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The Boutique
publish date:
2026-06-15 20:25:32
Latest chapter
A Love Too Close The Cinema Room
Chapter Thirty SevenGrey's POVThe car ride to Annie's office was silent.She sat in the passenger seat staring out the window, her hands folded in her lap. I kept my eyes on the road, my jaw tight. Every few seconds I glanced at her, wanting to say something. But what? I'm sorry for yelling? I'm sorry I ignored you all evening? I'm sorry I can't stop thinking about you coming home with him?When I pulled up in front of her building she unbuckled her seatbelt immediately. "Thanks for the ride," she said quietly, not looking at me. Then she was gone, walking through the glass doors without glancing back.I sat there for a moment watching her go before pulling away.Work was a disaster. I could not focus on anything. Every time I tried to review a contract or respond to an email my mind drifted back to last night. To Annie getting out of that car with Leo Hart. Again.My assistant knocked around noon. "Mr. James? Your two o'clock is here."I blinked. "What two o'clock?"She
A Love Too Close The Arcade
Chapter Thirty SixAnnie's POVThe cab pulled up in front of a building with flashing neon lights and I looked through the window and blinked."What is this?"Leo was already paying the driver. "You'll see. Come on."I got out onto the sidewalk and looked up at the sign. PIXEL PARADISE ARCADE. Loud electronic music thumped through the walls. Through the windows I could see flashing lights in every color, rows of machines, people moving between them, a group of teenagers pressed around something in the corner shouting at each other."An arcade," I said.Leo turned to me with a small smile. "Trust me. You'll like it."Inside it was chaos. Beautiful overwhelming chaos. Red and blue and green and purple lights flashing in rhythm with the music, the sound of electronic beeps and digital explosions and the mechanical whirring of machines filling every inch of air. Kids ran past us clutching fistfuls of tickets. A couple argued good naturedly over a racing game. Somewhere in
A Love Too Close The Boutique
Chapter Thirty FiveAnnie's POVThe boutique was beautiful. Floor to ceiling windows. Sleek white walls. Racks of elegant clothing arranged by color, each piece looking like it belonged somewhere more significant than a store. Soft music played overhead, something French and melancholic that floated through the space like it had always been there.The whole place smelled expensive. Perfume and new fabric and money and the specific air of somewhere that knew exactly what it was.Grey parked in front and we all got out. Sophia smoothed down her dress and looked at the facade with wide eyes."Wow. This place is gorgeous."I did not respond. My stomach had been in knots since we left the house and had not improved during the drive over. I had spent the whole car ride trying to find an excuse. A work emergency. A sudden headache. Anything. But every time I opened my mouth the words died before they came out because I did not want Grey to think I had a problem with Mira. Even th
A Love Too Close Invisible
Chapter Thirty FourAnnie's POVThe room fell silent as Mira finished speaking. She stood in the center of the dining room, her cream colored dress catching the soft candlelight, tears streaming freely down her face. She had explained everything, the accident, her parents, Switzerland, the years of believing she was doing what was right by staying away. Her voice had broken several times and she had kept going anyway."I'm so sorry," she said, and the words came out in pieces. "I had no idea you all thought I was dead. My parents told me you had moved on. That it was better this way. I believed them. I stayed away because I thought that was what everyone wanted."Grey's mother was pressing a napkin to her eyes. "Your poor parents must have been desperate. To do something so drastic. Even though they wanted what was best for you, that was not the right way."Grey's father nodded slowly. "They must have thought they were protecting you.""They were," Mira said quietly
A Love Too Close The woman in Cream
Chapter Thirty ThreeAnnie's POVThe morning started early. I was in the kitchen by six AM, wearing an apron over my pajamas, surrounded by ingredients.Grey's birthday cake sat on the counter, three layers of dark chocolate with raspberry filling, his favorite. I had stayed up late finishing the layers and now I was working on the buttercream frosting, piping it carefully, wanting every swirl to be exactly right.Sophia stumbled in around eight with her hair in a messy bun and her eyes barely open. "You're already up?" she groaned."Couldn't sleep," I admitted, not looking up from the piping. "Too much to do."She walked over and leaned in to look at the cake properly. "Annie. That's beautiful. Why didn't you order the maids to do it?""I just want to do it myself. Do you think he'll like it?""He'll love it." She grabbed a spoon from the drawer and stole a taste of the frosting directly from the bowl without any apology whatsoever. Her eyes went wide. "Oh my God. This is
A Love Too Close Mira is Alive
Chapter Thirty TwoAnnie's POVThe car ride home was silent. Sophia sat in the passenger seat staring out the window, her face pale and streaked with dried tears. I had tried talking to her at first, asking if she was okay, if she wanted to stop somewhere, if she needed anything at all. She did not respond. Just kept staring out the window like she was somewhere far away that had nothing to do with the car or the street or me sitting beside her. So I stopped asking and drove and let the silence be what it needed to be.When we finally pulled up to the house I tried once more."Sophia," I said quietly. "We should—""I can't," she interrupted, her voice hollow in a way I had not heard from her before. "I don't want to talk about anything, right now.""Okay," I said.Without another word she got out and walked to the front door. I followed slowly, my hands still not entirely steady, Mira's business card still in my pocket where I had put it and had not stopped being aware
A Love Too Close The Gala Trap
Chapter Fifteen The Gala TrapAnnie's POVDinner was quiet. No one was talking between me and Grey. He sat across from me, focused on his food, barely looking up. Just the sound of cutlery and the soft hum of the room.Ever since that night when I asked about the
A Love Too Close Author's Note
Thank you so much for reading A Love Too Close. I truly want to apologize for disappearing without informing you all properly. I was battling a very critical illness and had to completely step away for recovery. It took time, but thank God I recovered and I’m finally back stronger and ready to conti
A Love Too Close He Plays, She Works
Chapter Fourteen He Plays, She WorksAnnie's POVWe all ended up at a restaurant after Leo's birthday event, just to celebrate how smoothly everything went. The place was buzzing, everyone in high spirits, and I followed the group to a big round table."I can't believ
A Love Too Close Deals and Dilemmas
Chapter Thirteen Deals and DilemmasAnnie's POVI stepped out of the MD's office and walked briskly back toward the marketing floor, my mind already racing ahead of my feet.Mr. Leo Alexander Hart.Just the thought of his name tightened something in my chest. I reached
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