"I would love to," I rasped, and we both chuckled like school kids. She pressed her forehead against mine and whispered, "For the first time in my life, I think I'm actually enjoying this damn party." I chuckled and wrapped an arm around her small waist."Is there a bathroom here?" I inquired."Yes," she whispered. I proceeded to remove the rest of my clothes, relishing the adoring look in her eyes as she watched me. I then lifted her up and carried her to the bathroom, her arms wrapped around my neck as she kissed me again."Would your parents wonder where you've disappeared to?" I asked."I made a dutiful appearance, although I nearly caused a scene..." she replied."Then we won't be missed for a few more minutes," I suggested, guiding her to sit on the toilet bowl. With her legs spread wide, I knelt in front of her, reaching for the bidet sprayer and bringing it to her parted knees. I proceeded to clean her up, flushing away any remnants of our lovemaking. Just as I was about to f
Archer extended his hand and helped me up, pulling me into a hug despite the pounding headache I was experiencing."Archer, normal people would just cry and grieve," I grumbled through gritted teeth."Hmm..." he mumbled, and I noticed Chad standing behind him, wearing a smile."Welcome back, Mark," Chad greeted."Thanks, man," I replied."Welcome back, Mark," more of the men chimed in. I waved dismissively, then placed my hand on my throbbing forehead. Eliza must have noticed my discomfort because she hurried to my side."We need to get him back to the hospital," she said."But you said he was fine," Archer said, furrowing his eyebrows."He's bleeding and has a headache. He needs...""Nothing that aspirin couldn't fix, right, Doc?" I interjected, glancing at Eliza, urging her to agree. She nodded."Let's get out of here," Archer suggested, while Eliza wrapped an arm around my waist to support me. When she attempted to open her car door, Archer added, "No way. Mark stays with me.""Wha
"Miss Rutherford, they're waiting for you," Lucy, my assistant, said with a warm smile as she peered into my office."Thank you," I replied, quickly getting up and grabbing my laptop, which contained my research report. Today, I had to present it to the board in order to seek their approval to halt the production of one of our new products.As the Quality Control and Assurance executive at PharmaMed, one of the country's prestigious pharmaceutical companies, it was my responsibility to ensure the safety and efficacy of our products. This was a pivotal day for me, as I meticulously prepared to deliver a presentation that held the power to alter the course of our product's journey. Within the depths of my report lay a sobering revelation—a substantial issue that had the potential to compromise both the efficacy and safety of our prized creation.With determination mixed with apprehension, I entered the boardroom.The room exuded an air of sophistication, with its polished wooden furnitu
The entire situation felt surreal, but I soon realized that the job was demanding. For the past months, I had been consumed with work, using it as a distraction from the intense longing I felt for Archer. He never reached out to me, and I resisted the temptation to contact him, fearing rejection and not wanting to appear desperate or immature. I didn’t have any reason to anyway. I didn’t get pregnant. My heart constricted painfully at the thought.I focused on surviving without him each day, even going on dates with men I met at work or during nights out with Jade and Tiffany and our new friends. Whenever Jade and Tiffany tried to bring up Archer in conversation after I returned to Duport, I shut it down and changed the subject. I was grateful that they quickly caught on and understood that it was a topic I wasn't ready to discuss. But their smiles were evident when they saw my customized car with my initials on the license plate.I had plans to return to my hometown of Brooks for Chr
"Mark?! Talk to me, man!" Archer demanded through the communication device plugged into my ear. "I got her, she's wounded," I replied with clenched teeth as I hurried back to one of the offices. Everywhere was dark and dusty; I could barely see. Carefully placing her on a dusty table, I grabbed one of the more extended desks and began smashing it repeatedly against the glass wall. "I need that chopper now, Donovan!" I yelled, and I could hear him barking out orders on the other end. Shortly after, I heard the sound of a helicopter just outside the wall, floodlights shining through the glass. "Can you break the glass, Mark?!" Archer asked, his tone tense with urgency. "Give me a minute…" "You don't have a minute, the fire is spreading," Chad yelled. "Damn it!" I cursed under my breath. "Blast the goddamn glass, Chad!" Archer roared. I hurriedly carried Adele and took cover before another blast rocked the building, using my shirt to cover her head. As the chopper got closer, Arc
Fernwood Lane, a vast expanse of land covering close to twenty acres, had become my latest construction project. Once dense vegetation was acquired and cleared by my construction company, this land was destined to be transformed into a bustling suburb catering to the middle class.In the world of real estate, opportunities abound for financial gains and even avenues for money laundering. Illegally acquired wealth need not pass through traditional banking channels; instead, it could be invested in construction supplies and projects. The end product, a legal business sold by legitimate means, allowed the money to be funneled back into the banks undetected. Having a reputable commercial bank as a co-investor further facilitated this process. However, there was a dark side to this business. To safeguard my identity, I relied on individuals my father referred to as 'Fronts.' These were genuine professionals in various fields who, while skilled, were also morally corrupt and greedy. They a
As I slowly regained consciousness, two things became apparent: I was no longer in the elevator, and I found myself enveloped in the warm embrace of someone who felt and smelled like Archer. I became aware of the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest against my back, and I couldn't ignore the intimate proximity of his warm, throbbing presence against my bum."Archer…" I whispered, feeling relief wash over me as I recognized his presence. "Yes, babe," he rasped, his voice filled with concern. I attempted to turn and face him, but a sharp pain shot through my head, causing me to wince. "Stay still. I'm right here," he reassured me, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of my shoulder. "I want to see you," I whispered, determined to catch a glimpse of him. He started to move away, but I quickly reached out, gripping his shirt to keep him close. With a clenched jaw, I managed to turn my head in his direction, and a sharp breath escaped me when our eyes met. Archer's amused grin made me blush
"Archer, I..." I started to say, my emotions swirling, but he interrupted gently."I want you to know you have that option. So think about it, okay?" he implored, giving me the space to process everything.I held his gaze for a moment before nodding. He gently guided my head to rest back on his chest, and I closed my eyes, pressing my face to the side of his neck, feeling safe in his embrace."How long was I unconscious?" I asked, trying to piece together the time I had lost."About eight hours…" Archer replied, concern evident in his voice. "Oh, my, what time is it?" I inquired, feeling disoriented. He raised his left wrist to check the gold Rolex adorning it. "Ten minutes to eleven a.m.""You stayed all night," I said, a mix of surprise and gratitude in my tone. "Hmm…." "Did you get any sleep?" I asked, worried about him as well. "I tried…." He sighed. "A nurse came earlier to check on you. I told her I would let her know when you woke up…" "Great, I think I'm going to need so