Chapter 1
A thirty–year–old man’s desires are raw and unfiltered.
Alicia Shelton had long since lost track of how much time had passed. Her body felt as though it had come apart at the seams. overwhelmed by an intensity she could neither fight nor escape.
Vincent Lawson knew her body too well–every sensitive spot, every secret weakness. Not a single touch was wasted. He was precise, practiced, devastatingly effective.
Finally, when it was over, Vincent stood by the bed, taking his time as he dressed. “Clear my schedule starting tomorrow,” he said, buttoning his shirt. I’m taking a week off. Book two tickets to the Maldives.”
Alicia shifted, trying to ease the ache in her back, a flicker of hope lighting her tired eyes. “Vincent, are you taking me on vacation?”
He paused, frowning slightly as he looked at her. “I’m going with Mina Holloway.“!
The smile froze on Alicia’s face. She lowered her gaze, her voice small. “Of course, Mr. Lawson…
Noticing the change in her expression, Vincent spoke again, his tone flat. “Alicia, you’re an orphan. You’re young. I could never marry you.” A bitter smile curled on Alicia’s lips as she looked up at him. “I never expected you to marry me. But now that Miss Mina Holloway is back from her divorce… I suppose this is where we part ways.
Vincent’s face darkened. He ruffled her hair, almost gently, and placed a credit card on the nightstand. “Be good. Go buy yourself something nice.
“I’m not going to be your mistress, Mr. Lawson.” Alicia met his eyes, stubborn. She knew Vincent and Mina’s marriage was only a matter of time.
“It’s too soon to talk about that,” Vincent replied, impatience flaring in his voice. “If the time comes and I get married, then we’ll talk, But until then, don’t get dramatic. It’s not your call to make.” He shot her a final look, then strode out.!!
The front door closed with a hollow click, and for a long moment, Alicia heard nothing but a ringing in her ears.
She was an orphan. During her freshman year at college, her looks had caught the attention of Mira Lawson–Vincent’s younger sister, a spoiled heiress with a cruel streak. Mira’s bullying had left Alicia half–deaf in one ear, her little finger broken, and nearly blinded by a lit cigarette.
Someone had
filmed the attack. The video w went viral, igniting a public outcry.
The school was forced to call in the parents. Vincent came to represent the Lawsons.8
Vincent–the golden boy of the Lawson family.
Maybe it was for the family name, or maybe it was pity, but Vincent had reached out to Alicia, battered and bruised as she was. The first words he ever spoke to her: “Don’t be afraid. I won’t let anyone hurt you again.
It was pathetic of her, really. But Alicia fell for Vincent–hard. At the loneliest, hungriest time of her life, he became everything she dreamed a man could be. He was safety and affection, all wrapped up in one.”
She used to think Vincent was her salvation. But now she saw it clearly. He didn’t love her. He just couldn’t let her go.
Lawson & Co
Vincent had meetings to attend and work to hand over. Mina waited for him in his office!!
Soon, they would be flying off to the Maldives together–seven days of bliss.
Alicia placed a cup of coffee before Mina, her heart twisting painfully. “Miss Holloway, your coffee.“%
Mina looked up, her smile soft, almost kind.!!
She was everything Alicia wasn’t. Born into a powerful family, Ming was Vincent’s childhood friend, his perfect match in every way. She had poise, intelligence, that untouchable air of someone who had never known true want. Just sitting there, Mina radiated confidence so bright it hurt Aliciar to look at her
Alicia knew she’d lost, that she had never stood a chance.
The prince never truly loves Cinderella. He just keeps her around to pass the time
Setting down the coffee, Alicia all but fled the office, barely holding herself together.
How could she be confident? Orphaned, poor, her body marred by old injuries–every part of her screamed of inadequacy.
“Mr. Lawson and Miss Holloway are going on their honeymoon, did you hear?” whispered a coworker by the water cooler. “Looks like it’s official. The families have agreed, and the engagement announcement is coming when they get back, “li
Wicis poured boiling water into her mug, so distracted she scalded the back of her hand.
The cup slipped and shattered on the floor. It took her a moment to realize what happened, and she hurried to run her hand under cold
water!
Vincent and Mina were getting married.
That meant her time with Vincent was over. So was her internship at Lawson & Co.–an ending before she was ready.“]
“Alicia, Mr. Lawson wants you to drive him and Miss Holloway to the airport at eleven,” a colleague called out.!!
Alicia managed a bitter smile. Vincent could be cruel.
She knew he was doing it on purpose. There was a company driver, but he wanted her–just to remind her exactly where she stood. To make sure she didn’t get any foolish ideas.
In the end, Vincent and Mira were cut from the same cloth. Both bullies, just in different ways…
One broke her body. The other broke the pieces left of her heart.
Taking out her phone, Alicia hesitated for a long time before dialing a number she’d once blocked.
“Hello, Mr. Lynch? You said… if I agreed to marry you, you’d sponsor me to study in Italy. Does that offer still stand? Her voice trembled.“] Maybe mamage was her only way out–her only escape from Seaview City and from Vincent.
“Are you sure about this?” The man’s voice on the other end was low, steady. “Be at Riverside Mansion at seven on the thirteenth. We’ll discuss discuss the details.“)
The thirteenth Eight days left.
