BRYAN’S POV
I checked my watch for what felt like the hundredth time. The meetings dragged on, my schedule was usually chaotic, but somehow she still managed to occupy my mind.
I leaned back sipping the scotch, letting my fingers rest on the armrest, lost.
I had been watching her eagerly since I moved back to the country. Her vulnerability and strength intrigued me.
Her refusal to give up, even when things seemed impossible, inspired me. Her innocence, too, was very captivating.
She’s even prettier now than I remember. Time has transformed her into a stunning young lady. Her beauty wasn’t just skin-deep, it radiated from within.
Our childhood memories flooded back into my head – the laughter, the backyard barbecues. Our families' close ties made us inseparable. I recalled the countless times we explored the neighborhood, sharing secrets and dreams. A small smile formed on my lips.
She is breathtakingly beautiful, with a slender yet athletic build. Her long silky hair framed her oval face, showcasing her striking features, high cheekbones, full lips and expressive brown eyes that shone like dark gemstones when she laughed. Her skin is smooth, flawless and luminous.
I was swiftly snapped back to reality when one of my partners called.
“Mr Braxton, we’ve covered the key points, is there anything else you’d like to add” he added, all eyes focused on me.
I blinked, trying to refocus. “Excellent!” I remarked. “I think we’ve made great progress today, we’ve got a solid plan in place too”, my voice steady despite my mental absence.
I was relieved the meeting was wrapping up. With a few swift motions, I concluded the meeting, gathered my papers and stood up. My anticipation got the best of me.
I exited the conference room. As I entered my office, Quinn stood up from the couch. Her simplicity is out of this world.
Considering a man of my caliber, one would think I’d prefer these elegant, sophisticated women, but somehow Quinn manages to captivate me with her beauty. She wore minimal makeup with her hair tied down, her effortless charm had me bound.
“Shall we…?” I asked, offering my arm.
She took it, as I walked her out of my office, strolling through the building. I could not help but feel excited. I opened the door for her, gesturing for her to go ahead. She smiled and thanked me, her eyes sparkling.
I had a special surprise for her, but I wouldn’t reveal it yet. It’s her birthday today, and I wanted to make it memorable.
Patience was indeed a virtue I’ve mastered.
I have waited for years to re-enter her life.
Right now, I would savor every moment.
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QUINN’S POVI gazed outside the car window, lost in thought, as the cityscape blurred into a vibrant tapestry of colors.
Bryan's luxurious vehicle glided smoothly along the road; a testament to his impeccable taste. My attention drifted from the view to the man sitting beside me.
He was engrossed in work affairs as he dictated instructions to his secretary: “Remember to send a reminder to all staff about the meeting tomorrow morning… I want to know the estimate as soon as…”
His voice faded into the background as I became lost in thought.
The man who was once my childhood friend, Braxton Bryan, was now a renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist, leading the most successful business empires globally.
It’s hard to reconcile this polished-powerful figure with the carefree boy I’d known in pre-school. We had big dreams together except that life had taken its toll. I had wanted to be an artist, because of my undying love for the Arts and he, a pilot.
Right now, Bryan had become too handsome for my piece of mind, his face was finely chiseled. His eyes, that truly captivated me-Prussian blue, dark yet so bright. I have always been fascinated by the color blue, ever since I was a child. My parents used to tell me it was a color of tranquility and calmness.
My mind began to wander back to that fateful night two weeks ago, where I served as a waitress at Eclipse, the city's most exclusive nightclub. I was assigned to deliver drinks to the VIP room, where the city's elites gathered.
The most familiar faces on the glossy pages of magazines were where billionaires, celebrities and influencers mingled with ease.
So far, I had learned to navigate this treacherous landscape, but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw that night.
FLASHBACK_
I froze in horror when Ava, my colleague and best friend, lay bleeding on the ground, a bodyguard looming over her. I stepped forward without hesitation, positioning myself protectively in front of her.
The bodyguard's gaze shifted, he was seeking approval from his boss for further actions. His massive figure obstructed my view.
Mr Jenkins, my boss, walked to the scene standing beside the guard’s boss. The unseen man was ranting.
“How dare your waiters! One splashed wine on my guests, and the other clearly didn’t know the rules.
With a sharp glance at the bodyguard, he signaled for action, and the bodyguard's hands swiftly landed on my cheek.
I winced, pain shooting through my face.
As the bodyguard raised his hand to strike me again, Eva sprang up, blood oozing from the side of her mouth.
"Get out of here!" She shouted, her voice laced with despair, "What are you doing?" Leave now!
But I couldn't leave. Not when she was hurt.
“It’s chaotic enough, Quinn” Eva screamed, as she pushed me away towards the door for me to escape.
I stumbled backwards. The bodyguard's slap still stung my cheek. I was struggling to regain balance when I felt a grip on my arm, spinning me back to the room, his eyes locking onto mine.
I gasped. I recognized him.
The famous billionaire, Jasper Brown.
His eyes roamed over me, lingering on every curve, filled with a hunger that made my skin crawl. "Stunning," he whispered, his breath caressing my ears.His fingers began to trace the curve of my cheek. I shut my eyes in disgust, trying to shake him off, but he held tight onto me. His touch sent shivers down my spine as I panicked.Jasper’s grin broadened as he continued, his hands sliding down towards my chest. I felt my face flush with humiliation and I wished the ground would open and swallow me whole.Just then, Mr. Jenkins, intervened awkwardly, "Mr Jasper, please, she's just a waitress, she doesn’t engage...ah...sexually with clients"Jasper chuckled, his little laugh made my body vibrate.“Well, then I’d be her first. She doesn’t get to decide, I make the decisions.” He added.Eva rushed towards us, kneeling. Her eyes were pleading.“I’m so sorry Sir, for my negligence. It was all my fault. Take…take me instead. I’ll go with you, I’ll do anything. Just let Quinn go, please. She’
BRYAN’S POVAs I opened the door for Quinn, her bewildered expression amused me.Her nervousness was so obvious that I couldn’t help but smile at her awkwardness.Once she settled in, I started the car and pulled away.My mind flashed back to the incident that forced me to reveal myself.Her current reaction mirrored the frantic nervous feeling I felt that day, watching her go through that attack.That night, I had saved her from Jasper’s grip. Her eyes were terrified when I looked back, her breathing heaving. Tension stirred within me and I screamed.“Get her to the hospital this minute.”Asthma.I remembered. She was asthmatic.My heart swiftly raced as I swiftly moved closer, cradling her fragile form.“Hang in there, help is on the way”, I assured him.Suddenly, her eyes rolled back and she slumped forward, fainting.Her friend caught her. “Get an ambulance, now!” I had barked at whoever stood close.The minutes ticked by like hours as we waited for the paramedics. Soon the ambulan
Eva's infectious laughter filled the air, and Matt's presence was surprisingly polite and courteous as we settled into a cozy restaurant, the aroma of sizzling meat and spices enveloping us.As we placed our order, my gaze drifted to the TV above the bar, catching my attention.Breaking news flashed on the screen: "Billionaire, Braxton Bryan Purchases Priceless Diamond Necklace at Auction." My heart skipped a beat.The camera pans to the stunning necklace, its diamonds glinting under the lights.My fingers instinctively rose to touch the identical necklace around my neck. A nervous tremble ran through my hand.One of my coworkers, Rachel, gazed wistfully at the TV. "I'll never make enough money to afford something like that." She remarked, her eyes wandering to my neck, and her brows furrowed""Wow, Quinn, your knock-off looks amazingly real!""Where did you get it?"I force a casual smile, trying to sound nonchalant. "Oh, I picked it up from a street vendor for seven bucks." The lie
QUINN’S POVMy slender fingers absently toyed with the diamond necklace hovering around my neck.. The sparkling gemstones danced in the light, but my mind was swirling with questions. Every scenario with him becomes more perplexing than the last. Why was he showering me with extravagant gifts? Is he trying to get me drowned in love ? Was it a genuine attempt to sweep me off my feet or a calculated act to buy my affection? The uncertainty churned inside of me. I couldn’t neglect the feeling that I was trapped in a whirlpool of confusion. As exhaustion claimed me, my eyelids become heavy, and I drifted off to sleep, clutching the necklace. “Quinn”, a soft, innocent voice startled me. I turned to face the caller and my eyes melted at the sight of a little boy, his little cute eyes boring into my soul.I became curious as I leaned in, attentive to why he called.“You must grow up quickly and marry me” he declared, his voice filled with conviction. My heart skipped a beat as I woke up,
QUINN'S POV His piercing eyes, once bright with laughter, now seemed like they were staring right through my soul.For a moment, I looked at the man sitting beside me, struggling to find remnants of the little boy I once knew, but I couldn’t."You should have already investigated me," I continued, trying to keep my voice steady. "I was kicked out ten years ago, and I was just a child at that time."Bryan's expression remained unyielding, his jaw clenched in a fierce determination. "Do you think you're innocent?" he spat, his words laced with venom. "Let me tell you, not a single person in your family is innocent."Before I could respond, Bryan grasped my arm, pulling me out of the car. I stumbled, my heels scraping against the pavement. We were parked outside what looked like a villa, secluded and isolated. The desolate landscape and vast emptiness engulfed us."Bryan, please," I begged, trying to wriggle free.He dragged me upstairs, his grip unrelenting. I stumbled, my feet barely
As his hands began to wander across my body, I clenched my eyes shut, bracing myself for the worst. The anticipation was suffocating. My heart raced with every touch.But as Bryan's lips left mine, I felt the chill of reality creeping back in. The warmth of his breath vanished, leaving me exposed and vulnerable.Yet, his hands refused to release their grip. They roamed my body, sending shivers down my spine. Every caress was like a whispered promise of what was to come."Bryan, please," I whispered again, this time my voice was barely audible, and my mind began racing with warning signals. My thoughts screamed resistance, but my body surrendered. This body betrayed me. His touch ignited a fire that spread through my veins like wildfire. I felt my defenses melting, my muscles relaxing into his soft caress.His fingers traced the curve of my neck, sending tremors through me. "You're mine, Quinn," he whispered, his breath hot against my skin.His lips claimed mine once more, and I felt
---------------As his hands began to wander across my body, I clenched my eyes shut, bracing myself for the worst. The anticipation was suffocating. My heart raced with every touch.But as Bryan's lips left mine, I felt the chill of reality creeping back in. The warmth of his breath vanished, leaving me exposed and vulnerable.Yet, his hands refused to release their grip. They roamed my body, sending shivers down my spine. Every caress was like a whispered promise of what was to come."Bryan, please," I whispered again, this time my voice was barely audible, and my mind began racing with warning signals. My thoughts screamed resistance, but my body surrendered. This body betrayed me. His touch ignited a fire that spread through my veins like wildfire. I felt my defenses melting, my muscles relaxing into his soft caress.His fingers traced the curve of my neck, sending tremors through me. "You're mine, Quinn," he whispered, his breath hot against my skin.His lips claimed mine once
I drifted back to reality, my memories releasing their hold on me as I reluctantly sighed. My body felt heavy, weighed down by the remnants of Bryan's touch. Every joint ached, still stiff from the tension.Eva's concerned eyes met mine, filled with unspoken questions. I knew she saw the bruises, the physical evidence of Bryan's torment. But she didn't pry, she didn't ask the questions lingering on her lips.Instead, she enveloped me in a gentle hug, guiding me toward the couch. "Let's get you comfortable, okay?" Her soft voice soothed my vulnerable nerves.Eva handed me a steaming cup of tea, her eyes filled with empathy. "Drink this, Quinn. You're shaking."I wrapped my hands around the warm mug, letting the soothing aroma calm my soul.As Eva helped me settle in, my phone’s jarring ringtone pierced the silence. I stared at the device, paralyzed and unresponsive. The screen displayed Bryan's name, taunting me. Not even a minute to myself? I sighed.Eva picked it up, hesitating for