ADAM“I know, I believe you,” I replied, holding her hand and bringing it to my lips. “We may be different, but we make it work, right?”“We’re trying, and here we are. I’m not bothered about Zoey anymore. I know she was your submissive, so it’s not as shocking as I initially thought. What did she tell you? Did she ask about me?”“She did, but does it really matter?”“But are you worried about her now?”“Would you be mad if I said I felt responsible?” I questioned.“Of course not, because that shows you have a sense of… decency, at least to some extent, right?”I laughed again. I never thought I could actually be decent. “So, I’m not totally a lost cause, aren’t I?” I mused aloud.“No, you’re just...” Her gaze locked onto mine, her eyes full of intensity. “...having an identity crisis. At least, that’s how it seems to me,” she said, her expression shifting to one of sympathy. It was as if she could see right through me.But was I really that obvious? “How can you say that?”“Because I
ELOISEMy lips trembled. This painful information was coming to me at once, and I suddenly felt overwhelmed and tight in my stomach.“Is that why this man… I mean, this Christopher, so antagonistic towards you?”Adam looked away for a moment before continuing. “His wife cheated on him with a Sebastian. Why or how it happened, I wouldn’t know. The Jacksons, Waldorfs, and Sebastians were longtime friends, so connections are inevitable.”“So, Christopher blamed you for everything?”He shrugged. “Well, their affair created a lot of bad blood. Of course, I didn’t know any of that growing up. I was left in the dark until I was old enough to understand, but even now, I barely understand. It all seems so chaotic to me.”“Your parents didn’t tell you?” I asked. If so, he probably learned it from Christopher.“I’m sure they intended to keep it a secret forever, but every secret is meant to be discovered.”“That’s... a lot,” I said. My throat suddenly felt dry. I immediately wanted to comfort hi
ELOISEWe cut the revelation short, and Adam let me rest for the night. We lay soundly in each other’s arms. My head rested on his arm while his other arm was wrapped around my waist. I cocooned against his warm chest while he breathed softly on my neck. This all seemed surreal and peaceful, and I felt protected. This was going to be my night for the next days, months, or years if we made it work. I then closed my eyes and fell asleep.I woke up in the morning with Adam’s face close to mine. His eyes were closed, and only then did I notice his long lashes, prominent nose lines, and the faint lines on his skin from whenever he smiled. I couldn’t help but run my fingers over his cheek and across his forehead.Suddenly, his eyes fluttered open, and he smiled. “Enjoying the view?” he teased, his voice husky from sleep.I chuckled softly. “Very much.”Adam’s smile widened, and he tightened his hold on me, pulling me even closer. “Good morning, beautiful.”“Good morning,” I replied, feelin
ELOISEAdam and I came down the staircase, but as we were expecting to find his family gathered for breakfast, we were surprised to see the room empty.“Where is everyone?” Adam wondered aloud, then glanced at a male attendant who passed by.The attendant smiled. “Mrs. Sebastian, your mother, requested breakfast be served outdoors on the back porch by the beach.”“Thank you,” Adam said, taking my hand. “Let’s head out there.”We stepped onto the back porch, and the salty ocean air and the calming rhythm of the waves in the background instantly welcomed me.The scene before us was picturesque, and I'm definitely in awe. The Long Island beach stretched out in a mesmerizing expanse of blue, and a large table had been set up under a canopy laden with an assortment of breakfast foods. The family was scattered around, some playing volleyball, others relaxing.The first person to greet us was Rachel, her face lighting up with a warm smile. “Good morning, my love birds!” She hooked her arm th
ADAMLet me give you a little glimpse into who I was so you won’t be disappointed later. I wasn’t your typical guy, especially when compared to my brothers. They were the hopeless romantics, believing in fairy tale endings and falling head over heels for every woman Cupid threw their way. But let me save you from any illusions you might have had about me.I wasn’t the prince on a white horse everyone imagined me to be. I was more of a “knight in tarnished armor.”I always knew I was different. I was naturally inclined to seek control in every aspect of my life—from my social status and wealth to my relationships and even the decisions I made. I also preferred obedient women. I took pleasure in watching them kneel before me, pleading, exploring their own wicked desires, and willing to fulfill my every command. Some may label it as odd, but I never pretended otherwise. Consider yourself warned because I could be the most spiteful guy you’d ever meet. It might have been hard to believe,
ELOISEIf they gave out awards for being unlucky in relationships, I'd have a trophy case full of them. It was like I had a Ph.D. in heartbreak and a black belt in rejection.I couldn't entirely blame the guys, but if I had to place blame on something, it would have to be my issues.Jenna had set me up for a blind date at this exquisite restaurant in Midtown tonight. She told me this guy was a friend of a friend, and she'd been insistent in the past few days to the point where she was already bugging me. She had shown him my picture, and he became interested in knowing more about me. He'd already sent me flowers this morning, and I didn't want to be rude, so I decided to go so I could decline him politely face-to-face. What was his name again? I didn't even bother remembering.I finally arrived in front of the restaurant. I tucked away those unruly strands of my wavy red hair behind my ears, adding a touch of blush and lip gloss to complete the look.I paused momentarily, realizing I
ELOISE“God, Eloise! What were you doing over there?” Jenna accused me incredulously and on the verge of laughing.“That was embarrassing, Jenna! Where were you? That guy out there made me a laughingstock because of you!”She burst into laughter. “Are you crazy? Did you really think I know a guy like him? I mean, just look at him,” Jenna continued to laugh.“I know, I know,” I sighed.“He’s hot. Want to go back?”“It’s not funny. Get me out of here, cover my face, do something!” I rolled my eyes.“I’m sorry. Did you seriously think it was him? Oh, God.” She cleared her throat. “By the way, this is Nick. Nick, meet Eloise.”Nick seemed decent. He had a preppy appearance—polished and youthful. He wasn’t exactly the person Jenna had described. No wonder I mistook Mr. Suit for him. But honestly, I didn’t care anymore. Nick shook my hand and started a conversation.“Pleasure to finally meet you, Eloise.”I managed a half-hearted smile. “Likewise.”We settled at our reserved table, with Jen
ELOISEI woke up in the morning, fully conscious of what happened last night. Despite being wasted, I remembered Mr. Suit chauffeuring me home while Jenna played the doorman and guided me to bed.The car mix-up was embarrassing, but the real concern was how I allowed a stranger to take charge of my helpless self. I never let those kinds of situations happen to me. Who knows, I could have ended up with some psycho taking advantage of my drunken state. It was reassuring to think I wouldn't meet Mr. Suit again.Jenna was casually sipping her coffee and flipping through a magazine at the kitchen counter. She had been my housemate for a couple of years in the apartment my dad gave me. She used to work in my department until she found another job that suited her experience. But even after leaving the company, she stayed in the apartment with me. Living in such a spacious place alone could get lonely. Of course, I didn't ask her to pay for the rent, but we shared the household expenses.My