**Olivia POVI nearly stopped breathing at Ellis' cold words. What was he saying to me? Why was he looking at me like that, so cold and distant? Was he mad at me?I didn't understand what was going on. I remembered Ellis grabbing onto me and holding me through that terrible ordeal as our car crashed and flipped over. I got chills thinking about how things could have ended so much worse for both of us. We were both alive, that alone was a miracle. I don't know how long we were stuck in the wreck. Firefighters had to cut open the car to get us out. I was knocked unconscious until they got to me. I could see Ellis as he was still in the car lying on his side unconscious.I thought that we would be taken to the hospital together. But we were separated at the scene. He was rushed unconscious in one ambulance and I was taken in another.Although there was a small cut on my head that had been bleeding, all of my injuries and abrasions were minor. While I was being treated, Joan and Brenda a
I took the rest of the day to rest and get warm. Bennett made sure to send warm tea and sandwiches to the room I was instructed to stay in. I still couldn't believe all that had happened with Ellis and his step-mother at the hospital. It was true that there was nothing I could do. Ellis and I weren't married and I had no legal right to stay in the hospital by his side if he didn't want me to. When I was alone and settled down I was able to allow the tears to fill my eyes and spill down my cheeks. None of this could be real. How could it be that Brenda was by Ellis's side and I was now being saved by Bennett Klein? My heart broke as I thought about Ken. After everything he had been through in his short life, how could I tell him that his father didn't remember us? No, there had to be something I could do. Even if we weren't married, there must be a way to convince Ellis that I was his fiancée.In the end I realized that I would have to call home and at least tell my mother what was
**Ellis POVEver since I woke up from the hospital, nothing felt right. It was difficult trying to navigate my life when there was so much I had forgotten. Brenda did her best to help me get my bearings, but still, things just felt off. I was not sure that I wanted to attend this dinner party at the theater. But there were important colleagues and businessmen that I was interested in meeting and getting reacquainted with.I was surprised to find myself relaxing in the atmosphere after we arrived. Everyone was glad to see I had recovered so quickly and was interested in starting business ventures in the area again. However, as soon as Olivia entered the room, I noticed her. She looked stunning in her red dress that hugged her torso and flowed just to her knees. It took some time for her to notice me but once our eyes met it was as if all of the air left my lungs. As I looked at her, everything that Brenda told me about her came to mind and I couldn't help scowling in anger before tur
I had no words for the way I felt after having made Olivia cry like that. No matter how a woman came into my arms, I never ever meant to make her feel like anything other than beautiful and desired. What was going on with me? Why had I let my jealousy of Bennett having her make me be cruel to her? There was no excuse and I would do my best to make it right. When I got myself together, I hurried back to the ballroom and made it into the party to see that the guests were beginning to leave. I hoped Olivia was still there. I looked around the room to see that she stood alone, looking sad and hurt. An uneasy feeling squeezed my chest.I took a deep breath, not sure what I could say to her in the way of an apology. Then Bennett was by her side and I felt a sour taste rise in the back of my throat. He was helping her with her coat. If what Olivia was saying was true and Bennett was forcing her to stay with him, I couldn't let that continue. I shook my head not believing that I was really
The room began to feel as if it was spinning. I blinked several times as I looked at the man and then cleared my throat."Excuse me?" I asked as I regained my composure. "What do you mean? Mr. Peterson hired you to be my driver and he said that I can go anywhere I want?""Yes," the driver clarified. "Would you like to be taken to the airport? Mr. Peterson has also said that he would pay for a one-way ticket for any destination you choose."I thought about Ken and finally getting back home to him. I exhaled in relief and smiled. I missed him so much after everything I'd been through and the complete disaster of the evening. I just wanted to hold him in my arms and tell him how much I loved him. "However," the driver continued. "If you would like to stay nearby, Mr. Peterson has a private residence here that he occasionally uses. He said that, if you want, you are welcome to use it for the time being."I felt my jaw drop open and quickly shut it. I was completely surprised and stunned
**Ellis POVEven I couldn't fully understand what compelled me to help Olivia Richardson that night. But, absolutely nothing had felt right since I left the hospital until I was able to hold her in my arms and claim her. I knew that Brenda would be suspicious of my actions and was prepared to hear her complaints once we were securely in the car.That was one of the many attributes about Brenda I appreciated. She was determined and ambitious but also very discreet. She was the perfect woman, born and raised to marry into a family like the Petersons. She was a great partner and asset to have by my side.I knew she probably meant well by advising me against giving Olivia the time of day. But, I couldn't rule out the possibility that this advice came more from a place of jealousy as well. But, she didn't mention anything about Olivia that night or the next few days. She didn't even talk about the party until she heard the news that I had withdrawn my proposal to the mayor on Midtown and
She felt so light and delicate in my arms as she wrapped her hands around my neck and let me carry her to the bed. "Ellis, I thought you would never come," she sighed. I kissed the top of her head. She moaned as she clung to me. Her scent washed over me, fresh and sweet as if she had recently taken a shower. I buried my face in her neck to breathe her in before carefully lying her on the bed. "Are you alright now? Did your memory come back?" "Shhhh…" I placed my finger on her lips to keep her quiet and lay next to her pulling her into my arms as we kissed each other passionately. Her eyelids became heavy with desire even as she seemed uncertain of what was about to happen next. "Ellis…" she began to speak and I covered her mouth with kisses to keep her quiet. "…do you…?""Please be quiet," I ordered. She closed her eyes, allowing my tongue to slip between her lips and sweep across her mouth. She licked over my tongue with her own and pressed her tongue into my mouth as well. She
After my recovery from the hospital, I decided to rent a new office space in the city to conduct my business. It was a little bit of a headache trying to juggle what was going on in New York with the new business ventures I was looking into in Boston. It didn't help that Olivia's beautiful face was also on my mind nonstop. I still was not sure what to make of her. I couldn't forget the way she threw my credit card back at me as if I'd offended her. No woman has ever done that before. It was only fortunate that she seemed to be so very responsive to my touch. Maybe just as responsive as I am to hers. This was different and new. Part of me liked it but there was another part of me that felt the danger of not being completely in control of myself around Olivia. Everything about her was unexpected, a mystery or a surprise that I couldn't get enough of. "Ellis," Brenda called my name before knocking on the office door and interrupting my thoughts. I cursed under my breath and then cleare