CHAPTER 1

BLAIR POV

The spring sun shines down like a sword aimed at my own personal gloom. I stepped into the grand adorned ballroom, my heels clicked on the marble floor, and I could feel all eyes on me but I ignored all of it because today was my best friend's engagement party.

The chandeliers cast a mocking golden glow on me. A swift wave of insecurity washes over me as I search for my own seat among the set-up round tables.

I instantly spotted Ella who stood around some guests, her cheeks flushed with so much excitement. Our eyes coincidentally met, and she gave me a smile and a wave, nearly hoisting a glass of wine in the process.

“Blair! I'm very glad that you could make it!” she said as she threw her arms around me, the familiar scent of her perfume instantly easing most of my discomfort. I inhaled more while I tried to relax In her embrace, giddy energy emitting off of her.

“Of course, I won't miss this special day of yours for anything. You look absolutely stunning!” I say. “I just can't believe that this is actually happening.”

“I mean, it's really happening.” She gushes happily. “We have been planning our wedding since college, and I still can't believe that we get to experience mine first.” She catches herself and bares her teeth apologetically at me when her soon-to-be mother-in-law appears and takes a hold of her arm.

“Ella darling, you need to meet my Auntie from Italy, she has been dying to meet you.” I watched as Ella rolled her eyes slightly while she dropped the wine glass on the table, she shook her head a little at me as she whisked away.

I glanced around the tables, searching for my seat, trying to perhaps forget about the memory of us planning our weddings together, our dream destination, and how we plan on starting our married lives in the same neighborhood. But then Smith dumps me out of the blue, shattering those plans to pieces, throwing me back to square one while Ella heads to the top.

Some things, you only sort of get over, and some things you just can't forget. "kick off the pity party, Blair. You're better off without him." I muttered to myself.

“Blair, you can sit here with us.” My attention is pulled to a table in the middle of the room. Ella's work friends were pointing at an empty seat.

“You look amazing!” One of them said, she touched my arms, her blue-painted nails a harsh contrast against my pale skin. “How on earth do you get your hair to that perfect color?”

The others at the table chime in, showering me with compliments about my bag, and makeup, wondering if I go to the gym every day, and asking how I could possibly be single. Their kind remarks only tend to Intensify my awkward dateless state, so I force a small smile.

I grabbed a glass of wine from the passing waiter before gulping the whole content down my throat to avoid responding to any of these questions. I already knew where they were all driving at.

Twenty-six. That very number kept roaming through my mind as the conversation drifted to wedding details and future family plans. In a few months, and I will reach that milestone, with nothing to show for It but a broken heart and volunteering at the orphanage home.

The hall soon echoed with loud music, the sound vibrating through my entire body. Couples flood the dance floor, spinning and twirling under the swirling light.

I stood up abruptly, neatly upending my glass. “Excuse me for a bit.”

The girls at the table barely even looked in my direction or noticed my exit because they were already deep in debate over weddings and divorce. I walked through the crowd, trying hard to dodge Ella's grandmother who never seized the opportunity to question when I would be getting married.

The laughter, loud noises, and chuckles pressed in on me until I could feel myself suffocating. I was glad when I arrived at the lobby area, it was empty and silent. The only distant sound that could be heard was the music coming from the ballroom.

I took a deep inhale and exhale with my eyes tightly shut. I noticed the upholstered loveseat at the extreme end of the hallway and strode toward it______just as I was about to sit down, someone landed on the sofa with me at the same time.

The couch sank in from the sudden weight. The slight creaking sound from the chair could be heard. I turned in shock and my eyes met with a piercing green gaze beneath arched brows. I blush, taking in the sight of the rigorous handsome man, sitting only inches from me, dressed in a dull blue designer suit, with muscular broad shoulders and a sharp jawline.

He tipped his head a little, his shadow perm haircut was giving him a very strong aura of confidence. “Not a fan of free food and wine, are you?”

His joke caught me off guard and put me immediately at ease. “More like___ trying to avoid questions about when my turn to get married will be,” I responded with a scoff.

“My grandmother has been doing that to everyone all night, including me.” He shakes his head, sitting deeper on the couch.

“You know___what? Your grandmother?” My eyes widen from what might be shock, but also from the curiosity of how he might be connected to Ella's grandmother.

He sighed heavily, raking his hands into his hair. “Funny how they can be so extra in all of this, right?”

I smiled widely. “So, I take it that you are also not a huge fan of big parties like this,” I uttered, glancing in the direction of the ballroom, making it clear that we're both avoiding it.

He touched his nose slightly before speaking again. “Loud noises aren't just my thing___they make me regret a lot of choices.” I catch his eyes roaming over my dress, while he casually looks around the hallway. “I'm Ronnel, by the way.” He holds out a hand, gazing straight into my soul.

“Blair.” I slowly take his hand, astonished by the warmth and strength of his grip. I couldn't help but hope that he couldn't sense how nervous I was because he was just so hot.

His eyes light up with understanding as a grin spread across his inviting lips. “So__I finally get a chance to meet the infamous Blair.”

My whole body froze the moment I heard that, I couldn't help but wonder what this gorgeous man sitting next to me knew about, and who had been feeding him things about me. With a furrowed brow and a tint of my eyes, I decided to ask, “What do you mean by Infamous?”

And just like that, the pieces of the puzzle started coming together in my mind, and he did confirm my suspicion.

“You know what my sister always said about you? She said that you are the badass, you always give the advice that always ends them in trouble.” He glances at me, this time around__ his green eyes staring deep into mine.

I forced a small grin under his close scrutiny. “You are Ella's brother? The one who has been away for like ages?” I questioned trying to ignore the accusation while I pulled my gaze away from him, I was sincerely struggling very hard not to stare too much at his features.

Ella and I had only touched little topic about her brother but how could she not tell me that he was this gorgeous?

“Trying to avoid the question?” He teased with a small scoff escaping his delicate pink lips. “That only gives me the answer right away____ you are indeed a bad influence!” He added while his eyes roamed over me like some cozy blanket, heating me up inside.

“Hell no_it just happens that your sister and I are a good match,” I responded in a defensive tone. “We actually balance each other out, just like bees and honey____we are inseparable.” I stare at him, wondering what else he might have heard about me.

“I didn't mean any of what I said in a bad way, it was more of me trying to compliment, it just seems like my sister always finds a way of attaching your name to any adventure she tells me about.” He says with another charming smile.

“We are practically inseparable, we have been best friends for a long time.” I adjusted myself on the couch to stare at him more closely. “Weren't you away for a while?” I asked when I remembered Ella telling me that he had left to make a lot of fortune.

He turned his attention back to me while he cleared his throat. “Yeah,” he simply responded as our eyes met again, and this time around I didn't look away.

“So, what do you do?” He asks, moving the centre of conversation to me. “Don't tell me you are also into Ella volunteering in the pet store and doing her makeup product shit?” his low-interest tone instantly annoys me. Ella has an amazing career, one she built from the ground on her own. Her eyes for creating her own makeup brand are iconic____ her love for animals only made her volunteer in pet shops during the weekends.

“I wish,” I say, taking my gaze to the floor. “Ella is actually doing great and her success is eccentric but what I do is actually a lot different from hers_____ more like a badass in hashing out business deals.”

“So___you finally accepted to be a badass now?” He says, grinning. “But I already knew you were one. Well, hopefully, you still save a little of your time to have some fun.” He gazed at me with a sultry smile.

I wasn't honestly sure how I feel about him yet. Whether he was an asshole, or just a tough surface, protecting whatever wound he had inside. It was just difficult to decide, but the obvious fact is the one that tingles between my legs. He's gorgeous, and masculine beyond belief. All I could imagine was that he'd be amazing in bed and the thought of him taking me over, devouring me while I moaned his name was heavenly.