“F**k me so hard, daddy. Please！” After a disastrous heartbreak that shatters her life, Tessa leaves her city behind to start over. Her best friend offers her a place to stay until she finds her footing again. But upon arrival at the new city, she meets Julian, her best friend's father. One look at him awakens a dangerous hunger deep inside her. He's the kind of temptation she should never desire, but she swears to have him. …………………………………………………………………… Her boyfriend hadn't answered a single call or text in two days. Tessa wasn't surprised. After three years together, she was used to the long stretches of silence that always followed their misunderstandings. What worried her now was that she had no idea what she had done wrong this time. The last time he ignored her for days was because she refused to hand over her inheritance funds to him, but she had given them to him. Done all he asked of her. Now that they were supposed to be making plans on how to invest the money in the businesses he had discussed with her, he was giving her the cold shoulder. A frustrated sigh left Tessa. Damn, Dylan, and double damn her for missing him this terribly. She couldn't bring herself to understand the reason her body suddenly craved his touch today. She wanted him so badly she felt she would burn if he didn't give her the mild pleasures he gave her with his finger, and the short minutes of his thickness inside of her. She attributed the weird hunger to the fact that she had been sex starved for the past few months. Dylan had always been coming up with an excuse not to have sex with her. He was always busy, thinking, claiming he was working out a strategy for them that required his utmost focus without distractions. He had promised to make mad love to her once his plans worked out. According to him, the next sex would be so hot because it was going to be a celebration of their welcome into a new beginning. Tessa smiled. Dylan. Even though he acted irrationally sometimes. He was still her man, and she deeply loved him. But she was done waiting for him to come around. She made up her mind to go to him. She needed to release the desire that had been simmering inside her before she was utterly consumed by it. On her way back home from work, she branched into a shopping mall to get Dylan's favorite cologne and a pack of condoms that would last for the night and beyond. She didn't care how much he'd refuse her. She would tease her way in until he succumbed to sleeping with her tonight. Her fingers didn't give her pleasure better than Dylan would. She needed him, buried deeply inside her. She felt the area between her thighs pulsating as she imagined the sweetness that awaited her in Dylan's house tonight. She would make sure to get what she wanted. - The front door was left ajar by the time she arrived. A smile graced her face. He was at home. She was welcomed into the living room by clothes sprawled out on the tiles, and for a second, she assumed Dylan was about to do his laundry. He was sometimes lazy about that chore, but she understood all that. Slowly, she bent down and hurriedly picked up the clothes. On her way to his house, she had envisioned having hot sex on his couch. So it needed to be clear to achieve that. "Dylan." She called out as she bent to pick up the last piece of material on the tiles. She halted, stepping back to be sure of what she was seeing. Lacy panties. She wore cotton, and these were even smaller than her XL size. "Dylan." Her tone had become stern. She was still processing what could be happening as she ambled towards the bedroom. She called him again, but there was no response. Loud moaning sounds from the bedroom made her slow her angry strides. Skin was slapping against skin, a man groaning, and a woman yelling so badly that one would think she needed saving from the male. Her feet grew cold and weak with each stride she took towards the doorpost. Her vision blurred when she glimpsed Dylan. Her Dylan. He was naked, shoving his length into another woman's ass—a brunette she had never seen in her life. A cold wave of confusion swept through her. Had she missed her way? She wiped her eyes with her thumb to be sure, and there, it was true. The brunette's soft moans blended with his grunts as he drove ferociously into her from behind. Tessa's shoulders slackened, the pack of condoms and cologne falling out of her hands. He never fucked her like that. Never. "Fuck, I have missed this so much, Dylan." The brunette's breasts bounced with every hard stroke. Her body was jiggling as she writhed beneath Dylan. "You are so perfect, Dylan. Oh, you always fuck me so good." "Your ass is my favorite thing in the world." He slid out of her for a second, slamming back into her immediately. She remained there, feeding her eyes with her boyfriend's sins, unsure what to do. She had come to him for this, but he was right there, satisfying another woman, while he had been lying to her all this time about working on a strategy that required his body and soul. Her heart shattered. Hard. She tried to move, but her feet were rooted to the floor. Unyielding. A deep ache coursed through her, numbing her insides. The insane arousal she had been feeling moments ago drained away from her. She stood there, too dead to react. She trusted him with her life. Gave him all she had body and soul, but it was clear all they shared had been a lie the whole time. He had lied that she was the only one. "Do you fuck Tessa like this, too?" The brunette's screams pierced Tessa's ears. But she stayed to listen to more, to know how much lie he had told her. "Oh, please," "No," Dylan responded without hesitation. "I don't fuck that bitch like this. Her pussy is always so dry. She's just a worthless fat pig who thinks I love her." Tessa wondered how funny her life must have been. The brunette was laughing hysterically as he flipped her over, baring her front to him. Her whole life had been a joke—a lie. "Now that we have the money, what's your plan? When are we moving away from Bally?" "Oh, Grace. Can we talk about that later?" He started jerking, his body slacking against hers. "I am all about this for now." His voice thinned out. Tessa understood that was his ideal posture whenever he was about to reach orgasm. She had seen it a few times. Five times in their three years of relationship. What was more painful was that he didn't jerk himself to come as he'd normally do with her. He came on his own accord. The brunette had driven him to orgasm, but she had never. He never even gave her the chance to. He was always eager to thrust into her for a few seconds and toss her aside like she meant nothing. She should have known. There were signs, but she chose to ignore them. She was blinded, too blinded by her love for him. "And..." When he had recovered, Dylan turned her over again, steadying her on the table. He was about to enter her when his eyes landed on Tessa, and he halted mid-thrust. "Tessa?" He called. Something flashed in his eyes, but it wasn't regret. That was all she needed to see before moving away from his doorpost. She had watched enough of the free pornography they offered her. Sharp, stabbing pains tore through her as she walked briskly out of the house, expecting that Dylan would follow her to beg her, but she heard no movements. None at all to console her and make her believe that all three years with him were not a lie. She entered the streets, eyes glossy with burning, hot tears, still hoping that he would call her back and reach for her, but he never did. She flagged down a cab, slipped in, and glanced back, but there were no traces of Dylan coming for her. "Where to, ma'am?" The cabman asked, staring at her sorry self through the rearview mirror. She had no address in mind. He could drive her wherever he wanted for all she cared. "Anywhere. Just take me anywhere." The sob she'd been trying to hold in for long dropped. The cabman seemed to understand her frustration, so he kicked the car and drove away. As the car sped out of Dylan's street that afternoon, Tessa knew the end had come for them, but she wouldn't leave him without taking back everything he'd taken from her. "Fuck you, Dylan." Her sobs dissolved into a fat fold of tears. She loved him a few hours ago, but now, she hates him so much. Her hatred didn't just end with Dylan. It extended to all men. The ones she knew now, and the ones she was yet to meet. Fuck them all. Fuck them. 2. A Fresh Start Three Months Later "Welcome to the big city, Velmark." Maribel blurted out, peeking over her shoulder to meet Tessa's hesitant eyes, glancing back at her. Dylan vanished with all the money she owned in the world. That bastard. She was fired for low performance at work, heightening her depression. Her rent was due, and bills had piled up, waiting to be sorted from an empty account. She didn't want to turn to her grandparents again. She just took a huge chunk out of them without anything tangible to show for it. They would be beyond disappointed if they knew what she did with the money. She tightened her grip on the door handle, her heart sinking at the thought of the mistake she had made with her life. "Hmmm," Maribel, her best friend, took her hand and slid it atop hers. "You don't have to worry about anything now, Tessa. My dad is very comfortable with you living with us until you find something good for yourself." She assured with a smile, followed by a firm nod. "Bel." Gratitude gleamed in her brown eyes. She had saved her from drowning in depression. "Thank you." Maribel shook her head. "Come on, don't do that." Jumping out of the car, she hurried towards Tessa's side to get the door for her. "Welcome to Velmark, and welcome to my house." She spread her arms around the gigantic building that stood before them. Tessa surveyed the mansion in a glance, eyes back on her best friend. Her jaw dropped. She knew Maribel's dad was loaded, but she never expected to see a paradise-on-earth building awaiting her upon her arrival at Velmark. "Your house?" She asked again, eyes back on the surroundings. The garage where they stood alone was three times bigger than the one-room casita she managed back in Bally. "Yes," Maribel said, rolling her eyes like it wasn't a big deal. "Come in with me, I need to introduce you to my dad before he leaves the house. He has a meeting to attend in an hour." She gestured to the chauffeur to help with Tessa's luggage while she linked her arm with hers, leading her into the house. "I'll show you around the house when you're well rested." Tessa nodded, smiling. She was beyond grateful to her friend. "And don't fret, Velmark will be nice to you. You graduated top of our class in college. You will land a good job in no time." She nodded again. Maribel's faith had been upholding her since the huge heartbreak she suffered. They walked on, Tessa's eyes scouring the manor. The colorful flowers and well-manicured shrubs added touches of nature to the house. Sleek, tall, glass windows, she had only seen on television. The water featured garden lights. The sculptures sprawled at every corner. "I can speak to my dad to offer you a job in his company to save you the stress of job-hunting. You know?" Maribel interrupted her silent exploration with a hard smile that accentuated her dimpled cheeks. Tessa quickly shook her head in declination the moment she mentioned her dad. "He has done enough, Bel. He let you bring me here to stay with you. That's enough. I don't want to bother him further." Maribel chuckled lightly. "Trust me, that's not a bother, and I'm sure he wouldn't even mind. "My dad will do anything that I ask of him, Tessa. He wouldn't sit back there and watch my best friend suffer from being broke." This time, a short laughter spilled out from Tessa's lips. Maribel was a clown on her own, and she imagined what her father would be like. They had been friends for four years in college, but today would be the first time she was meeting her father. So many myths have been created about him, but only one stuck with her. Mr. Julian Anderson looked way younger than his age, and she just assumed that Maribel might take after her father in the beauty department. For four straight years, she won the award for the most beautiful girl at Sterling College. Others tried, but her beauty was unmatched, and sometimes, Tessa wondered how they became friends. They were the exact opposites. Mirabel was slender and curvy, of model-ish height, and hostile... close to strict. She, on the other hand, was free with everyone, hiding her insecurity under the façade of being funny. To her, it was more pleasant for people to find her funny than to find her fat. Maybe Thick. However, they called it to make her feel better. Maribel always assured her that her 5'6 height was average, and her body was too banging to be called loose, but she still didn't feel safe, as she didn't fit into the societal standards of perfection. She was starting to think that was one of the reasons Dylan cheated on her. He didn't think her attractive enough. 'A dry, fat pig.' Those words replayed in her head for a second, but she smothered the thoughts before they settled deeply inside her. She was now in Velmark. The start of new things. That old life with Dylan no longer existed. Maribel ushered Tessa into the house first, walking behind her, her smile widening with each step toward the foyer. Tessa's heart throbbed uncontrollably. What if Maribel's father frowned at her when he saw her? What if he didn't like her and asked her to leave his house? A bunch of 'what ifs' messed up her system within seconds. She was finally coming to accept that moving here was her new reality, and staying in her best friend's house for the time being was her only hope of getting herself back together. She needed to find herself again before going back to Bally to see her grandparents again. She had merely told them she had received a better job offer and was leaving to stay with her friend in Velmark. She needed to find that job. Get her life back in shape before summoning the courage to face them again. Her aim in Velmark was to rebuild her shattered life from scratch and devote herself to it without distractions. There would be no distractions. No distractions. Footsteps descended the stairs. Loud giggling sounds followed. Tessa stood still, hands behind her back. The heady scent of a rich, masculine cologne assailed her, prompting her to take a look. Still harboring the thoughts of starting over in the new city, and of Maribel's father changing his mind about her, she lifted her chin and found herself caught in the piercing gaze of dark green eyes. She stiffened, her eyes sweeping over him in a single, startled glance before looking away very quickly. Damn, this man was perfect. Tessa looked at him again, longer this time. She opened her mouth to speak, but no word came. Then she closed it back, steadying herself, trying to regain her composure from the daze his sharp eyes had plunged her into. Maribel stepped into the middle, deterring her from properly assessing the beautiful man in their midst. 3. An Instant Attraction "Tessa, meet my dad, Julian Anderson, and dad, meet Tessa, the best friend I wouldn't stop blabbering about." She smiled, gesturing between her best friend and her father. Her dad? Tessa's brows pulled together in confusion. A million questions swarmed her thoughts. There was no way this Greek god in front of her was Maribel's father. No way. She was still wallowing in doubt when the myth about him struck her, and she instantly believed it. Julian was indeed her best friend's dad. She extended a hand forward, feigning a smile that faltered before forming fully. "Nice meeting you, sir." She was silently begging her body not to betray her as Julian gave her a lazy look with those sharp, observant eyes. A jolt of something electrifying tingled her skin when he slid his hand into hers and shook it lightly. The heat was so intense she feared her skin might burst into flames if she didn't let go of his hand. Oh, she needed to be focused. She was losing it already. He watched her faintly as if to determine if she would be a good addition to the household. He confirmed her soft aura with a smile. "Welcome here, Tessaline." He said, letting go of her hand. Tessa's insides mourned from the disconnection. Even his smile was as beautiful as he was. She prayed Maribel hadn't noticed anything strange about her reactions since she set eyes on her dad. And did he just call her by her full name? That was rare. No one did except for her late parents and grandparents. "I told him your full name, and I think he prefers that," Maribel said, winking at her best friend as she slid next to her. When Julian's eyes dropped to his wristwatch, Tessa took a secret moment to scrutinize him. Neatly trimmed brown hair. Perfectly chiseled jawline. Tall and impossibly handsome. A commanding presence so loud without even trying. He was in his mid-forties, but looked decades younger. His lean structure was elegantly enhanced by the well-tailored three-piece suit he donned. Every inch of him screamed perfection. Now, she knew where Maribel got her good genes. For a second, she imagined what his body would look like without that suit. Hot. Tempting. Damn, she needed to focus. This wasn't the reason she came to Velmark, but it wasn't her fault that this man was hot. Too hot not to be noticed. Too hot for her not to harbor nasty, dirty thoughts about him, even though she was meeting him for the first time. "Show your friend to her room." Julian lifted his eyes to glance at his daughter. "You two should explore the mansion. I have a meeting to attend now." His eyes were back on the wristwatch. Tessa hadn't noticed the glistening gold before. But now that she looked at it, she was sure it cost a fortune, probably more than the inheritance she gave to Dylan. "Dad," Maribel was back to her father's side, her lips curved in a cute pout that melted hearts. She lulled in his arms for a few seconds before looking him in the eyes. "Rowan wants me to come stay with him for a while." Tessa's eyes darted across the room and rested on her best friend. They had been together on a journey for hours, and she didn't tell her she was planning to stay with her fiancé. There was no way she was leaving her alone to stay in that house with her father. "What do you mean?" Julian asked his daughter, his voice a little bit edgy, but Tessa didn't mind. He needed to stop her. Maribel looked towards Tessa with pleading eyes. "I am sorry I didn't let you two know about this before now. I just wanted Tessa to leave Bally to start afresh here. If I had told her, she wouldn't have come over." "And me?" Julian looked hurt. "Oh, come on, Dad. Tessa is here, and she is as much your daughter as I am." Tessa shifted her gaze away from her friend, taking her time to feed her eyes with the interiors of the grand living room. Sunlight poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. There were leather sofas, a sleek glass coffee table, and monochrome artworks sprawled at every corner. "You've barely had my time since you got engaged to that boy." Julian was checking his watch again, and Tessa assumed he must be running late for the meeting. "But what do I have to say? I was that way with your mother, too." A sad smile touched his lips. "I wanted her around even before I engaged her." Tessa smiled. Maribel had told her about how deeply her father adored her late mother, and had chosen to stay single ever since she died ten years ago. Something like pity crossed her face, but it faded when she knew that someone like Julian didn't need pity in his life. "When are you leaving?" He asked her. "Right after Tessa settles in. I miss him already." Maribel said, whining and flapping her arms in the air. "I don't have to pack, I have enough clothes in his house." She moved closer to her father, offering him an apologetic smile. He nodded, kissing her. Turning to Tessa, he said, "I will see you when I get back from work." Tessa nodded, but he wouldn't see her because she would have already hidden away in her room long before he got back. "Tell Annie to prepare something special for dinner. We have a guest." With that, Julian kissed his daughter again and dashed out of the living room. Tessa watched his back, his strides fast and calculated. She smiled. This was going to be so much more than she anticipated. "What was that, Bel?" Tessa grabbed her friend's arm the moment her father stepped out of the house. "What do you mean you are leaving the house when I have just arrived today?" She shouldn't be upset that her friend was trying to help her, but she couldn't get the thought of being home alone with her friend's father out of her head. To worsen it. He was hot, and merely staring at him gave her nasty ideas. She didn't want to be caught up in that weird web. "Maybe I should just go with you to Rowan's house. I don't know." Maribel chuckled. Turning to her friend, she said. "Rowan loves me too much to entertain the idea of a threesome. So, that's a big NO." Her lips emphasized the word so Tessa could understand clearly. "Gosh, you are nasty," Tessa said, shoving her away with her hand. "He's my man, you know?" She grabbed Tessa and led her upstairs. "Come, let me show you to my room, and then, your room. I prepared something nice for you." Tessa trusted Maribel to always look after her. "Thank you," she said when they got to the doorpost that led to Maribel's room. "Thank you so much for everything, Bel. I owe you one." "No, you do not." She said dismissively. "Oh, maybe you do owe me something." A nasty smile parted her lips into two. Winking at Tessa, she said. "You owe me a hot man in Velmark. Find him quickly, and your debt will be cleared." Tessa chuckled. Her friend just knew how to make her feel better in every situation. Maribel opened the door that led to her huge, beige-themed room, and all that filled Tessa's head as they explored the room was her friend's last words, but then, that wasn't what she was all about now. She had more important things to achieve. 4. An Unplanned Encounter Tessa rolled on the bed. The morning sun bathed her face in a soft glow, ushering her into a new day. She must have left her windows open last night because this was rare. She wrapped her arms around herself. She was awake, but too lazy to get out of bed. It was softer, larger, and more comfy. She slowly opened her eyes, and realization hit her that she was no longer in her house in Bally. "Gosh." Her head throbbed as she raised her head. She had spent most of the night thinking about how to navigate her new life in Velmark. There was no clear plan yet, but she knew she'd figure something out soon. She grabbed her phone to check for new notifications. Placing it back on the nightstand, she got out of bed, reminiscing about Maribel's words as she made her way out of the room, still clad in her nightie—a short, lacy nightgown that draped nicely on her curvy body, accentuating her full breasts and exposing her pointy nipples in the fabric. The gown barely covered her thighs. In her defense, she was alone at home and could be comfortable being alone. 'Annie leaves for her house every night. In fact, she only comes to work on the days Dad wants her to. Rest assured, she will not come tomorrow. She has prepared everything we will need for the week. And dad?" She had smiled, looking at Tessa. 'He leaves for work very early in the morning and comes back late at night. So you have the whole house to yourself until dad gets back from work.' Maribel had told her all this before departing in the Porsche Panamera she had gotten as a birthday gift from her dad. They were that wealthy, but she was too humble. Never showing off unless necessary. Tessa's headache worsened. She needed to drink some water. She headed down to the kitchen and picked out a bottle of water from the fridge. She stalled beside the fridge and thought of what her life had become. How was she going to get herself out of the mess she was in? Her eyes dropped to her nighties, and she swiftly dragged them away. She hated that she opted for lacy nighties just because she saw Dylan fucking another woman with lacy panties. He could have told her if that was what he wanted from her. "Screw you, Dylan." She muttered loudly, taking a step forward before bumping into a hard chest. "Goodness," the bottle she was holding dropped, the cold water splashing onto her face. She quickly jerked her head up to see Julian standing still, his eyes appraising her from head to toe, probably taking in the detail of the sinful nightgown she had decided to don the night before. She hated that this was how she was starting a new day with him. When she noticed that he was slightly wet, she cussed, resorting to dabbing the water off his chest with her hands. "I am so sorry, sir, I didn't mean to." He caught her hand. For a second, Tessa forgot how to breathe. His eyes were still drinking her in. She pulled back abruptly when she sensed his lingering gaze on her. Oh, she didn't wear that to seduce him, even though she still had in mind to do that someday. It wasn't today's intention. "I am sorry, I didn't know you would be at home." Oh, this was even more awkward. On a normal day, she wouldn't even wear something like that if she were alone in her house. She hated to see all that cellulite on her thighs. She wished her skin were sleek and smooth. She always hid her body even from herself, and now, there was a hot man in front of her whose eyes were darting between her imperfect body and the fridge next to him. Fuck Maribel for lying about her father's itinerary. She would have been more decent if she had known Julian would be at home that morning. "It's fine." He walked past her, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge. "You didn't know I was there," he popped the cap, and relieved himself on the counter stool. "Did you sleep well, Tessaline?" He asked as he poured the water into a glass. He sounded casual, as if his eyes weren't exploring her almost naked body a few moments ago. She followed the movement of his throat as he swallowed the water in large gulps. That harmless action stirred a filthy thought inside her head, but she quickly buried it. What was wrong with her? "I did." She sauntered away from the side of the fridge to take refuge in the part of the kitchen where the counter deterred him from seeing much of her. "Thank you, sir. How about you? Did you sleep well, too?" Shouldn't he be at work already? "Oh, I had a short and busy night, but it's the weekend, and I have the day to myself." Weekend? Damn. Tessa agreed she was a fucker at that instant. She had totally forgotten she had touched down at Velmark on a Friday. It was the weekend, and Julian wouldn't be going to work. And there she stood, dressed in that flimsy, lacy nightie, looking mischievous like she was up to something. She hoped that he wouldn't get ideas in his head because she didn't have such plans. At least, not this soon. She nodded. "That's great." Another strange sensation moved through her body when her eyes landed on Julian's outlined, toned abs from the wet shirt. It built up thoughts in her head. Thoughts, she didn't even know what they were about. Silence lingered for a while. Then he smiled subtly again. "It's the weekend. What do you do for fun on weekends?" Her life had never been fun. She always spent her weekends reading or working. Nothing else. "I guess I will just stay back and search for more jobs. I have applied to some companies, and I am waiting for them to contact me for an interview." Nodding, he thought of offering her a position in his company, but shunned the thought. Maribel had told him that she needed to find herself again. He should let her do that. He would only step in if she desperately needed his help. "I hope it goes well." He was back on his feet, and he was observing her with keen eyes. They stayed fixated on her, exploring her fully, but not in an unholy way. At forty-four, he couldn't harbor unpleasant thoughts about a twenty-five-year-old woman. Not even one like Tessa. She was sure of that. "Thank you, sir," Tessa said, praying he would leave the kitchen as soon as possible. She was dying of tension. She needed to get out of that place and change into something more decent. Julian was almost out of the kitchen when he halted to take a last look at her. She froze, her eyes catching his unwavering gaze on her. He stepped forward, smiling, and her heart raced. She had been sex-starved, but she prayed her body wouldn't betray her now, and why was he coming so close? He stopped in front of her, grabbing the bottle he had left behind. Then slowly, he ducked to her level and whispered. "Julian is my name. You can just call me Julian. There is no need for the sir." Her insides were oddly warmed up as he stayed pressed against the counter. When he heaved himself up, his breath briefly fanned her skin. Damn it. Tessa held in a long breath. Her body was seething with a tense energy that unsettled her. She released her breath when he walked out the door, flopping on the counter stool next to her. "Julian." She muttered, shaking her head. There was no way she would call him that. It sounded too personal. Too familiar. 5. Wild thoughts The wild thoughts that consumed her whenever she was close to Julian were insane, and she was beginning to hate herself for that. She had tried to attribute it to the fact that she had been sex starved for months, and her fingers weren't doing much for her, but harboring nasty thoughts about her best friend's father when her whole life was in shambles made no sense. She was still scorching from the heat of their proximity in the kitchen a few minutes ago. He should never come that close to her again. She would do anything to make sure she stayed far away from him, but now, she needed something to quell the fire that was burning within her. It was too early in the morning to be so horny because a hot older man stood close to her. She pressed her legs together, but it did nothing for her. Whining, her eyes fell on her fingers, and she brought them closer. Her eyes were fixated on them, contemplating what to do with them, when her phone started to ring. She reached for it—a call from Maribel. A large wave of guilt slammed her as she picked up, pressing the phone to her ear. "Hey, Bel. What's up?" A small smile popped on her face, but it quickly slipped. There was no reason to be smiling when she was just on the verge of giving in to the unsettling fantasy that crammed her thoughts about her best friend's father. "Just got out of bed, had a hard one with Rowan last night. We went from corner to corner, and now, I feel like my legs are too weak to move." Maribel chuckled, and Tessa just shook her head. Her friend would never cease to tell her about her sexual adventures with her fiancé. "How are you and how is dad? Have you seen him this morning? Gosh, he must be out for his daily run, but don't worry, you will see him when he gets back." Now she understood why he needed that much water when he came to the kitchen earlier. "I am good. How's Rowan, and you?" Her voice was low. She had intentionally skipped the question about her dad. "Rowan is out for a business meeting. Do you like it over there?" Though Maribel wasn't close, Tessa could sense the concern in her tone. "I should visit one of these days. Until then, be good." "Thank you." Tessa smiled, doubting whether she would be good before Maribel showed up again. Things were getting complicated and were almost beyond her control. Before she ended the call, she queried Maribel about the misinformation, but not without blaming herself for not remembering it was the weekend. Maribel laughed, but Tessa didn't find any of her encounter with her father in the kitchen funny. "I'm sorry, Tess. Rowan was messing with my head. I just wanted to be with him." A few more conversations were had before they said their goodbyes. Tessa just dropped her phone when it beeped again. She snatched it from the nightstand, hurrying to check what the notification was all about. An email from one of the companies she had applied to. They were finally calling her for an interview. Beaming, she hurried into the bathroom to take a long shower and start preparing for the interview. Finally, she found a distraction, but she still feared it might be ephemeral. - Tessa didn’t plan to join Julian for dinner, but when Annie came knocking at her door with the order that he had called her downstairs for dinner, she knew she had to oblige. After all, Maribel had begged her to spend time with her father. She had been moody all day. The interview with Mr. Jordan had thrown her into melancholy. She was starting to doubt whether there was a way for her in Velmark, or if she should move back to her town now that it was still early. She slid on a decent dress that covered her body and stopped below her knees. There would be no room for indecent dresses when he was around. She blamed the strange sensation that messed her body up the last time on the devilish nighties she wore. It wouldn’t repeat itself anymore. Clad in a crisp white T-shirt, Julian was perched in the dining chair, his posture relaxed and confident, exuding a youthful, handsome charm that was impossible to ignore. Tessa was stunned by how a man could be so flawless without even trying. A subtle smile tugged at the corners of his lips when he sighted her. He lowered his phone on the glass dining table, motioning for her to sit next to him. “Thank you.” She returned his smile. This might just be a harmless dinner. They weren’t thoughts forming in her head. “How did your interview go today?” He dished into the crab, his eyes on her as he chewed, and for a second, Tessa imagined his mouth on her… “Did it go well?” He added before her thoughts fully formed. God help me. She picked up the cutlery, tearing into her meal voraciously. She took a spoonful of rice, swallowing hard before answering his question. “Not as good as expected.” “Why?” His forehead creased in worry. She didn’t like this. He shouldn’t care about her the way he did. “What happened?” “I will be fine.” She didn’t want to go into details. Doing that would prolong this dinner, and she wanted to get over this as soon as possible. She couldn’t stay there with him for far too long. “I have applied to other companies, and I am waiting to hear from them very soon.” The thought of bringing up that offer to help her resurfaced again, but he shoved it aside. For some weird reason, he noticed her gloominess, and he didn’t like it. To get her out of the mood, they needed to discuss something else. “Maribel told me you graduated top of your class.” Smiling, he reached for the glass of water as Tessa extended her hand. Her fingers lightly brushed his, and for some reason, he lingered there for a while. Silence filled the room, creating an unusual awareness that their fingers were still overlapping. Clearing his throat, he jerked his fingers off hers, letting her have access to the glass before he did. That was supposed to be simple, but it messed him up really badly. To push out the thought, he continued, “To achieve that in computer science, you must be a genius.” Her insides were still spiraling. Effect of the contact. She avoided his eyes at all costs, smiling subtly at his words. She had nothing to say. Nothing at all came to mind. “You will find a good job very soon, Tessaline.” Oh. He called her name again, and the way he called her was too firm. Too personal. Too possessive. Too exposing. “Thank you, sir.” She resumed eating her food while she battled the growing series of nerves building up inside her. “Don’t be a naughty girl, Tessaline.”
