~Jack's POV~
I could barely remember what happened last night—or how I even got home. My head was pounding like a construction site. I'd gotten ridiculously drunk, and waking up this morning felt like punishment.
Greg, a friend of mine, had insisted on throwing a birthday celebration for me. I told him I wanted something private, low-key, but it turned out to be wild. The kind of night the tabloids would have a field day with. Exactly what I didn't want.
Now, standing in my penthouse, I drank a glass of water and stared through the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Manhattan skyline. The city looked calm, in sharp contrast to the chaos in my head.
I turned away and walked toward my bed—where a woman I could barely remember picking up last night lay sprawled out. Her intoxicating curves, though, I remembered vividly.
"Hey, I've got to get to work. It's time to leave," I said, setting the cup down.
"Mmm…" she groaned sleepily.
"Hey." I nudged her leg gently. "Come on, wake up."
"Take it easy, I'm awake. Jeez."
"You need to get up. I've got work."
"Come on, Jack," she purred, throwing off the sheets and stretching languidly. Her skin glowed against the morning light, and her body was temptation itself. "Last night was fun. Let's have a little more."
She spread her legs slightly, her breasts rising as she smiled at me in challenge.
I groaned and ran a hand through my hair. "As much as I'd love a repeat of last night, pissing my father off by being late is not on my agenda today. So, get up."
She pouted but stood—completely naked—and sauntered into my bathroom.
"You can join me if you want," she teased, throwing a daring look over her shoulder.
"You know what? Fuck it," I muttered, downing the rest of my water and following her inside.
"You're impossible,"she laughed as the shower steamed up. I grabbed her curvy ass and squeezed hard
"And you love that," I shot back, smirking.
"Maybe," she whispered, tracing her finger down my chest. "But I bet you'll be thinking about me all day."she gasped as I sucked her nipple and grabbed her other breast with my free hand
"That's what I'm afraid of,"I murmured against her neck before making her face the tiled walls of the bath and thrusting into her with a grunt.
Half an hour later, I dressed as fast as I could, dropped her off near the bus terminal, and drove off. I hadn't even asked for her name. Damn it. I shouldn't have let her tempt me a second time. I was already ten minutes late.
"Mr. Reeves, the meeting started five minutes ago. Your father's pissed," my secretary, Luke Bates, warned as I reached for the boardroom door.
"Yeah, I figured," I muttered, adjusting my tie.
"Want me to tell him you were caught in traffic again?" Luke asked quietly.
"No point lying,"I said under my breath. "He'll see right through it."
Great.
"So glad you could join us, son," my father said dryly the moment I walked in. "We were just discussing the hotel you're managing and how much revenue it's pulled in this past year. Care to elaborate?"
"Sorry for my tardiness. My secretary has the report and will be presenting it."
Sure, I was late sometimes—but that didn't mean I wasn't damn good at what I did.
After the meeting ended, my father, Matt Reeves, summoned me into his office.
"So, why were you late this time?" he asked, his tone sharp.
"Something urgent came up," I replied casually.
"Urgent? Like getting drunk and spending the night between a woman's legs?" His eyes narrowed. "That was urgent?"
I sighed. "I thought we agreed you wouldn't have me followed."
"You're my only heir, Jack. I agreed to nothing. When will you stop these shenanigans and grow up? You're thirty-two, for God's sake. It's time to start behaving responsibly—settle down."
"Not this again, Dad. I told you—I'll settle down when I'm ready."
"When will that be? You said the same thing two years ago." He shook his head, exasperated. "I wish your mother was here. She would've knocked some sense into you."
I looked away. "Yeah… maybe she would've," I said quietly.
He sighed heavily. "You're brilliant when it comes to business, son, but your personal life is a disaster. You're acting out, and it's hurting your image—and ours."
"Dad, relax. I'll adjust, okay?" I said, hoping to calm him down.
He looked at me skeptically. "You'd better. Or I'll take matters into my own hands."
"Got it," I said, eager to escape. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've got things to handle."
As I walked out, I ran into my cousin, Nate Reeves.
"Hey, buddy," he grinned. "Heard you had a wild night."
"Seems everyone knows already," I muttered.
"The old man pissed?"
"Yeah, a bit."
"Next time, invite me. If I'd known you were throwing a party, I wouldn't have wasted my time at that boring Washington meeting."
"It was last-minute. Greg planned it."
"Well, I'll be having a word with Greg about leaving me out." He chuckled. "See you later, cuz."
Greg had been my friend for years—a party addict. I really should've said no.
The rest of the day was a blur of client meetings and investor calls. By evening, I was exhausted and ready to head home when a text from Greg popped up.
Hey, you up for another wild night?
I groaned. Not again.
Nah, not tonight. Still hungover from last night. Later, bro.
He replied with a thumbs-up emoji and went offline.
"At least someone's living responsibly," I muttered to myself, tossing the phone on the couch.
The next morning, I woke to my phone buzzing nonstop. Messages from Nate, my friends, and my dad. Dread settled in my stomach.
I grabbed the remote and turned on the TV—only to see a photo of me, wearing the same clothes from two nights ago, with the woman I'd spent the night with.
The headline screamed:
"Billionaire Heir Jack Reeves Caught in Affair with Married Socialite."
"Fuck," I hissed under my breath.
My phone rang again—Dad. I didn't pick up. I already knew what was coming.
By the time I reached the office, the paparazzi were swarming outside. I slipped in through a side entrance, hoping to avoid the worst of it. But just as I sat down, the door slammed open.
Dad.
"Jack! A married woman?" he roared.
"Honestly, Dad, I didn't know she was married. I'm as shocked as you are."
"Don't lie to me!"
"I'm not lying!" I shot back, raising my hands. "You think I'd willingly sleep with a married woman? Give me some credit."
"I've had enough of your excuses," he snapped. "It's either you settle down, or I cut you off from everything. Do you hear me? Cut. You. Off."
"Dad, come on—"
"You're out of control, Jack! Do you have any idea how much damage you've done to this company's image? I won't stand for it. Either you get a wife and start acting like a responsible man, or you lose everything—your inheritance, your position, all of it."
"You're kidding, right?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.
"I'm very serious," he said coldly. "The lawyer will draft a binding contract. If you don't get married before the year ends, Nate becomes my new heir—and you'll be left with nothing."
"You can't do that, Dad. Why—"
"Watch me," he interrupted sharply. "Get married—or lose it all."
He turned on his heel and slammed the door behind him.
I stood there for a moment, speechless. Then I cursed under my breath.
"Damn it."
"What the hell am I supposed to do now?" I muttered, pacing. "Marry who? Some stranger? Just to keep my inheritance?"
I ran both hands down my face and let out a dry laugh. "Unbelievable. Only my father could turn a scandal into a wedding deadline."