ively, but his hand met only cold sheets. Groggily, he opened

empty, he sat up, remnants of sleep still

on the nightstand, it

ng a hand through

side of the bed, planting h

suite. Her clothes were gone. The only trace of her

room, a faint tantalizin

ty, the passion, the way her presence had ig

vious day, and the jet lag had hit him hard. He had slept more soundly

and and dialed his driver. It rang twice b

car still parked outside?" Carlto

d. "I didn't see the car whe

ng the driver before hanging up. H

ut who she was or where she had gone. The

lm down. There was nothing he could do now b

of his father's company. Pushing aside his irritat

ghts kept drifting back to her-her moan, her touch, the way she had m

and toweled off, his mind gradua

d a tailored suit. As he was fastening h

the phone between his ear and s

u alright? I just hear

't hurt," he assu

e home," she said, her v

for?" he ech

e yesterday. We all left ther

s cufflink dropped

. Just come home. Hopefully, Geoffr

here soon," he sai

ing. The bride had jilted his cousin? This day was turni

his pockets. With one last glance around the room, he left the suite, the scent

e him to his father's house, his thoughts a

on earth happened with

er met him at the door, h

," she said. Pulling

on?" Carlton a

o the house. Your father is wait

g jilted?" Carlton asked as soon

ared a few hours before the wedding yesterday and was out all night with her lover. She showed up

cked her ba

at?" he asked as he settled in

that," sh

they always turned out badly. The main

tend, you would have been so

e been devastated," Carlton

iation this family has to suffer? I can't believe he wanted to get mar

ing is better than a broken m

out the company. I'm stepping down for you to take over

stepping down completely or as your puppet?" He

All I want is to retire and spend all my time playing with my wife

over as long as you don't expect me to stand in front of cameras reciting words I don't m

public scrutiny, and I will respect it, as I

to step into leadership an