Danielle walked into the party, looking completely ravishing in the silver dress that hugged her skin tightly.

Ignoring the looks from everyone else, her eyes were glued to Lucas, who was sitting alone, as he watched her walk past over and over again. As she came closer, he could smell the intoxicating scent of her perfume and her skin. She kept backing away slowly, her smile growing wider each second. He looked at Anna, who laughed at his expression and leaned over to whisper something in his ear. Lucas stood up and walked over to Danielle, stopping directly in front of her.

As she stared into his eyes, something seemed to ignite in them, lighting the room up in fiery orange. He pulled her in close and brought her lips to his, her arms instantly wrapping themselves around his neck as he kissed her. The two walked past the bar, straight through, to the bedroom. Soon, they were all over each other, clothes coming off and long creative kisses taking their turn.

The sheets of the bed were smooth, new, soft, and unfolded to reveal a beautiful set of black, white, and red sheets. The owner of the office that Danielle had just entered entered and walked into the bedroom, with a horrified expression on her face. She walked over to them and stood in the center of the room.

"What has happened here, what have you done to my office?" she asked, fear in her voice. Danielle opened her eyes and saw that they were two normal people, enjoying a Saturday night romantic evening. She sighed with relief and stood up, looking at the clock. It was exactly 12.

It was all in her head!

She looked up to see Lucas staring at her strangely, a look of confusion written all over his face. His assistant watching her like a hawk.

Oh shoot!, I zoned out again!

"it's 1.30" she announced as if waking up after a wonderful dream. "I'm sorry Mr. Richardson but i'm afraid that I cannot help you find out which of your employees took your office space," she said in her best, officious voice. His assistant stared down at her, a look of previously unnoticed contempt plastered across her face.

"i thought that I'd just ask you," she said, turning to walk out of the house. Danielle walked out behind her, but could not resist looking over her shoulder as she left.

When Danielle walked back into work on Monday morning, the whole atmosphere of the office was different. She no longer had to work with such dull, useless assistants but was now given her own assistant. After getting changed into her own set of clothes, she walked into her office at exactly 12.00 exactly. Bryce was already in there. He was wearing a strong, black suit, and pressed white shirt and looked even more stunning than usual.

"Wow, you look quite stunning this morning," he said with a grin.

"Thank you, you are looking quite stunning yourself today.

"So, what's our schedule for the day?" she asked him.

"We are supposed to be promoting "Erotica" today," he replied.

"Yes, I saw that. We are doing a couple of interviews and a signing too, I think?"

"Yeah, that's it. Although we also have some people here too, to look at you for some of their research."

"Really, on what?" she inquired.

"Well, some of our publishers have invested some time into a new virtual reality program they want to develop. They use real life people to make it and they want to use you as the featured person."

"That sounds exciting. Tap in, relax, nothing. I can't see that that is going to go wrong. If I'm the only one to see it, then it can't be wrong."

"Yeah, I think it might be just us. I don't know how it works, but we want to watch you."

"Sure, I'm looking forward to it. Any particular reason behind you not being in it?" she inquired.

"I think they will want to keep it as memory, untouched and only allow you to see it during the public parts of the day. You still have to be able to attend a meeting without the distraction."

"Oh, OK, I see. Well, i will be in the planning commitee but Mr Richardon will be available for a full interview if you really want to do that," she informed him.

"I will let them know, thanks."

"So, what will we be doing today, I thought we'd be promoting "Erotica"?" she asked.

"Oh, yes, we will be, but some of the other publishers are rushing the completion of their respective titles and wanted to be able to publicise them as soon as possible. So, we will also be doing signings with authors like you."

"Do we have a list of the titles?" she asked curiously.

"Not yet, but we will have it by the end of the week. The publishers in charge are very excited too and that is why we need to be so fast."

"That's good, I like to cater to them."

"So, are you interested in seeing the titles?"

"Oh, yes. I could get all involved in the day and even have time for notes on some of the books I am interested in!" she said excitedly.

"Well, you could if you wanted to but I can only ask so."

"Oh, alright. Well, I will do my "Erotica" signing and two interview”.

“Hey!, Bryce!”

They pause to see Lucas walk into the office with a grin.

Danielle immediately goes wet between her feet. She blinks rapidly, looking flushed as he approaches them.

Oh My God, he’s so hot!.

Uncomfortable with the atmosphere, she crosses her legs and pretends to keep busy while the boys have a little chitchat. Lucas’ shirt was half buttoned which displayed his hairy chest, the cross dangling between his manly breast.. oh so much meat underneath that fabric!. What she would give to rip it off him!

Bryce taps her gently, startling her back to reality.

“Uhn, Yeah?..”She stammers

Embarrassed, she looks up to see both men stare at her with concern.

“Are you ok?” Lucas asks

“Sure.. yeah.. I am.. why?”

“Well, you looked a bit pale a minute ago” Bryce offered

“I’m fine, really” She assures them.

If only she could tell her crush how much she wanted him under the sheets!.

Chaper 1

Sensations

Bored with the meeting, Danielle tries to search for fun places with her ipad, nodding and smiling absentmindedly when she sees an ad that said 'get the man of your dream' and hit the button.

She smiles as half naked men appear on her screen, clad in briefs and male panties. Scrolling through, she spots a tall dark-skinned Caucasian with the name Paolo on his tag.

"Paolo.. hmm"

"What?" her manager, Monique asks

She looks up to see everyone staring at her.

"Er..." she starts

"What she said was, ' Perfect!". She loves the idea!"

Everyone smiles immediately

Great!, now she'd agreed to whatever it was they wanted and also gotten herself a date by hitting the 'chat now' button on her screen, sending a message to Paolo

'Hi my name's Danielle, what's yours?' She types and hits send, feeling excited.

Paolo immediately responds, 'Hi, my name's Paolo, whats yours?'

Danielle grins, 'Danielle'

She is so nervous she breathes deeply, pacing nervously while she waits for a response.

Paolo wrote, 'Nice to me you Dani'

Danielle wrote, 'Nice to meet you too!' and grins. 'How old r u?'

Paoolo replied with,'21, you?'

'20, I felt excited.

'Where do you live?' she wrote back, 'London?'

'Yeah, you?'

'Out in the country'

Paolo wrote, 'whereabouts?'

'Perennially, south east England'

'Nice, to where I live, Friuli- Venezia Giulia'

Danielle didn't know where that was, 'Anything good there?'

'Yeah, I love the mountains and the small town near to me'

Danielle wrote, 'Wow mountains eh, we have a few mountains in our area, small but good places to run, hike, hang out. Nice.' she finally took a break, leaning back in the chair, breathing deeply, she felt a bit nervous now.

I'm sure I can look after you there, she wrote while she played with her hair.

'I like your photo, damn, i'd love to see your face.'

'Yeah, it's late here, i should go to bed'

'OK, see you round'

'OK'

'God Dani, so you have a date now?' Monique asked

Startled, she drops her ipad and whips about to see Monique and Jacob, her best friend looking over her shoulder, the meeting room empty.

"Gosh!, you guys!"

"You have a date?" Monique insists

Danielle smiled and said, 'Yes, what about you Monique? You didn't have a date before this presentation, do you now have a date now?'

Monique kept quiet.

"Don't get started on me. I know you planned to meet up with Adam, when was I going to hear all about that?"

Jacob grins and folds his hands across his chest

"I see my babies are now becoming women and forgetting to tell papa how it's all going down"

He points to Monique "You got saved my Dani's Super story"

To Daniella..

'You have to update us on the site later, where and when you've met!' Jacob said.

She smiled guiltily and said, "Yeah"

Monique kept quiet, staring at her notepad.

Danielle kept thinking, what am i doing?

'Danielle'

'Yes?'

'Uh... you have a date with Paolo today, tonight?'

She smiled and said, 'Eh, yep.'

'Damn!' Jacob said, 'why must you go for a date so soon. we had planned a night out?'

Danielle's eyes widens "Shoot!, I forgot guys!. I'm so sorry!"

"We had a whole week to plan this!"

'I Know!. I've been busy with work and..'

'Madam' Monique said, trying to stop the conversation.

'what?'.

"Guys!..Im not going on a date.. date. My date is going to be online"

They stare at her for a minute before snickering in excitement.

'Woooah!, baby girl!.. you nasty!" Jacob said “..doing naughty stuff online, that's raw!'"

"Shhh..keep it down guys!" Daniella looks around

"More like, Pablo.. higher! Higher!!"

Jacob and Monique share a laugh, highfiving each other at her expense.

She walks away.

*

She walks into her apartment and puts on the lights, brightening the darkened beautifully decorated apartments. She takes off her shoes and walks straight into the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of wine from the refrigerator as she undressed slowly as she pours into a glass.

Sipping from her cup,. She walks naked into the bathroom and takes a shower.

She emerges a few minutes later to turn on the answering machine as she walks through the corridor that leads to her bedroom.

“Hey Author!, where have you been?. The girls and I miss you, call us soon!” and Beep as it ends.

“Miss you girls too” she mutters as she slips on her sexy black lingerie.

Her phone rings, jolting her back to reality. Hurriedly grabbing her bag, she pulls out her phone and grins when Paolo’s name pops up.

She plops down onto her bed and picks up.

“Hey beautiful”

Oh gish! He’s so cute!. Such brown eyes.

“Hey you!”

“All set for me uhn, what are you putting on?” Paolo asks with a hint of huskiness in his voice.

She shrugs, causing her boobs to bounce.

She was full-chested and not many men liked that. They would rather love to have boobs that were easy to grab. But since their little chitchat after Monique’s interruption, she discovered that Paolo didn’t mind at all.

“You wanna see what I have on?” She asks playfully, biting her lower lip.

“Yes, baby”

His response caused her heart to skip a beat, pushing some heat from her belly down to her lower region. Feeling for the little soft object beside her, she strokes it as she waves it to Paolo.

His eyes darkens with a glint.

“ Hmm.. I see I’m not the only naughty one here. A dildo that looks just like me uhn?” he chuckles

All the nasty stuff they talked about included a lot of sexy dirty things, she couldn’t help getting a dildo that looked like the dick pick that Paolo had sent earlier.

“Well, since you aren’t with me here, I just had to make sure I got my satisfaction the way I would want it”

He laughs.

Gosh!, he laughs so sexy too!

Paolo leans into his screen and dips to fingers into his mouth, sucking gently.

“Now that you have my dick right with you, you could lubricate it with your tongue.. I like getting wet before with a bit of saliva, you know”

She jerks as her pussy suddenly feels wet. Shit! That was hot!

Smiling mischievioulsy, she lids the dildo into her mouth and sucks. Slowly

“Fuck!” paolo exclaims

“You really like that, don’t cha?” she licks her lips, and looks around the office.

“Well yeah, you got me all hot, girl. ” paolo smiles

“Well, before we get to you, let's see how good you make me feel"

Paolo grins

"You don't fool me, preety girl. I know how wet you are for me right now. Now i wanna see you fuck yourself with that.. slowly. I wanna see your face when you do that.

She slids the dildo into her pussy, catching her breath as it goes it.

"Easy, love"

His comment drove her mad. She pushes it in, shutting her eyes in esctacy.

"Ohhhh!, fuck!. So good.."

"open your eyes honey, I wanna see all the fireworks in your eyes"

She opens them and stares right at him.

"Yea.. focus on me baby"

She sees his hand moving, stroking himself.

"Look at me.." he cajoles, his voices thickening.

panting, she focuses on his hot gaze. Holding on to the dildo halfway into her.

"Now, fuck yourself with that shit, baby' he commands, stroking hard.

She starts to move her wrist, sliding in and out with the dildo.

"Oh shit!.. Paolo!" she screams

"Yes, baby, Call my name!.. harder"

Her heart beats faster as she moves, her hips starting to move in sync with her hands.

"Yes.. look at me baby. At me" paolo says "Fuck, you are so hot looking at me like that"

Her pants come fast as he strokes fast.

"I'm cumming!" she yells

And she does, leaving her hands and phone to fall as she pulls out the toy.

Chapter 2

The Meet

Lucas steps out of his car, looking stoic as he walk into the Building.

“Good afternoon, Mr Richardson” Andrew, the butler greets

In all of the years that he’d spent in London, he had never step feet into any of his father’s businesses. The old man had gotten under his nerves when he declared his step brother sole heir to his assets, leaving him and his Costa Rican mother to fend for themselves.

Lucas was bitter and vowed never to have anything to do with the sore old hag but here he was, twenty three years later.

Who would have thought.

“Good morning, Mr Richardon!” The receptionist springs up from her feet, looking flustered.

“My office?” he asks coldly

“All set sir!”

He nods, walking off into the elevator without a backward glance.

He didn’t need to look to know that the entire building was staring at him with wonder. Money does that to anybody.. and a good body off course.

Stepping out of the elevator into the third floor, he adjusts his tie and opens the door that reads ‘Accounts’.

The entire hall was in chaos.

*

A few meters away..

Danielle and Jacob are sitting at the park overlooking the busy street.

“I feel so bad asking him to give me some time” she pouts, slapping her tongue with some cold ice cream.

“I know, honey. I get like that when my ‘conquests’ don’t get me like I thought they did”

“Ewww!, ‘conquest’ sounds so medieval!”

Jacob laughs, , “oh, do I make you a medieval girl?”

she blanches “No you don’t”

Jacob stops there. He looks through the restaurant window, taps his fingers a few times and orders another beer.

“I feel so bad asking him to give me some time”, her voice stops him from deep thoughts.

“But honey, you won’t give him any more time”

She uses a girl’s tone. The tone that would only excite a teenage boy.

“Honey, you must understand. A change in my ‘needs’, is a change in my life"

Jacob fakes an offensive look " I do not speak like that!"

She raises and eyebrow.

"Ok, fine!. Maybe a bit!. Don't be so dramatic!, I was trying to help"

She sighs "I know. I'm just so tired of coming across men who can't make me feel like the kind of person that.."

Monique plops down onto a sea, interrupting them.

"Hey, cuties!" smiling "what did I miss?"

"Alot!" jacob offered.

"Well, I've got some news for y'all"

"Spill Spill" Jacob claps excitedly

Danielle smiles fondly at her friends. She didn't mind having two wonderful people in her life like family. Monique and Jacob grew up together as friends. she only came only came into the picture in high school.

She was an orphan who was as mischievous as she could get and for that, she changed schools often. She was on her way out of the school after pulling a prank on one of the teachers but for some reason, these two made her stay.

They taught her patience and she would forever be grateful to the pair.

They weren't perfect but if having a gay and workaholic as family was what life sent to her after her parent's death, then she was grafteful to life.

"Hey!" Monique tapped ".. focus!"

"sorry, what did i miss?" she asks

"There's a new guy in town, some hot stuff who is gonna be buying the entire building"

"No way!" Danielle sits up

Monique flips her phone, showing her the pictures of some super hot dude.

"Yes Way! and he's hot stuff.. have you seen those pictures!?" Jacob exclaims.

Danielle rolls her eyes, "of course i do..."

"He's a hot model slash actor slash whatever.. "

"Ok! we get it"

"But I believe he's between films right now and he's doing a lot of charity work"

"Could you give us his address dear?" Jacob puts on his puppy face.

Monique whacks him in the head, "she's still in love with her "Conquest"

"Monique!" Danielle half-yells, looking embarrassed

"Take a chill, I was just making conversation okay". Monique responds with a laugh

The table was silent for some time. It was Danielle who broke the silence when she remembered something, "Wait a minute, I think I just saw him the other day.."

"Where?!? where??"

She grins" he was riding with a girl, a beautiful one at that!"

"I don't buy it! he's not one of those gay models!. I will hit myself on the head thrice" Jacob attacks "No joking around!"

Danielle laughs

Monique tried to jump on her, but she quickly jumped out of the booth.

Monique smiles as she walked out of the restaurant as well.

"Let's get out of her sissy, we've got a hottie to chase"

**

Richardson sighs tiredly, staring out the glassy window of his spacious office.

“..we should be able to get a few more..”

He blinked slowly, remembering the days his father would visit him and his mother, spending enough time with them every weekend until one day he finally stopped. He’d always thought his father was too busy maintaining all these wealth that he forgot to call or even visit. But after four months of silence, his mother had taken him to the city.. and brought him to this office.

Lucas had sat right on the couch and watched as his mother pleaded for him not to cut them off. He was only a little boy.

Right here, right in this office.. after witnessing the level of degradation from his own father.. he vowed never to be the kind of man his father was. But first, one thing must be done.

He turns to the small crowd in his office, waiting for an instruction from him,

“Get rid of that couch right away”

They stare at him, looking surprised.

“Now!” he added and walked out of the office, bumping into a soft body.

Chapter 3

Danielle finishes for the day and starts to pack up when Cara, her boss walks into her tiny office.

“Dani, in my office. Now!” she says and walks away.

What could she possibly want? Did I do something wrong?. Am I in trouble?

Thiughts run through her head as she hurriedly chases after Cara.

Jacob and Monique silently gestures for a reason, wondering why she was heading towards cara’s office but she shrugs.

“I have no idea” she mouths

They finally get to the office right across the hallway from hers, shutting the door behind her.

“Have a seat, Dani” Cara offers

“Ok..”

Seated across each other, Danielle stares at the freckles on Cara’s face.

“Dani, I called you here to talk about the new book”

“Oh..”

“We ran through editing and discovered that.. that..” Cara looks uncomfortable. She sits up “ Well, it lacked some certain qualities”

Danielle is mute for a while, processing what she just heard.

“Excuse me?” She creaks out

She was an excellent writer!. One of the best here at Walton Publishing!. What did she mean by that?

“I mean to say that your last book didn’t pass editing and..”

“Yeah, I heard you. I.. I just wanted to know um.. why? Did something happen? Was it too much?” she stammered out nervously.

“No, it’s not about the quantity or anything like that..”

“Then what is it?” she interrupts

“Its your writing. It lacked the level of romance that your kind of books represents, I’m sorry”

“What?’

Danielle slumps onto the chair, confused and unsure.

Her books always lacked nothing!. They topped every other writer’s in the firm and had stayed that way for three years. What could have gone wrong?

“What do.. I don’t know what to say” she confesses

Cara sighs pitifully.

She hated being the one to break such a news to a beautiful writer like Danielle but HR gave her no other choice.

“Hey, look at me. Dani..i want you to take a day or two off work and reflect on yourself as a writer. These things happen, ok? You just need some time to come to terms with what’s going on with you”

Danielle shakes her head in refusal “I’m perfectly ok, I promise!”

Cara releases a hot breath as she grabs a hold of her hands on the desk.

“Dani, the editors want you to work on the book again and return with something better in a week”

This surprises Danielle “A week!”

Cara nods sadly.

Oh my God!. I’m going to lose my job.

Few minutes later, Danielle walks out of the hallway with her bags and stuff as she heads for the elevator.

Without looking up, she bumps into a hard rock body.

“oouch!’

Chapter 3

Lucas rubs his chest slowly as he grabs the little lady to prevent her from falling.

“Are you alright?” he asks

She nods “Yeah, I think I am. Sorry. I didn’t see you”

She pulls away and walks towards the elevator. He follows silently.

Hitting the last button, Lucan slips his hands into his pockets.

He suddenly hears sniffing and turns to see the lady’s shoulder shaking violently in silent tears.

He steps closer, his heart wrenching at her obvious torment.

She turns to him and puts her hands to her face. He cups her face with his hands and pulls her to him. He rocks her in his arms, and she sobs harder.

I’ve never held a woman before … she feels so good … but this situation is stressful. She needs a shoulder.

"shhs..it's ok" he says "It's gonna be ok"

"I'm so sorry.. " she cries.

He rubs her back gently as she returns to full-body sobs. "No no.." he says soothingly "Don't be sorry. It will be alright."

She leans back and wipes her eyes. "You're so kind. I don't even know you. Thank you."

The elevator doors open and she steps out, straightening her pants over her hips.

Lucas steps into the elevator with her, the doors close and they descend silently.

"I feel weird. I didn't mean to get emotional."

Lucas nods "It's ok.. I held you. It's weird. You just needed someone. I just happened to be her."

She smiles "Yeah, I guess … thank you. It could have been a lot worse if you weren't there."

They exit the elevator and she turns towards the left. He nods and turns right, heading for his car.

He stops to tie his shoes as the doors open again. She runs to him and puts her hands on his chest. "Oh thank you so much. I mean it. You're amazing." He smiles and nods. She turns and walks away.

She really is amazing. Her eyes sparkled like river rock and her touch was so soft. She was so sweet and gorgeous… and he's never even seen her before. He is destined to see her again. Nope.. no, nope, nope. Ugh. Damn my bad. No, God.

Lucas walks to his car and pulls out his phone.

**

Danielle crumbles to the ground in her apartment living room, tired and worn out. Her book in her hands.

She was doing so well!. What could possibly be missing from her book that needed correction? She’d written with so much love and laughter that could hit any reader anywhere.

How much more erotic could she get? Her sex scenes were steaming hot, the characters were unique.

“What could be the problem?” she mutters, staring at the book in her hands.

Any reader ready to inhale an erotic-thriller? She had them. She’d taken the time to write with so much care, dedication, and respect.

It was almost impossible to believe that something would go wrong. Sure, she’d had to make some changes. But they were so small!

The publisher was on board with this book, it would be a hit. She’d sent out the first 5 chapters to her beta readers, she’d gotten some feedback and she’d made the changes.

What could be so wrong

Laying flat on her back, she falls asleep

**

Lucas walked into his apartment, greeted by an elderly woman who looked like him.

"My boy!, how are you?"

"Mother!. What brings you here?" he asks, planting a kiss on her cheek

She slaps his hand fondly "That is no way to greet your mother, have I not taught you well?"

"Yes, mum. Sorry."

"Well, then let us get down to business." She smiles pleasantly at him.

He laugh " Always down to earth"

"Well, it's about time you got here. I sent you to go get your brother."

"He is over in Germany with his geek," Lucas says.

"Ahh, well. We have work to attend to, so I think we'll go over there today."

"Uhh, no mum, I'm busy...heath?"

"Fine, whatever. You can either come with; I have a feeling we will be gone for a while."

"I'll go. What do you need me to do?"

"Oh, just pick up some camera equipment"

"Store or digital?" Lucas asks rolling his eyes

"Neither…we need our own equipment." She says smiling

"Why didn't we just make her do it?"

"I will not let that monster loose where humans are." She says harshly, Lucas starts walking away

"She is hardly a monster, she has earned enough to stay behind by now."

His mother never liked Maria, his housekeeper. She was a pretty little young lady that put my mother on edge.

"Earning nothing, she does more damage than good. I'd like to leave the house in one piece." She says, the irritation rising in her voice.

He sighs, mumbling. Then says aloud, "when do we leave?"

"That's a good boy. Now be a dear, go pick up some food"

"Yes mum." Lucas stomps out of the door

"Where to first?" He asks himself,

"Italy, there are a number of cameras located at various places."

"Yes mum."

He had never really been in the kingdom of Italy, the place was a bit crowded

"We need to get Maria some money to get some new clothes. I don't like those cheap clothes on her"

"So where are you taking us?" Lucas asks cautiously

"Oh, just sticks and stones, you know." She smiles, ushering him to their car,

"You set up the private jet before i get home, anger my housekeeper and arrange a meeting with my Uncle Marcus and a game with the men. Super Mum "

She gave him an excited look but said nothing.

"Mr. Calore is a formidable foe though, I will crush his ego.

His mother loved to play Polo with the old men at the association. That is how she made up for the lack of education because she had to take care of him and his brother.

“I have to change mother, give me a minute”

The moment he shuts the bedroom door behind him, he hears movements in his room.

“Welcome back, babe”

He turns to see Maria, his sexy housekeeper, completely naked on his bed, legs spread wide open in lustful invitation.

“Hmm..” he purrs “ what a man would give to come home to this temptation”

She giggles, patting her pussy in shameless abandon.

Without warning, his dick pushes against his pants, threatening to spring out.

“Arrgh..” groaning “ .. you are playing with fire, Maria”

“A fire I am willing to play with” She smirks, slowly licking her middle finger “ You know you want me.. you want this”

She pulled her finger out of her mouth and slid it into her pussy, fingering herself.

Lucas inches close to the bed, unzipping his pants as he nears the edge.

“Make it fast” he commands in a thick voice.

Eyes overcome with lust, he kneels as his dick is free is from his briefs, stroking himself as well.

This act puts Maria in a fit of early of orgasm, licking her lips in ecstasy. She moans loudly, unable to stifle her pleasure. Lucas stops her finger, holding onto her tightly as he pulls he closely with his free hand.

Both staring each other’s eyes, he slowly enters her, filling her completely.

“Oh gosh!, yes!”

Lucan chuckles “Easy, my mother is right outside”

“I could be sacrificed and not mind at all” she declared

Lucas silences her with a thrust “Then get ready to bear the cross”

Chapter 4

Its been a month since his father passed away and three weeks since his wife and family contacted him to sell his properties.

Who would have thought that a seasoned man like Mathias neglected to instill discipline and order in his family. A son whose alcholic lifestyle attracted the paparazzi, a model daughter who lived lavishly and a wife money-driven wife with no plan for the vast companies and properties in her name.

Sitting a few seats away from the money-infested family, he silently observes them as their lawyers get the paperwork done.

“All signed and sealed” Mclure, his attorney announces.

Good. Enough of this bullshit.

“It was nice to see you again, Lucas. I do hope you take care of your father’s belongings as he would have. I.. we just do not have time to be bothered by all the paperwork. George was a workaholic” she laughs.

He rises and starts to leave the office, Mclure following without a word. Leaving the rest of his father’s deadbeat family behind with the tons of money sitting in their accounts.

He never wanted to set his eyes on them ever again. Their signatures on the papers made certain of that, even if they had no idea what the agreement entailed.

**

He steps into his office, sighing tiredly.

Hitting the intercom, he takes his seat “Michelle, in my office please”

A few minutes later, his secretary hurries in.

“Sir?”

“I want the best interior designer in town to be in this office in an hour”

“Yes sir, right away”

“Thank you” he offered, dismissing her with the wave of his hand.

It was high time he made some changes in all of his father’s structures. This was now a new dispensation and changes had to be made.

Turning around In his chair, he looks out the window into the ever busy street. Staring at the coffee shop across his office, he scratches his jaw In thought.

After a while, he springs up from his chair and strides out ‘I need a cup of coffee” he mutters

**

At the coffee shop, he looks around, finding a comfortable spot to settle. A waitress follows closely behind him, pad in hand.

“Hello sir, what would you like to have?” she asks cheerfully

Too young for me.

“A regular coffee please.”

She blushes, “Sure sir, the usual?” he nods and taps his fingers on the table, waiting for her to leave. He spies a white envelope clutched between the pages of an open book, just beside his untouched beverage. He reaches out his hand to grab it, glancing at the woman’s back one more time.

A shadow hits his table. Looking up, he sees a familiar face staring at him shyly.

“Hi, err.. That’s my book. I must have forgotten it”

‘‘Oh, sorry. Here” he hands it over.

“You don’t recognize me, do you?” she states

He tries to remember but gets nothing.

“Its me, the crying lady.. from last week.. the elevator?”

Elevator?.. Oh Shit!. It was the pretty little lady!.

She shakes her head and starts to walks away without another word.

**

Danielle felt so stupid introducing herself like that. She should have just shut her big mouth when she saw him. But how could she?. It was surreal seeing him in flesh after she’d daydreamed about him for the past few days. Gosh!.

Now he was going to think she was some little girl throwing a tantrum because he didn’t recognize her.

As she steps out, she feels a ward hand on her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks.

She felt tingles all over her body and jerks back, turning to see the epitome if her imagination right in front of her, outside the café.

What was that? she felt a sting and from the look on his face, he felt it too.

Too much?