SADIE

I was beyond grateful to him for the way he treated me. I was thinking of not seeing the light again, literally. That was how my brother wanted me to keep in my head, that marrying someone like Cenric was a horror movie come to life. 

I was hoping that this was not just his way to earn my trust, to keep me on his leash so that I would not be a pain in his ass. Or he was just kind without any hidden agenda at all, and he was getting bored with his life as a billionaire bachelor. But he made it clear that he didn’t want to get married. It didn’t make any sense right now, but I would find it out.

Honestly, though, I had nothing left to offer to him. I had nothing.

After our dinner, I took the glass of the finest wine with me to the terrace, facing the beach. As much as I wanted to soak my feet in the sand again, I was exhausted, but I still wanted to relish the luxury and fresh air I could have gotten for tonight.

“I brought the bottle. I thought you might need a refill.”

“Thank you.” I delightfully accepted the bottle from him. “I just don’t want you to think that I’m trying to get myself drunk.”

Cenric sat down beside me with his whiskey. He was still perfect with his dirty white shirt and pants. His hair looked messy, but it added to his perfection. He completely fascinated me.

“I have to go to another island early morning. I won’t take you with me. I don’t want to get you bored to death—”

“You don’t have to explain. I might just sleep the whole morning anyway.” I sipped my wine. My neck started to warm up to my face.

“Don’t sleep the whole morning. I arranged a spa for you.”

“I wouldn’t say no that.” I smiled at him. “I wish Zhuri is here that I can chat with, while we’re on a spa together.”

“Why don’t you call her? I’ll take care of her ticket.”

“Nah. She won’t accept it anyway. You know, she thinks I’m banging a hot crypto-magnet right now.” My face flushed.

“Is that what she calls me?” His eyes narrowed in amusement.

“Kinda.”

“What do you mean kinda?”

I waved my hand off to ignore him from prying. I rose from my seat and emptied my glass. “I think I’m getting drunk, and I might say something that I would regret in the morning.” I walked away from him while he was asking what would that be.

“Not saying anymore, hotshot.”

After I cleaned up in the bathroom, my nerves started to warm up, and so as my body, even if I drank a lot of water and washed my face.

I was a light drinker. After wearing something nice but not too revealing and slutty, I went right to the bed and made sure I gave a distance between us. If he initiated sex, I couldn’t say no. I wouldn’t decline it. He was hot, and I really wanted him, even if this wasn’t the effect of the alcohol I consumed.

I laid down on my side, hoping my nerves would calm down before he joined me, but it never happened.

***

I woke in the middle of the night with a heavy log—a warm log draped around my waist. As much as I wanted to enjoy his warmth against my back, I had to empty my bladder, not so thankful for the water I drank before I went to bed after all. 

I slowly raised his arm around my waist and slipped out of bed. Thankfully, he didn’t even stir.

After peeing, I checked my phone for a message. So far, I only used this number to send messages to Zhuri. 

I received a text from her.

ZHURI: Go, girl. Enjoy your honeymoon, and stop texting me already.

You can fill me in once you’re back.

back.

I typed my reply.

SADIE: I wish you’re here for my spa tomorrow.

She replied. 

ZHURI: Spoiled already by a hot husband.

SADIE: Don’t call him that. Gtg. See you soon. 

I put my phone back on top of the dresser.

Slowly, I slipped back to bed. This time, he stirred.

“Where did you go?” His voice was groggy, yet it sounded sexy, coming from him.

“Bathroom. Sorry to wake you up.”

“I’m a light sleeper. Part of being in a military.” He turned to my side, his hair messy on his forehead, making me itch to run my fingers through and push it back.

“You’re honorably discharged.”

He smiled lazily. “Yeah, after my last tour. I was supposed to go back, but my parents got into a car accident.”

“I’m so sorry.” Every time he mentioned his parents, there were pain and sorrow deep in his dark orbs. I wished I could help them ease away. I held and squeezed his arm. “When I lost my mother, I thought my world turned black. It was painful, and I had no one to open up to with the pain inside me. It was a very difficult time. My father didn’t care. He hated my mother for leaving him. I, for one, couldn’t stomach how my father treated my mother. I just wished I had spent more time with her before she died, but my father didn’t allow me.”

“I’m sure she loved you more than she had shown.”

“I know.”

“Go back to sleep. You have a big day tomorrow.”

“Goodnight, Sadie.”

I lay on my back. For the first time, I felt like I turn into stone as I stared up the ceiling with a beautiful sculptured wood chandelier. 

“Relax. I can feel you’re uncomfortable.”

“I never spent a night with a man.”

“I’m not just a man. You can trust me with your life. And body.”

I turned my head to look at him. He was in the same position as before, with his arm under the pillow. “I know. I just wondered—”

“What?”

“Even a teeny-tiny bit, did you ever expect more from me than how you saw me the first time?”

“Much more than what I ever imagined. I would be in hell and die unhappy if I didn’t show up yesterday.”

A small smile curved up my lips. “Why didn’t you ever come to see me?”

“I don’t wanna make mistakes. I didn’t wanna get attracted to you and fall in love. I still have a lot of things to figure out for myself. I didn’t know what to do with my life after losing my parents and my brothers. So I spent my time building up my company. Somehow, it paid off. Then I saw you from afar. If you’ll ask me if I made a mistake not seeing you, maybe. Did I have regrets about staying away from you? No. I would still choose the same way I met you.”

“You surprised me. I only saw your pictures from the internet, Zhuri showed me, and they didn’t do justice.”

He smirked. “So, you’re contented, or you like better what you saw on the internet?”

I hit him playfully. “Are you kidding me?” 

He caught my hand, his eyes dancing with humor. “I’m glad I made the right decision of throwing away 25 million dollars, mi Cielo.”

***

The sun shone right into my eyes, forcing me to wake up to an empty bed. After what we shared last night, I started to relax around him. I felt a little bit comfortable even if I still had a lot of things to learn who Cenric Wollf really was. He was still a complicated puzzle to solve—like puzzle pieces of the same color.

I found a note tucked under my phone in a very masculine scribble.

I read and replied to your friend’s text. Check it out. I can’t afford to be late, and I can’t afford to wake you up so beautiful and peaceful. Enjoy your breakfast.

S

CENRIC

She was like an angel and curled like a ball as she slept. She looked like she couldn’t even hurt a fly, but I knew she had a fire deep inside her, and I couldn’t wait to see that come out. I knew she was a strong woman, just like her mother.

As much as I’d love to ogle her, and it was creepy watching someone sleep, I had a business meeting to attend to.

In less than thirty minutes, I arrived at Rios Resort with Beck. I knew where to find my soon-to-be business partner if things went smoothly.

“I’ll be fine. Go and find some bar and get a drink.”

Beck grunted, “You know I’m on the clock, C.”

“This is different, brother. And I can take care of myself.”

He glared at me before he nodded. “Call me—”

“Get the hell out of my sight, and for God’s sake, Beck, loosen up. We’re at the resort.”

I found Jett Grayson drinking Pina Colada with his wife for thirty-five years. I met them at a charity I attended.

Belle saw me first, lifting her sunglasses on top of her head. “What the hell is a newlywed doing here?”

I kissed Belle on the cheek, and she giggled. “Happy anniversary. I wish you both another thirty-five years together.”

“You can’t just kiss my wife and wish for us, and that’s it. I will let you buy thirty percent of my life’s work.”

He shook the hand I offered. “I don’t promise, Jett. And I won’t be here with you on my honeymoon and leave my wife in bed if I don’t see huge potential in your Brewery and Distillery.”

“Damn right, you’re fool enough. When your brother called me, you’d be here to see me, I thought, you don’t give a crap of the woman you just shared your vows to.”

“That’s not true.”

“Lovely ceremony, honey. I’m happy for you,” said Belle, patting my back. “I’ll leave you two alone.” She rose from her seat. “And sweetheart, don’t give this man a hard time. A beautiful wife is waiting for him on that island.”

“Thanks, Belle.” I straightened my seat and placed my bag on the table. I also ordered the same drinks they were drinking. “Sorry to ruin your anniversary, but I wouldn’t be here if this deal doesn’t mean anything to me.”

He studied me from head to toe. “You’ve got billions. Why in the hell are you interested in my business?”

I got that a lot. “I won’t talk shit anymore, Jett. And I won’t sell shit either. This is something personal to me. My parents loved your products. It’s what we had every weekend during barbecues and family gatherings. When I was on tours, my brothers always thought of having breweries and bars on our own. I just lost two of them. I and the other two are still having nightmares from our last tour.” I paused. It was still fresh, and reopening an old wound was not my best suit. That was why I didn’t even see a shrink. I felt like I couldn’t trust any of them. “Well, it didn’t happen.”

“Why the daughter of Hanslo Greer? I heard some shit about that man.”

My jaw clenched. Of course, Hanslo had a rep, and with every day passed by, their secrets started to leak out from their chase. That was why I had to push through the wedding before my plan fell apart.

“I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I played safe. I should, for the sake of my wife.

“I can’t work with someone I don’t trust. As I said earlier, this is my life’s work. I can’t let you taint the clean reputation of my company with your blood money.”

I was on my feet before I even realized it. I knew this would happen sooner or later, but my plan was still in action. I took a deep breath, even if my blood was boiling inside.

“Look, my money is clean. You can check my assets. And as my respect for you, I came to you. I also would do anything to protect and respect my wife. They may have the same blood in their veins, but my wife has nothing to do with whatever shits going on behind their business. But if you will trust me, even if a little about your company, you will know soon enough that the truth shall prevail. And my wife, why I marry her, it’s because she’s the one for me.”

“Sit down.” He gestured to the chair.

“I’ll make sure you won’t regret it.” I offered the contract on the table and placed a pen on top.

“I hope so, son. You know I admire you, and so as my wife. So, don’t make me regret this.” He didn’t even read the contract. He just scribbled his signature then we were official business partners.

“As I said before, I won’t change a thing. Unless you wanted my ideas, but I think what you’ve started is already great.” I held my hand out, and he shook it. “It means a lot to me, Jett.”

“To our future endeavor together.” I sipped my Pina Colada, even if this was the least of my favorite.

***

I couldn’t wait to share the good news with my wife, but she was not in the Villa. I found Devin on the terrace in his pink cocktail.

“Where’s my wife?”

He gestured to the beach. “She let me drink this shit. Can you believe that? I’m a neat whiskey kind of guy.”

“There’s always the first time, Devin. Is she done with the spa?”

“Yeah. She seemed to have fun. Just like they said, she’s flying high since she’s out of that shithole. It’s not my right to say this, but I hope you won’t clip her wings. She has a life ahead of her, and she has a lot of dreams. I don’t have to ask. I can see it in her eyes.”

My eyes narrowed into hostile slits as I watched him saying those things to me as if I didn’t already know. “And you just noticed it right now? If I’m a jealous man, I might think you have a thing for my wife?”

He looked taken aback. His skin blanched. “No, no, no. You got it wrong, Mr. Wollf.”

“Really? Tell me, Devin. Did her brother ask you to spy on her?”

“Jasper Greer is an asshole. That son of bitch deserves to be locked up for hitting his sister. I know I should have minded my own business, but I watched how he treated Sadie—Mrs. Wollf every day, and it was hard to stomach. I would have resigned a long time ago if I didn’t care about your wife. But you know, I didn’t finish college. There’s no more job left for someone like me.” The tone of his voice changed. He must have genuinely cared about Sadie. “My father was just like her’s. That guy was a total jackass. He also used to beat my sister and me. Then Jasper found me in an underground fight club. I’m thankful for taking me in, but he disgusted me for how badly he treated that poor woman.” He pursed his lips into a thin line. 

Realization and guilt cut through me like a knife. 

I should have done something. Sadie must be so terrified alone. 

As he mentioned what Sadie had been through at the hands of her own family, I had to look away. Regret swept through me like a strong gust of winter wind, freezing my entire body until I shivered.

Silent stretched between us, and I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know what to do.

“Sir, I should check on her. She’s been in the water for long.”

“I’ll do it.” I grabbed the robe draped on the armchair. “Take a break. Go with them. I got it from here.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Once he was gone, I didn’t realize I was shaking. My hands trembled as I looked down at the fabric in my hand. I was beyond pissed off, and I would make sure they would pay for what they did to Sadie.

I walked down to the beach, and she was just emerging from the water in her yellow two-piece suit, displaying her long and shapely legs. She just took my breath away. I could now see the abs she was proud of. And damn, she was fucking hot. Drop-dead gorgeous. Those words wouldn’t even serve.

“Hey, handsome in a suit.” Her smile alone was breathtaking. Everything about her.

Fuck.

I clamped my mouth shut and offered her the robe. As much as I wanted to gawk at her, I was already busted and looked like an idiot for having a hard-on in front of my wife.

“Damn that abs.” 

She laughed as she slipped her hands into the sleeves. Before I could grasp it, I had already wrapped my arms around her and squeezed her into a hug. What had just happened? Damn it, Sadie.

“You okay?” she even asked.

“Never been better.”