Danielle didn’t waste a single minute in speculation. She dashed inside the building, straight to her apartment before her stalker could get to her. She wasn’t in the frame of mind to face anyone now.
Once inside, she heaved a sigh of relief. Until the next morning, she was safe in the sanctity of her home. She could contemplate her next move later, before Knox Cromwell’s visit.
The sight of her neatly furnished, cozy home soothed her jumpy nerves, and she headed for a shower. With no plans for tonight, she could retire early and rest her stressed mind.
The moment she stepped out of the shower, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Loretta.
Danielle groaned with dread, knowing what this was all about. It definitely would be another of granny Emma’s loud get-togethers with her weird buddies! She hated those awkward parties where she and Loretta would be the only young people present. Therefore, they would overburden the duo with work!
After five attempts, Loretta stopped, and Danielle released a sigh of relief. She just hoped her friend wouldn’t land up on her doorstep to get her.
After five minutes, she walked out of her bedroom to the kitchen to fix herself dinner when the doorbell rang.
Danielle panicked, knowing it would be none other than Loretta. She wasn’t in the mood to accompany her tonight. Her meeting with Knox Cromwell had already left her so stressed, she needed to rest her overworked mind now.
“Go away,” she muttered, saying a silent prayer in her head. Yet the doorbell resounded and she sighed in defeat, heading towards it to let her friend in. She swore not to give in this time.
She opened the door with an angry snort. “I’m not interested in going anywhere with you,” she blurted out blindly, only to freeze with horror.
“Good, because I intend to interrupt in your dating plans for tonight.”
She gaped at the person she had least expected to see tonight.
Knox Zachary Cromwell!
She blinked and focused again on the arrogant jerk who watched her with a bored look on his face. His expensive suit clung to his muscular frame while his tingling cologne numbed her senses. His aura filled up the entire space, making everything else seem dull. She blinked those thoughts away. He was the enemy now, not her crush!
“What the f*ck are you doing here? I thought we were about to meet tomorrow at the office.” She glared at the man, who looked unaffected by her unfriendly reception. Without answering, he took a step towards her, making her move backward. He barged into her tiny apartment and closed the door after him.
“I asked you something, Mr. Cromwell. This is my home and you’re intruding.” He watched her like a hawk, his unwavering gaze taking her in. It irked her, since he didn’t seem interested in replying to her.
“Stop before I call the cops.” His lips twitched, and he gave her a quizzical look.
“For?”
Danielle searched her brain for a reply. She couldn’t tell him she intended to call the cops to stop him from staring at her shamelessly.
“For barging into my home at night. What else?” She placed her hands on her waist and glared at him, acutely aware of his eyes following her every little move.
“Sign this and I’ll leave.” He took out a document from his suit pocket and handed it out to her. Danielle frowned at the legal document, wondering what it could be. Wasn’t she supposed to sign the surrogacy papers tomorrow at the office in the presence of a lawyer?
“What’s this?” she asked, taking the papers reluctantly from him.
“Agreement.” Danielle rolled her eyes at his reply. As if she didn’t know that already.
“I won’t sign anything without consulting a lawyer.” His jaws clenched, and he reached her in two strides.
“Just read and sign it. Be thankful that I’m not involving you in a legal hassle even after what you’ve done,” he gritted out, stopping inches away from her. Danielle gaped at the arrogant jerk. What had she done now?
“What have I done? As far as I can remember, you were supposed to bring a lawyer to my office at 11 o’clock tomorrow. I’m not signing anything now, Mr. Cromwell.” She stared straight into his furious eyes fearlessly, although her heart thumped wildly in her chest. She could feel him trying hard to restrain himself, but how could she give in? What he was forcing her to do was illegal! She had the right to consult her lawyer before signing a legal document.
“Don’t bloody act innocent here, Ms. Hartford. I have proof that Happy Matchmakers are still catering to my grandfather’s request. You have even fixed him up with one of your grandmother’s old cronies! So how much are you making out of this deal? I had asked you to decline him. Didn’t I? He didn’t seek further help from you, yet you kept on tempting him. Is that how you do business? Tempting disinterested clients with pictures of your relatives?” He bared his teeth, his eyes flashing menacingly.
Danielle gaped at the impossible man, not understanding a word he was saying. Did Loretta backstab her? Did she really set him up with one of granny Emma’s friends? Why didn’t she inform her?
“Your allegations are baseless, Mr. Cromwell. I’m aware of no such thing. Still, I will find out from my partner and get back to you.”
He whirled and punched the wall beside him to take out his frustration. It made Danielle’s eyes widen in panic as she watched the paint chip off where he had struck. What was the guy made of? At that moment, she just wanted to sign the documents and see him get out of her apartment.
“I don’t give a damn who did what. You can play your blame game later. I’m a busy man. I have to show this signed deed to get my grandfather back home. So, just sign the damn document before I lose my patience with you.” Danielle massaged her temples and flicked through the pages in a state of panic.
“Can I read it at least?” He gave her an impatient look and shrugged, turning away to march towards her kitchen. As if he owned her apartment while she was the guest here!
Danielle quickly skimmed through the paragraphs. It was actually a surrogacy agreement! Why did it contain ten pages? It should mean she would have no demands on him, on the child she would bear him, or on anything else. She should leave with the money he gave her in return.
Somehow, the thought made her heart ache. Should she take the plunge? Was this the only connection she would have with the man she had pined for all her life?
After reading the first two pages, she gave up. It only contained paragraphs on how she would have no demands on his wealth! As if she was after his wealth!
She could sense him watching her every move as he stood near the refrigerator with a bottle of water in his hand. Reluctantly, she picked up a pen and signed on all pages. She knew she was paying a heavy price for Loretta’s irresponsible behavior, but what choice did she have? Knox Cromwell wouldn’t think twice before destroying her mom’s dream company! She couldn’t see that happening. At least this would pacify him and give her sometime to drill some sense into her partner’s head.
She looked up at him and held the document out to him. “Done. Can you leave?”
He approached her like a predator, a devilish smirk tugging at his lips.
“You’re coming along with me.” Danielle’s heart sank as a feeling of dread clutched at her heart. What exactly did he mean by that?
“Where? Stop playing games with me, Mr. Cromwell. I’ve signed it as you had asked me to. Now can you leave, please?”
“I don’t play games, Ms. Hartford. You’ve signed the agreement. So you’re coming along with me. Pack your essentials and come along willingly, or I have to use force.” Danielle gasped at the determined look on his face. It didn’t look like a useless threat. He meant every word he said.
“Where are you taking me? I won’t go anywhere with you.” She stood her ground, refusing to budge.
“Didn’t you read the document well, Ms. Hartford? It states that you have to live with me in my house until you conceive my heir.”
“C-conceive? We can go to the hospital and get it done. Why do I have to stay with you?” She gasped for air, not having thought of this angle before. Did he expect her to agree to have physical intercourse with him?
“I won’t accept medical assistance when I can perform the job better. You have signed the document, Ms. Hartford. There’s no way you can opt out of it.”
Danielle gaped at the jerk, wondering how she ever fell for such a twisted creature!
“I hate you, Mr. Cromwell!” She could feel the tears prick at her eyes. The humiliation was too much to bear.
“The feeling is mutual, Ms. Hartford. So will you accompany me, or shall I carry you home?”
“I’ll never go with you. I’m calling the cops.” He laughed, his voice echoing in the small apartment.
“Fine. You leave me with no choice.” He picked up her apartment keys from the bowl nearby and strode into her bedroom. To her horror, he randomly threw her stuff into a suitcase and zipped it up.
“Stop it immediately!” She tried to stop him, but he paid no heed to her protests.
Before she could realize what was happening, he picked her up on his shoulder and marched out of her apartment angrily.
Danielle’s heart constricted with panic upon realizing his intentions. Was Loretta right in her assumptions? Would he sleep with her now until she conceived his heir? Her face paled considerably, and she beat upon his back. “Put me down right away, Mr. Cromwell. This wasn’t what I had agreed to.”He marched into the elevator, paying no heed to her protests. Thankfully, there wasn’t anyone around to witness the melodrama. “Mr. Cromwell, you’re taking advantage of your power.” Her thrashing didn’t have any effect on him.“I will do as I please. Don’t forget you’ve signed a contract with me.” He strode out of the elevator with her on his shoulder, straight to his car parked at the side.“You forced me to sign it.” “I gave you time to read it.” Danielle glared at the arrogant man’s hot ass, wondering what she saw in him exactly. He was the most dominating creature alive! “Yes, only five minutes to read a ten-page legal scroll that contained only one point repeatedly. I shouldn’t have
The scene in front of Danielle shocked her more than Knox Cromwell’s words did. How could Loretta backstab her when she clearly instructed her to back off? As partner at Happy Matchmakers, she couldn’t take such rash decisions on her own without consulting her! It would affect the goodwill of their company. Didn’t she know that? There was a pin-dropped silence the moment Knox Cromwell entered the place. His grandfather, however, didn’t at all look inconvenienced by his sudden arrival. There was a challenging sparkle in his eyes as he glanced at his grandson and Danielle. What was going on? “Well! Well! What a pleasant surprise seeing you here, my grandson! I want you to meet my date, Catherine Shelby. She is special,” said his grandfather. His eyes twinkled as he looked at the woman he chose for himself. “You’re coming home with me, grandpa. I have something important to discuss with you.” Danielle noticed how Knox clenched his teeth without acknowledging Catherine Shelby’s presenc
After thirty minutes, when Danielle emerged from the en-suite, Knox had left the room. She had purposely taken her time to avoid another confrontation with him. What was the use? He wouldn’t ever change his opinion of her. She rushed to lock the door and leaned against it with relief. Would he leave her at peace tonight? Or would he want to get the deed done to throw her out as soon as possible? A tremor went down her spine as she took out her clothes. She wasn’t ready for anything tonight. All she wanted to do was sleep, but her stomach grumbled for food, and she glanced at the door helplessly. If only she had grabbed something before leaving home! What was the use of thinking about it now? It didn’t look like she would get any dinner here. Putting on a pair of sweatpants and a pale pink top, she tied her hair up in a bun. It would be impossible to sleep on an empty stomach, but she had no other option tonight. Just as she lay down on the bed, a knock on the door alerted her. Who
The next morning Danielle arrived at her office to find Loretta sitting at her desk, looking pale and quiet, with dark circles under her eyes. It immediately alerted her, since it was a rare feat indeed. “Hey, girl! What’s up? What’s got you so worked up?” She sat down at her desk to gear up for the day. Despite their efforts, they still couldn’t fix a woman for their client, Dominic Huxley! With only a day to go, they were in a fix. Was that the reason Loretta looked so distressed? “Huxley wants me to warm his bed since we can’t produce a woman for him!” Danielle’s jaws dropped to the floor, and she gave her friend an agitated look. “What? Is he out of his mind?” “I just walked out on him, Dani!” She covered her face with her hands, totally disturbed by the sudden change of events. “You did the right thing. We’re not here to sell our bodies! We have given him ten options to choose from. Is it our fault if he has dismissed them all?” Loretta’s hands dropped in defeat by her side
“Mind your fucking business, Cromwell!” gritted out Mr. Huxley, his attention now focused on Knox. Seeing her opportunity, Danielle snatched her hand out of his hold. Did these two know one another? Of course! Both were arrogant jerks! They deserved each other’s company. “This is my business. Danielle belongs to me. Ask her if you’re in doubt!” Mr. Huxley turned to glare at her. “I don’t fucking care! You should learn to keep your commitments. I’ll finish your little business, Ms. Hartford!” Before she could think of a fitting reply, Knox Cromwell grabbed her wrist and pulled her away with him. “See you in court, Huxley!” Danielle’s eyes widened at the implication. Was he challenging the Trillionaire to sue Happy Matchmakers? This was getting way out of her hand and it was all because of Loretta! Why did she have to disappear, leaving her to face the music? Dominic Huxley muttered curses at him, but Knox didn’t seem to care. Once they were out of sight, Danielle struggled to free
Danielle rushed to her office to collect her stuff, her heart thumping wildly with apprehension. She knew Knox would surely come after her to teach her a lesson. Why did he hate her so much? Was it only because of his grandfather? But that couldn’t make him harbor a personal grudge against her, right? How did it matter to him what she did for a living? Collecting her stuff, she locked the office and drove over to her apartment. Her mind was made now. She would disappear to her old neighbor, Aunt Greta’s place, where she spent her teenage years. When her mom was alive, Danielle used to work part-time after school at her café, Krazy Baker. She still had fond memories of the place. It was where she had met Knox for the first time. He used to frequent the place with his friends since it was right opposite his gym, Crunch Fitness Club. Danielle observed him every day for a month, serving him his favorites. The brief interaction was enough for her to develop a crush on him, but she soon r
The way his eyes glittered with lust, Danielle knew what the other way was. She also knew this was no coincidence. Knox Cromwell had bought Cube Office Complex overnight just to punish her. “What way?” She watched the way his eyes briefly swept over her body. Maybe this was all about getting into her pants! But why would he want to when he hated her so much? Surely there were plenty of women ready to warm his bed. Then why was he pursuing her relentlessly? He stepped forward with a smug expression on his face, but Danielle stepped back in apprehension. It didn’t stop him, though. He closed the distance between them, his hot breath fanning her face, making her breath hitch in panic. “Give me what I want and I’ll get off your back. Sleep with me, give me my heir. It shouldn’t be a big deal for you. I’m sure you’ve done it many times already!” “Why are you doing this to me, Mr. Cromwell? Why don’t you leave me alone?” Danielle whirled around to run away from his office since it was n
Danielle couldn’t get a wink of sleep as a sense of worthlessness engulfed her. Her mom might be so disappointed in her! She had started at the Cube Office Complex almost fifteen years ago, building the business with her dedication and hard work into a successful venture. Danielle hadn’t been able to withhold it! Now under her, the business was on the brink of bankruptcy. Maybe this wasn’t her forte! Could she hide in her apartment for a few days to clear her thoughts?She wished she could give up everything and rest her head on her mother’s lap. She wanted her mom to comfort her, to tell her that her failure didn’t matter at all. Her doorbell buzzed suddenly, bringing her out of her thoughts and alerting her immediately. Who could be here so late in the night? Did Knox Cromwell follow her? She covered her head with a cushion to block out the sound. She could let him think she was fast asleep. No way would she open the door at 2 am and let the monster in! The doorbell pealed again
Knox came out of his daze and gazed at her glistening, wet, and juicy folds with longing. He wanted to please her before pumping into her. Maybe that would excite her more. He wanted her to shed all her inhibitions and enjoy the moment. He parted her legs further and embedded his face into her feminine folds, making her gasp with pleasure. She was so fresh, innocent, and inexperienced. He loved the feeling of being the first man to touch her. She deserved so much better for saving herself for him, although he had been a jerk to her. “Oh! Oh!” She was breathing heavily as Knox plundered her sweet nectar, using his tongue to devour and suck her clean. “Like it?” He looked up to gaze at the sheer pleasure on her face. It was clear she was enjoying it. “Mm, don’t stop.” It was enough encouragement for him to continue, and he did so with a satisfied smile on his face. She moaned, tugging at his hair when his tongue hit the most sensitive spot. It felt heavenly! He used his tongue in lo
Danielle’s heart filled up with happiness while her throat choked with emotions. She hadn’t expected him to love her back after so many years, but he did. “You love me?” she whispered breathlessly, cupping his cheeks with both hands. Her eyes shimmered with tears and they spilled over! She just couldn’t believe her ears. She had accepted her unrequited love for so long; it had become a part and parcel of her life. How did this miracle happen? “Yes, Ellie! I love you more than you can think of. So much that it had become an obsession with me. I couldn’t see you with another man. It forced me to commit many blunders.” “It’s the same with me. I couldn’t see you with Kendall.”“I never kissed or spent time with her. I sort of ignored her all my life except for the few months when we were in a relationship during my college days! So you had nothing to worry about.” Danielle smiled and released his cheeks. “Neither have I kissed or done anything with any of the clients of Happy Matchma
Danielle’s heart melted at the effort the twins made for them. She hugged them close and Knox looked relieved. He had been expecting her to back out any minute. Instead, she thanked his family, Kathy, and the twins. “Why don’t you check if you need something more?” suggested Cathy. “For how many days are we staying there?”“A week!” chorused the twins, making her eyes go wide. “Oh, that’s too long. What about the office? How about the twins?” She gave Knox a helpless look, but he looked relaxed instead of getting worked up. How was he so relaxed? “Richardson will take care of your office.” “We’ll be fine, mom. We’ve grown up. Don’t worry about us,” said Zane with an eye roll. Yet Danielle worried almost all evening until bedtime. It was a mother’s nature to worry, and they left her alone. Although Knox wanted her to move into his room, he thought of waiting until the next day. Maybe he should take it slow as she had requested. It was the most arduous task, and he had to take a co
Knox’s eyes filled up with tears, yet he couldn’t say a single word to her. His heart felt lighter, as if a tremendous burden had been lifted! After so many years, for the first time, he felt guilt-free and relieved. Danielle closed the distance between them and snaked her arms around his neck. A staggering sigh escaped from his throat and he buried his face into her hair like before. “Thank you, Ellie! I was dying to hear that!” He sniffed, choking the tears away. “I’m sorry for hurting you, for pushing you away, for destroying you.” She raised his head, forcing him to look at her. “Shh, Knox! Don’t apologize ever again. I know you had your trust issues, yet you’ve changed yourself for me. You’ve given me more than you’ve taken from me. I’ve forgiven you with all my heart. Let’s move on now and see where our feelings lead us to, but I have one request for you.” His eyes sparkled with hope and something else. Danielle was too scared to believe in the love reflected in his eyes. Di
Danielle stared at the beautiful platinum bracelet she had bought for Knox on his birthday. It had the letters D loves K with a pierced heart symbol in place of the word loves. She had it personalized for him and the result was quite satisfying. Although expensive, she didn’t wish to settle for anything else, using some of her savings to buy it for the man she loved. For the last few weeks, she had been dying to confess her feelings for him, but at the last minute, she developed cold feet. Therefore, this would be a perfect way to express her feelings for him. The door opened, and she quickly slipped the gift into her handbag. She looked up to see Knox entering the office. “What were you doing?” Danielle looked ill at ease. Did he see the gift? “Nothing much. I just wrapped up the work for the day. So, what do you want to do tomorrow?” She wanted to plan something for him on his special day, but no one at home cooperated with her idea of a dinner party. They only harped on one th
Knox closed his eyes, feeling her soft body molded against him. It healed the ache in his heart a little. He couldn’t stay away anymore. He hadn’t promised to not touch her if she did. Wrapping his arms around her, he embedded his face in her hair. “I missed you so much!” she whispered, causing his heart to skip a beat. “So have I, Ellie. You have no idea how much!” Danielle clung to him, unable to let go. This was what she had been longing to do for years. A throat cleared at the door, and Knox released her reluctantly. He glared at an uncomfortable Richardson, who wanted to vanish upon realizing what he interrupted. “Umm, sorry, sir. I have seen nothing! I’ll come back later.” Knox rolled his eyes while Danielle wanted to hide somewhere in embarrassment. “No need. Have the employees of Happy Matchmakers joined today?” Danielle gaped at him for a split second. Had he appointed employees too? “Yes sir. They’ve started working as well. The response is tremendous. We’ve got innum
The week flew by, settling Angel in her new school and helping her cope with the pending work. Thankfully, she was in the same section as Zane! It helped immensely.Knox had to leave for New York on a work trip and strangely Danielle too missed him, along with the kids. After the outing they went to last, Danielle had expected Knox to propose to her, yet he didn’t. In the evening, he left instead for an unknown period. She waited for him every day, but he didn’t call her or return home.“Yay, Dad’s coming home tomorrow!” announced Zane, making her heart skip a beat. She couldn’t wait until tomorrow. Yet she didn’t show her state. She was upset with him. Why couldn’t he call her once when he could call the twins and grandpa every day? “Yes. I had a word with him an hour ago. He’ll arrive home late in the night.” Danielle sighed and walked away to the kitchen. “Please, can I stay awake, G-Pa?” asked Angel. “Let’s see when he returns. You can stay awake until 11.” The next night they
Danielle didn’t get to savor another of Knox’s meals. The twins were getting impatient to see her, and she loaded everything into Knox’s car to go to Cromwell Mansion forever. She hadn’t considered it as forever. It was Knox who insisted he would keep her there with him forever! “Oh, I promised Angel a stuffed panda. Can we get it on the way?” “I promised them toys if they let me get you. So I guess we ought to buy those first to get an entry into the house.” They chuckled and Knox steered the car towards a shopping mall. It was the first time she went shopping with Knox and she had to agree it was a novel experience for her. Knox not only bought toys for the twins, he splurged on her as well, buying everything he fancied. Danielle gave up protesting when he turned a deaf ear to her rantings. “Gosh! It seems we’ve robbed a supermarket!” After the way he kept his promise and didn’t make a move towards her, Danielle relaxed a lot around him. The moment they entered the house, the t
Danielle’s heart skipped a beat at his explanation. All she could think was Knox was free. He wasn’t married as she had thought. So could she hope? “Oh! Why didn’t you tell me before?” Her cheeks flushed with color and she got up to clear the table. Her reaction bowled Knox over. “You didn’t ask me directly. Now you know I’m crazy about you, always was, and always will be! So, what have you thought about going home with me?” She nodded and went to the kitchen with her heart thumping wildly in her chest. She had never expected Knox to like her back! If he was so crazy about her, why did he hurt her? This was a question only Knox could answer. She couldn’t ask him now and disrupt the cordial relationship between them. She was tired of fighting with him. He followed her into the kitchen to help her. “So, is it a yes or no? Will you come home with me?” He hovered around her, staring at her with hooded eyes. She was acutely aware of his gaze wandering all over her. “Yes.” Knox couldn’t