Luca's POV
"What about your ex?" Caleb, my best friend, suggests over the phone."Natasha?" I scoff. "Seriously, Caleb?"That woman is a possessive gold digger. I know she was only with me because it helped her advance in her modelling career.Caleb laughs. "Don't bite my head off, jeez. It was only a suggestion. I think you should pay someone to do the job."Yeah, I've been thinking of that. I just don't want to trust something like that on a stranger."I'm ready!" A female voice announces behind me.Turning, I find Skylar, my PA who I brought on this trip with me for business purposes.Fuck, how long has she been standing there? Did she hear my conversation with Caleb?"Caleb, I'll talk to you later." I hang up the phone, then glare at Skylar in disapproval. "Why do you ladies always take so long to get ready?""And why do you men always complain when you already know what to expect." Skylar shoots back with a chuckle.I roll my eyes at the cheeky reply. Scanning her outfit, I realize she's adorned in a simple and business-like off-white blouse on top of a black tailored skirt. Her hair is tied up behind her head in a neat bun.Well, the time she took to dress surely paid off because she looks gorgeous.I won't deny that I find my PA attractive. But I know much better than to get involved with a woman like her."We'll get to the cafe quicker if you stop staring." Skylar snaps her fingers in front of my face, making me realize I've been staring.I quickly collect myself with a frown. "I came knocking on your door last night. You weren't around. I wanted us to discuss the Bentley project. Where did you go at that time, Skylar?""Um," Skylar swallows nervously. "I was...uh...going for a stroll around the city.""Oh, I'm sure you had a nice walk." I say sarcastically.I'm not stupid. I know she's lying. She didn't go for a walk. She went to get fucked.Yes, I know about her sex life. I know everything about her promiscuity. I know about how she sleeps with a different man every week. I know about how she changes men like she changes her sheets.I don't know how a woman can be so reckless with her sex life. I pity any man who will fall in love with her.I sigh. "Look, Skylar. I don't give a fuck what you do outside work. But I brought you on this business trip. I think it's only fair you tell me whenever you want to go out. Get it?""Yes, 'boss'," Skylar says, skilling tightly.I know she's not happy with my comment. Was I too harsh on her?"Good. Let's go."*****Skylar hasn't said a word since I rebuked her at the hotel. I feel bad about confronting her about it, but some subjects are unavoidable.The cafe we go to doesn't seem too busy. We locate a table in a corner, just perfect enough for us to be able to discuss business without any interruptions.I pull a chair back for Skylar. To my relief, she smiles at me as she sits down, making me know she's not angry with me anymore. I sit down across from her and pull out my laptop from my laptop bag, placing it on the table.A beautiful brown-skinned woman approaches us with a huge smile on her face. "Good morning, what would you lovebirds like?"Skylar looks at me and smiles knowingly but we don't bother to tell the woman that we're not dating. Skylar orders pancakes accompanied by hot, milky cocoa, and I order coffee and some donuts.Our order is served in a matter of minutes. I pull out my laptop from my bag, and Skylar and I discuss business over our steaming beverages.As usual, Skylar shows how good she is at her job. She only started working for me last year and yet I can say she's the best PA I've ever had."Excuse me, I'm just going to visit the ladies." Skylar suddenly announces, getting up to her feet.After she goes to the washroom, I try to focus back on business but find myself thinking about the promise I made to my mum.I only have one day until the reunion and I've still not gotten anyone who will pretend to be my girlfriend.What about Skylar? My subconsciousness suggests for the second time today.Nope. Not Skylar. She's just my PA and I don't want her to know too much about my private life."I can see you're still a workaholic." A familiar voice suddenly says.Looking up, I'm quite surprised when I realize that it's one of my uncles. "Uncle Dennis." I get up to my feet and hug him."Boy, how have you been?""I've been great, Uncle," I reply enthusiastically. Among all my uncles, Uncle Dennis is the one I'm closest with. But we haven't seen each other in a while."Was that her?" Uncle Dennis suddenly asks.Confused, I raise a brow at him. "Was that who?""Ah, please. Your mum has already called me to gush about the woman you'll be bringing to the reunion. I'm afraid she's going to burst from excitement." He smiles affectionately. "I saw a young woman leaving your table. It's her, right?""Uncle, uh..." I swallow nervously.Uncle Dennis doesn't let me finish speaking. "Wow, she's gorgeous. You're just like your uncle. We've both got fine taste.""Damn right."I freeze as soon as I say that. Uncle Dennis is now going to believe that Skylar is my girlfriend. Why did I have to say that? My heart skips a beat as Skylar appears, walking towards our table."Oh, we have company." She says curiously."My God, you look even more stunning this close. My nephew says you're his girlfriend."My heart begins thumping inside my chest, and I close my eyes. Fuck, Skylar is going to expose me. My mum is going to know that I lied.However, Skylar completely shocks me with her with her reply."That's right, sir. I'm Skylar Simpson, Luca's girlfriend."Skylar's POV"What was that for?" Luca turns to face me immediately after we step out of the café a few minutes after Dennis, his uncle, has left.His left hand is stuffed into his pocket, his right hand holding his left hand back as he glares at me.I blink, caught off guard. "What was what for?""Do not play dumb with me." Luca glares at me. "You just told my uncle that you're my girlfriend.""May I remind you that it was you who told him we were dating?" I retort snarkily. "The way I see it, I saved your ass."Luca brings his hands up as if ready to rub it through his hair but he soon shoves his hand back into his pocket.He looks exquisite in his grey designer suit. His shiny, dark blonde hair is neatly combed with a few strands spilling at the edges, highlighting his handsome face.His eyes are the most cyan I've ever seen. They are a magnetic shade between blue and green. He has a slightly crooked nose and a sharp jawline that all emphasizes his handsomeness.I'm sure underneath
Luca's POVThe next day, my parents send a brand new Ferrari with a driver to come and pick Skylar and me up to the family reunion. Skylar is dressed in a beautiful dress that highlights her curves so perfectly, making her very gorgeous. I find myself constantly stealing looks at her.“It'll take us about two hours to get there.” i inform Skylar. “I hope you don't mind.” Skylar shrugs with a smile. “No problem.”I realize she seems a bit nervous. In the car, we discuss how best to execute our plans to make my mum and my family convinced that we're dating.Finally, we get to my parent's mansion. The driver finds space among the several parked cars, obviosuly belonging to my relatives."Max, please send our luggage inside?""Of course." The driver smiles.“Don't move.” I sternly tell Skylar before taking off my seat belt and getting out of the car. I round the car to the other side and open the door for her.I stretch out my hand. “Shall I?” This feels awkward but it's necessary to cre
Skylar's POVAfter the introductions, Luca's mother, Cornelia sends us upstairs to go freshen up. We'll be sharing one room which doesn't surprise me. After all, we're not in the 19th century. But I must admit that the thought of sharing a room with my boss is a bit unnerving.Luca agrees to let me take a shower first. After I'm done he also goes in to take a shower while I wait for him. When he comes out from the bathroom, he onlyhas a towel around his waist.His torso is bare and glistening with moisture. My mouth dries as I stare at his sexy body. A week ago, I would've never thought that I would see my boss half naked.He's like sex on legs. He has wide shoulders which taper to a lean waist, and his stomach is carved to perfection with breathtaking abs.The towel around him wraps so low around his waist that I swear I can see the beginning of his pubic hair...“I can get you a camera if you want?” My boss smirks at me.That causes me to snap out of my daze. “I'm not staring at you
"You guys know each other?" Luca scanned the three of us with knitted eyebrows."No!" I denied sharply. Way too sharply. "I guess we've seen each other somewhere. I mean, maybe."David raised an eyebrow at me, obviously wondering why I was lying. "Hey, cousin, you have great taste." He said, causing me to glare at him."Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Skylar." David stretched out his hand tentatively."Likewise." I flashed him a sweet smile as I shook his hand, wishing my eyes were bullets. It's been three years since he broke my heart and he is happy with the woman he cheated on me with."Anyways, I think we will go greet the others now. See you." David announced, taking his wife's hand and leading her away.Luca turned to look at me before I could unclench my teeth. It's more than obvious that I'm upset by David's presence and he's sure to notice that. "Hey, let's dance."Looking at him, I wondered why he was acting like he hadn't sensed the tension.I didn't know why I'd lied a
Skylar's POVRamiro took some steps towards me, and I took some backward, my heart pounding inside my chest.Ramiro begins to speak. "Was it six or seven months ago? Who cares? We met you at this bar, my friend and I. He approached you first and you were more than willing to fuck him. We tried to bargain for a threesome but you refused because you said you didn't do threesomes. You agreed to sleep with only one of us even though we wanted to take turns.""It'd been a while since my friend got laid, so I agreed to let him have you on the condition that I watched while you guys fucked."I gasped when I felt his breath on my ear, unable to move. He went on, a smile lacing his voice. "Watching my friend sink his dick into you was the sexiest live porn I'd ever watched while I sat in a corner unable to keep myself from jerking off. It was so...""That wasn't me." I finally found my voice to deny it.Why was my past coming back to bite me now?Ramiro laughed, finally stopping in front of me
SKYLAR'S POVAfter my confrontation with Luca, my chest felt too tight. I didn't even know why I was feeling this way.Luca had basically called me a slut. Heck, I'd heard worse things, so why the hell was his words affecting me so much? Stomping into Luca's bedroom, I entered the bathroom, banging the door shut. I went to stand in front of the mirror just as a single tear slid down my left cheek. What the hell? I wiped the tear furiously and glared at myself in the mirror. You are made of tougher stuff, idiot.There was no way I was going to allow Luca's words to wound my confidence and pride in myself. But as I realized that was exactly what I was doing, I cursed. At that moment, I resented Luca. Resented him for making me so needy, needy for his approval.I resented him for making me feel so needy for more of the kisses I'd just had a taste of not even an hour ago.A firm knock sounded on the door. I figured out who it was even before Luca spoke. "Hey, are you okay? Can I come i
SKYLAR'S POVThe midnight weather was unexpectedly cold, and it didn't spare me as I lay in bed even though I'd covered myself with a quilt.Pretending to be asleep, I watched as Luca walked around in only his pajama pants. The light glistened off his muscled torso sculptured to perfection, and my body warmed at the thought of him holding me in his strong arms.Jesus Christ, he was so gorgeous it was illegal. Why the hell hadn't he been sentenced to life imprisonment already?I quickly closed my eyes when Luca turned to look at me.The family had finally decided to call it a night after quite some fun activities ending with a pillow game where the pillow was passed around from one person to another while a song blared from a music box. The one who had possession of the pillow whenever Elliot, the coordinator, brought the song to an end was forced to sing a selected song. Fortunately, my luck prevented me from being chosen to display my horrible voice.We'd returned to our room and ta
SKYLAR'S POV"I can't believe he is gone." Elliot wailed as she was handed the tenth tissue by her sister, one of Luca's grandmothers. "I mean, I knew his condition was serious but not that serious. Oh God, he was such a good person. Always thinking about the good of others. Why did you take him so soon?"We'd come down for breakfast only to meet a weeping Elliot at the table. Apparently, a friend and neighbour of hers, Benito, had died. Everyone looked distressed at her state, especially when she wouldn't stop talking about the life of this Benito.Seeing Elliot like this was pushing every one of my emotional buttons, prompting an unwarranted memory of my mother with a similar tear-stained face after her divorce from my dad.While everyone else commiserated with the old woman, Ramiro was sitting on his chair with a bored look on his face. Meeting his gaze, I threw him a look of pure disgust. Unfazed, he only smiled lecherously at me."Son," Elliot finally sniffed and wiped her runni
Hey guys,This has been a long journey of a little over three months, and I know that reading this story must've been a bit frustrating because of my unscheduled updates where you never know when to expect the next chapter in a day. But y'all stuck with me, and I'm so grateful for that. Thank you so much for the patience.There were times I wanted to give up because writing was so stressful but all your comments kept me on my toes, along with all those beautiful gems you gifted me. They're truly appreciated.A few of you might not agree with some directions I decided to take, but I realize I can't satisfy everyone. I do believe in second chances as long as the other person is remorseful and willing to change. And I tried to be as realistic about the whole thing as possible.That being said, this is my first story on here, and I'm not perfect. There's always room for improvement for my future books, so do let me know; Where did I lack? What could I have done better? Were there issues yo
The first clue read: YES! YES! I KNOW THAT YOU'RE A DAY OLD, SO LOOK FOR THE FIRST TREASURE WHERE THINGS GET COLD.So Skylar did remember. Grinning like an idiot, Luca figured the first one out easily. It was obviously the fridge. But they had two. One in the kitchen and another at the corner of the wall near the dining table. He took a chance on the one near the dining area, and he was right.His first treasure was there, a somewhat rectangular gift wrapped up so that he couldn't see what it was. Attached to it was the second clue.It read: A MAJESTIC THRONE THAT NO ONE WANTS, YET WE ALL HAVE TO RULE OVER EVERY OTHER DAY.His brows drew together. A throne? Since he was standing around the dining table, his eyes went straight to the chairs there first. But the clue said no one wants it, so it definitely couldn't be those chairs. It took him five minutes of running all around the ground floor before he finally figured it out. When he did, he burst out laughing. What the heck? So the t
ONE YEAR LATERLuca was pissed.The day hadn't gone exactly how he'd envisioned it, and he'd been complaining the whole evening. The unfortunate listeners of his lashing out were Caleb and Abhishek.“How could she just forget?” He grouched. “Everyone remembered. My mum, Ella... Heck, even you guys remembered. And she forgets?”“Uh, with all due respect, your highness, your mother gave birth to you. She's the most inclined to remember when it's your birthday.” Abhishek had the very salient idea of mocking him, becoming the recipient of Luca's very unhappy glare.Caleb wasn't fazed though. “Dude, why are you making this a big deal? I'm sure Skylar had stuff on her mind and things to do, and she must've forgotten. Just remind her when you get home. No big deal.”Luca transferred his glare to the other man. “No big deal? It's not like we're 60 or something. We've just been living together for a year! How the hell does she forget my birthday? She didn't have to remind me when it was her bir
Licking her tongue down his neck, Skylar groaned along with him as she stroked his hard-as-granite dick. God, she loved how his dick felt in her hand. So warm and meaty and hard and just so damn good. She found herself salivating, her mouth's wish to get reacquainted with his delicious member.Without hesitation, she dropped to her knees, sliding his pants and boxers down to the middle of her thighs. His erection bounced out, the huge member bumping against her face Grabbing it, she licked him from the base up to the tip, reveling when he let out a sharp sound of pleasure."Fuck, Vanilla." He groaned. "Open that mouth of yours. Just like that."Taking the tip in, she swirled her tongue around it for a bit before taking him further. Just like she remembered, she could only get half of him in without gagging, but almost four years of not doing this didn't mean she'd forgotten how to work within her limits.She had Luca groaning and gasping for air as she bobbed her head up and down, let
Once Alex left, Luca refused to talk about anything having to do with him. He claimed he wasn't upset, but his actions afterwards proved contrary.He drove her to her house so that she could get dressed for work, but he barely said a word to her.Laura was horrified when Skylar told her about what Alex did, but the nanny ended up also concluding that Alex definitely didn't have bad intentions. That only seemed to tick Luca off some more.He drove to the company in brooding silence and didn't even give her a goodbye kiss when he parted to go check out some issues with Brandon Wood, the new branch CEO.Then again, Skylar was definitely not prepared for any PDA that would blow up the secretaries' group chat with gossip. She knew most of the people in the company thought she climbed up too quickly and had always linked it to her having an affair with Hector Lancaster. She didn't want them seeing her with Luca and making all sort of bullshit up to suit that narrative again. Luca didn't say
Alex caught the swaying of Nicole's body before she let go, so he had enough time to react and catch her in his arms."Hey. Nicole? Nicole?" He called out softly, realizing she'd passed out.Lowering her onto the couch, he held her cheek in his hand and tried to shake her gently, but she didn't react in any way.Panic shooting through him, he gathered her into his arms, ready to take her to the hospital. He didn't know what was wrong with her, but he wasn't about to take the chance of waiting for her to wake up first.Getting out of the apartment, he was just heading towards the elevator when she finally stirred in his arms."Nicole, you're awake. Thank God!" He said but he didn't stop the journey to the elevator."Alex, where are you taking me?" Nicole groaned."To the hospital.""I'm conscious now. I don't want to go to the hospital." She said and began squirming in his arms just when they got to the elevator, wordlessly demanding to be placed down.Alex obliged and placed her on her
Chewing on a bowl of popcorn, Nicole sat on her couch, fast-forwarding through scenes of the K-drama she was watching on her TV. There was only so much of the goofy, cute banter she could enjoy before she got tired of the lack of story progression.Just when she got to a scene that looked to be exciting enough, her doorbell rang. Pausing the film, she set her bowl of popcorn aside and went to get the door.Her heart nearly leapt out of her chest when she opened the door to find Alex. Partly because she hadn't expected him and secondly because his face looked like a mess. He had a black eye, other bruises, and stitches marring his face."Hey, Nicole." He flashed her smile and winced like it hurt him to do that."Alex, what happened to you?!" She exclaimed, scanning his face in horror."Uh, I got beat up?" He chuckled a bit, obviously trying to deflect the gravity of the situation with humour."I can see that!" She said, "But who did that to you?""Can I come in first?""Of course, of c
The muffled sounds of a screaming match yanked Skylar out of her deep sleep. Groaning, she snapped her eyes open and tried to focus on the altercation. She couldn't hear much, so she slipped out of bed and approached the door, the voices getting clearer the closer she got."You have some fucking nerve showing your face here, you imbecile!" That was Luca, and he sounded very angry.The sudden sound of screeching couches and painful groans snapped Skylar into action. Realizing she was just in her underwear, she quickly grabbed the dress she remembered wearing yesterday which had been thrown on the bedroom sofa and slipped it on. Opening the door, she rushed out of the bedroom and came to a startled stop at what was going on.Luca was beating the hell out of Alex who was lying helplessly on the couch. His body was vibrating with aggression, and he seemed to be channeling that aggression into every punch. Alex's face already looked like a bloody mess, yet his blows were so heavy that she
Before the tentacles of doubts could bury its roots inside his mind, Luca held himself firm and shook his head, slicing through it until it was completely dead.No, he refused to believe it. He refused to believe that Skylar had done this to him. It just couldn't be.She loved him. Over the weekend, she'd shown him that with so much passion he'd felt it within his soul. There had been nothing like uncertainty about her love.Besides, during their fight regarding his marriage proposal, she'd told him that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him too. She wouldn't have never said anything like that if she didn't mean it.And he believed her. He wasn't going to make the mistake of jumping to conclusions again. He'd been there before, and where had that landed him? In hell, for four fucking years. There was no way he wanted to go back there.There had to be some plausible explanation as to why she was in Alex William's house sleeping in his arms in that state. An explanation that