Cody pov

I was at the nightclub with my brother, Tristan and friends to celebrate my birthday. We were having fun. I had already been tipsy.

When I wanted to go back towards my brother after leaving the restroom, I stumbled and bumped into a girl in the hallway. I instantly wrapped my arm around her waist without letting her fall down and leaned my hand against the wall for support. She placed her hands on my chest as she looked at me with her mesmerizing brown eyes. I looked at her, lost in her eyes. She was so beautiful. I travelled my gaze from her eyes to her inviting red lips.

"Sorry." She mumbled, blushing as she pulled back.

"Don't worry, beautiful." I said, giving her a devilish grin.

She raised her eyebrow as she folded her arms over her chest. She frowned and wanted to leave. But I instantly grabbed her arm, stopping her.

"Would you like to dance with me?" I asked seductively as I reduced the distance between us.

"No." She snapped and pulled her arm away angrily.

Feisty. I like it.

"But it is my birthday. Come on." I stated in a provocative tone as I took a step towards her.

"And? What should I do for you? Firework displays or what?!" She snapped, annoyed.

"Hmm...No fireworks, but...." I paused, smirking and pretended to think. "I would gladly accept a special gift from you." I added, huskily and trailed my fingertip along her neck slowly.

She pulled back immediately as she shot daggers at me, but I had enough time for noticing how she shivered under my touch.

"What do you think you are?!" She barked as her face turned red with rage.

"Hey, Feisty. Calm down! Don't worry. I promise you will like it too." I winked at her and bit my lower lip, looking at her seductively.

Suddenly, she slapped me. "Pervert! Leave me alone!" She snapped and left in quick steps.

I watched her leave in shock. I placed my hand on my cheek reflectively and clenched my fist angrily. I breathed deeply and approached Tristan.

I poured a glass of whiskey and drank it all in a sip. I felt frustrated.

"Go easy! You drank so much." Tristan warned. "What happened? You look angry." He asked, puzzled.

"A bitch slapped me." I mumbled and poured a glass of whiskey for myself again as I pointed to that bitch with a head gesture.

"What?" He asked, puzzled as the corner of his mouth turned into a smirk.

"Don't dare to laugh!" I warned, giving him a dirty look.

"What have you done?" He asked, giving me a knowing look.

"Nothing." I mumbled and took a sip from my drink. "I asked her to dance with me."

Tristan raised his eyebrow at me, intrigued. "And?"

"Nothing more." I replied without looking at him.

He gave me an unconvinced look as he folded his arms over my chest.

I frowned, annoyed and confessed. "Fine. I asked her to spend time with me....alone."

He shook his head in disapproval. "You deserved it." He commented and took a sip from his drink.

"Tristan! She could just refuse, not slap me. We are humans after all. We can communicate compared to animals." I exclaimed, frustrated. He grinned. "And don't forget the past. How quickly you forget about your bachelor adventures. Everyone called as fast brothers." I winked at him in mischief.

"Yes, it was in the past. I have changed. I am happy with my wife and children." He confirmed.

"Yes..."

"Hey, Cody. Happy Birthday!" Suddenly, Julie interrupted me as she wrapped her arms around my neck.

"Hi. Thanks." I grinned as I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her closer to me.

I knew her from the university. Julie flirted with me every time she saw me. She was on my waiting list, but it seemed it was her turn tonight.

"Let's dance." She suggested as she whispered in my ear seductively. I nodded as I grabbed her hand and winked at Tristan before heading to the dance floor.

****

I stretched out, yawning and squeezed my eyes, grimacing as the light disturbed me. My head was pounding. The scenes from last night were blurry. I turned around, ruffling my hair and finally managed to open my eyes. Julie was sleeping beside me in the bed. I rubbed my eye as I pulled the cover away and stood up. Then I went to the bathroom.

After taking a shower, I wrapped a towel around my waist and left the bathroom.

"Good morning." Julie said, giving me a bright smile as she sat down on the bed and covered her breasts with the cover.

"Morning. Get ready. You have to go. I have a meeting early this morning." I lied and walked into the walk-in closet without waiting for her to say anything.

I put on a black suit and white shirt with a black tie. When I came back to my bedroom, Julie had already put on her clothes.

"I will call you a taxi." I stated as I grabbed my phone.

"No need. I have called." She informed, giving me a sly grin.

She approached me and placed a soft kiss on my lips as she wrapped her arm around my neck.

"Don't forget I know you very well. The same sentences, but different girls." She whispered in my ear and winked at me as she pulled back. I smirked arrogantly as I placed my hand into my pocket while watching her leave.

Then I went to our company. My brother and I worked in our family company, Carson& Sullivan Enterprises Holdings Inc. The company was established by my grandfathers.

My parents were childhood friends. As much as their marriage was an arranged marriage, they fell in love after getting married. Despite the fact that my father, Greg had fallen in love with my mother since childhood, my mother, Claudia didn't give him attention. But my father didn't stop to love her. However, fate brought them together.

When her boyfriend left her without any explanation, my father helped her; she was pregnant with her ex-boyfriend's baby. Tristan was my half-brother, but my father always loved him like his own son. Tristan saw him as his own father as well.

Tristan was married to the love of his life, Mila. Their story was complicated, but fortunately, it ended happily ever after. They loved each other so much, and they were happy with their two precious children, Joshua and Hazel. Joshua was three years old, and Hazel was one year old.

TBC.