Chapter: CHAPTER 25COLE I stormed through the doors of my bedroom, my fingers desperately fumbling with my tie until I finally yanked it loose. I flung it onto the neatly arranged bed along with my suit jacket before walking into the bathroom. I stopped in front of the mirror and stared at my reflection. What the fuck had happened to me? I looked like like a man who had completely lost control of himself. And I hated it. I knew Emily had been working late tonight. I was the one who had sent her the late work schedule, knowing exactly how long it’d take for her to finish from the office. I could have left it at that. Instead, I’d found myself staring at the security cameras feed like some old creep, even though I was already done for the day. I hadn’t wanted to turn the cameras on. I’d actually sat there for a few seconds arguing with myself before giving in. And there she was. Emily. I watched her walk into the conference room, placing each folder neatly in front of t
Last Updated: 2026-08-25
Chapter: CHAPTER 24EMILY The past few days had been hectic with work, but the strangest part was Cole. We had spent several nights working through a launch date for the fake project and a few other projects that had piled up on our desk. Yet, despite the long hours sitting across from each other, I could feel the cold shoulder he had been giving me. He was there, but something about him felt distant. There something else beneath it too, something I couldn’t quite put a name to. And apparently, whatever was wrong with him had somehow changed rubbed off on me. Because lately, I’d caught myself staring at him for longer than I should. It happened in those late hours when the office had grown quiet and the only sound was the occasional click of his keyboard. My eyes would wonder to him without permission, lingering on the way his fingers moved across the keys, the slight crease between his brows when he concentrated, or the way he leaned back in his chair when he was thinking. I didn’t
Last Updated: 2026-08-24
Chapter: CHAPTER 23EMILY My eyes widened as recognition slammed into me. Six years. Six whole years had passed, and somehow, I was standing in a restroom with my high school best friend. “Lillian?” Her name softly fell from my lips. She didn’t say a word. Her hands clasped together in front of her chest as she nodded repeatedly, her eyes glossy with tears. I let out a long, disbelieving sigh. “You mean Lillian Anderson from Kingswood academy?” I asked, suprise lacing my voice. She let out a full-bellied laugh. “Yes, Emily, it’s me. And I’m glad you remembered me from my name. For a second there, I felt like I was keeping some big secret from you. “Wait!” My eyes widened. “You knew it was me from the moment you walked in?” “The moment I walked in, the first thing I noticed was your ginger-brown hair. You had it pulled to the side, and I remember thinking there was no way I knew someone with that exact shade of hair.” She laughed softly. “Then I saw the mole on your left shou
Last Updated: 2026-08-24
Chapter: CHAPTER 22EMILY What the hell did I just here? Troy Kingswood was in town and in this same building as well? The last article I read about him stated he’d moved out of the country and was now living his best life as a bachelor in London . The memory I’d buried for years began to crawl its way into my mind, reminding me of how cruel he was to me back in high school. The way he’d create every chance and opportunity to call me a fat pig or four eyes anytime he saw me, or when he and some of his friends would break into my locker and pick some of my textbooks. And anytime I threatened to report them to the principal, Troy always had a way of shoving the fact that his family owned the school across my face, making me stay quiet and become an object of their ridicule. I couldn’t shake the image of him and his friends creating a circle around me after lunch breaks while Cole just stood at the side like he normally did, watching and only stopping them when they began to get handsy
Last Updated: 2026-08-18
Chapter: CHAPTER 21EMILY ‘You like what you see?’ The words rang in my ears, making my body go stiff like the Statue of Liberty. I wanted to be in disbelief of who stood behind me. But when his scent hit every part of my nostrils, making it enough evidence that it was definitely the last person I wanted it to be who had his chest against my back, a cold sweat broke out on my neck and forehead. My throat felt dry and constricted as I swallowed. Everything was happening all at once, and someone needed to help me call an ambulance before I kissed the floor. Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, the man who was slowly sliding into the woman turned to look at me, his eyes slowly raking from my head to my toes before finally meeting my gaze. He held contact, like his body got even more pleasure from seeing someone watch. It felt like the whole room had gone up to ninety degree. And if Cole were to have told me to face him, even a lie wouldn’t have been able to hide the w
Last Updated: 2026-08-17
Chapter: CHAPTER 20EMILY~Saturday~ It’s been two weeks since I ran out of Cole’s office, and in those past days, I made sure to avoid him during work hours. Most especially on board meeting days. I didn’t know if Cole was also avoiding me or just giving me space, because after he sent corrections on the fake project, I started receiving emails from Sloan. It was mid-afternoon, and the sky over New York was beginning to look gloomy. I sat with my kindle in one hand and a cup of hot chocolate in the other. Finally, I had some time to myself after a stressful week of running magazine campaigns for one of the biggest fashion houses in New York. I looked around my almost-furnished space, taking in the few changes I’d managed to make. Thanks to the $10,000 reward the company gave its new workers, I was able to add more things to the apartment, stock up my fridge, and pay a two months’ rent upfront. Ping. My phone vibrated with a message. I quickly picked it up since I’d been expecti
Last Updated: 2026-08-09
Chapter: CHAPTER 20GIANNA Enzo’s body turned stiff in my arms and, as if coming to the realization of the name I had just called, he immediately jerked away from me. With burning eyes, Matteo’s gaze danced between the both of us as if trying to put pieces of a puzzle together. I expected a reaction from him, but instead, he stumbled back on unsteady feet and retreated towards his side of the wing. Enzo hissed as he followed his son, hot on his heels. I followed after him, not nothing what else to do, but as soon as he realized I was behind him, he paused, making me come to a halt. With warning signs blaring through his eyes, I swallowed hard and lowered my gaze to the marble floor. “Just let me know if he heard anything,” I said in a tight whisper. He stood quiet, but I knew he was contemplating saying something to me. I hated his silence. It made me feel stupid and naive. But this was Matteo we were talking about. I barely knew him and I didn’t want to hurt him. So he s
Last Updated: 2026-06-16
Chapter: CHAPTER 19GIANNA I looked at my flushed state in the mirror as my mind trailed back to how I felt when Enzo touched me. Not even the cold shower I had just taken could do justice to the way I felt. With a towel wrapped around my chest, I walked to my closet and changed into my pajamas. Turned off the main room light and headed to my vanity. A couple of minutes into blow-drying my hair, I noticed a shadow moving by my door. My stomach churned aggressively because I knew who it was, and the worst part was that I was going to let him come in if he knocked. No. I wouldn’t open the door. I promised myself as I continued with my hair. A couple more minutes passed and I was done. Luckily, the shadow was gone, but even with that, I sat quietly with my breath held in so I wouldn’t do anything stupid like go too close to the door and letting him in. After sitting for a little while longer and making sure there was no shadow lurking by the door, I got up, turned off the vanity
Last Updated: 2026-06-15
Chapter: CHAPTER 18GIANNA “I can’t believe that arrogant man.” I announced as I stormed into the kitchen, dropping my purse and phone on the counter. “What is it?” Aria asked from the dishwasher with a plate in her hand. I wanted telling her everything that had happened at the club, but at the same time, I didn’t want to go into much detail. So I settled on a lie, which on my path, wasn't a complete lie. “It’s Enzo, he kicked me out of the club after requesting for me to be there.” I yanked out a stool and sat. “Can you imagine that?” She put the plate down and with a hand over her mouth, she tried suppressing her laugh. “It’s Enzo.” She said between giggles. “You want to talk more about it?” “It’s not funny Aria, stop laughing.” I whined. “But do you at least want to talk about it?” She tried putting on a serious face but failed miserably. “Not really.” I whispered and lowered my eyes to avoid her gaze. She gave me a warm hug and went back to offloading the dishwashe
Last Updated: 2026-06-12
Chapter: CHAPTER 17GIANNA The voice slithered down my spine before I could think of turning. “You like what you see?” My breath snagged. For a heartbeat, I prayed, thinking I’d imagined it. But no—heat was pressed into my back, unmistakable, suffocating. Why is he here? Of all places? Don’t be stupid, Gianna. This is his club. Of course, he’s here. Oh God—what if he heard me whisper his name? My lips still tingled with the memory. I squeezed my eyes shut, in a desperate plea, silently begging the universe to take it back. Slowly, I turned my head, like a prey caught in a hunter’s gaze. And there he was. Enzo Moretti. The man I couldn’t escape, no matter how many walls I built. It had been less than twenty-four hours since I’d last seen him, and still he looked devastatingly good. Dark suit molded to his broad shoulders, shirt undone at the throat, the edge of a tattoo crawling across his chest like a secret I once knew. His eyes carried shadows. Hungry shadows that dem
Last Updated: 2025-09-29
Chapter: CHAPTER 16 GIANNA I stood in front of the club, contemplating whether I should call an uber or just swallow my pride and find out what Enzo wanted. After the way he night’s events between us, I wasn’t expecting him to want to see my face. Lord knows how much I don’t want to be here. But here I was anyway. It took a lot of convincing from Aria before I got into the car he sent to pick me up. And besides, I had something important to talk to him about. So why not kill two birds with one stone? I sat at the bar, as instructed by one of the bodyguards stationed at the entrance of the club, while I waited for Enzo. “Hello, ma’am, what would you like?” The tattooed bartender with long blond hair brushing his shoulders asked. I don’t know if I’m meant to be drinking, especially here. But who cares, anyway? I gave him a small smile. “I’ll get a glass of martini, please.” “That’s a great choice.” He winked at me as he flipped his hair back. “Your drink will be ready in a bit.”
Last Updated: 2025-09-09
Chapter: CHAPTER 15ENZO “Boom!” The sound of my gun echoed through the club's basement. The bastard who’d been helping Paulo thought confessing would save him. Thought telling me the truth meant mercy. He was wrong. I’d walked out of the club last night with the intention of letting him live, but after the night’s event, my hands needed blood. So I came back and handled it in the only way I knew how to. I’d made promises to myself the day Gianna walked through her father’s door. Promise I already doubted I could keep. And tonight, I almost crossed a line I swore I wouldn’t. But I won’t let myself become bait to the madness she stirs inside my head. I saw the way her gaze lingered on me. I’m not blind. Hunger burned in her eyes—hunger she tried and failed to hide. God help me, if I hadn’t scared her off, I might’ve given in. I might’ve shown her exactly what those thoughts could cost her. I can’t wrap my head around how much she gets under my skin. I left my house for two bloody week
Last Updated: 2025-09-09
Chapter: CHAPTER 24LILLIAN Stepping out of Ronan’s office, I immediately sank into one of the waiting chairs, pressing my trembling palms against my thighs. My chest rose and fell in uneven bursts, as if I had just run a marathon instead of nearly letting my counselor devour me on his desk. Trying to calm the rapid beat of my heart before Joe came in. The click of a keyboard pulled my attention, and my eyes met with that of Ronan’s assistant. She was staring. Not just the casual glance of someone curious about a client—no, her eyes were sharper, probing, like she knew exactly what I had been doing behind that closed door. Does she know? Does she see the way my fingers are trembling, or the way I look out of place? Maybe she’s used to this, married women running out of Ronan Carter’s office, clutching their shame like I’m doing right now. I quickly dropped my gaze to my hands, which wouldn’t stop fidgeting in my lap. The elevator dinged, and before I could gather myself, Joe stepped out
Last Updated: 2025-09-30
Chapter: CHAPTER 23LILLIAN ~THURSDAY~ I looked at the time, 1:30 am, almost twelve. I’d been sitting in my office for the past three hours, fighting with the part of me that wants to go to Ronan’s office. And after all those hours, that part of me won. The guilt should’ve weighed heavier than it did. Instead, I shoved everything work-related aside, packed my things together, and walked out of my office before that reasonable part of me could catch up. On my way out, I spotted Whitney talking with one of our interns, her posture sharp as always as she listened to him. “Hey, Whitney.” My voice was too tight. “Can I talk to you for a second?” “Sure, ma’am. What is it?” “I want you to cancel every appointment I have for the day.” Her eyes widened. “But, ma’am, we have Rushka Gonzala coming in for a fitting.” She scrolled quickly through the office iPad. “You want me to cancel her, too?” “Yes,” I said without hesitation. My chest was burning, but my face stayed cool. “Tell he
Last Updated: 2025-09-30
Chapter: CHAPTER 22LILLIAN I stepped outside, reading the note for the third time while I waited for Joe to bring the car around. YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL IN THIS DRESS. The words made my stomach churn. My thumb brushed over the neat, bold handwriting like I could erase the heat it left on my skin. “Who’s that from?” I startled, jerking my head up to meet Joe’s curious eyes. Wait. Did he just ask me that? Which means the bouquet was not from him. “It came from the restaurant,” I lied smoothly, the words rolling off my tongue like they’d been waiting there. “The receptionist said it’s a compliment from them.” Joe narrowed his eyes, suspicion flashing for a second before he forced a smile. “It looks lovely. Are you ready?” “Uhm… yeah, I am.” My gaze flicked around the street, pretending to check if I forgot something, when really I just needed a second to steady the frantic beat of my pulse. He guided me through the small of my back, his touch firm but impersonal, and I slid int
Last Updated: 2025-09-29
Chapter: CHAPTER 21LILLIAN Oh my God. What’s he doing here? I can’t seem to get a break anymore. It's like he’s hunting me, showing up to places I shouldn’t see him. It’s becoming scary… and intoxicating. It took everything in me not to close my eyes and breathe him in. That musky scent of his wrapped around me like a cloud I didn’t want to escape from as he reached our table. My pulse quickened, traitorously, even as I tried to keep my face neutral. “Dr. Carter. What a surprise to see you here.” Joe’s voice was too smooth, too cheerful. “Likewise.” Ronan’s reply was clipped, his gaze locked on me while I tried to look anywhere but into those eyes. “Your lovely wife here mentioned you were out of town.” “Yeah, I was.” Joe’s hand slid over mine on the table, possessive, heavy. “Came back not long ago. Lillian thought dinner would be good.” I swallowed hard. Why is he lying? Why would he lie about something so small? Ronan finally dragged his gaze away from my burning face and foc
Last Updated: 2025-09-29
Chapter: CHAPTER 20LILLIAN “Hello, father.” He lifted his eyes from his phone, his glasses balanced on the bridge of his nose like they’d been there for decades. His face was carved into that same stern expression he always wears when I’m around, like I’m already a disappointment and I haven’t opened my mouth yet. “Lillian.” His tone was clipped, his voice a sharp edge. “Have a seat.” I lowered myself into the chair across from him. A bottle of water sat on the table, condensation sliding down its side, showing that he’d been sitting there for a while. “I didn’t know what you wanted, so I got us both a glass of water.” He set his phone down with calculated care. “That’s the menu. You can order whatever you want.” “Thank you, father.” My eyes dart everywhere but his face. “I’ll order when we’re done.” “Haven’t I taught you confidence? Or have I failed as a father?” My head snapped toward him, heat rushing to my cheeks. “Father?” “You see?” He gestured at me with disdain, like
Last Updated: 2025-09-24
Chapter: CHAPTER 19LILLIAN Well, I guess I’m officially the crazy one. Because here I am, standing in his office building, palms sweaty, heart thundering as if it’s trying to rip out of my chest. What the hell am I doing here? “Hello, ma’am.” I snapped my head toward the receptionist’s desk. She had a practiced smile, her ginger hair tucked neatly behind her ears. “Hello,” I replied, forcing calm into my voice. My eyes flicked down to her name tag. “Jane. Is Mr. Carter in?” “Yes, he’s in.” “Uhm…” My throat bobbed. “I didn’t book an appointment, so I don’t know if he’s free.” “Oh, that’s no problem.” She tapped across her keyboard, her nails clicking lightly. “Let me check his schedule. And—yes—he’s free for the next two hours.” Two hours. God, what am I doing? “Alright. Thank you,” I murmured. My heels clicked against the floor as I walked toward his door. I rubbed my damp palms against my pleated skirt, trying to dry them, as if that would erase my nerves. I kno
Last Updated: 2025-09-21
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