LOGIN~Elias~It’s still early n the morning, but I haven’t been able to rest well since last night. I’ve been to inking about Alice, imagining her coming in this morning. Yes I know she’s going to come but I just can’t calm my heart to sit and wait. I can’t help it. I pace the length of the room, adjusting the cuffs of my gray cashmere sweater. I’m dressed casually, just the sweater and a pair of dark jeans, but I’ve spent the last twenty minutes checking my reflection in the bedroom mirror, a ridiculous habit I’ve never had before today. The catering boxes from the restaurant downtown are already neatly arranged on the dining table, the scent of fresh pastries and roasted coffee filling the entire main floor. I’m waiting. I’m counting. Waiting for the moment she comes knocking. Then, the quiet of the house is broken by a firm, polite knock at the front door.My chest tightens instantly. I walk down the short hallway, my slippers hurrying against the floor, as I get to the door and turn
~Elias~Alice tilts her head, a tiny, ironic smile touching her lips, though her eyes remain perfectly detached. She zips her bag with a smooth, deliberate drag. "I’m an executive partner now, Elias. You gave me the title yourself last night. I’m simply stepping up to my new role in the company. A partner shouldn't look like an assistant, right?"Her answer is perfectly logical, yet it feels like a slap to my face. I nod slowly, swallowing the lump of irritation rising in my throat. "Right. Of course. It... it was out of line for me to ask. Forgive me."She forces a small, tight smile that doesn't even come close to reaching her eyes. "It's fine."She picks up her bag and turns to leave, her movements efficient and hurried. My mind immediately searches for a way to keep her in the room, to break through the thick layer of ice that has settled between us since yesterday. I can't stand this silence. It’s driving me insane."I’ll see you at lunch?" I ask, trying to make my voice sound ca
~Elias~The next morning, the sun is bright as I park my car in the executive lot. I step out, adjusting my jacket, and that’s when I see it—the sleek, charcoal-gray company sedan I had delivered to Alice’s house early this morning.The driver's side door opens, and Alice steps out.My breath catches in my throat. I freeze beside my car, my hand still resting on the door. She is wearing a tailored, dark-red three-piece suit. It fits her curves perfectly, the sharp lines of the vest and blazer giving her an aura of absolute authority. Her hair is down, falling in soft waves over her shoulders, and she is wearing a shade of dark lipstick that draws my eyes straight to her mouth.She looks absolutely stunning. It looks exactly like her, but at the same time, it looks like a completely different woman. She looks like a partner, an equal, a force to be reckoned with.I don't even realize I’m standing there staring like a fool until she walks right past me."Good morning, Elias," she says.
~Elias~She frowns and snatches the envelope form me before I could damage it further. "I've spent more than five months in your company, Elias," Alice says, her voice entirely level as she stands there in the almost darkness of the hallway. "The firm will survive without me. I can leave, and there won't be any side effects to the daily operations.""Yes, but I mean, you shouldn't leave," I stammer, the words tumbling out before I can filter them. My chest feels tight, a strange, suffocating pressure building behind my chest at the sight of that white envelope in her hand. "Why? Why do you want to leave so suddenly? You're the best at what you do, Alice. You know exactly how I want my things done. Why would you just walk away from all of that?"She looks at me, her eyes dark and unreadable. There is a stillness in the air between us, devoid of the usual warmth she brings into my space."If it’s about earlier today," I continue quickly, the desperation in my own voice grating against
~Elias~ I slam my hand down on the desk, the sound vibrating through the wood. "Get out of my office, Alice! I don't want your tarts, I don't want your coffee, and I don't want you hovering over me! Just do your damn job and leave me alone!" Alice freezes. The color instantly drains from her face, leaving her entirely pale. Her eyes are widen in pure shock. I have never, in all the months she has worked for me, raised my voice at her. Never. She handles my schedules, my business, sometimes personal life, and I have always treated her with respect. For three agonizing seconds, she just stands there, her lips parted, looking at me like I’ve just transformed into a monster right in front of her. A sharp, painful flash of hurt crosses her features, her eyes glinting with sudden tears before she forces them back. She doesn't say a word. She just stumbles backward, her movements disorganized, and scrambles out of the room, slamming the door behind her. The echo of the slam rings
~Elias~ I didn’t sleep last night. Every time I closed my eyes, the same image burned into the back of my eyelids. Sienna. Yesterday was supposed to be a celebration. It was her engagement party. I stood in that crowded, luxurious hotel room, surrounded by her family, friends and some business colleagues, forcing a perfect, professional smile onto my face. I watched Norman Garrison, a man who carries himself like a king, step up to her. I watched the way his hands slid possessively around her waist, the way he looked down at her like she was the only thing that mattered in the entire universe. And worse, I watched her smile back at him. It wasn't just any smile. It was the kind of smile that meant she felt safe. Completely, utterly safe. Protected and chosen. The triplets were there, laughing and crawling, a perfect little family unit under Norman’s fierce love and protection. I loosen my tie with a sharp, aggressive tug, feeling like the silk is choking me. A heavy, bitter
~Sienna~I don’t think Norman is serious when he asks me to accompany him to the airport. He brings me along in the car and instructs the driver to take me to my destination before going back to the company.I watch him disappear through the doors, knowing he’ll be on the plane soon and I won’t be
~Sienna~Everywhere glitters with gold, the white walls shine brightly.Different works of art by Nova are displayed in every corner of the room.She’s doing so well on her first exhibit. Lovers from her social media presence are also here, smiling and nodding through every piece. One by one the pa
~Sienna~“This is not the route to work, Norman.” I observe, still looking around.My apartment soon comes into view.The frown on my face deepens as I wonder why we’re here when we are dressed for work.“I want you to take a break from work today. Stay in and recover fully.” he says as he parks th
~Sienna~ “Not at all,” comes Norman’s swift response. “At least not anymore.” Nova frowns, glancing at me. “Sea? What happened?” She walks over to me. I force a smile, my lips try to move but no words come out. My heart keeps racing, I can only smile foolishly as I struggle with what to tell he







