The Echo Of Love

"Help me, please..."

Late at night, in a private room of a bar, Baylee Morrison found herself straddling a man clad in a sleek suit. With a voice husky and drenched in desperation, she pleaded, "Please, help me..."

Her system was ablaze from the drug, her beautiful face flushed with an urgent desire.

Before the man could react, the drug took full hold, stripping Baylee of all reason. She leaned down, planting a fervent kiss on his Adam's apple.

The man, clearly inebriated himself, lounged lazily against the sofa, his arms draped casually at his sides. He watched Baylee's bold advances with a mix of amusement and intrigue, his eyes half-closed.

As Baylee's kisses rained down, a spark of desire ignited within him. His hand slid up her smooth, delicate back, and with a gentle tug, he pulled her into his embrace.

Baylee's body shivered, and then her lips moved upward, capturing his in a hungry kiss.

He reacted instantly, his kiss a heady mix of passion and urgency.

His tongue delved into her mouth, entwining with hers as an eager participant in the ensuing heated encounter.

As their fervor escalated, the man deftly unzipped the back of Baylee's dress.

The alluring curves of Baylee's chest came into view, a sight to drive any man wild.

But just as things were about to escalate further, a wallet slipped from Baylee's body, landing in the man's lap.

The sight of it seemed to jolt Baylee's memory. She reached into the wallet, pulled out a wad of cash, and pressed it against his chest. "Here's your payment..."

At her words, the man's expression darkened instantly, his eyes turning cold and menacing.

Suppressing a surge of anger, he tossed the money aside and seized Baylee's slender wrist, a sardonic smile curling his lips. "What do you think I am?"

Baylee, her mind muddled, mumbled incoherently, "Aren't you a gigolo from the bar..."

Before she could finish, she was drenched with a splash of red wine.

"Snap out of it!" The man set down the empty glass and gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Take a good look at who I am."

The cold wine snapped Baylee back to reality, forcing her to look at the indifferent man before her.

His face was a masterpiece of handsomeness, with a jawline as sharp as a sculptor's chisel and features as precise as a painter's brush. His bone structure was a testament to strength and angularity. His eyes, normally stunning, and his lips, full and elegant, now told a different story.

At this moment, those fierce, narrow eyes brewed a storm so terrifying that chills raced down Baylee's spine.

As recognition set in, shock overtook her senses.

She sobered up instantly, trembling, eyes widening in disbelief, and stammered, "You're my..."

Before she could finish, she clamped her mouth shut.

She couldn't bring herself to say the word.

The man before her was Julian Lewis, her husband of three years, whom she had never laid eyes on until now!

In her desperate, drug-induced haze, the "gigolo" she had found was Julian himself!

But it seemed Julian didn't recognize her...

It made perfect sense. Their marriage, a hollow formality dictated by their families, lacked any genuine connection.

Because of this, Julian harbored such disdain for her that even their marriage registration had been managed by his assistant. They had never met face-to-face. Naturally, he didn't recognize her now.

Baylee felt a burning need to explain, but before she could utter a word, Julian shoved her away with disgust.

She stumbled, trying to regain her balance, as Julian's cold, harsh command rang out. "Stay away and cool down!"

The wrath emanating from him made Baylee's body tremble uncontrollably.

Julian stood up, buttoning his suit jacket with an expression of pure loathing. "Are you out of your mind? How dare you attempt to throw yourself at me?"

Baylee didn't dare respond, shivering as she moved to the other side of the room.

After a long, hesitant pause, she finally gathered the courage to reveal her identity. "Actually, I am your..."

But then she was cut off by Julian's phone suddenly ringing.

He glanced at the screen and turned away to take the call.

After a brief conversation, his voice turned icy. "I know, stop pressuring me. I'll divorce Baylee soon."

Hearing her name, Baylee froze, her breath catching in her throat as she looked at Julian, who now appeared impatient and contemptuous.

"Yeah... I'm gonna have my lawyer take care of it soon." Julian's voice was as cold as ever. "Don't worry, I've wanted a divorce for a long time! I've had it with this wife; she shouldn't have married me in the first place!"

Julian's declaration of his intention to divorce her hit Baylee like a bucket of cold water, causing the resolve she had gathered moments before to vanish instantly.

While Julian was still on the phone, Baylee turned abruptly, pushed open the door of the private room, and fled without looking back.

Shortly after, Julian finished his call and turned to where Baylee had been standing, only to find that she was nowhere to be seen.

She was gone!

Julian rubbed his aching temples, replaying the recent intimate encounter in his mind.

Beyond the anger of being mistaken for a gigolo, he felt an indescribable emotion he couldn't quite pinpoint.

Before he could delve into it further, the door to the private room swung open again.

Julian assumed it was Baylee returning, but to his surprise, it was his friend Malcolm Greville who entered.

Julian's voice was as cold as a winter's chill. "You really are out of your mind. Why would you bring me to such a shady bar?"

Malcolm defended himself, saying, "You're too harsh. This is the finest bar in the area!"

Julian couldn't bring himself to divulge the bizarre encounter with the woman who had stormed in and tried to seduce him, so he sighed and shifted the conversation. "Did you find the planner I asked for?"

Malcolm shook his head, saying, "I've reached out and will keep looking."

The next evening, Baylee was lounging at home when her boss, Aidan Patel, called.

Wasn't today her day off? What in the world did Aidan want now?

Once she answered the call, Aidan's booming voice rang out, threatening to burst her eardrum. "Baylee! Where are you? This is urgent!"

Baylee was perplexed. She was about to ask what was going on when Aidan continued, "I'm working on a huge project and need your help. Dress up nicely and meet me at Red Nightclub in two hours!"

Aidan hung up before she could protest. In fact, she was reluctant to meet him at the club.

The previous evening, she'd found herself in a tight spot, trying to land a project with a client while he turned out to be far from a gentleman. He not only attempted to molest her but also slipped something into her drink.

She'd managed to slip away, only to bump into Julian, her husband, almost causing a scene...

Therefore, after such an ordeal, Baylee wasn't exactly thrilled at the prospect of revisiting such a venue.

Yet, she couldn't afford to pass up the job. Financial obligations were pressing, and she needed the income.

Letting out a resigned sigh, Baylee swapped her attire and headed to Red Nightclub.

She was dressed in a form-fitting cocktail dress. Though her accessories were few and modestly priced, each carried a distinct flair.

Her outfit, not typical for Red Nightclub, set her apart from the more extravagantly dressed barmaids.

Upon seeing Aidan, Baylee wasted no time and asked, "What's the urgency with this project?"

Aidan's excitement was palpable. "You won't believe it! It's a massive opportunity! Do you have any idea about the budget the client is throwing around?" His voice quivered with anticipation. "Fifty million! This could be our big break!"

Baylee was floored by the staggering figure. "This project seems overwhelming. I'm not sure if I'm up for it."

"You've got to trust me on this. With you on board, we've got this in the bag!" Aidan urged, giving her a supportive pat on the shoulder. "You've built a reputation in the industry as Sia Dayne. It's time to tackle projects that match your caliber. If it weren't for me holding you back, you'd already be a household name."

Baylee interjected quickly, "Don't say that. Star Company has played a huge role in my success."

Aidan picked up on her hesitation and pushed further. "Think about it. Seal this deal, and this could be your breakthrough to financial independence!"

Aidan draped an arm around her.

Financial independence...

For a moment, Baylee's mind wandered.

She was in desperate need of the money.

Seeing her hesitation, Aidan continued, "Consider your family's debts and your sister's medical bills. Her medication costs alone..."

"I understand." The mention of her sister solidified Baylee's determination. "I'll close this deal. No question."

"That's the spirit!" Aidan grinned. "Let's head in now!"

Making their way to the private room, Baylee trod closely behind Aidan, mentally rehearsing her pitch.

"Ease up. Don't put too much pressure on yourself." Aidan comforted her.

He positioned himself beside Baylee, draping an arm around her and resting his head against her shoulder. "Keep your sister and our dreams in mind; that's all the motivation you need. I'll be right outside, waiting for your triumph!"

Although Aidan was her boss, they were actually close friends, having co-founded Star Company together. Their strong friendship was built on trust and mutual respect over time.

And besides, Aidan was gay, so Baylee didn't mind the physical closeness.

Not far off, Julian was being ushered into the nightclub, his gaze immediately drawn to Baylee.

Her tall, graceful figure and meticulously done-up face commanded attention, eclipsing everything around her.

Julian was momentarily entranced.

But then he noticed the man by her side, dressed flamboyantly and clinging to her like a lost puppy.

The guy and Baylee were deep in conversation, completely unaware that Julian was nearby.

Was this woman now consorting with some nightclub charmer?

Recalling the previous night's events when Baylee mistook him for a gigolo, Julian couldn't help but furrow his brow, instructing the waiter, "Let's take another route."

It seemed luck wasn't on his side today as he encountered this promiscuous woman once more.

He blamed Malcolm for choosing such a place for their meeting. He hoped the planner they were meeting would live up to his expectations.

Meanwhile, with Aidan's encouragement, Baylee finally summoned the courage to approach the private room.

Just as she was about to push the door open, a familiar figure caught her eye through the small window, sending her heart into a frenzy.

Seated inside was the man she'd nearly had sex with the night before; it was her husband, Julian!

Why was it Julian?

"Is he the client you aim to secure for a collaboration?" Baylee stepped back, her disbelief directed at Aidan.

"Yeah. That's Julian Lewis, CEO of Blue Capital," Aidan responded with a smile. "You've heard of him, haven't you?"

Wearing a bitter smile, Baylee pictured Julian's likely shock upon seeing her.

She felt a strong urge to back out. "I can't go in, I..."

Before she could finish, Aidan nudged her forward into the room.

The noise at the entrance caught Julian's attention. Locking eyes with Baylee, his neutral expression quickly soured into clear disdain.

"Why are you here?" he inquired, his tone frosty.

Her persistent presence seemed like a direct provocation to him.

Trapped, Baylee inhaled deeply, tamping down her nerves to muster a courteous smile. "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lewis. I'm Sia. I have a business deal to discuss with you."

"A business deal?" Julian's skepticism was evident. "With me? Do you even realize who I am?"

Remembering that she had mistaken him for a gigolo at the bar and her recent closeness with another man, he doubted the credibility of her business intentions.

Julian jumped to the conclusion that Baylee intended to keep him as a male escort.

Such a notion was foreign to him, bordering on the ludicrous.

He was truly impressed by her audacity.

"I'm aware," Baylee replied, striving to maintain composure. "But I still aim to strike a deal with you."

Julian interpreted her persistence as a personal interest in him, which only amplified his disdain.

"I don't want to hear another word," he commanded, his voice ice-cold. "Leave."

Baylee was in a state of panic; she hadn't even begun to explain.

Desperate, she reached for Julian's hand, her plea sincere. "Mr. Lewis, I genuinely wish to discuss business with you. Regardless of any previous misunderstandings, I ask you not to dismiss me outright. Please, allow me a moment to explain my proposal."

Julian viewed her insistence as absurd.

Withdrawing his hand, he looked at her with disdain. "You're that desperate?"

Did she think having one man by her side was insufficient, aiming to involve him as well?

Was her goal to have them both at her beck and call?

"Yes." Baylee nodded, her resolve unwavering.

This was her lifeline.

Failing to secure this deal meant being unable to cover her sister's medical expenses, let alone manage her own basic needs.

"Do you believe you're capable?" Julian's words carried a hint of sarcasm.

"How will you know unless you're willing to listen?" Baylee responded, meeting his gaze with a calm smile.

"Quite bold of you!" Julian mocked. "But are you sure you're up to the challenge?"

Sensing a glimmer of possibility, Baylee responded eagerly, "If it's within my power, I'll do whatever it takes. What matters most... is your willingness to consider my offer."

She was prepared to go above and beyond to ensure the success of this significant deal, eager to fulfill any requirements he might have for the event.

Consider her offer?

Consider being her male escort?

Baylee's straightforward approach pushed Julian to his limit.

He sternly warned her, "Your proposal doesn't interest me. If you don't leave this instant, I'll ensure you're barred from Breross!"