Chapter 3
Anna's POV:
As I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing out the wrinkles on my dress, I couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. What had I gotten myself into? I was about to pretend to be the wife of one of the most powerful men in the city, all to get a job at his company. It was a risk, but I had to take it. I had to prove to myself and to Mr. Parker that I was capable of more than just being a fired employee.
I took a deep breath and tried to shake off the doubts that were creeping into my mind. I could do this. I had to do this. I thought back to the way Mr. Parker had looked at me, his eyes raking over my body as if sizing me up. It was unnerving, but I had to admit, there was something about him that drew me in. Maybe it was the confidence that oozed out of every pore, or maybe it was the way he seemed to see right through me. Whatever it was, I knew I had to be careful around him.
I grabbed my suitcase and headed out the door, where Mr. Parker's driver was waiting for me.
As I settled into the luxurious car, I couldn't help but feel a mix of nerves and excitement. The soft leather seats and sleek interior made me feel like royalty. But my excitement was short-lived.
"Uh-hum," I heard.
"Oh my Goddess you scared me!" I yelped.
I realized that Mr. Parker was already seated inside, his piercing gaze fixed on me.
I felt a flutter in my chest as he took in my outfit, his expression unreadable. I had tried my best to dress modestly, but I knew I didn't exactly have the most stylish wardrobe. And judging by the look on Mr. Parker's face, I was right.
Without a word, he reached out and opened the door, gesturing for me to follow him. I did, I felt nervous as we walked into a high-end boutique. The sales associates greeted us with obsequious smiles, and Mr. Parker began to browse through the racks, selecting dresses and outfits that made my jaw drop.
"Try these on," he instructed, handing me a few dresses. I nodded, feeling a sense of embarrassment as I realized that he was essentially dressing me up to play the part of his wife.
I emerged from the dressing room in a stunning red dress, I couldn't help but gasp at my reflection. The dress hugged my curves in all the right places, and the makeup artist Mr. Parker had hired had worked wonders on my face. I looked... elegant.
Mr. Parker's eyes widened in approval as he took in my new look. "Wow," he said, his voice low and smooth. I felt a shiver run down my spine as he approached me, his eyes locked on mine.
For a moment, I forgot that this was all just an act. I forgot that we were just pretending to be a couple. He looked at me like I was the only woman in the world, like I was… his.
But then, he broke the spell, turning to the sales associate and instructing her to pack up the rest of the outfits. "We have a long week ahead of us, Anna," he reminded me, his voice cool and detached once again. "Let's make sure you're properly dressed for the occasion."
I nodded, feeling a sense of disappointment wash over me. But I pushed it aside, reminding myself that this was all an agreement.
Brooke Parker's POV:
As I watched Anna emerge from the dressing room, I was very surprised as to what I saw. She looked… beautiful. She was literally glowing. Her curves were revealed at the right places. I never thought I'd ever see her like this. It was quite different from her usual clothing. It made me kind of nervous for a bit.
For a moment, I forgot about the agreement we made. All I could think about was the way she looked at me, her eyes sparkling with a hint of attraction.
But I pushed the feeling aside, reminding myself that this was all just a means to an end. I needed Anna to play the part of my wife, to help me secure the deal of a lifetime. And I was willing to do whatever it took to make that happen. Mom made it clear that if I found a wife she would hand over the family's business to me and not Luke.
"Shall we go now?" I asked, offering her my arm. She took it, her touch sending a spark of electricity through my body.
"Yeah," she replied.
This was going to be a long week.
.................................
When they got to the Parker's estate, it was the most luxurious buildings Anna had ever seen. The mansion was enormous, with a beautiful garden and a sparkling pool in the backyard. The interior was even more impressive, with expensive artwork adorning the walls and a grand staircase leading to the second floor. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as she followed Brooke inside, taking in her new surroundings.
As they entered the living room, she was greeted by the other members of the Parker family. They all seemed friendly enough, though she couldn't help but feel out of place among them. She noticed that there was quite a tension between Brooke and a particular family member who she thought was his brother due to the striking resemblance.
"Anna, dear, it's so lovely to finally meet you!" Mrs. Parker gushed, walking over to her and giving her a warm hug. "Brooke has told us so much about you."
"It's a pleasure to meet you all as well," Anna replied, trying to muster up a genuine smile.
For the rest of the evening, they all sat together in the living room, chatting and getting to know each other. Anna did her best to fit in, joining in on the conversation whenever she could.
As the night wore on, she found herself growing increasingly uncomfortable. The way Brooke kept looking at her, the way he would casually touch her hand or arm whenever they spoke. She knew that they were just playing their roles, but it felt so real at this moment.
As others excused themselves to bed, leaving her and Brooke alone in the living room. She felt a shiver run down her spine as he moved closer to her.
"Anna," Brooke's voice was low and seductive. "Do you want to go upstairs?"
She swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. "I-I don't know," she managed to stammer. "What about the deal? Won't we need to discuss it tomorrow?"
Brooke smiled, his eyes gleaming with desire. "Of course we will," he assured her. "But I think we should take care of this first." He took a step closer, his body pressing against hers.
"Mr. Parker...." she stuttered but Brooke cut her off.
"Don't call me Mr. Parker...I'm your husband remember, we have to play the part." he smiled softly.
"I know, but the agreement didn't come with a sex notice," Anna stated.
"Who said I was talking about sex?" he asked confused. "I was talking about where we were going to sleep."
Anna's face flushed red with embarrassment as she muttered, "oh."
He started laughing. That was the first time she had seen him laugh since she knew him. He looked even more handsome. It made her turn even more red.
"I'm sorry if I misled you. I was just teasing. Of course, you're right. We should discuss the term of the deal first. Follow me." He took her hand and led her upstairs to the master bedroom. Once inside, he gestured for her to sit on the bed.
All that was in Anna Williams' mind was; Is he going to sleep on the same bed with Brooke Parker?
Anna waited nervously as Brooke took off his suit jacket and hung it up on a nearby hook. He then walked over to the dresser and pulled open the top drawer. He selected a clean shirt and pair of boxers before turning back to her.
"Anna, I want you to know that I take our agreement very seriously," he said, his voice gentle. "I won't force you to do anything you're not comfortable with, and I'll respect your boundaries. I just want to make sure you understand that."
She nodded, still feeling uneasy. "I appreciate that," she said, glancing around the room. "So...where should we sleep?"
Brooke smiled reassuringly and sat down beside her on the bed. "It's up to you. You can take the bed, and I'll sleep on the couch. Or we can...share." He hesitated,"If that's what you want."
Anna bit her lip and glanced at Brooke, noting the way his brown eyes seemed to glow in the dim light of the bedside lamp.
"I-I don't know..." she stammered. "Maybe...if we both stay fully clothed?"
Brooke nodded slowly, seeming to consider her suggestion. "That's a good compromise," he said, his voice gentle. "Then, why don't we get ready for bed?"
Anna's POV:
Brooke went to have a shower and the more I heard the water dripping, the more my heart kept pounding in my chest. I couldn't believe I was actually considering sharing a bed with Brooke Parker.
I was too nervous to take a shower so I just lay down looking at the ceiling.
I heard the bathroom door open and I quickly shut my eyes, pretending to be fast asleep. That was the only way to prevent the awkwardness that might come when he's dressing up.
The thought of seeing him naked… I don't even want to think about it.
I heard him turn off the bedside lamp, enveloping the room in darkness, broken only by the faint moonlight filtering through the curtains.
As Brooke settled in beside me, he left a respectable distance between us, I couldn't ignore the electricity crackling in the air between us. I layed there, acutely aware of his presence next to mine. The silence stretched on, heavy with unspoken words.
Suddenly, Brooke shifted closer towards me, his warmth seeping through the thin barrier of the sheets. My breath caught in my throat as I felt his hand tentatively brush against me. It was a simple touch, but it sent a jolt of electricity through my veins.
"Anna," Brooke whispered, his voice barely audible in the quiet room. "I want you to know that I'm here for you. You can trust me."
Did he know I was awake?
I remained quiet, still pretending to be fast asleep.
Slowly, as if drawn by an invisible force, I turned to face him in the darkness.
Our eyes met, and in that moment, all the walls I had built around herself came crashing down as soon as I saw those eyes. Without a word, I closed the remaining distance between us, seeking solace and connection in Brooke's embrace.
As our lips met in a tender kiss, time seemed to stand still for me.
He was still. He didn't seem to kiss me back. My heart was pounding so loudly that I could hear it. I kept kissing him waiting for him to kiss me back.
Suddenly, I felt it. The kiss was soft, yet filled with unspoken emotions.
It quickly intensified into a passionate embrace. As our lips danced in passion, his hands wandered, tracing delicate patterns along my back. With a soft moan, I tilted my head to the side, exposing the curve of my neck. He leaned in, pressing warm kisses along the tender skin of my neck.
Each gentle caress sent shivers down my spine, eliciting a soft gasp from my parted lips. His kisses trailed along my jawline, down to the hollow of my throat, igniting a fire within me that I couldn't extinguish.
His kisses became more urgent, more demanding, as if he couldn't get enough of me. I responded by tangling in his hair, pulling him closer, wanting to feel him against me, all of him.
In that fleeting moment, as our lips met in a fervent kiss, his mouth trailed along my neck, we were consumed by the intensity of our desire for each other. We finally pulled away, breathless and exhilarated.
I layed on Brooke's chest, feeling his steady heartbeat beneath my fingertips. I couldn't believe it, what just happened? This wasn't part of the plan. I wonder what Brooke will think of me, I wonder what he is thinking right now.
.................................…
The next morning, I woke up at dawn painting the room in soft hues of light and an empty bed. As I walked into the kitchen, the remnants of our embrace still lingered in my mind. I wonder if it had all been a dream.
I poured myself a cup of coffee, trying to push away the thoughts that threatened to consume me. Just as I was about to take a sip, I heard footsteps approaching from behind. I turned around to see Brooke standing there, his eyes carrying a mixture of emotions I couldn't quite decipher.
"Anna," he began, his voice soft yet filled with unspoken sincerity. "About last night..."
I felt a rush of emotions flood through me at the sound of Brooke's voice. It wasn't a dream after all.
I could sense the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air between us, I set my cup of coffee down slowly, meeting Brooke's gaze with a mix of anticipation and apprehension. As he stood before me, his usual composed demeanor seemed to falter, revealing a vulnerability that mirrored my own.
Brooke hesitated for a moment, his eyes searching mine as if seeking permission to bare his soul. "Last night…was a mistake," he finally whispered, his voice barely audible in the quiet room. "I shouldn't have let things go as far as they did."
Anna felt a sudden wave of disappointment crash over her, the fragile hope she had dared to nurture crumbling before her eyes. She swallowed hard, trying to mask the sting of rejection that threatened to engulf her.