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    AUTHOR’S POV.

    22 65 vouchers

    “M… Mr. Bl… ckwood…” She stuttered, the ss in her hand slipping and shattering at her feet.

    Lucian’s eyes flickered briefly to the broken ss on the floor before going back to the stuttering woman in front of him.

    “Boss.”Jordan said, surprised, rushing forward.

    “Where is Alina?” Lucian asked Jordan in a dangerously calm tone, one that contrasted greatly with the storm raging inside him.

    “She is sleeping in Miss Hart’s room, Boss.” Jordan responded.

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    “Do you mind?” Lucian said sharply to the woman still frozen in shock..

    “Huh?” Talia blinked, confused.

    “Move.” Lucian said, fighting the urge to roll his eyes.

    He may tolerate Talia, but right now, he was too angry to y nice.

    “Oh! Sorry.” Talia said quickly, stepping out of the way.

    Lucian brushed past her, Ace following closely behind, the broken ss crunching under their shoes.

    “You should clean that up so you don’t hurt your foot.” Ace told her, gesturing to the ss with a nce.

    The moment Talia locked eyes with Ace’s honey-brown ones, she was a goner. She had never seen a man look so gorgeous in such a serious way, until Ace.

    Well… aside from Lucian. But she was too scared of him to acknowledge or appreciate his appearance.

    Ace, on the other hand, was her type.

    “Hey.” Ace snapped his fingers in front of her face.

    “Huh?” Talia blinked again, her face flushing with embarrassment. She was certain he’d caught her checking him out.

    “Boss is asking which room is yours.” Ace said, trying to suppress a smirk.

    “Oh Talia turned to Lucian and found him giving her an annoyed, impatient look. “Third door to your right.” She rushed out, not wanting to piss him off more than he already was.

    Without another word, Lucian disappeared down the corridor.

    With him gone, Talia crouched to pick up the shards of broken ss.

    “Don’t!” Ace said sharply, just before she could grab one. “Is it that you don’t care about your hands?” He frowned, ring sharply at her.

    “Huh?” She said, clearly confused.

    “Do you not know any other word aside from that?” Ace asked, annoyance edging into his voice.

    11:39 pm A

    55 vouchers

    Yes, Ace thought Talia was very stunning, with her bare, freckled face and striking green eyes, but he also found it irritating that the only word she seemed to know was ‘huh

    For some reason he wanted to hear her speak.

    “Excuse me?” Talia red at him, clearly not liking his tone. “Don’t talk to me like that. Besides, what is it to you if my hands get injured?” She snapped.

    Ace couldn’t help the slight tug at the corner of his lips. She was definitely feisty, and he liked his women feisty.

    “Rx, firecracker. I’m just trying to be nice.” He raised his hands in surrender. “It’d be better to use a broom instead of your hand, is all I’m saying.”

    “Don’t call me that.” She snapped again, turning on her heel and muttering under her breath as she headed toward the kitchen.

    Oh so the kitten has ws. Ace thought, chuckling under his breath.

    He could’ve sworn she was checking him out earlier, and now she was pissed at him.

    Typical.

    Jordan had quietly been watching the interaction between Ace and Talia, and he was honestly shocked. Ace, just like Lucian, was always serious and about business. This was the first time he’d seen him smile.

    Talia returned with a broom and began sweeping up the ss.

    “Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” Ace couldn’t help but poke at her.

    “Fuck off.” She muttered, throwing him a re.

    “Let me help with that ma’am.” Jordan offered, stepping forward and taking the broom from her.

    “An, thanks Jordy. You are such a sweetheart.” She smiled warmly, handing it over. “Let me go grab your jacket for you.” She added before disappearing into the guest room where Jordan had been staying.

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    Ace couldn’t stop the sharp re he threw in Jordan’s direction when she called him Jordy.

    “I’m not interested in her, Boss.” Jordan said quickly as soon as Talia was out of earshot.

    Ace had been the one to recruit Jordan and every other guard who worked for the ckwoods, so he was their boss.

    “I didn’t ask you.” Ace said coldly.

    He didn’t have to, his death re spoke volume. Even a blind man could see Ace was into Talia. He was already acting territorial

    Talia returned a few secondster and handed the suit jacket to Jordan.

    “Thank you, ma’am” Jordan said with a respectful nod before walking off to dispose of the broken ss.

    Ace opened his mouth to say something, but Lucian walked out, and all attention snapped to him.

    Alina was dinging to him like a ko bear.

    Her legs were wrapped around his waist, and she was trying, rather aggressively, to take off his shirt.

    11:39 pm D

    EX 50 Voughers

    Lucian looked disheveled. Hickeys dotted his neck, his shirt was untucked, tie crooked and his hair was mussed as though someone had thoroughly run their fingers through it.

    “Kiss me.” Alina whined, grabbing Lucian’s face and trying to kiss him.

    “Behave, doll.” Lucian murmured, adjusting her so she wouldn’t fall.

    Ace rushed over and took Alina’s bag while Jordan hurried to open the door.

    “Why don’t you want to kiss me? Don’t you love me anymore?” She pouted, looking genuinely hurt.

    “You’re drunk, doll.” Lucian sighed, his tone softer now.

    Dealing with a drunk Alina was hard work.

    “I am not.” Alina said stubbornly, puffing her cheeks.

    Talia chuckled quietly, making Alina turn to her.

    “Baby, tell Lucian to kiss me.” Alina demanded with a pout.

    “Maybe you should listen to Mr. ckwood, Ally.” Talia replied, trying to hide a smile behind her hand.

    “Whyyyy? But you kissed me, so why doesn’t he want to kiss me?” Alina whined, loud enough for the room to freeze.

    “The fuck did you just say?!” Lucian snapped.

    Lucian was very territorial when it came to Alina. Be it a male or a female, he didn’t want anyone getting closer than

    necessary.

    “She is kidding.”Talia rushed out, eyes wide in horror. Was Alina trying to get her kiled?!

    “I am not kidding. I was dared to kiss someone I love in the room, and I kissed Talia on the lips, because I loveeeeee her the most. “Alina said proudly, like she had just won an award.

    “It was just a peck!” Talia defended quickly. “Ally, please stop talking.” She begged.

    Ace was watching the scene in silent amusement. The same woman who’d been throwing fire moments ago was now a scared kitten. Then again, this was Lucian. He couldn’t me her.

    “You, I will deal with you when we get home,” Lucian muttered to Alina, then turned to Talia. “Miss Hart, I would really appreciate it if you don’t kiss my fiancée again.”

    “She was the one who kissed-“Talia startedto defend herself but stopped when Lucian red. “… Yes, sir.” She said instead.

    “Thanks for taking care of her.”Lucian added with a curt nod before walking out.

    “Byeeer, Tallyyyy” Alina drawled over his shoulder, waving with a tired grin.

    “Have a good night, Miss Hart.” Jordan said politely before following them.

    “You too, Jordy” She called after him with a fond smile.

    “Aren’t you leaving?” She asked, ring at Ace, who was still standing by the door, looking far too entertained.

    “Don’t forget to lock the door.” Ace told her.

    11:39 pm

    &

    “Don’t tell me what to do.” She retorted, making him chuckle.

    “See you around, firecracker.” Ace smirked.

    55 vouchers

    “Not if I have anything to do with it.” She shot back, mming the door in his face to the sound of his chuckle echoing in the hall.

    m

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