Alphas & Millionaires Starter Set (22 page)

“She’s in critical condition and will be in ICU for weeks. They said they’ll probably put her in a medically-induced coma while her body heals.” My body started shaking as he was talking about Kendra. I wanted to hate her, but at the very moment I felt awful knowing what her family must be going through.

“Wow, that’s terrible, Drake. I am so sorry that you are all going through this. Can I do anything? Do you need anything?” I wanted to be sympathetic, but it wasn’t because I liked her, it was for Drake.

“I’m fine for now, thanks, honey. I’ll probably be here all night. You should get some rest.” Drake insisted with a heavy heart.

Part of me was thankful that I never had to go through that with Liam. I wish he were still alive, but I don’t know how I would have been able to see Liam in that condition; lifeless, suffering, and worried if he’d make it.

For the next week, Drake and I played phone tag while only seeing each other for a few hours here and there. Kendra was still in critical condition, and was not yet conscious. I tried my hardest to support him and to bite my tongue, but I wanted my man back.

“Don’t be selfish, Molly. She’s a friend.”

“I’m not being selfish, Drake. I’m trying to be here for you, but you are keeping me at a distance, and not letting me in. Kendra is your ex-girlfriend, and she wasn’t exactly my biggest fan. Just try and think what kind of position it puts me in,” I said, trying to sound genuine.

“I’m not having this conversation, Molly. She was a huge part of my life for many years and just because we weren’t on best of terms at the time of her accident doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be here for her and her family.” Drake snarled back at me. I was sick of this argument already.
Ugh!

“Well, call me when you have time for me again,” I snapped and hung up. I didn’t want to upset him, but I was new to this.
Arguing.

“Liam, I hate you!” I said, smacking my hands on his solid chest. He wrapped his arms around me closing me in for a tight hug. “Let go of me!” I yelled, fighting back.

Liam hated controversy. He had to listen to his parents fight most of his life and avoided it at all costs. He usually let me yell at him, venting without saying a word back to me, which made it incredibly hard to stay mad at him.

“Liam, stop! Let. Me. Go!” I protested as he hugged me tighter.

“No, not until you say you love me,” he responded calmly. “Say it.”

“No.” I stood my ground.

“Molly, you’re being unreasonable. Nothing happened.” I never felt jealous of anyone until I fell hard for Liam.

“I saw you! She was all over you!”

“Saw what? She brushed a piece of fuzz off my shirt. You’re being ridiculous.”

I
was
being ridiculous. Hell I was seventeen years old, so what did I know? But now I wasn’t being ridiculous. I wasn’t jealous, I just wanted my boyfriend to realize what this was doing to our relationship.

I had to brush it off because today was my final interview for Riverside Restaurant. I interviewed before graduation with the executive chef, and now I would be interviewing with him and the restaurant assistant manager.

“Miss Woods, pleasure seeing you again.” Mr. Castellanos greeted me as I stood up. He was the executive chef I interviewed with previously. He was a charming Greek gentleman who was in his thirties, with well-rounded cooking experience. I would learn so much under him, being that he is schooled in different cultures and cooking methods.

“Pleasure, Mr. Castellanos.” I shook his hand, greeting him with a light smile.

“This is Mr. Rizzo, assistant manager at Riverside.” We shook hands and walked to their office.

The interview lasted a long ninety minutes. It was intense and aggressive. I managed to survive it without passing out. It was as if I held my breath the entire time. After the interview, they promised to have an answer within the week.

“So, girl, how was it?” Michael bombarded me as soon as I walked through the door.

“It went great! It was tough, but I feel confident about it,” I responded, smiling as I saw Stella playing on the floor. She was the reason I was working so hard, and I wanted to make her proud. “So Kendra is still in ICU. Drake will hardly leave her side.” I frowned.

With all my extra free time this past week, Michael and I had spent a lot more time together. I missed it. I missed him. We used to veg out, watching chick flicks together every weekend, but since my internship, and his busy schedule, we were not able to do that as often.

Five days later, I got the phone call that changed my life. I had been offered the new chef position at Riverside Restaurant, making twice the amount that was originally proposed.
Yes!

“Ahhhh!!! Michael! Stella!” I yelled, as I hung the phone up. “Come quick!” I hopped off the bar stool and ran to find them instead.

“Goodness sakes, girl! Watch the jewels!” Michael scowled at me as I plowed into him, almost smacking him right in the goods.

“You are now looking at Riverside’s newest chef!” I smiled wide, raising my arms up in the air.

“Congrats, honey! You deserve it!” Michael squeezed me hard. “Are you going to tell Drake?”

Drake.
I hadn’t seen Drake since the night before my interview. We talked every day, but it was nothing like it used to be.

“Yeah, probably. When the time is right, I guess.” I shrugged. “He’ll find out anyway. He’s the manager.” He probably had the final word, but right now, I didn’t care. I finally had the career I worked so hard for.

“When do you start?”

“Next Monday, which means we have one last weekend to party it up!” I puckered.

“Yay, mommy! Does that mean we can do something special this weekend?” Stella asked, climbing on top of me.

“Anything you want, sweetie.” I kissed her on the forehead at the thought of spending some quality time with her and Michael this weekend.

Drake finally came over that night, looking defeated. It was awkward, but I was ready to get this over with.

“How’s Kendra?” I asked, trying to break the ice.

“Better. Still in a coma, but her vitals are good, and she is looking healthier now. She’s still at risk for infection and possible sepsis.”

“Well, that’s good, I suppose,” I said chewing my lip, hoping to change the subject.

Silence filled the room as I leaned up against the kitchen island. His eyes filled with hunger as he smashed his body against mine. His lips pressed into mine hard, barely giving me a chance to breathe.

“Drake…” I breathed out trying to grasp for air.
Oh God.

“Shhh, baby,” he hushed me as he rubbed against me, pulling my shirt up and off me. “I have missed you more than anything. I need you, Molly.”

He lifted me up onto the island as he shimmied my shorts off. He spread my legs apart, leaning closer into me. I missed this.
I missed him.

“
Baby…I love you.”

I grabbed his pants and unbuttoned him to release him. He moved his lips down my neck, suckling hard at the tender skin. I moaned into him he increased intensity. He shifted his lips up to my ear. “This is still my favorite spot.” He smiled as he felt me quiver.

I arched my back as he placed his mouth over my breast. While he sucked, he wrapped his pinky around my lace and tugged my panties down. He pressed himself into me, taking all of me in a single slide. It felt like forever since we had been together, and I did not want to rush this.

He brushed his hand through my hair as he pulled my face closer to his. It was sensual, and so romantic. It was like we connected in ways we had never before connected. Slowly, he pulled out, his lips travelling down my body and across my thighs before he took his time re-entering me. I wrapped my legs around him, pressing him harder into me.

“You’re amazing, Molly.”

I was breathing so hard I couldn’t respond. But it was as if he read my mind as I moaned into him, and I caught him grinning as he released into me, making my body go into convulsions of overblown spasms.

“Always trapping me in the kitchen,” I said, grinning as I tried to catch my breath.

“My favorite place to be.”
No kidding.

“That night when you asked about my favorite position - did you really mean in the kitchen? Or were you trying to rattle me?” I asked as I assisted in re-buttoning his shirt.

“I’m always trying to rattle you, baby.” He smiled as he handed me my shirt.

“I knew you were naughty, but damn.”

Just as I was replacing my clothes, Drake’s phone rang. He looked at the caller ID, and his face immediately went pale. He picked it up and I could see the panic on his face.
Oh, shit.

Drake walked out of the room as he took the call so I wasn’t able to hear the conversation. I finished adjusting my clothes and went to grab a glass of wine.
Hmmm… maybe Drake will want a glass.

I was pouring two glasses when Drake re-entered the kitchen looking like he had just seen a ghost. I had never seen him so beaten down before. He stared at his phone as he slowly walked toward me.

“What is it babe?” I asked in a hurry.

“Kendra.”
Oh no…

“Everything okay?” I grabbed the glasses off the counter and rushed toward him.

His voice cracked as he shook his head and replied, “She died.”

* * *

It had been three weeks since Kendra passed away. She had a blood clot that reached her heart, and it was too late for the doctors to do anything. She was laid to rest on a Sunday, and for the following week Drake was in a funk. I tried to be there for him as much as I could, but I had just started working at the restaurant, and I couldn’t take any time off.

I understood the grief Drake was going through. I knew they had not ended on good terms, and it was mostly because of me. I felt awful. I wanted to be supportive of him, but it brought up so many unwanted and uncomfortable emotions that I had gone through with Liam’s death.

The reception after Liam’s funeral was hosted at our apartment. People brought food, flowers, and cards. It was thoughtful, but at the same time, I just wanted Liam back. I stared at Stella for hours that night, wishing her life would turn out differently than what was handed to her. She deserved a daddy. I deserved a husband. It just wasn’t right.

“So why was she skydiving in the first place?” I asked. Drake seemed to feel better when he openly talked about her with me.

“It was something her and Mr. Kingston did every year. Last year they went paragliding and the year before that they did whitewater rafting. It was their thing, I guess.” Drake had a slight smile on his face as he remembered.

“Did you do stuff like that, too?” I asked curiously.

“Not really. It was something they started when she was a freshman in college. I went bungee jumping once, but that was it.”

“Oh, my god, I could never do that. I guess I’m boring.” I chuckled.
Boring and old.

“You’re not boring, you’re a mom. A mom who puts her child first.” He smiled trying to make me feel better. “Don’t forget about your badass tattoo,” he teased.

“Do you wanna play?” I asked, chewing my bottom lip and hiding a devilish smile.

“Hide and seek?” he asked, remembering our little game.

I backed up slowly, unbuttoning my blouse and seducing him with my eyes, urging him to follow me. His eyes grew wide with passion as he lunged at me, making me fall back into the loveseat.

“Drake!” I squawked as he pushed his heavy body on top of mine, pinning me down. I laughed as I nearly fell off the loveseat under his crushing weight.

“Don’t worry, babe…I won’t let you fall.”

He slowly lowered my pants, as he kissed his way down my legs. He stopped at my tattoo, making sure to kiss all around it and up to my bikini line.

I forcefully pushed his face deeper letting his tongue reach further into me. I loved his lips on me, making my body quiver with his miraculous talents.

“Oh God…yes, right there…” I moaned, as he wasn’t letting up anytime soon. The more I dug my nails into his muscular arms, the more vigorous he became. I arched my back as he playfully grabbed my thighs and sunk his face in harder. “You are seriously torturing me.” I groaned.

Drake moaned against me as I tried to wiggle away from his grip. He was so intense that I almost couldn’t stand it.

“Oh no… you aren’t going anywhere. I’m not done with you, baby.” He smiled, enjoying watching me squirm. “I will never be done with you.”

“Molly, I need you to get those filets out of the freezer please!” I called out to the beautiful brunette who had stolen my heart the second I first saw her.

“Right away, Nikos!” She gave me a soft smile before heading to the freezer. God she was beautiful. And go figure she’d be dating Drake Stagliano. That man was such a player. He could get any girl he wanted, so why did he have to mess with beautiful and innocent Molly?
I’m going to prove to her what a real man is like.

Molly walked toward me, filets in hand. She was glowing as she always did. “Here you go. What should I do with them?” she asked in a cute, soft tone. Her beautiful, golden eyes drew me in as she looked up at me.
Seriously, how am I hard every time I see her?
“Nikos?”

“Oh right, sorry. Um, just put them over there for me please.” I smiled back at her. Even the way her lip curled up and the way she rubbed her ear when she was nervous was sickeningly adorable.
Good God, Nikos. Man up.

I blinked several times, trying to get myself back into the game. Tonight was going to be packed, and I needed all my focus. Drake would of course be stopping by to check up on me, and to drool over Molly.
God, I still can’t believe she’s with him.

“So Molly, are you excited for tonight?” I asked her casually, as we were chopping vegetables across from one another.
Man, I want to touch her soft skin. And kiss those lips.

“I am so psyched, Nikos! I can’t wait for my first night as lead chef. And it’s all thanks to you!” she plastered a big, bright smile at me.
Lord, I could go into convulsions over that smile.
I tried to cross my legs slightly to cover the hard-on she had instantly given me.

Oh, if she only knew.

After working next to Molly for months now, I have developed strong feelings for her.
No, I was in love with her.
She had no clue, or maybe she did and just pretended she didn’t. Either way, I was determined to make her mine no matter what.

Drake has some new competition in town.