Chapter 2

Drew

The painful sunlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows of my opulent penthouse on Fifth Avenue, Manhattan. Although my head felt like it was used as a treadmill all night, my internal alarm went off at exactly half-past five in the morning. It was a Sunday morning and the perfect day for a lie in, but my busy schedule of a high-profile divorce attorney would not allow it. I had an early breakfast meeting with a client that my boss told me to give my personal attention to.

I let out a groan as I clutched my throbbing head. “Rise and shine slutty-head,” I mumbled to myself, rolling over.

My body ached from last night’s vigorous activities, in places there couldn’t be muscles. I was still enveloped in the grogginess of slumber and a killer hangover; and it took a great effort for me to rise from beneath the comfort of the rumpled satin sheets that held the scent of the man I’d did the unthinkable with, for hours last night. My partner in bedroom gymnastics was missing from the enormous bed that occupied the center of the room, though his clothes, along with mine, were still scattered all over the plush carpet of my sprawling master bedroom. Where could he be? In the shower? The kitchen maybe? Gone??

I had no regrets.

I know this weekend’s behavior was out of character for me but I needed to let down my hair. I couldn’t remember the last time I did that. I can’t remember the last time I tasted alcohol, let alone got drunk.

What’s–his-name and I-

Wait, what was his name???! Did he tell me? Did he ask for mine? Did I ask for his??

A hot Italian literally banged my brains right through to Sunday and I didn’t even know from Adam. All I can remember is that he was hot. Extremely, sinfully hot. Other than that, the rest of the night is a blur. I dropped back onto the pillow and a puff of air escaped from my pursed lips as I ran fingers through my tangled mop, that I probably resembled a member of The Croods. No wonder the poor guy ran.

Just as I was garnering enough strength to roll out of bed, the decision was taken out of my hands. My phone went off and I scrambled around the room, searching for it under the pile of clothes on the floor. While Camilla Cabello crooned about how she would never be the same, I finally fished the phone from my-uh…. tangled underwear.

The breaker-of-my-hearts name flashed on the screen taunting me. I wanted to let it go to voicemail but curiosity got the better of me.

“What do you want Aaron?”

“You didn’t waste time moving on?” he cut straight to the matter. “Who was he, Drew?”

“What’s it to you? How do you know I had someone over? Are you stalking me?!”

“The doorman told me. I asked him to keep an eye on you because this is exactly the way I knew you would behave! Have you no shame Drew? We just broke up!!”

“How dare you! You no longer have the right to question what I do or who I sleep with!!”

“I care about you and I’m jealous, okay?!!” his angry voice pierced through the earpiece. “Don’t you get that?!”

“You are the one that dumped me and took a job all the way in Dubai!!” My eyes went cold and my face contorted. “Isn’t this what you wanted Aaron?!”

“I made a mistake, baby,” his voice dropped and his breathing hitched. “I made a terrible mistake by leaving you…”

I squeezed my eyes as I dropped onto the ottoman and put a fist in my mouth to stop the sob from escaping. “It’s too late Aaron,” I said in a cracked voice.

“No,” he immediately voiced his refusal. “A love like ours is hard to find Drew. Don’t throw it away…please? Please give us another chance, baby?”

“I can’t…”

“Come here and let’s start over. It’s exactly what we both need-”

“No. I can’t just leave. I won’t-”

“Say that you’ll think about it? Please?”

“Since when do you beg Aaron?” I scoffed.

“Since I realized that you’re the most important thing in my life and I can’t lose you.”

“I’ve got to go,” I sighed and slowly rose to my feet. “I have a meeting I need to get ready for.”

“Can I call you later?” he pressed.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“I-I love you, Drew Ellington.”

“That was never the problem. Goodbye Aaron.”

I hung up the phone and padded to the bathroom, which was one of my favorite rooms in the whole house. The luxurious, white marble round tub and the spacious shower with three shower heads, had seen me through a lot of bad days. My bathroom was my sanctuary. And right now I needed to retreat and put Aaron far away from my thoughts.

Passing the full length mirror next to the shower cubicle, I let out a loud shriek when I noticed the crimson marks on my naked body. I slowly turned around and screamed louder when the black and blue bruises on my back glared back at me.

“How did I get these..?” I was hit by a flashback of the hot-alley-sex. It seemed like a good idea at the time but these ugly bruises told a different story.

I blushed deeply and found myself smiling as the steamy memories came tumbling in. Never had I been so daring. When he followed me out back, he wasted no time with small talk or foreplay. He pushed me against the rough wall, pulling at my skimpy dress and lifting me up so my legs were wrapped around his waist. He eased into me, then gave it to me like a man that had been celibate for a decade. Hungrily, relentlessly, pushing me deeper into the haze of pleasure and desire, until I screamed in ecstasy, my body on the verge of shattering. The man had a gift. He was a gift.

I had a quick shower, wrapped a towel around me and walked back into my room.

“Good morning Drew,” my uninvited guest greeted me with a smile, her distinct Italian accent evident.

“Mrs Mancini!” I squeaked, clutching the towel.

“I’m so sorry to barge in like this-but I brought us breakfast from my favorite cafe. And apologize for pressing the doorman to give me your code. I lied that I was your sister,” she turned from her spot at the window and approached me. “That doorman needed to go. “I know we were supposed to meet at the café but something urgent came up.”

“If you could just go down to the living room and give me a few minutes to throw some clothes on…”

Speaking of clothes, her eyes dropped and took in the evidence of the wild night I had. “I’m sorry, do you have company?”

“No!” my face reddened as I stopped to pluck what’s-his-names pants and dress shirt. Where was he?? “I had-but he took off while I was still asleep.”

“One of those, huh?” She looked at me with sympathy.

“We just-it was nothing.”

“That’s funny,” she frowned as she bent over and picked up his belt that had a distinct diamond-encrusted gold buckle that would cost a kidney or two. “My husband has a belt exactly like this one. I bought it for him as a gift when we holidayed in Switzerland.” The black leather belt went slack in her hand.

“I assure you this belt does not belong to you husband,” I said with a nervous laugh. Could the mystery sex-god be my client’s terror of a husband? What were the odds? No way…

“I’ll let you get dressed then,” she shot me a doubtful look and headed for the stairs.

Lowering myself onto the corner couch and helping myself to bagels and coffee that was spread out on the table. I was so hungry I could eat a whole pig and then some. “You said it was urgent?” I took in her cream chic outfit, full makeup, and red high-heeled shoes. Her long auburn hair was pulled back in an elegant knot, a fascinator pinned on the side, making her appear like she was part of the Royal clan.

“Yes-my husband has moved the preliminary hearing to tomorrow and-will that be a problem?” she asked in a nervous, soft voice.

“Not at all,” I assured her. “We’re ready for him.”

“He’s having me followed-I-don’t feel safe…” her jittery voice trailed off. “I’ve told you before, my husband is a very dangerous man. He seems charming but only I know another side of him.”

“I will do everything I can to make sure you get what you deserve,” I told her, placing my hand over hers.

“Do you think-no never mind,” she laughed.

“What is it?” I pressed for an answer. “You can tell me anything.”

“My husband has frozen all my accounts and thrown me out of the house...my family is too afraid to take me in…” her lips quivered. “Do you think I could come and stay with you for a few days?”