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Yet I had to ask. In return for what? One dark eyebrow slanted, and his voice held an edge of mockery. "Occupying my home, my bed. My eyes blazed blue fire. "As your mistress? He sounded mildly amused, and at that moment I truly hated him. "Then.....what? I demanded. "As my wife! For a moment I lost the power of speech, and I felt the blood drain from my cheeks. "If this is a joke, I began shakily, it's in very bad taste. Chef Anna needs cash fast and there's only one man she can turn to... Eric Alexander. Eric needs to marry to meet the terms of his late father's will, so he'll help Anna. She'll be his convenient wife. It's so sexy and interesting, it will leave you breathless.
Anna's point of view
Can we talk? Stark, minimum words that cost me dearly, and incurred a probing look.
"There's something you want to discuss?
His voice was a faintly inflected drawl, and I suppressed an involuntary shiver.
I spared him a quick glance and gleaned little from his expression. Assertiveness was the key. "Yes.
"In that case, let's do so over lunch.
Share a meal with him? I really didn't want to spend any more time than necessary. Time was something I didn't have!
He sensed my hesitation, and his eyes narrowed slightly. I looked too slender, my features too pale, and I resembled a cat on hot bricks.
Grief, without doubt, had to be taken into account...but why did he have the feeling it was more than that? A broken romance?
He told himself if he didn't care...and knew it to the untrue. For, despite the intervening years, he still retained a vivid recall of my teenage crush and the method with which he'd dealt with it.
The surprising sweetness of my young mouth; my reaction to his touch; the way I'd felt in his arms, and my uninhibited response.
It had affected him more than he'd imagined possible and left him with a lingering sense of frustration at the knowledge he could have taken me.
What had held him back? Remorse? Guilt? At the time, he'd refused to contemplate thinking it might be anything else...and he'd grasped opportunity with both hands soon after by relocating to New York, where he'd focused on forging his own fortune.
Not unlike the feeling he entertained now.
"We both need to eat, Eric ventured silkily.
Do I have a choice?
"A sandwich and coffee, I conceded, aware it was all I could afford.
"When was the last time you ate a decent meal?
The question came out of left field, and I stiffened at the underlying censure. "In case you've forgotten, I spend my time in the kitchen cooking professionally for a living.
"For clientele.
"The nature of the business," I responded, and incurred his dark gaze.
"An hour or two enjoying a leisurely meal in my company is abhorrent to you?
Difficult. Unnerving. But not abhorrent. I closed my eyes, then opened them again. Of course not.
We were walking along a busy city street, and I hesitated as Eric indicated a restaurant I knew to be ruinously expensive.
"Relax.
Sure. Like I could do that!
The maître d' took one look at Eric, determined an aura of wealth, and ushered them to a well-positioned table.
Within minutes, the drinks waiter elicited our order, and I opted to stay with chilled water, as did Eric.
"Do you have a preference?
Oh God, I didn't want to do this!
"I'm not very hungry.
Eric cast me a brief glance over the top of the menu, then went ahead and ordered the bruschetta, two entrèes, two mains, and intimate desserts that could wait until later.
I opened my mouth to protest, only to close it again as I incurred his dark, unyielding look.
"You really want to argue?
Give it up, a silent voice warned.
The temptation to launch into my request was uppermost if only to get it out there and be done with it--for the thought of playing polite and conducting a meaningless conversation almost brought me undone.
He looked every inch the man he'd become. Hardened, ruthless, powerful. Someone it would be wise not to toy with....unless you were prepared to face the consequences.
Successful beyond measure, Michael had been known to reveal, with pride, his residence in London and the south of France, to name a few.
While I was almost destitute and in debt to her eyeballs.
Some comparisons!
Did-could- Eric know of my financial circumstances? Probably not. Unless he'd make it his business to find out.
The waiter appeared and placed a platter on the table. The bruschetta was tempting, but, given the state of required concentration.
"Eat, Anna.
To refuse would be churlish, given a banana followed by coffee.
"How long do you intend to stay in Sydney?
He met my gaze and held it. "As long as it takes.
An ambiguous answer that didn't commit him to anything.
Would he comply with the conditions of Micheal's will?
It really was no concern of mine whether he did or not.
I moved the food around on my plate and was so caught up with nerves I didn't trust myself to light my fork.
"You wanted to run something with me? Eric prompted and caught my sudden look of anguish.
This was hard, but I couldn't prevaricate, wouldn't pretend. To explain...and ask.
Which I did, as briefly as possible, whilst outlining only the pertinent facts and my desperate urgency for funds.
The specter facts of the loan shark hovered over me like the sword of Damocles, ever threatening, and poised to fall anytime soon.
Fear consumed me, stretching my nerves to breaking point.
There was nothing to be gleaned from his expression, making it impossible to discern whether he'd view my request favorably or not.
"What amount do you have in mind?
I mentioned a sum, and he didn't even blink.
"You perceive it as a gift?
"No, Genuine shock widened my eyes, and my hands shook slightly as I replaced my water goblet down on the table. "A loan. I closed my eyes, then opened them again.
"Using the shades bequeathed me under the terms of Micheal's will as collateral.
I'd done the math, had agonized and lost sleep over the figures, minimizing them to bare essentials to clear accumulated debts and purchase a vehicle.
"I'll pay you back every cent, with interest.
"Over what time frame?
I relayed an estimation. "Less, I assured him quickly.
" Can utilize the annuity from Cressida's estate and transfer it directly to you.
Eric surveyed me carefully, then offered a silky negative. "No:
My features paled, and my eyes became large stricken pools. I had nowhere to go...no one else I could ask.
Loan sharks lent money on a strictly short-term basis and non-payment wrought dire consequences.
I could feel the germ of anger begin to seed and take hold, sparking into flames that owed much to the past.
Uppermost was the desire to pick up the salt shaker and hurl it at him. I consciously placed my hands on my lap in an effort to control it.
Any hope Eric might honor Michael's verbal assurance of financial help died a natural death, and I rose to my feet, unable to bear so much as another minute in his company.
"Go back to New York and have a nice life.
"Sit down. Dark slate-grey eyes seared mine. "I'm not done.
"I am!
I turned away from the table, and in the next instant a hand closed over my wrist, mama king me as securely as steel restraints.
"Let me go. The words husked from my throat in a low growl, and my eyes flared with brilliant sapphire chips.
This was close, I was supremely conscious of his height and breadth of shoulder, the clean, laundered smell of his clothes, and the faint, teasing aroma of his cologne.
"Sit down...please.
The "please" did little to appease my anger as I glared at him. "Give me the reason why I should.
WARNING: WARNING: This book contains violence, explicit words, and sex. Some words that might not be liked by others. Reader's discretion is advised. The city is under attack by vampires! Everybody inside! Nala shouted. The vampires were tossing and throwing people around, John was scared and ran off to hide. One of the vampires grabbed Nala from behind and she pushed Cypher mistakenly, he fell to the ground. Rebecca grabbed Nala with her claws flying towards a building, Cypher got up quickly, grabbed Nala's legs, and retrieved her from the vampire. Nala fell on top of Cypher's face and they both stared at each other, immediately he reversed her to the ground. Stay here! He said. No, you stay here! You tried to kill me, she reversed him back on the ground and was running away. The three vampires were in the air staring at Nala as she ran. Fresh blood! Rebecca kills the stranger. Sarafina said. Would love to. Rebecca said, running towards Cypher. Nala was chased by Sarafina, Cypher shot his arrow at her but didn't get her.
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
Iris grew from an orphaned child to the adopted daughter of the Stewart family at age ten, finding warmth in her nominal uncle Vincent's kindness. Seven years later, she became his secret lover. When Vincent's engagement was announced, gossip spread about the notorious playboy CEO finally settling down. But only Iris knew the extent of his cold, two-faced nature. Iris fell for Vincent and, through tears, begged, "Marry me," only to be met with his frosty refusal. Defeated, she accepted a lawyer's proposal, sparking public excitement. Then, on her wedding day, Vincent pleaded desperately, "Don't marry him…"
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
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.
Natalie used to think she could melt Connor’s icy heart, but she was sorely mistaken. When at last she decided to leave, she discovered that she was pregnant. Even so, she chose to quietly leave his world, prompting Connor to mobilize all of his resources and expand his business to a global scale—all in a bid to find her. But there was no trace of Natalie. Connor slowly spiraled into madness, turning the city upside down and leaving chaos in his wake. Natalie finally surfaced years later, with wealth and power of her own, only to find herself entangled with Connor once again.
Kara Martin was known as Miss Perfect. She was a beauty with good personality and successful career. Unfortunately, her life changed at one night. She was accused of adultery, losing her job, and abandoned by her fiance. The arrogant man who slept with her did not want to take responsibility. He even threatened to kill her if they met again. What's worse, Kara was pregnant with twins and she chose to give birth to them. Four and a half years later, Kara returned to work at a large company. As the secretary, she would frequently face their notorious CEO. Kara thought it wouldn't be a problem, but as it turned out ... the CEO was the father of the twins!