Present
“Wow! He said no?” Iris says in bewilderment.
“What a dick!” curses Rosa.
All of us are sitting on the floor in my bedroom while sipping on red wine—our second bottle—and we’re at different stages of drunkenness except Rosa. Our simple dinner date turned into a sleepover when I revealed I went ahead with their plan of a fake relationship and what an utter flop it was.
I had every intention of kicking them out but both of them are nosy little creatures. Instead, they went into my closet to borrow night clothes and had wine delivered. How the three of us ended up on the floor, I’ve no clue.
They listened intently as I relayed all about the disaster of yesterday, like how I ran into Dash at my office and as a client, no less.
Well… that’s still up for debate since we never got to discuss any actual work.
Hopefully, my word vomit didn’t scare him into running in the opposite direction.
I also told my friends how I accidently asked him to be my fake husband, only for him to reject me cruelly. Of course, I kept the part where he touched me and we stood inches apart while we talked all to myself.
Don’t wanna give them any wrong ideas. Rosa is already suspicious.
I’m confused about giving in to him so easily. I should’ve fought harder. It’s like he puts me in a trance with his deep, seductive voice. I blame it on my forced celibacy and that’s it.
“Seriously, Ro, it’s your fault,” I accuse. “You chose him.”
“Well. I didn’t actually think you had the balls to do it.”
“So what should we do?” muses a tipsy Iris. I tug the bottle of wine out of her hand when she goes to refill her glass. Her crazy and naughty side tends to come out when she’s super drunk, which happens often and fast with her being a lightweight.
“We should just blackmail him,” says Rosa while Iris nods from beside her.
“Absolutely not,” I say sternly. Or I try to, in my tipsy state.
They both ignore me, continuing their drunken plotting. Feels like déjà vu because it’s exactly like our last lunch.
“I’m in,” nods Iris eagerly. “How, though?”
“I’ll get the video of his threesome and threaten to share it if he doesn’t say yes to Bianca,” explains Rosa without missing a beat, her thumb pointed at me. “He can’t risk a scandal like that while working with the government.”
“My god!” I mutter to myself.
“Won’t that piss him off? He might say yes and then he’ll sabotage our plan by outing Bianca to her dad,” Iris replies thoughtfully before lying down on her stomach and resting her chin on her steepled hands. Looking between us, she lowers her voice and whispers, “Also… Dash is a dangerous man. Best not to make him an enemy if we want him to help our Bee.”
“What do you mean he’s dangerous?” Rosa demands before I can.
“There is a rumor going around.”
“Tell us.” This time it’s me who asks curiously.
“It’s regarding his contract with the government that put his company on everyone’s radar. It was only him and his rival in the last round of bidding. Apparently, his rival died just a few days before the announcement and it’s implied that he had a hand in the death.”
“What? As in Dash killed him?” I gasp.
“Or just hired a contract killer,” guesses Rosa. “I would do that.”
“I mean, it’s a rumor but the timing was suspicious as fuck,” mutters Iris. “All I’m saying is he’s ruthless and has connections which he accomplished all by himself. No one becomes a billionaire without some ugly gossip. ”
I don’t doubt it. Dash always had this callousness and formidable air about him that screamed to keep your distance. And when I think about it, the only time he didn’t have a scowl or boredom on his face was whenever we were alone.
Still, a murderer… That’s impossible.
“None of it matters because he said no, remember?” I remind them both sharply before standing up to put the unfinished bottle of wine and my glass in the kitchen.
“Then who will you marry?” pries Iris.
“No one.” She and Rosa frown as they peer up at me and I shrug, “It was a bad idea anyways.”
“It was Iris’s idea,” Ro mumbles, pointing toward Iris who slaps at Rosa’s hand.
“Oh, so now it was my idea.”
Rosa ignores Iris without taking her gaze off me and questions softly, “Then what are you going to do about Arya, Bee?”
The one choice I avoided by giving myself false hope.
“Say yes to my parents.”
***
Morning comes with the worst hangover of my life and I’m not just talking about the four glasses of red wine I consumed last night. It feels like a black, ominous cloud is hanging over my head, waiting to storm down on me.
I push Rosa’s right leg from over my stomach to get out of the bed. My head pounds as I recall her insisting on sleeping in my room because she didn’t want to leave me alone while Iris stayed in the guest room.
Actually, Rosa kicked her out when a drunk Iris began singing off-key. I believe she banged on our door before calling Nathan to complain when we didn’t let her back in my room. After that, the rest of the night is blurry for me. I tiptoe to the bathroom without waking Rosa up, as she tends to get violent if anyone disturbs her while she’s sleeping.
When I come out, she’s still snoring lightly and I grab my phone to check the time.
“Fuck!” I curse when I realize I’m late for work. Pretty sure Rosa must have turned off my alarm before I could hear because I never sleep through the ringing.
I curse my luck twice when there’s an email stating I have a meeting in an hour with none other than Dash at his office. I just know I’m not going to be there on time because the location is almost two hours away from my apartment.
He’s going to think I’m tardy—something I despise—because I’m showing up late. Again. Why can’t I ever have the upper hand when it comes to him?
Just the vision of his arrogant smirk is making me see red. A small part of me is still not prepared to face him after his rejection. I hate that it stings when I expect nothing else. He may have had a soft heart at one point, but now it’s made of stone and ice.
Uncaring.
Frigid.
Impenetrable.
Could it be true that he had a hand in the death of his rival? The man I knew was immoral and vicious when he wanted to be, but never with violent tendencies. Although, seven years is a long time for people to change.
Dash may look the same but he’s still a complete stranger to me. An enigma. A hardened version of his younger self.
If my experience has taught me anything growing up in my world, it’s that everyone is capable of the worst crimes. The wealthier you become, the darker your secrets.
Yet I can’t help but hope I’m wrong about Dash.
Even more frustrating is that I don’t understand why I’m hoping to be wrong. Who cares if he’s morally corrupt or has a touch that sears my skin? The only kind of relationship that can exist between us is one of a professional nature.
I promise myself I’ll behave like he’s a potential client.
No more getting myself tangled in his mind games.
Most importantly, no touching.
Half an hour later, I’m dressed and out the door of my apartment after taking the fastest shower in history. I leave a note on my bedside table so Rosa knows I didn’t get kidnapped or anything. If the traffic is light, I just might make it on time.
In the case that I don’t, I pray he gets stuck in some other meeting.
My car purrs smoothly as I key in the ignition and switching to first gear, I drive out of my building. The morning light shines down on me and it lightens up my mood a little. The whole ride, my thoughts are consumed by my impending lunch with my parents.
They’re going to be freaking ecstatic when I tell them I’m ready for marriage.
My mom is going to act like her prayers were finally answered.
Another half hour later, I’m nervous about another reason entirely. And yes, I’m ten minutes late as I park my car at the office of Stern Defense Securities. The building is at least forty floors tall and, as per my research, they all belong to Dash’s company. The architecture is sleek and modern and eye-catching.
Since it was recently finished, I know the office is not officially opened yet. It explains the lack of cars parked in the front. I carry my bag, holding my notebook, pen, and tablet as I rush to enter, not wanting to delay the meeting any longer.
My earlier prayer is quashed when I meet the lady at the reception who impolitely tells me that Mr. Stern is waiting for me in his office on the thirtieth floor. The woman is so rude that she leaves me to find the elevator myself by pretending to be on another call.
If I wasn’t late, I would give her a piece of my mind.
It takes me another full ten minutes to reach his floor and when the elevator door opens, I collide into a wall of muscle.
“We have to stop meeting like this, beautiful.”
Every. Single. Time.
“Justin,” I whisper before righting myself and narrowing my gaze. “I’m beginning to think you run into me on purpose.”
“Can you blame me?” he flirts, and a smile tilts my lips despite wanting to stay annoyed.
Justin’s blue eyes sparkle while his hands clasp my arms until I find my balance. He looks as though he came straight from a fashion magazine with his stunning model face and dressed in a crisp suit. Even his hair is styled perfectly. It’s his panty-melting smile and charming personality that must have girls dropping at his feet.
Suddenly, I get a flashback of the night at the club and my cheeks heat. I can’t believe I watched him fuck another girl’s mouth. Ever since I met Dash again, I’ve done everything opposite of my very nature.
I have to be possessed. Right?
“I remember you, you know,” I tell him once he lets me go but stands close with his hands in his pockets. “You’ve changed quite a bit.”
“You mean I’ve become more handsome?”
I chuckle before replying, “I don’t think your ego needs another boost.”
He laughs in a deep, throaty sound and I can’t help but join, missing the sound of angry footsteps in the hallway until it’s too late.
“You’re late again, Miss Chopra.” Dash’s clipped voice pierces through the air, making Justin and I halt in our banter. The temperature drops to chilling degrees as he stares between us with a strange emotion. The sudden urge to drop my gaze rises inside my chest when his eyes lock on mine, throwing daggers.
Wait… Is he mad at me? What did I do?
“It’s my fault, Stern,” explains Justin, but Dash doesn’t look at me. “I couldn’t resist talking and catching up with her.”
I watch his jaw clench at his best friend’s lie and his expression settles into false calmness like he knows it’s utter bullshit. While he seethes silently, I’m distracted by his physique and the way his muscles flex. The black suit he’s wearing with the vest and perfectly knotted tie peeking from beneath his jacket has me salivating.
His boss attire screams wealth and sophistication.
Yet only I’m aware of the savage that lies underneath.
I’m yanked back to earth when his deep voice penetrates my thoughts. “If getting easily distracted and being late is a recurring occurrence with you, Miss Chopra,” he admonishes, “then I might have to go with another company.”
Fucking jerk. If I knew my first solo project would be attached to his mighty ass, I would have rejected it.
Then again, I’ll be damned if I let him bully or make me quit.
“Oh, come on, Dash,” Justin sighs.
“It’s all right, Justin,” I softly whisper, touching his arm. Turning to Dash, I notice a warning flash in his eyes as he glares at where my hand is resting on his friend. It’s gone as quickly as it came before I can decipher its meaning.
If I didn’t know any better, I would say he’s jealous or something.
I drop my hand and steel my spine as I meet his sharp gaze head-on. “Mr. Stern, I assure you it’s a one-time thing—”
“Two,” he cuts me off in a smug tone.
It takes all my power to maintain the fake smile on my face as I continue, “It wasn’t my fault the first time because I was only made aware of the meeting a few minutes before you arrived. I do take responsibility for today, though, and it won’t happen again.”
“Then why are you still standing here and wasting more of my time?” he taunts before turning away and calling behind him as he walks down the hallway, “If I don’t see you in my office in sixty seconds, I’m hiring someone better.”
“Arrogant bastard,” I mutter under my breath before realizing Justin is still here, and he laughs at my insult to his best friend.
“Don’t mind him, beautiful,” he advises. “He forgets the world doesn’t revolve around him.”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
He smiles before reminding me, “He’s a moody asshole, Bianca. Best run now.”
“Oh fuck,” I grumble. “Bye, Justin.”
Without waiting for his reply, I sprint in the direction Dash went and hate him even more for not telling where his office is. It takes me two tries before I find it and I’m winded by the end of my search.
I don’t bother knocking and immediately step inside his lair. The term feels appropriate from the energy that pulses inside the four walls because of the man himself.
It’s like succumbing to his power.
He owns the room with his silent presence and commanding stare. I take him in as he sits behind his massive desk with his back ramrod straight and hands splayed on the arms of the chair. It’s like seeing a dark lord sitting on his throne.
He even appears like he’s about to declare a war.
And his innocent victim…
Me.
“Just in time,” he taunts, and before I can sass him, he issues another command. “Lock the door, kitten.”
