Novels by Pere Mackie

We eventually finished shopping and headed back to Tara’s place.The walk was quiet. I felt drained, like everything earlier had taken more out of me than I wanted to admit. Once we got inside, I felt a small sense of relief. The door closed. The noise stayed outside.We unpacked the groceries together. Normal things. Rice. Vegetables. Snacks. Tara moved around the kitchen like nothing had happened, and that helped more than she knew.I sat at the table while she started cooking.My phone buzzed.I looked at the screen and froze.Nathan.I hesitated, then opened the message.[The board wants to release a statement. They’re calling the divorce amicable. They’re asking for a brief joint appearance. Press only.]My chest tightened.He was sounding like our marriage was a business deal gone wrong.Another message came in.[I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t necessary. You can say no. I’ll respect that.]I stared at the phone, unsure how to feel. Angry. Tired. Anxious. All of it at once. Part of

Nathan’s POVThe agreement didn’t come all at once.It arrived in fragments. Carefully worded sentences, exchanged glances, pauses heavy with implication. The kind of consensus that pretended to be mutual while quietly cornering you.The chairman cleared his throat. “The board believes the narrative needs recalibration.”Julian from PR was already nodding. “Right now, the divorce is being framed as volatile. Contentious. Investors don’t like instability tied to leadership.”“So we rewrite it,” I said flatly.“We refine it,” Julian corrected. “An amicable separation. Two adults who grew apart. No scandal. No hostility.”I folded my arms. “That’s entirely inaccurate.”“Yes,” the chairman agreed. “But it’s not the version gaining traction.”A screen lit up at the end of the table. Headlines. Speculation threads. One in particular lingered longer than the rest.CEO’s Ex-Wife’s Sister Linked to Executive FalloutI felt my jaw tighten.“This,” Julian said carefully, “is the bigger issue.”E

Emily’s POV By the time I got back to Tara’s apartment, the adrenaline from the morning had faded, leaving behind a quiet, thoughtful calm.The apartment was still empty.I dropped my purse on the counter, kicked off my shoes, and moved through the space slowly, like I was borrowing someone else’s life, which, for now, I was. I walked into the kitchen. Then I made myself tea and sat at the small dining table, my phone glowing in my hand.Apartments.Just the word made my chest tighten.Still, I opened my browser.I searched carefully. One bedroom, studio, short lease if possible. The prices of the apartments were so high and it made me wince. But I took a deep breath, reminding myself that I still had a little bit of time. I didn’t have to make a decision at the moment. One step at a time.I switched to messages and started texting agents. [Hello, I’m looking for a studio or one-bedroom apartment. Available immediately or within the month.]Send.Another.And another.Each messa

Nathan’s POVThe car was waiting for me at the garage. I slid into the back seat and shut the door forcefully. “Good morning, sir.”I looked up. The driver wasn’t Charles. It was a different voice. And the person sounded younger. “Morning,” I said. “Where’s Charles?”“Retired last week,” he replied, easing the car into traffic. “My Name’s Malik. I’ll be driving you from now on.”“Alright,” I said. “Take me to the office.”“Yes, sir.”The city unfolded outside the window, glass towers, billboards with faces I recognized, headlines I wished I didn’t. The once familiar route suddenly felt foreign. I had only been away from the office for weeks and it had turned into something that felt like I didn’t belong. Malik drove smoothly, confident but unshowy—no abrupt stops. No music. Just focusing on the road.“How long have you worked for the company?” I asked, mostly to fill the silence.“Six years,” he replied swiftly. “Security before this. Executive transport after.”“Security,” I rep

Chapter 10Emily’s PovMorning came too fast.I barely slept, just drifted in and out of shallow dreams that felt more like flashbacks than rest. When I finally opened my eyes, the apartment was quiet. Tara had already left for her morning shift, but she’d placed a blanket over me at some point during the night.It made my chest tighten.Someone cared.Even when my own family didn’t.I sat up slowly, rubbing my face, trying to shake off the heaviness sitting on my chest. My throat still felt raw from crying. My head throbbed. I needed to breathe. I needed space. I needed to do something that wasn’t thinking about my parents, about Emma, about Nathan, about everything I’d lost all in one week.My gaze fell on my gym bag sitting halfway open by the wall. I didn’t pack much, but I had leggings and sneakers.Good enough.I needed to sweat this out, if not from my body, then from my mind.After a quick shower, I tied my hair back, grabbed Tara’s spare key, and headed out.The moment I st

Nathan’s POVMorning hit me like a slap. My head felt heavy, my mouth dry, and the guilt from last night sat right on my chest.Emma was still asleep beside me. Her back was turned, her shoulders tense even in sleep. I didn’t need a mirror to know I’d messed up badly. I slipped out of bed quietly and headed to the kitchen. Cooking wasn’t something I normally did, but I needed to do something. Anything that made me look less like the asshole I was last night.Eggs. Toast. Sausages.Basic. Safe.Something she couldn’t read too much into.I carried the tray back to the bedroom. Emma was awake now, sitting up, hair messy, eyes puffy from crying. She stared at the tray like she didn’t know what to do with it.“Breakfast,” I said. “I made it for you.”She looked at me for a long second before answering. “You don’t cook.”“I do today.”She didn’t smile. She didn’t soften. She just nodded and pulled the blanket tighter around her body. I sighed and sat at the edge of the bed. “Emma”“Don’t,