Weeks went by and Orlando was out of the country with his father and Diamond was left feeling all alone. She went work but it wasn't the same with Orlando not being there, he has been away for two weeks now, and with the short phone calls they had during the day at work discussing business, it wasn't the same. She missed him and she hated that.

She wanted nothing more than to wrap her hands around his toned torso, and have a taste of those deliciously soft lips.

Groaning she threw the papers on the table and logged out of the computer. It was an hour to knocking off time; she decided to just go home and will see work tomorrow. She and Orlando have been pretending to be dating as agreed, in public they'd go out to restaurants to dine and he'd steal kisses and make her laugh until her head tilted back.

She enjoyed the fake relationship more than she should and she knew she was asking for trouble. They never touched each other again since she told him that they should never go down that road again, but she wanted him. Her body wanted him.

The wind outside blew her hair in different directions and it was annoying her. She had straightened her hair and was waiting for a cab to take her to Ollie's diner where she used to work to have their juicy burgers and also visit Lisa.

"Don't tell me you're cutting work." Ah the voice she has been longing to hear spoke behind her and she spun on her heel coming face to face with a tired looking, but very sexy Orlando York.

"You know what they say; when the boss is away the mice comes out to play." She smiled deviously. She knew if he threw a rant there and tried to boss her up, tell her about work ethics and what time she needs to report at work and what time to leave, she will use period cramps as an excuse to ditch work.

"This is what happens when I am away? Damn, I need to stay here all the day everyday...and monitor you lot." He said and Diamond laughed at him.

"When did you get back?" she asked him, trying to get her heart rate down. It was beating way too fast for her liking.

"Just now, Nico just dropped me off and I saw you here. I am hosting Jones and his wife tonight at my casino. Please join us." He told her, his green eyes piercing into hers as he towered over her. She felt butterflies begin to awaken at the pit of her stomach. Was he asking her out? Did he miss her like she had missed him but would never tell him?

"I think he will sign the damn deal tonight and who better then with my sweet, sweet woman by my side?" he wore his famous smirk. Jones had called Diamond a 'sweet, sweet woman' when they met and he took a great liking to her and Orlando knew one way or another, the three stars hotel situated in the right place would be his.

Diamond felt like she just got shitted on by a bird when he mentioned Jones, of course he just needed her to sweeten the hotel deal only, not that he missed her. And boy if it did not hurt, she'd be lying.

"Alright, what time?" she asked, although she was crushed that he didn't miss her, she still accepted to go with him. Having him play the lovey and romantic boyfriend was also nice, she milked it all.

"I will pick you up around six thirty, dinner is at seven." He told her and flagged a cab for her, closing the door behind her as he sent her off with a smile.

They were friends, she cared a great deal about him, but she just couldn't help but to think that the smile was of someone who was genuinely happy to having her around. She liked that, she liked it a lot.

Arriving to her apartment, she met Daniel as he was exiting the elevator. "Hey Diamond." He greeted her, his eyes lighting up like it was Christmas. The man had a cute smile; she couldn't help but to smile back.

"Hey Danny boy, where are you off to?" she asked, seeing that he had a bag pack on his back, and seemed to be in a rush.

"Work, I have to reset and set up something. You look beautiful, well you always look beautiful." He flashed a wink and she grinned at him.

"Thank you. The world needs friends like you to hype people like me up. Thank you boo and enjoy work. I have to get ready for... a work function too." She told him, couldn't really disclose that the so called work function was her pretending to be her boss's girlfriend. That wasn't tasteful and it was best that he didn't know much detail about it.

"Will I see you later?" he asked and Diamond thought why not, she would probably be back early after the meeting and Daniel wasn't at all bad company.

Around six thirty, Diamond was ready for Orlando, dressed in a knee length, body hugging red dress that accentuated every curve on her body and highlighted her waist. It fit her body like glove and she loved it. She wasn't huge on make-up so she opted for the natural look as always, wearing her hair down.

In her black ankle strapped heels, she opened the door when he knocked and he was blown away. She looked absolutely beautiful and he had to salivate and keep his hands to himself before landing himself in trouble.

"Fuck!" the words had escaped his lips before he could stop them. He cleared his throat after his eyes raked her from bottom to top and top to bottom. "You look gorgeous." He told her, his eyes darkening.

She smiled nervously and picked her purse from the couch, pushing her hair behind her ear. "Thank you, I don't want to disappoint." She told him.

"You can never disappoint. Even when you skip work early, you still can never disappoint me." He sounded like he was talking to himself rather than her.

Putting his hand on the small of her back, which sent shivers and electric shots up her spine, the two walked out to the car. He smelled good and looked good. He wore his pant suit with a neatly ironed shirt and no jacket. He looked formal and much more like a meal. He was handsome and she couldn't dispute that.

They arrived to his casino and were ushered to his private room where he often held his meetings at by a waitron working there. The place gave off a very high class vibe, the rich were there enjoying the rich and expensive liquor from top cabinets while enjoying the games provided in the venue.

"Would you like anything to drink sir?" the waiter asked. "Your guests haven't arrived yet." He told his boss and Orlando ordered for them a bottle of red wine while they waited.

"This is a really nice place. I can tell that you didn't do the interior yourself." She told him, a glass of red wine going to her lips and the warm liquid trickling down her throat. Tones of chocolate and peaches were detected and she just declared that her favourite wine.

"Okay this wine is good." She commented, falling in love with it.

"Yeah, imported from Malawi in Africa, costs about a grand a bottle." He told her and she choked on air. "A gra- a grand on just... on just wine?" her eyes were just minutes from popping out of their sockets.

Orlando laughed and shook his head. "Yes, only the best for my customers." He told her and she nodded, her lips forming a small 'o'. She couldn't understand why alcohol had to be expensive, yes the wine did taste better than the cheaper ones she consumed but they were still good and she got drunk too. So, what was the big deal when it came to pricing? A grand for just one bottle of wine was too much for her. She'd rather become a nun or something and not drink at all.

"And what did you mean you can tell I didn't do the interior in here?" he asked.

"It is not black and white like your apartment. If you had your way here, this whole place would be blinding." She teased him, but still being honest.

Orlando faked shock and placed his hand on his chest. "Are you saying my interior skills are blinding Barry? Wow I am touched."

They laughed and joked for a while, enjoying each other's company. By the time Diamond mentioned food, it was after eight and Jones and his wife were no show. "We should just order dinner and eat without them then, I am sorry." Orlando apologized and he took his phone from his pocket to see it was on silent and had messages and five missed calls from Jones himself.

He was involved in a car accident and his wife was rushed to the hospital but no major injuries, he also apologized.

"Oh wow, that's a shame." Diamond empathised with the Jones family, road accidents were dangerous and they took many lives. She was glad that both husband and wife were safe and unharmed.

"Do you think he will still sell his hotel after what happened tonight?" Diamond asked.

"Most definitely. He needs the money to set up somewhere, away from the city life. And if this isn't enough motivation, I am sorry for saying that but I wouldn't know what is." He answered.

Diamond looked at him, really looked at him. He wanted the damn hotel so bad, he wouldn't have caused the accident and had her as an alibi in case things turned south would he?

"You had nothing... to do with it right?" she asked, her voice just above a whisper but he heard her alright, he heard every damn word and wished he hadn't. He felt like his guts were being twisted by her hand.

"So you think I want the damn hotel so bad I'd kill for it?" his eyes darkened with anger. She almost shrunk into her seat as his stare was lethal. "You look at me and see a monster Diamond? Is that it? You think I would... wow. Let's just forget dinner. Come I'll drop you off." He didn't even wait for her to stand up, he bolted right out the door and she trotted behind him, trying to keep up.

"Orlando wait!" she chased after him in her six inch heels. "I am sorry okay?" she said behind him as he strode towards the elevator. He paid no attention and held the doors opened for her, without a word.

Diamond stopped the elevator from moving and locked it. "Listen, that came out wrong and I am sorry. I shouldn't have thought that..." she told him. She felt like such a heel for saying that. Orlando wasn't a murderer and he didn't play those kinds of games. He wasn't living the life in the movies where men who owned casinos killed to stay atop of the game. He had his family's gold to stay on top of the game and she was stupid and rude for implying that he played those games.

"Damn right you shouldn't have! How could you think something so vile like that? I lost my mother in a car accident and you slap that into my face thinking I'd put another family through such a heart breaking ordeal? Fuck that!" he lashed, his voice breaking at the end.

Diamond had hit a nerve and she felt shitty as hell. She didn't know about his mother's death, she didn't know why she even thought of that in the first place. She hurt him and his eyes that were a little glossy confirmed it.

"I didn't mean to Orlando please forgive Me." she pleaded with him, grabbing both his arms and forcing him to look at her. "Please forgive me, I was stupid for saying that and I am sorry." She told him.

He looked down in her eyes and without a doubt; he knew she regretted saying that. Pulling her against his chest he claimed her lips in a feverish kiss and she wasted no time kissing him back.

The kiss was passionate and it melted her against him. If it wasn't for the strong hold he had on her she'd probably fall to the floor. She had been anticipating this moment since the last time he had kissed her and that was weeks ago, she felt like a flower being watered. His kisses were her drug and she needed a dosage of him.

Pulling up for air, Orlando leaned his forehead against hers and he looked into her eyes. "I have been meaning to do that since I got back." He breathed and she blushed, her face turning crimson red.

"Is Diamond Barry blushing?" he teased her and she hid her face from him on his chest, inhaling his scent as if to commit it to memory. "Shut up." She mumbled.

Orlando took her by the hand as they walked out of the casino. "I know this little diner joint that sells the best burgers, feel like one?" he asked and Diamond nodded, before he hijacked her plans, she had planned on going to get a burger at Ollie's diner.

She was surprised as hell when he parked at the very same diner she wanted to come to, the very same diner she worked at. Seeing it again after the many passed months, she felt weird seeing it again.

Since working at the diner, her life was just on a rollercoaster ride. Even now with a fat salary, working at a nice company, she still wasn't sure whether she was happy in life. On one hand she was broken hearted, not wishing to fall in love or be in a serious relationship and on the other hand, she was pretending to be a business tycoon's girlfriend and relished in the kisses he gave her and has already given her body to him and enjoyed it.

Walking in through the door, her heart stopped beating. There she was, Julia, the freaking cow that stole her man. She never saw her again since that fateful day and seeing her that night, her blood ran cold. She saw red.

Julia was just about to welcome them in but she saw Diamond standing next to the hottest guy in the city. She knew who the man was but she never thought he'd associate himself with low lives like Diamond. He deserved women with class, women who are rich and bathes in honey and milk.

"Let's just go elsewhere, please." She begged Orlando who was surprised at the sudden coldness from her. Things were fine between the two of them what was wrong now?

"I... I can't be here, she's here. I can't..." her eyes were looking straight ahead so he followed her gaze, and all he saw were two women starring each other, disgust plastered all over their faces.

He remembered the story she once shared with him, how her fiancé cheated with her colleague, it must be her. "Listen, don't let her get to you." Orlando pulling her by the waist and snapped her out of the trance she had placed herself in. They were still standing at the door and most diners were staring at them, wondering why they weren't walking the four steps down into the diner.

"I wanna kill her." She seethed her expression morphing into that of an angry bird. "She messed up my life while I thought she was my friend."

"Jesus Christ!" Orlando cried. He just held on tight to her and made her to look at him. There was no way hell will they walk out of the diner without his juicy double cheese, bacon and egg burger, no way in hell.

Placing his hands on her waist pulling her closer like she was a delicate flower, he brought his lips to hers in a slow kiss and she sighed against his lips as she welcomed it.

"Can we now get the burger?" he asked, looking into her eyes and she nodded. "Good girl, every time you wanna lurch at her, kiss me instead." He winked at her before taking her hand and walking to the counter to place an order.

Diamond turned red when she realized Lisa was at the counter, looking at her with curious eyes. She knew she will be asking her umpteen questions.

"Well, well, well... look what the cat dragged in." Lisa smiled and Orlando looked at her like she was damn out of her mind. "And by cat I mean you Mr handsome and she is what you have dragged in." she wore a pleasant smile and Orlando figured they were friends. Her nametag read; Elisabeth and he knew it was her friend. He knew that much about her. She didn't have a truckload of friends.

"I am Lisa, her friend and thank you for bringing her by." She said, her eyes taking in the man in all his sexy and handsome glory.

"Hey Lisa, I am Orlando... her boyfriend." He cheesed when she gasped and tensed next to him, suddenly the most talkative girl he knew, grew silent.

"Boyfriend huh?" Lisa grinned.

Yes boyfriend.

Is telling our friends now part of the deal???? One chapter of this week down; more chapters to follow.

And guys, I just saw that this story is ranked #49 in Loyalty category,  #319 (last week it was #755) in the Lust category... lol how awesome is that?? It would be a whole nicer to keep moving up the ranks.. Anyway thank you for reading, please don't forget to vote and share!!!!!