_________________________________...2 years ago....I opened my eyes and closed it immediately when a headache hit me so fast, as if someone had punched me in the face.I felt nauseous and achy.Man, I got completely wasted.I really needed to stop doing this to myself. I kept away from clubbing and drinking for months and then one fine day, I will get drunk like there is no tomorrow, and I would get so wasted... so f%#cking wasted that it will be difficult for me to say what day or time it was.Why do I keep doing this to myself?I am so f%#king dumb!I became aware of my surroundings. I was naked and my back was against a broad naked chest.I blinked. I didn't have much memory of last night.I didn't remember who I had gone home with.I opened my eyes.Okay, apparently, it wasn't a home. It was a hotel room.Oh god, Rory. What is wrong with you?I tried to turn around so I can take a look at my one night stand but his grip on me tightened and he grumbled something in his sleep.
______________________________...|| ROWAN KELLER' POV ||."Honestly bro, you are beyond my understanding." Ashton Ames, my best friend, said as he took a sip of his coffee.I rolled my eyes as I paced around my office room.That idiot had figured it out so easily. And now, she was going to be even more guarded around me.That was not going to work well for me.I needed her to trust me. Trust me enough that she will happily hand over all of her shares in the company to me.I had approached Dr. Merin Ashdale first with money. But she wasn't swayed by it. That's when I thought of appealing to her sad, lonely existence. And it had worked. Sleeping with the doctor and making her say only good things about me, so that Aurora thinks that though she could not see it, I have been doing very well as a husband and putting an amazing amount of effort into our stupid marriage.The plan seemed so flawless.Yet, the doctor and I didn't last one session with her. She knew immediately.Was she a
___________________________..."I think I might have overreacted. About you deciding to give your marriage another chance."I looked up from my burger to see that Bianca was looking out the window, a faraway look on her face.I rolled my eyes.I did not like my overdramatic friend like this."That makes me disappointed in you." I said.She looked over at me, her brows furrowed.I reached over and took her hand in mine."You are my best friend. You are my sister. You are supposed to be mad at me when I do shit!" I said the word 'shit' a bit too loud and had people glancing over. Ugh, this is the problem with expensive restaurants."But-""Is this about me spending more time with Zoe these days?" I raised a brow, a smirk forming on my face.I mean, Bianca is my best friend. I know her like the back of my hand.She gave me a flat look."Don't even try." I rolled my eyes, chuckling as I took my drink in my hand. I took a sip and waited for her to speak up."Fine." She gave in, rolling
____________________________ . . . F%#k. F%#k. F%#k. I stared at the screen, at the news article that my stupid friend, Eric Rogers the idiot (as Bianca calls him) had shared with a 'LMFAO' and six laughing emojis. I scratched my head frantically as I dialled my assistant, Susan James' number. "I saw it, Rory." She said as soon as she picked, I could hear rapid typing in the background. "We are already on it. How do you want the news to be? Any preferences?" "Say it's morphed." I sighed. "Don't you think we have been using that excuse a little too often lately?" I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath, annoyed at her for pointing it out instead of doing her job and even more annoyed at the fact that she was absolutely right about that. Think Rory, think. Think before the devil named Rowan Keller have your head for this slip up. Heh, it's funny how I am worried about the reaction from the man who makes my life a living hell. I heard the beeping sound of an incoming cal
___________________________________...I took a deep breath as I stared at my bedroom door, my hand on the door knob.Come on Aurora, just turn it and go out there. It is not the end of the world. So what if you responded to his kiss? It happens.Not when the man in the question is a douchebag who made your life, it doesn't.Damn it, I can't even blame Rowan this time. I mean, I can blame him for... forcing himself on me? But is it really forcing it if I responded? Readily?Oh my god, I will have to double avoid him from now on.I looked over at the black clock on the wall. It said eight forty-five.Huh... Rowan leaves for the office at eight. He may be a useless assh*le but he was always punctual.Alright, Aurora. Let's go.I turned the knob and flung the door wide open, a bright smile on my face to greet Bill. And I stopped in my tracks.He had not gone to work."Oh wow, someone seems to be in a great mood!" Rowan wriggled his eye brows at me while I stood there blinking, like an
_________________________________..."I don't see how your families coming over is a big problem," Bianca said over the phone. She had baby Jamie in her arms as she tried to feed him the formula. Fiona was peacefully sleeping and Roselyn was out with her girl gang from university. So it was Bianca Stanley versus Jamie Stanley-Anderson. And currently, Jamie was winning. He was screaming at the top of his lungs and Bianca was in the far end of the apartment, fearing the blood-curdling screams of her twin brother would wake little Fiona up and Bianca just wasn't ready for her two babies having a screaming match. "Come on, look at your aunt and smile at her. She could use some happiness in her life."I narrowed my eyes at her.Why the hell was she taking jabs at me while trying to shush my nephew?"I know you wanna mess with Mommy, love, but please don't make yourself sick because of your stupid Mommy." I cooed at him. He stopped crying for a moment, looking wide-eyed wondering where
______________________________...Sonya was grabbing on to my hand. Her hold was tight, desperate. There was definitely something wrong with her."Are you okay? Is everything okay?" I didn't know whether something had happened to her or if she was tensed about whatever was going to happen here.I hoped nothing happened here, because the last thing I needed right now was more drama as compared to whatever Rowan had planned for the evening.Rowan was not just a negotiator. He was an elaborate planner and manipulator. Things could really turn around today.I was very worried.See, how the hell did I have feelings for someone I was almost scared of?Pftt... Am I not the same person who said I wasn't afraid of Rowan Keller?I have really become a pathetic shadow of my former self.It was so sad.And oh wow, I was back to thinking about my feelings for him and shit though I promised myself that I would not and that I would move on.See, the only person ruining my happiness is me, myself
_______________________________..."I don't want you near her, Aurora. Because I know exactly what you are planning!""And what exactly is she planning?" Simon asked."She is waiting for some bits from this situation that will help her blackmail me the way I did with her sister!""Excuse me?" Elizabeth looked at her son like he was crazy.Meanwhile, I stood there wondering whether I should be offended that he thought I would be anything like him, or smack my forehead and wonder how anyone would be able to placate this situation.Rowan was angry and he just lost control and spewed the very reason why I was still in this awful marriage of mine."What do you mean by you are blackmailing her with her sister?" Simon looked like he was about to explode. And the change in expression on Rowan's face told me that he had suddenly realized that he had fucked up. Oh big time buddy, and I honestly don't think I am in the mood to fix this shit for you right now."That is a discussion for another