Prologue: Deal?
Elena’s P.O.V
“Come on, Elle! Don’t go with the boring purple dress, it looks like a bunch of lavender puked all over you!” Risa, my best friend for the past three years wrinkled her nose at the dress I currently held in front of me.
“Why?” I frowned. “It looks cute! I like this dress.” I told her as I looked into the mirror and found nothing wrong with it, but Risa shook her head vigorously.
“Honey that dress screams safe! I mean, look at it! High neckline, knee length and full sleeves!” Risa whined. “It’s New Year’s Eve for God’s sake! There’s no point in being safe and all saintly! Bring out the little black dress, pair it with those killer fuck me heels and we’ll be good to go!”
I turned my gaze towards the long red devil stilettos that Risa was pointing at and winced. Those were the kind of heels that we wore on the runway, six inches and ready to kill. My feet were already sore from wearing heels all the time to fashion shows but to wear them at a bar? I shook my head instantly.
“Nope! Not wearing them!” I told Risa straight away. “You can borrow them if you like but I’m sticking to comfort.”
“Fine, go with the wedge.” Risa shook her head disapprovingly at me. “But I’m finding you a little black dress.”
And so, Risa and I dug around in my closet until we came upon this really cute black dress that was made completely out of lace and had a full sleeve and hugged my figure to the T. I had to wear a black slip under the dress but once I had the dress on, I have to admit, it looked fabulous on me.
I let my naturally wavy dark brown hair down my back and curled it further to add more bounce. I had a few natural blonde highlights in my hair that made it unique; it was why I never dyed my hair, in fear that it would ruin the natural highlights. Next up was the makeup. Risa helped me don a smoky eye and blood red lips and with a pair of black crystal danglers, I was ready to rock the party.
Risa had chosen a shimmering green number to match her eyes and I helped her with her statement over-the-top eye makeup and red lips. She looked gorgeous with her wild curly red hair and a slight dusting of freckles on her nose. No wonder she was one of the best models in our company and an equally great friend.
When we were both done and ready, we took a couple pictures to post on social media and then opened a bottle of wine to take a few sips while our cab arrived to take us to one of the most happening parties of Hollywood. There would be a lot of familiar faces today and lot of people who I could only ever hope to get close to. The highlight of my fashion career had been this November during a show for Louis Vuitton when I had the opportunity to escort Rita Ora on the runway. That’s as close to a high ranking celebrity that I’d ever gotten to but Risa keeps assuring me that it was only the start. After all, I’m only twenty three and have a long career ahead of me.
“We look good, girlfriend.” Risa told me as she tucked a stray hair behind my ear. “Make sure to have fun tonight.”
“You know I’ll have fun,” I told her as I leaned my head against hers. “It’s one of the biggest parties of Hollywood! And I’ll have you there with me.”
“That’s not the kind of fun I’m talking about, Elle.” Risa turned me to face her. “Go ahead, live a little! It’s been three years.”
I sighed. This has been a reoccurring conversation between us for a while now. “Risa, I will when I think I’m ready.”
“You are ready!” Risa shook my shoulders. “You’ve just been holding back thinking that he-who-shouldn’t-be-named will change his mind and come back to you. It’s been three years, Elle, if he wanted to come, then he would’ve by now.”
“I know, Risa, but it’s not because of him!” I shook my head. “I just haven’t found the right guy yet!”
I had once thought that he-who-shouldn’t-be-named was the right guy for me, the one as people call it. He had been my first everything, my first crush, my first love, my first kiss…and then my first and most devastating heartbreak. It wasn’t my fault that the incident had left me a bit weary of men. But maybe Risa was right, maybe I was holding back in hopes that he’d realize his mistake and come back to me. But Risa was also right that it’s already been three years now. If he wanted to, he would be here by now. It was my time to move on.
“Then how about this, if you find the right guy tonight,” I made a face at her but she held up her fingers to my lips. “If you find the right guy tonight, you won’t hold back, if you want to take things further.”
“Eww, Risa! I don’t like the whole one night stand thingy.” I whined.
“No one said it has to be for one night!” She rolled her eyes at me. “But at least get started!”
“Alright, let’s just say that I do find some hot guy tonight who is a gentleman and the loving and caring type,” I air quoted with my fingers while mentally rolling my eyes. “Only then will I decide if I want to go ahead with this crazy theory of yours.”
“Deal?”
I sighed. Was I really making such a stupid deal? After that devastating breakup three years ago, my life had turned completely upside down. Even with my big brother as an example, I couldn’t help but think twice even before exchanging phone numbers with a male colleague and dates had been completely out of the question. I’d shut myself in this tiny bubble where no one could get to me and I didn’t let anyone close.
Risa had been with me since the day I arrived at Los Angeles, and I trusted her with every breath I took, but she had a wild streak in her that I couldn’t understand sometimes. Regardless, the deal was more of a dare. She had helped me come out of my shell for good in a lot of cases and she’s helped me face so many of my problems head on. What could go wrong with this one deal?
“Deal.” I told her, placing my hand in her outstretched one and shook on it.
If I had only known then how my life was about to turn upside down within the next few hours, I would’ve never made the deal. I would’ve just stuck with my broken heart and waited for a man who I knew was never coming back.
Chapter 1: The First BlowElena’s P.O.V:The sun streaming in through the huge windows woke me up in the morning and the first thing I felt were arms around my waist.A smile formed on my face as I remembered last night. I’d been wandering the club alone, saying a few hello’s to people I knew. My friends, who I’d come here with, had disappeared into the dark with either stranger’s they had randomly picked up at the bar or with their boyfriends/girlfriends. I’d been left at the bar because I didn’t have a boyfriend and I’d refused to hook up with anyone…that is until Knight Blaze.Black haired and blue eyed, he’d stood out amongst the crowd even in a grey sweater and worn out blue jeans. Strong jaw, high cheek bones, eyes that saw right through you and a body to die for; he had been the centerpiece of the club frequented by celebrities. There was this aura of pow
Chapter 2: Keeping HerKnight’s P.O.V:Two huge piles of folders were spread out in front of me as I sat on the living room couch of my LA home, in worn out jeans and a pale blue cashmere sweater. Those files had all the details about the year’s finances and the profit my company had made this year. It was a time for celebration, of throwing a huge party for the workers of my company who’d done such a brilliant job. But my mind was a million miles away from work and my eyes were glued to the 60 inch plasma TV on the opposite wall and on the woman who walked down the runway in a red lacy bra and panties with little rubies encrusted in them and a red and white faux fur robe that left nothing to the imagination.My hands clenched on the file I’ve been holding.The woman had long brunette hair that reached her lower back in natural waves, but what I’d missed at first was now prominent in the blin
Chapter 3: RealityElena’s P.O.V:I came out of the washroom to find Risa Alum waiting for me with a bottle of cool sparkling water and my medicines.“How mad is the boss?” I asked, accepting the pill and chugging it down with half of the water. I’d had to run to the restroom as soon as I’d finished my first turn on the runway.“About 40 percent.” She furrowed her brows, red hair pulled up in a tight knot at the top of her head and a black robe pulled over the royal blue bikini she’d been given encrusted with white gems. “But he’s also 60 percent worried about you.”“Great.” I groaned, leaning against the closed bathroom door, still in my red lingerie sans the robe.I’d known the CEO of SunKissed, Robert Hugh since I’d first decided to join the modeling industry. He’d given me my first ever gig and from then on he
Chapter 4: A New LifeElena’s P.O.V:“An art exhibition?” Robert asked, brows drawn.This time I actually blushed. “Remember when you told me never to relieve the stress of being in the industry with alcohol or drugs?” I continued when he nodded. “Well…I took your advice and started painting instead.”“That’s great news Elain! Why did you never tell me about this?” He asked with a wide smile.“I just wanted it to be a secret identity…you know.” I fumbled with the jacket sleeves. “I’ve actually been selling those online and they sell pretty well too.”“Well, how about I send Helena over to see the pictures? It’d be suspicious if I went to your apartment so it’ll be better if Helena goes in my place. She can give me her review about your work and then I’ll give you my final word
Chapter 5: Coming DangerElena’s P.O.V:The next morning, I woke up to the sound of the bell going off over and over again.Groaning, I reluctantly got up from my bed and padded over to the door in my slippers so that I don’t accidentally step on a glass shard. But as soon as I opened the door to Helena Hugh, Robert’s wife, I hunched over as nausea hit me full force and ran to the bathroom, leaving Helena worried and startled on the other side of the door.“Elain!” I heard Helena standing by the bathroom door an instant later, and then she was pulling my hair back from my face as I pucked out guts.“I’m sorry.” I told her when my gut stopped wrenching, my back to the toilet and my head in my hands. “You shouldn’t have had to see that.”“What nonsense are you talking about?” She chided me good naturedly as she wet a washcloth and da
Chapter 6: Something UnexpectedKnight’s P.O.V:“What is the meaning of this?” I felt something flying towards my head so I lifted one hand and caught it just before it hit me and placed, what I assumed to be a newspaper, beside me on the bed.Then I opened my eyes a fraction to look up at Keena’s fuming face and then closed them again. “Morning sissy.” I murmured under my breath.Suddenly, my covers were ripped away from my body and a glass of ice cold water was thrown on to my face.“What the Hell Keena!” I sat up so fast I felt my head spin, but my glare was directed at my younger sister standing at the foot of my bed, her expression equally bone melting.“Oh no, don’t you dare ‘what the Hell’ me! Do you have any idea what you’re doing? How your mistakes are ruining the image of the entire family?” Keena, Kareena Tyson Mil
Chapter 7: ComplicationsElena’s P.O.V:Lara, as Dr. Johnson insisted I call her, applied a bit of gel on my stomach, which still looked normal even though I was about three months pregnant. But when I’d told Lara about my concern, she simply smiled and told me that my tummy wouldn’t be that noticeable until I was about five months pregnant.“Just relax honey; you’ll be able to see your baby in a little while.” Lara said as she used the probe on my lower abdomen to find the right spot. It didn’t take long before an image appeared on the screen and Lara turned the computer slightly in my direction and there it was! My baby!I felt tears well up in my eyes at the sight of the tiny bundle that looked more alien than human. “It’s so tiny!” I whispered to Helena, who was standing right beside me, holding on to my hand tightly.“Of course it is,&rdqu
Chapter 8: This is ItElena’s P.O.V:The second his lips touched mine, all thoughts vanished and electricity poured into my veins.One of Knight’s hands were fisted in my hair while the other was around my waist, molding me to his body. For an instant, I forgot everything around me. The only thing running through my mind as he parted my lips to put his tongue inside my mouth, was that this felt right. A sense of belonging washed over me, a sudden peacefulness that had been absent in my life for…for the past three months…I wrenched myself back from the kiss and at the same time pushed him back with all the strength I had. It was only when I tasted the iron in my mouth that I noticed that I’d bitten his tongue hard enough to draw blood. Good. It was a very small price to pay for everything he did to me.Knight stumbled back, his eyes wide as he looked at me as if he was still in a daz