Ana watched Jeff from across the breakfast table like a trapped or wounded animal. She had stayed for months with him because she thought she liked him. Perhaps she could admit she loved him. Last night he’d gone too far. She’d convinced herself this was part of the games he and his friends played, and she let him make love to her. She figured if he fell asleep, she could leave. Be he’d locked her purse in a safe she couldn’t open. Later, he’d blindfolded her before he surprised her by locking a fancy ankle bracelet to her, then he attached a chain from the bed to it. He’d chained her to the bed, then gave her some of the best sex she’d ever had. Tired after all that exertion, Jeff revealed he’d been utter scum and recorded their time together. Ana wanted to kill him. He claimed he couldn’t trust her. Yet he’s the one who pulls this. Her life would end if her father saw the video. Ana now realized Jeff knew her identity. How could she explain to him why she lie

Merina fielded calls all day and with Conner out dealing with his business. Merina used his office to field various calls from staff and clients. Updating reports and other things. Somehow, a couple of enterprising journalists got her business number and tried to get an interview with her or a representative. They didn’t have a publicity department or marketing because they worked on referrals. Ana contacted her and they arranged a quick staff meeting to address the pending cases. Merina discovered a backlog of phone messages, despite already going through them thrice today. Her father called several times and still didn’t understand she had a life and worked. Merina couldn’t drop everything to talk to him. She acknowledged that not calling him was a valid reason as well. Upon confessing, he banished her to the lion’s den, expressing a lack of faith in her investigative skills. Conner wanted her to give her father a break. He’d tried to

“When is your business partner arriving?” Conner had entered the study before he asked Merina. She looked up with a frown. Then she realized he’d never met Ana in person. She was unsure he’d ever heard her voice except for the time she spoke in the conference’s background call yesterday. “She’ll be arriving any minute. Why? You look nervous. Is there a problem? Will us meeting together here be an issue? We could go somewhere else if it’s a problem.” “No, it’s not a problem. I want everything to run with no hitches.” “Now I’m concerned Conner. What must go with ease? What are you planning?” Merina now had learned how to read Conner. He’d pulled too many stunts, and she could now recognize his tells. “I haven’t planned anything. Though I’ve made sure dinner will be interesting. I wanted to ensure that she had a seat at the table.” “Do you also sense that it’s not just us three?” “Your close friends should meet mine. T

Jeff smirked as he followed Ana into the guest room. “What are you doing?” Ana said. Her tone demanded an answer as her eyes flashed with fury. “They told me to use this room. It’s not like we haven’t seen each other naked before. Live a little Ana.” Jeff caught Ana’s arm as she tried to leave. “Hey, you don’t want your friend and host to feel horrible, do you? We’re all adults here.” “Some more than others it seems.” Ana pulled her arm from his hand, but he didn’t step back. Jeff let his height give him the advantage. “It’s time to stop this, Ana. Sometimes I forget to drop the persona because people prefer it over the real me.” “I’ve always kept that I didn’t care for the persona or the job. You never got it, did you? I wasn’t dating you for others to see me with you. I didn’t see you for your money or your capabilities. Yet, you tell me you believe I’m lying to you. Fine, I have lied to you about two things. But only two t

Medina observed men with their differences in appearance and demeanor. “It’s like they’ve left all serious business at the door.” They’d seen Conner drop an ice cube into Dan’s lap and then they were wrestling. Jeff proposed to Ana in an unusual manner, but she still had to respond. The position he put her in. Merina was like Ana. She didn’t know how she’d respond. Conner gave her a choice that wasn’t a choice. “So, you won’t punish me or give me grief for working? You won’t belittle me in front of other people for having goals in life that don’t include what you want?” Ana asked. Her questions revolved around how he’d treated her and how he wouldn’t do it again. “That’s right. I promise there won’t be any extra details.” Jeff said to Ana. He aimed to calm her thoughts, enabling them to move forward, and for her to feel at ease enough to agree.“What about your photos with other women?” Will they end too?” Ana hated seeing those photo