281 Partner in crime
Zaria’s eyes went wide. She wanted to use the same trick of pretending she already knew to dig for more dramatic information from Evan but it was too late as her expression gave her away.
“She is not adopted.” Desmond remarked. She and her mother looked like two beans in a pod. There was no way they were not biologically mother and daughter.
Hearing his words, Zaria understood what Evan meant. “Did she have Veronica with another man?”
“You catch on fast.” He reclined on the couch.
Zaria shook her head. “I don’t understand. If she found out that she is not actually a member of the West family, shouldn’t she strive to make Gabriel love her too much to want to let her go once the truth is out?”
He shrugged. “That would have been her reaction if she wasn’t so bitter about it and if her father didn’t hate the West family so much for keeping his daughter away from him.”
She found it ridiculous. “I’m sorry, what? Did the West family actually know the truth and still insist on keeping her away from her real family?”
“My grandfather will kick her out if he ever finds out.” He responded, confusing Zaria even more.
“Let me get this straight. Your father thinks Veronica is his biological daughter but he is being blamed for keeping her away from her father, even though he doesn’t know the truth? On what grounds?”
.....
“Veronica.” Desmond said, making her raise her brows.
“Veronica is playing them all like puppets in her circus.” He explained. “That actually sounds like something she would do for fun.”
Evan grinned at his response. “Should I say you are good at reading women or that you know my sister all too well?”
Zaria cringed while Desmond glared at him. “Quit it Evan, she will not consider you if you play such lowly tricks to cause a rift between us.”
“So that means she might give me a chance if I don’t play tricks.” He winked at Zaria, who stood up awkwardly.
“I think we have enough answers. We will get going.” She announced.
“Hey, Zaria, you can’t just leave me like this.” He complained.
Desmond let her leave first and turned to his friend with clenched fists. “I have never wanted to have a broken relationship with my friends because of a woman. Don’t push my buttons, West.”
Evan took the threat with a grain of salt. “She’s not even my type. I was just messing with her.”
Desmond shot him a final glare and hoped the latter knew to stick to his lane.
Zaria was waiting for him in the car. When he finally left the house, she checked him over and let out a breath. “For a second I thought it was going to end in a bloodbath.”
“He knows when to stop.” He slid into the driver’s seat.
“So, what’s the next big move?” She asked, not taking her eyes off his face.
“How the hell is my brain supposed to function with you looking at me like you want to devour me?” He ran a finger down her face.
“You can only blame yourself for being so handsome and mine.” She held his wrist. “I find it hard to believe that this is not a dream.”
“That’s my cue to wake you up.” He pulled her over to his side, earning a giggle when he pressed his lips against her neck.
“Desmond! We are still in Evan’s driveway.” She stopped his hand that was sliding under her skirt.
He groaned. “I don’t think he minds.”
He definitely didn’t mind, considering he didn’t look embarrassed when they caught him in the kind of state he was in. Still, she pulled away. “I mind.”
He stole a last kiss and ran a hand through his hair, groaning when he looked down at his lower body.
She followed his gaze and laughed. “I can be subtle about that.”
He was yet to figure out what she meant when she pulled her scarf off her neck and placed it on his lap. Then she slid her hand under it and pressed her palm against his hardness. He hissed.
“Let’s talk about the big plan.” She urged, kissing his ear. That always did it for him.
“You don’t want the whole world to know what’s happening behind the dashboard, do you?” She whispered seductively, making it even harder for him to focus on what he was about to say.
“We should make a deal with Veronica.” He finally spoke.
“What kind of deal?” She probed although she understood already.
“We can talk to her about the company, over my desk... what the fuck am I even saying?” He caught himself just as she burst into his laughter at his jumbled brain.
“What has the company got to do with your desk?” She teased.
“Shut up.” He threw his head back on the headrest. She unbuckled his belt and unzipped his trousers. When she slid her hand into his boxers and held his length in her hand, the sensation nearly sent him bursting in seconds.
She didn’t have any intention to shut up. “You mentioned Veronica and a desk. Can you explain how the two came into the same frame?”
“What are you saying? It was you on the desk.” He spoke through heavy breaths and she bit her lips to stop herself from laughing.
“And?” She probed.
He realized she was teasing him, so he grabbed her and shut her up with a kiss. He held her hand firmly and moved it up and down his length exactly how he wanted it. It wasn’t long before he came apart, moaning out her name in ecstacy.
She withdrew her hand and kissed his cheeks, before settling back in her seat. “I feel like a teenager after a first date.”
“Is that the kind of thing people do after first dates?” He asked. She wasn’t sure what was so strange about his question but her face heated.
“Can your mind work better now?” She questioned with her eyes on the road even though they were yet to leave. If Evan knew they were still out here, he would definitely want to know what they were doing.
So he started the car as he answered, “Yes. It was lucky enough to receive the best kind of “maintenance”. It’s in perfect condition now.”
Her jaw dropped but she was getting used to his unfiltered words.
She took the scarf off his lap once he was zipped up but he grabbed it back from her. “I’m keeping this.”
“Let’s start it off by spending a night at The West. Tonight should be perfect.” He suggested.
It was an odd decision but she didn’t ask questions. She pulled out her phone immediately to book a cottage for the night. When she saw a discount notification as soon as she logged into the website, she frowned. “Is this actually a coincidence?”
“What?” He asked and looked over briefly.
“Coincidentally, The West is offering a discount to all engaged couples tonight, who book their cottage within the next hour. They will also be able to access all the resort’s services for free, no matter what kind of cottage they book.” She looked at him curiously. “I have only heard of discounts for couples but why do they have to be specifically newly engaged? Evan can’t be enough steps ahead of us to know we are going to spend the night there, can he? Hold on. They are even offering free transportation to their special guests.”
Desmond frowned. “The West has never offered that kind of thing. At least not that I know of.”
____
Meanwhile, Zeus looked at the computer screen over Ximena’s shoulder and slapped his forehead.
“A free vacation for Zaria and her fiancé, on an island she won’t shut up about, and you call this a prank?”
Ximena stood to let him take his place behind the computer.
“Trust me on this. Don’t let her doubt the discount. Throw something in her face that screams ‘this is meant specifically for you’. Hurry!”
Zeus wanted to shut her up for ordering him around but he still loved his life. “Do you know who deserves the most pity?”
“Who?” She asked.
“Liam.” He didn’t give her the chance to process the meaning of his words before announcing that he was done.
She looked over. He had added a pop up phrase “see you soon, Fort.” She shut her eyes. “I actually think Lucy deserves the most pity for having to deal with you every day. How are you still alive with this level of IQ?”
“Yet you chose me as a partner in crime.” He mumbled.
Ximena narrowed her eyes. She swallowed down the words she was about to say. “Hey, she accepted it! Can you do the same thing for Liam and me?”
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om