ログインThe work flow of Grey Empire was starting to feel familiar. I had been working in my office for three weeks now, and the routine had settled into something almost comfortable. Morning briefings, afternoon meetings, endless streams of emails and documents and strategy reports. I had learned the building's layout, memorized the names of key executives, and started to understand the amount of alliances and rivalries that kept the company running.But I wasn't just learning the business, I was studying it. Every interaction told me something. Who spoke first in meetings, who deferred to whom. Who exchanged knowing glances when certain topics came up and who avoided each other entirely. I noted all of it and filed it for later.What surprised me was how quickly people had started seeking my opinion. “Mrs. Grey, what do you think of this proposal?”“Mrs. Grey, could you look over these numbers?”“Do you have a moment to review the marketing strategy?”At first, I assumed they were just be
I stepped out of the elevator into the corridor trying to figure out what was going on. The corridor was different from the rest of the building. The lighting here was dimmer and the conners darker. The walls were lined with sleek panels, and the security cameras were more visible, more numerous. The air felt pressured somehow, like it was charged with a tension I hadn't felt anywhere else in Grey Empire.I stepped further into the corridor, my heartbeat pounding, like fired cannons in my chest. This wasn't Van's floor, I'd pressed the wrong button.I was supposed to step back into the elevator right, but no! Stepping means I'm not Zara Solis. I moved further and was about to enter an open space when I heard footsteps.A security guard was walking toward me, his expression professional but firm. “Ma'am, you're not authorized to be on this floor.”“I took the wrong elevator,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “I'm sorry….. …I'll leave immediately sir.”“Please come with me.” He escort
I woke up on the couch again, my neck stiff and my eyes burning from another night of barely sleeping. Van had already left, no note, no good morning, just the ugly memory of his possessive claims on me last night.Well it's not like I care, he wants control. Always control. I whispered it to myself as I got dressed. “Well, he’s not getting it from me.”I ignored the driver he sent and took a cab to the office instead. It was a small rebellion, but it felt good, especially when the driver looked confused when I told him I didn’t need the ride, but I didn’t care. I needed the space. I needed to feel like I still had some say in my own life.But i guess, with Van Grey in my life, there was no space for me, because just tell me why i would down from the cab, and Van's secretary would be informing that there was a client presentation was at eleven.I tried declining, with excuses of inadequate preparation but that staquo goatie of a man stated firmly. “I'm sorry Mrs. Grey, but Mr. Grey sa
Van waited until evening to corner me. I had just shut down my laptop after spending an entire afternoon pretending to understand three different reports while secretly memorizing office layouts and security rotations. I was reaching for my bag when his voice came from the doorway.“Dinner. Seven o’clock.” He spat quietly.I looked up with a scowl on my face. “Was that an invitation or a calendar notification?”“The former,” he said. “Though I expect the same result either way.”I shook my head, looking tired. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Mr. CEO, but I’m afraid I have to decline. I already have plans with someone else.”“Who is that person?” “I don’t think that is any of your business.” I restorted, Van’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t say anything. He turned and walked away. I grabbed my bag and left before he could come back again.Leo had already caught me earlier in the afternoon near the atrium. “Are you free for dinner tonight?” he asked with an easy smile on his face. “Just to
Zara's PovNobody tells you that becoming Mrs. Grey also means becoming public property. People knocked on my office door all morning.Some came to congratulate me, while some came because they were curious and wanted to stare at the woman who had supposedly stolen Van Grey's heart. By mid-morning, I was already exhausted from smiling.This particular knock came just as I managed to send everyone away, and was considering whether pretending to work counted as actual work. I looked at the untouched laptop on my desk, clicked on a random spreadsheet to make myself look productive, and cleared my throat."Come in." The door opened and Evelyn Cross walked in. Of course it was her, I had even expected her earlierShe looked exactly the same as she had during the meeting earlier. Not a strand of dark hair out of place. White blouse. Black pencil skirt. Black heels that somehow managed to make almost no sound against the floor.I wondered if she floated instead of walked. She closed the door
Zara's PovI spent the better part of twenty minutes standing in front of the wardrobe wondering whether looking too good counted as cooperating.The dresses hanging inside probably cost more than my rent for the past five years combined. Every single one looked like it belonged on the cover of a magazine instead of on someone who had once broken into the owner's office with a flash drive tucked inside her pocket.I reached for the simplest thing I could find. A fitted cream blouse, black trousers and a matching blazer. Perfect….i look professional and forgettable, the exact opposite of Mrs. Van Grey.I had just finished buttoning the cuffs when there was a knock on the bedroom door."Come in."The maid from earlier stepped inside carrying a large white box. "Good morning madam, Mr. Grey asked me to bring this for you." She said bowing respectfully.I frowned, staring at the box. "I already got dressed.""I know, ma'am." She placed the box carefully on the bed before excusing herself.
The car had barely pulled out of the venue. Van's eye was fixed on me and I could see through the window that he was still fuming."Stay away from Leo." He said finally, his tone carrying a finality that suggested that he wasn't going to entertain an argument about itI turned from the window slowl
Zara’s povI stood in front of the mirror in Van's room, the room he and I had been sharing for the past two days since I agreed to his forced marriage. I still couldn't tell what he was planning, or what his endgame is, but the best I could do for now is to follow his lead, appear as happily marri
I watched the conference four more times then I put my phone down, got dressed, and took a cab straight to his estate.She's my wife.The words replayed in my head, over and over again.The lobby security recognized my face before I even reached the desk, which was not even surprising given that my
"Where's it...where's it...where the fuck is it?" I whispered to myself, which, in hindsight, was probably not my most dignified moment. But committing corporate espionage at midnight in a company that could have me arrested and publicly humiliated was already doing enough damage to my dignity. Usi







