- Alina –

If he looked any less perfect, I would have stomped on his foot in my heels and slapped him across his emotionless stoned face.

But heck he definitely was hot as hell.

More so when he was getting frustrated.

What kind of Insurance Agent looked that sexy? Oh right him, the CEO of the damn company.

Black fitted suit, slicked back hair, sharp facial features and sculpted body. And damn those eyes, they were endless.

I gritted my teeth and gripped the steering wheel tighter, if only I wasn’t going to be married.

Well, if the marriage was still going to proceed anyway.

I drove my silver Bugatti Veyron through the open gates of my estate and pulled up at the main door. The rage for my fiancé took over the lustful attraction for the emotionless Mr Knight and I was ready to snap.

The tires screeched to a halt and I hopped out, my chauffeur quickly running down the steps and into the car to park it in the garage. My heels clicked against the stone of the steps as I marched up to the main door. My butler, Wilson, opened them the moment I approached, “Welcome home Miss, can I get you anything?”

“A bottle of red wine will be nice, thank you,” I continued making my way through the luxurious living room of my mansion and up the grand staircase to my room.

“I shall prepare two glasses then?” Wilson asked and I paused in my steps.

I turned and looked over the staircase to where he was still standing by the door, “Are you kidding me? I’m having the bottle for myself. Mr Connor Anderson is not getting a single drop.”

The moment I reached my room, I flung the door open and Connor, my fiancé, looked up at me from his packing. His eyes were bright with happiness until he let my deadly expression sink in.

“Hey babe, what’s up?” He asked carefully and I let a grim smile appear on my face.

“What’s up? Guess where I went today? Just guess my lovely sweet friend,” I taunted and he visually gulped.

“Something happened at work didn’t it? I hardly see you this angry, I told you not to go in to work today. Tomorrow is our big day and you need all the rest you can get babe,” he reached out to hold my shoulders but I took a step back and glared at him.

“I did not go in to work today. I went to the ‘Knight Insurance Agency’, the insurer for all your cars, does that ring a bell?”

His eyes seemed to pop when he realised what I was talking about, “What? Why would you go there? You said you were dropping by the office-”

I raised a finger, “I did say that, I didn’t say which office. And you have no right to question my twisting of words when you were the one lying to me.”

“I never lied to you Alina, I love you, why would I-”

“Then explain what Mr Knight told me then. In debt? Meddling with gangs? Insurance fraud? What the fuck?”

His knees bent and he knelt on the ground, his voice desolate with desperation, “I-I’m sorry Alina, I was doing a few deals with them. It wasn’t big. Just helping them find some properties to do their work and they paid me a huge sum for commission. They asked me to work for them but I rejected Alina, I cannot do that to you, to us. What I was doing was risky enough and if the police found out, I’ll be taken away from you.

I swear Alina I never worked for them, I only found places for them to rent and that was it. They started pressuring me to find bigger places for them and when I couldn’t meet their demands, they stopped paying me entirely. I couldn’t afford it, I had to keep it from you and the debts just kept increasing. Then I remembered the large sum we put into insuring the cars. It was the only way, there was no way you would agree to sell the house-”

My body burned with fury and my hand flew across his cheek before I could even think about stopping it and the slap reverberated through the room, “You think I’m pissed because of the money?!”

He seemed to cower back as my eyes stared daggers at him, my voice increasing as anger took the reins, “My father is in the hospital all because of your stupid staged accident! He was hurt because of you and your idiotic idea! You crashed into him!”

I grabbed his collar and shook him as tears flooded my eyes, the image of my father lying on the hospital bed, injured and broken, broke my heart and I wanted to snap this fucker’s head off.

“I’m sorry babe, I didn’t mean to- I swear I-” He held my shoulders but I shoved him to the ground. His touch felt completely repulsive to me. 

I stomped on the space between his legs as a warning. My heels barely missed his crotch and he yelped like a dog left out in the rain. 

His eyes were almost begging, “Alina please, I need you. I love you.”

The tears that fell down my cheeks were new ones, crying for the love that I have lost. I can’t live with someone who hurt my father. Much less marry someone who would do something like this behind my back. Accident or not, the damage was done and it was his decision that had my father lying in the hospital. And he had the audacity to pretend it was none of his business.

Gangs? I despise anyone who has to do anything with them.

I steeled my heart and emotions, feeling the muscle in my chest clench painfully, “It’s over Connor, the wedding is off. I don’t want to see you ever again."

***

- Kieran -

I woke up to a naked, curvy body curled up next to me and groaned. Well, time to go.

I pushed myself up, the sun streaming brightly into the room. For a normal room at the hotel, it was relatively decent. Though it felt too small for my frame.

I arrived in Hawaii just past midnight and went straight for a drink. Hoping to drown everything out before enjoying the sun in the morning.

I picked my clothes up off the floor and got dressed, hearing the woman stirring under the covers, “Leaving already?”

I barely glanced at her, “I have someone I have to meet.”

Lies, but what did it matter? This random girl didn’t know me.

I caught her gazing at me at the bar last night and took the chance to relieve some pent-up stress. And to forget the gorgeous beauty that invaded my office.

Alina Simmons.

I forced my mind to focus on something else when I felt the girl, whose name I couldn’t even remember, wrap her arms around my waist and whisper into my back, “Can’t you stay for another round? Or maybe I can invite you here again tonight before I leave for my flight?”

I pried her hands away and turned to look at her. She had beach blonde curls that draped over her shoulders and her lips were still swollen from a whole night of copulating. Though it was some good sex, I felt hollow, empty.

“I can’t, I don’t go for seconds,” I answered coldly and she frowned.

“But you even got me a gift!” She raised her hand and held up the gold case of Alina’s lipstick.

I narrowed my eyes at her and snatched it back from her, “Did you search my clothing?"

She huffed and folded her arms over her bare self, "And here I thought you were some romantic. Giving a girl some Limited Edition, customised cosmetic. Turns out you're just another lying cheating bastard. What's the lipstick for? Your girl's birthday? Anniversary?"

Good God, and all I wanted was to take a break.

"Have a save flight," I answered without a single ounce of emotion and left.

I let my black blazer hang over my arm, the sun now warm with a light breeze compared to last night’s chill. I looked once over my shoulder to make sure the girl didn’t come after me and waved down a cab.

I let the sunshine and beautiful scenery flood my mind and senses. The strain and ache that nestled in my mind seemed to float away and I breathed the salty air of the beach in.

The weather was perfect today and I wanted to settle down at the beach to unwind. 

The cab drove up to the entrance of the five-star hotel that I would be staying at for the duration I was here. I tipped the driver before stepping out and heard a screech of tires as a car stopped abruptly just a distance away.

A silver Aston Martin roared and the chauffeur climbed out, quickly swinging the passenger door open.

The sexy heels of the woman hit the marble floor of the drop-off area and she got out, a champagne flute in hand as she downed every last bit of its contents.

I folded my arms and kept my expression under control, what a surprise to see her here. 

She handed her flute to her chauffeur, resting her hand on his shoulder, or using him for support, I don't know.

"Tell Wilson to make sure to get Connor out of my house by the end of the week. This is my honeymoon and mine alone!" She whispered to him harshly and I blew out a breath of air.

Someone doesn’t seem very engaged anymore.

She strode forward confidently even in her sparkling stilettoes and slightly drunk state towards the lobby. I followed after her and kept a safe distance in case she was the kind who got violent when they were tipsy. Her chauffeur was left behind and he grabbed her luggage with the help of the bellboy.

Alina leaned against the Reception Counter to check in and I stood back, watching her.

She handed her identification and reservation confirmation to the lady behind the counter, “Hi, I’ve booked a suite for my honeymoon? But I uh-”

The receptionist looked up at her, “Oh you must be Mrs Anderson, we weren’t expecting you till tomorrow-”

“THAT is Miss Simmons to you, I am no longer engaged and I refuse to marry at the moment. Please just check me into a room, I don’t need the damn ‘Honeymoon Suite’,” Alina slurred and wobbled on her feet.

Clearly, she’s no longer taken.

“I’m sorry Mrs Anderso- I mean Miss Simmons, we’re fully booked for today. Your suite will only be available tomorrow, it is currently occupied.”

Well yeah, by me.

“Listen here you-” she started and I couldn’t watch her destroy the lobby of my favourite hotel.

I stepped in and held her arm, “Darling, I’ll settle this for you.”

Alina looked up at me, her glassy eyes staring depths into my dark soul. Her brows furrowed together and she raised her index finger, tapping the tip of my nose.

“I know you, don’t I?” She mumbled and I wrapped an arm around her slender waist.

I turned to the receptionist with a wide smile, “I’m sorry about that, my friend, Mr Anderson, was supposed to reserve the suite under Alina’s name but he used his own name.”

“Mr Knight, are you related to Miss Simmons?”

I held Alina tighter against me, enjoying the warmth of her body, “Miss Simmons is my wife. Please address her as such.”

The receptionist’s eyes widened and she quickly made the arrangements while Alina continued staring at me.

“What?” I cocked my head and she ran her hands down the buttons of my shirt.

I fucking gulped.

“You are that handsome man from yesterday! I remember you!” She squealed and I leaned forward to whisper in her ear.

“Keep it down sweetheart, my good looks won’t be a secret anymore if you keep this up.”

Alina laughed then hiccupped and I pulled away to see her face turning a sickly green before she spewed her guts all over the majestic marble floors and my ten-thousand-dollar shoes.

So much for not destroying the lobby.