All Chapters of ONE NIGHT STAND WITH MY STEPFATHER : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

I slammed the front door behind me, my heart still racing from another one of Mom’s lectures. The words echoed in my head like they always did. You’re not getting any younger, Evie. Men don’t wait forever. Look at what happened to me.She meant well. I knew that. But it still felt like a rope tightening around my neck.I was twenty-six, not exactly ancient, but in Mom’s world that was basically expired. She’d married Dad at twenty-seven, had me at twenty- eight, and watched him walk out when I was six. Six years of marriage, then nothing. Now she spent her days worrying I’d end up scrolling dating apps at thirty, begging for scraps of attention. So she pushed. Hard.That night I couldn’t take it anymore. I grabbed my phone and texted Alex.You free? We need to talk. It's urgent.His reply came in seconds. Always. My place or yours?Yours.I drove over with the windows down, letting the cool evening air slap some sense into me. Alex had been my best friend since high school. The kind o

The lift ride up felt electric. Mark's hand rested on my lower back, warm through my top, and neither of us said much. My head spun from the gin, but my body felt alive for the first time in ages. When the doors opened on one floor, he led me down the quiet hallway like he owned the place.He slid a key card in, and we stepped inside. The room was fancy, all soft lighting and big windows overlooking the city. I didn’t get a proper look around. As soon as the door clicked shut, he pulled me close.His mouth found mine, hungry and sure. I kissed him back hard, fingers digging into his shirt. He tasted like whiskey and something darker. My back hit the wall gently as his hands roamed down my sides, pulling my hips against him.“God, you’re beautiful,” he murmured against my lips. “Been thinking about this since I saw you at the bar.”I laughed softly, breathless and drunk. “Then stop talking and show me.”He did. His fingers worked the buttons on my top, pushing it off my shoulders. I tu

Dinner dragged on like a bad dream I couldn’t wake up from. Mum kept chatting away, passing dishes and laughing at Mark’s stories about property deals and tricky clients. I pushed food around my plate, nodding at the right moments, but my mind kept replaying that hotel room. The cash. My angry words. And now this man sitting across from me like he belonged here. Mum stood up suddenly, wiping her hands on her apron. “Let me check on the dessert. I made that apple crumble you like, Evie. Won’t be a minute.” She disappeared into the kitchen, humming softly. The door swung shut behind her, leaving me alone with Mark. The silence hit hard. I gripped my wine glass tighter. Mark leaned back in his chair, that familiar smirk creeping onto his face. “So, Evelyn,” he said quietly, voice low enough that only I could hear. “Small world, isn’t it?” I shot him a sharp look. “Don’t. Not here.” He chuckled softly, eyes glinting. “Come on. You throw money at a man, call his performance pathetic

I sat there frozen as Alex stepped fully into the kitchen, flowers in hand and that familiar desperate look on his face. My stomach twisted. This was the last thing I needed after last night. Mum clapped her hands together, delighted. “Alex! What a lovely surprise. Come in, come in. Have you eaten? We have plenty left.” Alex smiled at her, then turned to me with soft eyes. “Hey, babe. I missed you.” He walked over and kissed my cheek before I could pull away. His arm slid around my waist like we were still together. Like nothing had happened in that car three weeks ago. I stiffened. I wanted to shove him off and tell Mum the truth right there, that the engagement had been fake, that he’d tried to force himself on me, that we were done. But Mum was already chatting away, pulling out another plate. “Oh, you two are just the sweetest. After all those months planning the future together. I was starting to worry when I hadn’t heard from you, Alex.” She looked so happy. Her eyes sparkl

The next few weeks turned into a blur of endless lists and phone calls. Three major events on my plate at once. I had a solid team at Aurora, good people who knew their jobs. Sarah handled logistics like a pro. James was brilliant with lighting and stage setups. Lisa managed catering and vendors without missing a beat. But if I didn’t stay on top of everything, the events wouldn’t turn out the way I wanted. They were talented, sure, but they didn’t have my vision. So I always jump in, directing every detail. I decided to tackle the charity gala first. It was the closest deadline. The Hale’s Corporation wanted something elegant but impactful. I spent hours in my office sketching layouts. We went with a classic black and gold theme. Crystal chandeliers, tall floral arrangements on every table, soft lighting that made the ballroom glow. I called suppliers myself to make sure the linens were exactly the right shade. James and I walked the venue twice, marking spots for the stage and sile