Before Nolan could get to the parking lot, he could see her car zooming out of the premises, with her driver standing dazed by the curb.“Shit,” he muttered, rushing toward his own car and fumbling with his keys. There wasn’t time to ask where she was going.All that mattered was following her.And the moment he got into the car, he got on her tail in a hot chase.They hit the highway, and Nolan slowed a bit, trying not to cause a scene. But when Jules didn’t even stop for a truck as massive as a trailer, his brows lifted.She wasn’t just in a hurry. She was in panic mode.Nolan floored it. He wasn't about to miss her.He glided through cars and trucks and traffic lights that he almost felt like he was doing a stunt for some movie.Whatever was making Jules drive like that sounded like trouble.Finally, she slowed down and swerved into a parking lot.Nolan looked. “A hospital?" He wondered, giving her a head start. Before pulling into a free space away from hers. With the way she dro
Jules pulled open the drawer in her desk and took out the bottle of vodka, poured herself a shot and downed it in one gulp, all while keeping her eyes on the door in case anyone walked in.Then she quickly shut it back in the drawer and smoothened her blouse, taking deep breaths.Finally, she walked out towards the conference room where she'd called for a meeting with the board, the entire executive team, and, of course, Nolan.When she got there, almost everyone was ready and waiting, including Zee, standing at attention behind her chair—and of course Nolan was also present.Their eyes met briefly—only a second—but it was enough to send an unexplainable shiver down her spine.Why? She couldn't decipher.“Sorry for the delay." She said out loud, her voice cutting through the silence in the room. Then a small smile appeared on her lips. “Before I start, I'd like to say thank you to all of you for seeing that the company was still running in my absence." A few nodded. The rest just sta
The sound of Nolan’s heavy footsteps echoed through the house. It felt silent and hollow—just like his chest.It'd been two days since he confirmed Asher was getting a half sibling and he felt nothing less than foolish.‘Do I really act without my brain?’ he asked himself as he got up the hallway and turned towards his bedroom.It was dark out. Later than the time, he usually got off work. But for the last two days, he'd buried himself in more work and drank a little more booze.Evie hadn't spoken to him ever since, and he knew his aunt was lurking in the shadows, just waiting for the right time to bring up their marriage.He opened his room's door and walked in.He froze.“Evie,” he breathed, eyes locked on the figure sprawled across his bed.It was either Evie was lying on his bed, covered with the duvet, and scrolling through her phone, or the booze was playing with his head.“Evie?" He called again.This time, she only spared him a glance for a second and turned back to her phone.
“I’m just glad everything is finally going back to normal,” Jules said into the phone just as the car rolled to a stop in front of her company.“So just like that? The media are silent?" “Nah, not really,” she replied, stepping out of the car. "Some are still digging—wanting to know what's next after this. How Nolan's going to handle the aftermath of all.”"Me included, bitch.” Cassie quipped.Jules just smiled, her eye catching sight of Zee standing at the door, waiting. “Of course you do, Cassie." "Good morning, ma'am.” Zee greeted, her smile sharper than the gator on her pants.“I have to go, Cassie. Some of us have work to do.”Cassie gasped in the background. "Good one Jules." Jules just chuckled and ended the call. “Welcome back, ma'am. You've got—" “Don't tell me." Jules interrupted with a small wave and a smile. “I know I have a lot to do, and you can brief me when I'm in my chair." Zee smiled back and shrugged.She was greeted by the few employees she passed by, but th
Jules felt like a sheep being led to slaughter even when Ethan grabbed her hand and tried to look into her eyes as they walked towards the car.“Do I really have to go?” she asked for the umpteenth time. “No one’s expecting me there.”“The media is, Jules,” Ethan replied calmly. “Showing up reduces the questions that’ll be thrown at you later.”But Jules wasn't buying that. But it didn't seem to matter because Ethan was holding her hand firmly and pulling her forward.If not that she knew she'd regret it if she came out looking ugly on camera, she wouldn't have put extra effort in styling her hair and make up.And she definitely wouldn't have gotten the crimson jacket and pants custom made for her.Ethan held the door open for her, but she just stood there and crossed her arms, turning her face away. “I should be with Asher." “Please.” Ethan begged, suppressing a smirk.Finally, she sighed and turned to him. “I know this is just so you can look good." “I love you too,” he replied wi
Evie adjusted her dark shades as she struggled to read the percentage of alcohol on the wine she was staring at.She normally wouldn't do this—go shopping on her own. But lately she just seemed so set off by everything and everyone.Maybe it was the baby, maybe it was Nolan's condescending attitude, or maybe it's the fact that three days ago she had to lie in a hospital bed, her eyes shut while a needle was shoved into her arm…on live TV.“You're okay." Nolan had repeated while she dug her nails into his hand, as the needle went in.‘Okay my foot,’ she thought bitterly. ‘He’s not the one being distrusted and dragged like a cheating slut by the entire fucking city.’None of this wouldn’t have happened if she'd left him a long time ago, when the red flags first waved. But she just couldn't bring herself to walk away.She'd been nursing the affection she felt for him since they were kids and she never got over it, even when she got with Colton, and every other man she'd tried to be with