"Good evening,Mrs Sheldon." Annie said,immediately the large oak door swung open,to reveal a dark haired woman, who looked to be in her early forties. Wrinkles scattered all over the woman's mocha coloured face; the fine lines around her mouth,adding to the beauty of her aging face.

Although she was a head shorter than Annie, the woman radiated enough no nonsense attitude,that clearly kept intruders at bay. Yet underneath that hard exterior,was a woman with soft heart. Mrs Sheldon lived alone in her town house, since all three of her children were all grownups and happily married. Her husband passed away six years ago,and ever since, Mrs Sheldon decided to move to West Mercer all the way from North Carolina. She had even been the one to offer to take care of Lea's town house and Brown eyes during her absence.

Annie felt slightly guilty about taking advantage of the older woman's help,yet it couldn't be helped.

"Ah, Annie. Please come in." Mrs. Sheldon stepped back to let her in. "How many time do I have to remind you to call me Meredith or just Merry?" She asked as she closed the door,and started for the sunroom,which was located on the east side of the house.

"Merry,it is." She smiled at the woman's back,as they made their way past the large visitor's parlour.

Merry's house was surprisingly large for a townhouse. It held about six bedrooms, a large modern kitchen, three bathroom and toilets,and there was the sun room,which gave the perfect view of the glistening lake in the evening sun. Annie couldn't hide her own content smile at the sight of the lake,immediately they stepped into the green themed room.

Ah, Annie forgot to mention the woman's fetish with the colour: green.

"Where's Brown eyes?" Merry asked as they both settled into the U-shaped pistachio sofa facing the double French glass doors,overlooking the Lake.

Annie tucked a strand of her hair behind her ears. "I left him indoors. Actually, he is one of the reasons why I'm here."

"Oh. What about him?"

"The thing is that, I am going out for dinner tonight and isn't sure about how late I am going to be. So I, huh, would appreciate it if Brown eyes could stay with you till I get back?"

Merry rolled her eyes with a smile. "Is that what you're sorry worried about?" It was a rhetorical question,so Annie didn't bother answering. "Of course,he can stay the night. I love having him around."

Annie's tense shoulders slumped forward as she heaved a sigh. "Thank you so much,Merry. You're a lifesaver."

"Now that's an exaggeration, if I ever heard one." She replied with a laugh. "Now,what's that other thing?"

"What do you know about Jovon Phim?"

Merry raised a dark eyebrow. "I know enough to know that he has a lot of demons to fight. Also, he rarely ventures out of that castle of his unless it's necessary. Why do you ask?"

"Nothing. I just saw him in the news the other day,and got really curious."

Merry nodded. But the crease marring her forehead didn't disappear. "Curious is good. But, if there's one you should know about Phim. It's that he's no good for you. He'll hurt you badly,and you're too sweet to be subjected to a heartbreak,Annie."

"Oh." Was all she could say, even though her heart was pounding away in her chest.

"Just stay away from him."

An hour or so later, Annie was getting out of the shower to get dressed for her dinner meeting with Jovon. His driver would be arriving any minute from now, and the last thing she wanted was to keep him waiting. Annie glanced at the outfit and accessories she had placed on the bed earlier. She would be wearing a mauve embroidered overlay dress with gold coviar beading on the empire bodice,and a hem that stopped well above her knees to show off her legs. While the dress wasn't flashy, she had to admit that it was eye-catching. Deliberately so. She needed an outfit that would make Jovon take notice, and quickly agree to what she was going to propose to him.

With less that thirty minutes before the car was to arrive,Annie was standing in front of the mirror in her bedroom studying the finished product. She tilted her head back,liking the way the earring dangled from earlobes,and the matching necklace around her neck. Both had been Christmas gifts from Ella.

Sighing deeply, Annie glanced at her watch. Cyson would be arriving to pick her up any moment,and she wanted to be ready. When she saw him again, she definitely want to give him few things to think about. He would discover that she was a lot more than a mover and a shaker. She was a woman who went after what she wanted more than anything. She was going to help him free his demons.

The sound of the doorbell had her grabbing her cream Louis Vuitton leather tote,and house keys from the dresser. Annie hurried into her silver peep-toe heels,before hurrying to the front door,where she saw Cyson waiting for her, his right hand holding the silver coloured twelve doors limousine door,open for her.

He was dressed in black suit this evening too,which made Annie think he loved black. After locking the door,and stashing the key under the welcome mat, She walked down the pathway to the opened car door.

"Good evening,Cyson." She smiled warmly before entering the car.

"Good evening,Ms. Mckade." Then he closed the door before she could correct him about the use of her surname.

Annie heard the driver's door open and close. Then the car roared into life,before pulling away from the curb, and gliding down the road leading to the I-90. Placing her purse on the ivory coloured leather seat, she relaxed against the chair,while breathing in the leather scented air.

A thin woosh sound had her jerking upright in her seat. Annie let out a sigh of relief when she saw that Cyson was the one who rolled down the panel separating the driver's side from the back of the car.

A silly smile danced across her lips,as she met his gaze in the review mirror. Again,he wasn't smiling,but there was that telltale glint in his eyes that made her know he was laughing at her.

"There's a drink cabinet to your right beside the single chair right behind me. And there's also an assortment of nutrition bars and snacks. Help yourself to anyone of them."

Pink stained her cheeks as her stomach took that exact moment to rumble,reminding her that she ate two chocolate cookies and a cup of tea at Merry's. Cyson let out a soft chuckle,before pressing a button,which made the panel slide back up,blocking him from her view.

"Way to embarrass a girl,eh?" She patted her stomach with a pout.

The damned thing even rumbled more,which had her giggling like a loony.

After what felt like forever, the car finally grounded to a halt. By then,Annie already helped herself to a bag of M&M,two strawberry nutrition bars, and a bottled water. She had just finished checking her reflection in the car's glass to check for any sign that she had just munched on junk food,when Cyson opened the door.

Annie climbed out of the car,trying very hard not to gape at the huge twenty-story building,all carved from steel,with glass all over it's front. 'Phim Grand Hotel' was emblazoned on the glass in bold snow colours. As she walked through the swinging doors with Cyson right on her heels, that was after he gave the valet the limousine keys, Annie couldn't help but glance around.

Inside the hotel was really big and spacious with an understates degree of refined elegance. It was definitely a five-star that was replete with a luxurious-looking grand interior,and a uniformed staff on duty to satisfy a client's every whim. A person could definitely get swept away with such grace and style.

"Mr Phim will be coming down for you, Ms. Mckade."

Annie glanced the uniformed man who had spoken. Cyson nodded at the man as he escorted her to sit on one of the many burgundy leather arm chairs in the lobby. She was surprised that Cyson still waited with her, for she figured that once she was inside the hotel,she was on her own. Apparently not. It appeared Jovon had other ideas when he invited her.

Also, Annie knew that they would be dining in his suite. Him being a private person told her as much. It wasn't uncommon for him to cause a stir, especially among the media who enjoyed writing about his successful business life,and as the heir to the Phim's heirloom.

"Here is Mr. Phim now."

Annie glanced in the direction of the elevators,and caught sight of Jovon walking towards them. She had prepared herself to see him again. Or so she thought. The man was so extraordinarily sexy. So ridiculously sensual,that her entire body began responding. As he crossed the wide stretch of lobby towards her, people,mainly women, stopped to stare.

She suddenly felt her heart take a nosedive into her stomach. He was wearing a tailored suit,and cerulean shirt that fitted him with precision,and even at a distance she could detect his calm restraint. She was about to look away and focus her mind elsewhere, when his gaze suddenly snagged hers. His penetrating stare was doing something to her,forcing her to embark on one hell of a fantastic voyage.

The man had enough sex appeal to bottle for future generations.

Damn!

Definitely not what she wanted to be up against tonight.

How was she going to get through a meal with him when she already felt trapped in his gaze?

All right,I can handle this. I can handle him. Remember how he treated you the last time you saw him. He is a jerk.

Those words flowed through her mind as he got closer. With a half smile as she expelled another breath and forced back the thought that suddenly entered her mind about him taking her to his hotel bed. Hot sex. Heated sex. Never-ending sex. With her lips barely moving, she released a soft laugh.

She was going crazy. Jovon kind of crazy.

The thought put every nerve ending in her body on red alert. But she refused to give anything away. So she stood there, waiting,looking more poised than she actually felt. She was here for a good reason,and knowing that reason gave her strength to her resolve. She wished she wasn't so aware of him. She would have appreciated it of he didn't make such a powerful impact on her vital signs,and wasn't oozing such raw physical force.

And more than anything, she wished he didn't look like all the millions he was actually worth. Boy, how she wished.

When he finally came to a stop in front of her, and she saw the beauty of his Hazel eyes as he gazed into her dark ones, she had never wished for anything so much in her life.

~   ***    ~

Some minutes earlier.

Jovon glanced at his watch periodically as he paced around his hotel room waiting for Annie's arrival. After his video call meeting with the Taiwan's shipping company about a cargo he wanted t deliver to China tomorrow, he'd returned back to his hotel room to shower, but that was after he had a base with his hotel's kitchen staff.

Dinner would be served in his suite,which was a first for him. He rarely brought company to his hotel room, but given that the paparazzi already had their eyes on him ever since they learned he was staying over in Seattle tonight, it would be foolhardy having dinner with her in a public restaurant. The last thing he wanted was the speculation of his love life, or what little of it he had.

He couldn't remember the last time a dinner date had him on edge.

Hours later,after a quick shower,and getting dressed,he asked Aaron to do a quick search about Annie. He emailed to Jovon the result instantly.

>>>>>>>>>   •••  <<<<<<<<<<<

Name: Ansela  Miranda Mckade.

D. O. B : December 23rd, 1990, Uptown,Philadelphia.

Mobile no: 361 876 23177

Social security no: 092-567-2317

Banking Details: First City monument Bank,Philadelphia, 16234.

Occupation: Nothing major. Once went to a cooking school in Paris.

- took ballet class in the Paris Opera School.

- Has masters in Business Administration.

Prior Education: Peaklane JR-SR high school.

Father: Steve. J. Mckade.

Mother: Arabella. S. Mckade.

Siblings: Two brothers; Kaden Mckade and William Mckade. (Both married).

Sister in-laws: Cassandra Milton Mckade. And Rafaella Milestone Mckade.

Cousins: Kaden's children: Anastasia Mckade, Bellamy Mckade, Shane Mckade, and Canishia Mckade. 

William's Children: Aiglentina Mckade and Aiglentine Mckade (Twins). An unborn child.

Company owned by family: Golden Homes. Mckade Gadgets.

Eye colour: Hazel.

Hair colour: Brunette.

Height:  in centimeters - 163 cm.

               In meters -  1.63 m.
         
               In feet inches "5'4.

Figure measurement: 33-26- 38.

Nationality: American.

Hobbies: Skating, cooking, looking in the mirror and talking to herself, collecting selfies, loves Adventures, shopping, and travelling.

Likes & Dislikes:  Likes: Driving playing with children, playing with her teddies, mystery-thriller with a bit of romance, novel.

Dislikes: Going to Parties.

Religion: Christianity.

Favourite Actor: Liam Hemsworth.

Favourite Actress: Julia Roberts.

Favourite Films: The preacher's kid, 50 first dates, and Little Manhattan.

Favourite cuisine: Italian, Greek,and continental food.

Favourite food: Smoked Salmon,and asparagus.

Favourite desserts: Anything delicious,especially strawberry and vanilla flavoured.

Favourite mocktail: Kiss on the lips.

Favourite colour: Pink and Blue.

Favourite car: Konisegg Aggera.

Favourite Holiday destination: Maldives, Hawaii, and Paris.

Favourite Brands: Miu Miu, Mahino Blanik, and Alexander McQueen.

Sexual orientation : Unknown.

Relationships: Not indicated at present.

Religious affiliations : none found.

Net worth: 21 million dollars.

>>>>>>>>>>> ••••  <<<<<<<<<<<<<

Jovon pored over the executive summary for the tenth time since he received it an hour ago, looking for some insights into the enigmatic Miss Ansela Miranda Mckade. He couldn't get her out of his mind and it was seriously starting to piss him off. She had been telling the truth, about her not being a reporter. But that didn't mean he trusted her still.

Jovon wondered if her family was aware if her presence in West Mercer Island,and what she was doing. He was really curious about who she really was as a person.

Then there was also his attraction to her.

The phone rang, and he was jerked out of his thoughts. Jovon quickly moved across the room to pick it up. "Yes?"

"Your guest has arrived,sir. Do you want me to escort her up?"

"No. I'll be down to meet her myself." He hung up feeling a bit,oddly, nervous.

The first thing that hit Jovon before he reached Annie was her scent. It was both soft and sensuous,and had a punch that could drive a man to distraction. But then he had been blown away the moment he had stepped out of the elevator,and saw her standing with Cyson. She looked delicate beside the huge hulk of a man. Above all, she looked stunning.

The dress she was wearing brought out her sensual side. Thanks to Americus, he knew about enough fashion to realize that not every woman would be able to pull off wearing an outfit such as this. You had to have the small waistline, curves and legs to make it happen otherwise it would be a total waste of good fabric. Annie had everything. Another added bonus was, the square-neck bodice emphasized on her breasts. Yes,altogether he gave the outfit an A-plus.

Even now as he stared at her,with her head tilted and meeting his gaze, he was fighting for control. He was about to bestow accolades on her for her ability to take him on at a personal level. He wasn't beginning to discover that she was one irresistible lady.

"Mr. Phim."

His name on her lips seemed to warm his skin. He even felt his insides beginning to melt. He figured he needed to get her up into his hotel room before his sexual response to her became too obvious.

"Annie, I hope you had a pleasant ride coming here?"

She smiled as she glanced over at Cyson. "Um, it was a rather interesting."

To his utmost surprise, Cyson's lips twitched with suppressed smile. Never had he seen Cyson change his signature stoic face,ever since he started working for him ten years ago,after Jovon crashed three of his cars within six months. It seemed like Annie had the same effect on Cyson too. And Jovon wasn't sure if he liked it or not.

Anyone who knew the man well, would Evidently know he had broken several speed limits.

Over the years, Cyson had not only become his bodyguard, driver,and travelling companion. But the now fifty-something man had become his good friend. Jovon trusted him with his life.

"Interesting?" Jovon said. "I'm sure it was. Are you ready to go up to my suite for dinner?"

"Yes, I'm ready."

The sound of her voice stoked the fires within him again. There was a whole lot of difference between the Annie he saw eight days ago, and the one standing in front of him looking good enough to devour. All of a sudden, the menu he had carefully selected lost it's appeal,and he was developing a taste for something else altogether.

Something that was just as succulent.

He gestured toward the banks of elevators. "There's a private one who goes up to the floor where the owners suites are located."

She began walking beside him across the lobby floor. He saw several heads turn and knew everyone was probably thinking they made a beautiful couple. Little did they know that during the course of the next few hours they would be encased in his hotel room discussing whatever it was she wanted from him.

His heart began to thunder in his chest. He had a feeling he was in for a long and tempting evening.

So that's it guys.

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Wait! No way... Just kidding :-D.

I won't be updating any chapter until march. That's because I have upcoming exams from the sixteenth of this month.

You know how hard being a freshmen in college is,don't you?

Hopefully, I would be back early for the watties.

Anywhobeedoo, thank you for listening to my rants and remaining hardcore Mckade fans. #mckadians.  And also #teamAnjo.

Still working a perfect ship name for them.

Feel free to drop your ideas.

I will be answering messages,maybe not instantly, but I will try to when I can. So feel free to drop a comment.

See you after i return from my very short hiatus.

~ Jasmine.A.