Asher walked the stairs to the second floor one step at a time. He had Joan wrapped around him, her arm around his neck, her legs wrapped tightly around his torso. And his hands on her buns. Their passion for each other communicated in their kiss.Asher addled with lust was careful as he dragged both of them to the top of the stairs landing on the second floor.They both of them disconnected from their kiss to take in breath before they had their lips mashed together again. Their tongues exploring each other.It was a struggle for Asher but he managed to carry them into his bedroom, navigating them to the bed. He set Joan down gently on the bed, stopping their kiss.A look into each others eyes conveyed their feelings. A frenzy of sensual passion burned in their heart and they would take their pleasure.They had not the patience to take things slow and with nothing but a moment, they were naked. Asher stared at Joan's sensual body. Her full breast, round buns and tapered waist all cal
Joan Hargreaves was going back home, she had left home to study industrial design at the University of Washington, out of spite for her father who wanted her to inherit the family business.When she left home she promised never to come back, she hated her father that much. That was six years ago, she's grown since then, she'd finished college, got a good job as an industrial designer, and paid off her debts. She learned to forgive her father and was even planning on a visit, so it came as a shock to her when she received an anonymous letter two days ago with news of her father's death. She hoped it was all a lie, a ruse to make her come home, or a sick prank, and when she gets to Hargreaves hall, her father would still be alive and they would both have a laugh about it, it was so long ago she and her father laughed together. Joan groaned as she exited the New York Penn Station, it took the Amtrak train she boarded from Washington DC a little over three hours to get to New York, her
Asher Evans, in the absence of a better word, could best be described as a cad, a cold, calculating businessman, and buyer entrepreneur. The CEO of the Evans family private company, Maven enterprise. He earned the nickname the "Jackal" for his ravenous approach to taking over businesses, and his willingness to do anything to make a profit.He is also known for his escapades with the fair sex, he is one of wall street's most scandalous bachelors.But Asher wasn't always a scandalous young man, a few life-changing moments made him turn out the way he did. The untimely death of his parents when he was only fifteen had almost broken him. It made him withdrawn from everyone, the betrayal of Emily had scarred him, and his own near-death experience when he was twenty-two had finished the job.He almost died from the accident that night, he had business outside of the city earlier that day and was returning to New York City by car, it was so dark outside of the city, the culprit had planned i
The Nouveau-riche RomanceChapter three"So he is the CEO of his own private company, at just twenty-eight?" Joan held up a pink puff sleeves dress up for Francesca's appraising eyes. "What about this?""He is not the sole owner of Maven enterprise, but yeah he runs the place," Francesca fixed the dress Joan held up for her with a look of distaste. "Isn't that old, don't you have any new ones?" Francesca rummages through the bundle of clothes on Joan's bed, "what did you do with all your time in Washington?""I was in college remember?" Joan seething pulls out a red sleeveless gown, "I had to support myself working part-time jobs, didn't have the luxury nor time for dresses.""If I remembered correctly, I offered help back then, but you rejected it, now let me take a look at that dress," Francesca said pointing to the dress in Joan's hand."This is a fairly new one, I bought it just before I graduated college," Joan said holding the red dress up to her body for Francesca to see. "Besi
Joan was miffed at how her evening turned out, her dinner with Asher Evans had been nothing short of a disaster. Despite the great meal and beautiful interior of the restaurant, the night was not productive, she couldn't deny that it was mostly Asher's fault, it seemed to her that he did everything to spoil the evening. She also berated herself, she could have done better, she could have put in more effort, and maybe ask different questions. "At least I can try again, that is if he calls," Joan groans as she plopped on the sofa of Francesca's living room. "You're... home?" Francesca stutters as she steps into the living room from the bedroom hallway wearing a light pink silk chemise. "Yes I am, I need to get something to drink," Joan shuffled towards the refrigerator in the kitchen, pulls out a can of coke, and took a swig of it. "Why are you home early, did something happen, what went wrong?" Francesca fired at Joan, she really shouldn't be home right now. Joan was surprised
"Joan is the Hargreaves heir?" Jackson asked absentmindedly, it was quite a shock for him, he wondered why Francesca never told him about that."You know Joan?" Asher asked Jackson, the revelation had made both men forget about the other."I only met her for a brief moment, but yes I do," "when, where, and how did you meet her?" Asher asked Jackson in a frenzy. Jackson eyed Asher, it was just a few moments ago, but Asher seem different from the man he was talking with before his phone buzzed.It was a long time ago he's seen the fire Asher had in his eyes right now, not since Emily."I met her at Francesca's apartment, on Friday night, it seems you know her too, how do you know her?" Jackson was curious why Asher got fired up at his mention of Joan.Asher had to take a long breath to calm himself before he said anything, he didn't know why he got so worked up.Jackson's answer interested him, Joan Hargreaves heir to the Hargreaves family wealth, in Francesca's home at night. He pon
"I'm sorry, allow me to introduce myself, I'm Asher Evans and I'm also Joan's fiance, right darling?" Asher had purposely made his last words a question, he turned to look towards Joan, she was staring at him, her eyes as big as saucers. He's putting everything in Joan's hands now, she had a decision to make, would she hold his hands or not, he simply enjoys her stiff facial expression as the wheels behind her eyes moved.Joan realized Asher was playing games with her, but she didn't have the luxury to question him. Although she would appreciate anything that would save her from the claws of her family at that moment, she just couldn't trust Asher.God, she'd expected the emergency general meeting to be hard on her, she had no idea it would be this bad.As soon as she entered the conference hall, she was surrounded by scared shareholders asking about her family's plan for the company. 'Would there be a sell-off or a takeover' was the question on everyone's lips? After a pointless me
"I wonder what your choice would be if there was a way to save Hargreaves Corporation and all you had to do to ensure it was to marry me. What if all you had to do to save your father's legacy was a contract marriage with me." Asher dangles the bait in front of Joan, all that's left is for her to bite.Joan was disgusted, she'd played right into his hands, and here she was babbling about her life, and all the while he had an ulterior motive. How messed up does Asher have to be to throw the word marriage around, Francesca wasn't wrong about him after all. "This is not a joke or a game to me, I'm serious," Asher said remembering her words at the cafe, "I believe if you agree to my terms, we both stand a lot to gain." "The marriage offer at the cafe was not a joke?" Joan wondered how brazen Asher could be. "It wasn't, I was serious then, and I am now." Joan was skeptical, however, she couldn't deny her need for help, "tell me, how does getting married to you save Hargreaves? I've h
Asher walked the stairs to the second floor one step at a time. He had Joan wrapped around him, her arm around his neck, her legs wrapped tightly around his torso. And his hands on her buns. Their passion for each other communicated in their kiss.Asher addled with lust was careful as he dragged both of them to the top of the stairs landing on the second floor.They both of them disconnected from their kiss to take in breath before they had their lips mashed together again. Their tongues exploring each other.It was a struggle for Asher but he managed to carry them into his bedroom, navigating them to the bed. He set Joan down gently on the bed, stopping their kiss.A look into each others eyes conveyed their feelings. A frenzy of sensual passion burned in their heart and they would take their pleasure.They had not the patience to take things slow and with nothing but a moment, they were naked. Asher stared at Joan's sensual body. Her full breast, round buns and tapered waist all cal
"You're wrong," Asher said leaning over toward his uncle. "Don't be delusional, Nolan. Nothing is going according to your plan, you're in my trap now. This is my game, I rule and control how it is going to be played and you are nothing but a pawn in it.""Pawn, did you called me your pawn?" Nolan asked almost shouting. Asher's words and demeanor has earned him his uncle's ire. Nolan contemplated if he should just abandon any negotiation with Asher and have his fun with Joan instead."Yes I did. You've been playing my game all night and you didn't even know," Asher bluffed, everything he's done since he received Jackson's message was bluff. A bluff he was using to fool his uncle.The fact is he is scared. He was so close to losing Joan tonight. And he wasn't even sure if she was safe yet. Jackson had only sent him a message, informing him they were ready to breach the warehouse where Joan was held. It was not like she has been rescued yet"That's it," Nolan said and stood up. "Perhaps
Jackson walked briskly but silently behind a unit of the rescue team as they approached the side entrance of the abandoned warehouse. The rescue team had done a surveillance of the warehouse to ascertain Joan's location inside the building. Jackson and the team concluded that Joan would most likely be confined in a section of the warehouse, used as offices.Since Joan's rescue was paramount they'd decided to approach the building with as much stealth and speed as was possible while not getting found out.The warehouse had two points of entry, both through concrete paths to the side and front of the building. They broke the team off into two units with the first unit attacking from the front while the other charged from the side. Since the section Joan was held at was closer to the side entrance. It was decided that the second unit assaulting the building from the side would attempt her rescue.Both teams were to attack while concealing themselves from Nolan's goons. The first unit wou
"I've got you now, little bird, and there would be no escape," Cassidy said to Joan as she became drowsy. Slumping against the man sedating her. Cassidy had a triumphant smirk on her face as Joan slipped into a temporary coma. Joan's kidnapping was a success. She'd spent the last month fine-tuning her strategy, she was glad everything had gone without a hitch. Before Joan's abduction Cassidy and the men with her had taken care of both teams protecting Joan. That was the challenging part of her little plot, however, they had an advantage in surprise and numbers. Now the two teams of four guards are having a blissful sleep. "Bring the cars around, we need to get going," Cassidy said to one of the two men working for her. The other man had Joan drooping in his arms. "I have a message for you from Mr. Evans," One of the goons working for Nolan that he sent to provide support said. "A message? What message?" Cassidy inquired of the man. "He said this is the end of the line for your pa
Joan and Asher intertwined their hands, as they walked through Central Park. They were on an evening date and are strolling through the park before Asher drove Joan back home. Asher had his eyes on Joan who was smiling brightly. Central Park without a doubt was her favorite place, not only because she could reminisce about the good times she shared with her mom. But also because it was the one place she could exist without worry. It has become even more special now that she shared it with Asher.Joan felt a bittersweet sensation as she thought about all that has happened the past few days. She was glad to finally get her family's company from Mabel's clutches. As well as getting her revenge for Mabel ruining her family and manipulating her with her father's death.While she felt that Mabel deserved what came her way, still she felt unease. And it grew with Mabel's fretting dialogue with her as she was dragged out of the emergency meeting. She never pictured Mabel being that scared of
Mabel huffed and puffed before the door of the conference hall where the emergency meeting would hold. Her stepdaughter was the reason for her grief. The bothersome brat was running late and the meeting would soon commence. She had put all her eggs in one basket and that basket was Joan. Mabel would suffer through more minutes of irritation before Joan appeared, alone without Asher as she'd asked. Mabel had also instructed Joan not to tell Asher about her plans for the meeting. She didn't want him ruining her work. "I'm so sorry for my tardiness Mabel, I lost track of the time while getting ready," Joan recited her fake apology as she neared her stepmother. She had intentionally arrived late, in a bid to both piss off and scare Mabel. "Hello Joan darling, you came at just the right moment. Come, walk with me," Mabel muttered barely suppressing her gall. Joan smiled, she could see the fruit of her work by the crease on her stepmother's forehead and her visibly troubled face. Seeing
It was a chilly evening, the sun had set a few hours ago and it was getting late into the night. The cold of the night was starting to get to her, she knew she should have brought a jacket. The full-sleeved t-shirt she wore was proving to be useless against the biting cold.Joan sat in front of the pastry shop near her aunt's apartment, where she was waiting for the bane of her existence, her stepmother.The pastry shop was the site of her fiasco with Cassidy Myers, just weeks ago. Joan chuckled at the absurdity of the altercation-if she could call it that-but she was happy at how things turned out. Especially with Asher. She found that thoughts of him were always enough to warm her heart."You must be happy to see me. That's a hell of a smile right there." Mabel said to her stepdaughter with a fake smile of her own, just as she took the other seat at Joan's table. She wondered what the broad smile on Joan's face was for."Do not flatter yourself," Joan rebuked her stepmother, she was
Jacob stared at the multi-floor home before him with some apathy. The night was still in its youth, the sun had set not too long ago. It was evident that Jacob was weary as he stood before the brownstone townhouse a frown creasing on his features. Visiting a townhouse in the West Village, alone, was not part of his schedule when he rose from bed that morning. Needless to say, the townhouse before him is an annoyance, it was not a place he wanted to be, nor did he have any business there. However he had no choice but to come, it was the location his blackmailers gave him. His unknown blackmailers had sent him details about his and Mabel's misappropriation of company funds that hit too close to be ignored. They had given him the location of the townhouse and he had come with the hope of striking a deal, probably to pay them off. As he steps closer to the house, Jacob thought it silly, who in their right mind would use a townhouse for such a base act as blackmail? On the other hand, he
Joan since Nolan's sudden visit to Asher's apartment finds herself constantly anxious. She acknowledged that trouble was coming for her. Nolan coming to Asher's apartment had marked that. Still, she had no idea what form the storm coming would take but she knew why it was coming. She has flown too close to Asher's sky. And just like with Emily, the sun that is Nolan probably wanted her burnt.She was anxious, yet, at the moment she felt confident and safe. She recognized that her confidence perhaps came from Asher who at present had his right hand intertwined in her left one. He was driving them to Maven, and he'd personally come to pick her up. She knew he was being protective of her, it was odd, but gestures like this made Asher more appealing to her.Asher's sideways glance was met with Joan's amber eyes focused on him. It seemed he'd caught his lover taking sneak peeks of him. This was made evident by the sudden turn of her head to the other side and the bright crimson on her chee