She took clumps of sand in her hands and threw them to my legs. “You need a spade, my little Queen,” Flint said.He looked around our surroundings before his eyes focused on something no
Flint POVAfter dinner, I was excited to put Penelope to sleep, but to my chagrin, she wouldn’t sleep however hard I coaxed her.She was too busy playing with the rose petals. She kept stepping on them while she walked around our rented villa.“Maybe she loved the downy feel of the rose petals on her soles.” Anna offered a likely explanation for our daughter’s seeming propensity for the flowers.She even pulled her shoes off before she jumped, skipped, and kicked on the petals covering the floor.I dropped my head playfully in response, but inside, I was dying for Penelope to lay her head on the bed so t
Flint POVI saw a myriad of emotions playing on Anna’s face and it made me want to crush her to my chest to offer assurance. I am a Ford.I have everything, but when it comes to Anna, I felt lacking as a man. Of course, it was different with our daughter.Would it be selfish of me if I wanted to be the only man for her, not just the father of her daughter? I wanted to be the best man for them both. “One day, I will make you fall in love with me,” I told her and saw her taken aback. I wanted to add that I will erase every feeling she has for my brother.I will be the only man she would need. The wedding ended. “Congratulations.” The priest held out his hand to send us his best wishes. He even patted Penelope’s head, making her giggle. “You have a lovely daughter.” He told us.Anna and I exchanged a look. She smiled, feeling proud of our daughter. I was, too. We did not linger. Our group left the church and ended up in the parking lot, where we went in separate directions.