The venue was beautiful and exorbitant. A golden chandelier was hanging high above the ceiling. People inside looked as radiant as the place itself. It had three open floors arranged like side balconies, in which other guests were chatting over drinks.Bruno led them to a big well-decorated round table, where they all settled. Sooner he excused himself for a minute for an untold reason. Gena busied herself with her phone, and Claire was getting familiar with the party by wandering her gaze around.That's when she spotted someone, who as always, managed to take her breath away. He was dressed casually in cream cropped pants and aqua marine stylish coat; the shirt beneath was half buttoned. She could clearly see it even from a distance."Ryan." The name slipped out of her lips in a sweet whisper, her heart beating fast.Ryan was smiling forcefully at some couple while sipping the drink he was holding, his free hand dug into his pants' pocket. Indeed he was breathtakingly handsome, and

"Yes, you are," Claire returned with clenched teeth, ignoring her beguiled thoughts. "So you brought me here just to have my body? Is that what you want from me?" Her face turned serious."I never said that I only want your body, Claire. Perhaps I want all of you," Ryan muttered and deftly held her close to his chest, startling her. "Don't you want to know how it feels like having me deep inside you? How my real kisses taste, and all the things I could do to you?" he breathed into her hair, gripping her body possessively, desire filled in his voice.Claire moaned softly at the gesture, her breast crushed by his hard chest. "No, I don't," she uttered, her voice hardly audible. Ryan kept teasing her, sliding the sleeves of her dress off her slender shoulders, kissing each shoulder blade in turn. "Ah . . ." She tipped her head back into the hollow of his neck."I want to see them without this," Ryan muttered as he cupped her barely covered teats, no bra securing them, just the soft fabr

Ryan was also gone, and around the same time. One plus one makes two, and she knew the two were together somewhere."I went out for some air, but I hope I didn't miss much." Claire forced a smile and stuck with the same story."Not really," Bruno replied, smiling back gently. "Let me just steal her for a while—do you mind?" He suddenly directed the request to Gena."Not at all," Gena returned with a big smile as Harry reappeared again with drinks. "Take your time," she told Claire in a whisperBruno led Claire towards the table where Mr. Stevens was seated. As always, the old man was extremely delighted to have her audience. He smiled brightly upon seeing Claire, and she saw him."I'm so happy you could make it, Claire, and you look very beautiful," said Mr.Stevens, and to Claire's horror, Ryan was seated just across from her.Why was heaven so busy putting this man on her path whenever she'd go?"The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Stevens." She smiled, trying to ignore the distraction. "C

"Need some coffee or tea?" Doris offered, but none of the two obliged.The glass door swung open again. Ryan, Harry, and other three men entered the room. Claire's heart skipped a beat when she saw him. Harry looked a bit surprised to see her. He smiled subtly. As for Ryan, he was indifferent. He took a seat across from her, his eyes gleaming.The presentation started upon Ryan's instructions. He didn't botherwith introductions. Nathan began explaining the slides on the projector, during which Ryan's eyes were almost fixed on Claire, and she returned with a glare. He was distracting her, damn it! Always a jerk.By the time Nathan was done with the presentation, everyone was nodding in agreement while exchanging murmurs. Everyone except Ryan who stared at the projector with an unimpressed look. He seemed to be thinking, and Claire couldn't leave his eyes."I don't like it," he said crisply.All eyes in the room turned on him, surprised."Excuse me?" Nathan prompted."I thought it was

She wasn't going to win against him, Claire knew this for a face. But she also knew he was capable of doing that for her. If he stopped seeing her, everything would be back to normal."Listen, Claire," said Ryan in a soft voice. He stood up so that they're closer. "I'm not playing—""I'm done with this!" Claire snapped. "I can't afford to be the other woman, and especially the evil one." She furiously grabbed her handbag and headed to the exit."So this is all about Doris?" Ryan snapped back, and she stared back at him, wondering what was really the matter with him."Yeah, it's all about her," she retorted. "So can I go now?" Her voice was harsher."Are you feeling guilty or something?" Ryan asked.Was he serious? Claire let out a smirk and bit her lip savagely.She'd started to think he was really out of his mind. Was it possible that she was dealing with a mental patient? Asylum mental? She asked herself inwardly, but couldn't bring herself to believe he was in need of a shrink."Do