LOGINA few hours had gone by, Jillian rounded up her work and headed for Dominic’s office. Dominic rarely emailed his staff directly and the few times he did, it was precise, urgent and never without reason. This time something was different, no signature, context or whatnot to indicate it was an official summon, just the message. She got up, adjusted her blouse, smoothened her trouser and did everything necessary to look as eye appealing as she could. A lot of thoughts crossed her mind as she made her way to the elevator. She took the elevator to the floor of Dominic’s office. She made her way across the hall being haunted by the stares of the paintings that followed her as she disturbed their peace with her presence, each of her steps echoed, her heart beat in rhythm with her heels-too loud, too fast. Then she noticed the strong contrast between Eloise’s office and his. The pathway to Eloise’s office was quite nice but this was different, it was graceful in every way humanly possible. Sh
Jillian eventually got to her floor after what felt like hours. Her heels echoed as she walked across the hall, everywhere fell into an awkward silence not that it was a noisy environment but something was different that day. She tried so hard to pretend she couldn’t see the numerous pair of eyes penetrating through her. She got into her office and was welcomed by a golden light that peeped through the pale glassed windows. She gradually made her way to the bathroom. If only we all had a magic mirror that would show us only what we wanted to see, Jillian said to herself. Unfortunately, this was the real world, she could only stay put and look as the spotless glass before her mirrored her reflection in the most honest way. Her ginger hair still in a bun, her green eyes filled with exhaustion, a flash of vulnerability somewhere beneath her smile, then she whispered to herself, Jillian you’re fine. She immediately found her way to her cubicle. As she walked to her seat, that feeling hit
Work hours came to an end and Jillian went home as usual. She kept on recounting what happened to her that day as she stepped into the subway and boarded the train. She couldn’t shake the eerie feeling that her life was about to go downhill not like it wasn’t already but she knew this time it wasn’t the regular you’ll be fine, don’t worry kind of situation. It was a twenty-five minutes ride to her stop and she got down made her way out of the subway and got a taxi to take her home. She got into her small but cozy apartment and saw Ciara already making dinner. It was already 7:00 PM. Anyone could see the exhaustion all over Jillian’s face. Ciara came up to her friend and asked what the matter was, she just brushed it aside and immediately changed the topic. She urged Ciara to tell her how her day was and she tells her about this cute guy she met at a coffee shop. Jillian tried to be excited for her friend but yet you could still find the fear lingering behind her eyes. Ciara went ahead
Jillian tried to be invisible the rest of the day.She kept her head down, and kept her hands busy with paperwork, her ears open to the clacking of keyboards and the hum of voices around her. But in her mind, she was falling apart.Dominic Pierre.She couldn't stop muttering his name to herself, over and over in her head.He was Gerald's brother. Gerald, the very same man who had apparently used her, threatened her, and now loomed over her like an armed gun. And Dominic, the man was intense and she was beginning to feel something for him. The struggle tore at her.It was not like she had anything against the Pierres, but most times, one bad egg usually means all the eggs by extension are bad. And Gerald was fucking spoilt.And yet, every time she remembered the way he'd looked at her—serious, hot, smoldering—it was harder to believe that he was anything like Gerald at all.Even so, she couldn't afford to trust anyone. Not again.____________________________________________Gerald has
Jillian stared at her reflection in the mirror of the little office restroom for the third time that day.Her blouse was primly buttoned, her pencil skirt hugged her hips professionally, not sensually, her makeup was subtle, yet elegant and her red hair was smoothed back into a chic low bun, with not a single strand out of place.She looked like she had it all together.But inside, she was shaken up. The things from the day before continued to eat at her. Gerald's words kept ringing in her mind, the burns of humiliation little more than smoldering now. And even though Ciara had managed to ease her worry a little, she was still bothered by it. By him. It was ridiculous how rapidly things had taken a turn. A night of excess, a stupid decision, really and now she was dodging the smirk of a man who had the power to ruin her.She shook her head, trying to shake the thoughts from her head, grabbed her bag, and headed out of the apartment.Work wasn't going to wait for her to get her head s
Dominic Pierre was not easily sidetracked. Not at all.He had been raised on discipline and knew the value of time and when it was required. But sitting in his office reading through acquisition reports, he kept rereading the same sentence four times, each time his thoughts kept going back to the redhead he met down the hallway.Jillian Richards.The name had come across his desk three weeks ago, flagged and handpicked by Eloise herself. A fresh graduate, top of her class, no family connections. Smart, resilient. Maybe even too resilient, if that was a thing.Dominic looked out the office’s one-way glass at the bustling atrium below. A redhead stood beside his mother. SHe was poised, composed, but clutched the folder to her chest like it was going to eat her. So that’s her.She didn’t look dangerous. She looked… young. In over her head.Which meant she’d either sink quickly, or become something entirely unexpected.Dominic’s thoughts were interrupted by the door swinging open without







