Ciara Mendes I woke up on the bathroom floor, suffering from an excruciating headache and intense stomach pain. The stench of vomit clung to my hair and clothes, making the situation both disgusting and embarrassing. My mouth tasted like acid, reminiscent of what I imagine old, dirty socks would taste like.I brushed my teeth before crawling into the shower, scrubbing my body until I finally felt clean. As I stepped out, I grabbed the glass partition to steady myself, my head swirling as if I had been spinning in circles for hours instead of just showering. After getting dressed in a simple pink bodysuit and jeans, I debated whether to go back to sleep or get something to eat. My hunger won out, as I was absolutely ravenous. Rubbing my neck and back as I entered the kitchen, I winced at the dull aches reminding me of the previous night’s antics; I guess that's the price I pay for getting drunk and crashing on the bathroom floor like a wild teenage girl."You look lik
Ciara Mendes I entered my room and picked up my phone, which was lying on the bed. As soon as I unlocked it, my mood shifted dramatically to a grim one.Unknown number: "I miss you, Ciara, and I'm sorry for what I did. — Fisher."Unknown number: "I just stopped by Sweet Tooth and thought I'd pick up one of those bread cakes you like so much, but you're not at your place. Where are you?"The memory of Fisher's past mistakes loomed large in my mind; a slice of bread pudding was hardly enough to mend the heartbreak he caused. I shook my head at the thought, wondering if he truly believed such a simple gesture could erase the hurt.There were several messages from Eve, and I decided it was better to spend my time reading my best friend's text rather than getting angry all over again about my ex. Eve: "How is everything going, love? Have you jumped his bones yet? ;)"Eve: "You're not answering my calls or texts, so I'm assuming you're having a grand time."Eve: "???"
Ciara Mendes After the bellboy directed us to a small shop located within the hotel, we made our way there in silence. Giovanni hadn't said much since I found him on the balcony; he seemed lost in thought, so I chose to follow him without saying a word.Upon entering the store, we found only three customers inside: a man and what appeared to be his spouse, who were busy browsing souvenirs, and a blonde woman engaged in conversation with the only store clerk present. As soon as the store clerk noticed us enter, she stopped talking to the woman and smiled at us, prompting the woman to turn her gaze in our direction as well."Good morning, how can I help you?" she asked, her tone much kinder than the store clerks in L.A. The blonde woman's gaze locked onto me, making me feel uncomfortable, before her eyes shifted to Giovanni, giving him a knowing look that added an air of intrigue to the scene.I glanced at Giovanni, hoping for a clue about the situation, but he qui
Ciara Mendes Fiji is, without a doubt, one of the most breathtaking islands I have ever visited. The serene atmosphere brings me a sense of complete peace and tranquility. For the past two days, I've woken up and taken leisurely walks along the beach, inhaling the fresh air and meditating. However, when I had dinner alone at the hotel’s restaurant yesterday, I couldn't help but feel gloomy as I watched the various couples enjoying their meals together. Ultimately, I decided to take my dinner to go.For the past two days, following the incident at the store, Giovanni has been occupied with meetings, leaving me alone for seven to eight hours each day. I must admit that I started to entertain Evei's claim about his meetings being fabricated, and I began to question the credibility of her words. When he finally left at eleven-forty-five for a meeting that was postponed until twelve, I realized I had let my guard down. My phone vibrates beside me, and the word "boss" fla
Giovanni Haynes I watch as Ciara sleeps next to me on the pillow, her arm wrapped around my torso and one of her legs draped over mine. She looks so beautiful and peaceful just lying there. Sighing, I turn my gaze to the ceiling; the only other two women who could fall asleep beside me after intimacy were Jasmine and Mandy. However, I can't say I felt for them what I'm feeling now for Ciara as she rests in my bed.I can't quite understand what I'm feeling. I've known her for such a short time and don’t know much about her, yet she has an undeniable hold on me that she seems unaware of. Gently, I remove her limbs from mine and place a soft kiss on her forehead before standing up from the bed and adjusting the strings of my sweatpants. As I enter the bathroom, memories of last night flood back, particularly the image of her back pressed against the cold tiles in the shower. I turn on the faucet and glance at my reflection in the mirror, my eyes widening as I noti
Ciara Mendes Giovanni traced random patterns on my back with his finger while I lay on my stomach next to him in his room. We had returned not long ago from the spa after enjoying breakfast on the beach. Later, we plan to go horseback riding, followed by dinner at the hotel's restaurant. Thankfully, we had continued the interview before our date yesterday and taken the pictures early this morning, leaving the rest of the day free for ourselves without work. He confessed that this trip wasn't work-related at all; it was just a ploy to get me to join him. I was upset at first, but it didn't last long, especially since this was exactly what I needed—a vacation, however brief. All I required was a chance to breathe in fresh air for a while.“What is it, Mother?” Giovanni says into his phone. I smile at the mention of Mrs. Haynes, recalling the day I met her and how warm she had been towards me. It makes me wonder how she would react if she found out that I’m involved with h
Giovanni Haynes I walk into my mansion at 9:30 PM, hoping my mother is already asleep. Only God knows what she might say about those people who made her travel for hours just to see me—she absolutely detests traveling."Gio, honey. Finally, you're home," she calls out. I pinch the bridge of my nose and toss my key onto the coffee table in the living room."Hello, Mother," I say, hugging the woman who is dressed as if she were preparing to meet the Queen of England, despite the late hour. "What did I do to deserve the honor of your presence?""Please, Giovanni, I don't have time for your sarcasm," she replies sadly, her voice steady but urgent. "We need to talk, and it has to happen tonight; I need to get back home as soon as possible." I walk her over to the sofa and sit beside her. "What's the problem, Mother?" I ask, sensing her hesitation. "It's Stefano," she finally says, her voice trembling as the weight of the situation sinks in.My blood boils at the me
Giovanni Haynes I stood outside the hospital room for what felt like an eternity. Ciara was right; I had to try to put this behind me. What would my future look like if I continued to live in the past? For most people, it might seem too soon, but I couldn't imagine a day without Ciara, without hearing her voice or feeling her presence. If I continued to hold grudges and refused to forgive, it might drive her away. I needed to regain her trust completely, and I believed the first step in doing so was to show her that Jasmine meant nothing to me; she no longer had any hold over me.“Cousin, you have to go in there sometime,” Mateo said, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. Bentley stood quietly on my left, his hands in his pockets as he stared ahead."He's right, brother; it's better to just get it over with," Bentley added."Don't be a pussy. The man is dying, and after knocking that bitch up once, he only tolerated her because of their son; it's not like he can st