The alarm shrieked like a banshee, dragging me from what little sleep I'd managed to find. My eyes felt like they'd been rolled in sand, and my back ached from the awkward position I'd maintained all night—half-sitting against the headboard, knife clutched in my hand. I'd dozed off around four, only to jerk awake at every creak and groan the building made."Fuck this," I muttered, silencing the alarm and dragging myself to the bathroom.The face in the mirror looked like shit. Dark circles shadowed my eyes, and my skin had the sallow tinge of exhaustion. I splashed cold water on my face, willing the fog to clear from my brain.Coffee. I needed coffee.But the kitchen was still a disaster zone, broken dishes scattered across the counter. I hadn't gotten around to cleaning that part yet. Daniel had been thorough in his destruction, not leaving a single mug intact.My phone buzzed with a text from Olivia.On my way with coffee and bagels. Don't argue.I smiled despite everything. What did
Office ThornMy steps faltered. "Excuse me?""It's okay," she winked conspiratorially. "Everyone knows he went to your place last night. Security logs everything."Heat crawled up my neck. Of course. The corporate security system would show who entered and exited the building after hours. And apparently, privacy was a fantasy."My apartment was broken into," I said flatly. "Mr. Thorne was helping me file a police report."Her smile faltered. "Oh. I didn't—""No, you didn't." I brushed past her, irritation burning through my fatigue. The last thing I needed was gossip about me and Alex.My desk seemed smaller today, tucked away in the corner furthest from the windows. I hadn't noticed before how the junior designers sat in this section, while the more established team members had the prime spots near the natural light.I booted up my computer, grateful for something normal to do. The design program loaded, and I opened my current project—accessories for the spring collection. Nothing gr
The morning dragged on. I threw myself into the accessory designs, determined to make even this demotion into something spectacular. But every time I looked up, I caught someone looking away quickly or whispering to a colleague.At the eleven o'clock design meeting, things got worse. Bernard ran through the collection updates, barely acknowledging my presence. When I tried to offer suggestions for improving the bracelet clasp design, he nodded vaguely and then attributed the same idea to Sophie when she repeated it five minutes later."Excellent modification, Sophie," he said, making a note. "That's exactly the kind of refinement we need."I bit my tongue so hard I tasted blood.After the meeting, I retreated to the break room, needing a moment alone. But as I approached, I heard voices from inside—Bernard and Phillip, one of the executive VPs."—liability at this point," Phillip was saying. "The client specifically mentioned concerns about her emotional stability.""She's talented," B
I dragged my ass to the office before the sun was fully up, fueled by three shots of espresso and pure stubbornness. Sleep had been a joke—just tossing and turning between nightmares of Daniel's smirking face. By 4AM, I'd given up and just sat in the shower until the hot water ran out, trying to wash away yesterday's humiliations.I liked the design floor when it was empty—no staring eyes, no whispers, no Sophie's fake-sweet smile. Just possibility in the quiet. I dumped my bag and spread out my sad collection of surviving sketches across the desk. So Daniel wanted to break me? Fuck him. I'd show everyone what accessory design could really be.My fingers flew across the tablet, sketching earring designs that complemented but didn't overshadow the main collection. Focusing on work helped quiet the chaos in my head. Each line, each curve, each decision felt like a small victory—proof that I still had control over something."You're here early."I looked up to find Emma watching me, coffe
I spent the next two hours refining my presentation, making sure every detail was perfect. The women's line would be elegant, distinctive, cohesive with the men's pieces Sophie was designing, but with its own clear identity.At ten-thirty, I headed to the conference room to set up. Sophie was already there, arranging her materials with precise movements."I heard Cartwright specifically requested you," she said without looking up. "That's quite a feat for someone who's barely been here five minutes.""My work speaks for itself."She laughed softly. "Does it? Or does having the CEO in your pocket speak louder?"The insinuation made my skin crawl. "You know, Sophie, it must be exhausting being this obsessed with me. Have you considered therapy?"That got her attention. She straightened, eyes flashing. "Don't flatter yourself. I'm just concerned about the company's reputation. We have standards here.""Yes, and stealing other designers' work probably isn't one of them. Or wait—is that sti
I made it through the rest of the morning on autopilot, fielding congratulations from colleagues who'd ignored me yesterday. Their sudden warmth felt hollow, conditional on success rather than genuine support.By lunch, Sophie's revenge campaign was in full swing. Every time I walked into a room, conversations died like I had some contagious disease. In the break room, two junior designers practically tripped over themselves getting out when I came in for water."I heard she fucked Cartwright in his hotel last night," someone whispered just loud enough for me to hear. "That's why he insisted on her.""Alex must be pissed. I thought she was his side piece?"I slammed my mug down so hard it cracked, water splashing across the counter. The whispers stopped instantly. Good. At least fear still worked when respect wasn't an option.But when I tried to access the revised project files and found my permissions blocked, something inside me snapped. This wasn't just gossip anymore—this was acti
By mid-afternoon, I'd reached my breaking point. Three days of whispering, blocked access, Sophie's venomous smiles, and now Alex was ghosting me like we were in some middle school drama? Fuck that.I marched toward his office like a woman possessed. Let them gossip about that. His assistant tried to do that little half-stand thing secretaries do when they're about to block you."He's on a call—""He can multitask," I said, not slowing down. I was done playing nice."I told you, it's handled." A pause. "No, she doesn't need to know... Because it would only complicate things."My ears burned. She. Me? Was he talking about me?"I'm aware of the risks," he continued, voice tight with tension. "But this is the best approach. Trust me on this."Unable to wait any longer, I knocked sharply."Come in," he called, though I was already halfway through the door.Alex stood by the window, phone pressed to his ear. When he saw me, his expression shifted—surprise, then something unreadable."I'll c
"Alex, I didn't—" I started, shock replacing anger.He moved before I could finish. His hand caught my wrist again, but this time he pulled me toward him, not away. In one fluid motion, his other hand was in my hair, and his mouth was on mine.The kiss wasn't gentle. It was hungry, desperate, months of tension exploding between us like a dam breaking. His lips were firm, demanding, his hand tightening in my hair as he angled my face up to his.For a heartbeat, I froze. Then something wild and reckless flared inside me, and I was kissing him back, my fingers digging into his shoulders. He tasted like coffee and anger and something uniquely him. His body was hard against mine, his heart hammering as fast as my own.He backed me against his desk, lifting me slightly so I was perched on the edge. My skirt rode up as his body pressed between my thighs. Some distant part of my brain screamed that this was insane—he was my boss, we were in his office, I had just slapped him—but then his teeth
I heard the rustle of fabric as he shoved his jeans and boxers down. Then his fingers were gone, and I felt the head of his cock pressed against me. He paused there, so close to where I needed him."Say it again," he demanded."Fuck me," I repeated, beyond caring how desperate I sounded.“Not convincing enough,” he said, an I could only imagine the stupid smirk he would have on his face.“Pleassee”He pushed in slowly—too slowly—filling me inch by inch until he was all the way inside. We both went still, adjusting to the feeling. His hands gripped my hips hard enough to leave marks, his breathing ragged above me.Then he started to move, building a rhythm that had me clutching at the sheets, face pressed into the mattress to muffle the sounds I couldn't hold back. Each thrust hit perfectly, sending jolts of pleasure up my spine. I pushed back against him, matching his pace, taking him deeper."Harder," I demanded, voice breaking.His grip tightened as he complied, driving into me with
"What is it then, Maya? What exactly do you want from me?" He pushed off from the counter, taking a step toward me. "Because I've been trying to figure it out since the moment we met, and I'm still fucking clueless.""I just want you to treat me like an equal!" I shot back. "Not some fragile thing you need to protect!""When have I ever treated you as anything less?""You make decisions about my life without consulting me!""What decisions?" He threw up his hands. "Name one actual decision I've made for you.""You—" I faltered, searching for concrete examples. "You decided I couldn't handle knowing why you were going to Milan.""I decided to handle a situation quietly before dumping more problems on you." He took another step closer. "You're fighting a war on multiple fronts. Your parents. The foundation. The board. I thought I could deal with one thing without adding to your plate.""That's not your call to make!""Fine!" His voice was sharp now. "You want to know? Daniel's been havi
"Okay."I hung up before my voice could betray me. For a second I just stood there, phone in hand, heart doing this stupid fluttery thing I hated. Pathetic. Not even twenty-four hours after walking out, one call and I'm jumping.Except I wasn't jumping. I was going over there to tell him exactly what I thought. That's all.I cranked the shower too hot and stepped in anyway, feeling my skin flush red. The bathroom mirror caught my reflection as I toweled off. Christ, I looked wrecked, and I needed sleep.But at least, I need to know what he had to say.I yanked on jeans and grabbed the first sweater my hand could find. My wet hair dripped cold trails down my neck as I half-heartedly (At least that was what I told myself) dragged a brush through it, catching on knots I didn't have patience to work out.My phone lit up with a text from Olivia about Henderson and a 9AM meeting. I glanced at it, exhaled sharply, and tossed the phone in my bag. The car keys dug into my palm as I headed for
"What leverage could they possibly have on Chen?" I asked, focusing on the immediate problem to avoid the bottomless pit of other thoughts waiting to swallow me. "She's been with Russo Designs for twenty years. She despises my father.""Well…they wouldn't approach her without ammunition," Grandfather said. "Your parents are opportunistic, not stupid."I stopped at the window, pushing the curtain aside to peer at the garden below. The rosebushes needed pruning. Grandfather was letting things slip. Another small sign of his decline he thought I hadn't noticed."Something about the foundation," I said finally. "That's what they've been focusing on.""The Henderson grant application," Olivia suggested, looking up from her laptop. "Your father's golfing buddy chairs th
"What leverage could they possibly have on Chen?" I asked, focusing on the immediate problem to avoid the bottomless pit of other thoughts waiting to swallow me. "She's been with Russo Designs for twenty years. She despises my father.""Well…they wouldn't approach her without ammunition," Grandfather said. "Your parents are opportunistic, not stupid."I stopped at the window, pushing the curtain aside to peer at the garden below. The rosebushes needed pruning. Grandfather was letting things slip. Another small sign of his decline he thought I hadn't noticed."Something about the foundation," I said finally. "That's what they've been focusing on.""The Henderson grant application," Olivia suggested, looking up from her laptop. "Your father's golfing buddy chairs th
MayaI'd forgotten how much I hated Grandfather's study. The room felt like it was actively trying to swallow me—dark wood paneling soaking up what little sunlight filtered through heavy curtains, leather chairs too deep for my frame, bookshelves stuffed with volumes nobody had opened in decades. The air still had that perpetual smell of cigars even though I had never seen grandfather smoke."They've approached Whitcomb," Grandfather said, tossing a handwritten note across his massive desk. Not photographs. Not dramatic surveillance. Just his spidery handwriting on Russo Designs stationery showing the result of one phone call to a secretary who'd worked for him for thirty years and still treated him like God despite his "retirement."I picked it up, trying to focus on the words while my brain kept circling back to the same useless
AlexThe elevator doors closed, cutting off the sound of Maya's apartment door slamming behind me. I jabbed the lobby button, watching the numbers descend while her words echoed: "You're obsessed. Mr. I-Still-Carry-The-Bracelet."She knew exactly where to strike. The bracelet wasn't just some keepsake. It was the one tangible connection to a past we both shared. The proof that we'd been connected long before any of this. And now she'd just turned it into something shameful, like the fact that it mattered to me was a deficiency.The doorman nodded as I passed through the lobby. I pushed past him without acknowledgment, the cold night air hitting my face as I started walking. No destination. I just wanted to go away.One minute we were talking about her parents, and the next she was treating me like I was trying to control her entire life. Hated it she compared me to Daniel. That comparison stung more than the bracelet comment. All that, for just trying to help. Was that overstepping? W
I watched as Robert questioned Maya's professional judgment, his voice carrying that familiar patronizing tone. And then—"You'd really destroy your own daughter's work?" Thorne interjected, addressing her parents directly. "To protect a lie?"Caroline Kingston's face hardened. "Mr. Thorne, with all due respect, you weren't invited to this dinner.""No, but I was invited by Maya. And since we're speaking of reputations, perhaps we should discuss how it would look if the industry discovered that the Kingstons deliberately left their daughter in the mountains for over a decade for business purposes."The blood rushed to my face. Who the fuck did he think he was? Playing white knight when he knew nothing about her, nothing about what she needed, nothing about what we'd built together.Then Maya's voice cut through clearly: "Alex is family. The family I've chosen."Something hot and tight constricted in my chest. I stared at the screen, at her hand covering his on the table. An intimate g
DanielI studied our wedding photo as I waited. It was the only personal item they'd allowed me to keep after the "incident" with Dr. Levinson. The frame had a small scratch across the glass now—probably deliberate, another of their petty humiliations. Like the facility uniform that hung loose on my frame, the scheduled bed checks, the constant surveillance. As if I were some common patient.Maya looked perfect that day. I'd selected her dress myself—ivory silk that caught the light exactly right. The photographer had needed minimal direction; Maya had already learned to present herself properly by then. The work I'd put into refining her had paid off. Sometimes I wondered if she remembered that—how much better she was because of me.The door opened without a knock. Basic courtesy, another casualty of this place."Medication time, Mr. Russo." Kevin stood in the doorway, rumpled uniform and mediocre posture. The man was a walking collection of weaknesses—betting slips visible in his br