Chapter 3 TALIA

There was no time to play hard to get, as I was running out of time. Take it or leave it. And of course, I was going to choose the first option.

“Yes.”

I extended my hand to him for a more formal introduction.

“Talia Sanders.”

Instead of taking my hand, he focused on the small business card in his hand.

“I know Mike Hudson and several important people in his hotel chain. You’re not one of them. Who are you?”

I smiled slightly, trying to hide the bitterness creeping up in my chest. I wasn't ashamed of my job, I was just annoyed by people's reactions when they found out who I really was.

"I'm just a staff member at the Grand Hudson Hotel. Mike Hudson's daughter was my best friend from high school. So, if you're interested in investing, I can connect you with Liliane Hudson."

"No need. I know Mike. I'll talk to him directly if I want to invest in his hotel."

So, he just wanted to make small talk with me. Or rather, to belittle me. I thought he'd be a little different from the others, but he was the same.

"You can throw away that business card then. Good night."

I walked past him, my disappointment masked with a cold expression. I wouldn't let him trample on my dignity, even though deep down I was crying.

I was going to be matched with that sissy Caleb, and I wouldn't be able to avoid it this time. My mother's voice lecturing me played in my mind like a broken record. She would be thrilled to learn of my failure tonight.

"Why are you in such a hurry, Miss Sanders?"

He gripped my elbow tightly just before I pulled open the balcony door.

"Is someone waiting for you in the ballroom?"

"No. I came alone."

I stared at his grip on my elbow.

He had large palms with long, strong fingers. The sleeves of his jacket suit were pulled up slightly, revealing his beautiful, muscular, tanned wrist. He was clearly hiding a beautiful body under his expensive suit. I could tell his suit wasn't big enough to accommodate the bulging muscles beneath.

He was the most handsome man I'd ever met.

"Good. No one will look for you if you disappear from the ballroom for too long."

"Excuse me?" I frowned at him.

He looked me over from head to toe, then his gaze moved up to my breasts before lingering on my lips.

Very rude.

If he weren't such a handsome man who caught my attention, I wouldn't have hesitated to slap him.

"Can I help you?"

His palm was still gripping my elbow, and he didn't seem to have any intention of letting me go anytime soon.

"Actually, yes."

"I'd be happy to."

"I guess you feel the same way. That event was boring. Full of nonsense from hypocritical sycophants."

"Well, I wouldn't be here if Liliane hadn't been able to make it. Like you said, it was boring. But at least they had good food and drinks."

He finally released his grip on my elbow after he was sure I wasn't going to run away from him to return to the ballroom.

"You said you were a staff member. What exactly are you?"

"I'm a receptionist."

“No wonder you have such impressive confidence. Other women wouldn’t have enough balls to interrupt our conversation.”

I certainly wouldn’t have enough balls if I didn’t have a mother so eager to set me up with sissies.

“I apologize for the interruption. It was just spontaneous.”

“Have you worked at the Grand Hudson long?”

“About five years.”

He was silent for a moment. His gaze focused on the dark backyard atrium. There was nothing special there except for the large trees standing tall and towering into the sky.

“Did you really come here to fill in for your friend who couldn’t make it tonight?”

“I have no other reason than that. So, yes.”

The corner of her lips quirked into a smirk. And I found myself captivated by his smirk.

“You might have fooled the rest of them, but not me. You clearly have another reason for coming to this event.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Yes, you do.”

He turned to me. His gaze pierced my eyes, drilling into my skull, searching for the answers he desired in my mind.

This man was dangerous, but dangerous in a sexy, arousing way.

“Tell me what you want. What is your purpose in coming here tonight?”

“I already told you if—”

“There’s no point in lying to me because I already know. Whether you want to tell me or not. I know everything.”

“So you really want to know?”

I don’t know where the impulse came from, but I suddenly stood on my tiptoes and kissed him on the lips.

I imagined him pushing me away, or worse, throwing me over the balcony railing. But to my surprise, he kissed me back. He wrapped his strong arms around my hips and pulled me closer to him to deepen our kiss.

He was a good kisser.

His lips were soft and supple, moving in time with mine. His tongue caressed the seam of my lips before flicking it and bursting into my mouth.

My knees trembled, and my legs became weak as jelly. If he hadn't wrapped his arms around my hips, I would have collapsed to the floor in agony.

I shamelessly let out a disgusting moan. My palms pressed against his firm chest, stroking it up and down. Instinctively, I pressed closer to him, and I gasped at the evidence of his intense arousal, stabbing into my stomach.

He was amazing.

He was so big, so long, and veiny.

I was powerless to block my thoughts from the indecent thoughts I shouldn't have been thinking about.