Iris was accustomed to being in control. As the Deputy CEO of Parker's Hospitality Company, she held a position of power and authority.
However, the events of the previous night had left her feeling humiliated, not only by her own father but also by strangers.
The humiliation she experienced was overwhelming, and it seemed as though she needed to redeem herself or risk succumbing to depression.Just as the door was about to close, she couldn't hold back her emotions any longer and let out a desperate cry.
"I didn't drug you. I don't even know you. Maybe you were the one who drugged me because I can't recall much either," she pleaded, her voice trembling with tears.Despite her vulnerability, she hoped that the man would understand that she was not to blame.
Unfortunately, her hopes were shattered when he turned back towards her, his expression filled with anger.
"Drug you? Do you honestly believe you're worth my time? For all I know, you've been spying on me. So, who put you up to this?" he spat, his voice rising with fury and his gaze burning into her.Garvin's words cut deep, leaving Iris stunned and hurt. She was taken aback by the unexpected hostility from the man she had woken up next to on the same bed.The encounter had taken an unexpected turn, leaving her with more questions than answers. Who was this man, and why did he believe she was involved in some sinister plot?
“What?" Iris's face drained of color, leaving her feeling numb. She regretted trying to defend herself.
She opened her mouth, but her throat felt swollen, preventing any words from escaping. The sound of retreating leather shoes was the only response she received.
She stared blankly at his well-defined muscular back, wishing he hadn't misunderstood her. She had no idea how she ended up here.Tears streamed down her cheeks, landing on her exposed chest. She quickly wiped them away with the duvet.She sat on the bed, staring at the red patches on the bed, unsure of how much time had passed.The moisture on her face continued to fall, dampening her stomach and thighs.
When she attempted to stand, her legs wobbled with pain, and she felt soreness in her walls and muscles.
The man had taken her virginity and blamed her for it. She trembled with pain and hatred, struggling to catch her breath.Frustration overwhelmed her, causing her to lash out at the item beside her. The bedside lamp came crashing down from the nightstand.
Shit! What had she done? This wasn't her mansion. It belonged to the man who had just insulted her, and she needed to leave immediately.Grabbing her phone, guilt washed over her as she saw over 50 missed calls from friends and family, but her battery was already low.
***
Garvin summoned one of his closest friends to meet him at a local coffee shop for an important discussion."Garvin, we tried to contact you last night," Jake, one of his closest friends, spoke as soon as he settled down across from Garvin.He had rushed to the coffee shop, sensing the urgency in Garvin's voice during their phone conversation.
Realizing that things hadn't gone according to plan, Garvin felt a mix of disappointment and curiosity.He confronted Jake with a stern expression, suspecting that his friend had once again attempted to set him up with a woman.
“Jake, did you set me up with a woman last night?”
Guilt flickered in Jake's eyes as he prepared to explain himself, knowing that he had been caught in the act.
Although this was not the first time they had tried to play matchmaker for Garvin, their previous attempts had always ended in failure."Yes, we did try, but it didn't work out," Jake admitted.Garvin's anger intensified, evident from the expression on his face, as confusion clouded his mind."What do you mean?" he asked, his tone serious.Jake was accustomed to Garvin's cold demeanor, so he remained unfazed.Despite being in his late twenties, Garvin often behaved like a grumpy old man, rarely smiling or cracking jokes. He always got straight to the point.
“Nothing happened between you and the girl I arranged for you. You drove her away and I got upset, so I decided to leave you alone," he waved at the waiter and said, "Two cups of black coffee," when the waiter arrived.
"So, which girl did I wake up with?" Garvin asked, after the waiter left. He was feeling conflicted about the whole situation.Jake was taken aback by his question, realizing that Garvin must have slept with a woman for the first time in his life. Shock was evident in his voice."You woke up with a girl? Wait, is it the blonde?" Amusement laced his voice as he asked. Garvin replied thoughtfully,"I knew it. She must be a spy or something."
Jake shook his head, not believing that the girl was a spy, although he was surprised that Garvin ended up in bed with her."That girl doesn't seem like the usual clubbing type. I saw you walking with her, but I didn't expect you two to end up in bed, especially since she was wearing a dinner dress."Garvin didn't care about what the girl was wearing. He was just relieved that he had taken precautions to avoid any potential pregnancy. He knew that his enemies had sent the blonde girl.“At least I made sure she took the morning-after pills. Those jerks wouldn't get the better of us."
"I agree, but which morning pills are you referring to?" Jake asked, wondering if it was the same one he had left in Garvin's drawer a few years ago when they set him up with a woman.
"The ones you gave me years ago," Garvin confirmed.
Jake burst into laughter. "Wait, so you actually gave her those? Did you check the expiration date?" Jake asked, not caring that Garvin glared at him as if he wanted to strangle him.
Garvin pursed his lips, his heart rate quickening, but he couldn't answer the question.
However, there was always a solution.
"Tell Mark that I want to know everything about her. If she's truly a pawn, I'll take care of her myself," he said seriously.
Jake nodded and grabbed his phone to inform Mark, their other best friend.
"No problem, so what's her name?" Jake asked, as Mark had requested when he ended the call.
Garvin froze.
"I don't know, but she's still in the villa. I'll get the pills for her and find out her identity," Garvin stood up and left. He wanted to make it in time before the blonde woman left his house.
Upon arriving home, he casually strolled into his bedroom, only to be taken aback by the sight before him.
Everything appeared to be in its rightful place, except for the absence of the sheets and the presence of shattered glass scattered across the floor. It became evident that the broken fragments were remnants of his bedside lamp.
Curiously, the duvet had been neatly folded at the foot of the bed. Confusion washed over him as he pondered why Luna, his housekeeper, had not tidied up his room.Furthermore, he questioned whether the blonde woman had been responsible for the destruction of his lamp. The reasons behind her actions remained a mystery.
Considering the possibility that Luna had removed the bed linen for laundering purposes, he paused for a moment. However, he quickly dismissed this notion, as Luna was known for promptly replacing the linen.Seeking answers, he inspected the laundry basket, only to find it empty. His search continued, leading him to the bin where he discovered the expired package of pills he had previously given to the blonde girl.
A wave of anger surged through him, causing his eyes to redden and his heart to race.He felt an urgent need to locate the blonde woman and ensure she took the correct pills he had recently purchased since he did not use protection.
As he glanced at the nightstand, he noticed that the stack of cash remained untouched, accompanied by a note.
The note read,‘Thank you, but I have no use for this money, as I mentioned before. Oh, and by the way, I had to borrow your shirt after tearing my dress. I cannot guarantee its return, so consider it compensation for ruining my attire.’
His fingers clenched tightly around the note, his frustration mounting."Hypocrite," he muttered under his breath.
He suspected that she had likely taken a larger sum of money from the safe. With a sense of urgency, he hastened to open the safe, only to find it locked.
The realization struck him that he had been the one to secure it since there was no way she would have known the code. It became clear that he had inadvertently locked it himself.
So, if she didn't want the money, how did they end up together?Garvin couldn't help but wonder if everything that happened the previous night was just an accident, as she claimed.He wanted to believe it and move on, but he couldn't shake off the nagging feeling.
It was their first time together, and he didn't want to admit that he may have taken advantage of her. Driven by curiosity, he decided to review the CCTV footage.
As Garvin watched the footage, he felt a strange sensation as the corners of his lips twitched.Her small frame was engulfed by his oversized shirt, even with the sleeves folded. He also realized that his bed linen had gone missing. She conveniently forgot to mention that she had taken it too.
He couldn't fathom how she managed to use the linen as a makeshift hijab to cover her head, but it seemed excessive, almost as if she was trying to conceal her identity.The word ‘spy’ suddenly crossed his mind, pricking at something deep inside him.
"Could she really be a spy? I didn't even catch her name."Iris called her friend, Chelsea Green, before leaving the villa. "My battery is dying, so I'm sending my location and a selfie of how I'm dressed. Just come and get me," she said.She quickly sent her location and selfie, hoping Chelsea would recognize her disguise. However, her phone started buzzing with calls and messages, and she wasn't sure if Chelsea saw or received the information.Fortunately, Iris managed to escape from the villa without being seen by the maids. However, she couldn't avoid the security men at the gate. Luckily, they simply stared at her without stopping her.After a short walk, Iris spotted her car approaching from a distance. Chelsea stepped out and embraced her tightly. "I'm so sorry, Iris. We searched for you, I swear," Chelsea said, patting her on the back for comfort.Chelsea was one of Iris's best friends, along with her sister. They also lived across the street from Iris's house in the Poconos."It wasn't your fault, and you didn't leave without me,"
A surge of rage coursed through him as he fretted over his daughter's recent encounter with a mysterious man. He had painstakingly handpicked the most suitable suitors for her, only to have her spend the night with some unknown scoundrel. To make matters worse, she shamelessly wore the man's shirt, causing immense embarrassment for Mr. Austin Parker, who had always taken pride in boasting about Iris' accomplishments and impeccable behavior to his friends and colleagues."Dad, I'm fine, and isn't that all that matters?" Iris averted her gaze from her father's disappointed stare, feeling a surge of anger towards herself."Who is that man?" Austin rose from the couch and approached her, but Iris headed towards the medicine cabinet to grab some pills. The journey had taken a toll on her, leaving her stomach in knots and a lingering hangover. She pondered whether she should disclose the truth to her father regarding Garvin Baret. However, considering the men he had chosen to potentially
"Congratulations, Miss Parker, you are one month pregnant," the doctor revealed with a smile, causing Iris's face to drain of color.Her mother, equally caught off guard since Iris claimed to have been forced to take the pills, felt restless.Iris had always been a good girl. Jacqueline's friends called her lucky for raising such a responsible daughter.What would they say now? And what about her husband's political career? His opponents would surely use this against him.Her daughter couldn't lose everything after just one night. Something was wrong, and they needed to find a solution."Doctor, is it possible that the result is incorrect? I mean, my daughter isn't interested in men, and she confirmed taking emergency pills," she asked, hoping for a different answer.The doctor's eyes widened, but he smiled understandingly and patiently explained, "Oh, Mrs. Parker, this result is accurate. Your daughter may not have a boyfriend, but having unprotected sex even once, for any reason, ca
Attached to the note, Garvin found another paper containing a list of items he would need for the baby, along with the child's date of birth, the time of the last feeding, and the time for the next feeding. At the end of the note, it stated, ‘I named him Cooper.’"Cooper Barrett it is," Garvin whispered to himself, his gaze fixed on the peacefully sleeping baby with a blue pacifier in his mouth. He stared at him for a long time, gently caressing his soft cheek, careful not to wake him. In that moment, it felt as if time stood still, and Garvin couldn't help but smile at his mini-self."Sir, she has already left," the security man's words abruptly interrupted Garvin's blissful moment. Anger surged within him."Then go and find her, and don't return until you do," Garvin snapped, his frustration evident.The security man froze, unsure of how to respond. He wanted to inform his boss that they had been unable to locate the woman, but it was clear that Garvin was in no mood to hear any ne
Jake and Mark shook their heads sadly, and Garvin felt his heart drop."What is going on?" he asked."Meet Detective Hayes," Mark said, gesturing towards a casually dressed man who looked like he was carrying a handkerchief. He was a private detective that Mark had hired on Garvin's behalf.Luna reached out and took the baby from Garvin inside the villa while Garvin spoke to the detective."Yes, Mr. Hayes, did you find her? And just to let you know, she hasn't committed any crime. She has just been avoiding me, and I want to know why."Garvin didn't want to disclose the private details of the matter. Mark had already shared some information with the detective, despite Garvin's request not to."I'm sorry, Mr. Berret, but the cameras did not capture her, and we don't have a name or a picture to work with," Detective Hayes explained.Garvin was losing his patience. He couldn't understand her reason for being so vengeful. He knew he was at fault, but she could have informed him about the
On his way to the office, Garvin decided to call Luna and ask her to arrange a meeting with Cooper's babysitter. He realized it was about time to meet the woman his son and Luna were absolutely infatuated with, solely for the sake of finding some peace of mind. "Luna, please set up a meeting with Cooper's babysitter," Garvin requested over the phone.Luna, filled with excitement, responded, "Finally, Garvin! You've agreed to meet Iris. I'm certain you'll love her."Garvin, annoyed by Luna's assumption, quickly clarified, "I'm only doing this for Cooper's sake.""It doesn't matter. Once you meet Iris, you'll see how amazing she is," Luna insisted.Before Luna could continue, Garvin abruptly ended the call. Despite his irritation, he couldn't stay mad at Luna, who had always been like a mother to him.Garvin prided himself on treating women as men, never succumbing to their charms. He believed that meeting Cooper's babysitter would not change his perspective on this matter.As Garvin
Willow was taken aback by his response. She had heard rumors about Garvin's insistence on only marrying his child's biological mother, but no one had ever seen this mysterious woman or knew what had happened between them.Over the years, Willow had tried to gather information about her, but had come up empty-handed. She began to wonder if this woman even existed. Cooper was such a handsome and lovable boy, any woman would be proud to be his mother. So where could his real mother be all this time? There was only one logical conclusion."What if she passed away? Wouldn't you move on?" Willow asked, her gaze fixed on Garvin's attractive profile. He was undeniably good-looking, what most people would consider 'hot.'Her question seemed to disturb Garvin, as if he had pondered the same thought, even in the face of the worst possible circumstances.Admitting that the idea scared him, Garvin had already made up his mind. "No. I already have a son, what more do I need?" His eyes remained f
"Iris, you should send Curtis to school this morning," her father suggested.Iris, who had just kissed Curtis goodbye, turned around to face her father. "Is there a problem, Dad?""It seems like you're not going to take the offer," her father replied calmly, referringto Iris's plan to send Curtis to his father.Ever since they agreed to Iris's plan, her father had secretly hoped that Garvin would reject Cooper after hearing Iris's description of him. However, they soon discovered how possessive Garvin was of his son. They even hired someone to take secret pictures, which revealed Garvin proudly carrying Cooper everywhere since infancy.Iris had been missing her son and had been trying to find a way back into his life. Four years ago, she managed to become his babysitter by pulling some strings.Yesterday, she informed her parents about Garvin's request to meet her, unaware that it was actually the other way around. Her father encouraged her to attend the meeting and tell Garvin abou