Luna

The next morning, I went to see Barry in his office. I mentioned I had Venus looked into, and he didn't take it too well.

"Why did you do that? I told HR not to worry about it."

"Yeah, I know, and it makes me wonder why?"

His frown deepened. "What are you trying to tell me?"

"Venus faked her CV. According to the investigation, she has no secretarial degree or experience. I don't understand why you hired her when she's not qualified. Unless you knew all along, that's why you told Gwen not to have her investigated."

"For fuck's sake! How would I know? I was only trying to save us money to pay the investigators."

"Oh, really? Among our many employees, she's the only one you want to skip the background investigation."

"Are you accusing me of anything? I needed a secretary, and this person convinced me she was qualified, so I gave her a shot!"

"Oh, really." My lips twisted in a sarcastic smile. "You can't blame me. I simply connected the dots and came to a logical conclusion. The rumors about you and her might be true."

He looked at me in disbelief.

"Seriously? Do you honestly believe those rumors? Don't you trust me? We've been together for three years!"

"Yeah, it's been three years and I finally feel like I know who you really are now."

"Come on, sweetheart. I swear I never cheated on you! I'm completely loyal to you. When did you hear about me hooking up with other women, huh? It's only now, right before our wedding, that these problems come up. People are just jealous and want to ruin our relationship. We're tying the knot next week, and I'd never do anything to mess it up."

He pulled me into his arms and back hugged me.

"I love you so much, baby. Trust me, you're my one and only love. Don't pay attention to what people say, just listen to me, alright? I promise, once the HR department finds a replacement, I'll fire Venus. I'm furious at her for deceiving me, you know. But we need to be cautious because she knows some of our company's secrets. We have to ensure she doesn't leak any information."

I pulled away from him and faced him directly. "Do whatever you want, Barry. I don't care."

"What's going on with you? You're acting so insecure and paranoid. She's nothing compared to you, Luna. I'm not attracted to her, she's totally NOT my type! Don't let the rumors affect you too much."

He hugged me again, and then suddenly chuckled. "I have a feeling you're just getting wedding jitters, sweetheart. It's normal for a bride-to-be to feel that way. Don't worry, okay?"

***

Our company received a game-changing opportunity on Friday, signaling a potential turning point in our success. I received an unexpected call from a billionaire in Dubai, Mr. Malik, expressing interest in investing in our company. He wanted to invest in a clothing company that aligned with his values, specifically one that focused on animal welfare.

Mr. Malik and his colleagues were in the USA and wanted to meet me at one in the afternoon at the Stavrakos Hotel.

Barry's actions left me with no choice but to exclude him from any involvement in my future endeavors. Besides, there was no sign of him and his secretary anywhere.

This investment is a golden opportunity that could propel our company to new heights. I didn't want to make any mistakes and ruin this. Closing this investment would enable our company to expand and achieve global success.

I found myself relying on Colton for support. With his expertise, he could assist me in sealing this deal. With his extensive knowledge of our company, he can provide a comprehensive explanation.

Colton answered immediately on the second ring.

"Hey? How are you?"

"I'm good. How about you?"

"Superb." I answered on an octave cheerful note.

Though last night was a struggle to sleep, because I kept on turning and tossing on the bed for hours, thinking of Colton and our passionate kiss, I didn't want to create an awkwardness between us. It was better to pretend that the kiss didn't happen.

"Good." He chuckled. "So, is there anything I can do for you?"

"I know you're super busy, but can you spare some time this afternoon for me?"

It was Friday, and he mentioned before that he's loaded with work and business meetings mostly at the end of the week. But then, he didn't show any hesitation and answered.

"Sure. What do you have in mind?"

"Well, I need your help." I told him about the potential investor in Dubai wanting to meet in the afternoon.

"That's an incredible chance for the company to thrive and expand. Sure, I'll help you explain the brand and the project. We'll close the deal," he said confidently.

"Thanks, Colton. This means a lot to me. I'll meet you at the Stavrakos Hotel at one."

"Yup. I'll be there."

After hanging up the phone, my mind immediately shifted to Colton and his words. Despite being busy, he agreed to accompany me to this crucial business meeting. He is completely committed to helping me grow as a business entrepreneur and is determined to make Glamour Fashion a huge success. He understood that the investment had the potential to have a significant and positive effect on our company.

At exactly one, I met Colton at the Stavrakos Hotel. He greeted me warmly and gave me a brief hug, like the passionate kiss we shared never happened last night. Maybe he was really into forgetting about it, as we agreed.

"Are you ready?"

"Yeah, I'm always ready," I said with confidence, but he knew I was super nervous. My hands were cold and trembling.

"Sure you can." He embraced me by putting his arm around my shoulders and giving me a gentle squeeze. It was enough to boost my morale and have faith in my abilities.

The meeting took place in one of the hotel's conference rooms. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Colton and Mr. Malik were already acquainted, which made the presentation and negotiation much smoother.

Colton allowed me to take the lead in speaking, only interjecting when necessary and providing additional information that I may have missed.

I was extremely impressed with how Colton convinced Mr. Malik and his team. He spoke calmly, politely, and confidently, using a professional tone and gestures.

By the end of the meeting, we successfully convinced them to invest in our company.

"Thank you so much for your time, Mr. Malik, and hearing our presentation. I look forward to our venture." I said.

"Same here. Just send me the contract right away, Miss Stavrakos. I can't wait to put money in your company." He shook my hand, then he turned to Colton. "I'll see you in Dubai when you visit, Colton. We can play golf or hang out at my beach house. Just message me."

"Sure, Ali." Colton replied.

Suddenly, they were in first name basis. Why do I have a feeling that they were super close?

When Mr. Malik and his team left, I turned to Colton and gave him a brief hug. I couldn't help it. I was super happy.

"Thank you so much. We did it!" I was incredibly grateful to Colton for the successful business meeting. This reassured me I could totally trust and rely on him.

"YOU did it, Luna. You convinced Mr. Malik. The way you presented your ideas was not only impressive but also remarkably clear and concise, leaving a lasting impact on us listening. You should do it more often. You have an amazing persuasion skills."

Colton's compliment made me feel extremely flattered and appreciative. According to Barry, I always struggled with speaking, lacked communication skills, and couldn't persuade people. That's why he always handled the communication himself and went to important business meetings by himself.

Once again, I found myself unable to avoid comparing the two men. Colton had a positive influence on me, while Barry had the opposite effect. I finally understand why Barry refused to take me to those business meetings; he had been plotting to deceive me from the start.

Colton

My Fridays are typically busy with a lot of work and business meetings. But when Luna called, I immediately told Albert, my executive secretary, to reschedule all my afternoon appointments for Monday.

"But sir, the CHASE Company is waiting for you to—"

"Give Ian a heads-up that he needs to be at the meetings that can't be canceled. And bring all the documents I need to sign to the penthouse. I'll take care of them when I'm back home tonight. I've got more important things to do this afternoon."

"Yes, sir. Noted."

After I had lunch at the penthouse, I rushed off to the Stavrakos Hotel to meet Luna. When I saw her, everything became colorful and bright, even though she was coming towards me in a black pantsuit.

That's quite a weird thing, isn't it?

There was nobody else who could make me feel as alive as she did. The range of emotions she stirred within me was overwhelming — extreme anger, jealousy, frustration, disappointment, temptation, seduction, lust, and so much more. Presently, I'm experiencing intense emotions and find myself falling head over heels for her.

I had tried to hold back, but I couldn't deny the truth anymore. I realized that I wanted to be there for her whenever she needed me, doing everything I could to help. I yearned for her to understand that she could place her trust and reliance on me completely. I would always be there for her, ready to help and provide comfort whenever she needed it. I was willing to give her everything within my power because that was the extent of my feelings for her.