Betrayal

My father has chosen me to succeed him in the family business. But if I want the job, it comes with stipulations. And one of those stipulations is to never mix business with pleasure. AKA, don't sleep with anyone on the job. My father leads by example, and not once have I ever seen him get involved with anyone, not even his beautiful assistant. That was an easy rule to follow...until Axel. Axel is an expert distributor, someone who knows how to get our product past the ruthless regulations mandated by the government. My father has never had a partner, but he makes an exception for Axel because he's good at what he does. But the second our eyes meet...there's fire. He's by far the most handsome man I've ever seen, and his I-couldn't-care-less attitude makes me weak. But I put up boundaries and reject his advances. But this man doesn't stop until he gets what he wants. One night together becomes the precursor to the most passionate affair of my life. If my father discovers our secret, it'll cost me my career...and it'll cost Axel his life. To make matters worse, I'm falling for this man...and I think he's falling for me too.

Axel betrayed me. As hard as I tried to keep him out of my heart, he broke through it like shattered glass. Even though my father didn't approve and our relationship would always be a secret, I didn't care. He was worth it... until he wasn't. Six months have passed, and that's exactly how long it's taken me to get over what he's done. I never see him at my father's estate. My father never mentions him. Like he never existed at all, he's wiped from the face of the earth. Until my father tells me he's going to stab Axel in the back and replace him with someone new. I know what a mistake that will be, but my warning falls on deaf ears. We finally come face to face for the first time. His ingenious plan knocks my father off his feet and he takes the business for his own. If my father wants it back, it's going to come at a price. A price that he won't have to pay, but I will. And that's to marry him.

I married you because I was in love with you. Those words have echoed in my mind ever since he said them, and despite the way my heart races for him every time he steps into the same room, I can't say it back. Not after he hurt me. Not after he betrayed me. Every time I feel us come close together, my heart pulls away. Every time I fantasize about our future children and growing old together, or just living in the moment during a romantic evening, I picture Cassandra walking by… replacing me. Axel wants to repair our broken relationship and be what we once were, but my resentment is constantly in the way. He says he has something to tell me, a secret I must take to the grave, a secret that could change my life forever… He says my father forced his hand, forced him to hurt me, forced him to march in there with Cassandra just so he could break us apart. Then he gives me an ultimatum. Believe him and give this marriage a real chance. Or don't believe him… and leave.

My husband of two years tells me he wants an open marriage. I'm stunned. I'm hurt. And I'm livid. I don't want to be married to a man who wants to open our bed to other people. But then I get a flat tire in the pouring rain and a sexy-as-hell gentleman helps me out. My husband is in the game, so one look at the skull ring on this gentleman's left hand tells me exactly who he is. The Skull King. I didn't want an open marriage... but I definitely want this man.

When Bolton asked for the open marriage I was revolted by it. But then I met Theo… and I didn't know men like him could exist. Now he wants me all to himself. Do I forgive him… or do I stay?

I chose the wrong man… and I chose him for the wrong reasons. Now all I want to do is repair the broken relationship with the man I've always wanted. But he's wounded by my rejection. and it'll take time to heal what I've broken. But I know there's hope… otherwise he wouldn't have come for me.