Her dad was a playboy with a string of mistresses who left her mom when she was five. Her bestfriend got jilted by her playboy boyfriend after he was busted hooking up with different girls. Her favorite celebrity couple broke up due to the same reason... and she herself experienced being cheated by her first love. She lost her trust on men. She thought they're all the same, polygamous by nature. They could not stick to one woman. She would rather be an old maid and live with a cat than bear the burden of having a playboy husband. But it only took one night and a few shots of tequila to change her opinion of men. She was dazzled, swirled in euphoric ecstasy and swept off her feet like that in a fairytale movie. She met a guy she thought was very different from all the other men. A real life prince charming! Too bad, the man was Daniel Monteiro. The biggest player in the planet who doesn't hook up with a girl twice. Like a mouse trap, Kate falls for the playboy's game.
Chapter One
"Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart, and the senses." - Lao Tzu
Kate's POV
I don't want to open my eyes, the sun is too bright, glaring directly at me. But I don't care at all, I can stay here forever.
A soft smile touched in the corner of my lips.
I don't have to worry waking up early today and catching the eight fifteen bus. I can sleep till noon. Lying here in this secluded beach is like living in paradise. And what makes everything perfect is that, I'm with Adam.
Adam Parker. The only loyal, faithful, one-woman man I know living in this planet. A one in a million from all the hungry lady killer playboys in the world.
"Adam..." I turned to him but the sun was too blinding that I could not see him. "Adam?"
My phone rang so loudly, it felt like my head was about to blow. I rolled at the side and my sleepy hand reached for my phone.
"E...llo..." I answered in my very sleepy voice.
"Kate! You're still sleeping?"
Hearing my prince charming's voice made me open my eyes wide. Reality immediately sank in. I was lying on my bed here in an apartment in Soundview New York that I shared with my besties-- my cousin Jerry and recently my best friend Julie.
"Adam?"
"Where are you? It's nine thirty and the customers are coming."
"It's nine thirty?" I checked the time on my alarm clock. "It's nine thirty! Oh my God, my alarm failed!"
I heard him groaned. "I need you here Kate, Mr. Doherty is looking for his suit, I can't find it in the claim section."
Mr. Doherty? Our grumpiest and oldest costumer in the tailoring shop.
I threw my blanket and pillows as I scrambled out of bed. "Did you ask Wendy?"
"She can't report today, her baby is sick."
"Oh... poor baby."
"What about Michael?" I asked him about the other Sales Personnel.
"He asked yesterday to report after lunch, remember? He has to fetch his mom in the airport."
"Oh, yeah..."
Adam must be frantic. It's Friday, the busiest day of the week in the shop and he was alone. Many clients would pick up their custom-made suits, shirts, pants and other items of clothing today. Darn it, I shouldn't have watched 'Bird Box' last night.
"I need you here in the shop, I have to be in the sewing area. We're rushing a dozen suits for next week's wedding." He drawled.
I always find Adam's drawling so damn sexy. And every time he said that he needs me was enough to make me feel so giddy over him. He's so kind, so sweet, so nice and so handsome that I could not leave my job as his shop supervisor to a higher paying job in New York.
My mom keeps on telling me that I needed advancement in my career and working in the tailoring shop made me stagnant. It's even out of my league after earning the Bachelor's Degree Programs in Marketing.
I work for Adam for three years already. It's my first and only job since I graduated university. I just can't leave Adam because he's too nice. I know he would be very devastated, he relies on me in running the shop.
Besides, it's true. My crush on him often goes too far. I imagine that someday, there could be something more between us.
"Kate? Did you hear me?"
"Yeah.. yeah, of course. I'll be there as quickly as I can."
The moment we hung up the phone, I jumped out of bed and headed directly to the shower. After five minutes, I was back in my bedroom hurriedly choosing a dress to wear. It was Friday, wash day for the uniforms, so all employees could wear whatever decent clothes they have.   
Jerry, Julie and I were planning for a night out after office hours, so I needed an outfit that would take me from day-to-night. We'd be going to a very high class bar that only socialite members could enter. Lucky that Jerry's new boyfriend worked in there as a bouncer, he could help us get inside.
My best friend, Julie Paige just broke up with her boyfriend for five years. We would paint the town red and help her get over that jerk!
I told her that Ethan Conway was not an exemption from all the playboys in the universe but she would not listen. She caught him countless times hooking up with different girls, but she was so martyr always forgiving and allowing him another chance!
Too many times I wanted to bump her head on the wall so she would wake up and realize that Ethan was a certified asshole playboy! But she would not let him go, claiming that she could not live without him in her life. He was her strength, her happiness, her rainbow and heaven... but she never acknowledged the fact the he was also her weakness, her sadness, her torturer and demon from hell.
Julie was always the prettiest and the smartest in class during university days but when it came to love, sad to say, she was the dumbest hanging on to that playboy.
The recent one finally opened her eyes. It was a big blow for her when she caught Ethan having sex with their teenage neighbour on their bed! Totally, it was chaos. I never thought Julie could be so violent. She burned all his clothes in the fireplace and his important documents. She also almost castrated Ethan!
It was another traumatic and phobic experience for me. My hatred for playboys escalated from a hundred to a million percent. I swear, I would never ever trust any guy.
In my opinion, ninety-nine percent of single straight men beyond my age (excluding those who practice celibacy) are playboys. The 1% are gems and rare to find. Not too lucky though that I found one -- and that's Adam. Because he never asked me for a date until now.
I grabbed the conservative-cut black dress and put it on in a hurry before I'd change my mind. I've bought the dress two months ago but I've never worn it ever before. It just stayed there hanging inside my closet. It was my just-in-case dress. Yeah, it sounded stupid. I reserved it for my future date with Adam.
A date that never came.
           
It was quarter past ten when I entered the shop. I was catching my breath after running across the pavement when Adam suddenly stood up behind the reception counter.
I was caught off guard standing too close on him. He was looking so sinfully handsome as usual in his dark business suit and satin gray tie. I was easily drowned in his deep blue eyes, mesmerised by his tantalising smile and transported to another planet when I smelled his wonderful fresh cologne scent.
           
"Hi." Adam greeted me after making a brief glance of my appearance.
"Hi." I managed to answer after being dumbstruck for a moment.
"Whew! Glad you're here. I'm going out in a minute, I have to catch a business meeting." He checked the time on his watch before he looked at me again with concern eyes. "Can you manage here alone?"
"Yeah... yeah. I'll be fine, Michael will be here soon." I've done it several times though.
"Good. Um... I really have to go." He strode passed me then paused at the sensor glass door. "You're looking very lovely in that dress, are you going out tonight?"
My heart pounded so hard in an instant. What does that mean? Is he going to ask me out? Should I lie or tell the truth? My mind was debating.
"Just a night out with the girls." I gave him my warmest smile and popped up the question. "Want to join us?"
He returned the smile and shrugged his shoulders. "No, I don't want to ruin your night with the girls. I'll just stay home and watch Bird Box."
When he left, my shoulders slumped with disappointment. See? We're the same. We both enjoy watching Netflix and Bird Box.
If only I could, I would ask him out for a dinner date. But the problem is, he's a conservative guy. And another thing, it seems like he's not yet ready to date, three years after his wife died.
***
My gay cousin Jerry, (in my mother's side) came to the shop to fetch me at five. I needed a ride because my car was broken and still at the automobile repair shop.
Jerry worked as a makeup artist of top celebrities and oftentimes he travelled with them during shootings, concerts, promotions and international guesting.
"Oh... your wearing that for-Adam-only black dress. Girl, what's wrong? Tired of the waiting game already?" Jerry greeted me with a provoking smile. "Admit it bitch, you won't be Adam's Eve. His wife brought his heart with her six feet under the ground."
"Will you stop? I'm not pushing myself onto Adam. And please, lower your voice," I glanced at my colleague, Michael who made body measurements of a client. "Michael can hear you."
"Hmm... talking of Michael, I can smell that he's one of us." Jerry whispered back when Michael was out of earshot.
"Michael is straight. I hate him sometimes for being a player."
"A player? That's a joke. Na-ah! I swear, that's only his disguise." He wiggled his fingers in front of my nose. "I can tell from his appearance."
"I don't think so."
"Girl! Are you blind? His foundation is thicker than mine. I'll bet you my bum implants if he's not gay."
"Many guys are wearing foundation nowadays."
"You're right, but not with eyebrows, mascara, cheek and lip tint." He rolled his eyes heavenwards in exasperation.
"I still don't think so. He said he hooks up with different girls every weekend."
"That's what he said... but they are all lies. I've infected him, sister." Jerry flipped his bob cut ash blond hair out of his face followed with a roar of laughter. "Let's make a deal. If I can prove to you tonight that Michael is gay, you bitch will hook up with a hot guy in the bar."
"Hook up with a guy? That's too much! You know I hate playboys."
"I know. But that's the deal, bitch."
I laughed at him for being overly confident. I always won in our beating game. The last time, I got his whole month salary.
"Okay, what if I'll win?" I held my chin up daring him.
"Well...    I'll pay next month's rental in our apartment. You won't pay anything, and that bitch Julie." He lifted one of his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders.
"Not good enough. Make it two months."
"Two months! You're so savage."
"Come on, you chicken out already?" I held my laughter when Jerry's eyes widened.
"Of course, not! You know how I hate being called chicken... okay bitch, listen to me. Two months including the light and water. Is that a deal?"
"Okay queen bitch, it's a deal!" I answered confidently not knowing that the said deal would change my life forever.
Chapter 1 1
27/08/2023
Chapter 2 2
27/08/2023
Chapter 3 3
27/08/2023
Chapter 4 4
27/08/2023
Chapter 5 5
27/08/2023
Chapter 6 6
27/08/2023
Chapter 7 7
27/08/2023
Chapter 8 8
27/08/2023
Chapter 9 9
27/08/2023
Chapter 10 10
27/08/2023
Chapter 11 11
01/09/2023
Chapter 12 12
01/09/2023
Chapter 13 13
01/09/2023
Chapter 14 14
01/09/2023
Chapter 15 15
01/09/2023
Chapter 16 16
01/09/2023
Chapter 17 17
01/09/2023
Chapter 18 18
01/09/2023
Chapter 19 19
01/09/2023
Chapter 20 20
01/09/2023
Chapter 21 21
01/09/2023
Chapter 22 22
01/09/2023
Chapter 23 23
01/09/2023
Chapter 24 24
01/09/2023
Chapter 25 25
01/09/2023
Chapter 26 26
01/09/2023
Chapter 27 27
01/09/2023
Chapter 28 28
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Chapter 29 29
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Chapter 30 30
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Chapter 31 31
01/09/2023
Chapter 32 32
01/09/2023
Chapter 33 33
01/09/2023
Chapter 34 34
01/09/2023
Chapter 35 35
01/09/2023
Chapter 36 36
01/09/2023
Chapter 37 37
01/09/2023
Chapter 38 38
01/09/2023
Chapter 39 39
01/09/2023
Chapter 40 40
01/09/2023
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