Chapter 1
Conner
“Get off me.” Even the sight of her bothered me.
As I pushed Katherine off me, after another regretful night, all I could think about was why I kept indulging in this behavior. When I ogled Katherine, I saw why. Every crevice of her body was as perfect as could be. Her raven hair gently caressed her face, covering her rosy cheekbones, the length of her body sprawled across the ivory sheets, her taut ass only partially covered by the ends of my shirt.
Katherine wasn’t the reason I felt so irritated, but her presence spiked my temperament. I was already tired after having worked late into the night, tending to numerous security scandals, and then having flown in late. I didn’t mind the flight. The new company jet was more comfortable than the last. The last jet didn’t have Katherine as a flight attendant, though. As I got off the bed and made my way across the room I could barely remember ever having checked into, I was met by my reflection as soon as I entered the bathroom.
“Where did you go, Mr. Roland?” I turned and looked at Katherine unenthusiastically, to find her waiting for instruction.
“Conner, please.” As I told Katherine that she could find her own way out, I noticed my phone vibrating against the marble countertop. I was surprised that my brother was even awake at quarter past nine. Brian usually never woke up early in the morning, so I hurriedly answered, thinking it might be an emergency.
“Hey, Brian! What can I do for you?”
“Hey, Conner, how have you been? Anyway, I need a favor. It’s really important.”
I had gotten used to helping Brian out with little inconveniences, he was my brother after all. If I couldn’t make time for him, then what’s the point of operating a highly lucrative hedge fund? “Yes, tell me. What do you need?”
I was hoping he wouldn’t ask for more money; our parents had left him everything when they decided to move to a hermitage in India, and he had lost most of it gambling and on trying to impress women. It’s kind of ironic how Mom and Dad decided to go all the way to India just to help others, and their son lost his millions on women and blackjack.
“Could you wire me some cash? I’m taking Erika out on a holiday in a couple hours and I’m running a bit low.” At first, I was just wondering who Erika was. Wasn’t it Holly just a couple of weeks ago?
“Of course, but you really need to start looking after yourself.” I knew that wasn’t the last time, but he’s my younger brother, so I couldn’t really help it.
“What’s the point in having a billionaire as a brother if he doesn’t look after his younger brother, right, Conner?”
I didn’t even know what to say to the guy, so I just laughed and hung up and scrolled through my contacts. “Hey, Lisa, how are you this morning?”
“I’m doing well, Mr. Roland. How can I help you?” Lisa had been my secretary for the past four years, and she was responsible for keeping me organized and sane. I couldn’t help but think of her as I told her to sort Brian out. Her straight blonde hair, her hazel eyes, her plump lips, her immaculate hourglass form, she really did make it hard to keep that relationship purely professional.
I stared at my own reflection, all 6’3 inches of my muscular build. I had been going to the gym since I was thirteen years old, and it did pay off. I couldn’t help but think of how Lisa would look on the marble counter, her long legs tied around my tight waist, her hands resting on my shoulders, her nails on my back. I hadn’t been one for working out to look good. I always did it to feel good, but the byproduct wasn’t something I complained about.
“Let me know when it’s done. I’ll speak to you later.” I hung up and looked back to see if Katherine was still there. Thinking about Lisa made me want Katherine again. She wasn’t there; she had left already. I suppose she took it the wrong way when I told her to find her way out.
Chapter 2
Erika
“I’m coming,” I yelled, hoping that Brian would hear, as he was knocking on the door. We were leaving for holiday to the Maldives, which was all Brian’s plan.
I was running late, as I had been working all night to make sure I could ask for a few days leave to go on holiday with Brian. He and I had been friends for around four months at the time, so when he asked me to go to the Maldives with him, I was kind of surprised. But, Brian was a nice guy and it was going to be a good experience to explore a new place.
“It’s alright, take your time,” Brian stated. His tone was hurried but considerate, at least that’s what it sounded like to me.
I grabbed the bag I had packed early in the morning and placed the strap on my shoulder. I also picked up my work bag, just in case I had any important work, and opened the door to see Brian. He was a good-looking guy. He looked like something out of a box, a chiseled jaw present sharply over his thick neck. It was obvious he loved his time at the gym. His sleeves barely fit around his arms. It was clear it was intentional, though.
“Hey, I’m sorry for keeping you waiting.” Brian reached for my shoulder to take my bag from me.
He reassured me that it was not a problem at all. I was surprised that friends like him even existed. I mean, before him I would never have thought about taking a spontaneous trip to the Maldives. We walked toward the car when Brian put his arm around me. At first, I thought it was playful until he said that he was excited for our private time. Hearing that sent a shudder down my spine.
I had gotten it all wrong. He didn’t just think of me as a friend.
I didn’t want to lead him on, especially to make him feel like I was only hanging out with him because we were going to the Maldives. So, I immediately told him that I just thought of him as a friend.
“What do you mean friend?” he asked crassly.
“I mean, I don’t want to sleep with you or anything. I just like spending time with you, and you are a good friend to me,” I replied, in utter disbelief of the situation I had been oblivious to.
“Why do you think I’m taking you to the Maldives then?” I was under the illusion that we were going to celebrate my 25th birthday. “I’m in love with you, Erika.” Though the words were nice to hear, they weren’t from Brian.
I had always thought he was a bit immature. He lived off his parents and his brother; he spent most of his time drinking or at the gym. It didn’t appear that he had any purpose in life, so I wasn’t interested in him. He was not the type of guy I could fall in love with.
I could see Brian beginning to get temperamental. He dropped my bag in the middle of the street and said, “You’re mine and only mine. Get in, we are leaving now.” It was at that point I realized that Brian was completely psychotic, and now I was a little scared.
“No, Brian. I can’t come with you now. I am sorry if I made you feel that I was your girlfriend or something. But trust me, it was never more than a friendship to me.” I tried to clear up the misunderstanding, but he was not ready to hear anything.
“I will destroy your career. My family has lots of connections, and they can make your life hell,” he started, threatening me. Whoever this guy was, son of a billionaire or brother of a billionaire or a billionaire himself, he couldn’t threaten me like that. So, I picked up my bag from the street and walked back toward home.