INICIAR SESIÓNLauraThree days later, I dragged myself out of the office building, beat from head to toe. Work had been a pressure cooker—not just the lingering rumors, but the chaos from Sam's drunken night at my place.Since that night, Sam had vanished. No texts, no appearances. The office gossip had cooled, maybe thanks to his hallway threats or some fresh drama stealing the spotlight. But my head? Still a mess.I turned down Tuva's dinner invite, saying I needed to be with Ryan at the hospital. Truth was, I just wanted to be alone, to untangle the knot of thoughts choking me.Walking home, Sam's words from that night echoed in my head, each one burning like a brand. I couldn't shake the memory of that drunk, vulnerable Sam—his raw confessions, his pain, his regret...I shook my head, trying to clear it, but the harder I tried to forget, the sharper it got. His eyes, his touch, that damn cedar scent...Back at my apartment, the empty place hit me with a wave of loneliness. Without Ryan, it wa
LauraSlowly, I realized I was kissing him back, my lips matching his, hands clutching his shirt instead of pushing. Shame burned, but my body was honest—Sam's touch lit fires Tuva's never could."Laura!" Tuva's voice cut through from outside. "You okay? I heard a loud noise!"My senses snapped back. I tried to shove Sam off, but he was lost in the kiss, oblivious to the world."Sam, stop," I panted against his lips. "Someone's outside."He just held me tighter, like he wanted to meld us together."Laura?" Tuva called, more worried. "If you're okay, say something. I'm freaking out."I wanted to respond, but Sam's kiss stole my voice, leaving only muffled gasps that sounded way too intimate in the quiet night."Please," Sam whispered against my lips, voice raw with pain. "Don't leave me. I can't lose you."His words hit my softest spot. Seeing his pained brow, the despair in his eyes, my resolve wavered.My hands stopped pushing, slowly wrapping around his neck. That seemed to fuel
Laura"Laura, you okay? You look kinda pale," Tuva said, worry creasing his face as he sat beside me.I forced a weak smile. "Tuva, I'm just feeling a bit off."Not entirely a lie. After today's chaos—office gossip, Sam's relentless pursuit, and spotting him lurking at the restaurant—I was drained, body and soul."Off how? Need a hospital?" Tuva's brow furrowed deeper."No, no hospital," I waved him off. "Just work stress. I'll rest at home.""Want me to crank the AC? Grab you some water?" he asked gently."I'm good, really," I said, closing my eyes. "Tuva, thanks. I know I was weird tonight. Hope you're not mad.""Don't apologize," Tuva cut in. "Everyone has off days. How're you feeling now?"His warm eyes calmed me. "Better, thanks to you."The car glided through the night, Tuva telling the driver to take it easy, glancing at me with concern."We're here," he said twenty minutes later, pulling up to my apartment. "You sure you're okay to go up alone? I can walk you.""I'm fine now
Lauraseven sharp, I arrived at the Italian restaurant. The sunset cast warm orange light on the cobblestone path, the air thick with thyme and cheese. Normally, I'd love this vibe, but tonight, my nerves were shot.Tuva was already there, in a navy blazer, looking polished and charming. He smiled warmly, walking over. "Laura, you made it." His voice was as gentle as ever. "You look beautiful."I wore a simple black dress, meant to sell the "date" vibe, but it felt wrong now. "Thanks," I forced a smile. "Sorry if I kept you waiting.""No worries, I just got here," Tuva said, holding the door open. "I booked a window table. You'll like the view."The restaurant glowed softly, candlelight dancingon the tables. Tuva had picked a great spot, overlooking a garden fountain and greenery."This place is nice," I said, sitting, trying to relax. "I remember you said you like quiet spots. It's not crowded, but the food's amazing." Tuva pulled out my chair, then sat across from me.The waiter h
LauraMonday morning, I stepped into the company building. "Laura!" Isabella's voice called from behind. I turned to see her hurrying over, worry etched on her face. "I was looking for you.""What's the rush?" I asked, puzzled.Isabella glanced around, making sure no one was close, then lowered her voice. "Let's talk in your office."Once inside, she shut the door and faced me, her expression dead serious. "Laura, you know what's going around the office?""What?" I had a bad feeling, but I needed her to say it.Isabella took a deep breath, choosing her words. "They're saying you're juggling Sam and the director from Marui Technology.""What?!" Even braced for it, the rumor hit me like a slap. "That's insane!""I know it's crazy, but..." Isabella's face was all sympathy. "Yesterday, a bunch of people were gossiping in the break room. Lilian from HR said you were adopted by Sam's family but got kicked out for some shady stuff with him. Now you're back, climbing the ladder through him."
Sam"Damn it!" I kicked a trash can, the metal clang echoing in the quiet lobby.Edda rushed from the elevator, paling at my state. "Alpha, what happened?"I didn't answer, staring at the elevator display. It stopped on Laura's floor and didn't move."Alpha?" Edda edged closer."Get everyone back to work," I snapped. Edda turned, waving off the gawking staff. "Back to your desks! No loitering!"The lobby cleared fast, leaving me alone, staring at the cold elevator doors, anger and helplessness crashing like waves.The next few days were torture.Laura worked like normal, handling tasks with even more efficiency. She attended meetings, took perfect notes, answered emails promptly, and nailed every assignment.On the surface, everything was fine. But she wouldn't look at me.Whenever I tried to catch her eye, she'd be buried in files, glued to her screen, or chatting with colleagues. Her deliberate avoidance fueled my frustration."Mr. Sam, about the project budget..." Laura stood by t
Amelia“You will always be alone, Amelia.”I draw in a sharp breath and feel the harsh burn in my lungs as I run. But I don’t stop. I can’t.The voice slithers through the trees, cold and filled with venom. “No one will ever love you. You don’t belong anywhere.”The woods blur around me with thick
Natalie The small Italian bistro downtown hums with the chatter of weeknight diners, the warm lighting casting a golden glow over the checkered tablecloths.I sit across from Mark, watching him twirl pasta around his fork.Mark has been my steady anchor since Paul first paired us together when I w
Jaxon Twenty-three unread texts. Fifteen missed calls that went straight to voicemail.A day and a half later, and I'm still standing in the wreckage of whatever the hell happened in that park, turning over every word I said to Freckles like evidence at a crime scene.Everything had been going be
Jaxon I watch as Natalie wipes the sweat from face and I can't help but picture this scene as mine.Them as mine. Over and over, the image plays in my mind until it feels more real than the gymnasium around us.I haven't noticed anyone else in this room since Harry ran to me and I saw his mother.







