DANIEL
Four days, twelve hours, and fourteen minutes after the kiss, Daniel sat in his office, staring at the proposal his employee typed up. It was an important document that would be emailed to investorsâinvestors he needed to support his international cause. But he didnât know what the hell it said, even after reading it multiple times.
Sulking was a foreign activity to Daniel, but he didnât have a clue what was happening to him. All he knew was that that damn auburn-haired, blue-eyed, pale-skinned brat was to blame for his current state.
No other woman had touched him for four whole days. Not that they didnât try. He was just oddly not interested.
After giving up trying to read the email, Daniel sent it. A sigh escaped him as he turned his chair to face the view.
He couldnât fathom his attraction to the infuriating woman. She was the opposite of his type in every way. He liked quiet women who followed orders and never got emotionally attached. He liked women who wouldnât try to change him. He liked women who accepted the inevitable: they would fuck and then go their separate ways.
It was a simple world. One he was greatly accustomed to. And yet here he was, sulking.
Daniel pulled out his cell phone and scrolled through his contacts. It had been too long since heâd had his way with a woman. Convinced that thatâs what he needed, he spent the next ten minutes trying to find the perfect hookup for the evening.
He ignored the annoying voice of his conscience saying, ~Yeah, okay. Good luck with that buddy.~
LEXI
Lexi slipped back into her old routine. Everything was the same as it had been for the past year, except now she spent her nights working at the bar, avoiding the dark corner where Daniel pushed her up against the wall and initiated the make-out session of the century.
But she had stopped watching fairy-tale films. Just the thought of those fictional women getting their prince had recently become nauseating.
In the short span of four days, Lexi had shifted her interest toward vampire books, enthralled by the fact that the creatures could erase memories. Lord knows she had a few things she wanted to forget.
During that time, food tasted like cardboard, but she forced herself to eat anyway.
Reece came into Lexiâs bedroom and handed her a new outfit: Louis Vuitton shoes, a medium-length silk skirt, and a matching buttoned-down silk blouse. âItâs for when you have your first real date,â she said with a smile. âThat way, youâll have an outfit you can pull on in a hurry and still look gorgeous.â
Lexi accepted the outfit and hugged her best friend, but the hug brought up emotions sheâd tried to bury for four long days. Tears swam in her eyes. Reece rubbed her back in soothing circles, but Lexiâs gentle sobbing didnât stop for ten whole minutes.
âWhatâs wrong, Dray? Talk to me.â
How could she tell her best friend that the man she was supposed to walk away from ended up finding his way into her fragile little heart?
Lexi sobbed harder and mumbled incoherently over Reeceâs shoulder.
âTell me what happened. Did someone hurt you?â Reece sounded on the verge of a mental breakdown. Lexi knew she hated seeing her upset. âYouâre freaking me out, Dray. Please talk to me. Donât let my imagination run wild.â
Lexi finally calmed down and sank into the couch. Reece sat next to her.
âDaniel kissed me,â Lexi whispered softly. Before her best friend could process that information, she continued, âAnd I kissed him back.â She hung her head, resting her chin on her chest.
The next few minutes were silent. Growing tired of waiting for Reece to soak in what she said, Lexi eventually got up to get ready for work.
Once she was dressed, Reece walked into her room. âWhat else happened?â she finally inquired.
Lexi sat on the edge of her bed and sighed. âNothing. He said he wanted to fuck me and forget me. I cursed him out, and now I havenât seen him in four days.â
Reece sat down beside her. âSounds like you got deeper under his skin than I thought. I wasnât expecting him to be this affected by you. I figured it would be a one-time thing. This is very interesting.â
Lexi frowned at the look of utter content on her best friendâs face. âHow can you be happy about this?â she asked, confused.
âGirl, heâs clearly falling for you, but heâs scared to admit it. You have no idea how much power you hold right now. Some women never get to experience this type of thing.â Reece was clearly getting carried away, probably already planning another scheme in her head. âI bet heâll try to make you jealous,â she predicted with a smug grin.
Lexi hid her frown by bending over to tie her shoelaces. âYouâre crazy. Heâs not gonna try to make me jealous; he couldnât care less. Did you miss the part where I said he wants to forget me?â
Lexi couldnât understand why her best friend was so ecstatic at that moment. It was a mystery. An odd one.
She didnât dare admit that she wanted Daniel to show up before her.