Novels by nugbleemily

A new day, the same SUV, guards flank me as always. I left this building nine pm yesterday because of the logistics report. Our feet echo in the garage, my wrist, where mom’s bracelet had been, now bare and cold. One more thing stolen. One more piece of me gone.Kane is already at the elevator when we get there, his expression flat. “Report needs finishing today. The boss wants supplier origins cross-checked. No bullshit.”Of course, he has a problem with the report. I don’t talk. The elevator climbs, and I stare back at my reflection. Reflection shows me in a tailored suit; I look more like a prisoner than P.A. No access to phone, no calls with Raven, no texts—nothing. The silence is louder than any cell.My desk remains unchanged. The tablet is open to the logistics report I prepared yesterday; red flags everywhere: Reorganize by origin country. Flag high-risk routes. Argh.He could’ve just said this properly yesterday, instead of allowing me to waste time on something else. Hi

The past three days have been a blur, from shopping for sophisticated office wear, lectures from Kane on company policies, my duties, and where the line between my duties ends. I still can’t believe this is happening.“You’ll be my personal assistant.” The most absurd words I have heard from Lucien’s mouth. I thought he had actually lost a screw up there, but turns out he hasn’t, because I am dressed in a tailored suit on my way to the office.Immediately, I step out of the blacked-out SUV in the underground garage, two of his men flank beside me like shadows. A guy leads the way, and I follow, the echo of my heels against the cold concrete floor announcing our presence to anyone who can hear. But that’s the thing—there’s nobody in the entire garage. With heart hammering in my chest, the dull ache of the cut in my feet from days ago, wearing the charcoal pencil skirt and silk blouse, I follow, and we come to an exit. The building looms above us, rising above the city skyline, all gl

“What could you have gone through that has turned you into a monster?”Such eloquent words coming from the villain. I decided to let her go yesterday, and she proved why I shouldn’t have. She gets drunk and flirts with no one but Adrian. Adrian Richards. That piece of scum.The only rival who is actually a pain in the ass and worth my attention. Somehow, we’re almost always pitching for the same contract, and though I’ve won many of them, it’s still a bother that I’ve lost some to him.As if embarrassing herself wasn’t enough, she decided to give me an earful. Now, I’m second-guessing if she’d actually be of any help to my operation. I can’t let her go.I won’t.She must provide some service while I figure her father out and take revenge on her and her entire family.There’s a faint knock on my door, followed by Kane entering with her. She looks awful.Her eyes look tired, and the dark circles around them are evidence of her suffering. Her hair, a tangled mess. She looks nothing l

My throat feels like hell. Dry and cracked like the Sahara Desert. My head—what’s this excruciating pain? I grip my hair, holding it closely to my scalp, hoping it could help, but nothing. My scalp feels like it's been pricked with a thousand needles, each one fighting for a spot to stick into. My eyes are so heavy, a dull throbbing drumbeat pounding behind them, and for a minute, I feel I couldn’t open them.What is happening to me?A slow, queasy roll churns in my gut, and bile rises up my throat, making me dash to the washroom, emptying my stomach into the water closet. The sudden movement makes me feel dizzy. I feel horrible. I hate this. My sprawled hair over the pot is suddenly gathered in someone’s hand as I empty what’s left in my stomach. The person offers a tissue, I wipe my lips, and turn.Kane.“How are you feeling?” He asks, while helping me to my feet. My legs feel weak.Why is he here, and how did he get in?“I feel horrible.” I finally look around, and this room is d

The Greeks are getting on my last nerve. They’re threatening to pull out.Cunts.One delayed shipment, and they’re already acting like fucking assholes. I have always delivered on time, so why can’t they act mature about the whole thing? I’ve managed to arrange a shipment to replace the stolen goods, but it won’t arrive until tomorrow. Delivery to the Greeks was today, after I had already extended the time after the raid. That’s 24 hours of my time wasted. Every second counts, and every one missed means money lost.The two ladies massaging my neck and temples don’t ease the anger I feel. It’s been more than 30 minutes since the massage, and my anger is still simmering, like hot coffee on a winter morning.And now, the Azaeres girl is back seven hours earlier than her allotted time. Which could only mean one thing: either she found great information, or it was an epic fail, and oh, may the heavens help her. It better not be the latter. She'd better be coming in here with something gro

“If only.”My Dad’s words ring in my ears as I hold the door handle for dear life. The urge to barge in and confront him about everything is so great, yet my feet stay rooted to the ground like a great tree that has survived each phase of human evolution, its roots so deeply sunk into the soil. The only difference is that I don’t feel that “great.”My palms feel sweaty against the handle, my heartbeat palpitating so loud; I could hear it in my ears. I need to move. I gently release my clammy hands from the door handle, forcing myself to take a couple of steps back.I’ve heard enough.I drag my heavy feet downstairs, and everything feels blurry. My body feels hot.I can’t breathe.Tears threaten to spill. At the foot of the stairs, I see Lena relaxed on the couch in the living room. She stands up when she sees me.“You don’t look too good.” She fakes care, her hand grabbing my hands.“That makes two of us.” I release my arm from her grip and turn to leave. “What—?”“Maybe a little