CHAPTER 1

*I’m getting married to Lucia.You have to be happy for me.Her family’s fortune will change my life.You have nothing to offer me,Daphne but I still love you.I want you to secretly be my mistress.*

Those were the words of her boyfriend of five years.

Those words reverberated in Daphne Howard’s head over and over again.

She thought her family’s background didn’t matter to him.She thought he had loved her,unconditionally.Were the memories?Was everything they went through together so easy to throw away?

How could he do this to her?

And he had the nerves to suggest she becomes his mistress?!

His other woman?

His dirty little secret!

Daphne might not be a perfect woman but she knew her worth.She had great self esteem and would never settle for less.She had bluntly told Jacob that it was over between them.She would never be his mistress or anything to him ever again.

But the pain of the break up was still very fresh in her heart.She leaned against the window,devastatingly.She was in a cab when she caught sight of a club.

She sat up and quickly told the driver to pull over.She just wanted to distract herself.Do anything to get over this pain.

Daphne hurried up to the entrance of the club but she was stopped by two bouncers.

“The club’s having a mask party tonight.Everyone has to be on masks.”They informed her.

Sighing,she bought a mask by the side,put it on and walked into the club.She immediately went to the counter where she sat and order some alcoholic drinks.

She downed bottles after bottles,wanting to drink her sorrows away.Vaguely,she noticed a man sitting beside her.

He was also on a mask and elegantly sipping his glass of wine.

Daphne’s drunk senses took notice of how gorgeous he looked in his suit.She instantly had a feeling that he must have a very handsome face.

As she continued to gush over him,she longed to be in a man’s arms tonight.

Without thinking twice,not that she would be able to think twice in her alcohol filled brain,she got off her chair and staggered closer to him.

“Hello there.”She purred.”Wanna spend the night with me?”

The man only stared at her for a second and to her surprise,he nodded.

**********

Few minutes later found them walking into an hotel room.

As the man turned on the light,Daphne closed the distance between them,stood on her toes and kissed him.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her back,passionately.

As he took nibbles after nibbles of her lips,Daphne thought about how much she had loved it when Jacob kisses her.

The man’s lips fell to her neck,sucking on her pulse point.

Daphne shut her eyes feeling so turned on and she had no idea when she moaned out a name.

“Jacob.”

The man instantly moved away from her.

Daphne panicked knowing no man,even if this was a stranger to her,no one would appreciate you moaning someone else’s name.

How did that name even fall from her lips?!

She wanted nothing to do with Jacob!

Daphne froze when the man took off his mask.Her eyes dilated as she recognized him.

Griffin Reyes!

The most sought-after lawyer and Bachelor in Chicago!

He was very famous in the high society and people had so much respect for him.

That wasn’t the only thing shocking to her.He was Lucia’s brother.The brother of the woman Jacob had left her for!

He was Jacob’s future brother-in-law.

She shakily took off her mask and he didn’t look fazed by who she was.

He only clicked his tongue and walked up towards the window.

“So you picked me at the bar to make Jacob jealous?”He snarled.

Daphne swallowed hard.

Obviously,Griffin knew who she had been to Jacob.

She couldn’t really pretend she didn’t know him.

But he had been on a mask and they’ve never really had a close encounter to recognize him by his voice.

By now,she had sobered up,completely.

The shock of whom she had almost slept with was enough to get her back to her right senses.

“I wasn’t making anyone jealous.”She explained.”We were both on masks and I…and I didn’t recognize you.I’m sorry about even suggesting we spend the night together,I was drunk.”

Fortunately,he didn’t make things difficult of her.

He spun and walked towards her.Taking off his jacket,he placed his around her shoulders.

“Come,I’ll take you home,Miss Howard.”He said,expressionlessly.

“Thanks.”She murmured and followed him.

**********

In Griffin’s Maybach,neither of them spoke throughout the drive but Daphne stole glances at him a few times.

She still couldn’t believe that she had almost slept with someone as magnificent as he was.

He was literally a Greek god.She stared at his perfect face and expensive clothing.

Daphne guessed he might be used to high societal women.

Griffin pulled over close to her house,he glanced at her,discreetly wishing she hadn’t moan out another man’s name,wishing they had continued what she had started.

He stretched his business card to her and Daphne wordlessly understood what that meant.

He wanted her to give him a call in any case she wanted to really spend the night with him.She was surprised that a man like him wanted that from her,even after finding out who she was to Jacob.

Even though he was charming and probably good in bed,Daphne didn’t want to get involved with him.Not only was he a big shot,he was related to Jacob now and she just wanted to forget all about Jacob.

She didn’t even want to see him again.