Layla POV
"Mr. Ashford's Office?" I say as I answer the phone.
"Hi, I'm calling from Julien Gilmore for Mr. Ashford," the girl on the other side of the line says. I don't even want to interrupt what is happening there.
"I am sorry, but Mr. Ashford is in a meeting at the moment. Would you like to leave a message?" I ask, and the girl types away.
"Sure, please ask him to return the call as soon as possible," she says politely.
"I will, thank you," I say before ending the call. As I am typing away in my diary, the call from the woman from dinner the other night waltzes into the office. She stops in front of me, her eyes scanning my body.
"Can I help you?" I ask, and she smiles. I can tell she is not happy about seeing me, but nothing I can do about that. 
Richard POV “She is almost ready,” Pamela says as she crosses her arms before her chest. Since I put my foot down that Mia will be moving in with me, Pamela has been trying everything to stop me. But I bet her lawyer told her to stop the crap she was pushing on me. “Okay,” I say as I stand at the top of the steps outside the house. Pamela stands in front of the door, and I hear Mia coming down the stairs. I see her massive suitcase behind her, and Pamela moves to give our daughter space. Her eyes are red and puffy, she looks pissed off, and she looks like she could kill me. She hugs Pamela that keeps her eyes on me constantly while saying goodbye to Mia. I cross my arms in front of my chest, and Mia looks at me. Her head is held high as if she is not bothered by this, but her eyes tell a different story. She walks past me into the car, waiting for her, an
Layla POVIt’s Sunday morning, and I have spent most of my Saturday in bed daydreaming about my boss. I know that is wrong and I know I shouldn’t do it. I feel like he is messing with my mind; he wants me, and five seconds later he is pushing me away, and he is giving me a serious headache.“Hey,” I hear from the other side of the door. I get out of bed and open the door to find Jo standing there with her crutches. I rest my shoulder against the door frame while she looks at me with a massive smile on her face.“Why are you smiling like that?” I ask, and she gives me a blank envelope. I frown, looking at it and I take it from her hand.“Come on, open it. It looks secretive. Maybe it's for you to join some sort of cult”, she says, and I walk back to my bed sitting
Layla POV “Layla,” I hear Richard’s voice sound from the intercom. I close my eyes, taking a deep breath, pull away from the desk, and get my shoes properly on my feet. I grab my iPad and walk toward his office. He has left the door open all day today. I can see him if I look to my left side, but he can see me at all times. “Close the door,” he says. I turn around, closing the door behind me, and when I turn around, he is standing in front of his desk. Resting against his desk, the most perfect man I have ever seen, his eyes locked on mine as he offers me his hand. I stand still near the door, and he moves towards me, his body moving in the most seductive way I have ever seen. His aftershave smells amazing and invades my nostrils as he approaches me. “You look beautiful today,” he whispers as he leans closer to my ear. I close my eyes as his voice does weird thin
Richard POV “Go on a date with me,” I whisper in the hope she will say yes while I am inside of her, she is stubborn, she is the most beautiful and infuriating woman I have ever met in my life, and she challenges me in a way she doesn’t even know. She is the only woman since Pamela that actually gets my blood boiling. I have dated other women before, but no one compares to Layla, and I really want to date her. I want to see if I could be with someone. Someone that would understand my busy schedule and wouldn’t be upset about the long hours because she would be here with me. I need this woman as I need air. Layla moans, biting my shoulder, and it sends a weird jolt to my heart. I push those feelings away, focusing only on her touch and the way her breathing is heavy, and her back is arching as I bite her nipple and lift her legs higher. I feel her more profound, h
Layla POV I open the door to find Jo sitting on the couch with her feet resting on the coffee table. She looks at me through the back of the couch, and she smiles. “How was work?” she asks, and I shrug, flopping beside her. I take a deep breath, resting my feet next to hers, and she looks at me with an eyebrow raised. “Richard asked me out on a date,” I say, and Jo sits up straight, resting her feet on the floor, and she turns her body to look at me. Her mouth opened, and then she smiled. Clapping her hands as if she was five. I roll my eyes, resting my head back against the backrest of the couch, and close my eyes, taking a deep breath. “And? What did you say?” she asks, and I look at her. “I said no, of course,” I say, resting my head back again, an
Layla POV I spent the rest of the week on edge. Richard has been away from the office at business meetings abroad. I think he has gone to London. I wish I could go to London. It’s my dream to travel to Europe one day. Dylan came around twice to keep me company. I bet he was just monitoring me because Richard asked him to. Controlling man. After Dylan caught us in Richard’s office, he has been extremely respectful towards me. He is not flirting as much. My phone rings, and I check its HR on the caller ID. What now? I click on my earpiece, answering while I keep typing the email that Dylan asked me to write. Something to do with a meeting that Richard is going to have in France, and he needs me to send some files over. “Mr. Ashford’s office,” I say as I answer, and I close my eyes, already preparing myself for the hit I am about to take.
Richard POV "Do you really think that's a good idea?" Dylan asks while he brings his beer to his lips. I shrug as I look at the Ice, and Fred gets hit by a hockey stick on the stomach. He falls back, and I frown, watching him stand up immediately and punch the guy in the stomach. The fight begins, we stand up as everyone else does the same, and we want to watch what is happening. This is brutal, and my baby brother loves the game. "That's gotta hurt," I say, bringing my beer to my lips and watching Fred being sent to the penalty box. I whistle as the other guy flips Fred off. "He's going to end that guy," I say through greeted teeth, and Dylan nods while he claps at our brother, shouting some obscenities that make me laugh. Dylan shrugs, looking forward. "Going back to our conversation, do you think to approach her without showing it's you?" Dylan says, and I shr
Layla POV "So? What are you going to wear?" Jo asks as she leans against the door frame in my room. I shrug, looking at my closet. I have no idea what to wear, we have come up with a plan, Jo is going to her parent's house for the weekend, so she doesn't stay here alone, and I am going to that party, and then I will be staying in a hotel. Jo installed the camera in the apartment, trying to catch Leo, but so far, nothing has happened. She starts to think I am paranoid, and he has disappeared for good. But hey, I rather be safe than sorry, and my salary is higher than I expected, so I am pampering myself with a night in a hotel and a day full of massages and skin care. After all, the Spa is included in the price. "I have no idea. What about this one?" I grab a tiny black dress, and Jo shrugs her nose. I know it's not the sexiest thing I have ever bought, but it's n
Richard POV“I can’t believe this is actually happening” I let out and Dylan smiles as he adjusts my butterfly tie. I take a deep breath and I have to say I am nervous as hell. The door opens and Fred walks through the door.“Hey, how are you feeling, old man?” He asks before he pours himself a glass of champagne. I shrug my shoulders and Dylan looks at Fred shaking his head.“He is nervous as fuck” he says and Fred laughs as he crosses his legs.“I bet you are, after all, it’s the second time you're doing this,” Fred says and I shake my head focusing on his face.“Third,” I say and his mouth opens wide and Dylan frowns looking at me.
Layla POV “What are you doing?” I ask as Richard blindfolds me and guides me to the car. I smile as he places one hand on my lower back while the other holds my hand. “Come on, where are we going?” I ask but again all I get is a small kiss on the lips after we are inside the car. The drive takes more than one hour. I have no clue where we are now. There are so many places that he could’ve taken me in one hour or so. When the car comes to a stop and Richard helps me out of the car I feel the cold wind blow and I realize we are somewhere open, without buildings or trees. My hair flies in every direction and I bet I will look like I have a helmet on my head. “Where are you taking me?” I ask at the same time he scoops me off the floor. I let out a small squeal as I feel him going upstairs. Where the hell are we? “Good evening Mr. Ashford” I hear someone say.
Layla POV“How is she? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” I ask Dylan as he takes a deep breath after telling me that Jo spent Christmas in the hospital. We both had shit holidays.“You were recovering from brain surgery. Do you really think I was going to tell you that Jo had a panic attack and ended up hooked up to fluids in the hospital?” He asks as if I am the crazy one.“Yeah,” I say, grabbing my phone and dialing Jo’s number. She answers almost on the first ring.“I am sorry, I am so sorry, I really am sorry,” she says as she answers, and I feel my heart beating so fast I can’t even cope with it. I place one hand over my chest where my beating heart is and take a deep breath.“No,
Layla POV“I open my eyes, and I find my mom sitting on a chair next to me. I frown and look around, realizing I am in a hospital room. I blink several times until my vision focuses but no luck. I lick my lips, but my tongue is so dry it feels like I have sand in my mouth. Argh, my entire body hurts. I try to remember what happened, but I really can’t.The door opens, and Louise walks in, followed by Mia. When her eyes meet mine, the biggest smile appears on her face while my sister stays exactly the same way. “Layla, finally,” Mia says as she ruses to stand next to me. My mom hearing the voices opens her eyes and walks to me, holding my hand between hers.“Oh my God, how are you feeling?” My mom asks, but as I try to speak, it becomes a little difficult. I frown as my voice doesn’t sound the same. “Relax, baby, you ha
Richard POVWe’ve been sitting in these uncomfortable chairs for hours. Mia is asleep with her head resting on my shoulder while my brothers are wide awake with me. I keep trying to push away the horrible feeling I have in the pit of my stomach. I take a deep breath, and Mia opens her eyes.“Is everything okay?” She asks. I offer her a small smile and stand up. My entire body is aching at this point. We have been here for hours without news because we are not related to Layla. Her mother is on the way, and even though I said I am her fiancé, the doctor, and not saying anything. This is ridiculous.I have tried to throw money around, I tried to offer a big donation to the hospital If they allowed me to go see her, but it didn’t work. My father kept asking me to stay calm. This is a hospital, people are sick, and at least we know she is
Richard POVWhen we arrive at the house, I feel every hair in my body rises. I shake my head as I cross my arms in front of my chest. I am behind the police barrier, and they're not allowing me to go inside with them. This is ridiculous. He could be hurting Layla as we speak, and they are here playing police officers and trying to negotiate with him. Just fucking go inside and bring her out. Or even better, let me go inside, and I will bring her out after I knock him down.Jude is standing next to me, and he is keeping my father and my brothers updated while I walk around like a maniac trying to escape the torture I am being put through. “When are you going to invade the place?” I ask the detective, and he looks at me as if I have three heads. What the hell is wrong with people?“We need to make sure he is alone. I can’t just send my men blind,” he says, and I scoff as I shake my head
Layla POV“James, let me go,” I plea as he tightens the zip ties around my wrists. It hurts me, and I flinch as he stands in front of me, his nose almost touching me. I feel the tears rolling down my cheek while he smiles and rubs his nose over my cheek as he inhales deeply. I shut my eyes tightly, turning my head away from him.“You smell so good,” he finally says, and I feel my stomach turning. I have no clue where we are, it’s dark and there’s only a small light in the corner of the room. I can see windows, but it’s too dark outside to even know where we are.“James, please, let me go,” I cry but he doesn’t move. He stays in front of me, and slowly, he places both his hands on my legs I try to push him away but my ankles, but I can’t. I have zip ties around my ankles as well, holding me on the chai
Richard POV“Pamela dear, there’s been a mistake. You are not sitting here. You’re on my table,” my mother says, and I swear I could just shout at her right now. This woman is infuriating. The way she tries to make Layla feel shit in front of her is crazy. I look at my mother with a smile, and I can tell by Dylan’s eyes he knows what I am about to do. “Excuse me, I need to freshen up,” Layla says, walking away before I even have a chance to do anything.“That was rude,” Pamela says, and I look at her as Mia rests one hand on my arm. “Dad, don’t,” she pleas with me, and I take a deep breath. I take one step closer to my mother, and between greeted teeth, I start talking. “Layla will sit next to me, whether you like it or not, she is my fiancé, and you better keep up with the program
Layla POV After the silent auction, we are all taken to the dining area. This is an event like a wedding, with round tables with beautiful linen spread all around the room. Big vases with red and green flowers and ornaments. I have to say that Cruella can definitely put on a show. She really knows what she is doing. Kudos to her. Mia walks to her table, and she scrunches her nose when she notices who’s sitting next to her. Richard walks to her, checking on the sitting chart, and I can tell he is not happy either. I have no clue where we’re sitting, and when he offers me his hand, I take it, and he places a small kiss on my finger next to my beautiful diamond ring. I can feel my cheeks go warm. Damn, this man has the ability to leave me flushed. “I promise I will make this right,” he says, and I frown, looking at Mia and then at Richard, and that’s when I realize