Erin revisited the reasons prompting her to seek assistance from the Arvesso family.
Last month, her advertising manager, Mrs. Robles, extended an invitation to meet with Mr. Yu, the manager of a television station.
"Erin, I'm bringing you along for the meeting with Mr. Yu."
"Sure, Ma'am!"
Having spent a year with the advertising team, Erin retained her position as a staff member. She refrained from complaining, recognizing that the Arvesso family currently held authority in the company on her behalf. At the same time, she remained merely Mr. Lawrence's stepdaughter.
Accompanied by her manager, Erin entered a private club. In a room, they found Mr. Yu with two other staff members.
"Good evening, Mr. Yu! I am with Erin Villaverde. She's the one we were talking about," her manager said, subtly lifting one corner of her lip. "She will be coordinating our project with you for the ads of the new whitening lotion produced by the company."
The man ran his thick tongue over his lips. Erin had been a model before, and encounters with individuals like Mr. Yu were not unfamiliar to her.
Her manager initiated the discussion. Mr. Yu responded, occasionally touching Erin's leg. Later on, Mrs. Robles excused herself to go to the restroom, signaling the two staff members to leave.
Mr. Yu's hand ventured higher on her leg, causing Erin to squirm.
"I've noticed you're not finishing your drink. Drink it," he said.
Erin pushed it away, distancing herself from his wandering hand. As a model, she was keenly aware of potential threats.
"Mr. Yu, I'm here for business. Please don't taint my purpose for being here."
"Stop being so uptight! Why don't you sell me this night? I'll give Yurich a significant discount for airtime and pay you for it. Others in your office have done it before, which isn't new."
She recoiled in disgust at the notion that another employee might have accepted the offer. Mr. Yu embraced her, encircling his arms around her waist.
"Ahhhh!" She let out a scream. In her hand, she seized a bottle of expensive liquor, using it to strike his head. Trembling with fear, she quickly distanced herself.
"You shameless woman!" he exclaimed, clutching his bleeding head.
Mrs. Robles returned at that moment. "Erin!"
"Ouch! Ouch! That woman hurt me! Call the police!"
Mrs. Robles filed a complaint against her at the office because Mr. Yu's group refused to broadcast their commercial. Furthermore, the office covered the medical expenses for Mr. Yu and the costly liquor she had broken.
She raised concerns about the harassment, but Mrs. Robles distorted the events.
The entire team disapproved of Erin. The office dismissed her due to an incident, and her colleagues claimed she wasn't contributing. Returning home to her penthouse, she found that the electricity was disconnected. Unpaid bills had accumulated, and she had been in debt for several months with the monthly association dues.
In a corner, she wept uncontrollably, overwhelmed by a year-long struggle. Despite attempting to assert her rights and expressing gratitude to her father for bequeathing her the penthouse, she questioned its value if she couldn't sell it.
Despite this, she had no intention of selling the place because it held sentimental significance. She and her father resided in this place after the incident in San Martin. Her father had purchased it as a surprise for her mother, who tragically suffered a heart attack before getting the chance to see it.
Erin gazed at herself in the mirror. She had formally retired from her current agency, a decision they did not permit. Transitioning to another agency posed the risk of incurring fines due to the breach of the five-year contract she had entered into with the modeling agency.
Tears welled up as Erin beheld her reflection. The Erin she saw was no longer the radiant beauty she once knew. After composing herself, she dialed Mr. Niel Arvesso's number on her phone.
Now, she finds herself face to face with Orion, someone she hasn't seen in years.
***
Orion turned as Erin entered the suite, squinting at her changed appearance. Previously, he had considered her too young. The last time he saw her, she was turning eighteen, but she had undergone a striking transformation since then.
He swallowed hard, evaluating her figure. Her black hair cascaded freely, her neck elongated, her posture straight, and her eyes were a deep chocolate color. His gaze descended to her lips, which gasped and parted as if she could read his thoughts, anticipating what he wanted to do with those lips.
He lowered his eyes to her chest and continued to her petite waist. Erin's current mini-skirt outfit prominently displayed her long legs. His palm itched to touch her skin.
'Damn it!'
He was displeased with the energy she exuded. Detecting the fear in her eyes, perhaps fearing him, prompted him to wash away all his emotions. Orion approached the fridge, opened it, and grabbed a water bottle.
"Take a seat," Orion commanded with a straightforward order. "Would you like tea, coffee, or juice?"
"Uhm, I came here to meet Mr. Arvesso."
He glanced at her while pouring water. "I am Mr. Arvesso."
"I mean your father."
Erin claimed the single-seater couch, her stunning legs becoming more pronounced in the dimming light.
"He went abroad. Unless it was him you wanted to marry," he said, aiming to quash any admiration he might have had for her.
"No!" Her eyes widened.
"It was me then."
"Uhm…" She fumbled with his questions.
"Miss Villaverde, let's not waste our time. You know I'm the only man left in my family besides Dad. Unfortunately, you killed the other one!" His voice echoed in the room.
The woman quivered in fear, tears streaming down her cheeks. Damn it!
Now, he seemed like a devil's son, bringing her to tears. She swallowed his words, the reason for his amusement. If this person didn't have thick skin, she needed his help.
Erin stood up.
"I need your assistance! Given a choice, I would avoid marrying into the Arvesso family after what transpired—yet I have no alternative but to marry you! The Arvessos hold sway over the shares my dad left, leaving me no options after being ousted from the office unless I marry you! Securing the shares is contingent on our marriage, and with each passing year, my choices are diminishing! I must assert my rightful claim!" she pleaded. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes! Please!"
"Really?" Orion asked, a corner of his lips lifting.
"Yes! If you want, we can share the shares my dad left."
"No, Erin! I have no interest in your inheritance simply because I am an Arvesso! I've never been drawn to my father's wealth, so what distinguishes that from yours?"
She cried harder and spoke again, "I will do anything..."
"Then strip!"
The woman's eyes widened.
"Strip now. I want to see what I'd get if you ever became my wife."
"B-but..." She felt a chill run down her spine.
'This isn't me! Damn this!' Orion thought.
He struggled to contain his emotions. The woman bore responsibility for Daryl's death, and he yearned to teach her a lesson. Yet, a surge of self-loathing gripped him because, despite the anger, he found himself captivated by the desire to pin her on the sofa and act on his long-suppressed urges.
He should despise her, not succumb to lust!
Anticipating a slap from Erin and the woman storming out, he hoped to make her reconsider the potential consequences of becoming his spouse. However, as he watched her lift her blouse, he swallowed hard, wanting to utter, 'Let's stop this now.'
All his intended words clung to his throat when he caught sight of the woman's lacy bra. His throat constricted as she unfastened her skirt, and that garment gracefully descended her long legs.
***
Anger coursed through Erin, yet she couldn't muster the power to confront or counter Orion. The man she had admired seven years ago had undergone a significant transformation, leaving her quivering with frustration.
Firstly, what he said held truth; she bore responsibility for failing to protect his brother, Daryl. Secondly, she found herself in need of Orion's assistance.
Aside from his father, he was the sole male in the Arvesso family. The idea of marrying Mr. Arvesso drove her to the brink of insanity, even though, deep down, it was Orion she had desired from the very beginning.
'Damn him for still possessing an appealing physique and being so handsome!'
Erin caught her breath, sensing the blaze in Orion's deep chocolate eyes. Gracefully surrendering her pride, she unfastened her bra, and his gaze deepened as her breasts came into view.
Her nipples responded to his lingering gaze, hardening in tandem. He parted his lips slightly, suggesting a desire to claim them.
Her lips quivered at the mere notion of his mouth sensually exploring her chest.
'You've got this, Erin!'
She delicately descended the lace panties along the contours of her legs, a shiver coursing through her in response to either the chill in the air or the intense scrutiny of his gaze as her body became unveiled before the man.
"Touch yourself like the way you used to tell Daryl." Orion clenched his fist.
"What?" Horror showed on her face. "I-I have never done that!"
"Your message exchange with Daryl contains that information, doesn't it?"
No! Her tears welled up even more. She pieced together the meaning of his words, her hand instinctively finding its way to cover her quivering lips.
No! It's not Daryl! No!
'Daryl…' He lied to her!
Seven years ago… "Boo!" Erin squealed in surprise as Jenna startled her. Her heart pounded, and she accidentally dropped her phone. She was in the women's restroom, changing into a red uniform for the cheerleaders. "Seriously! You scared me!" She lightly slapped Jenna on the shoulder and then shook her head. Jenna's dad was Erin's stepfather's cousin, making them second cousins. Jenna became Erin's close friend since they had known each other since age ten. Jenna picked up the phone that had fallen to the floor, furrowing her brow as she examined the messages on the screen. Erin engaged in a text conversation with Orion, having obtained his number from his brother Daryl. "Your eyes captivate me like no other, a mesmerizing beauty that lights up my world. Every visit to your home fills my heart with joy," Jenna read the latest message. "Who is this? Is he a pervert?" she commented, rolling her eyes. The woman continued scrolling through the messages. "Sorry if I only texted now
Erin shivered with profound disappointment. No! This shouldn't be happening. She endured more than her share over the past year, not just a year but seven years of punishment. Now, witnessing Orion's eyes devoid of emotion feels like a rejection of her dignity. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she gathered the clothes she had discarded. She shouldn't let herself break completely. Erin had misunderstood Orion. It seemed he was cutting off what little sanity she had left. "I shouldn't have done this." She went to the bathroom and let out all her tears there. Sadness surged through her chest. Perhaps she carried some responsibility for the death of Orion's brother, Daryl, but did he realize that Daryl had also deceived her? After getting dressed, she found Orion waiting outside the bathroom. The man was adept at concealing his feelings; she detected no anger, pity, or disdain in his eyes. Erin wondered about his motive for waiting. She surpassed Orion's presence. "I hope you
Nothing will change if Erin sheds tears. She must take action. Unemployed for a month, she needed to seize any opportunity, no matter how small. When her phone rang, she organized her list of expenses in the penthouse on the center table.Her friend Zacharia Lopez's name lit up the screen. "Hey, Zach!""I just arrived from Singapore. I went to your office to surprise you with gifts but was shocked to hear you're no longer there. Where are you? Who's the owner that got ousted from his own company?" Erin couldn't hold back her tears upon hearing her friend's voice. She needed someone to reassure her that everything would be okay—an ally. They first met during their modeling days, and their bond strengthened as she often encountered disturbing situations involving other female models. After what happened with Jenna, she found it hard to trust women. Zach was currently the only friend she relied on. "Erin..." concern resonated in Zach's voice. "They... They kicked me out. A lot has ha
Yurich Group. Merely a month ago, Erin was ousted by her manager and Uncle Roger from the office. However, today, she stood alongside Orion and Mr. Arvesso's assistant, Jorge, ready to make a bold return. Orion, pledging to assist her in securing the highest position within the Yurich company, had convinced her to take this audacious step—a decision aligned with her strategic move to marry him. "I'll inform you of my payment when the time comes. One thing is certain—I do not need money. The Yurich Company remains yours," she recalls Orion asserting. Jorge is there as a representative of the Arvesso Family, and Orion is acting as Erin's bodyguard. Orion explained his plan to Erin, assuring her that he wouldn't mess with how the Yurich Company ran. He believed getting involved in office matters was pointless because Erin would be in charge in the future. To ensure that Erin wouldn't be bothered by Jenna or Uncle Roger and to maintain Orion's constant presence, he decided to assu
This is absurd! Orion found himself on the verge of anger as he drove Erin to her penthouse. Getting close to Erin and spending every waking moment with her was not part of his plan. He couldn't understand why he had let himself get entangled in this situation. Frustration clenched his teeth, and anger surged through him, directed at himself,
Erin led Orion to a secluded room in her penthouse for a private conversation. Unfazed that her residence boasted four rooms, she was open to accommodate him. However, she wasn’t ready to live with Orion. "What do you mean you'll be staying here?" she questioned, a mix of surprise and concern evident in her voice. 'Now? Wait, I'm not ready yet!' "After you just kicked me out of your car?" she retorted. Orion is one big moody guy, even moodier than someone with PMS. "I have to pack my things; I'm sorry," he explained. "Erin, I've already laid out my reasons to you. We told your family we'd stay together; I'll act as your bodyguard. Besides, I'm aware that someone wants to harm you." Erin shuddered in fear, though Orion's eyes conveyed much more than his words. She could sense the unspoken desires he harbored. She recalled Jenna's messages to Daryl, whom she had thought Orion. Unfortunately, Orion wasn't the recipient of those texts back then. "That's why I'm taking the k
Erin's heart skipped a beat as Orion appeared at the open door, catching her off guard. She chided herself for not reminding him that the bathroom connected both rooms. A playful glint flickered in his eyes, causing her lips to tremble with surprise and anticipation. Erin closed her eyes briefly to conceal the emotions swelling within her chest. Undeterred by the water, Orion approached and claimed her lips, his hands exploring her body with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine.
Erin found herself immersed in a whirlwind of emotions reflected in Orion's eyes. Desiring to believe in his affection, she interpreted how he gazed at her, and the subtle cues conveyed by his body language.Unexpectedly, he lowered himself towards her, initiating a kiss that left Erin momentarily entranced. As the moment's intensity swept over her, she questioned its reality, wondering if it was a dream. Orion, however, pulled her even closer, heightening her yearning for him not to release her.