Jaxon got off from the bed at once and she sat up on the bed. She looked around for the nearest piece of clothing she could find. The sheets on the bed were already scattered.Jaxon was already pulling up his cargo pants to his waist and she was just there in her underwear. "Serena!" Hadley called her name a little too loudly again while knocking on the door."Hold on, I'm coming," Serena replied as she pulled out one of Hadley's robes from the closet and threw it around her body. She took one glance at Jaxon who had his hoodie half way down his torso, then she unlocked the door."What took you so long were you…" Hadley kept mute immediately when she recognized the other presence in her room. "Oh," her eyes widened in realization, "I didn't know he was coming, you didn't tell me anything, I could have…""It's fine Hadley, he just stepped in for a moment, he's not staying the night." Serena assured her.Hadley shook her head as she entered the room and shut the door behind her, "my ba
Serena lay on her bed, her mind swirling with thoughts after Jaxon's unexpected visit. Hadley's knowing smile didn't help her unease. She propped herself up on her elbows and looked at her best friend."Nothing is going on, Hadley," Serena replied, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.Hadley arched an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "Serena, you can't expect me to believe that. The chemistry between you two is undeniable. What happened when I was gone?"Serena hesitated for a moment, contemplating how much to reveal. She trusted Hadley with her life, but some things were just too complicated to explain. "We talked, caught up on things, and... it's complicated, okay?"Hadley didn't press further, realizing that Serena needed time to sort through her feelings. "Alright, I won't push. But just remember, I'm here for you, no matter what."Serena managed a grateful smile. "Thanks, Hadley. I appreciate it."As the night wore on, Serena and Hadley continued to chat, sharing stories abo
Serena ended up wearing the black corset dress and white shirt Hadley had suggested. She paired it with black platforms and a small white clutch.She let her hair down and wore a cute minimalist jewelry set. "You look stunning!" Hadley clapped her hands excitedly."Thank you," Serena smiled. She loved the look, even though it was a bit extra, but she didn't mind being a fashionista sometimes.When she exited her building, she saw Jaxon leaning against his car. He looked up from his phone at the sound of her footsteps.A small smile appeared on his face and Serena rolled her eyes. "You're…really, really beautiful," he said. "Are you sure you're not taking me on a date or something or is there somewhere else you're going afterwards.""If you're going to compliment me, do it right." Serena chuckled."Naa, I give you flowers, you look amazing.""Yeah, I let Hadley do her thing," said Serena with a shrug."She's not just a chef but a stylist too? Man, you have the world's best best frien
A wave of silence remained between her and Jaxon as they were the only ones left at the table. She paused for a second and looked at him in disbelief and amazement. How had she not seen this coming?She finally opened her mouth to say something "Jaxon, I can't believe this! You got me a job? Just like that?" Serena's voice was filled with both joy and astonishment.Jaxon smiled, his brown eyes warm with satisfaction. "It's really nothing, Serena. You deserve this opportunity, and I wanted to help you out. You've been through a lot, and I thought this could be a fresh start for you."Tears welled up in Serena's eyes again, but this time they were tears of happiness. She reached out and hugged Jaxon tightly. "Thank you, thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me."Jaxon hugged her back, his embrace reassuring. "You don't have to thank me, Serena. Just make sure that you give it your all at Skymount . I have a feeling you'll excel there."Serena pulled back from the hu
Serena's excitement over her new job at Skymount Media was contagious. Hadley couldn't have been happier for her best friend. She spent the night conversing with Mrs Wright. Mrs Wright was so understanding and timely with her response, and she still managed to be very professional and keep boundaries.Serena was going to be one of the editors at Skymount, while she could work at home when her workload wasn't much, she was to report to the office at least three times a week.She got familiar with the company and prepared a few essays Mrs Wright advised her to make ready. Serena found some of them challenging but she remained calm, did her research and put her best into all of them. Hadley was also very supportive in her own hilarious way. She would bring up one of her high school medals and say things like, "employee of the month goes to Serena Cress!" Then she'd clap and beat the table like a drum.Serena would just shake her head and continue with her work. The next morning was a S
The HR manager, Ms. Crawford, guided Serena through the onboarding process with professionalism and warmth. Serena filled out the necessary forms, received her employee badge, and was introduced to her immediate team members.Her team consisted of three other editors: Mark, Sarah, and David. They all greeted her warmly, making Serena feel like she was already part of the Skymount family. Mark, the senior editor, took her under his wing and gave her an overview of their ongoing projects.The first day was filled with information overload as Serena learned about Skymount's values, culture, and expectations. She attended orientation sessions, met with her manager, and familiarized herself with the company's software tools.When she got back home, she fell on her bed exhausted. She had texted Hadley and she was going to be working late since the other chef at the restaurant wasn't around.She undressed and did her skincare routine for the night, before having dinner. She rested and soon d
As Serena descended from the office floor to the lobby, she couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and curiosity about what awaited her. Reaching the ground floor, she stepped into the brightly lit lobby, scanning the area for any sign of Jaxon. Her eyes finally landed on him standing near the reception desk, and her heart skipped a beat.Jaxon was dressed casually yet impeccably in dark jeans and a crisp white shirt. He looked effortlessly handsome, and Serena couldn't help but smile as she approached him."Hey," she greeted, her voice filled with warmth.Jaxon turned to face her, his eyes lighting up when he saw her. "Hey there," he replied, his smile mirroring hers. "I hope you had a good day at work."Serena nodded, "It was great, actually. I have the best team. Thank you for the flowers. I felt so shy receiving flowers at work in my first week. I really appreciate it though""I'm glad to hear that," Jaxon said, genuinely pleased for her.Serena's cheeks flushed with apprecia
Inside the bathroom, Serena splashed her face with cold water, attempting to wash away the irritation that had built up. She couldn't believe how a simple celebration had taken such an unexpected turn. She felt frustrated at herself for not managing the situation better. Her thoughts were a whirlwind as she stood there, trying to regain her composure.After a few moments, Hadley's gentle knock on the bathroom door brought her back to reality. Serena dried her face and hands before opening the door. Her best friend gave her a comforting smile."Hey, you okay?" Hadley asked, concern in her eyes.Serena nodded, still feeling a mix of emotions. "Yeah, I'm okay. I just didn't expect them to argue like high school boys."Hadley hugged her, and they both laughed, "can you even believe Arthur? He can be so annoying, if he didn't push Jaxon, I'm sure Jaxon wouldn't have said so much like that."Serena sighed, "I just wish they didn't turn it into some kind of competition. I'm not some prize t