Marrissa’s point of view The damn door finally opened, and I did not wait for anyone to speak. I walked out without looking back.I breezed past the young guy who had opened the door. I didn't even glance at him. My heels echoed sharply on the marble floor as I walked straight to my room.My head pounded with each step I took. The pain in my eyes made it difficult for me to think . But honestly, the hangover was not the real source of my pain.What really hurt me was deeper than that. I felt a tight, aching weight in my chest I could not even begin to name.I slammed my door shut and locked it.Then I just stood there, leaning against the door with my eyes closed.What the hell just happened?Everything from last night hit me in pieces.My mind became filled with flashes of memory I was not ready for. The kiss. His hands. The way he said my name means something to him. How I clung to him like he was the only thing keeping me alive. How I needed him at that moment. The craving I felt t
Morgan’s point of view I was tired and sleepy, yet dad refused to let me go.He had me down with details about his swearing in and his moving into the Governor's house."Dad, Marrissa and I will not be moving in with you," I said.Dad frowned."We have had this discussion before. You are the governor, not me. Besides, I'm not a teenager. I am a man of my own and should not be tagging along with you like a puppet," I said, rather too sharply.Dad sighed.I yanked and stood up from my seat."Wait, Morgan," dad said.I paused at the door, "Dad, I'm tired, I need to get some rest," I said."Sorry son, this won't take long," he said, already instructing that coffee be brought to his study.I sighed as I reluctantly walked back to my chair."This would definitely take me time," I whispered to myself.Dad started talking about so many things, and I was barely keeping up with him.I was halfway through my second cup of coffee when James, our butler, stepped into the study with an uncertain l
Morgan's point of view But instead of going to my room and getting the sleep I craved just a while ago, I went to Marrissa's room.Not to tell her what had just transpired between Farrow and me, but to shield her from everything.I wanted to make a proposition that we relocate immediately. She seemed to have enjoyed her stay in Spain, so Spain could become our new country. I don't mind leaving everything behind. For her, I can rebuild my life from the crash if need be.I paced outside her room for a good five minutes before I knocked.There was no answer.I knocked again, lighter this time.Still nothing.I could hear movement inside, faint and muffled, but she was not coming to the door.I rested my forehead against the wood. “Marrissa,” I said softly, “I just want to talk.”There was silence.I exhaled. Of course, she wasn’t ready. She was probably questioning everything and hell, I didn’t blame her. She had every right to.What if she thought I set this all up? What if she believe
Farrow's point of view "One for me, nil to Marrissa," I whispered under my breath as I majestically walked out of the Thornhill penthouse. I made sure my heels sounded loudly like victory drums as they clicked against the marble floor.I could hardly contain the joy bubbling up in me. My lips twitched into a smile and I tried to suppress the scream of excitement swelling in my belly. My entire organs were dancing in victory.Every step I took down the hallway was one step closer to everything I ever wanted—and one step further from the wreck Marrissa would soon become.I controlled myself until we got to the car. And the moment I entered the car and shut the door and Laird started the engine. I lost all control.‘YES!" I screamed as my arms flew in the air. "Oh my God, yes! We did it! We actually did it!" Laird laughed as he drove, keeping one hand steady on the wheel. I turned to him, grabbing his free hand and shaking it like a lottery winner."Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I
Marrissa's point of view I didn’t go in my car. I didn’t go to Molly’s place, nor did I call Andre for help. And sure as hell, I did not go back to my own apartment. Morgan would look for me there. He could track me down faster than I could blink, and the last thing I wanted was to be found. So I grabbed my bag, flagged down a cab just outside the Thornhill mansion, and told the driver to just drive. “Where to?” he asked, watching me through the rearview mirror. “Somewhere quiet,” I whispered, looking out the window. “I’ll let you know.” I could feel the sting of tears forming in my eyes, but I blinked them away. I had cried enough already. Honestly, I think I have cried more than any human could cry in a lifetime.After about fifteen minutes, I gave him the name of a small lodge on the outskirts of the city. It was not one of those places with glossy glass windows and valet parking. This place didn’t have any stars next to its name. The kind of place no one would look at. E
Molly's point of view I was in the middle of a spin. My hip was swaying to the beat of a song I don't even know, when I saw Marrissa's back. She was leaving.At first, I thought maybe she was going to the restroom or just stepping out for air. But the way she moved so quickly, like she was trying to disappear, told me something was not right. She didn’t even glance back.“Mar!” I called out, pushing past a group of tipsy girls laughing beside me. But the music was too loud. The crowd was too thick, and my voice vanished into the noise.I stopped dancing. My heart sank a little, as confusion bubbled inside me like soda that was shaken too hard.“Why did she leave like that? Without telling me? She knew I would be looking for her. She knew I hated being ditched without a word.”I turned and hurried back to the table we had been sitting at. Her drink was still half full. Her jacket was still there. Her phone wasn’t, though. Just mine, buzzing with a notification.I picked it up, and my
Morgan's point of viewMarrissa was really gone. And with her, it felt like my sanity walked out the door too.At first, I just sat motionless in my room. You know, I felt, maybe if I didn’t move, this whole thing would undo itself. Maybe she would come walking back in, tossing her bag on the table like she always did, mumbling something about traffic or forgetting her charger.But she did not come back.The room felt different without her. Too quiet. Too empty. Everything that made me happy was gone. Her energy, her scent, the way her presence made everything glow, was gone. Like she had taken a piece of the air with her, and I could not breathe without it.My first instinct was to go after her. Grab my keys, get in the car, and find her. Drag her back home if I had to. Talk to her. Beg her even. Make her look me in the eye and explain why the hell she just walked away without a word.But I didn’t.Not because I didn’t want her back. God, no.Heaven knows how much I wanted her. I wan
Morgan's point of view The silence in my penthouse was deafening. Marrissa’s absence left behind a suffocating void that echoed throughout the walls of the house.I had paced the length of the study a dozen times, ran my hands through my hair so often it ached, and still……still… I could not shake her image from my mind.But I was not going to chase her. I told myself that. I repeated it like a mantra. I would not chase her.So, I slowly dressed up. I dressed like a man getting ready for war. I wore a charcoal suit, white shirt and burgundy tie. Something about putting on that armor made me feel in control again. But, my suit felt heavier than usual. Or maybe that was just the weight in my chest. I was going back to work that morning. Well, not just going to work. I was running back to work. I needed to drown at work before I started ripping things apart.I drove in silence and the moment I stepped into Thornhill’s Enterprise, everything around me blurred. My mind wasn’t really there
Marrissa's point of view I stood outside the shimmering glass doors of the executive conference room with my heart pounding in my chest like it was trying to escape. Behind those doors was a panel of investors, each one a name I had memorized from the dossier Mr. Adrian handed me just yesterday. The Echelon Project. A multi-million-dollar initiative that could reshape tech-integrated education.“You’ve got this,” Samira whispered beside me, nudging my arm. She had tagged along under the pretense of delivering tea, but I knew she was really there to support me. My ride-or-die bestie.I took one deep breath. Then I walked in.Thirty-seven minutes later, I came out looking like I had fought a war and somehow survived. My hands trembled, but my voice had not cracked once. I answered every question, deflected the skepticism, and even got to make them laugh.“How did it go?” Samira asked, practically vibrating with excitement.“I think…” I exhaled, blinking. “I think I killed it.”“YES!”
Marrissa's point of view After my meeting with Mr. Adrian, something inside me shifted.I was not going to cry in the bathrooms anymore. I was not going to let Bianca or anyone run me out.If they wanted a show? I would give them the best damn performance they had ever seen.Samira found me later in the break room, still gripping my coffee cup like a weapon."You look like you are about to commit a felony," she said brightly."Felony?" I echoed, smiling thinly. "More like... a strategic takedown."She slid into the seat across from me, her eyebrows raised."God, I love it when you get scary," she said, laughing. "Tell me everything."And I did.I told her how I would start saving backup files on a separate drive in a hidden folder labeled Birthday Party Clowns. No one would ever check that one. I told her how I would place subtle marks on my original documents. I would use things only I would recognize and if they were tampered with, I would realize immediately.I explained how
Marrissa's point of view Daniel told me to continue working on the Echelon project even thoughno results had come about who would really lead the project.“There's no harm in being prepared,” he said and I agreed.He agreed to assist me in the best way he could and today we were supposed to have a meeting.Well, yes iIt was supposed to be a quick meeting.Just me and Daniel. We were supposed to finalize a section of the Echelon project before the weekend.Instead, it turned into three hours of gisting and snacking. There were two pizza boxes, and one playlist full of 90s hits blasting through the empty office.At some point, I realized we were laughing more than working."I swear," Daniel said between bites of cold pizza, "half of all the good architect are just surviving the ridiculous clients.""Oh, you mean the lady who wanted her lobby made entirely out of glass? Including the floor?" I asked, grinning.Daniel shuddered dramatically. "I tell you."We both laughed.And then — Th
Bianca's point of view I saw everything and I was not only irritated,I was angry.Who the fuck does she think she is. She came in as a freaking newbie and now,she was leading a project I had been working my ass to lead.What the hell did she do to Mr Adrian?I saw the easy smile he always gave her.The way even Daniel lingered by the doorway after her presentation, scribbling notes furiously, his gaze locked on Marrissa like she was some kind of prodigy.It made my stomach twist.Everything about her annoyed me . Her wide eyes and modest outfits and fake humility. She walks about like she had no idea she had just snagged the biggest project in the company. The Echelon Account. My project. At least, it was supposed to be mine.And now, she was everyone's favorite.Including Mr Rodes actually came to the company just to say “Marrissa’s proposal was refreshing. I’m excited to have her work here."Excited?She barely knew which floor the printers were on.After everything I had done, aft
Marrissa's point of view Later that afternoon, my badge beeped me into the sleek, glass-walled conference room. The long table was already packed with managers, strategists, and consultants. And, of course, Bianca was sitting, looking at me like a hawk, her legs were crossed and she was tapping a pen against her notepad with surgical precision.I gulped. Samira gave me a thumbs-up from behind a frosted partition.At exactly one o'clock, Mr. Adrian, Mr Allen and Mrs Spencer walked in. They were all calm and composed,but the room snapped to attention like they carried gravity in their pockets."Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "this is Marrissa and I picked her as the lead on Echelon. We will be hearing her make a presentation as well as Bianca and at the end, we will decide who will really lead the project."There were murmurs in the room . Some looked at me with raised eyebrows and someone even coughed.I opened my folder with trembling hands and began explaining my initial idea
Marrissa's point of view I barely made it home before my phone buzzed again.Samira:> Emergency. > Celebration required. > Meet us at ‘The Olive Lounge by 7:30 sharp. > Dress cute but comfy. Boss Babe orders.I didn’t even bother arguing. Samira had basically dragged me into their circle at full speed with no brakes and honestly, I like it.I threw on a pair of skinny jeans, a soft rose-pink blouse, and some ankle boots that made me feel vaguely fashionable, and by 7:20, Samira was honking outside like a maniac."You are ate!" she yelled as I climbed into the car."You are early!" I shot back.Liana and Tasha were already seated at the backseat, waving like overexcited puppies."You look so CUTE!" Liana squealed."She understood the assignment," Tasha said approvingly, high-fiving me.Samira drove away from the curb like she was auditioning for ‘Fast and Furious: The Suburban Edition’."We have ONE mission tonight," she declared with shining eyes."Survive your driving?" I s
Marrissa's point of view I did say I was on fire yesterday right. Well, there was nothing hot in me right now as I stood in front of Me Adria, trying not to crumble to the ground."Miss Marrissa, I had not been hundred percent truthful to you and I think I should now."My stomach twisted.“What is he about to say?” I thought to myself."I didn't give you the entire information because I didn't want you scared or overwhelmed."My legs began to shake, suddenly too weak to carry the weight of my body."May I sit please?” I asked weakly."Oh please, do take your seat, “ he said, gesturing to a chair across from him.I sat down and placed my shaky hands on my lap.I didn't know why,but I was worried he wanted to say something bad. His nt facial expression didn't even make it any better.He wasn't smiling."First, I want to commend you again for your work so far, you have been incredibly good, but…. I'm afraid there is more to do"."You will be attending a meeting this afternoon with top e
Marrissa's point of view I spent Sunday indoors, preparing mentally and physically for tomorrow's work activities.Monday came and I dressed smartly for work. Today, I will attend my first core planning meeting.The Core Planning Team meeting was held on the thirty-fifth floor — the floor with actual glass walls, leather chairs, and a skyline view that made you feel both inspired and slightly nauseous at the same time.I held my new badge so tightly it nearly left an imprint on my palm.Samira had tried to coach me on the elevator ride up:"Okay, listen," she said in a hushed voice. You are brilliant, but you are also new to this. Some of those people there have been here for years. They are not going to throw you a party, Marrissa. Just... smile. Be polite. And don’t let Karen corner you."I frowned. " Who is Karen?"Samira widened her eyes. "You will know when you see her."Great. Cryptic warnings and mystery enemies. “This was fine,” I whispered.The elevator dinged, and w
Marrissa's point of view I woke up the next day with sunlight streaming through the curtains, casting a warm glow across my room. The noise of the city outside was a comforting reminder that I was in a new place.It was Saturday. A day to relax.I stretched lazily on the bed, feeling the softness of the sheets against my skin. The air smelled faintly of lavender from the diffuser I had set up the night before.Deciding to make the most of the day, I slipped into comfortable clothes and tied my hair up. I put on some upbeat music—something with a rhythm that made cleaning feel less like a chore and more like a party. As the melodies filled the apartment, I moved from room to room, dusting, organizing, and tidying up.An hour into my cleaning spree, my phone buzzed with a notification. I wiped my hands on a towel and picked it up.It was a message from a hidden number: “How are you faring?”I stared at the screen, puzzled.“Who could this be?” Could it be Molly or Andre? But why use