Ian's POV

Present Day

"Yes Iris," I say buzzing the intercom for my assistant.

"This is the second time your mother is calling, she said to tell you it's important and you should call her back."

"I thought I told you to tell her I'm busy."

"Yeah I did, you know your mother she's persistent."

"Okay I'll call her back, anything else." I ask

"No sir like you said I should hold all your calls."

"Yeah okay."

My mother has been hounding me calling me more than once a day. I mean I love her but a little space would help. She still thinks I'm heartbroken over Kathy and Ethan. But it has been 2 years, I might still be heartbroken but I'm trying to get past it and her mentioning it every time we talk isn't helping.

"Hello Mother," I say immediately she answers.

"Hello honey, how are you? So you've forgotten your mother. When are you coming back to the US?”

"Mother slow down, I'm fine in fact I'm doing better than fine and I haven't forgotten you, just been a little busy with the new Bancroft international chains opening in London. And I just got back to London like a week ago mother so I probably won't be home in a while."

"Okay but I miss you, we all miss you. I hope it's not because of Kathy because I think I've found someone perfect for you."

"Mother please stop, I'm completely over Kathy and I hope she and Ethan are happy, and please stop with the match making I'm fine. I have to be in a meeting in 5 minutes so we'll talk soon. I love you."

"Okay, I love you too and please make sure you're eating well."

"Of course mother, bye."

I say cutting the call before she engages me in another conversation.

It's been 2 years since Kathy and my brother Ethan have been married, you would think everyone has forgotten about my past with her but no. It gets mentioned every time we have a conversation. I loved her and it didn't work out, I mean not everyone is destined to be with the one they love.

I moved to London completely a few months after their wedding, I was still deeply in love with her at the time but I also had work so I pushed myself deeply into it. Bancroft industries were expanding into Europe then so it was perfect for me.

To be able to get away from my past, to be able to forget her.

"Anderson" I say answering my cell phone.

"What's up mate," he answers with his thick British accent. "We still having drinks later?" He asks.

"Yeah, at the Croft."

"Okay see you in a bit" he says ending the call.

Andrew Anderson and I met in college, Oxford University in the UK and have been best friends since then. We'd done a good job of staying in touch over the years, but the last couple had been tough. Once Andrew took over the day-to-day running of his family's company after his Father's death, and Bancroft Industries was taken over by Ethan and I. We've both been busy over the years but we still managed to stay close, he was particularly excited when I told him I was moving to London for a while.

"What's up, you look particularly tired today," Andrew says to as we order our drinks in an underground club I own in downtown London.

"You can't believe the week I've had, my mother called like a million times."

"She did," he says laughing. "Fixing you up?" He adds.

"You know it."

"Why don't you just give in, I mean don't marry them or anything but fuck at least."

"No can't do that, because my mom usually finds out and it becomes this whole thing again, so it's better to stay clear. Plus I'm having so much fun with British girls, I like it here."

"Can't argue about that with you." He says smirking.

"Oh before I forget, I'm going to be gone for a while. Exchanging with Chloe, she's coming back from Paris later today. And I'll be going to Paris. I was thinking maybe she should get the penthouse at your hotel, since our family home is under renovations and she doesn't want my advice on finding a new apartment."

"Yeah sure, she could take the one beside me."

"She would also be taking over our new project together, I've already put her up to speed on the contract so she already knows what to do."

"Wow little Chloe is all grown up."

"Yeah she is, I almost can't believe it. But to me she's always going to my little sister."

"By the way while I'm gone please look after her. I don't want any creepy dudes out there with her and she's going to be alone for the holidays. Our dad died during the holidays so it's particularly a rough time for her. Having you around could help. You two should hang out. Since you'll be alone too."

"Yeah sure."

"Oh and breakfast tomorrow at my place." Andrew adds, "Chloe and Christy will be there."

"Yeah sure I'll be there."

"So what's up with you, what about that girl from last night."

"We had fun after you left. She was hot but she wants a relationship so won't be seeing her anytime soon. The sex was great though."

"What about you with what's her name, uhnm Hanna right?"

"Going to her place after this, have been having fun with her and of course the sex is great. She doesn't want a relationship too so it's perfect for me." Andrew says.

After that whole thing with Kathy and Ethan, having Anderson around really helped me. He was really there for me making sure I remember all the fun we had back in college. We were both manwhores back then not that we are any different now but at least when I met Kathy I became a better man but now that I have realized that being the way I was before will forever be better than falling in love, everything is much easier.

“I better get going, see you tomorrow.” Andrew says.

“Alright tomorrow.”

Chloe's POV

I almost chickened out about family breakfast when I heard Ian was coming too. Thinking I could just make up something about being jet lagged but then I'm not the same person I was a year ago, at least I think. I may have chickened out that day about having sex with Ian but not anymore, I still want him and I still can't forget how he looked at me that day with so much desire that made my thighs clench together.

I just hope he doesn't remember that day, well he was pretty drunk so it's possible. I also hope he doesn't just dismiss me because I'm his best friend little sister.

This is the first time I've tried to dress up for breakfast just to impress a guy, I mentally scold myself. I dress up in a red v neck sweater that curves my body, bringing out the outline of my breast and a little cleavage and then tight jeans that outlines my hips and ass. I put on little my makeup and let my long blonde hair down.

Yesterday when I landed I stayed at my brother's place, I'm suppose to get the penthouse at a hotel. Ian's hotel before the renovations are not done at our family home, the house I grew up in.

But I got in late so I just stayed at my brother's, actually he wanted me to stay with him.

The family breakfast/ brunch is at my brother's place, my sister is coming too. She stays in Norwich with her Husband and my beautiful nephew Eddie. I come out of my brother's guest room and go downstairs hearing my brother, sister and Ian talking. I take a deep breath in before walking into the dining room.

"Auntie Auntie Auntie," Eddie shouts noticing me first before running to me and hugging me. I bend down hugging him back. I really missed him, saw him a month ago when he and my sister were in Paris but I did actually missed him alot.

"My favorite baby" I say kissing his cheeks, "I missed you."

"I missed you too" he says kissing both my cheeks.

After I pull away I look to my brother Andy, my sister Chrissy and Ian all staring at us.

My sister hugs me next, "you won't believe how excited Eddie has been when I told him you're coming back."

"So you weren't excited," I ask Chrissy shooting her a look.

"She missed you, we all missed you." Andy says hugging me next. "You remember Ian" he says pointing at him beside him. "

“Yeah" I say gasping a little bit as Ian surprises me with a hug.

"Hello Coco" he says hugging me, my heart beats fast not because of his strong body pressed against mine or his manly smell but because he remember the day I almost slept with him a year ago. He didn't need to mention it but I could feel it in the way he called me Coco because that day I specially used my childhood nickname as my name with him.

"Wow I see I'm not only one who still calls you Coco" my sister says holding my hands as I pull away from Ian.

"So let's eat," Andy says as we all sit down for breakfast. I sit down directly opposite Ian. I could feel his eyes the entire time me as my heart beats faster. Get it together Chloe, you're better than this I mentally scold myself.

"First of all let me begin by telling you how obviously proud of you I am, Chloe.” Andy says. “I mean we all knew you were a genius and all but what you've done since you joined the company has been amazing."

"Dad would be so proud" Chrissy adds.

"Thank you" I say smiling "but we're not talking about work and any of it today. I just missed you guys so much and I'm so happy you're here with me."

"Let's make a toast to you then Coco," Ian says raising his glass of mimosa.

"To you baby Chloe and to the incredible woman you're becoming." My brother says as we all toast together.

Throughout the meal, I couldn't help but notice the weight of Ian's stare on me, the flash of heat I felt when his gaze roamed along my skin. Even little things about him—like the way his lips closed around his fork—enthralled me, and it was maddening.

My plan was back on track, try to seduce make him want me, the way I've always wanted him.

Finally, breakfast was done, the last of the plates cleared away, and I was ready to pull a page from my seduce Ian playbook.

As my brother and Ian talked about the football scores and my sister and Eddie talked about something I wasn't quite listening to, I excused myself to the restroom, needing to quickly relieve myself and check my appearance.

I gazed at my reflection in the mirror as I texted my best friend Mia.

I just had breakfast with Ian, and I'm sure he remembers that day a year ago in Manchester.

What should I do? Should I back out of seduce the Ian plan?

I don't want him telling my brother about it. I double text. Looking at time and the time difference she wouldn't reply in at least 6 hours. Taking two deep breaths I went back to the living room where they were all sitting.

"Chloe your boxes have been taken to your penthouse at the hotel." Andy says. “You’ll drive with Ian, Smith is taking me to the airport in 30 minutes."

"I'll have to leave soon too" my sister says. "I have a surgery to be at in 5 hours. We'll talk over the weekend." “Go give your aunt a hug,” she says to Eddie.

After bidding everyone goodbye, I'm finally alone with Ian. And everything on my body feels cold because of his close proximity to me, the way he eyes roamed around me. He led us to the car parked outside and opens the door for me before sitting in beside me.