With the ice melting, I gazed into the bottom of my nearly empty bourbon glass. I looked up from my glass to the window a little distance away, watching as the sun set beyond the bar. I felt so alone in my self-pity, watching life move on around me with only the faint clinking of glasses and soft chattering of voices. My life's worst day had been that one.
Ethan, my fiancee— ex-fiancee, had betrayed me in the most heinous way. Memories of him with his secretary smoldering in the background, The man I'd been in love with for three years, the man I had imagined spending the rest of my life with, his tongue fighting another woman, his lies disentangled like a thread I had failed to pull sooner. I was hurt and broken like never before, I felt a sting of tears threatening to fall again but blinked them away, resolving not to cry anymore. Not for him. Not here. I felt uncomfortable; I'd adjust to my seat severally; it did nothing but make me comfortable, or maybe it was just the burden of my thoughts pressing on my shoulders. My phone rang for the hundredth time, but I ignored it. I didn't care who was calling, I wanted to be alone as long as I could, alone to fight this pain. I didn't want any sympathy from anyone, let alone being able to handle their pity, at least not tonight. After the altercation with Ethan, I drove hastily to a club in a metropolitan suburb and was soon kilometers from my apartment. The location was a tiny tavern that hardly attracted attention, far enough away from known faces. I had intended to submerge my grief in something potent, something that would make me forget, if only momentarily. However, I was unable to get rid of the sinking feeling when the bartender slid the second drink in front of me. What was the point? I wasn't even craving the alcohol anymore. That made me cry much more than it eased the agony. I decided I had to leave after taking a quick look at the clock above the bar. I reached for my leather jacket and pulled it on, heaving out. I tossed a few bills onto the counter and made my way outside without waiting for a response from the bartender, the cool night air, hitting my face like a welcome relief. I walked up to my car, an old model that I had spent a lot of time on over the years, but it was mine. An accomplishment, if you will. I slammed the door and struggled to find the ignition key as I climbed into the driver's seat. After roaring and groaning, the engine finally refused to start. "Seriously?" I muttered to myself as I tried again. "...Just great!!" After making a whining noise, the engine stopped. I was angry and upset because I had just experienced heartbreak. I would repeatedly smack my face to wake up from AN ECSTASY NEVER TO BE since it was all too much for me and felt so surreal, almost like a nightmare. I knew deep down, it was nothing but reality, and I had to face it, Alone. I slammed my palm against the handlebar. "Come on!". Of all nights, of all times, my car had decided to give up on me. I sat there for a while, holding the stirring wheel firmly in my hands. Suddenly, A sleek black automobile came up next to me as headlights suddenly followed me to my face, a big difference from the ungainly sound my car had just made; the engine's quiet hum purred smoothly. I strained to see through the glare and try to figure out who was driving. The door opened, and a tall man wearing a fitted suit emerged, his silhouette standing out against the street lamp's light. He walked toward me, his face glowing in the low light; his flawlessly coiffed hair and magazine-worthy jawline framed his piercing, black eyes. He appeared familiar, but I had a weird feeling that I knew who he was even if I couldn't quite put him. His voice was silky and velvety as he said "Looks like you could use some help." I looked at my car again and then back at him. I hoped that the man standing next to my car didn't pose a threat, even though I didn't trust people readily after today. Besides, I was really too weak to decline or argue. I murmured, "It's not starting," as I got out of the car. "I don't know what's wrong with it." The man briefly glanced at the car and then at me. "Mind if I take a look?" I nodded after hesitating for a moment. "Knock yourself out" He inspected the engine while I crossed my arms, watching as he tinkered with a few things. Whoever he was, he clearly knew his way around cars, not some who'd just take the pleasure of driving whatever is given to them to show off. After a few more minutes in silence, he straightened up, brushing his hands together. "Looks like your gearbox is busted. You're not riding this home tonight." "Great," my heart sank, as I muttered. "Just what I needed." The man stared at me for a moment, his expression unpredictable and unreadable. "I can give you a ride." He gestured to his car. "I don't even know you." I shook my head. "For all I know you might be a serial killer.." This made him chuckle; his raised eyebrow faced me as if amused by my resistance. "Fair enough. I'm Jay Sinclair." The name hit me like a jolt. Of course! I recognized him now. Jay Sinclair was one of the most powerful and notoriously private billionaires in the city. I had seen him in the business sections of magazines, always looking like he seemed to have had the world at his bare feet. And now, I was standing before this man, his tall figure towering over me, his eyes boring into mine. Why was he here? in a random bar in the suburb of the town? Jay Sinclair," I said again, continuing to think. He gave me a small nod, as though he was waiting for my answer. "And why would a billionaire be offering me a ride?" Suspicious as ever, I asked. There was a tiny twitch of a smirk on his lips. "Maybe this evening I'm feeling giving. Or perhaps it's just that I find it unsettling to think of someone left on their alone in a remote location." I bit my lip, my pride battling; I didn't want to be in debt to anyone, especially not to someone as special as him. But looking around my useless automobile and the deserted street, I realized I was pretty much at a loss for what to do. "Alright..." At last, I said. "But just a ride." Jay went to his car and let me in through the passenger door. "Just a ride." he agreed. As soon as I sank into the soft leather seat, I could smell the opulence, everything around reeked of luxury, a world I was sure not to fit in. As we backed away from the bar, Jay climbed in next to me and grunted to start the engine. I looked sideways at him, still not believing that I was in this situation... with him.I sat firmly in the passenger seat, my heart pounding more quickly than the engine's faint hum. Jay, the Billionaire, had offered to give me a ride. His name alone seemed to draw attention and power. It was astounding to consider that I never would have envisaged myself on this day, much less sharing a seat with him. My night had taken an unusual turn, and I noticed him out of the corner of my eye. Even though the city lights were blurring as we went by, the tension in the car was unmistakable. Jay exuded mystery partly because of his sharp features and calm manner. My mind was racing with everything that had transpired that day, including the heartache and Ethan's adultery. Why would someone like Jay Sinclair stop to help me?I couldn't get the feeling that everything in his universe had a reason, thus nothing was adding up. "Why did you stop?" I finally broke the silence, but my voice sounded forced. While his gaze remained fixed on the road ahead, I observed his fingers beco
Even when the car's tires skidded to a stop outside my apartment building, my mind continued to race. The bombshell that Jay Sinclair had just dropped had destroyed all pretense of routine in my life. A union based on contract? It was nonsensical. However, as I cast a sidelong glance at him, his expression serene, I couldn't help but feel the oppressive weight of my reality. Ethan had betrayed my affection and my confidence. My life was disintegrating. For some strange reason, Jay Sinclair had entered my life and promised me a way out, but at what price? I clenched my fingers around the passenger door handle, my knuckles becoming white from strain. I was breathing. I needed air. I pushed the door wide and whispered to myself, "I need to go." Jay remained motionless, observing my every move as I got out of the car with his eyes. The weight in his emotionless, calm voice, "I'll give you time to think, Arielle," shot a shiver down my spine. "Don't take too long, though. The timer i
I felt unprepared for the situation as I stood in front of my wardrobe, staring at the rows of clothes. How was one to dress for a meeting that had the potential to alter our whole life? Already, I had thrown half of my clothes onto the bed, and nothing fit. I ran my fingertips over a sleek black dress that hung toward the back. It was an understated, stylish outfit that I'd worn to formal occasions with Ethan. The memory turned my stomach. It wasn't about him tonight. Our history was unimportant. It had to do with the man who was holding out for me at the Saint Claire Hotel and my future. Jay Sinclair. I felt my heart race thinking about him. Ever since our first meeting, his dark, secretive eyes have followed me around. He had an alluring quality that made me wonder if I was getting into a good deal or falling victim to a scam. The breakup, Ethan, Jay Sinclair's offer—everything happened so quickly, and it all made no sense. I shook my head, pushing away the nagging misgi
JAY SINCLAIR'S POV I was standing in front of my penthouse office's tall glass windows, staring out over the vast city that extended beyond. Though the world below was bustling with life, and the lights from the skyscrapers twinkled like stars, my thoughts were far away from it all. With the Sinclair name being associated with riches, power, and influence, my empire was booming. However, when I looked out at the city, I didn't care about any of it right now. There was just one thing on my mind: Arielle. That night, I watched her from a distance rather than expecting to run into her. She had seemed almost too perfect, sitting helplessly next to her wrecked car, had been almost flawless. She held the secret to the carefully thought out plan I had created, one that would fulfill my desire for revenges as well as my commercial interests. I tightened my hands behind my back, remembering the term I detested the most. Ethan. A snarl curved my lips. The individual who had betrayed me yea
My heart pounded with a mix of relief and fear as I left Jay's office. The signed contract, which would change my life completely, weighed down on me like a shroud. As I stepped down the marble steps, the cool evening air struck my skin and the door clicked shut behind me. A beautiful black automobile was waiting for me by the curb, just as Jay had promised. With a gesture of recognition, the driver got out and opened the rear door for me. I paused, letting my gaze stray up to the tall structure behind me. I now understood what I had just consented to for the first time: a marriage in name only, but one that was far more nuanced on the inside. I slid into the car with a deep breath. My phone buzzed in my purse as the car left Jay's office. When I pulled it out, I discovered a text message from Evelyn, my mother. —We must speak. I scowled. Especially with the urgency I sensed in those four simple words, my mother rarely made contact. But I really didn't want another headache aft