"You are mine, mine to take and mine to break." Heather felt blessed to be the secret lover of Asher when she was in need of help. Their time together was unparalleled for her-but all crashed before their contract ended. She found herself merely a stand-in for his long-lost first love, a role she never anticipated in their tangled web of emotions. Overcoming sadness, Heather pulled herself together for a whole new life, one without Asher's involvement. Yet fate wove a twist by reuniting her with Asher, rocking her world in unexpected ways. Amidst their separate love affairs, an undeniable pull between them pushed the boundaries of their emotions. They tried to keep their distance from each other, but their hearts were irresistibly drawn together. Would they succumb to desire once more, or would they truly put their secret past behind them and start anew?
Heather's POV:
I was extremely happy.
With my limbs languidly splayed across the king-sized bed, and my nether regions still throbbing from the intense intimacy it just experienced with the man taking his bath the adjacent room, I couldn't help but feel like the luckiest woman in the world.
It wasn't every woman out there that could boast of catching the fancy of one of the nation's finest, youngest, richest and most endowed eligible bachelors, not to talk of having a conversation with him. Yet, here I was in Asher Welty's bed, naked-still recovering from a recent dance of passion, in his house.
No other woman on the surface of earth had that privilege but me.
It didn't matter that all of this was a super secret affair, or the fact that the terms of our little tryst were defined by him and the amount he insisted on paying to keep it going. What mattered was the exclusivity we had to each other's body. For almost three years, Asher's body had been mine alone and vice versa. It wasn't like I ever dreamed of being with anyone else besides him; he made me lose interest in other men since the first night we ever shared.
It was funny, how fate, which normally dealt blows that made my life a sick joke, decided to smile on me at the one of my darkest points; my mom had been terminally ill when I graduated from college, and while all her savings had gone into giving me a quality education, no one was willing to hire a designer with no work experience. I found myself stranded, broke and desperate to save the life of my mother–the only constant that remained in my life after the gruesome death of my dad.
My desperation had conditioned me, even though it took the death of every moral construct for me to do so, into being a stripper at an elite-only nightclub. Asher and I had met there, in a storybook manner if I might add; I was almost molested by a couple of spoiled children of moneybags and Asher had swopped in to save me. I couldn't say for sure if it was the instant chemistry that sparked up between us or because of my profuse gratitude that made me give in to his advances that night, but almost three years down the line, I was still so grateful for that that one-night stand that was the genesis of an amazing sexual adventure.
However, as I watched Asher barge into the room with an expression that was hard to read, wearing nothing but a heavy towel lazily wrapped around his lean waist, I couldn't help but feel like something was off.
First, he had stood me up two months ago when he abruptly left the country. I wanted to ask him what was wrong when he texted me, long hours after his initial order for us to meet up, informing me that I should leave and that he wasn't going to be in town for a while. But I knew from past experience that he was likely to be irked by the question if I asked and would likely rub it in my face that I was neither his wife nor girlfriend, but a paid lover. So I'd held my peace.
After two long months of craving him badly and resorting to pleasuring myself with toys-which was against Asher's rules-he'd summoned me over out of the blue. He barged in earlier with the same granite look and was extra rough while we were at it. While I didn't mind the latter, I couldn't help but worry that now the euphoria of our desires for each other was dissipating.
Asher unceremoniously dropped the towel to the floor, and for a full minute, my mind was distracted as I admired the walking Adonis; the defined lines of his toned biceps shone in the moisture of his fresh shower. His milky skin rippled and stretched as he pulled on his designer briefs and left it hanging low on his lean waist, giving me a sneak peek of the v-line of his lower abdomen. My eyes lapped up his almost-nudity with a level of hunger I didn't know existed. An involuntary gasp escaped my lips when I realized where my traitorous thoughts were beginning to wander. My face began to heat up in a blush.
"Take a picture, Heather. It'll last longer." That was the first nonsexual and longest sentence he'd said to me since he walked in, and even then, it came out as a snap.
I knew Asher wasn't normally this grumpy. I was confused as to what was going on.
"I'm sorry. Is anything the matter?"
"What do you care? Shouldn't you be picking up your stuff and getting the hell off my property?" Asher didn't even let me finish before snapping his reply.
I flinched in surprise and pulled the thick covers of his bed closer to cover up more of my body, as though that would be effective in shielding me from the sting of his harsh words.
"I'm sorry," I muttered sheepishly under my breath and began to do his bidding.
The rest of Asher pulling on the same expensive outfit he came in with while I pulled on my own clothes went by in tense silence. I heard him mutter profanities under his breath as I pulled on my panties.
I flinched in surprise when I felt his hands around the small of my back. My shock went on further when he pulled me onto the bed, sat me down and sat down beside me. It wasn't the first time, Asher would display any emotion beyond lust towards me, but it so scarcely happened, that it was the least of what I was expecting from him at that moment, especially after he just snapped at me.
I didn't know what to expect when he called my name and picked my hand to hold in both of his.
"I know that contract doesn't expire for another five months, but I am terminating it today and relieving you of your duties today."
My heart skipped double beats at the announcement.
"What?" Was the only word my brain could think of.
"What I mean to say is, today is the last day we will ever meet."
And just like that, my happiness came to a grinding halt, my entire heart shattering to pieces.
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
When Corynn mustered up the courage to tell Elliot about her pregnancy, she unexpectedly found him gallantly helping another woman from his car. Her heart sank as three years of effort to secure his love crumbled before her eyes, compelling her to leave him behind. Three years later, life had taken Corynn down a new path with someone else, while Elliot was left grappling with regret. Seizing a moment of vulnerability, he pleaded, "Corynn, let's get married." Shaking her head with a faint smile, Corynn gently replied, "Sorry, I'm already engaged."
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.