"You disgusting manwhore" Lexi hissed at Brian.

Brian scowled. "My body my choice"

I narrowed my eyes as we walked along the side of the road. "What am I missing?"

"I went to his house last night because my laptop broke and I wanted him to repair it. But when I opened the door-" Lexi shot a glare at Brian. "This asshole was fucking two girls on the carpet"

I choked on my laughter.

"And believe me when I say my eyes literally bled"

Brian scoffed. "You're the one who didn't knock"

"You're the one who gave us your keys"

"Then give it back"

"You give my keys back first"

"I'm not the one who comes without knocking"

Both of them bickered as we walked to the Liuman advertising company which currently shoots the commercials for our latest phone model.

Brian and Lexi strode inside first but I halted as I felt a lingering chill on my back, as if someone was watching me. I craned my neck and glanced at the city that was buzzing with people but none seemed to be watching me. So I shook off the thought and followed my friends inside.

We were taken to a floor where the first half of the commercial was being shot. Their own studio.

We strode through a narrow hallway that had doors on either side -- which I realised were make up rooms and resting rooms for celebrities, models or any other guests.

The other end of the passage ended in a black curtain and when we parted it open, we were thrown into a massive photo studio with tall curtains and a bare wall with seamless paper rolling down from it. There were cameramen running around, equipments being fixed, make up artists perfecting the celebrities and our own marketing co-workers chatting in the corner.

Normally only two from our company come to monitor the shooting but today more than half of our department was here to avoid Lauren.

They waved at us and we walked over to them. I slightly parted the curtain on that side and it opened to a green screen studio which was also crowded with cameramen.

"Damn this place is so cool" Lexi said over my shoulder.

Suddenly Ashley squealed next to us and we turned around.

I followed her gaze and saw three male models walking in, hands tucked inside their pockets and charming smiles on their lips.

"Omg I think I can't breath" Lexi gasped "They are so freaking hot"

"Not as hot as Ian" I muttered and then realised what I just said. Shit. But it was too late. Lexi already heard it.

"Excuse me?" She looked at me in disbelief. "Are you falling for-"

"Omg look at that tan guy!" I quickly pointed to one of the models. "Isn't he so hot with his brown eyes and perfect abs? His body is sculptured like a Greek god" I sneaked a glance at Lexi and thankfully her attention was slowly drifting away from me to the hot guy.

"He's not that hot" Brian scowled.

"Just say you're jealous"

Behind that male model walked in a familiar figure with a scowl etched on his face. Daniel Collins.

Lexi's face beamed upon seeing him and she jumped up, waving her hand. "HI SWEETIE!"

My eyes widened and almost everyone in the studio turned to us.

Brian swallowed. "Time for tik tok break"

Daniel's scowl deepened and he shot her a glare before striding away.

Lexi pouted. "Should I go after him?"

I placed a hand on her arm and smiled sweetly. "Lexi dear, I have a limit to my second hand embarrassment. Don't cross it"

She rolled her eyes.

The commercial shooting started and I crossed the room to the hallway behind the curtains in search of a water bottle.

As I was walking, peeking into open doors someone suddenly grabbed my arm and hauled me into a make up room. A yelp escaped my lips as my back slammed against the wall

Before I could scream soft lips landed on mine and the scream instantly died in my throat as I recognised those lips.

I smiled against those soft luscious lips and placed my hands on those familiar broad shoulders as I stood on my tip toes, kissing back.

Ian moaned and slid his tongue inside my lips, deepening the kiss. He pulled me against him, his hand trailing up my back, tangling in the silky waves of my hair. He kissed me ferociously, more harder and faster until I was gasping for air, my lips plump. Then he moved down trailing kisses along my neck, sucking on the tender skin, nibbling on it and my toes curled at the sensation he managed to build inside me. He brought his lips back to mine and kissed me with a deep desire and fervour until I was rendered breathless.

Then he slowly pulled away, allowing me to gasp for air.

I panted but my eyes were fixed on those blue orbs. Those blue orbs I felt so happy to see. In the past few weeks we were occupied with different problems, such as Chairman and Lauren but that day in Spain, it was like a pause to it all. A break to clear our minds and since then I couldn't stop thinking about Ian. Maybe I'm finally going crazy.

Ian raised a cocky brow. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because I want to steal your blue eyes"

Ian let out a soft chuckle. "Except for those and my helicopters you can ask for anything"

"Fine" I smiled. "Give me your kidneys, I'll sell them and earn money"

Ian's body shook with laughter. "Money money money. Anything else in that tiny brain of yours?"

I scowled. "Did you say tiny?"

"Why? Are you offended?"

"Asshole"

Ian grinned.

"Are you staying here till evening?" I asked, brushing off a peck of dust on his shoulder.

"No I have a very important meeting with Mr. Barnes today"

I frowned. "Chairman of Granville Corp?"

Ian nodded. "We started building a new manufacturing facility in Utah but the land next to it belong to Granville. I wanted that land to build a warehouse but they didn't give it easily. So we pushed them for years and now they finally agreed"

My lips twitched upward. "Then what are you doing here wasting your time?"

Ian smirked. "It's never a waste of time with you"

I chuckled. "So cringy"

Ian pinched my nose and pulled back. "I'm going now. And by the way-" He jerked his chin towards my neck. "That looks good on you"

In confusion I glanced at the mirror next to me and found hickeys all over my neck. Dark red spots! I gasped.

"Don't stare at male models again sweetheart. I feel jealous"

I spun around to kill him but he had already slipped through the doors, his chuckles echoing in the hallway.

"Asshole" I cursed.

...

I slowly opened the door to Ian's study and walked in, gently setting down the cup of coffee next to a stack of files. He had been scooped up in here since he came back from the meeting and just left to grab another file he'd left in the car.

I peered over the papers and saw the documents with Barnes's signature and seal. It wasn't just land but there were several other business agreements too. Seems like it went well, for Ian at least.

I turned to leave but then saw Emma, standing at the door staring at my neck--at my hickeys which I forgot to cover after coming back home.

She raised a brow. "Are those hickeys?"

"What?"

Emma snorted "Now you play dumb?"

My eyes widened at her tone.

She took slow steps towards me. "Tell me Hailey, did you enjoy making fun of me?"

"I- I don't know what you're talking about"

"Oh you don't know?" Emma let out a bitter laugh. "You really don't know?" Her eyes brimmed with angry tears.

"Emma I don't know-"

"STOP PLAYING DUMB!" She yelled, her nostrils flaring. "How can you do this to me? How can you be so shameless? You brought me here to make Ian fall in love with me but instead you're fucking him?"

I was rendered speechless.

"Did you enjoy laughing at my pathetic ways in trying to get him to love me? DID YOU?" She screamed.

"I knew you slept on the same bed with him. I knew you went to work with him. But I still kept quiet because I thought I could trust you. But now I understand" She let out a bitter laugh, a tear sliding down her cheek. "You've just been using me"

I felt like I was punched in the gut. I didn't have anything to say. Nothing at all because I knew she was telling the truth. I was a shameless woman. I brought her here to get close to Ian but instead I was the one who got close to him. I didn't even let her go because of my own pathetic reasons. I was selfish and shameless. And I've never hated myself as much as I do now.

"You think you can trample on me because I'm in need of money?" She hissed through gritted teeth. "Because I'm poor?"

I stared at her, unable to utter a single word. I was a shameless woman. Shameless and selfish.

"Answer me you bitch!" Emma suddenly pushed me back and my head slammed against the wall so hard that my vision instantly blurred.

I winced and bent down, holding the back of my head in pain.

"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" A thunderous voice roared from the door.

Through my blurry vision I glanced up and saw Ian standing at the threshold, his body vibrating with sheer rage. Then his eyes met mine, saw the panic flash across them as he beheld the pain in my eyes. There was no bleeding but it hurts a lot that I had a hard time concealing it from him.

He instantly rushed to me and pulled me to his chest, checking the back of my head. "Hailey are you alright? Are you alright?" Worry filled his voice. "Hailey tell me, are you alright? Is there any bleed-"

"No there isn't. And-" I swallowed. "I'm alright"

"You sure?"

"Yes" I glanced up at him. "I'm alright"

Ian stared at me for a moment, searching my eyes for confirmation and then as he got it he slowly turned around to face Emma, his fists clenching and unclenching

"Get out of my house" He hissed.

"What?" Emma's eyes widened. "But I work here"

"Not anymore. You're fired. Get the fuck out of my house"

"You can't do that to me! I got hired for six months and there's still a few more to go"

"I DON'T FUCKING CARE!" Ian growled. "GET OUT OF MY HOUSE RIGHT NOW!"

Emma's jaw tightened. "No"

Ian's eyes blackened with rage. "Did you forget who's the owner of this house?"

Emma stayed quiet.

"If you won't go" He hissed through gritted teeth. "I'll tell the security to drag you out like a dog"

She still didn't move so Ian took out his phone to dial a number.

Emma's nostrils flared, her fingers twitched at her side. Then she reached out, grabbed Ian's laptop off the table and flung it across the room at us. Ian instantly moved, shielding my body with his as the laptop came crashing on to the wall next to me, causing the screen to crack and break.

I flinched, gripping on to Ian's sleeves.

Emma's gaze fell over his shoulder to me and her eyes blazed.

As if sensing her violent rage could hurt me, Ian said quietly. "I will give you the one million and another half for the inconvenience we caused you. Get out of here. Don't ever come back and don't ever-" His body vibrated. "Don't ever come near Hailey again or else I'll fucking hunt you down and ruin your life!" He snarled.

Emma looked from me to him, her jaw clenching then she turned on her heel and stormed out the door.

We waited until we heard the front door shut as she left. Then slowly Ian turned to me but I didn't glance at him. My gaze was only on the broken laptop.

Ian kept his fingers under my chin and tilted my face up. "Hailey it's not your fault" He said softly. "You didn't do it. It's not your fault" He pressed a kiss on my forehead and murmured. "Don't blame yourself"

But I didn't believe him. Swallowing hard, I looked at the table and my body instantly went rigid.

On the table, the coffee cup I'd brought in earlier had fell on impact, spilling coffee all over the documents -- the documents.

Ian turned, following my gaze and his body tensed.

"I-Ian" My voice broke. "Are those- are those original documents-"

"Shhh" Ian quickly pulled me to his chest, blocking my view of the documents. "Don't worry about it. It's alright"

He gently rubbed my back, whispering soothing words in my ear but it didn't help.

Because I knew I did all this.