Chapter 1 News Of Marriage

Jon Matthews's touch sent a wave of shivers down Dayna Allen's spine as she lay tensely on the bed, her breath escaping in a soft moan.

"Already surrendering?" Jon teased, his voice a mix of amusement and provocation, his breath warm against her ear.

Dayna's fingers tightened around his arm, her nails pressing but failing to mark his skin, as he intensified his grip, his actions rougher than she'd anticipated. Overwhelmed, Dayna eventually lost consciousness.

When she awoke, the room was silent, Jon absent. On the nightstand beside her, a watch lay atop a check.

Rising, she caught sight of herself in the mirror, her skin a canvas of their fervor.

She understood the stark reality of her relationship with Jon-his interest was solely in her body. From the outset, she had approached him, driven by the desperation to secure funds for her mother's treatment. In return for his financial assistance, she had entered into a tacit agreement: she was his secret lover, nothing more.

Their interactions were strictly transactional, each encounter meticulously compensated. The check left beside the bed, a numerical reflection of Jon's satisfaction, was just another part of their unspoken contract.

The sound of the bathroom door snapped her back to the present. Jon emerged, the contours of his muscles highlighted by the beads of water that clung to his skin, a towel loosely hung around his waist. Yet Dayna's gaze was transient, her mind elsewhere.

She moved to lay out his clothes, her movements mechanical. Jon's visits were solely for his needs; he never stayed the night.

As she buttoned his shirt, careful not to linger on the feel of the fabric, Jon's eyes met hers in the mirror. "Not satisfied?" he inquired, a hint of mockery in his tone.

"No, it's too much," Dayna responded, her voice even, her stunning features composed. She hid her desperation well, her elegant demeanor masking the turmoil beneath.

Dayna wasn't aware of Jon's silent observation, concentrating instead on assisting him with his clothing.

His voice, suddenly serious, broke the routine of their usual silence. "I'm getting married."

His words hung heavy above her as Dayna looked up, a flicker of surprise crossing her features.

She had managed his schedule as his secretary, arranging the meetings with the potential matches his mother, Helena Matthews, had chosen. Yet, nothing had ever come of these setups. Dayna had assumed they were merely formalities Jon endured to appease his mother. Over time, she had dismissed them as inconsequential.

"Is she the daughter of the Pioneer Tech's CEO?" Dayna's voice was steady, devoid of emotion, though inside, a storm brewed. It was the most recent of the dates she had scheduled for him.

"That's right," Jon confirmed simply.

A dull pain throbbed in Dayna's chest, but she masked it well. "Congratulations," she managed to say, her voice a whisper of formality.

"Our families are having a formal meeting tomorrow night. I'll leave it to you." His tone was indifferent, the underlying order stark against the backdrop of their recent intimacy.

"Okay," Dayna replied, her voice a mere echo of resignation.

Jon left without another word.

Dayna remained motionless, anchored to the spot long after his car faded into the night. It wasn't until the distant hum of the engine dissolved into silence that she move.

Sleep eluded her, her thoughts a tangled mess of confusion and sorrow. She lay awake until the first hints of dawn.

When her alarm blared again in the morning, it jolted her from her reverie. With a heavy heart, she skipped breakfast and applied makeup to conceal the signs of her sleepless night.

As she headed to work, Jon's voice crackled through her phone, instructing her to call an impromptu meeting of the executives.

Dayna settled into her office routine and had her team prepare the conference room. She then proceeded to Jon's office to make the necessary adjustments for his day.

As usual, she meticulously arranged the documents for each department and ensured the office ambiance was perfect, adjusting the scent and temperature settings just right.

Jon entered, his presence commanding as always, donned in a sharp, perfectly tailored suit. His face was set in a serious expression. Dayna handed him his morning coffee and quickly briefed him on the day's agenda.

He barely acknowledged her as he reviewed the documents she had prepared.

Checking the clock, Dayna reminded him, "Mr. Matthews, it's time for the meeting."

The meeting went on without a hitch, and once it was over, Dayna finally had a chance to breathe. Back at her desk, she noticed a gift box.

"It's from Miss Madison Scott of Pioneer Tech," one of her colleagues explained.

Curious, Dayna opened the box to find a luxurious bracelet, clearly expensive, its brand logo prominently displayed.

"Looks like everyone received one," her colleague added.

"Miss Scott certainly knows how to impress. I just checked, and this bracelet is worth over ten thousand dollars," one colleague noted, examining the luxurious piece.

"It's not just about the price, though," another chimed in. "It's a clear message. She's staking her claim on Mr. Matthews."

The office buzzed with whispers, as news of Jon and Madison's engagement was already circulating since that morning.

"Should we accept these?" someone asked Dayna, uncertainty in their voice.

"Absolutely, it would be inappropriate to refuse a gift from the future Mrs. Matthews," Dayna responded, extending her arm for her colleague to help her fasten the bracelet.