by Pamela Ann
After relishing the hot soothing spray of a shower for almost an hour, I noticed that my belongings were now neatly parked inside my closet. Ignoring the items, I pulled on one of my favorite black kimono robes before sliding into bed, wet hair secured with a towel into a big knot atop my head. The second my head touched the pillow, I dozed off in a heartbeat.
The past twenty-four hours surely had drained all energy out of me. My mind shut down, and my body soon followed.
7
Gisele
“Gisele…” a soft voice tried to pull me out of my slumber. A warm hand took hold of my shoulder, lightly shaking me. “Gisele…time to wake up, sleepy head.”
My lips parted, deeply breathing, ready to dive back into sleep until another shake brought me out of the sleepy haze. “Uhrgggh,” I groaned with frustration before I reluctantly drew my eyes open. The illumination coming from the lamp made my sensitive eyes squint in vain before I found a grinning Jared lazily situating half of his body across the unused side of the king size mattress. His striking face merely a foot away, cerulean blues avidly scrutinizing my sleepy ones.
How long was he staring at me before waking me up? “What do you want?” my grumble somehow turned into a soft smile. How could I get pissy when his lovely self greeted me upon waking?
“Your father granted me permission to wake you up, so I don’t deserve the moody pout. Dinner’s waiting in his suite, princess.” His eyes flickered towards my head and snickered. “Your hair’s a crazy riot.” He found entertainment in seeing me in such a disheveled state.
“Yeah, let’s see what you look like waking up, too. I bet you drool all over the pillows.”
“I do not!”
“You seem like the kind to be farting in your sleep, too.” I cackled at his stricken expression.
“I certainly do not!” he took hold of a pillow and lightly thumped it on my head. “A gentleman never addresses when ladies fart, but with you, I’ll make sure you’re thoroughly fart-shamed.” He began to tickle me, and I screamed with delight.
“Ladies don’t fart, and that’s a fact!”
“It’s fiction.”
I squealed when one hand tickled the side of my hip while the other was on my neck, simultaneously driving me into a squeaking, giggling mess. Then he abruptly stopped, confusing me.
“What?” I beamed, blinking at him as I brushed my hair aside.
His throat bobbed.
My robe had disbanded, and he could fully see my nakedness, breasts and my daring warmer (wetter?) region.
His eyes were glued to my breasts before they excruciatingly gazed below, in between my slightly parted legs. His lids masked his eyes so I couldn’t very well see them, but I knew his gaze was stuck to my smooth, bald slit.
What is he doing? My heart rammed viciously against my chest. Did the view please him or…
Yeah, the or part got to me. Bad.
“Oh, don’t look so horrified. Relax. It’s not going to bite you.” I tried to make a joke out of it as I gingerly teased him.
When those hypnotizing eyes snapped to mine, I was jolted by electricity. I was transfixed. My lips parted before I slowly began to pant, aroused beyond comprehension.
“Do you sleep with only a robe on?” His eyes dipped towards my full breasts then southwards. Again. Summoning the horny gods to provoke me.
“Yes, Jared…Will that be a problem?” I liked getting a rise out of him. Besides, the man was too serious; he needed to lighten the hell up. It felt mighty wicked to toy with him; it couldn’t be helped. Call it lunacy, but I considered it foreplay. There was nothing like a good mind-fuck.
“No, that won’t be a problem at all.” He shook his head, looking away as if the novelty of seeing my bare body had already expired and it no longer interested him.
I had expected this. Of course I did. But I wasn’t going down with embarrassment. I loved my body. I owned it. I was damn proud of it. “Yes, yes, yes, we know…tight eighteen-year-old bodies don’t do it for you.” To prove a point, I slid out of bed, audaciously slid the robe off my form, and then I cheekily strutted towards the closet to change for dinner. His eyes lingered, getting quite an eyeful of my backside.
“Stop staring at my ass, Jared,” I hollered at him without stopping my stride.
He remained mum.
I grinned. Yes, the man had gotten his comeuppance. I hoped I didn’t make him blush. Ha.
Stepping into my color-coordinated closet, I strode over to the floral dresses section. Dinner was to be a simple affair, so I opted for a simple white short dress with pale pink daisy flower imprints. I then lazily piled my hair into a messy bun. Once finished, I walked over to the adjacent room where my shoes were on glorious display. My mother specifically had these built because we both had a serious fixation on beautiful, well-crafted footwear.
I tiptoed and skittered across to the bathroom to quickly brush my teeth. Except for a subtle pink matte lipstick, I didn’t bother with any makeup.
Where’s my phone? I pondered as I retraced my steps back into the bedroom and was shocked to find Jared lying on the bed with one leg hanging off the edge, hands behind his head, silently staring at the ceiling and looking like a delicious piece of heaven. My mouth salivated. I wanted to devour him—all of him.
“You’re still here?” I bit my lip, wondering if he was ticked off at my little naked display earlier. “Have you seen my phone?”
Jared untangled his hands before sliding it across a pillow and casually handing me the device. “Jack Yates called.”
Shit.
“Thanks,” I murmured, grasping the phone into my hand. What did Jack want now? After that explosive confrontation we had, he hotheadedly walked out the second we moored off the coast of the Adriatic Sea, only to be never heard of again…until now.
Unlocking my phone, I stared dismayingly at his name, weighing in if I should bother with him again. He and I had tons of fun…up until his arrogance surfaced and when I caught his phone unguarded…and the plethora of lies discovered.
“Is that the same man those empty condom packets belonged to?” he asked in a manner where I wasn’t sure if he was merely asking or if he was piecing a broader picture.
Jared’s question caught me off guard. “Seems like it.” A deep frown crossed my face, speculating what else he managed to analyze being in the yacht’s bedroom in such a short amount of time.
His mercurial eyes seared into mine, staunch and unrelenting. “You’ve been using protection every time?” His tone was soft, but it had something to it, a darker edge…something that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand in command.
I nervously licked my lips, disconcerted. “I would like to think so.”
“Then how did you get pregnant, Gisele?”
Steady my heart. You can’t fold now. His question held too much. Answering it entailed confessing the truth, and I would rather die than reveal my dirty little secret. I nibbled on my bottom lip, tepidly eyeing him. “I don’t know? Shit happens…I guess…” Such eloquence. Well done, you.
“Was there any other man involved?”
Fuck…Did he guess I was Lexi?
My throat bobbed. It constricted so much I was almost in pain. “Once…” I made a barely audible whisper, hoping he hadn’t deciphered my secret. With Jared, I found it challenging to predict what ran in that brilliant head of his. He was brilliant at unmasking other’s thoughts but never revealing his. How did he manage that? It was beyond disconcerting.
“So, what happened with him?” His eyes glowed. Ever so persistent. Ever so unyielding.
If he had aimed to unnerve me, he had undeniably succeeded it. My breathing turned ragged. My ears intensely burned. With a pointed tilt of my chin, I decided to answer him. “He didn’t want to be with me.”
Blue eyes flickered once as if something significant briefly occurred to him, but his eyes remained thus, still gravely trained on me. “Were you in love with him?”
My, he was h
itting close to home—too close for comfort. I began to break out in a sweat, my body filled with trepidation. “What makes you ask that?” Try as I might, my voice slightly shook.
“There’s a tremor in your voice.”
I nodded before disconnecting from him, screening my eyes away from his severe probing ones. “Yeah, I suppose I am...very much.” I licked my lips, trying in earnest for my breathing pattern to go back to normal. What was with the twenty questions? I loathed that game for a reason.
He surprisingly slid out of bed and began to make his way towards me. He stopped short several inches away from my face. Instinctively, I lifted my face to meet his. Turbulent gray clashed with burning blue. “I’m here for you and the baby; that’s all that matter now. The rest of them can go to hell.”
There was a time in one’s life when they found themselves falling, madly, deeply, and irrevocably in love with someone. This was it—this was the moment for me. How could I not after he vehemently stated noble proclamations with such tenacity?
My father was right; he was a good man. Having him in my life as a guardian, as my protector, and as my fake husband would be an honor. “Thank you for saying that. It means a lot to me.”
He bestowed a genuine smile on me, one where it reached his eyes. One where it probed straight into the very heart of me, to my very soul. “Come on, Peter’s been waiting too long. He’s exhausted as it is, so it’s cruel for us to make him wait for food.”
He was quite right. How had I lost track of time? Leaving my phone behind, Jared and I exited my bedroom. We strode side-by-side, heading straight towards the elevator. My father’s bedroom was on the third floor, occupying the entire level. We reached the floor in under a minute. The large white double doors were already opened, so we need not knock. It led into a lounge area. On the left lead to his bedroom, and to the right was his breakfast room where six screens lined the walls, each television running different things to update him—news; US, EU, and Asian stock markets; video updates from the company’s current projects detailing and curated by our top inventors; one connected to a drone parked in the headquarters so he could spy on everyone even at home. His real time updates. My father ran his company with an iron fist but wasn’t shy in rewarding those who tirelessly worked hard. It was a well-oiled machine. His employees equally feared and loved him. He’d callously point out if one didn’t please him and would sing high praises if pleased. But everyone knew working under his umbrella wasn’t something to take lightly; it was an honor to work for him.
After striding towards my father, who was already situated at the cozy table, I bent over and kissed his forehead. “I apologize for being tardy. I fell asleep. If it weren’t for Jared, I’d still be in bed.”
“Ah, it’s all right.” My father cupped my cheek with his hand, pleased to see me. “You two look marvelous together. Such a striking couple. Don’t you agree, Thomas?” Effortless pride shone through his eyes as he glanced at me then Jared.
Jared quietly trod next to me before dipping his head to kiss my father’s cheek. “Looking well, Peter,” he murmured as he gazed down at my father with warmth and affection.
Thomas, who closely followed behind us, granted us a beam of approval. “The epitome of perfection, sir. Their offspring guarantees excellent genes and a superb IQ.”
Peter Weber nodded as he directed us to take our seats. “It would’ve been lovely if I lived long enough to see my grandchildren. But, alas, my time is almost running out, and I can only dwell on the blessings I have before me.”
“Have you two discussed your marriage?”
Jared cleared his throat, glancing at me before my father. “We have. We’re both pleased the wedding’s taking place tomorrow.”
8
Jared
Peter Weber came into my life when I was rebelling and on a path of destruction. My life collapsed a few months before my eighteenth birthday. Back then, I had thought my life over, and the only thing I had was my love for coding and the boundless opportunities the dark world web presented to me.
My life didn’t fall apart slowly. It simply shook the very foundation of my being by taking everything I had, everything I held dear, in one blasted tragedy. My wife of five months was pronounced dead thirty minutes after giving birth. My daughter, Penny, a stillborn. In a heartbeat, they were taken away as if their lives had meant nothing. We married because of accidental pregnancy, but I loved her either way, so it mattered little to me. After a month of having her in my life, I had cemented my fate, never wanting to leave her side. But fate had bigger plans that didn’t include them.
Shocked and forsaken, I felt the entire world crumble upon me in one swooping fit of madness.
Had I been cautious and not gotten her pregnant, she’d have been alive. I murdered her. I killed them both. How could I forgive myself? How could I even fathom living knowing I destroyed their lives? I was in shambles, left with nothing, with nothing to go on. Therefore, I locked myself out of the world, drowning myself into a stupor while I spent most of my time doing what I enjoyed the most—hacking and wreaking havoc wherever possible. All the pain, all the helplessness I felt was channeled into something profound. It changed me. It altered my view of reality. Behind the screen, I felt powerful, untouchable, and very much in control of what was to take place. The pure unadulterated joy that possessed your mind, your body when you were about to key the enter button, knowing that a meltdown was about to take place—I reveled in that adrenaline-charged feeling by taking down companies just because I could. I enjoyed causing panic and sending people into a tailspin. It was the only sensation that made me feel alive. Weak folks sought drugs; I pursued a sophisticated remedy, one that transformed the society, one that shaped the world’s stock markets.
Then one day, someone knocked at my dingy apartment door in Melbourne, altering my life forever.
The famous computer genius Peter Weber was right on my doorstep, clearly not amused I hacked into their system less than three days ago and almost succeeded in taking it down, too.
That happened almost ten years ago, and yet, I could recall every single detail of that life-changing meeting. I was too entrenched in my own pain to figure out my life. Had it not been for Peter proposing a job, I didn’t know what would’ve been made of me. I was eternally grateful that instead of alerting the Australian Federal Police, he offered his help. He undertook a reckless teenager who was bent on a mission—disruption.
Peter became this constant, encouraging figure, motivating me, continually trying to draw me out of my shell, and guiding me in honing my skills for the better good. He presented a path to me, a new purpose—evolving technology as we pushed for the impossible, reaching new heights, leading a new era of technology-oriented evolution. And in less than a year, I thrived under his thumb because of his unyielding faith in me. He believed even though I had no hope left. He became my mentor as well as the father I never had.
I owed him my life…and it was high time I repaid that debt.
Setting the tumbler down, I peered at the warm father and daughter interaction. Gisele was bidding him goodnight, and together, we both watched her gracefully strut away, turning in for the evening.
“My daughter’s exactly like her mother—well, with a little bit of myself, too.” Peter chuckled, his haggard face lighting up a fraction. “You two are equally matched. Wait and see, she’s perfect for you, son.”
If he only knew what his daughter and I agreed upon…but there was no need to enlighten the old man of our real understanding. As long as he was content and at ease, it was all I could hope for.
“While the world thinks you’re her guardian, you two can secretly build on the marriage until you’re both comfortable to announce it. I know you never planned on marrying again, so you have no idea how delighted it makes me that you’re ready to take care of Gisele.”
I snickered. “You knew I didn’t have the heart to decline a man’s dying wish.”
“That, too, but I b
elieve you two will be good for each other. It also helps that I don’t have to worry about fortune hunters. They’ll be surrounding her like vultures. She’s a smart girl, but she’s also young and very naïve when it comes to a man’s manipulation. As much as I’d like to think the world’s changing, it’s not changing fast enough for Gisele. Our industry is packed with wolves and vultures. Without your protection, she’ll get trampled on…I fear someone will marry her only to take everything I’ve worked so hard for. This marriage solves everything.”
“I’m not one for business marriages, but I think Gisele and I will manage fine. But I also think you underestimate her. She’s a Weber. She’s your daughter, after all…She’ll learn how to swim with sharks, Peter.”
“I suppose you’re right. She’s just like her mother, and with you by her side, you two will be a force together.”
Gisele…bloody. Fuck. Needing to change my thoughts, I focused on the frail man. “How are you feeling? You’ve lost more weight.”
“I have two months left, three at most,” he informed me without remorse, without any feeling. He simply stated it like he was mouthing off the grocery list.
“Bloody hell.”
“Yes, there isn’t much time left. I’m glad everything is set before I die.”
I couldn’t imagine working on projects without brainstorming and arguing with Peter. He was the company’s life, and it was a demoralizing thought that I’d even try to fill his shoes.
There was so much to be done. The lawyers were busy drawing up contracts and wills. The death of the company’s founder and leader would surely affect the company’s brand. I prayed I would be enough to navigate it into a new chapter without having investors panicking and consumers losing faith.
“I haven’t announced my sickness yet, but I’m hearing David Burg began to spread rumors the other day.”
David Burg. To this day, it baffled me how he was once a close friend of Peter. The man was heinous. “Are you going to make an announcement soon?”