تسجيل الدخولMarissa POVSo We Basically decided to inform Alina immediately we came back from our first date, I decided to break the news personally to her and her reaction was everything."Marissa, Are you sure you are not under duress?""If you are which I am ninety percent sure you must be...you should know you have rights as a citizen to sue him and put his ass to jail where he probably belongs....""Oh Alina you can say that to am innocent and law abiding citizen especially if he is your brother." I said."Xavier and Innocent shouldn't exist in the same sentence honey. He is the most cunninest man I have ever known and he stops at nothing to get what he wants.... But what do I know girl...what do I know...""Alina,I think you need to take deep breaths in order to absorb this information..." "Yeah you are right can you repeat what he said again? I need to process this information over and over again till it sinks in." She asked this time more calmly..I did and her voice next immediately sta
Xavier POVThe private rooftop garden connected to my office was bathed in the cool twilight, the city lights below winking on like scattered diamonds. I was pacing up and down completely panicking.. I had invited Marissa up here for just one thing... To confess my undying love to her.But the thing is...I am scared no I think terrified is the exact word to describe this.Marissa stood near the edge, her slender fingers wrapped around a warm mug of tea. The cool breeze tugged at her Auburn hair, bringing with it the faint scent of floral perfume that had been driving me insane all afternoon.I stepped up behind her, taking a slow breath to steady the rapid thud of my heart against my ribs. Tonight was the night. I couldn't keep standing in the shadows, playing two different men while watching her navigate her world alone. I needed to claim my place beside her in the light, as myself."You look like you are miles away, Miss Vance," I murmured, my voice dropping into a low, quiet regist
Marissa POVMy breath hitched in my chest as my running shoes slapped against the damp concrete, the sharp morning air biting at my lungs. I was on my third mile through the city, my mind still a chaotic, tangled storm after everything that had happened. My legs were burning, sweat trickling down the back of my neck under my high ponytail, but I kept pushing the pace...desperate to burn off the restless, electric energy humming beneath my skin.I needed to clear my head. I needed a second to ground myself before heading into the office and facing Xavier again.Up ahead, the familiar golden glow of my favorite corner café appeared through the morning fog. Digging my heels in, I slowed my sprint into a jog, my heart hammering against my ribs as I pushed open the glass doors and ducked inside, panting softly.The warm, rich aroma of roasted espresso beans hit me instantly. I leaned against the counter, catching my breath while the barista prepped my usual order, before heading toward my
Xavier POVI sat at my desk, staring at the financial reports spread in front of me, but I couldn't focus on a single number. All I could think about was Marissa. The memory of her laughing under the afternoon light, holding the red roses I gave her, kept looping in my head.A quiet knock at the door broke my thoughts. Julian walked in, holding his digital tablet."Your schedule for the rest of the evening is clear, Mr. Sterling," Julian said, his voice smooth and professional. Even with that I could hear the tiredness in his voice, he obviously needs a break to relax."Though if you were wondering why the floor is emptying out early, the team is heading down to the rooftop bar on Fifth. They are celebrating Marissa's win on the Kensington project."I paused, leaning back in my leather chair. "A celebration? Why wasn't I informed?"Julian raised an eyebrow, a small, sarcastic smirk touching his lips. "It was announced in the general group chat, sir. Technically, everyone was invited—i
Marissa POV The glass doors of Sterling Architecture parted with a crisp and deep hum as Marissa stepped into the sunlit atrium, her heels tapping out a confident rhythm against the polished travertine floor. A genuine, bright smile tugged at her lips, her chin held high as she carried her leather briefcase toward the central elevator bank.The moment her boots clicked past the reception desk, the entire floor erupted into a barrage of loud, echoing applause."She is here! The woman of the hour!" a senior drafter called out, raising a mug of steam toward her.Marissa paused, her chest swelling with a sudden, overwhelming wave of emotion. Colleagues spilled out from their cubicles....architects who had been at the firm for a decade, junior designers, and project managers...all clapping, cheering, and raising their voices in congratulations. The Kensington account wasn't just a win, it was the most fiercely contested contract of the quarter, a deal half the senior staff had been vying
Xavier POVThe room was completely quiet except for the sound of our heavy breathing and the distant hum of the city far below.I hovered over Marissa, easing my weight down onto the mattress with deliberate, agonizingly slow care. Every muscle in my arms was locked tight as I held myself up, terrified that if I lost control for even a second, I would hurt her. I leaned down, kissing her brow, her temple, and then the corner of her lips with a tenderness that felt almost foreign to me.I moved into her slowly, taking my time, watching her face for any sign of discomfort or pain."Xav..." Marissa breathed, her hands coming up to rest on my biceps."I am right here," I whispered against her skin, keeping the pace soft and steady. I brought my hand down to smooth back the damp strands of hair clinging to her forehead. "Tell me if it's too much. I don't want to rush you."She looked up at me through the dim light, her almond eyes searching mine behind the silver frame. Instead of the deli
Marissa POVThe air in the VVIP lounge was heavy, charged with a static that made the hair on my arms stand up. His hands were everywhere possessive, firm, and grounding. As we made out, my fingers tangled in his jet-black hair before sliding down to the hard, sculpted planes of his abs through his
Marissa POV "You see how we cut the line? No hassle. We are hot, babe," Hailey said, adjusting her cleavage in the mirror-lined hallway. Her blonde hair was snatched back into a high, lethal ponytail, her green eyes popping against thick, dark mascara. She looked like a predator in her shimmering
Marissa POVI woke up to a cold, damp pillow. My face felt tight, my eyes swollen nearly shut from the "hot tears" that had slammed down my cheeks until I finally passed out from exhaustion. The house was deathly quiet....no sound of Ethan’s humming, no scent of morning coffee. Just the lingering g
Marissa POVI stood in the center of our pristine living room, the space I had spent the last two years turning into a sanctuary.Now, the silence felt like a predator. I was utterly bamboozled no, dumbfounded didn't even touch the edges of it. It felt as if the floor had suddenly liquefied, leavin







