ELISSE immediately grabbed her ringing phone that was placed on the table. When she saw that her boyfriend Gavin was calling, she excitedly answered it.

"Hello!" she cheerfully greeted her boyfriend before sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Hey, beautiful. How's your vacation?" Gavin asked sweetly on the other line.

Elisse bit her lower lip. "It's good. But I would have been happier if you were here with me."

She heard Gavin chuckle from the other line.

"As much as I want to, I can't. You know that."

Elisse pouted. Gavin is currently busy because his publishing house is launching a big book signing event. Thatʼs why he couldnʼt accompany her on the vacation.

"I know. But I hope that you can come with me next time." Elisse smiled.

"Of course. Anyway, until when do you plan to stay there?"

Elisse glanced at her suitcase, which was now resting open on the bed.

"I plan to stay for two more days," she lied.

"Oh. Too bad. Because I already missed you so much."

Elisse tried to calm herself down. To be honest, she knew how busy her boyfriend had been these past few weeks. Thatʼs why she decided to surprise him when she got home.

"I missed you too."

"Alright. I just called to check up on you. Please take care, okay? I love you."

Elisse covered her mouth before softly hitting the pillow beside her. She didnʼt know why, but the excitement she felt for her boyfriend still knew no bounds.

It surely feels good to be in love.

"I love you. Don't worry about me. Just take your time there, okay?"

After a few more reminders to each other, she finally hung up the call. She quickly organized the arrangement of her belongings. When she finished, she completely left and checked out of the hotel where she was staying.

Because of the traffic, her trip from Batangas to Manila took several hours.

Elisse first stopped by a grocery store and bought some ingredients before heading straight to her boyfriendʼs condominium building. After parking her car, Elisse got out with a smile, carrying her groceries.

She's humming her favorite song until she reaches the elevator. She is sure that Gavin is still engrossed in his work and will come home later, as he mentioned to her earlier, so she wants to cook him dinner.

Aside from her surprise homecoming, she also plans to mention another piece of good news. Her contract with Sweet Memories Publishing Company had expired, so she decided to take a vacation first before moving to her boyfriendʼs company. Even the actual expiration date of her contract was kept a secret from Gavin back then to surprise him.

As the elevator doors opened, she quickly headed to his unit. Since she knew that he hadnʼt come home yet, she didnʼt bother to ring the doorbell.

Instead, she swipes the duplicate of his card, and the door opens.

With a smile, she pushed the door open. But even before she could fully enter, the smile on her lips gradually faded, accompanied by the loud pounding of her heart.

She blinked before slowly entering and closing the door. She carefully placed the groceries on the floor and, one by one, looked at the scattered clothes in the living room.

She doesnʼt want to think of anything. But why is there a womanʼs dress there?

Until she heard loud moans. Unintentionally, Elisse continued walking and followed the source of the noise. It seemed like she was running out of breath with every step she took.

She stopped in front of Gavinʼs room. It wasnʼt fully closed. Thatʼs why she slowly peeked inside.

"Ahh! Faster, baby!"

She grabbed the doorknob because she felt like she would suddenly collapse due to the scene that unfolded before her.

A naked and familiar woman is lying on top of her naked boyfriend, Gavin. Her movements are quick. Thatʼs why her full breasts keep on pounding as well.

While her boyfriend seems to be thoroughly enjoying what the woman is doing and has his eyes closed.

She thought he was just busy with work. She had no idea that he was actually busy working on something else.

How could the woman not be familiar to her? Well, sheʼs one of the writers for the publishing company owned by Gavin.

"Have you and Elisse really not done this yet, Honey?" the woman asked flirtatiously while continuing to move on top of him.

At that moment, Gavin opened his eyes. He squeezed the woman's breast, which made her moan.

"Of course not. You are really my girlfriend. I just needed to make her my girlfriend so I could get her to sign the publishing contract."

It seems like something pierced Elisseʼs heart because of what she heard. Not only was she deceived by a smooth-talking man. He even made her his mistress!

Elisse clenched her fist. She quietly left the place and carried her belongings. She made sure she left no trace behind.

She was just staring blankly while driving. Not a single tear fell from her eyes.

She will never shed even a single tear for a man like that.

Her head is in a total mess right now, and only alcohol can help her think of a plan.

With that in mind, she speeds up to the nearest bar in the area.

CAMERON was in a bad mood while drinking the martini he ordered. He is currently at the bar because he was just bored in his mansion.

He really wanted to see Elisse. Thatʼs why he went to see her at the apartment she rented earlier.

But unfortunately, Elisse was not there. She supposedly informed the apartment owner that she would be going on vacation. But she didnʼt mention where she was going or how many days she would be gone.

He was just lost in thought when a woman suddenly sat next to him. Cameronʼs gaze dropped to the hand now resting on his thigh.

"Hey, want to have some fun?"

He looked at the woman whose enticing eyes were fixed on him. She even bit her lower lip. Her breast was almost exposed because of the spaghetti strap; she deliberately brushed the side of her breast against his arm.

But he wasnʼt attracted at all. His friend down there didnʼt even salute.

She swatted the woman's hand away and continued to drink.

"I'm not in the mood. Go find someone else to fuck."

The woman stood up and suddenly shot him a sharp look.

"Jerk!" Marching, she walked away.

Cameron shook his head. Why does it feel like itʼs his fault? While she was the one who approached voluntarily and almost forced herself on him.

He put down the empty shot glass. He was about to order again when he heard a familiar voice nearby.

He quickly turned to the source of the voice. It seemed that everything he had drunk vanished when he saw the woman who had kept him awake for several nights.

She was sitting at the other end of the counter. She ordered a margarita, and he was surprised when she suddenly drank it.

He squinted his eyes because his vision might be deceiving him.

But Elisse remains seated there. She ordered another margarita again while seemingly deep in thought. Then she took another sip of the drink.

When he noticed that she ordered again and immediately drank it as if it were just a glass of water, he decided to approach her.

Curiosity is killing him. What could have possibly happened that she's drinking herself to death right now?

Before Elisse could finish the fourth shot glass, he quickly grabbed her by the arm.

She glared at him with piercing eyes. But her expression gradually changed upon seeing him.

"Oh. Cameron Cervantes."

Elisse laughed loudly, making his brow furrowed.

"I am actually thinking of something, and you just came in time. That's very nice of you."

Cameron became even more confused because of what Elisse said.

"What do you mean?"

Elisse placed money on the counter before standing up and searching for something in her bag. He was taken aback when she pulled out a ballpoint pen and grabbed his arm.

His eyes widened when she suddenly started writing there. He was about to pull his arm back, but Elisse held it tightly.

"What the hell-"

"I would like to hear your proposal once again. Don't ever bother me again if you're late."

Before he could even speak, Elisse left as if nothing had happened.

Cameron immediately turned his attention to the arm she had written on. He paused when he saw the name of a familiar restaurant and the time written there.

Suddenly, a smirk formed on his lips. He didn't know what really happened.

But it seems that it helps him to switch the luck to his side.

ELISSEʼS boyfriend, Gavin, had a smile that reached from ear to ear as he took out the papers from the suitcase he was carrying.

As she mentioned to him before, she only informed him that she had returned home two days after her actual return. When she mentioned to him about the end of her contract with the previous publishing house, one could hear the happiness in his voice from the other line when she called him last night.

The excitement was evident on Elisseʼs face as she watched Gavin, who seemed flustered in front of her. She was excited not because of the signing that would take place, but because of his reaction to the plan she had prepared.

The sparkle in Gavinʼs eyes was evident when he finally organized the papers on the table that she needed to sign.

"Finally! Here it is, Hon. This contract has been waiting for you for a long time. Besides that, we will finally be together in the same company. You donʼt have any idea how long I waited for this day to come."

Gavin reached for Elisseʼs hand resting on the table and gently kissed the top of it.

Elisse wanted to cringe because of what Gavin said and did. If she didnʼt already know his true colors and intentions, she would probably have been charmed again by his flattery.

Isnʼt he even a bit creeped out by what heʼs saying?

Elisse remained silent when Gavin brought the paper and pen closer to her. She didnʼt even glance at it because her eyes were focused on the restaurant door.

Until her attention shifted to a round clock with a floral design hanging on the wall. Five minutes before the scheduled time of the show.

But when she looked back at the door again, she saw the man who would be joining her in that little show entering.

"Hon?" Gavin called out to her, but she didnʼt pay any attention.

Elisse smiled when she saw Cameron looking around as he entered. She raised her right hand so he could see her.

Frowning, Gavin looked behind him. The confusion on his face deepened even more when he saw his mortal enemy, Cameron.

Even Cameron frowned while walking toward them with his hands in his pockets.

Elisse canʼt help but admire his dashing look with his suit and brushed-up hair. For a moment, she seems to fall into a kind of trance while looking at him.

Gavin turned to look at Elisse.

"What is he doing here?"

It seemed that Elisse came to her senses from her daze and smiled as she looked at Gavin.

"Because I just want to feel the moment. The exciting part has yet to come, Hon."

Gavin became even more confused because of her answer.

Before long, Cameron approached them. Even he had no idea why Elisse met with him along with her boyfriend.

But Cameronʼs face suddenly darkened when he saw the scattered papers on the table. Perhaps he thought that she wanted to rub on his face that she would sign with the rival company.

Elisse canʼt blame the two for wanting her at their respective publishing companies. After all, sheʼs one of the best-selling erotic-romance authors in the country.

Without a word, Elisse picked up the papers scattered on the table.

But the two men dropped their jaws when Elisse suddenly tore up the contract. She wanted to laugh at the expressions of them two.

"H-Hon, Why did you-"

But the two were even more startled when Elisse suddenly stood up, pulled Cameronʼs necktie, causing him to come closer to her, and without any hesitation, captured his slightly parted lips.

She could feel everyone inside the restaurant staring at them. While some of them she could clearly hear whispering.

But the moment she tasted Cameronʼs sweet and sinful lips, the plan that had been formed in her head flew out of the window.

It should be a taste. But she ended up craving more.

Elisse couldnʼt understand why her body suddenly felt hot. Whereas in the few times they kissed, Elisse didnʼt feel that kind of intensity with Gavin.

Even though she wanted to savor the sweetness of Cameronʼs lips, when he started to reciprocate the kiss, it was against her will to pull away from him.

Getting burned is not part of her plan.