LOGIN(Amara)I sit alone on the bench, staring out at the amusement park.Life moves on around me.Children race toward the rides, their excited screams carrying through the air. The Ferris wheel turns slowly in the distance while the roller coaster rushes past with another round of terrified laughter. Bright music blares from nearby speakers. Families queue for attractions. Friends stop to take photos beneath colorful lights and decorations.Yet somehow, all of it feels distant.Blurred.Like I’m watching the world through a sheet of glass.My fingers tighten around the edge of the bench as Felix’s voice continues to echo inside my head: You betrayed me first. So whatever you’re facing, you deserve it.My throat tightens.A tear slips down my cheek.Then another.I quickly wipe them away, but they keep coming.“Do you really think I was going to let you go that easily? Certainly not. Not after what you did to ruin my life.”I squeeze my eyes shut.His face flashes through my mind.The co
(Rayner)“Rayner!”Stefan bursts into my office.“Rayner!”I don’t look up.My attention remains on the documents spread across my desk.“What is it?”I sign another page.“If it isn’t urgent, we can discuss it later. I’m busy.”“No.”The tension in his voice makes me pause.“You need to see this.”I slowly look up.Stefan immediately places his phone on my desk.I stare at him for a second before looking down.And my breath catches.The article.The photographs.Me.Amara.My chair scrapes against the floor as I stand.“What the hell is this?”Stefan runs a hand through his hair.“We’ve tried taking it down, but whoever uploaded it used a heavily protected site. Our team hasn’t been able to reach it.”My jaw tightens.“The article is spreading fast,” he continues. “And people are bringing up her old case with Selina.”A dangerous feeling settles inside me.“What?”Stefan hesitates.Then speaks.“They’re claiming Amara became jealous after Felix moved on with Selina.”My fists clench.
(Amara)The new week has been nothing short of exciting.Ever since returning from Beverly Hills, I have been living off the memories from my time there. And even though Rayner and I only just started seeing each other, it already feels like it has been forever.Is this what it feels like to be truly loved?My mind drifts back to that night.The way he held me.The way he protected me.Even that day at the hotel site.I had gone with them after finding out it was the real reason behind his trip to Beverly Hills and the same business trip Nathan had travelled for earlier.A smile touches my lips.Just then, my phone buzzes on the table.I immediately reach for it.Rayner.My smile widens before I even open the message: Good luck on your first day today.A soft laugh escapes me.Of course he would text.We have barely gone a day without talking since we returned. Calls. Messages. Random check-ins.And despite the fact that he already wished me luck last night, here he is again.My chest
(Amara)“Rayner, stop! Stop!”He doesn’t listen.He just keeps dragging me across the beach, the cool breeze whipping against my skin.“Rayner!”The scream rips from me as I finally yank my hand from his grip.He pauses.Then turns to face me.“What do you think you’re doing?” I point behind us. “You were supposed to drop me off at the hotel. So what makes you think you can just take me anywhere without my permission?”“Why?”His eyes stay on mine. “You want to go back and wait for when Lorenzo finally comes to join you?”“What?”My brows pull together.“What rubbish are you talking about?”“It isn’t rubbish, Amara. It’s the truth.”His jaw tightens.“If I hadn’t bumped into Lorenzo last night and mistaken his room key for mine, then he would’ve been the one in the room with you. Not me.”My stomach drops.So that’s what happened.That’s how Rayner ended up in my room.But…I still don’t understand.Why was Lorenzo assigned the same room as mine?A strange uneasiness settles in my ches
(Rayner)“Have Nathan know that we won’t be meeting as planned.”The command I gave Stefan replays in my head as I step hard on the gas, following closely behind Lorenzo’s car.I need to know exactly where they’re going.Exactly where Lorenzo is taking her.“Rayner!”Stefan’s scream rips through the car.He’s been clutching the handle since I started driving, screaming his lungs out every few seconds.But I don’t stop.I just keep driving.I can’t lose them.I won’t.********We stand in front of the tall building, Stefan beside me.“Isn’t this…”His voice trails off as recognition flashes across his face.My eyes narrow.It’s one of our buildings here in Beverly Hills.But what could they be doing here?I need to know.I turn and signal to Stefan.He immediately understands.Go find out.He leaves and returns barely a minute later.“A meeting?”My brows knit together as he explains.“Since when did Lorenzo start working for Eleanor Foods?”The question sits heavily in my chest becaus
(Amara)We arrive at the venue for the meeting. Lorenzo and I take our seats just as the door opens again and the investor walks in, his secretary and several members of his team following behind him.“Mr. Alfred.” I rise slightly and extend my hand.He takes it with a smile. “Good to see you, Miss Roosevelt.”“You too.” A smile finds my lips.As I pull my hand back, his gaze shifts past me. Recognition immediately flashes across his face.“Lorenzo!”His voice brightens as he steps forward and pulls Lorenzo into a hug.I blink.You can tell instantly that they know each other.He pulls back, keeping a hand on Lorenzo’s shoulder.“Good to see you, man,” he says in Italian, a language I can understand well enough. “What are you doing here?”Lorenzo chuckles.“Here for some work. Besides, how could I leave you here all alone?”They both laugh, looking completely at ease with each other.For a moment, it feels like they’ve forgotten everyone else in the room.Before Lorenzo finally gestur
(Rayner)I watch her from behind as she walks into the kitchen.I knew she wouldn’t say no.Honestly, I hadn’t expected her to agree either. I only tried my luck. Yet here she is, tying the apron around her waist, moving around my kitchen like she belongs here.And I stand there, pretending my arm
(Amara)“Good day, Sir Rayner,” I say the moment he walks in.But another voice follows him.Soft. Feminine. Familiar.My eyes lift and there she is. The same lady from yesterday. The one who left the office with her arms locked in his.I freeze.She walks in behind him, talking rapidly, her words
(Amara)I startle.The moment I realize I am still half on top of him, I quickly push away from him and scramble to my feet. My movements are hurried, clumsy. I don’t even think before I shove him slightly to the side in my attempt to stand.A soft groan escapes him.My heart drops instantly.My ey
(Amara)Maya and I are still laughing when it happens.Dinner plates sit pushed to the side, forgotten. The small round table between us is cluttered with empty bowls, napkins, and the half-finished bottle of soda we swore we wouldn’t open but did anyway. The room smells faintly of fried plantain a







