She gathered her essentials into her night bag, her heart racing with anticipation. Just minutes ago, Mr. McKenney had informed her that she would be staying in his room for the night, and she couldn't help but feel a mix of nervousness and excitement. While she knew and understood what she had signed up for, her nerves were all over the place.She carefully folded her favorite silk pajamas, the ones with delicate lace trim that she knew he would appreciate. They slipped into the bag with a satisfying rustle. Next, she added a toothbrush and toothpaste, a hint of a smile playing on her lips as I imagined sharing a bathroom with him.Contemplating whether to bring a book, she decided against it and left it on the shelf, opting instead for a quick snack if she got hungry late at night or just to distract herself if he made her stay up with him while he worked.Just as she finished packing, her phone beeped with a message from Mr. McKenney, confirming that he was waiting for her. The e

Annette let out a sleepy yawn as she awoke, the warm sunlight streaming onto her face. As she attempted to sit up in bed, a sharp pain shot through her, prompting a loud groan. Memories of the previous night flooded back, and a smile graced her lips. He had been so gentle and caring, a stark contrast to the man he was when they had initially entered into this arrangement."Maybe he does have a good side." Annette pondered as she managed to free herself from the covers. However, to her disappointment, Hudson was nowhere to be seen; it was as if he had never been there. Feeling a twinge of hurt that he hadn't waited for her to wake up, Annette shuffled over to the bathroom to freshen up.Thirty minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom, feeling refreshed and ready to face the day. Hudson had yet to return, so she took the opportunity to tidy up her belongings and pack her bag. Just a few minutes after she finished, Hudson strolled back into the room, carrying a tray of food."Good mo

Hudson's restless pacing filled his dimly lit room, his mind consumed by the memory of those men who had prevented him from taking Annette with him. "Who the hell did they think they were?" He muttered under his breath, frustration etched across his face. "Annette belongs to me; I have a contract to prove it."As he finally settled into an armchair, he pondered his next move. "What am I going to do now?" Hudson mused aloud, his voice tinged with uncertainty. He reached for a crystal glass, pouring a generous measure of whiskey. Raising the glass to his lips, he took a long, contemplative sip, the amber liquid warming his senses."Alright, maybe I brought this on myself." Hudson mumbled, taking another swig of his whiskey. "I did tell her the only time I needed her was at night to keep my bed warm, so I can't really blame myself for being jealous.""But she was still my responsibility, so I had every right to know where she was and what she was up to." He pondered to himself. Finishing

"What are you doing?" Hudson asked as he grabbed Annette's hand tightly under the table to the point where it started to hurt."You're hurting me, let me go!" Annette whispered under her breath as she struggled to get her hand out of his hold."Mr. McKenney, you're already on thin ice, you should give her a chance to help you because right now I'm contemplating giving you this deal or not." Adam said as a tiny smile formed on his lips."What could she probably say that could change your mind? She is just a secretary!" Hudson asked and Annette immediately felt her anger grow, she wasn't just a secretary, she had a business degree but life was not fair to her, so she had it locked up safely in her box, until the day she found a job."Really? It's funny how she works for you, but you have no idea what type of asset you have under your roof." Marcus said, and Annette felt her cheeks grow hot as she avoided his gaze. "What are you talking about?" Hudson asked, his confusion evident in his

The living room was filled with the soft sounds of the TV as Jane sat on the couch, completely engrossed in her novel while eating dome bags of chips. The peaceful afternoon was suddenly interrupted when her phone vibrated on the coffee table. Wondering who could be calling, standing to her feet and going to pick it up, confused by the caller ID showing on the screen, it was from Cassie's school. Ugh! What did they want? Jane muttered to herself as the phone connected."Hello?" Jane answered, hoping she wasn't sounding annoyed."Hello, may I speak with Miss Zachary? This is Cassie's school calling." The female, on the other end of the phone, said as Jane wondered why the school wanted to see Annette."Miss Zachary isn't in the country, she left for work but I'm Cassie's guardian while she is away." Jane explained and the voice on the other end went quiet which was followed by some rustling of paper before the woman started to speak again."Is this Miss Jane?" The female voice asked."