Whitney Granger glanced up from her microscope as Simon was ushered into the sterile lab. Her sharp and calculating eyes swept over him as she adjusted her safety goggles.In spite of his unkempt appearance, he was an attractive man with an irresistible charm. He brought back a flood of memories from her youth, when she first realized that guys like him were way out of her league.Some students at her school would make fun of her all the time, claiming that when God shared sex appeal among humans, Whitney was elsewhere to get extra brain rations. She eventually grew accustomed to telling herself that smarts were more valuable than looks, even though it hurt. Science agreed with her, and they thus became her best friend."Mr. Turner," she said, her tone crisp and professional. "I trust you understand the importance of this procedure. If you could please have a seat."Simon nodded, suppressing the urge to roll his eyes. The room smelled of chemicals and antiseptics, a stark contrast to
Whitney took a steadying breath, her hands slightly trembling as she knelt before Simon. Although she had experienced intimacy before, this particular circumstance left her feeling exposed and vulnerable.Simon watched her without saying a word, and something trembled with excitement inside her core. She gulped. Whitney, having long given up hope of ever being close to a man like Simon, couldn't quite fathom why she was doing this. Yet, in the depths of her being, she recognized a yearning, a desire she had suppressed for far too long.Their eyes locked, and a silent understanding passed between them. They looked at each other intensely, which conveyed more than any words could have stated. An invisible thread pulled her to unzip his pants in a way that transcended the boundaries of the ordinary. Somewhere in the back of her head, she silently questioned her choices as his stiffness sprang out, its tip only inches from her lips.She licked her lips and a blush crept up her cheeks as
As the detective's office door swung open, Simon was escorted back inside, his footsteps echoing through the empty room. He faced Detective Cristoph, a palpable tension lingering between them."I need to be released," Simon said, his voice steady. "You can't hold me until the DNA results come back. There's no evidence tying me to any crime."Detective Cristoph leaned back, fingers steepled in front of him. His disconcerting gaze fixated on Simon. "You seem awfully confident for someone in your situation."Simon met his gaze head-on. "I'm confident because I know I'm innocent. You have nothing on me."The detective's lips curled into a sinister smile. "We'll see about that. We have a process to follow."Simon's eyes flickered with impatience. "You have no right to keep me here without evidence. I demand to be released immediately."The detective's expression remained infuriatingly composed. "We have a warrant for you."Simon exhaled sharply. "A warrant for my DNA. Which I already gave.
Simon's tense expression softened. "Chad, we have a problem. I got a call from Emma. She's been kidnapped. Someone threw her in the trunk of a car."Chad's face paled. "Kidnapped? Why? What did they say?"Simon recounted the conversation. "They didn't ask for anything. We have to find her."Chad's jaw tightened. "Do you think it's for ransom?"Simon nodded grimly. "It could be. But we don't have time to wait and see. We need to find her, fast."Chad's eyes narrowed in thought. "We need to think like the kidnapper. What would they want? Money, revenge, something else?"Simon rubbed his temples against the building pressure. "It could be anything. Emma's family has connections, enemies. We need to consider all possibilities."Chad's gaze flickered toward the city skyline, the distant glow reflecting in his troubled eyes. "She's somewhere out there, Simon. We have to figure this out fast."Simon clenched his fists. "We should check her place, her routine, see if there's something we miss
The halls of Hillcrest College echoed with the laughter and chatter of students, a stark contrast to the heavy burden weighing on Simon's shoulders. Clutching his frayed backpack, he navigated the throng of students, hoping to remain unnoticed amidst the sea of designer clothes and confident smiles.As he approached his first class of the day, a fellow student, Chad, leaned against the lockers, flanked by a group of his equally obnoxious friends. Chad's eyes immediately fell on Simon, and a cruel smirk spread across his face."Well, well, if it isn't our resident charity case," Chad sneered, loud enough for those nearby to hear. "Do you ever wash those rags you call clothes, Turner?"Simon's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and he tried to walk past Chad without acknowledging the insult. But Chad refused to let him off that easily. With a steely glint in his eyes, he squared his shoulders and crossed his arms."Hey, I'm talking to you, loser!" Chad called after him, drawing the atte
“Anne will be a laughing stock if the groom doesn’t appear soon,” whispered a middle-aged woman dotted with expensive jewelry.Simon waited for her to take a glass of champagne. The older man next to her gave his a bottom-up and took another one."At the very least, we have front-row seats to her humiliation. That is why I never miss a wedding."The woman chuckled in response, her face marred by wrinkles and a dull expression."We should leave now," said a young man wearing an expensive suit. He was clearly from a family that could afford anything. "We made an appearance. Who would want to see Anne marrying a scoundrel?"Simon was well-versed in dealing with the upper crust of society. The catering company he worked for only hired him after rigorously testing his etiquette and understanding of manners. That book he had to read was approximately 800 pages long!But the interactions between the high and mighty baffled him. Gossiping about the missing groom with such obvious pleasure mad
“Why? Where?”“Miss Anne asked me to escort you to her penthouse. She will be waiting for you there.”“I can’t leave now.” Simon shook his head, moving the tray under his armpit. “I’m working.”He gulped when he saw his in-laws approaching. “Oh, don’t make trouble for poor Cornelius,” his mother-in-law said. “He’s doing only what Anne ordered him to. Don’t have him fired because you are too stubborn.” She pulled a strand of hair behind her ear before extending her hand. “I’m Catherine Parker, by the way.”“I’m Simon Turner.”They shook hands, but soon after she discreetly reached into her purse and pulled out a wet tissue to clean her hands. “I’m John Parker,” the father-in-law said, but he left Simon with his hand in the air, not giving him the time of day.“Anne said she already talked with the catering firm you work for, and they agreed to cancel your shift for today. As a member of the Parker family, it’s beneath you to be working there anyway,” Catherine said.“But I need the h
Not knowing why, half an hour later, Simon found himself in the park. He walked around and tried to make sense of the events of the day when Robert’s huge frame appeared from behind a tree.An exuberant handshake later, he offered Simon one of his foul black cigars while stuffing one into his own mouth. Simon waved him off.He ignited the tip of his cigar with the flame from the Zippo lighter and took a deep draw until it glowed hot red. He inhaled the smoke deeply, holding it in his lungs before exhaling it in a cloud. Then, Robert extended the lighter to Simon. “Take it. It’s yours.”“No, thanks, I don’t smoke...”“Take it. Don’t make me say it again.”Confused, Simon took the lighter. The moment his fingers touched the cold metal, a synthetic voice rang in his ears.[System transfer process initiated][Please stand by…]“What the—”“Just wait,” Robert advised, taking another puff on his cigar. [System transfer complete][Satisfaction System now has a new user, Simon Turner][Warn