Billionaire's Lost Lover

The phone was vibrating silently on the bedside table and Emily Clarke saw the caller and picked it up.

"The fish is out and is heading towards your house, you better be careful. I am trying to send reinforcement as soon as possible." After that, the call was disconnected.

Emily's body shivered but she felt a warm hand encircle around her and she heaved a sigh of relief.

"Is everything all right?" Richard Clarke whispered.

"He knows everything. And has already arrived outside, we are covered from everywhere." Emily whispered.

"Hey, don't worry everything is going to be all right. I am going to cover up outside, till the reinforcement arrives. You go and take care of Callie." He said and he hugged her tightly as if it was their last hug. And both walked in a separate direction.

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"Callie..." she heard her mother whisper her name and she woke up from her sleep. Her mother carried her to her bedroom and made her sit on the bed and whispered.

"Callie , honey come along, we will play the game of hide and seek and you will have to hide behind the secret chamber that I had shown you that day. You are not supposed to come out till mommy comes and gets you, okay." Her mother said excitedly.

she was fully awake now and was excited about the game, as she loved hiding when her mom and she played the hide and seek game, on the weekends and the secret chamber was a secret between her mom and herself but the main reason was, she could see everything from the peephole inside it and no one would be able to see her from outside.

"But mommy, you know I am hiding here so you will find me in no time. It will be so boring" She said unhappily.

Her mother smiled at her lovingly and hugged her, "That's the fun for today as we will both hide and daddy will look for us. So how do you think the game is interesting?'

"la la la la la, ...........that would be great" Callie sang happily. "But where is daddy?" Callie asked her mother.

"He will be with us any moment. Now quickly go and hide and don't come out till you are told." Her mother instructed her and made her go inside and the secret chamber and tied a gold chain around her neck. And kissed her forehead and said. "Just remember this Callie, mommy and daddy love you and Jayden and you should always listen to your brother, okay?"

"Okay mommy, I will always listen to my big brother but when will he come back," Callie said innocently.

"He will be back soon, love. Now quickly hide and don't come out till we call you."

Callie was excited as daddy would be searching for them. It was so much fun. It was late at night and she was surprised that mommy wanted to play a game before they slept.

She sat comfortably and looked out through the peephole on the cabinet door to see if her daddy was looking for her but she couldn't see anything as the room's light was very dim. She was giggling thinking he must be looking around the house for her but was not being able to find her.

The rays of the moon fell from the night sky and entered the secret chamber and it looked bright inside.

She was bored to death and thought of giving a hint to her dad about her hiding place and was about to open the door of the secret chamber when she heard a loud noise.

She quickly peeped from the hole and saw that her mother was lying on the bed and she thought daddy had caught mommy and now he will find her and so she stood there quietly and looked outside eagerly.

Callie saw that her mom was lying on the bed and a man who did not look like her dad was naked and was approaching her mom. She panicked, as she saw him slapping her mom, she opened her mouth to protest but no voice came out. Then she tried to open the door, but it could not be opened. She looked at that man who was forcing himself on her mom, as she struggled fiercely not allowing him to touch her.

Then she saw her dad coming in and grabbing that man and they started fighting, hitting each other. she tried to see the face of the man but failed miserably as it was dark.

Then she saw the strange man pointing something at her dad and he staggered back and fell, she could see her mom struggling and trying to hit that man but all of a sudden even she collapsed back. She was shocked and puzzled as to what was happening and tried to shout but no voice came out of her mouth. She stared at her mom, motionless in her place.

And then she fainted.

When she woke up, she was lying on the bed and her granny and brother were sitting beside her. Jayden hugged her tightly but no sound came out of her mouth.

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Authors POV

Fourteen years later......

Hudson Ford managed a perfunctory grunt, but his gaze stayed riveted on the specs for the Clarke project and his mind was fixed in it. He glanced at his watch, as he had to go to the board room for a meeting with Jayden Clarke the CEO of Clarke group in less than ten minutes and he wanted everything fresh in his mind.

He had worked day and night putting ideas for this project, aware that it would be a great milestone for and Associates' Architecture to get a good go-ahead.

And it would be an even bigger coup for him personally to be asked to head up the team. He had done a lot of work. Using his ideas. Hudson had spent the last two months putting together plans and the public space layout for the Clarke project. High-rise hospital and condo buildings. And last week while he had been to San Francisco working on another major project, he received a call from Jayden telling him to come back as they needed to start the project soon.

Hudson's POV

Jayden had left a message on my mobile phone last night while he had been flying back from San Francisco to say that he will be coming to meet me the next day to discuss the project.

Which meant, I thought with a quickening excitement that they had surely won the Clarke project, as he said he wanted to discuss.

He had spent long hours working up a design for the forty-story hospital building and a park for the kids to play. It would also have shops, offices and living space for the staff on the other end. And he had gone and met Jayden personally and told him about his ideas, as he wanted to be the head of architecture for the project. So he tried to keep improving and revising the general plans, as this project was started by Jayden's Parents but had to be drooped, as they died and the project was just lying there and as soon a Jayden took over his dad's company he proposed the idea of starting the project, it was his parent's dream project.

He sighed and went towards the window and looked at the view outside, as a chopper just passed through his window noisily. He wanted to take a break and go hiking but work had been a bigger and more tempting mountain to climb. And there had always been more peaks, bigger peaks, tougher ones. And he had realized the challenge, determined to prove himself. And to make his fortune to go with it.

His family had a fortune, of course. The hotel empire that his father oversaw guaranteed that. In another family, that fortune and those connections could have paved the way for a struggling architect. But he had refused to associate with him and had his own name. In fact, he doubted whether his father even knew what he did for a living, much less had ever wanted to encourage him.

His father did not even care. As he owned buildings, he did not create them. And he had no interest in my desire too.

Author's P.O.V

The one time they had discussed his future, when he was eighteen Leo had said, "we can start you in the Los Angeles project I think."

And Hudson had said, "what ?"

"You need to get a taste of whole business from the ground up, for when you come to work for us." he had said as if it were given to him freely.

When Hudson had said. "I am not interested." Leo had raised his brows and given his eldest son a long disapproving stare when turned on his heels and walked out of the room.

End of the discussion.

Hudson would have said it was the end of the relationship, except they had not had much of one before that, either.

At least Leo's indifference had provided a wonderful incentive to do things in his way and to make his mark.

Hudson's P.O.V

I was standing in my office, feeling the cool spare elegance of the surrounding, admiring the spectacular view which also happened to include over thirty buildings, my company has been responsible for creating it and I felt that surge of determination all over.

I opened my portfolio and began laying out the sketches, I had done so we could jump right into things and the door burst open and my assistant informed me that Jayden's car had already arrived downstairs. I thanked her and stood up from my place to go to the conference room.

As I entered the conference room, I was met by strange indifferent glances around me, as this was my company's conference room but many people who were involved in this project have been invited by Jayden as his base was in Budapest and he had just come here to finish up the project. So he had been using my office as a base.

I acknowledged everyone as I went and took my seat.

After a while my secretary walked in with Jayden Clarke and everyone looked at him with awe, as he was an extremely good-looking guy, with blue eyes, I saw my secretary looking at him with interest and I don't blame her because Jayden was handsome.

He smiled at me and after acknowledging everyone, came and sat beside me.

Everyone was nervous, as they wanted to know who would be the chief architect for the Clarke project and were waiting for Jayden eagerly.

Jayden looked across everyone and then spoke very clearly. " Gentleman, as we have gathered here to officially start up the Project, which my parents had started. I would like to congratulate Mr. Hudson Ford, as I have decided to hand over the whole project to him." He said and turned towards me and held on to my hand, before congratulating me.

I was elated as this was my dream project. I could see the people around me trying to forcefully smile at me and I was least bothered, as I had worked really hard for it.

"But Mr. Clarke who would be the chief architect of this project? As it a collaborated project we would like to know, with whom will we be working?" Said Mr. Mark Dawson. Who was the chairman of the F.W.N enterprise? He was a very shrewd man and was not happy with Jayden's decision and it was evident in his face.

"Well, Mr. Dawson, I was about to go there and gentleman I request you to please cooperate with each other as it is a very important project for me and I don't want any sort of animosity amongst all of you."

Having made his point clear he continued. "This project is very close to my heart, so I have already decided that the chief architect for it will be, Callie Clarke. You must have heard about her. She is an upcoming, top-rated architect around the world and has won many awards internationally. And of course, not to mention that she is my younger sister." He concluded proudly.

"You mean to say the "Callie Clarke", who recently won RIBA International award." One of the board members asked curiously.

"Yeah, that's her," Jayden confirmed. "Please wait a moment, she will come any moment, you can meet her personally and she will give you a demo of whatever she has planned."

I was a little disappointed but was happy that I had gotten the project in my pocket and it doesn't matter who will be in charge. I had heard about Callie Clarke and was curious to meet her, as I was googling about her but there were no pictures available.

Suddenly I heard the heels cracking on the floor, as someone entered the conference room. I looked up and saw those beautiful eyes and I was awestruck and shocked. I had always dreamt about this day of meeting her again but did not expect that I would meet her in these circumstances.

" Ivy !" I exclaimed softly.

Authors POV

As Callie Clarke entered the conference room, She walked very gracefully and all the men seated around the table turned their heads and admired her beautiful features. She had brunette hair. And she was looking very sexy in her way. She was wearing a tight-fitting knee-length skirt and a white top and had matched it with high heels. She had a perfectly shaped body. Her eyes were blue in color and she and applied red Matte lipstick, which highlighted her voluptuous lips.

She smiled at everyone as she walked in and moved towards the place, where her bother was seated, only to be confronted with the deep piercing eyes of Hudson Ford, as he stared at her with astonishment.

Callie Clarke's POV

I was nervous when my brother told me that I have to meet the board members in the morning but I had prepared thoroughly, as I needed to finish up my parent's dream project. Jayden wanted me to head the project and I had readily agreed as I wanted to fulfill my mother's dream.

As I walked towards Jayden, I looked across and saw someone sitting beside him and I couldn't move my eyes away from him, as I had always imagined how would it be if we met again.

And he was looking at me with the same intensity.

But wait what is he doing here?

"Callie, I want you to meet our project head Mr. Hudson Ford and he is also the CEO of Ford and Associates Architecture," Jayden said and turned towards the man sitting beside him.

Hudson was pulled out of his musings and he got up and smiled at her and extended his hand for a handshake.

"What!" Hudson Ford, I exclaimed but isn't his real name Harry Williams." I thought and shook my head before extending my hand.

As he grasped my hand I could feel his hand holding my hand very firmly and I had to pull it back as it made me feel uneasy.

If he noticed my discomfort he didn't say anything and I was relieved that he did not.

My brother made me sit beside him.

One of the board members who was looking at me very keenly stood up and asked. " Mr. Clarke, I don't mean to be rude but if I am not mistaken Miss Callie can't speak right?"

I looked at my bother and could see his eyes flaring with anger but I held on to his hand and he relaxed and said. "Indeed, my sister can't speak but she has an interpreter who will explain everything to you. So please wait patiently." My brother said very firmly.

He gestured towards me and I got up and moved towards the white screen and tried to hold on to my emotions as Hudson or Harry had always affected me to the extreme. I could feel his eyes boring on me.

My secretary cum interpreter Scarlett came and stood beside me, as I explained it with sign language, which I knew that no one would understand. But my secretary interpreted it properly and after a long time, I heard everyone applauding my works and asking me when we would start our project.

Jayden assured them that it would start by next week and before winding up invited everyone to come for a small party which he had thrown the day after.

After a while, everyone left and I and Jayden were the only ones, apart from Hudson Ford, left in the conference room.

I looked at Jayden nervously but he was busy talking to Hudson.

When Jayden saw me staring at them he smiled and said. "Callie you must be hungry by now, lets garb something in the office cafeteria before we leave."

"Jayden, can I just review the project with miss Clarke, once again as I have some doubts about something," Hudson said suddenly when they were about to leave.

"Oh, sure carry on I will just finish up some work by then. Is it okay Kiddo?" Jayden asked me.

I just nodded my head.

My secretary had rushed out as she had whispered in my ears that she needed to pee very badly. I had merely smiled and allowed her to go.

I told my brother in my sign language to send Scarlett, he nodded and left.

As I turned towards Hudson I bumped in his hard chest and looked up to see his smiling face, as he was taller than me and his cologne was so toxifying.

Suddenly his mouth came down and captured my lips and before I could protest he was kissing me hungrily.

His seeking mouth found mine before I could move away, the warm, intimate pressure of it, transporting me to another world, my lips softening and responding before I could even think about rejecting him. My eyes widened and darkened, my fingers clutching convulsively at the thin fabric of his shirt to hold myself upright." Ah, Ivy, or should I say Callie?"

His husky voice seems to wave a spell around me , my mind and body acquiescing almost instantly to his unspoken commands. When his mouth left mine, I arched my throat instinctively giving him access to my exposed skin, his lips were seeking. Tiny fissions of reaction shivered across my flesh, a small moan suppressed in my throat, as Hudson's delicately thorough expiration triggered off feelings, I thought had gone forever. His teeth found the lobe of my ear and tugged on it gently, my fingers automatically curling into the thick springiness of hair, my body unconsciously molding itself to him.

"Ivy !"he exclaimed and his hands moved down my body, lingering against the curves of my breast the pressure of his mouth gradually increasing as it moved across my skin, teasing tormenting kisses against my trembling lips, his tongue stroking their vulnerable contours until they departed in soft invitation.

I was lost, drowning in a warm lapping sea that called out a siren song to my senses. Everything I had ever wanted or would want was there within my reach .

Suddenly there was a knock on the door and it pulled us both back to reality, as we separated ourselves from each other.

I tried to compose myself, as I fumbled with the file in front of me but I could sense that Hudson was staring at me.

"Callie are you done? D you need my help?" Scarlett said, as she entered the conference room.

She was looking at Hudson like an idiot I could feel a ping of jealousy inside me.

Hudson or Harry ! Oh god I exclaimed softly. But then I controlled my emotions and I nodded my head, speaking to her in sign language that we should make a move.

"Miss Callie, we are not finished yet and you are leaving." Hudson said flatly.

My heart was beating very fast as I wanted to escape the scrutiny of his eyes, as I could see the desire flaming in his eyes. I have to leave before I get distracted or it will sidetrack me. I thought and gestured towards Scarlett to tell him that we have to leave urgently.

I was sweating as Hudson was staring at me very intently.

"Mr. Ford, Callie has a meeting after an hour and we need to drive there as soon as possible, so why don't we continue with the discussion tomorrow." Scarlett said very tactfully.

I looked at Hudson, who merely smiled and said. "Oh, I see. Okay I won't stop you then."

I moved swiftly gesturing Scarlett to follow me and was out of the room in a few seconds. I did not stop till we reached the elevator.

Scarlett was running behind to catch up with me and as I turned I saw her struggling with her heels and I couldn't stop myself and started laughing.

Scarlett made her face and looked at me as if she was pissed off." Why did you run Callie? I had to literally struggle with my heels to catch up with you, what's wrong with you today."

I was still smiling and was about to explain it to her, when I saw someone standing outside the conference room and looking at me with challenging eyes.

I shivered and quickly grabbed Scarlett's hand and got inside the waiting lift and pressed the button to go to the parking area on the ground floor but I couldn't miss the way Hudson smiled at me, as the lift door closed and we started moving down.

Hudson POV

He was leaning on the door and looking at her face with warmth, as it had been almost four years since he had last seen her.

"Why did she run away from me? But then it's not that surprising, since she had run away four years back without any lead to trace her down and now I come to know that she is Jayden's sister. Life can be so unpredictable."

But the point is, she is Ivy for me, as I had known her with that identity, what is she hiding?

I called up my assistant and told him to find out everything about her in the next two hours, as I had to know whether the Ivy I knew existed or it was just a hoax from her side.