“I think you should attend this event, Nat,” Meera, my personal assistant-turned-friend, says over the phone. “It’ll be a good distraction from the Mike drama,” she continues, clearly hoping to convince me. But I know all too well the questions I’d be bombarded with if I showed up.
For the last two weeks, no one has cared to ask me about anything except my husband. They shamelessly beg for all the juicy details of our upcoming divorce, and honestly, I can’t even blame them. I’m the one who brought it into the public eye. Although, it was Mike’s video message that pushed me over the edge. Or maybe it was the whiskey.
I don’t care anymore.
Mike can burn in the deepest pits of hell for all I care. It’s almost funny now—how he didn’t even bother hiding the fact that he was cheating. All those weeks of avoiding me, throwing out lame excuses about work—I was so blind.
Blind in love. Pathetic.
All I want now is to disappear until the drama dies down—if it ever does—and enjoy a few peaceful days to myself. No men, no drama. But two weeks have done nothing to quench the thirst of the paparazzi. They won’t let me walk down the street without swarming me and throwing questions about Michael Cooper in my face. And sitting cooped up in my penthouse? It’s made me restless.
“Hey, are you there? Nat?” Meera's voice comes through the phone, a hint of concern in her tone.
“Yeah,” I reply absent-mindedly. “I’m here. Meera, I think we should give it another week. I’m getting Mike to sign the divorce papers, but my dad… he is—”
“Acting like an asshole?” she prompts, completely serious.
“Acting like an asshole,” I agree.
I sink deeper into the plush cushions of my penthouse couch, flipping through TV channels without much thought. “I’ll be binging another show. Just keep me updated on Haymitch’s project. Oh, and I loved the show you suggested—the one about the 30-year-old mom and her 15-year-old daughter. She’s too cool, and her daughter doesn’t even get it.”
“I know, right?” Meera mumbles. “You should watch the regency drama next. The spicy one.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Sure, will do. Bye. Love ya.”
“Love you, too.”
The moment I end the call, my phone rings again. It’s my father, for the twelfth time this morning. I don’t need another lecture on how I’m handling my "marital issues."
Sighing, I switch channels again, my mind wandering until the doorbell rings, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I frown, glancing at the door. I’m not expecting anyone. Unless it’s my father. Or worse, Mike.
I get up from the couch and cross the room, my silk robe clinging to my body. The penthouse is eerily silent except for the quiet hum of the TV in the background. I peek through the peephole, and my breath catches.
Ric.
My heart skips a beat. What is he doing here? I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about him—my father’s friend, the hot stranger who turned me on during a meltdown. But I didn’t expect to see him. Not this soon.
Swallowing my nerves, I open the door. The moment it swings open, his eyes lock onto mine, then travel down my body, taking in every inch.
“I haven’t been able to sleep properly for the last two weeks,” he confesses with a shrug, his voice low and rough.
I feel naked under his gaze, despite being fully covered. Leaning against the doorframe, I watch him with fake innocence. “Is that so?” I purr, arching a brow. “I didn’t realize I had such an effect on you.”
Ric steps forward, his tall, muscular frame filling the doorway. His hand braces against the doorframe above me, caging me in without ever touching me. “Oh, trust me, darling,” he says, his voice sending shivers down my spine. “You have no idea what you’ve been doing to me.”
My breath hitches as I meet his gaze, the raw hunger in his eyes unmistakable. I’m flattered, undeniably so. Having an older, incredibly attractive man like him so taken with me? It’s intoxicating. As much as it is dangerous.
“It took you two weeks to get here. I thought you lost the address,” I mumble, leaning back so that my back touches the wall. Ric moves in sync, pinning me against the wall, his warm breath fanning my face.
I curse myself for not wearing a bra. I know how my body is reacting right now, and the way he’s watching me, I’m sure he’ll see things that would only encourage him.
“I tried to talk myself out of it,” he confesses with a sigh. “But I’m trapped. You’ve trapped me.”
I chuckle, daring myself to reach out and place my hand over his chest. “I don’t even know anything about you. Except your name.”
I chuckle, daring myself to reach out and place my hand over his chest. “I don’t even know anything about you. Except your name.”Ric’s eyes follow the movement and the corner of his lips tilts up in a smirk. A sound escapes his throat — something between satisfaction and pleasure. He wasn't expecting me to do that. But he totally liked it.He places his hand over mine — warm and hard, wrapping it entirely. It’s a simple gesture but it knocks the breath out of me.God, he’s confident. And I’m only pretending.It was the whiskey, I realise with a subtle shake of my head.I’ve flirted with a lot of men — but it has never been genuine. I acted out the way the scripts wanted me to, but this… this is my first real daring experience. With Mike, there was always an air of comfort and familiarity. I knew him — or I thought I did. But I know I did understand him. However, in front of this man right here, I’m nothing but a shivering bunny.At his mercy.Ric leans in, and for a moment I’m sure h
While my intention is to kiss him softly, I should’ve expected him to be rough. Ric’s lips crash into mine, with a raw intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. Before I know it, he has lowered me to the couch with a swift move of his hand. His other hand slides up my thigh, slipping beneath the silk robe. I can feel my breath quicken, my heart pounding, as he takes control, and I let him. I’m melting into the couch, his fingers trailing higher, confident and commanding. I’m losing myself to him completely. And I’m liking it.But then, as his hand reaches for the knot of my robe, ready to undo it, a sharp thought slices through the fog in my mind—Is he married? The question slams into me, stopping everything. My body tenses, the heat I feel stalling, and Ric notices. His lips pause, his hand freezes on my chest just as I was about to tease myself, his fingers barely grazing my skin.“Do you want me to stop?” Ric’s voice is low, rumbling with restraint. His breath is hot against my
“Ric, I need you to hide!” I hiss, my voice barely above a whisper. His eyes flicker with reluctance, but he moves quickly, slipping into the hallway just as the doorbell rings again.I quickly adjust my robe, tying it tightly around my waist, smoothing my hair to look somewhat composed while trying to calm my racing heart. I can still feel the lingering heat of Ric’s touch on my skin, but now isn't the time to think about that.I open the door, and there stands my father, his face set in a stern expression. “Natalie,” he says, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. “Why have you been ignoring my calls?”I steel myself for the conversation I’ve been dreading. For the last two weeks, I’ve avoided him, knowing exactly what kind of lecture awaited me about my ‘marital issues.’ But now, here he is, in my home, and I can’t avoid it anymore.“I’ve been busy,” I reply, forcing myself to sound casual, though I’m sure the tension is obvious in my voice.“Busy?” His eyebrows shoot u
Up until the moment I step out of the car, my heart pounds in my chest with uncertainty. What if I can’t pull this off? What if all of this is a mistake, and I end up doing more harm to myself than to Mike? What's the point of any of this? My phone buzzes again, lighting up with an incoming call from Mike, and I scoff. The man who has dodged me like the plague ever since I exposed him has been incessantly calling me for the last two days, since my dad left my penthouse. His texts insist on “discussing what to say to the interviewers,” but there's no mention of an apology. Not even a hint, no. I guess Mike has fully morphed into his businessman persona, where the only thing that matters is what’s good for his image. Emotions and feelings? They don’t exist in his world.I was his wife, wasn’t I? I still am, legally speaking—he hasn’t even signed the divorce papers yet. How foolish of me to believe, even up until three weeks ago, that this could be fixed. That we could be fixed. I had c
Ric’s gaze flickers, darkening slightly as he pulls back just enough to study my face. His hands hover at my hips, gripping me just tight enough to remind me of his presence, but not tight enough to keep me close. “What happened?” His voice is rougher, though his hands remain still.I let out a breath, feeling the tension coil between us. “My stylist will be mad if I don’t get a proper picture in this dress,” I say, forcing a light tone, but the weight of the moment presses on me.Ric’s lips twitch with the hint of a smirk, but he doesn’t fully relax. His thumb brushes my waist in a slow, deliberate motion. “Is that what you're worried about?” His voice is low, teasing. “A picture?”I shrug, though the closeness makes it impossible to keep my cool. “Yes. She worked on it for weeks. It was meant to be worn for Mike’s launch party,” My voice wavers slightly. “I promised her it wouldn’t go to waste.”“She might have to forgive you,” he murmurs, daring me to give in.But I manage a smile,
[NATALIE]The clinking of silverware and the hum of conversation surround me as I sit at the corner table of our favorite Italian restaurant. It’s the eve of our second wedding anniversary, and Michael insisted on dining out, even though I would’ve preferred a quiet night at home. He’s always been the social butterfly, the life of every party, while I’m the grounded one—the devoted wife who treasures our private moments, despite being a budding actress in Hollywood.I sip my wine, but there’s this nagging feeling in the back of my mind that something’s off. I made an effort to dress up tonight, slipping into a red silk dress that hugs my curves in all the right places. I look amazing—everyone’s eyes linger on me, except for Michael’s. He hasn’t even looked at me properly, let alone complimented me. The ache in my chest deepens. I know our relationship has faltered despite everything I’ve done to keep it together. The spark that once made him fall head over heels for me has faded. La
I scroll through my Instagram feed, feeling my heart sink as I take in the posts. The venue—an opulent ballroom in the heart of the city—glitters under the soft glow of chandeliers. Every detail, from the lavish floral arrangements to the perfectly aligned crystal glasses, screams elegance and perfection—just as I envisioned and organized. I’ve spent weeks prepping for this day, ensuring that everything would be perfect, up until the fateful night a week ago.Now, I stand on the balcony of the adjoining building, a safe distance from the entrance, my eyes fixed on the scene below. It’s a grand affair, the kind of event that commands attention, and tonight, Mike is in his element.From my vantage point, I can see the throngs of people arriving, mingling, and exchanging polite pleasantries. They’re the sort of people you’d expect to see at events like this—high-powered businessmen, socialites, and even a few celebrities who grace the occasion with their presence. Everyone seems to be en
"You seem like someone who could use another drink," he says, his voice deep and smooth.I find myself staring into his eyes — older, confident, and dark, with an air of control that quickly makes me weak in my knees. His voice makes it clear that he’s not asking; he's stating a fact. The hint of a smirk pulls at his lips, as if he already knows what my response will be.I smile, intrigued by the unexpected interruption. “Is it that obvious?”He leans against the bar, his gaze steady, assessing me with an intensity that makes me feel like I’m under a spotlight, more than any of the other cameras ever could. “Only to those who know what to look for.”I let out a soft chuckle, glancing down at my glass before locking eyes with him again. His presence is magnetic, but there’s an edge to him that sends a thrill through me — something dangerous. I trace the rim of my glass with my finger, enjoying the tension in the air. “So,” I say, my voice dipping, “you intend to get me drunk?”His lip