Kat T. Masen

Why do we love when in the end, it’s taken from us, and we are left to die a slow death?

But the biggest surprise, the one I never expected to take my breath away that afternoon several months ago is how Amelia turned into this beautiful woman. The very reason why my emotions fucked with my head, causing me to hesitate in front of our executive team.

“I’ll repeat Jeff’s question since perhaps you didn’t hear it,” Lex voices coldly, unforgiving with his tone. “Is there a problem?”

Across the room, the most powerful man I know watches me with an uninviting stare. His fingertips drum against the woodgrain table. The shade of his usually vibrant green eyes has turned almost black.

Anyone else caught in his unrelenting stare would’ve recoiled and signed the contract. But as the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach begins to alleviate, it’s instantly replaced with resentment.

He leaves me no choice.

My company’s future is in his hands. We need his investment to complete this purchase, and all I have to do is sign this contract and move to London.

Away from Manhattan and away from his oldest daughter.

Beside me, my phone vibrates with a text appearing on the screen. Slowly, my eyes shift across to the notification. I keep my expression flat as the words tear through me like bullets ricocheting from a loaded gun.

Amelia: I will always choose him.

These five words end everything between us; I’m left with no choice. Even if I give this all up for her, she’ll never be happy unless her father approves.

And I know for a fact he doesn’t want a man like me to be in a relationship with his daughter. We’ve been friends well before this, and for many years, he’s been a mentor and a father figure who treats me like his own son.

He knows I never cared for women unless it was for my own selfish physical needs. We often joked about my inability to settle down with anyone since all I care about is work. We had spent many nights just sitting at bars, drinking while talking about life. He knows me better

than my father, better than any man I’ve called a friend over the years.

But then it all shifted.

A complete turn of events in which, if he knew the extent of our relationship, he’d never approve.

I’m not stupid. He taught me everything I know, and when the master himself has taught you all his tricks, you know well enough that his proposal for me to move is because he knows the secret we’ve been keeping.

The forbidden affair between his nineteen-year-old daughter and me.

My throat begins to tighten at the same time my knuckles turn white around the pen still resting in my hand. Pressing hard against the paper, the pen glides across as the blank spot above the line is filled with my signature.

Without a thought, the pen falls against the table as my head slowly lifts to the ruthless stare of the man who pulls all the strings.

The same man who Amelia chose over me.

Her father.

Lex Edwards.

The new stakeholder in my soon-to-be billion-dollar company.

I watch from across the pool until arms wrap around my waist as the familiar masculine scent invades the air around me, radiating warmth throughout my chest.

“My girl,” his voice whispers in my ear.

Unable to hide my smile, I turn around and wrap my arms around Austin’s neck. In his eyes, the warm honey hues mixed with caramel reflect a hazel color I’ve only ever seen when he gazes upon me. Austin is dressed in a hoodie, blue jeans, and sneak

sneakers—looking deliciously handsome as always.

“You’re here.”

“I said I would be.” His smile is so wide, baring his perfectly straight white teeth. “Besides, I’m kind of fond of you.”

I smack his chest softly, his face pained, though only momentarily.

We’ve dated all through senior year. In terms of relationships in high school, this is considered long-term. Being the gentlemen he is, Austin offered to meet my father, and much to my surprise, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be. It started off shaky, my father, of course, interrogating poor Austin. But when Austin mentioned med school, it all shifted. There was somewhat of a respectful exchange of conversation. I recall Mom telling me that my father studied to be a doctor, though never really elaborated on why he changed professions.

There is, however, one rule. We’re never to be alone. Andy or Ava chaperoned us on more than one occasion, but both of them would abandon us enough to spend time making out or fool around. We just never had sex, something I know Austin wants.

“I love this song,” I say as the music continues to blast. “Let’s dance.”

We dance beside the pool, his hands never leaving my waist. He spends most of his time buried in my neck until he suggests we go somewhere quieter.

My eyes scan the area surrounding us. “Like where?”

“I thought you were a daredevil,” he muses, still with his hands on my hips.

“You know what?” His lips curve upward with hopeful eyes following. “Why do we have to worry about it right now?”

“You’re right,” I agree, leaning in to kiss his lips.

With a sense of urgency, he takes my mouth and kisses me deeply. His body slowly hovers above mine, pinning me down on the sofa. I let out a soft moan as his lips trail toward my neck, and his hand moves beneath my dress, skirting at the edge of my panties.

My dad shakes his head in disappointment. “Did you have to go there, Adriana?”

“Why yes, dear brother,” she responds in jest, then turns her focus back to me. “Now, listen, you, I want updates on everything, including men.”

“Jesus Christ, Adriana! Let the girl focus on studying. The last thing she should be thinking about is boys.”

“Men, Lex,” Aunt Adriana corrects him. “She’ll be with men now.”

That’s how your mom described you.”

“Was,” I reiterate. “Past tense. But seriously, we can’t just disappear.”

“Stop overthinking things, it’s time to have some fun.”

Austin leads me toward the kitchen, through a deserted hallway, and up a flight of floating stairs until we’re on the second level. Opening a door, he pulls me into the room, then presses his lips against mine.

“Austin,” I murmur, out of breath with my hands on his chest. “We shouldn’t be up here.”

He pulls away, his gaze exploring my face until he’s drawn to my lips. There’s a king-size bed in the room and a white sofa by the window. Taking my hand, he guides me to the sofa, where the two of us sit.

“So, did you open the envelopes?” he asks, yet much like me, we both try to avoid this topic tonight.

I nod, gently scratching the top of his hand. “I got into all of them.”

“What?” His expression illuminates. “That’s amazing!”

“Yeah, it is…”

“Why the face? You’re not happy?”

“I’m happy I got into three excellent schools, but… well… my father doesn’t exactly approve of me attending Yale. In fact, he said no.”

“C’mon, Millie, you know he’ll come around.”

“I don’t know,” I mumble, still unable to process his reaction. “I guess, if he does change his mind, you’re only two hours away at Harvard.”

urges. “Not here.”

It falls on deaf ears as he moves his hands over my panties, causing me to draw a breath in sharply.

“Austin,” I repeat, pushing his chest with more force. “I don’t want to have sex here. Not with everyone downstairs.”

Slightly offended, he draws back. “I understand, but I want you, Millie. I want you.” He swallows, his tone nervous. “I want you to be my first.”

We haven’t exactly discussed our past to a great extent. I know he dated other girls in school, and I’d assumed he’d had sex. From the few times we’ve been able to be alone, he knows just what to do. Never does he appear nervous or hesitant.

“I…” I stumble on my words, distracted by the noise downstairs. “I’m not ready, I’m sorry. I know that’s not what you want to hear. And yes, I am aware that I’m already eighteen, and even my sister has lost her virginity, but I just want it to be right, and this place doesn’t feel right.”

“I understand,” he whispers, pulling away while struggling, my eyes diverting to his pants to see the reason why.

I pull him back toward me, kissing him hard and guiding him back on top of me. I may not have been ready to lose my virginity tonight, but I still want him and want to show him how much.

With fire in his eyes, his hands move back between my thighs. “Do you want me to stop?”

I shake my head, holding in my breath