As an entrepreneur, Ashley West has spent most of her time focusing on business but she decided to take a break from work and go on a vacation to explore and have fun. What happens when she had a one night stand with a stranger who turned out to be her father's best friend and business partner. Caught between loyalty to her father and a desire she can no longer deny, Ashley faces a dangerous game of Forbidden attraction. As emotions flare and boundaries blur, she must decide. Will she follow her heart and risk losing her father's trust or give up on her feelings for peace to reign?
Ashley's POV
"Ashley, Do you have plans for tomorrow?" My Dad asked me over the phone, interrupting my thoughts."
"I don't have any plans Dad, I will just stay in and watch a few movies, I'm here on a break, remember?" I replied, laying on the cozy bed in my hotel room 'it's so comfy' I told myself.
"It didn't seem that way to me, all you ever did since you got there was business."
"Touché, but I'm done with all that and now I'm going to explore the city of Paris." I said out of excitement, thinking of all the fun I will have.
"I think it's too late for that sweetheart, I need you here. Micheal is coming back into town and I'm inviting him for dinner to Welcome him home. I need you to be here when he arrives. You've always liked Micheal since you were a child, you will get to see him again and maybe discuss business with him. it's a win-win for you."
I froze on hearing that name that reminds me of most of my childhood memories. Micheal Kingston. I did not get to see him much because he left New York when I was ten . My father's best friend and business Partner, the one who had always been a father figure to me. He practically watched me grow. I can't wait to see him but I would like to stay a bit longer in Paris.
"But Dad..." He interrupted me before I could speak further.
"No buts Ashley, Micheal is not just anyone to us, he's family and you know that. I expect you to be in New York tomorrow."
"Fine, I will be there. See you soon dad."
I came to Paris to take a break from work but it has been all about business since I arrived. But because tonight is my last night in Paris, I am going to have fun and possibly make new friends, before I have to put on a serious face for whatever it was my father had planned for tomorrow.
******
I entered the finest club in Paris later that night. And the smell of luxury perfumes and expensive champagne hit me as I walked closer to the bar. I was here to have fun and enjoy myself.
I ordered a wine and the bartender slides it to me across the counter with a knowing smile. I glanced around the crowd, It's pretty much what I imagined it would be, different people drinking champagne, smoking expensive cigars, and men flirting with women. I wasn't expecting anything else. Then he walked in.
He was a tall, well built man with a sharp jawline. He had on an Armani suit that screams luxury, his dark brown hair was perfectly styled and his face showed no expression. He exchanged geeetings with the bartender and ordered a drink. He looks old but his young features makes it difficult for one to notice
He looked at me and our eyes met for a brief moment, I looked at him for a bit longer than I intended 'Bitch you are staring' I said to myself.
I shake my head to remove any thoughts of him.
Then I took a sip of my wine.
I couldn't help but look at him once more and I caught him staring, he did not look away. He just came over and stood directly in front of me.
" Why is a damsel like you, Sitting alone in a place like this? you could use a friend, don't you think? He asked, obviously flirting with me.
I simply glanced at him, pretending like I hadn't been checking him out ever since he stepped in.
"Oh trust me I'm not alone, my boyfriend is out there on a phone call." I lied, and from the way he's smiling now, I think he knew."
He burst out laughing, holding his drink with one hand as he shook his head. "And you think I will believe that lie of yours, Are you that scared of me?"
I forced a smile, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"What gave it away?"
"This isn't my first time in the club darling, most girls say that to get rid of guys. Nice try tho."
I snorted, trying not to smile.
"I'm not most girls and I'm not scared of you. I'm capable of being by myself."
"Oh really? He leaned in a little closer "I can be your boyfriend for tonight you know, to help you keep the guys off your back."
I looked away to hide my face from him. I was blushing to the point of being unable to bear it but I was certainly not going to let him see that he affected me in this way. "You are being a little too confident, don't you think?"
"I can be anything just to have you darling."
'Damn! Why is it so hot here?' I asked myself.
This man is making me feel all sorts of things but I knew better than to fall for a stranger's charm, someone who looks almost twice my age.
But for some reason unknown to me, I wish to know more about this man.
Just for the sake of getting to know him, I decided to ask him a few questions "What do you do? it's okay if u dont want me in your business though."
He smiled, sensing my curiosity.
"It's okay. I'm a businessman. But tonight, I'm here to have fun."
"So you do this often? Flirting with girls? That's how you have fun?"
"He leaned in closer to me, his breath wrams my skin. "Maybe, but none of them had my attention like you have right now. Have spent more than 10 minutes with you, which is a good sign. I guess I was just waiting for the right woman to come along and show me what real fun looks like."
I swallowed hard. He definitely had a way with words, I will give him that but I wasn't about to fall for his charms so easily. "You will have to do better, those sweet words don't work on me."
His smile deepened but he appears to be challenging now. "Oh I will, And I don't plan on leaving. Not until you are ready to have some fun."
I moved closer to him, our faces just an inch apart as I whispered in his ear. "I don't give in easily, you will have to try better than that."
"Is that a challenge?"
He leaned in even closer, his breath fanned my skin. "You are playing hard to get, aren't you?
I shook, my heart thudding against my chest but I forced myself to be calm. "Maybe I am, or maybe I'm just bored."
"Sweetheart, you are anything but bored."
Without uttering another word, he pressed his lips against mine, he was hesitant at first, to see if I was going to stop him or pull back but when he saw that none happened, he allowed his hands to find their way into my hair and pull me in closer to deepen the kiss.
I kissed him back and he moaned Into my mouth. I was so caught up in the heat of the moment to care about where we were. All the sensible part of me screamed at me to stop, that I was kissing a man old enough to be my father but I didn't care. This was reckless but yet, I wanted it.
His phone buzzed with a message which interrupted our moment, we pulled apart for a brief second to catch our breath.
"You want to get out of here? Let's go somewhere private. I booked a place nearby."
I simply nodded, not knowing how to reply.
"Good" he took my hands in his, leading me to the club's exit.
My mind raced as I followed him, but I didn't pull away, i didnt stop him. I knew exactly where this is going and how it's going to end but I still wanted it. I might regret my actions tomorrow but I didn't care.
For the first time in a long time, I don't want to care about the consequences. I just want to have fun and enjoy myself.
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
Brenna lived with her adoptive parents for twenty years, enduring their exploitation. When their real daughter appeared, they sent Brenna back to her true parents, thinking they were broke. In reality, her birth parents belonged to a top circle that her adoptive family could never reach. Hoping Brenna would fail, they gasped at her status: a global finance expert, a gifted engineer, the fastest racer... Was there any end to the identities she kept hidden? After her fiancé ended their engagement, Brenna met his twin brother. Unexpectedly, her ex-fiancé showed up, confessing his love...
P-please, I beg you. Come let's go tell Christian I had no hand in whatever happened, p-please." I clutched the lapel of his jacket desperately. "Let's go. You need to tell my husband you were paid." "Young lady, you're harassing me." His tone was cold and his stare granite. But I could care less. "You harassed me first! You had sex with me without my consent, my husband knows and now I'm pregnant with this child he doesn't want. You ruined my marriage! I-I hate you!" ************************************ Caught by her husband with another man on their matrimonial bed the morning after her birthday, Hailey Codza could not defend herself. As though it's not enough, she gets pregnant. Her enraged husband decides to pay her back for her infidelity by having an affair with his ex-girlfriend - Denise Kellers, the family Hailey never knew she had. Losing her family's wealth and company to her husband and his ex (now girlfriend), she is devastated, homeless and penniless as all her credit cards are blocked by her husband. She sees the man who is responsible for her pregnancy. The man she has no idea how he'd found his way to her matrimonial bed - Jared Johnson. Jared is annoyed when this strange woman disrupts his meeting and accuses him of ruining her life, marriage and impregnating her. It affects his business deals and having no choice, he marries her to calm the public whilst engaged to someone else. But he loathes her and allows his family treats her badly. Hailey who has fallen in love with Jared is broken when she can no longer take the humiliation. She signs the divorce papers and leaves, only to arrive six years later to the country as a self-made, secret billionaire and a mother of twins. Now her two ex-husbands are begging to have her back...
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."