TylerA sudden dryness gripped my throat as I gazed at the image, gently taking the phone from Chloe's hand. Despite her considerable efforts, nothing she showed me managed to turn me on as this single innocent snapshot of the woman did.She was... breathtaking—no other word could suffice— it was the perfect fit.I observed as the luscious dark brown locks of her hair cascaded over her shoulder. She sat comfortably on the sofa, absorbed in her phone, the ash-colored shorts barely concealing her creamy thighs. Her slender neck and eyes, though not clearly visible in the image, hinted at a possible hazel hue, completing the portrait of her beauty.This picture was so fucking simple yet everything, literally everything about her was too fucking perfect.Damn, the realization that Jacob Adriano had acquired yet another invaluable gem that I hadn't even laid eyes on until now, cut deep.I wanted her…."What was her name again?" I inquired of Chloe, my gaze still fixed on the image."Evelyn

Evelyn"It's time to wake up, baby," Jacob peppered my face with kisses, rousing me from sleep. I groggily turned, burying my face into the pillow. His lips found my bare back, prompting an involuntary gasp to escape my lips."Don't annoy me, Jacob. Let me sleep..." I groaned, squeezing my eyes shut to evade the intrusive morning light seeping through the window. He'd even drawn the curtains aside! Sometimes, I really wanted to despise him even though I knew it wasn’t possible."I'm afraid I can't, love," he chuckled, brushing my hair aside and nuzzling the back of my neck. "You wanted to visit my office, remember? Today's the day.""I'll go some other day. Let's sleep for now," I mumbled, rolling over and tugging him onto the bed beside me. "We got back so late last night. Let's catch up on sleep!" As he nestled into the crook of my neck, I tenderly massaged his scalp, attempting to coax him back to rest. But a telltale chuckle emanating from him shattered my efforts, echoing through

EvelynThere was something off about Jacob's description of Tyler. It failed to capture the sheer intensity emanating from the man standing before me. It wasn't merely a matter of words on a page. Words seemed inadequate to define him now; one single term sufficed—evil. He embodied it wholly, an eerie presence exuding an air of possession, as though he laid claim to everything in his path. Everything was his to own.I couldn't quite pinpoint the reason behind these impressions, but they were undeniably there—stirred solely by his presence."Well... This time, Jacob, I'm playing at something entirely different," he grinned, shifting his gaze towards me. "Is this your girl? Seems younger than your usual ones," his eyes scrutinized me, knitting a frown between my brows.The bloody scoundrel...My fists itched to land a blow on his face.Or perhaps a well-placed heel strike.I would prefer the latter, though."Before I toss you out of my office, I suggest you fucking leave on your own or—

Evelyn"About the investors pulling out their funds... It didn't seem like Tyler was joking," I ventured, shattering the oppressive silence that had settled between us. Jacob's touch traced the curves of my waist, his hand finding its way over my bare breast as he drew from his cigarette. His body leaned against the headboard while mine nestled against his, our naked forms entwined beneath the duvet.As peaceful as the moment was, we both knew we had a storm to deal with. "That bastard doesn't joke," he grumbled, a dry chuckle escaping his lips. "And these investor issues don't bother me half as much as the fact that he laid eyes on you. If he dares do something... I swear to god, I'll make sure he fucking regrets it."The seriousness in his tone struck a chord.God. He did sound serious. His words were no jest.He was indeed serious about it. "Hey, calm down," I implored, my fingers tracing the lines of his jaw. "Maybe he was just trying to throw you off, knowing it would get un

Evelyn"You're leaving?" I murmured, pushing myself upright, still groggy, and rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I squinted, piecing together the sight of him fastening his watch and slipping on his coat."Yeah, love," he said, walking over to plant a soft kiss on my cheek. "Go back to sleep. It's too early for you to be up. I've got some business at the office. I'll make sure breakfast is on its way for you, alright?" His touch lingered on my cheek.Truth be told, I didn't want him to go. But was it right to hold him back? Not a chance.His work mattered, and I understood the dedication he had towards what he'd built, despite how unaffected he tried to appear yesterday. Tyler's antics had rattled things for him, and as much as I craved his presence—right here, close to me—I couldn't ignore that it would be selfish.The last thing I wanted was to exacerbate his problems any further."You haven't had breakfast yet, have you?" I blurted out."I'll grab something on the way, don't worry,"