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Having a one night stand with Mark has been one of my greatest mistake in my life, I was heartbroken by My Ex Thomas, he cheated on me with Melissa, My step sister and after that I got drunken, had a one night stand with The Trillionare.
Having a one night stand with Mark has been one of my greatest mistake in my life, I was heartbroken by My Ex Thomas, he cheated on me with Melissa, My step sister and after that I got drunken, had a one night stand with The Trillionare.
Chapter 1
I never intended to find myself in this kind of mess. A mistake? It barely covers the scope of what happened. But as I stared into the bustling night of California from the high-rise window, my thoughts swirled back to that fateful evening, the choices I made, and the whirlwind that followed.
It all started with Thomas. My ex. The man I'd thought was my forever until I found him entangled with Melissa-my stepsister, of all people. The betrayal cut deep, a twisted knife of anger, confusion, and raw hurt. The pain left me hollow, and that night, I did the only thing I could think of to drown it: I went out, alone, and drank until the memories blurred. But they didn't disappear, not entirely.
I barely remember stumbling into the upscale bar, its sleek interiors and ambient lighting hazy through my clouded vision. Somewhere along the way, I ended up talking to Mark-the man everyone in California whispered about, the multibillionaire who owned Multiverse Books and a staggering array of other businesses. His reputation preceded him; sharp, calculated, untouchable. And yet, in that moment, he didn't feel like a figure of power but a stranger willing to listen.
Our conversation started with the usual pleasantries, but there was something in his gaze, a curiosity that seemed almost... personal. And, somehow, that look was what led us from the bar to his penthouse suite, a quiet escape from the world and my own spinning thoughts.
That night changed everything. I woke up, the reality of what I'd done settling in my stomach like lead. I could barely look at him as I dressed and left. The shame was overwhelming, the knowledge that I'd let my hurt push me into something reckless.
I'd hoped that was the end of it-that our paths wouldn't cross again. But life, it seemed, had different plans.
---
Weeks later, I returned to a sense of normalcy-or at least, I tried. My routine brought me back to work, where I was an editor at a small publishing house. The day had started like any other, filled with manuscripts and coffee, until I received a call from my boss.
"Lydia," he said, voice strained. "We're scheduled to have a meeting with the Multiverse Books team today. You're leading it."
The name hit me like a wave. Multiverse Books. Mark's company.
I managed a steady response, but my heart felt heavy. I had to face him-professionally, at least. I braced myself, knowing I'd have to keep everything strictly business.
Hours later, I found myself in a sleek conference room, seated among my colleagues. The door opened, and in walked Mark, his presence commanding the room instantly. Our eyes met briefly, and I could swear I saw a hint of recognition, a spark of something unspoken between us. I quickly looked away, focusing on the papers in front of me.
The meeting was all business, thankfully. We discussed potential collaborations, projects, and timelines. Mark's voice was calm, his tone confident. He seemed unfazed by my presence, which somehow made me feel both relieved and disappointed.
But as the meeting wrapped up, Mark's assistant approached me. "Mr. Collins would like to speak with you privately," she said, her tone polite yet firm.
I nodded, masking my nerves as I followed her into a smaller office adjacent to the conference room. Mark was waiting, his expression unreadable. He motioned for me to sit.
"Lydia," he began, his voice measured, "we didn't exactly part on clear terms."
My cheeks flushed, embarrassment mingling with the remnants of hurt from that night. "Mark, I... it was a mistake. I wasn't myself."
He held up a hand. "I'm not here to judge. I just wanted to ensure there are no misunderstandings. We're working together now, and I value professionalism."
I nodded, meeting his gaze. "Of course. I do too."
The conversation was brief, but as I left his office, I felt a strange sense of relief, like a weight had lifted. Perhaps this was the closure I needed, a way to finally put that night behind me and move on.
---
Days turned into weeks, and the collaboration with Multiverse Books progressed smoothly. I found myself interacting with Mark more frequently than I'd expected, but our exchanges were always formal, almost distant. He was polite, attentive in meetings, yet he kept a professional boundary between us, which I was grateful for... mostly.
But one afternoon, as I was wrapping up my workday, my phone buzzed with a message. It was from Mark.
*"Are you free to discuss some project details over dinner? I believe a less formal setting might allow us to cover more ground."*
My heart skipped a beat. This was unexpected, but his message was straightforward. It was, after all, about work.
*"Sure. Where and when?"* I replied.
An hour later, I found myself at a quiet restaurant tucked away from the bustling city streets. Mark was already there, seated at a corner table with a view of the city skyline. He stood as I approached, offering a polite nod.
"Thank you for meeting me on such short notice," he said as I took a seat.
We ordered our meals, and as we waited, he brought up a few project points, his focus sharp, but his tone casual. It felt strange, sitting across from him like this, discussing work in such an intimate setting. Yet, I found myself relaxing, the awkwardness from our past encounter slowly fading.
After a while, he looked at me, his expression softening. "Lydia, if I may... why were you so upset that night?"
I froze, caught off guard by the question. I hadn't expected him to bring it up, especially not here. But there was a sincerity in his gaze, a quiet understanding that made me feel safe enough to answer.
"It's... complicated," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "Thomas, my ex, he... betrayed me. And I didn't know how to deal with it."
Mark nodded, his gaze thoughtful. "I understand. Heartbreak has a way of clouding judgment."
The words hung between us, and for a moment, I felt a connection, an understanding. It was strange, finding comfort in someone who was, in many ways, a stranger. But in that moment, it felt natural.
The rest of the dinner was more relaxed, the conversation drifting to lighter topics. By the time we left, I felt like a burden had lifted. We were no longer just two people bound by a mistake but colleagues, perhaps even friends, finding a way to move forward.
---
Over the next few weeks, our interactions grew easier. Mark would occasionally stop by my office to discuss projects, sometimes staying for a casual chat. He was still the same powerful businessman, but there was a warmth to him that I hadn't seen before. And despite my resolve to keep things professional, I found myself looking forward to those moments.
But one evening, as I was preparing to leave the office, I received another message from him.
*"Would you like to join me for a charity event this Friday? It's for a cause close to my heart, and I thought you might enjoy it."*
My mind raced. This was more personal than any of our previous meetings. Yet, his invitation felt genuine, almost... considerate.
*"I'd love to,"* I replied, feeling a flutter of excitement I hadn't felt in a long time.
---
Friday arrived, and as I entered the grand hall where the event was held, I spotted Mark near the entrance, looking effortlessly elegant in a tailored suit. He greeted me with a warm smile, his eyes glinting with approval as he took in my outfit.
"You look stunning," he said, his voice sincere.
I felt my cheeks warm. "Thank you. You don't look too bad yourself."
The evening was a whirlwind of introductions, speeches, and mingling with some of the most influential people in California. Mark stayed by my side, guiding me through the event with a grace and confidence that made me feel at ease.
At one point, as we stood by the bar, he turned to me, his expression thoughtful. "Lydia, have you ever considered that sometimes, things happen for a reason?"
I looked at him, unsure of where he was going with this. "Are you saying that night was... meant to happen?"
He shrugged, a small smile playing at his lips. "Perhaps. Or maybe it's just an excuse to make sense of things we can't control."
I smiled, feeling a strange sense of clarity. Maybe he was right. Maybe that night, as chaotic as it was, had a purpose-one that neither of us could fully understand.
---
As the event drew to a close, Mark offered to drive me home. I accepted, and as we sat in the quiet comfort of his car, I felt a warmth settle over me. There was something about him that made me feel safe, a sense of calm that I hadn't known I needed.
When we reached my apartment, he walked me to the door, his gaze lingering on mine. "Thank you for coming tonight, Lydia. I enjoyed having you by my side."
I smiled, the words coming easily. "I enjoyed it too. Thank you, Mark."
He hesitated for a moment, as if there was something else he wanted to say. But instead, he simply nodded, his gaze softening. "Goodnight, Lydia."
"Goodnight, Mark."
As I closed the door, a part of me couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning
. There was something between us, something unspoken yet undeniable. And for the first time, I allowed myself to wonder what it might become.
Why did she, a woman like her, dare to slip out of his sight without making a sound? Did she think this was a hotel? Light from the house streamed out as usual, and Izaiah dashed inside, but he couldn't find Ashley anywhere. The usual lights, the sofa, the TV wall, the sofa wall, the blue chandelier... it seemed to be missing something... That woman, that woman didn't even wait for him today. A smirk appeared at the corner of Izaiah's mouth. In the past, no matter how late he came home, that woman would always curl up on the sofa, quietly waiting for him to have a late-night meal. But today, he didn't see her at all. Indeed, she couldn't pretend any longer. Fine, he would let her experience the taste of being humiliated and bruised all over her body later. Izaiah was starting to feel tired. He changed his shoes, took a bath, but there was still no sight of Ashley, and her voice couldn't be heard either. It seemed... she was really not home. A sudden fury erupted in Izaiah's heart. Hastily wrapping his bath towel around himself and slipping his shoes on without care, he searched from the bedroom to the guest room, from the closet, even to the basement... every corner where a person could hide was turned upside down, and he still couldn't find her. Unable to find her, Izaiah's anger grew. This woman, her performance tonight was infuriating! He tried to calm down, forcing a smile on his lips, though his expression was far from pleasant. This woman's heart was growing more wild, doing as she pleased. Good. Leaving, are you? Then don't bother coming back. Izaiah bolted the front door and even locked his bedroom securely before turning in for the night. Without Ashley's nightly declaration of love before bed, without her scent, without her nauseating words, Izaiah found himself sleeping particularly well - better than he had ever slept before. Except for a faint sense of loss when he woke abruptly, and except for the icy cold temperature of his bed linens. The next day, Izaiah woke up not knowing how long he had slept. His eyes still held traces of sleep as he reached for his cellphone. To his surprise, it was almost eleven o'clock. "Ashley, are you courting death?!" Izaiah shouted habitually towards the doorway. If it was like before, Ashley would always bring him a glass of milk, with a disgustingly dutiful look as though she were a good wife and mother. Damn it, why didn't that woman wake him up today? He cursed inwardly as he snapped back to reality. Ashley had disappeared last night. After declaring that she wanted a divorce, she was gone. He wouldn't believe it. He simply wouldn't believe this woman could escape from his control. In no time, Ashley would beg him to return to her, to give her a little love, and yes, even to keep her. Ashley, that despicable woman. It was better without her. There would no longer be anyone to trouble him. Izaiah went to his company as usual. After all, he was the CEO of Flores Enterprise. What if he was late? Who dared to question his being late? From being an insignificant nobody to become the president of such a big company like Flores, There was no one in New York who would not envy him. They would be more envious of the fact that he had married the Flores' beautiful daughter, he had become a winner in life at a young age. However, life was not always so simple and perfect. Izaiah laughed bitterly, adjusted the tie around his neck and strode into the company. "Ashley, the company is still in my hands. Where can you run off to?" With familiar greetings in the background, Izaiah walked expressionlessly into his office. As soon as he sat down, however, the door was pushed open again. Joey said, "Good day, Mr President." Joey is a thorough "badass", the heir to the Gomez's Corporation. He has spent his entire childhood with Izaiah, and because of that, their relationship waxed quite strong till date. Despite being indifferent towards his family assets, Joey spends every day sucking up to Izaiah. Izaiah glanced at Joey and asked, "What's up?" Shaking off his joking demeanor, Joey threw a stack of documents at Izaiah, saying, "These are some psychological analyses regarding mental illness. You should take a look. I believe that Katelynn's condition is actually quite normal..." Izaiah glared at Joey who wisely chose to shut his mouth. Ashley is after all, Izaiah's wife in name. All high society was present for their wedding, and they all knew about their relationship. Of course, there were also those who knew that Ashley did not seem to get along with Izaiah. However, almost no one knew about Izaiah's relationship with Katelynn. The psychologically "fragile" Katelynn was terrified of rumors, so Izaiah seldom appeared with her alone, let alone allowing others to know of their relationship. Joey thought for a moment and said, "Is Ashley becoming jealous because you care so much about 'Katelynn'..." "Shut up," Izaiah replied without even raising his head.
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