Chapter 1
As if realizing something, she suddenly jolted upright, the blanket slipping down to her waist. She gulped, hastily pulling it back up to cover her chest as she glanced to her side.
Oh fuck. Her thoughts screamed as her hand slapped against her forehead.
Beside her, a woman lay fast asleep.
Just who the hell is this?! she hissed inwardly, squeezing her eyes shut as she rubbed her temples, trying to piece together what had happened the night before. Fucking great. I can’t remember anything.
Carefully peeling the blanket off, she slid out of bed and tiptoed across the room, gathering her scattered clothes from the floor.
“Great, Alysse. You’re really doomed,” she muttered to herself as she slipped into the bathroom. She threw her clothes on with urgency, then peeked through the slightly ajar door to check if the woman was still asleep. Seeing no movement, she exhaled deeply.
“Let’s escape from this mess, shall we?” she whispered, moving stealthily like a ninja on a covert mission.
She snatched her shoulder bag and ran her fingers through her tousled hair.
“So long, miss. The world’s huge—surely, we won’t cross paths again, right?” she said with a nervous laugh as she quietly slipped out of the hotel room.
As she hailed a cab, her phone rang, startling her. She rolled her eyes and slid into the back seat, answering the call with a swipe.
“Hey, Az—”
“Where the fuck are you, Alysse?!” a roar greeted her from the other end, making her wince. She glanced at the driver with an apologetic smile.
“Florissant Penthouse, please,” she said, covering the phone’s mic. Then, shifting back to the call, she placed the phone against her ear.
“Good morning to you too, grumpy Azriel,” she scoffed, clicking her tongue. “What’s got you so worked up this early?”
She heard her older brother groan. “Alysse Amosa, did you go drinking again?”
“Uh, should I lie to you? Or what?” she replied nonchalantly, inspecting her fingers like it was no big deal.
“Goodness, I don’t know what to do with the both of you. First Ashley runs off, ditching her presidency duties and disappearing from the estate, and now you’re out getting drunk and landing yourself in scandal after scandal. Can’t you two spare me the burden for once? You’re the CEO of the U.S. branch, Alysse—pull yourself together.”
Alysse rolled her eyes at the familiar lecture. He always spoke like the world’s weight rested solely on his shoulders.
“Well, Azriel Amosa, is it really my fault that I choose to live like a normal person? Sure, I’ve got responsibilities back in the States, but hello? I’m in Geneva. While I’m here, I’ll act like any regular person—a vet living her best life.”
She smirked when she heard a frustrated curse on the other end.
“Goddamn it, you’re just like your sister,” Azriel muttered.
“Of course I am,” she chuckled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. Alysse knew deep down that neither Ashley nor Azriel was her blood sibling, no matter how they called each other family.
“Anyway, what would compel the esteemed CEO of the Zurich branch to call me this early? Something’s up, I presume?”
“I stopped by your penthouse last night. You weren’t there.” His voice was calmer now, with a clearing of his throat. “Anyway, come to the family house this evening. I need to introduce you to someone. And if you get in touch with Ashley, ask her to come too.”
“She won’t come, Az, you know that.” Alysse leaned back into the seat, crossing one leg over the other with a sigh. “Ash is as stubborn as they come. You can’t keep pulling the same strings with her.”
“I’m not pulling any strings,” Azriel said with a quiet laugh. “Fine then. Just tell her to come to L’Atelier Robuchon instead. You too.”
Alysse opened her mouth to respond, but the call abruptly ended. She blinked at her phone in disbelief.
“What the heck is this all about?” she muttered, shrugging to herself.
⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅
With a raised brow, Alysse clicked her tongue as she stood in front of the lavatory mirror. She checked herself, subtly eyeing the woman beside her through the reflection.
“It’s a surprise you showed up after years of ghosting,” Alysse murmured, laughing softly as she pulled a lipstick from her handbag. She applied it with practiced ease and gave a small pluck of her lips.
Next to her, the woman sighed deeply.
“As if I had a choice,” Ashley muttered. “You practically spammed me with calls and messages, Aly. Seriously?”
“That’s what you get for ignoring your very persistent little sister,” Alysse replied with a grin, shaking her head. Her eyes drifted toward Ashley, who was applying lip moisturizer with her pinky finger. “I don’t know what you’ve been doing with your life, but you still look like you’re stuck in your teenage years,” she mused, genuinely surprised at how youthful Ashley looked.
Ashley paused, her finger still on her lower lip. She met Alysse’s gaze in the mirror. “Maybe because I’ve been enjoying life a little too much,” she said with a casual shrug.
“And by ‘enjoying,’ you mean messing with women?” Alysse arched a brow, uncapping her mascara. “Seriously, Ash. Can’t you settle down for once? Our parents, and even Az—have tried setting you up for years, but you keep dodging every arranged marriage like it’s an Olympic sport.”
Ashley smirked. “Says the woman who’s rejected every suitor like they’re LinkedIn spam. What’s your plan, collect enough proposals to trade them in for a yacht?”
Alysse narrowed her eyes. “At least I’m not ancient like you.”
“Yet I still look better,” Ashley said smugly, crossing her arms. “That’s a record you’ll never beat.”
Rolling her eyes, Alysse groaned as she dropped her mascara back into her bag. “Whatever,” she grumbled, turning toward the door.
But just as she stepped forward, it opened… and her lips smacked into something soft.
She blinked, stunned by the sudden closeness. Her vision doubled as she instinctively took a step back. Then she saw it: a distinct lipstick mark, her lipstick mark, stained across the chest of the woman standing in front of her.
Right over her left breast.
Alysse’s eyes widened in horror. “I’m so—” she began, but her voice cut off.
Oh no.
No. Fucking. Way.
It was her. The same woman she’d woken up next to this morning.
The woman blinked down at the stain, then slowly lifted her eyes to Alysse’s face.
Just as both of them were caught in that awkward silence, Ashley’s voice sliced through it.
“Natalie?”
Alysse snapped her head toward her sister, then back at the woman, Natalie, who now looked stunned as her gaze shifted to Ashley.
“Oh,” Natalie said, her voice laced with recognition. “Didn’t expect to see you here, Ash.”
“You two… know each other?” Alysse asked, pointing between them like she was connecting dots on a crime board. “Wow,” she laughed awkwardly.
Ashley sighed, crossing her arms. Her eyes didn’t leave Natalie. “Yeah. We know each other.”
“Like… how well?” Alysse asked, narrowing her eyes. “Past fling? Past—”
“She’s my ex-girlfriend,” Ashley muttered, barely above a whisper.
Alysse choked on her own saliva. She coughed violently, then stared at Natalie like she’d just seen a ghost.
“W-what?!”
For fuck’s sake! she screamed internally. Did I just make out with my sister’s ex?!
