LINDEN I could watch her all day. Even the way she twirled the pasta with the fork looked appealing. Nothing sexier than your woman enjoying your food, licking her lips, her eyes lighting up. I took it as a compliment. After dinner, she volunteered to clean the kitchen, but I refused. “I know what to do.” “I don’t doubt that, but I don’t like someone touching my kitchen.” She came beside me with her fist on her hip as I loaded the dishwasher. “Don’t tell me you named your knife after a great samurai or your favorite pot after Gordon Ramsey.” I laughed out loud. “I do have a favorite pan and named it after the gorgeous woman who broke up with me on a piece of paper. Every time I put it on fire, it reminded me of wanting to spank her ass.” She wrinkled her nose. “That’s horrible.” “Yeah. You can go up and change to my shirt. I take it you want to stay?” “Can I?” she asked without a doubt. “I have a spare bedroom on the left. Just next to mine.” “Why can’t we share a bedroom?”
ESTELLE “Hey.” I went downstairs to look for Linden when I found the side of the bed empty. After turning me down last night, I realized that no matter how much he liked me, we could only be friends without the benefits. It was a disappointment, really, but maybe it was good for us. “Good morning.” He met me at the bottom of the stairs, still wearing the same smile. “Where have you been?” After that question came out of my mouth, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Sorry. Forget that I asked.” “Breakfast?” “I called Qamar. He’s on his way, but do you have tea?” His brows knitted. “What’s with you with not drinking coffee and wine?” “Let’s just say my life is a little complicated right now. I can’t pump myself up with alcohol and caffeine.” I followed him to the kitchen. “Are you sure you can’t wait till I make breakfast?” “Maybe you can come by later. Let’s say dinner at my house.” “Alright.” He boiled water and grabbed a teacup. “Do you prefer green?” “Any.” “Green then.” He put
LINDEN“What did they talk about?”“There was no talking involved, boss. They were fighting.” There was a hesitation in Qamar’s voice, but I had to know if Estelle was in danger.“What else, Q? What are you not telling me?”“They were fighting about you.”I nodded in understanding, even if he couldn’t see me. “It’s my fault. I provoked Gustav.”“It’s not your fault. This issue had been there for years before you even met Ms. Bladwyn. And even if you’re not going to tell me, I will do the right thing and what’s good for my client. What are you gonna do, boss?”“I have plans.”“Good to hear that.”“In the meantime, keep an eye on her. Sometimes, she does reckless things to prove she’s right.”“You can count on me, boss.” I hung up the phone.“What’s the matter?” Willa asked with a plate of lasagna in her hand.“I might just do something stupid.”“I’m not judging. You can be stupid for the greater good.” She gave me the plate and a fork and joined me on her couch. “That’s delicious.”“Yo
ESTELLE “So, there’s nothing we could do?” I had been talking with my lawyers, but I could already see my future self before me, losing the battle. “It wasn’t stated in the contract that you couldn’t file a divorce or when you could. To secure your assets, you have to convince Mr. Klayton to sign the tight prenup.” Atty. Randish said, somehow, it uplifted me. “Thank you. I will do that.” “It’s just marriage. You can get out anytime. Estelle, this is a free country,” Atty Tawny smiled with a nod over the screen. “I can’t even look at him without gagging.” Atty Tawny chuckled. “Well, there is that. It may have already been agreed on by both parties, and you can’t change the fact, but you still have control over your future. It’s not the end for you.” “I hope so.” After the conference call, Micah helped me with the outdoor movie ideas I had in mind. After two hours, I was sweaty and a little bit hungry. The chef made some perfect and delicious chicken mango salsa bowl and Caju
LINDEN“Where are we going?” she asked me again and again. I hadn’t answered her question as I stuffed her inside the SUV. I only told her to wear comfortable clothes.Lynx went to the driver’s seat while Q was on the passenger’s. “So, who’s the new hot guy?” I knew she was messing with me. I could see the glint in her eyes, but joke or not, I couldn’t ignore the twinge in my chest.“Excuse me?” I leaned in to whisper in her ear. “I just had you this morning, and I’m sure my come is still there, and you’re already asking who’s the new hot guy?”She just giggled. “He’s cute.”I groaned as I pinched her on her thigh, causing her to yelp. “What was that for, Gabriel Rembrandt?”I smiled. “You might know my birthday, as well.”She took her phone, and I just saw her dialing Sax.“Why are you calling him?”Instead of answering, she pressed her finger against my lips. I held her and kissed it before I pulled it down.“Hey, Sax. I hope I’m not interrupting something.” She paused as Sax migh
ESTELLE “I know it’s none of my business, but when will you tell Mr. Linden about it? You can’t hide it forever. Pregnancy will grow eventually.” “He’s reckless when it comes to the people he cares about. He always wants to be the hero, maybe a part of his job, or it’s his personality, and I don’t want him to be reckless for his child.” “But it’s unfair. As far as I can see, he is a good man and responsible. And a father will always do what’s good for his children.” “You should tell that to my father, Micah.” “Estelle, he’d love to be involved in raising his kid. I’m sorry, but as your assistant, I think I may have an idea of what’s going on.” Micah sat on the chair across my desk. “You’re going to marry the man you disgust while you are pregnant with a man you love—” “Whoa.” My eyes widened, yet my heart agreed. “Who said about love?” She shrugged. “Well, tell me, what you have been doing recently? Staying with him, sleeping over in a romantic place, and him sleeping over in y
LINDEN “I think my past is coming to bite me in the ass, Linden.” I’d never seen Jasper so serious until today. He ran his fingers through his dark hair again. His eyes were haunted. My stomach twisted. “What do you mean, Jas?” “You know my father, what he did, and I was a part of it.” “You’ve paid for your mistakes. You redeemed yourself back—” “To the authority. When I thought I would be safe forever under the protection of the FBI, I was wrong. I just found out that someone dangerous has been asking about me lately.” “I will do everything in my power to protect you. And we’re not alone anymore, Jas.” “No. I can’t let you do that.” He shook his head violently. “I don’t want you to do that. You’re the closest to a family I have left, Linden.” “Too bad that’s not your decision to make.” “I’ve been thinking about this since I found out and decided it last night.” “What is your plan, Jas?” I crossed my arms over my chest as I sat on my desk. “I can’t let you do that alone. Tha
ESTELLE “Estelle, you can’t watch—” Micah turned off the tv as if I had just caught her watching porn. “Turn that thing on,” I told her, more like a bark, but she seemed to freeze. I went home early from work since it was Friday. I didn’t feel well today. Maybe my problems were catching up on me, and I still didn’t know how to solve them. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.” There was a trace of hesitation in her voice, making me more annoyed and curious at the same time. “Do you think I only have one tv in this house, or I can’t watch it on my computer?” My glare hardened as I eyed the remote in her hand. “Considering your condition, I don’t wanna stress you out.” “About what?” I snapped, forcing my anger to cool down. “It’s about your company. It’s all over the news, business segments, internet. All.” She finally turned it on. I swallowed hard. I felt like my chest was crushing, and I couldn’t breathe. I found myself on the couch with my hand on my chest. From the corner of my