I smile as I look down at myself. I may have searched the whole of London for the right outfit for


    tonight. Sexy business is what Hank, Vanessa and Brielle have called it. I am wearing a ck woolen


    pencil skirt and a ck turtle neck woolen tight sweater that hugs in all the right ces. This outfit cost a


    bomb but who cares. It’s only money, right? I may break my neck in these high stilettos by the end of the


    night, though. Sheer ck stockings finish off my look. My blonde hair is up in a high ponytail and my lips


    are hot pink and glossy, with smoky dark eyes. I grab a ss of champagne as a man with a tray walks


    past me and wish to God I could drain it. Mark spots me from across the kitchen and smiles warmly as he


    approaches. “Hello.” His eyes scan up and down my body. “You look gorgeous.”


    I smile.


    He leans and whispers in my ear. “If I could kiss you hello, I would.”


    Oh. I fake a stronger smile. Oh… shit. I need to knock this on the head. I have zero attraction to him


    and that’s only getting worse, not better. An hour, and a million jobster, the auction starts and the staff


    stand at the back to watch the proceedings. I’m relieved I’m not on the actual auction team. They seem to


    be running around like maniacs. star hasn’t shown up, so it looks like I bought this outfit for nothing.


    The night is loud and fairly uneventful, until about half an hour before it ends, Mark whispers into my ear.


    “Lets go outside and get some air.”


    “Okay.” I reply. For an ultra modern building, it is rather stuffy in here and I would like a break from


    all the shouting. It will also give me a chance to talk to him in private. I head toward the door.


    “No, this way,” Mark replies as he heads down a corridor to the left. It is quiet and semi-lit. Oh jeez.


    He  has  something  on  his  mind  here,  for  sure.  He  opens  a  ss  door  out  onto  a  courtyard.  It’s  small,


    square, and has arge oak tree in the centre with a spotlight shining up onto its trunk. It’s beautiful. A seat


    sits in the centre and Mark sits down and pats the seat next to him, I hesitate and then sit nervously.


    “How are you liking the UK?” he asks.


    “It’s good, I like it. I’m a bit homesick. I’ve never seen so much rain and I’m missing my parents and


    brother.” I’m rambling and talking way too fast.


    “Are you going to go home before the year is out?”


    I shake my head. “No, definitely not. We may even stay another year. I’m trying to talk my parents into


    visiting me.”


    “I’m so happy you’re here. I…” He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear as I hold my breath, but the


    moment is interrupted by the ss door opening. Both our eyes flicker up to the doorway. I immediately


    stand up guiltily. star stands before me. Where has he been hiding?


    His angry eyes flick between Mark and I.


    “Hello, Star. You remember Emerson?


    star’s eyes re at me. “I remember,” he breathes angrily.


    He continues to stare at me but doesn’t speak. It’s Mark who breaks the silence. “Star is one of the top


    photographers in the country. You have some work for sale tonight, don’t you?” He nods as his hungry


    eyes drop down my body then rise back to my face. I stand still on the spot as I feel his fury seep out into


    the small courtyard. I flutter at the feel of his eyes on my body. Cut it out, you sex craved bitch.


    “So you are in charge of customer rtions?” he asks with a raised brow.


    I  nod  nervously  as  I  drain  my  ss.  This  is  bad.  Really  bad.  One  guy  I’m  dreaming  about  and


    messaging, who I also told I was single, is now talking to the other guy who is dreaming about me and


    thinks we have a thing who I am trying to escape.


    How freaking cozy.


    “Can I steal Emerson to introduce her to a client of mine?” star asks casually.


    “Of course,” Mark replies, clearly annoyed by the interruption.


    My horrified eyes stare him down. What is he doing? He fakes a smile.


    “This way.” He gestures toward the door and Mark bends to pick up his ss. star’s face falls


    instantly betraying his fury. Oh crap. I swallow the lump in my throat. star opens the courtyard door


    and I follow him tentatively. We walk down the corridor a few feet and he opens a door and pulls me in, it


    seems  to  be  a rge  storage  cupboard.  He  flicks  the  light  on.  “What  do  you  think  you’re  doing?”  He


    growls.


    I don’t answer.


    “You don’t sleep with anyone else. Do you fucking hear me?”


    I frown. “Wait. What?”


    He shakes his head angrily. “I said… you do not sleep with anyone, especially not that idiot.” He’s


    near yelling.


    I snatch my arm from his grip.


    “Why do you touch me like that?” I yell.


    “Like what?”


    “Like you own me.”


    “That’s because I do, you just don’t know it yet.”


    Huh?N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    “Where were youst night?” he barks.


    “What?”


    “Why didn’t you text mest night?”


    I screw up my face. What the hell?


    “Were you with him?”