Flash Marriage To The NHL Billionaire Boss

Gianna POV:

I woke up with a strange man's heavy arm locked around my waist.

I turned sideways and felt for the wallet on the nightstand, flipped it open--NHL ID: Connor Barrett.

Last night, I had actually mistaken my best friend's terrifying uncle for a club gigolo and slept with him.

My head was splitting. I tried to roll over, but his arm tightened and dragged me flush against his scorching chest. Fragments of neon lights, the club, and tequila burning down my throat rushed back.

I pinched his large, well-defined hand to move it away, my fingertips brushing against a layer of rough calluses--worn from years of gripping a hockey stick. He let out a low groan in his sleep and held me even tighter.

I held my breath and looked up by the faint light seeping through the door crack. Messy black hair, a high nose bridge, thin lips pressed tight. My gaze moved down to a prominent pale white stitched scar on the side of his neck.

I had seen that scar before--at a party at Kristin's house.

He was the power behind Aurora Sports, the legendary captain of the Boston hockey team, the Barrett family's absolute authority whose word was law. And I had slept with him.

Gritting my teeth, I wriggled out of his arms inch by inch, picked up my dress from the floor, and put it on. I stopped at the door. Given his controlling nature, if I skipped out without paying, he would tear the whole city apart to find me.

I dug out my last few hundred-dollar bills, tore a page from a notepad, scribbled, "Great service. Keep the change," and pinned them under a water glass on the nightstand before fleeing the suite.

I jabbed the elevator down button frantically. With a ding, the steel doors slid open.

Kristin was standing inside, her amber eyes wide as she took in my messy hair and the heels in my hand.

"OMG, Gigi? Why are you coming out of the penthouse VIP suite?"

My mind went blank. I forced myself to speak. "I blacked out... I hired a male escort. To celebrate dumping Jevon."

Kristin gasped, shocked and excited. She was just about to press for details when her phone started vibrating wildly.

She glanced at the screen, and her face went pale.

"It's my uncle. He only calls this early when he's about to murder someone."

She answered, her voice sugary sweet. "Good morning, Uncle Connor."

"Where are you?" Connor's cold, hard voice came through the receiver.

"I'm... I'm at the Four Seasons, heading to the office."

"Come to the penthouse suite. Now."

He hung up without another word.

Kristin gave me a desperate look. "He definitely found out I skipped work last night. Go to the office first and cover for me. I'll be right there."

She stepped out of the elevator and headed for the penthouse suite. I immediately ducked into the elevator and hit the lobby button, desperate to get away from the crime scene.

Outside the hotel, I flagged down a cab and gave the driver the address for Aurora Arena. The whole ride, I prayed I hadn't left anything with my name on it in the suite.

When I reached the arena and walked into the PR department, I knew something was off. Coworkers were huddled in small groups whispering, their faces grim.

PR Director Carolee saw me and walked over quickly.

"Gianna, you're finally here. League headquarters just sent an urgent notice--there's a massive shake-up in management. President Arthur is taking an indefinite leave for health reasons, and the majority shareholder has parachuted in a new president to take full control of the team."

I murmured a reply, walked to my desk, and turned on my computer. A top-level shake-up had nothing to do with a bottom-tier assistant like me; last night's mess was the real problem. I was about to turn and ask Carolee who exactly this new president was when the desk phone rang. The receptionist's voice came through the receiver: "Gianna, there's a Mr. Jevon downstairs. He says he has an appointment with you. Should I let him up?"

I held the receiver, my face going pale.

Jevon. My cheating ex-fiance.