Billionaire's Bride

He's a bad news

“Mr. Norman, l… l… leave my hand,” Janette stammered, struggling to resist the magnetic pull of his captivating fragrance.

This man seems capable of destroying me, she thought bitterly. No one else had ever made her feel this way—so vulnerable and entranced.

She was angry with herself for almost giving in so easily to her adversary. It was because of him that she had been separated from her parents. Even if they weren’t her biological parents, Robert Stark’s business deal had still dramatically altered her life.

But why had Robert Stark gone to such lengths to reclaim his abandoned child? Janette was desperate to uncover the true value of whatever had driven him to this extreme.

“Mrs. Norman, you’ve zoned out again,” Asher’s husky voice broke her from her reverie. His ocean-blue eyes were fixed on her green ones. Though she wasn’t nervous anymore, her heart was still racing, and she was sure he could hear it.

“You know what, Mr. Norman, if you don’t let me go, I might have to use force,” she said, her glare unwavering. His incredulous look was followed by a smirk that only made her more frustrated.

“Why do you keep smirking? It doesn’t suit your handsome face,” she muttered, biting her cheek to prevent herself from saying more.

Did she just compliment him? She cursed herself inwardly. Though the smirk did look good on him, she didn’t want to encourage him.

“Did you just call me handsome?” Asher chuckled, the sound surprisingly pleasant. His laughter was the most beautiful she had ever heard, and she found herself momentarily distracted by his smile.

“Don’t get distracted again, Jane,” her inner voice warned.

“Okay, so you’re not going to let me go?” she challenged, pressing her heels down on his foot. He groaned in pain, and his grip loosened enough for her to escape. Laughing, she ran away, sticking her tongue out at him playfully.

Asher wanted to laugh at her childish act but suppressed it, his expression a mixture of irritation and amusement. “You little—” he gritted through his teeth, trying to follow her, though it took him a few minutes to recover from the pain in his ankle.

As Janette sprinted away, she collided with Asher’s mistress. “What’s her name again?” she wondered, struggling to recall. The girl, dressed in a revealing swimsuit that left little to the imagination, seemed to be a magnet for the male staff, who were openly admiring her.

“Really? Asher Norman shares his romantic interests with his employees?” her inner voice commented. She ignored it and smirked at the girl.

“Good morning, Ms... oh, sorry, I forgot your name,” she said, feigning innocence.

“It’s Regina, Regina Parker,” the girl replied tersely.

“Good morning to you too,” Janette mumbled before making her way toward the garden.

Why was Regina still here? If Asher was involved with her and constantly trying to get close, Janette had a sinking feeling that staying away from him was far better than attempting to build any relationship.