MasukNicole pov
I stared at the floor unable to look at him. I should really learn to control y tongue if I don't wanna lose my job. I waited for him to speak,but he didn't..the silence was making me more uneasy. I slowly glanced up and our eyes met. He was staring at me ,but I couldn't read his facial expression. Then I saw Raphael brought out his wallet and extract some notes from it. He placed the cash on the table. “Miss Nicole Noor,I really thought I won't see you again and honestly I don't want to. But now that I did…I think I need to Make you understand that aside from being a CEO,I have no other side Jobs so take back your 200 dollars”. I swallowed. I can't believe he just called me into his office to clarify that he's isn't a prostitute. “I understand.’” I Said with a harmless smile. I exhaled, extremely relieved. So we just have to get the past behind us . That night never happened and we can… Before I could complete my thoughts …he throw a hundred dollars on the table. I stared at him, confused. “That's 100 dollars is for your reward for last night. You se it wasn't that good,it only worth that much”.He let out, sardonically. I bit my lower lip in anger. I'm only worth a hundred dollars?! So Demanding. My fist clenched and I tried to control my temper. I reminded myself of how much I needed this job. So I force a smile out of me and picked up the 300 dollars. “if that's all, sir, I would like to get back to work.” With that,I left his office. As son as I got back,Nora came over to my desks. “C’mon ,girl .… Why did he send for you? What did he say? Tell me everything.” She asked almost immediately. I signed and replied; “ To tell me he isn't a prostitute.” “And?” She probed. I blinked.. there's no way I can tell her that he made me the prostitute instead. She was laughing her ass out at me. So I shrugged. “What? You can't certainly mean that was all you two talked about.” “That was all what were you expecting?” I asked suddenly feeling irritated. Nora giggled. “I thought,you know…well ,he might have fallen for you last night and you guys were on a start of a beautiful romantic relationship.” Instantly,I cringed.” Get that stupid idea out of your head. I'm not interested. She laughed.” You're joking, right? Do you know how many women would kill to be with a man like Mr Raphael whites ? As a matter of fact all the female employees here are gushing over him. She brought out her cellphone and showed me Raphael's pictures which had been posted by some female employees in the company. I rolled my eyes.”oh please.” “Honestly… tell me ..how did it feel to have sex with him?” How did it feels? I don't know because I can't even remember it clearly. I do know I was tender this morning. I can remember glimpses of him thrusting in and out of me. Ah. … I'm never getting drunk again. To save my face,I replied.”It wasn't that impressive mif you desperately want to know how it felt maybe u can try to sleep with him, I'm sure he won't mine.” “I wish I could”.she sighed and returned to her desk. Deep down..I wish I could remember everything about last night…every single detail. I mean… to be honest…the man is super hot….so good looking. He might really be good with his member…. Did he do it to me so good then? It's such a pity that there would be no opportunity for me to get to know that. He's my boss now. And I won't Cross the line so there can never be a connection between us. My phone rang Out , interrupting my thoughts. It was my mother… I'm pretty sure she's going to urge me More into attending Uncle Anderson party tonight. I covered my face with my hands, trying to prepare myself for the evening for it was going to be a long night.The Photograph She HidNicole's POVThe message stayed on my screen.Now they know you're looking.I read it again.Then again.My fingers had gone cold."Nicole."Raphael's voice came from behind me.I didn't answer.He stepped closer."Show me."I turned the phone toward him.His eyes moved over the message.His expression changed immediately."Who sent this?""I don't know.""When did you get it?""Just now."He took my phone from my hand and examined the number."Have you received anything from this number before?""Yes."His jaw tightened."How many times?""Twice.""Why didn't you tell me?"I pulled the phone from his hand."Because I didn't know you'd do anything except tell me to stay somewhere safe.""That's exactly what I'm going to tell you now.""I'm not going anywhere.""Nicole....""No."I turned toward Clara.She was still standing beside the cabinet.Her eyes were fixed on me.She looked frightened.Or at least, she looked like she was."Someone broke into your house,"
Someone UpstairsNicole's POVClara's fingers tightened around mine."Don't move."I stared at her.The footsteps came again.Slow.Measured.Someone was walking across the floor above us.My heart slammed against my ribs.Raphael appeared at the bottom of the stairs.His eyes moved from Clara to me.Then toward the ceiling.He didn't ask what happened.He already knew."Stay behind me."I almost laughed."That's getting old."His eyes flicked toward mine."This isn't the time."Another footstep sounded above us.Closer to the staircase.Clara's hand slipped from mine."There's no one supposed to be here."Raphael's expression hardened."Apparently someone didn't get that message."He reached beneath his jacket.The sight of his hand disappearing inside it made my stomach tighten.I followed him up the first step.He turned."Nicole.""I'm coming.""Stay downstairs.""No."His jaw tightened.I stepped around him."You don't get to decide what I see anymore."His eyes held mine for a
The Woman Who Knew Nicole's POV "My mother?" The word barely left my mouth. Raphael didn't answer. He stood across from me, his face unreadable, while Joy stared at the floor as though the answer had been carved into it. I waited. Nothing. My chest tightened. "You said the last person who opened that box disappeared." Raphael's jaw shifted. "Yes." "My mother is alive." "I know." The answer came quietly. Too quietly. I stepped closer. "Then don't say things like that." "I wasn't talking about your mother." I stopped. "Then who?" Raphael looked at Joy. She shook her head. "Not tonight." I laughed once. It came out empty. "Of course." I bent down and picked up the note from the floor. My father's handwriting stared back at me. If Nicole ever finds the key, don't let her open the box alone. I folded the paper. My fingers wouldn't stop shaking. "I want to go home." Raphael's expression hardened. "No." I looked at him. "That wasn't a question." "Someone
The Things He Never Told MeMy ears were still ringing.For a few seconds, I couldn't hear anything except a high-pitched whine that seemed to come from somewhere inside my skull.I pushed myself up on trembling hands.Glass covered the porch.Tiny pieces glittered across the floor in the morning light."Nicole."Raphael's voice sounded distant.I looked up.He was crouched in front of me.His hands were on my shoulders.His eyes moved over my face, searching."Are you hurt?"I opened my mouth.Nothing came out.He touched the side of my head."Nicole.""I'm fine."My voice barely sounded like mine.Raphael's gaze dropped to my hands.There was a thin cut across my palm.Blood had begun to gather along the line.His jaw tightened."You're bleeding."I looked down."I didn't feel it.""That's because you're still in shock."He reached for my hand.I pulled it away.His eyes lifted to mine.For a moment, neither of us spoke.Then I stood.My knees nearly buckled.Raphael caught my elbow
The Photograph in the GardenNicole's POV"What?"Joy didn't answer.Her fingers tightened around my wrist.Not enough to hurt.... but,Enough to stop me from moving.I looked at her face.She wasn't watching Raphael anymore.She was watching the garden.More specifically...The old tree at the far end.My stomach tightened."What is it?"Joy swallowed."I know that tree."I frowned."What?""The tree."Her voice had changed.It wasn't fear anymore.It was recognition.She released my wrist and walked toward the window.I followed.Raphael stood several feet outside, scanning the garden.His right hand remained beneath his jacket.Every movement was controlled.Careful.He looked toward the fence.Then the flowerpot.Then the trees.Nothing.No one.Joy pressed her palm against the glass."I've seen that tree before."I stared at her."Where?"She didn't answer immediately.Her eyes remained fixed on the branches.Then she whispered,"When you were little."Something inside my chest shi
The Things He Never Told MeNicole's POVThe car disappeared around the corner.I kept staring at the empty stretch of road long after the sound of its engine faded.Nobody spoke.The curtain slipped from Joy's fingers.She let it fall.Raphael remained beside the window, his eyes fixed on the place where the car had vanished.His jaw was tight.His shoulders were rigid.He looked like someone waiting for a second attack.I hated that.I hated how easily fear seemed to find everyone except me.Or maybe it found me too.Maybe I'd simply become too used to it."Who was that?"My voice sounded smaller than I wanted.Raphael turned."I don't know."I almost laughed."That's becoming your favorite answer."His expression tightened."Nicole.""No."I stepped away from the window."You don't get to do that.""Do what?""Say my name like it makes everything okay."He went quiet.I looked at Joy."Who are they?"Joy's fingers twisted together."I don't know."I stared at her."You do."She sho
Nicole pov “This thing called love ,I'm never gonna involve myself again” I said to myself as I drank the last vodka I was holding.I shouldn't be drinking.I know I shouldn't be drinking.What went wrong? What could have changed?I don't even have head for alcohol,but I just want to try and forge
Nicole’s POVThe hallway felt longer on the way out.Or maybe it was just me….walking too fast in heels that suddenly sounded too loud, too sharp, like they were announcing everything I didn’t want anyone to notice.I kept my face straight.Chin up. Eyes forward.Like I hadn’t just stood in that off
Nicole’s POV The room didn’t just go quiet. Like every breath, every whisper, every curious glance had been suspended midair the second Raphael spoke. “What seems to be the issue here?” His voice wasn’t loud. But it was enough for everyone to hear. Clara moved first. Her entire posture soften
NICOLE POV By noon, the office no longer felt cold.It felt… watched.Not in an obvious way.butLike every glance lasted half a second too long.Like every whisper stopped just before I looked up.I kept my eyes on my screen, fingers moving across the keyboard with practiced precision.Numbers,Repor







