Entwined Hearts: A Billionaire RomanceĀ
la mid-conversation. With his heart racing, he turned toward Audrey, his f
udrey asked this time more softl
ng. You know this shopping mall I work at? They want to throw a party, and I sug
worked to will the calmness down into his limbs, his lips curling into a well-rehearsed smile. It was an instant
She moved in closer, placing her hand on his arm. "You know, baby, you don't have to explain it t
ng a kiss on her forehead. "You know
uilt that had formed in his chest twisting tighter. When they finally par
f sight. At the soft click of a door shutting, he leaned back against the kitchen counter,
to the bathroom in the quietest manner possible, his heart going into palpitations merrily. He suddenly sn
sin came over and gave me a scare. That's who you heard. I
A smirk twisted his lips. "I'm one bad sweet guy," he snickered, running a hand t
comforter beside Audrey, his mi
ce. *Who was that woman? * The voice she had heard did seem near and inhaled with such closeness that t
wing inside of her, about which she would
irbrush and sent it across the room. It slammed against the wall with a loud thud, but
s racing. The sump of unshed tears began to cloud her eyes as she dug again into her dress
she screamed frustratedly,
asmine flung in, her eyes wide with alar
oundings: shattered glass and pillows everywhere. Jasmine stood th
l that threatened to boil over inside. "It's nothing, I just. I got really angry because. one of my friends." She f
dissipate. "That's terrible... I'm so sorry she's dealing with that." She le
yla's mind for an explanation. "You might
probably know her. You're always telling me about yo
ght of her lie intensified
pression turned skeptical. "Mila? I don't
casual-sounding. "See? I told yo
h quiet suspicion, yet didn't press the issue further. "W
iting her lip.
eeze. "Okay, well, I'll just leave you to clean up n
grumbled. Her he
knew her sister doubted her. The door softly clicked shut with just a hin
is wrong with me? Why did I blow up like that?* A weak laugh escaped her a
them in the dustbin. She checked the time-it was late. *Tomorrow I will sort this out with hi
w and soft. Axel lay awake, looking up at the ceiling. Then, his phone softly buzzed
chat window an
in; she just appeared out of the blue. She's in town for a few days, and tha
at how easily lies fell off his tongue. He could do this game as long a
ulled the blankets up over him. Lying like that his mind started to wander
nce at his phone then c
'Mila' didn't sit right. She knew all of Jayla's friends, old and new, and had never heard any of the
h more immediate: she had to focus on the biggest night gala of
mmaging through the expensive dresses hanging neatly inside. Her fingers b
immered just enough to hint at its presence without overwhelming anything. It had set h
grabbing her Versace wild leopard Athena medium
just a hair. *At least I have got this sorted, she thought to herself as
a mad rush: what took place last night, the fight with Axel, the jealousy surging through her, the lie she had fed Jasmine. Yet, tho
ly came over so suddenly and caught me off guard. Not
lanation of who he was. Immediately, her mind replayed the woman's voice-that sharp question about the beach. It didn
er thumb along the screen
ll on for today. C
ht. She didn't like that she'd lied to Jasmine, but she couldn't let this ruin her day. Axel had ex
at least, and settled on a light sundress in soft, perfect for the warm summer's day with her favori
abree
the expanse of it. She could hear the waves crashing far away and the gleeful sounds of children playing close to the s
ted white T-shirt. As he neared her, he lifted his han
n closer, pulling her into a
s she found herself smili
to be swept up in the rhythm of the day- her earlier worries of Axel's cousin slipping through as they went for a
ad in weeks. Light from Axel's jokes and the teasing during the volleyball game, the easin
he waited until they were sitting on the blanket-the sun reaching
ed in a soft tone. "That woman I
"Yeah, my cousin. She's just ever been the dramatic type. Came in asking all ki
ould let the lie seep into his features. Easy smile, casual tone-j
wly eclipse the doubt. "Yeah, guess
eyes softened at the merger with hers. "Gl
ing his hand in resp
hlighting the glint of the Chanel dress as she twirled before the mirror. Mauve, beige, and ecru col
mine delicately threw her essentials inside- lipstick, her ph
ut seeing James tonight and all her old school friends dancing and laug
ing had fallen warm and agreeable as she crossed the lawn to the waiting car outside. H
he driver, her heart alre
e itself, she was greeted by the twinkling light o
abrics and chandeliers hanging high above crystallized ev
e interior was strikingly beautiful: high ceilings, crystal glass chandeliers, people dressed well, milling about and laughi
p toward her, looking fit as dapper as ever in his tailored suit. He smiled broa
. "You look stunning. This is g
y threatening to spill over. "You don't look so bad yourself. Ready to
few of her old school friends just near the dancing floor, and upon seeing them, her face lit
lmost at once as old times were rememb
e floor, spinning and twirling with James in the middle of the floor, the lig
gy of the gala, reconnecting with old friends
mine glanced at her phone, realizi
ant the evening to come to a close, she knew she needed to get goin
Jasmine said, tapping him on th
small smile dancing on her lips. "Nah, I'm a grown woman, remember? I can get home
get home." Promise, Jasmine said, waving across the group of friends as she made her way out of
reached the corner of the parking lot, a
kness, their eyes locking on hers i
But Jasmine's heart quickened, the knuckles of one hand k
, returning in a voice perfectly even, perfectly firm. I
-she turned into his grasp and connected a square punch to his jaw th
ot take them altogether. One of them hit her with a strong push, sending her crashing onto the gr
struggled to rise again, her heart pounding in her chest. The men
ed gasps, and she did the best she could to
Jasmine knew she