CHAPTER 1

The Billionaire's Collateral Husband Chapter 1

CONNOR Carter Vozinelik comes back to his senses when he felt a languorous hand movement right over his beefy chest. His head is sleepy; nevertheless, he gently opens his eyes as he stares at an ivory painted ceiling.

This familiar scene of waking up early in the morning with an unknown woman by his side is not new to him. Her fingers from her soft hand slowly linger all over his fair and toned body. Connor left out a heavy sighed before he held his dazed head.

Continuously staring at the dim-lighted place where the sunrise is not penetrating through the thick golden-coloured curtains. When he is truly awake—the hole inside his chest is still hunting down his feelings for Dylan Cohen.

The pain and bitterness of that day are still present when his brother is finally married to the man that he also loved the most—more than his exes. His hazel eyes with golden flakes are so fascinating to watch as he takes off the soft hand and petite are of the woman besides his body.

Connor gets up from the soft matrimonial bed while wearing his boxers that defines his bulge and rounded butt. The sun is rising five-thirty in the morning. Just like the ravishing alpenglow—the CEO shines more than he thinks of himself.

The youngest Vozinelik is drowning himself from the thoughts that would never be real. Dylan Cohen is now a Vozinelik and happily living with Luke. But, every single day—his scent is still the one his mind is looking for.

 The streets of Makati are now busy from the traffic below the twenty-fifth floor of this Emerald five-star hotel.

He has no choice, but to squeezes his mouth softly before letting out deep, controlled breathing. He cannot feel his feet from the numbness of cold tiles. . . Connor feels like he cannot even feel himself from the pain he is agonizing up until this day.

It's been almost two years when he tried to please him to his bone marrow. Connor is the wealthiest businessman and became the youngest business retail tycoon of the Philippines, which attains it at the age of twenty-five… now he is thirty and turning thirty-one. He studied his masters in business at Pepperdine University.

However, a mere lowlife could be his kryptonite.

The unknown woman on the bed is sleeping tightly when the CEO is preparing his Americano coffee. The scent of caffeine can detach his hefty emotions. Moreover, Connor spits out the coffee and the black substance drips from the marmol sink.

The coffee is bitter—just like the taste of his failed feelings and morning drink. But, he doesn't even feel the bitterness that much when he is always bitter since that day. That day when he is at the corner and discreetly being a light-headed groomsman of his brother, Luke, at the wedding.

He cannot understand himself up until his point. Every week, he tried to make out from different women because he thought it would be changing him into a better one.

Consequently, Connor is erroneous about his decisions. The cold soothes into his skin as he is slowly biting his lower lip. His lips are dry, but he slowly holds it with his hands—feeling the lips of Dylan crashing onto him.

That imagination is elusive from his side. Instead, his body is startled when hands are wrapping onto his torso. A warm breath is bouncing on his skin as the woman's nose is smelling the fragrance of his back.

"You are awake…" she muttered out of nowhere, but the other one puts sugar on his coffee then drink a little bit.

"Take the money, and I will leave in a minute or two—"

A waxy hand grabs his wrist to cause the halting of his feet. Connor grumbles when looking at her face. She is beautiful without any blemishes on her skin. Certainly, the media would not put him on the front page of the newspaper for being with another woman again.

The sunrise is slowly penetrating inside of the hotel room—glistering on his soft and fair skin. She slowly chews her lips to seduce the CEO; however, the youngest Vozinelik is narrowing his eyes at her.

"Can we do it again—"His finger swiftly pressed onto her thin red lips. Connor also has some visible lipstick stains on his abs.

"I said take the shit because I will leave. Do you even heard what I am saying?" a stern response, which causes the woman to sighed deep. Connor always tends to feel that a typical person has no feelings for his flaming arrow words.

"Can I know your name?" she begs on her knees when the CEO playfully scoffs in infuriation. His eyes and facial expression says it all to make her take an obscene amount of money at the bed. She immediately wears her clothes right in front of his eyes.

The beautiful woman comes closer and then gives a peck kiss on his cheeks. Connor finds her leaving the room—as his hands were travelling to the spot when she kissed it passionately.

A BRAND new day for the CEO of V company. His presence makes them all bow before his eyes could see the farthest sight inside the lobby. Connor's brows furrowed when he couldn't see his collateral secretary.

Connor witnessed Dylan at the other side of the aisle holding a clipped folder. He takes another glimpse, but the handsome wife of his brother smiles at him professionally—making his ears reddish.

Luke is in the other company and taking charge of the board meeting for the Versace in France.

"Where is Paul?" he asked the vice-president, which is Mrs Bridget. His auntie chuckles lightly. "Oh! Your enemy? He said he would be late because he is delivering the letter of resignation," she replied.

When reading it so… the heart of Connor skipped a beat. Paul Victoria is the only company he had in these past months.

The day is dropping off as soon as the third week of January… Paul would be resigning as his collateral secretary. Connor fixes his suit and ties before going up to his penthouse.

The elevator door opens, and when he goes out, his hand is holding the doorknob. He feels weak to twitch the door open when he could remember it is the same place—the place where he is pouring his heart out.

Connor audaciously walks inside. He turns his soft cushion swivel chair to sit down comfortably. However, he sees a sticky note on the bottom part of his personal computer.

Sir, I log in early this day. I am sending something to the board of directors' office. I prepared your breakfast on the table. Have a nice day!

How sweet his collateral secretary is… making such tiny efforts from his cursive handwriting that even a pharmacist cannot understand. Oh well, Connor tilted his head upwards before looking in the direction of the table.

The edge of his thin pinkish lips twitches a small smile of appreciation. Connor stretches his hands before going to the table to eat his morning breakfast. Seems like his secretary is now gradually turning kind in these preceding days.

Could it be the sign that he would also be leaving his life? The stress is lingering in the head of Connor. He is chewing his food vigorously as his jaw is tightening.

After a tiring morning of working, Connor finally finds peace on his soft cobalt blue couch he ordered a month ago. Of course, he tremendously wants this couch, but in just a flick of his long fingers—it's already his anyways.

They are crazy rich that they dominate the economy and belongs to the top one of the wealthiest persons here in the country. But, unfortunately, the CEO has a bad habit… and that habit is to scatter his expensive tailored tuxedo, slacks, ties and even shoes on the floor.

He is lying comfortably on the couch while crossing his long white legs and reading a managerial book. A moment later, the door opens without any knock.

Both of them are dumbfounded when seeing each other's face. Their gazes are like the farthest thing that their eyes could see. Connor gives him an unpleasant welcome because his clothes are scattered all over the clean floor again.

He tsked and cursing him inside of his head. Paul has self-pity from agonizing the years he is with his stubborn boss, who doesn't care about his feelings. Paul Victoria made the most challenging sacrifice of his life just for the sake of Dylan and Luke's love story.

Connor Vozinelik yawns loudly on the couch when his handsome face is storming in thoughts about the confrontation of his auntie in the morning. The youngest Vozinelik is like a wolf who cannot be tamed in an instant.

For years, Paul Victoria plans to transfer to another company where it's far away from this Greenfield City. He is buzzing out when picking the clothes one by one at different corner of the place.

However, Paul cannot even take his eyes off from his flawless, fair and blemish-free skin that getting whiter on the deep cobalt blue couch. He also has a godly figure like Hermes' body, which we can read in books.

However, Connor is far beyond the messenger of God because of his laziness and being self-centred. He doesn't even have time to lay his eyes at him and tell Paul that he is sorry for the years of his sacrifices.

"What are you buzzing?" Finally, he opens his mouth to break the silence inside the penthouse. As soon as Paul Victoria picked all of his clothes that creases his slacks' neat formation.

"Nothing… sir," with a strong accent in the sir words; Connor chuckles to lay his eyes are him. "You look good, today," a compliment that makes him blush.

Paul didn't see it coming from him. Connor shrugs his shoulder when laying it back again on the body of the coach. His bright hazel eyes are lingering on his body, but Paul chuckles when he hangs the clothes on the wardrobe.

The creaking sound of the closing door at the other side is making his boss annoys him in a different manner. Paul knew he is irritated when hearing it—so he does it repeatedly until…

"Could you please stop it?!" Connor nagged. Paul is making a mocking face before he could see it at his back.

A moment later when his collateral secretary comes back with a sweet black coffee. "Coffee, sir," he offered as he puts it on the glass side table. Connor sips some coffee, but he nearly throws it up when it's extra sweet.

"Do you want me to be diabetic?!" His irritated voice is a soft strung of Veena's chords. Just as complicated but harmonious as the queen of all instruments—Paul could compare him to its features.

Connor is gnashing his teeth in response to his onerous action. However, the CEO is witty to speak about his counter-attack.

"Do you have a knowledge about how could the taste of coffee compares to the love of that person who blend it for you?" he asked earnestly as Connor gently stirs the hot coffee in front of him.

Paul looks towards the other direction without uttering a single piece of word.

Connor stood and then approached him. His hand lifted his chin up towards his handsome face. "You like me, do you?"

Paul's mouth instantly goes wide open as if his jaw would fall on the clean floor. He cannot believe he is asking this time. "Get off you Lunatic," he sways his hand away from Connor.

Paul turns his back at him; however, his face is flustering when his heart is thumping aloud inside his chest. The CEO gives a scornful smile while looking at his broad shoulder.

"Why? That woman doesn't fit my taste. . . maybe you can give me another one?" he asked for more with a flirtatious tone.

His collateral secretary walks at his bag before he is pulling out something inside. A white envelope is in front of Connor while Paul is holding it firmly. He bows at him while blowing a loud breath.

Connor is seemingly apprehending what he means as his pupils are dilating in the rush of his heartbeat. Then, finally, the day comes, and this day is the one he is genuinely terrified of.

He is like a stone at his position when he is petrified by the white envelope.

Paul stops for a moment before grabbing the words he wants to say towards him. Feels like a bucket full of cold water is being thrown onto the naked body of the CEO.

"Sir, I will now resign as your secretary."