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
Hanna POV“No.” The refusal was out of my lips even before I was able to process it in my head. The vehemence in my reaction startled Rowan. His face shifted. He looked at me ominously, and I shrank back in fear. “I don’t take no for an answer, Hanna.” His voice sounded low and dangerous. Despite that, I quelled the raging emotions inside me. Even though my hands itched to slap him, I refused to give in to my feelings. Rowan and I needed to thresh this through like two adults. I shook my head. I won’t let some man use my body for his pleasure, even if my body craves his touch. “This is manipulation and coercion. I won’t be manipulated and coerced.” I told him fiercely.“I am giving you a way out. Would that be so hard when we both know how much your body wants me?” His voice became sultry.The hands-on my waist tightened until the valley between my br*asts cradled his head. He sniffed through my clothes, sending shivers down my spine. “Rowan!” I pushed him away, afraid o
Hanna POVAwkward. That is how I felt when I woke up nestled protectively in Rowan’s arms.A smile laced my face when I realized I liked the feeling of being held like this. Not by just any man, but Rowan Ford whom I like very much.Yes, I am finally admitting it. I do like Rowan.I probably love him, I said to myself while I ran my eyes over his sleeping face.He grunted.The sound alerted me and made me scramble to look elsewhere. My eyes landed on the bedside clock.For a while, I stared at it blankly, but when I realized what time it was, urgency filled me.I am going to be so late!In panic, I sat up when I realized it was past my waking hour. I can't afford to be late. Not only because I was new to the branch. I can't have Hailey throw shade on me now that I am aware she covets my job.In my rush, I had forgotten the man sleepi
Hanna POV“I am so late.” I cried, frantic as I got dressed.Rowan, on the other hand, looks chill. He sat on my bed with a fluffy towel wrapped around his waist.His eyes followed my movement, and it unnerved me. I didn’t have anyone watching me while I got dressed in the past.“Rowan! Go back to your room. I am in a hurry, remember? I am a mere member of the working class. I can’t be late.” I whined.Rowan chuckled. “One night, and you are becoming bossy with me. I wonder what will happen after three months.” He said, sounding amused, but it made me falter.
Hanna POVI ditched my intention to leave after hearing my secretary confront Hailey.This should have been my fight, not hers.I turned around, saw Hailey smirking, and felt anger boiling inside me.She initiated this to provoke me.“Sara.” I gently shoved Sara, and I came face to face with Hailey.“I thought you were a coward.” She spat.I smirked and put my hands on my hips for the confrontation. This time, I won’t be letting Hailey get her way.
Hanna POVMy face contorted.“Why do you keep asking me about him?” I replied snarkily, vexed that I had to explain everything.“Let’s go,” Rowan said and pulled at my hand to drag me outside,I pulled my hand back, and he looked back inquiringly.“I still have a meeting at the restaurant. You may go ahead.” I told him, sounding bored because my mind was already in the meeting I was about to attend.Rowan ignored my suggestion for him to go home.Instead, he foll
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.