Chloe:The sun hung high in the sky, casting its bright light over the city below. I had a hood pulled over my head as I walked out of the house, carefully kicking the house keys under the doormat. They jingled softly before falling silent again.Outside, the world was blanketed in white, as snowflakes had taken over the city, even coating the trees. I trudged through the thick snow, and once I reached the road, I let out a sigh. Despite my warm boots, the cold still managed to seep into my bones.My phone buzzed, and I glanced at the caller ID, letting out another sigh. It was my boss from work, probably calling to inform me that I was fired for being late. But honestly, who cared at this point? I had already sent him a text saying I wouldn't be available today. My mom was sick, and I was going to visit her. In a few weeks, she would be undergoing surgery, and that weighed heavily on my mind as I furrowed my brow, flagging down a cab."Where to, miss?" the cab driver asked, offering
The frosty air penetrated deep into my bones as I instinctively rubbed my arms, desperately seeking even the faintest hint of warmth. Digging into my purse, I retrieved a lip balm, my lifeline against the biting cold.I was never one to embrace heavy makeup. In fact, I prided myself on a natural look. If you had to label me, I was the "all-natural" type. However, today was an exception. I realized that, in order to make this work, I needed to step up my game. As a result, my makeup consisted of just mascara, an eye pencil, and a light dusting of foundation on my face.I had heeded Kate's advice and visited the boutique to update my wardrobe. There was no way I was going to attend the party looking like my fashion inspiration came from a five-year-old. My brown hair was neatly pulled back into a bun, with a few strands allowed to frame either side of my face."Here," Kate said, capturing my attention as she handed me a black mask. "Put this on."I accepted the mask from her with a deli
Just who did he think he was? I pondered, finding it increasingly difficult to swallow the realization that I was on the verge of falling for him. All I needed now was to locate Kate and make a hasty exit. I had had enough. Navigating through the crowd, I eventually spotted Kate. She giggled at something her admirer had whispered, tucking a few strands of hair behind her ears. As much as I longed to leave, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I didn’t want to spoil her evening. A vibration from my phone broke my concentration. Retrieving it from my purse, I noticed a missed call with my boss’s name displayed on the caller ID. I knew he would likely try calling again, but I also understood that I wouldn’t be able to answer it. “Hi, gorgeous,” a deep voice purred from behind me. When I turned to face the source of the voice, I felt a wave of disgust wash over me as his eyes roamed over my body, accompanied by a lecherous smirk on his lips. “Let go of me!” I demanded, forcefully pulling
ALISTAIR:A smirk played on my lips as her cheeks reddened with embarrassment. Even though she couldn't bring herself to admit it, I sensed a hint of relief in her. As I wrapped the coat around her, I gently released my hold on her waist, but she remained still.I raised an eyebrow, taken aback by her unexpected reaction. I had anticipated a punch coming my way, but it never came. Instead, her gaze bore into mine, as if trying to peer into my soul. Initially, she appeared lost, but suddenly, anger replaced her confusion, and before I could react...*Slap!*A sharp sting coursed through me from the impact of her slap. As I looked at her, all I could think was how remarkably bold and audacious she was. It wasn't annoyance that I felt; on the contrary, I was intrigued and fascinated. Throughout my life, I had been treated like royalty, and almost everyone had feared me, doing everything to stay on my good side. Yet, this stranger was an exception."What was that for?" I complained, but s
I woke to the sound of my alarm and noticed the beauty from the night before was gone. I knew she was indeed beautiful, even though I didn’t want to admit it to her. Jumping out of bed and grabbing a towel, I spotted my empty vodka bottle on the table. Despite my irritation at the staff for not removing it, I knew I was running out of time.I had to return home and prepare for work. While I trusted my assistant to handle things at my company, I preferred to be there myself. I had recently taken over the company under my name and needed to get to know my employees. As I passed the table where I’d placed my watch last night, I paused. Why?My table stood empty, completely devoid of any items. My wristwatch, however, was conspicuously absent. I began to wonder where it might have disappeared to, when suddenly, a thought crossed my mind. What if she had taken the watch? No, 'taken' didn't do justice to the situation. What if she had stolen it? I clenched my fist tightly, and a frown crept
CHLOE:Waking up, I shielded my eyes from the sunlight that peered through the curtains. A subtle yawn escaped my lips as I sat up and stretched. My eyes fell on a pair of men's trousers lying on the table, away from the bed, and my breath hitched. I wondered what in the world was going on before I heard stirrings from behind me. Turning around, I locked eyes with a man - the same stranger I had met last night, the blue-eyed heir to a billionaire. I couldn’t believe I was lying beside him. Though I wanted to scold myself for being in this situation, I couldn’t help feeling exhilarated. His eyes were the most beautiful I had ever seen, and I questioned whether everyone, including men, fell for his looks.My phone buzzed on the bedside table where it was plugged into the socket. It was a message from my best friend. She seemed to be freaking out, knowing she had left me alone at the party to have a fling with someone. To be honest, I was too surprised to be angry at her. I knew she wou
The car pulled up before a grand mansion, leaving me in awe at its sheer magnificence. I'd never witnessed such opulence before. Within the premises lay sprawling flower gardens and an expansive pool that seemed to stretch like a stadium. I marveled at the grandeur and wondered how long it took to create this beauty. The chauffeur opened the door, and I stepped out."Welcome, Miss Chloe," Jayden greeted as he approached. I'd become acquainted with him—Alistair's companion, always adorned in his black Italian suit.It had been three days since Alistair appeared at my house, informing me of my move to live with him as his girlfriend. He'd given me time to bid farewell to my friend and mother, presenting the ultimatum of either becoming his girlfriend or repaying the full worth of his watch—a debt I couldn't fulfill.Kate saw the situation positively, thrilled at the thought of me dating a billionaire. I omitted the document and the watch from her knowledge. As for my mother, I lied, exp
ALISTAIR: Seated in my study, the table hosting a bottle of rum, I exhaled a cloud of cigarette smoke before snuffing out the ember in a saucer. A pounding headache throbbed through my temples as I rubbed them, my gaze fixed upon the file report before me. Two days had elapsed since I tasked my assistant with uncovering every possible detail about her, the beauty whose disregard for my warnings disrupted a meeting out of pure curiosity. I had anticipated a background of wealth and prominence given her behavior at my party, yet the findings revealed her belonging to a lower social class. Nevertheless, it didn't alter the fact of her allure. While I knew several women who might surpass her in a beauty contest, there was something singular about her that captivated me. I couldn't comprehend the hold she had on me, but not a day passed without her crossing my thoughts. I wondered what she looked like, beneath all those fabrics and under the moonlight, in a stemming pool, with only lin