Daphne swallowed hard and spoke.
“Mr Reyes,I apologize again for tonight.And it’d be best if we pretend it never happened.”She let out.
Griffin pretended to shrug it off.Though,he found her very beautiful,he had been floored by the kiss they shared but the last thing he would do was pursue a woman who wasn’t interested in him.
“I had a nice time tonight.”He said,taking her surprise.
She was even more stunned when he got out of the car and opened the door for her like a true gentleman.
She wondered if he was no longer upset about tonight.Didn’t he think badly of her anymore?
As soon as Daphne got down from the car,he got back in and drove off.
She crossed her arms and then realized she had forgotten to return his jacket.
Thinking of how to return it,her cellphone rang out.
She glanced at it and saw it was her stepmother,Nora.
“Daphne,where are you?You need to come home right now.Your father was arrested!”
Daphne’s eyes dilated and she quickly hurried down the street to her house.
On getting home,Nora ran up to her.Her eyes were red rimmed and it seemed she had been crying.
“What happened,Nora?What do you mean Dad was arrested?”
Nora burst into tears recalling how her husband was dragged out of the house by the police.
“He…he was arrested for embezzlement of company’s funds but he kept pleading with the police that he knows nothing about it.I believe him.You and I know how righteous your dad is.I think this is all Jacob’s doing.He didn’t only break up with you,he framed your father!How could he do this to you?”
Daphne felt drained.
Her father works at Jacob’s company.
Could Jacob really have set him up?
What exactly did Jacob want?
She had assured him that she wasn’t going to fight for him and come between him and Lucia.
She had assured him that Lucia could have him all to herself.
Wasn’t that enough?
She just didn’t want to believe Jacob could hurt her father like this.
Even if he had cruelly broken her heart,they had been together for years,he certainly wasn’t heartless enough to hurt her dad.
Daphne gave Jacob a call,wanting to be civil with him.
“Hello,my darling.”He began,sounding excited.
She rolled her eyes.”Jacob,what has my dad got to do with embezzlement?!You know very well that he would never do something like that.”
“I figured that was the only way to get you to be mine again.”
Her jaw dropped.”Yours again?You left me for someone else!You ruined what we had.You have no right to want me anymore!”
“Oh I do.I want you as my mistress.If you agree to be my mistress,I’ll let your father go.”
Daphne felt like punching him.
How could she have been in love with such a man?!
He was so shameless.
“I’m never going to be your mistress,I’m never going to be anything to you.I deserve better,you asshole.”
“Fine!Then prepare to watch your dad get sentenced to more than ten years in prison.I’m going to make sure of that.And I’m going to make sure no respectable lawyer help you with this lawsuit!”
Daphne’s fist clenched.
He was hellbent on making her his mistress.
“My dear Daphne,don’t you worry,I’ll be waiting for you…you belong to me one way or the other…”
She hung up before he could complete that.
How could he be so evil?
She just wanted to move on from him,she just wanted to forget he ever existed.
Was that too much to ask?
Why can’t he just be with Lucia?
He had chosen Lucia.
Why was he so greedy and wicked?!
“Daphne,you deserve a man who will always put you first.You’ll not be any man’s other woman.”Nora said to her,encouragingly.
“Jacob is quite influential,he could really get some top lawyers not to take the case.“
“He can’t certainly mess with everyone.I’m sure there are some who would stick to their morals.”
A face suddenly flashed through Daphne’s head.
Griffin.
No.
She couldn’t possibly ask him.
He was related to Jacob now.
He might not want to take the case.
But something in her felt he had a good judgement and would not let his personal life get in the way of his work.
“I think I should go to Mr Reyes.He might want to take up the case.”
Nora stared at her in disbelief.
“He’s like one of the most sought after lawyer.Can you really get him to take the case?”
“I really don’t know but I’ve got to try.We’ve had an encounter so I guess I should give this a shot.”
That surprised Nora even more.
An encounter with Mr Reyes?
She was a particularly discerning woman.
Only then did she notice that Daphne reeked of alcohol.
Seeing a man’s suit jacket draped around her shoulders,she guessed what the ‘encounter’ might have been.
But she didn’t want to press on the issue right now.
They had other important matter on ground.
************
It was so difficult for Daphne to meet with Griffin again.
The first day she came by his law Firm,she was told he wasn’t in.
The second day,she was told he wasn’t chanced to meet up with anyone and she had to have an appointment.
The third day,she was more determined to see him.She couldn’t waste any more time.She had to get her father back home.
The receptionist kept telling her she had to have an appointment to see Griffin.
Daphne regretted not taking his card that day.It would have been easier to see him if she had taken his card.
“You want me to book an appointment?”She asked the receptionist.”If I should book an appointment now,when can I see him?”
The receptionist scrolled through her laptop as if checking when Mr Reyes will be chanced.
“A month from now.”The receptionist replied.
Daphne’s heart fell.
She couldn’t let her father stay that long without getting him a lawyer.
**************
Daphne had no choice but to start stalking Griffin.She knew that it was wrong but she just wanted a chance to talk to him so she followed him to a restaurant.
She saw him meet up with a very attractive woman.Daphne sat tables away from them and covered her face with a magazine.
Relief filled her as she stared him.She had to seize this opportunity and finally talk to him.She stole a glance at him from behind the magazine.
He was clad in an expertly tailored gray suit and he look every inch of the gorgeous man that he is.
Daphne quickly shook her head.
‘Focus,Daphne,Focus.’She warned herself.
Daphne noticed that he was ending his meeting with the woman when he stood up and shook hands with her.Daphne quickly stood and hurried out of the restaurant.She decided to wait for him at the front of the restaurant.Soon,he walked out of the restaurant with the woman by his side.She overheard a brief conversation between them and realized that the woman was his client.Griffin and the woman walked out of the restaurant,Daphne took note of how beautiful and extremely sexy the woman was.Griffin’s gaze fell on Daphne for a brief moment and then he looked away,pretending not to know her.He shook hands with the woman again and bid her farewell.The woman smiled at him,seductively.“Thank you so much,Mr Reyes.I never thought it’d so easy to get those assets in my name.Thank you for making this divorce process easy for me.”Griffin offered a small smile.”It’s what I do.”“Em…if you don’t mind,I’ll like to treat you to dinner for putting my ex-husband in his place.”Daphne walked closer
Daphne felt so uncomfortable by Jacob’s presence.Layla pinched her husband’s arm hard and whined.“Why didn’t you tell us that Jacob would also be here?This will make it hard for Daphne to ask for Griffin’s help.”Layla’s husband apologized,profusely.”I’m sorry,babe.I didn’t know.I swear.”Before Daphne could think of turning away,Griffin already caught sight of her.She swallowed seeing him dressed in a hat,an expensive looking shirt,a pair of breeches and black boots.He looked so rich and handsome.He was so tall that he stood out among the crowd.He walked up to them and suddenly pretended not to know Daphne.He only greeted Layla and her husband.Griffin stole a secret glance at Daphne.She had such smooth,supple skin,and she had worn clothes that highlighted her good figure.The tight fitting white T-shirt made her look energetic,while her light grey shorts showcased her perfect long legs.Her long,wavy brown hair was tied in a neat bun,which added to her charm.Griffin glanced at
Daphne panted as she stared at the big and muscular form of Jacob.She was no match for him but she couldn’t let him do whatever he wanted with her in here.So she darted for the locked door but he grabbed her and pushed her against the wall again.“Let go of me!”She thundered,pushing him away with all her might.“What the hell do you think you’re doing?Going after Griffin?Making him teach you how to ride a horse?Do you seriously think he’d want you in his bed?!Where the hell did you get the nerves from to go after a man like him?You barely ever responded to my touches and now you want him?!”Daphne glared at him.What was he getting angry about?If it wasn’t because of him,she wouldn’t be after Griffin right now,trying to get him to take her father’s case.She glared at him and snapped.”This is none of your business!”Jacob eyed her.”I know what you’re trying to do.You’re trying to make me jealous.You’re trying to get my attention by being around Griffin.”Daphne shut her eyes,briefl
Griffin was quiet for a few minutes.If he was surprised by what she had just said,he didn’t show it.And then finally,he asked.”Do you only want to have sex with me because of your father?“Daphne swallowed,not knowing how to reply to that.She knew that deep down, she was physically attracted to him but she didn’t want to admit to it.Her cheeks heated even more and she stared at her fingers.Griffin finished off his cigarette just as the traffic light turned green.But he didn’t move.Instead,he pulled over at the side of the road.Daphne looked at him in confusion,but before she could ask why,he unbuckled her seatbelt.She gasped when he pulled her up from the passenger’s seat and made her sit on his laps,fitting her thighs on the either side of him.She swallowed when he took off the coat from her body.Her wet clothes clung to her skin,outlining all her curves,his trousers got wet because she was sitting on top of him.The winds outside the car howled loudly.The windshield wipers rh
Griffin thought it wasn’t necessary to tell his mother that Daphne was Jacob’s ex.Afterall,he was only interested in sleeping with Daphne.There was nothing more to it.After sending his mother off,Griffin returned to the transfusion room where Daphne was sitting in a daze.He felt his trousers growing tighter and that made his teeth clenched.Damn it!Even while she looked so pale and sick, she still managed to get him so aroused.He adjusted himself,discreetly and sat beside Daphne,putting on an aloof look.“How long do you have to stay here?”He asked,coldly.Daphne wasn’t expecting that he would really come back to be with her.She didn’t want to think too much about it so she replied.“The doctor said I have one more bag of drip left.And then I’ll be discharged.”Griffin didn’t say anything anymore.He brought out his cellphone and tried to get busy with work to distract himself from the beauty beside him.Daphne sat there feeling uncomfortable by the awkward silence but she didn’
Daphne left his house,dejectedly.But she didn’t go home immediately.She didn’t want Nora to see the sad look on her face.She wanted to get rid of the look before she goes home.Night fell and Daphne walked down the street alone.The Ferris wheel in a theme park came to life with colorful light.From a distance,she could see the silhouette of a young couple hugging and kissing under the Ferris wheel.She stopped and looked at the romantic scene,quietly.She had always longed for romance in her life.And then she realized Jacob rarely took her out on dates.He was always too busy to take her out.She recalled the exciting way her body responds to Griffin.It was the first time in her life that her body was responding to a man like that but she couldn’t be with Griffin either.He wasn’t even interested in her to take the risk and be with him.She sniffed as tears fell from her eyes.Would she ever love and be loved in return for all the right reasons?Would she be loved like the beautiful
Seeing them entering the restaurant,Daphne quickly covered her face with the menu and cursed at her bad luck.But Asher,oblivious of her panic,called out to his friend.“Yo!Jacob!”Jacob grinned and was about to say hello but then his eyes fell on the girl sitting across Asher,the menu was doing so little to cover her face.His smile disappeared.Frowning,he walked up to Asher’s table.“What are you two doing here?”He asked,unable to hide his annoyance at the fact that Daphne was having dinner with another man.“My father is helping Daphne with a case.We met by chance at the front of his office and I offered to treat her to dinner.”Asher explained.Hearing this,Jacob’s expression darkened even more.He knew that Asher had a fondness for Daphne.“Why would you offer to treat her to dinner?Everyone knows you rarely take women out.”Jacob sneered.Lucia who has been standing beside Jacob the whole time felt uncomfortable by his mood.“Jacob,do you know this woman?”She asked,tentatively.As
Griffin’s car pulled up to a stop at the front of the Thai restaurant so Jacob could get his car.Jacob got out the car and thanked Griffin,politely.The two men exchanged meaningful glances.Griffin pulled away slowly but Lucia quickly climbed onto the passenger’s seat from the back seat.“This is a moving car.You should be more careful.”Griffin scolded his sister.She stuck out her tongue playfully at him and fastened her seatbelt.All of a sudden,her eyes lit up mischievously.“That woman at the restaurant,you know…Asher’s partner.We didn’t talk much but I got to know that her name is Daphne…she’s so beautiful and sexy.”Griffin swallowed, discreetly and rolled down the window.For some reason,he started to feel hot.But Lucia was oblivious of that and continued talking.“I almost thought that there was something fishy about her and Jacob but thankfully,she’s Asher’s girl so I don’t have to worry about her.”Griffin didn’t say anything and kept his eyes on the road.After a long tim