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
Hanna POVRowan looked so innocently at me that I almost thought he was the adult version of Riley, Briana’s eldest son. “What did I do?” Rowan asked, nonplussed. “You humiliated me in front of Mr. Branch. He is a client.” I bellowed at him. Rowan snorted. “Did I?” Those two words made me clench my hands into fists, especially when he shrugged in response."I am not playing games with you b*stard!" I lashed out. Rowan's irises dilated. "And I am?" He shot back. When I did not respond, Rowan went to explain. “I am only staking my claim. If you are embarrassed, that is not my problem anymore.” “Well, thank you very much!” I snapped and marched out of the restaurant with Rowan tailing after me. I looked like a bull, ready to charge anyone who was going to block my way.People steered clear of me, but I could sense they were whispering behind my back, and it had everything to do with Rowan. This fact aggravated my anger. I stomped to the car, snubbing the porter when he wa
Hanna POv“Are you leaving?” Rowan eyed me from the bed.I blushed when I saw his naked body on display.He did not even try to cover himself and smirked when he noticed that my roving eyes ran over his length.He was like a Greek god.My mouth watered at the delicious sight of him, and I clamped my legs as lust assaulted my senses.“I’ll see you later,” I told him, trying hard not to stammer for fear of revealing myself to Rowan.“Okay.” He agreed and laid
Hanna POVRowan was busy explaining his vision for the hotel in front of his enraptured crowd.He laid out his plans for the hotel and what he expects from us.I noticed that he dressed differently today.He had discarded his relaxed air and style to take on a more formal look. Coupled with his signature gold-framed glasses, this added to his magnetic appeal.A buzz started in the back until one employee had the gall to ask about his personal status.“Are you taken, Mr. CEO?”Her question mad
Hanna POVWhen I thought he could be redeemable in my eyes, Rowan would do and say things that would shatter that illusion, and we were back to square one.Ugh! I hate that guy, one part of my brain shouted. Yeah, but you like him, another part of my brain insisted. I feel like this push-and-pull thing with Rowan is making me crazy. Sometimes, he was sweet, which led me to believe he cared about me. And there are also times when his arrogance made me want to strangle him. When we got home, I ran to my room with Rowan on my heels. “Easy.” He said when he cornered me at the foot of the stairs. I had nowhere to go when he pressed me against the wall. “Rowan.” I squeaked, nerves suddenly frazzled when I saw desire lurking in his eyes. Excitement washed over me when he sealed my lips with a kiss. I wanted to put up a fight, but as usual, my body betrayed me. It knows its master, and it was not me. Involuntarily, I moaned and snaked my arms around his neck. Rowan seemed to like
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.