Dream Crusher

DREAM CRUSHER IONA ROSE CONTENTS Author’s Note Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Epilogue Coming Soon - sample chapters About the Author Also by Iona Rose AUTHOR’S NOTE Hey there! Thank you for choosing my book. I sure hope that you love it. I'd hate to part ways once you're done though. So how about we stay in touch? My newsletter is a great way to discover more about me and my books. Where you'll find frequent exclusive giveaways, sneak previews of new releases and be first to see new cover reveals. And as a HUGE thank you for joining, you'll receive a FREE book on me! With love, Iona Get Your FREE Book Here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/v9yit8b3f7 DREAM CRUSHER Copyright © 2023 Iona Rose The right of Iona Rose to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the copyright, designs and patent act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. All characters in this publication are fictitious, any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Publisher: Some Books 1 LANE When I graduated high school, I was voted ‘Most Likely to Succeed’. My classmates who voted for me probably meant it as an insult. Because when you’re seventeen, it’s not cool to be ambitious. It's much more socially acceptable to live in the moment having fun and partying. Which was probably why I never had any interest in hanging out with the cool crowd anyway. Working was more my thing… and being involved with every club and organization that would look good on my college applications. Even as a teenager, I had a laser focus set on succeeding and proving others wrong. So when our senior yearbooks came out, and everyone in my class laughed as they congratulated me on my superlative, it didn’t bother me as much as it would have bothered other girls. As my grandma used to say; living well is the best revenge. One day, I will have the last laugh. I just hoped it wouldn’t take too much longer to finally earn just a little bit of success. I need to achieve something before it’s too late to matter. This is the goal that motivates me every morning. And when I’m motivated, everyone had better look out. “Is my two o’clock here yet?” I ask our receptionist as I come sprinting around the corner of the lobby of the bank where I work, and nearly collide with a large potted plant. My heels click on the polished marble floor and echo through the massive three story entryway. “Not yet.” Janice reassures me with a smile. Phew, I think to myself. I have another jam packed day of back to back meetings, and haven’t had a chance to eat yet. “Thank goodness, I’m just going to run out to grab a sandwich. When they get here do you mind…?” “Stalling?” Janice asks, reading my mind. “Not at all. Take your time.” “Thank you.” I say, giving Janice a wave as I make a run for the door. Just as I’m turning, I smack into something that feels like a brick wall. It sends me flying backwards, and it’s all I can do to maintain my balance in the four inch heels I’m wearing. I let out a small startled scream, but just as I’m about to topple over a hard hand lands on my elbow and pulls me upright. I look up, and meet a pair of piercing ice-blue eyes. “I’m sorry, are you ok?” blue eyes asks, as if he were the one who ran into me. We both knew it was very much the other way around. “Yeah, I’m sorry.” Regaining my balance, I look down at his hand that is still on my elbow and back up to his chiseled face. He smiles suavely before letting go. I take a moment to scan this man up and down, savoring every detail. He’s well over six feet, and I can tell from the way it felt to run into his chest that he is built very, very, very solidly. “Can I help you?” Janice asks him. It's only then I realize I am still staring at him and haven’t said a word. “Yes, I’m here for a meeting,” he answers Janice, but his eyes are still locked on mine. “Yes, you must be Mr. Dunkirk. Let me show you to the elevator. They are waiting for you up on the fortieth floor.” I watch stupidly as he follows Janice. To my great embarrassment, he turns and gives me a quick smile before he reaches the elevator bank. Awkwardly, I offer a small wave, then totally check out his ass until he disappears from my sight. I lean against Janice’s desk and stare into space. “Nice looking, isn’t he?” she comments approvingly when she returns. “What? I mean, maybe.” I say, doing my best to hide the fact that I’m still trying to picture what he looks like with his shirt off. I practically salivate as I remember how hard his stomach felt when my hand briefly brushed up against it. He had at least an eight pack, and rock hard biceps. “What did you say his name was?” “Chris Dunkirk. He’s meeting with the commercial lenders upstairs.” Janice says as she motions towards the set of fancy elevators in the back of the