HIS RULES, HER RUIN

Chapter One

Jaxon Hawthorne

I stood by the mirror, clad in a black tuxedo suit, i fastened the heavy links of my Rolex watch. Just then, a voice low and sultry, purred from behind me.

"Jax, I've missed you."

Lovie's arms wound around my waist, her lips pressing small, possessive bites on my neck. Her hand glided over my chest, a physical claim on something she didn't own.

The door burst open. Rey, my brother, strode in, his eyes full of contempt. "Really, are you two doing this now? Aren't we leaving?" he demanded.

Lovie gave him an annoying glare. "We're coming, nitwit," she snapped.

"b***h," Rey muttered under his breath, turning his back on us as he walked out.

Lovie's sultry voice returned. "I'll save that energy for later," she whispered, biting my earlobe just hard enough to make a point before finally releasing me. She sashayed toward the bed, her hips swaying with a practiced rhythm. She picked up her bag and came back to me, her hand sliding into the crook of my elbow. "Let's go, Jax."

When we got to the car, Rey was already inside, his disgust so palpable. He scoffed loudly as we approached. Lovie responded with a sharp hiss.

"Really, are you two going to start early this morning?" I said, my voice rising with frustration.

"Jax, isn't this annoying Rey?" Lovie whined, feigning a tear.

"F*cking hypocrite," Rey shot back.

"Be quiet, both of you," I shouted, turning the key in the ignition. The engine's low growl was a welcome sound, a dull roar that drowned out their petty bickering.

The car pulled up to the Wanderlust Agency, a towering, expensive building that glimmered with glass. As always, Lovie's grip on my arm was tight as we walked through the doors. The staff murmured polite greetings, their voices hushed and fearful. "Good morning, boss. Good morning, Miss Lovie."

We took the private elevator to the 24th floor. The doors slid open, and Lovie's hand remained entwined with mine as we walked to my office. Lydia, my personal assistant, rushed to meet us.

"Good morning, Mr. Jax. Good morning, Miss Lovie," she said.

Lovie didn't even look at her. She just walked past and threw herself onto the couch. "Hey, you," she barked.

Lydia stopped. "How may I help you, Miss Lovie?"

"Get me my usual morning coffee," Lovie said, holding out a blank card. She eyed Lydia with a sneer. "What a cheap top," she said, before disgustedly tossing the card onto the floor. "Go now, pauper."

Lydia picked up the card without a word and hurried out.

*******

"At 2:30 a contract signing with Maxlifestyle magazine is scheduled," she said, looking into the tablet. From there, Miss Lovie and Mr. Rey will be going to a fashion shoot."

Lovie emerged from the restroom, her face now completely made up. "I'm ready, Jax," she said. "We can go." She pushed past Lydia on her way out. "Leave the road, bitch."

*******

I wrote “Jaxon Hawthorne” signing my name. Cli, cli, cli…. The sound of media reporters taking shots and clapping filled the room.

"Mr jaxon, we are so grateful to have you here in our company", Mr Raymond, CEO of Maxlifestyle magazine, said.

"Yeah, it's my pleasure, Mr Raymond. I replied, the room erupted in applause and the sound of cameras clicking.

"Mr. Jaxon and Miss Lovie," Mr. Raymond said, with a broad smile on his face. "You will both make a perfect match. I can't wait for your wedding invitations."

Rey, standing just behind me, let out a low, fake cough.

Lovie leaned closer, flashing a dazzling ring she'd bought herself. "Soon, Mr. Raymond," she said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. "We'll be sending them out soon. Right, Jax?" She pressed a possessive kiss to my cheek.

As we walked out, reporters swarmed us, cameras flashing, "Oh my god, that’s Mr. Jaxon" different voices muttered.

"Lovie you are so pretty," another voice said.

"Thank you" Lovie replied, smiling widely for the cameras.

“We heard you both will be getting married soon,” another reporter said.

Then a new voice, louder than the rest, cut through the crowd. "We heard you both are just f*cking buddies!"

Rey laughed.

Lovie's smile froze, but she quickly hid her anger. "Some people just have bad energy," she said to the camera. "If we were 'f*cking buddies,' how could he propose to me?" She leaned in, pressing her body against mine, and whispered, "Isn't that right, Jax?"

I started walking away, and Lovie rushed to keep up.

*****

"Are you coming to the fashion shoot with us?" she asked.

"No," I replied. "I'll drop you two off at the company. Your driver can take you from there."

She scoffed, her face twisting in anger. "I can't cope with being in the same car with that annoying bastard."

"Who the f*ck wants to be in a car with a psycho b***h who lies about being engaged?" Rey shot back.

"Wait and see when I will finally be getting the real ring," she said.

"Just keep dreaming Lovie, you are nothing but a f*cking buddy,” Rey said.

Lovie screamed in anger and lunged at Rey with her bag. "Both of you. Get out of my car, or sit there quietly like sensible human beings." My voice was calm and low, but it was enough to stop them.

"Jax, isn't it…” she began to say, but I cut her off with a hard glare, and she immediately went silent.

Lovie slumped back into the seat, defeated. Her armless burgundy dress revealed a glimpse of cleavage, and she sprawled her legs across the dashboard, her smooth thigh exposed by the high slit in the dress. The car filled with a tense silence. Rey put on his headphones, and Lovie furiously typed on her phone. I just focused on the road.