After suffering from a terrible heartbreak, she moves across the country to start afresh in a small town in Florence County, South Carolina. He just wants to get away from the stress of work and just relax. It also doesn't help that he found his long time girlfriend with his cousin. She meets him in a convenience store and immediately falls for his dark, brooding nature. He doesn't want anything to do with women, let alone the 5"7 brunette with a constant smile on her face and a bubbly voice. What happens when they meet and sparks fly? When he finds out she's his ex's sister? Can she suppress her feelings for him? Will their pasts be able to haunt them or will love help them overcome?
Chapter two
Alex
Signing the last document on my desk, I leaned back on my chair and heaved a heavy sigh of relief. Finally, another day done.
From meetings to conference calls to piles of documents to go through and sign to going through my endless emails, I was so ready to call it a day and go home.
Pressing the dial button on the intercom, I summoned my assistant, Lisa. Minutes later, a knock sounded from my door
"Come in", I said
"You called, sir"
"Yes please, see to it that these documents are sent to the appropriate departments"
"Yes sir"
"Yes, please. You can round up for the day after that"
"Thank you sir", she said, retreating out of the office
Leaning back once again, I swiped a hand through my hair and down my face, a habit that comes when I'm feeling stressed or tired.
Suddenly, the door swings open and in comes the bane of my existence also known as my best friend, Antonio Gonzalez.
Visibly groaning, I returned to packing my briefcase hoping he'd get the hint and go away.
Ha, who was I kidding? It was Antonio we were talking about. Dude never takes a hint.
"Hey baby", he said grinning
"What can II do for you, Antonio?"
"Can't a man come over to see his best friend?", he asked, making himself comfortable on the couch opposite where I sat.
"I'm busy", I grumbled out
"Oh, come on, Alex, you can't be too busy for your best bud"
Giving him the side eye, he raised his hands in surrender.
"Okay, fine. It's been a while since we've hung out and I was thinking we could do some drinks tonight. Plus, it's my cousin's club opening tonight and I really don't feel like going alone. Please, you gotta go with me, even if it's for an hour or half"
"Do you have to go in the first place?", I groaned knowing that if he pleaded well enough, he might actually be able to cajole me into going to the club with him.
I'm pretty sure the idiot was aware of this
"It's the club's official opening and it's expected of us to be there as a sign of support. I would decline if I could. Please, pretty please", he said, pouting.
"Enough with the theatrics, why don't you find one of your many girlfriends to go with you?"
"Cause you're the one I love", he said with a wide toothed grin.
"You're very stupid"
Laughing, he replied, "You know I can't just take anyone to a family event. Please man, and hour tops and we're out. Come on man"
"Fine", I said, running a frustrated hand through my hair and down my face.
"One hour and I'm out"
"One hour and we're out", he affirmed.
Sighing once again, I said, "Lead the way"
"Yessssss", he said, doing some sort of victory dance while I stood up to gather my things and head out.
"That's why I love you, man"
"And I hate every thing that has to do with you", I said gathering my things and walking towards the door.
Slapping my back hard, he said, "I know you don't mean that"
"Don't push it, Toni"
"Okay, geez, grumpy pants"
Getting into the elevator, I pressed the button for the underground garage while bringing out my phone as the doors closed. Scrolling through it to pass time, we waited for the doors to open.
Getting there, I went straight to my matte black Lamborghini urus.
"Meet you there, yes?" Antonio shouted whilst going over to his white Bentley bentayga.
"Yeah"
Sliding into the driver's seat, the deep red colored leather interior enveloping me with its cedar wood scent.
Not even a second after I settled in, my phone rang indicating a call. Checking the caller ID, I rolled my eyes seeing it was Antonio. Groaning for the umpteenth time this evening, I picked up the call knowing it was useless to decline. The idiot would just keep calling until I picked up. Might as well get this done and over with.
"What do you want?" I growled out
"You know you don't have to go all bad boy on me?"
"I'm not doing anything"
"Uh huh"
"I'm serious, ever since her you've been distant and cold and you've locked everyone out...."
"I've been busy-"
"No you haven't Alex, you've always been a busy man but never too busy to hang out with your friends and family, especially me. I'm not justifying what she did but I'm saying it's high time you let it go and move on"
I was silent because as always, he was right. I needed to move on from her. But I'll be damned if I say it was that easy.
I wake up and I immediately think of her. Every damn thing reminds me of her. I shouldn't be this soft but after saying for three years, you tend to get a bit too attached to someone and it takes a while to move on and let them go.
"I know bro, I'll get there soon"
"Well, I hope its sooner than later cause I miss my babe a lot."
I scoffed at that. Leave it to Antonio to make a joke out of the blue just to make me feel better. It made me feel a bit better but I was never going to admit it to him. He'd keep rubbing it in my face.
"I'm serious man, it's been months since we hung out and as much as it hurts my pride to admit, I miss you man. Burying yourself in all 'em paperwork won't do you any good, you gotta go out there and continue living your life for you..... okayyy?"
"I hear you bro. Thanks man, you're a real one"
"I know right? Hehehe", he said in a high pitched voice.
"And that's my cue to get off the phone", he can be such a drama queen sometimes, I thought rolling my eyes.
"Well, we're here anyways, so......", he said in a cocky tone. The bastard knew what he was doing.
"Thank the heavens", I said sarcastically as I followed his car to the parking lot with the sign saying "RESERVED".
"Hey babe", a high pitched voice from my window made me jump in my seat. Looking out, I saw none other than the bane of my existence once again.
"Stop calling me that, fool", I said getting out of my car. He just laughed at me and leaned against the right back door while waiting for me to lock the car and follow him.
"And quit jumping me, we're not seven anymore", I said glaring at him.
He had the nerve to giggle and flick me off while walking past me to the door where a huge looking bouncer stood.
"Good evening Mr Gonzalez, Mr Antonov", he said giving us both a nod and opening the door.
Nodding back, we entered the building and climbed the stairs to the first floor which overlooked the dance floor. We passed a few rooms and went straight to what looked like a small hall with people standing or dancing in corners or doing whatever it is they were doing, I really didn't care. Going straight to the small gathering of people in the middle, we greeted Antonio's cousin, Luca and his friends whose names I can't remember for the life of me.
A few chatting here and there and I was just about ready to go back to my car and drive back home. I casually strolled to the railing and leaned down to just take a sweep of the place.
And that was when I saw her.
Elena is your typical Cinderella. She is a neglected child who lost her mum at a young age and had her dad remarry just to help her cope and have a mother figure in her life. However, things don't work out like that as her new stepmom was not so fond of her and with her dad away mostly due to his job. After a while, she is used to it and learns how to stay on her own and cope with life. Everything was finally going well with her, she had moved out and gotten a small place to live and work was going on well. Until it was not. Elena is set up by her so called half sister and boyfriend and ends up having a drunken one night stand with a stranger. Playboy and big shot lawyer, Jason has never been with a lady for more than a night. He also stays as far away from stress as much as possible, choosing just to focus on his career and only using the women for the temporary satisfaction. This particular woman kinda felt different. Maybe it was because she was drop dead gorgeous, maybe it was because she gave him the best night he had ever had, or maybe it was because she turned into a complete banshee when she woke up the next morning. Either way, she had left a mark in his heart and he was ready to comb the whole city to find her. What if fate gives him one more chance to get to know her and he's not the only love interest? Would she give him the chance he so desperately needs to make her see him in a different light?
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
"I heard you're going to marry Marcelo. Is this perhaps your revenge against me? It's very laughable, Renee. That man can barely function." Her foster family, her cheating ex, everyone thought Renee was going to live in pure hell after getting married to a disabled and cruel man. She didn't know if anything good would ever come out of it after all, she had always thought it would be hard for anyone to love her but this cruel man with dark secrets is never going to grant her a divorce because she makes him forget how to breathe.
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"
Anabel found out she was pregnant and dialed her husband's number to share the good news to him. They have been married for two years without a child. Desmond's mother had been accusing her of being barren and unproductive. When the call was picked, she was flabbergasted and broken. She was hearing a loud moan of feminine voice. "Ohh! Yeah! Don't stop fucking me! Fuck me harder baby!" accompanied with sound of skins slapping against the other. She went home to confront her husband and end up receiving a divorce paper. Desmond divorced him for a lady his mother was rooting. Few months later when he found out that his ex-wife is a billionaire heiress and she is pregnant with twins, he went crazy!
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."