Masuk-Eve-God, I hated Mondays. I reminded myself as I walked to the elevator in boots that squeezed my feet.“Hey, Eve!” I heard a familiar voice behind me. I turned to see Ana, waving and smiling at me.When did we even become friends?“Hey, Ana.” I said, forcing a smile once she ran up to me.She held onto my shoulder, breathing like I had forced her to run.“Don’t mind me,” she waved her hand dismissively, “just catching my breath.”When she finally straightened, she smiled in my face. I walked on, and she followed.“Soo, how was your weekend?” She grinned.“Great.” I nodded. Curt. Flat.“And the launch—oh, I’m sorry about what happened with those witches from Accounting. Periods can be the worst sometimes.” She blabbed.I let out a small sigh. I wish she’d just shut up.She didn’t.“I have a random question. Are you having an affair with Mr. Kingston?” My heart skipped, “because if you are…I won’t say anything.” She grinned.I turned to her, keeping my expression neutral. “Where did
-Grace-What the fuck?! What the actual fuck?!My mind screamed at me as I barely made it into the bathroom without tripping over my heels. I could feel the weight of his eyes still burning into my back even after the door swung shut.I gripped the edge of the sink.Hard.My reflection stared back at me—wide eyes, flushed cheeks, lips trembling just enough to give me away if anyone looked too closely. Anyone like him.Shit.He knew.No… no, he couldn’t know. He was bluffing. He had to be bluffing. Pushing. Testing. Watching for cracks.And I had almost handed him the entire fucking confession on a silver platter.I turned on the faucet with shaking hands, letting cold water rush over my fingers. The chill did nothing to calm the heat crawling up my spine.I know you followed Siena to the bathroom. I know you did that to her, Grace. His voice echoed in my head.My stomach twisted violently.It wasn’t an accusation. It was certainty. “No… no, no, no…” I whispered under my breath, gripp
-Dominic-The loud banging in my head woke me up—no, not my head.It was the door.Fuck, I shouldn’t have drank so much. Someone—maybe more than one person, was pounding on it, stabbing the doorbell like they were trying to break it.I let out a small sigh as I got on my feet, dragging my way across my bedroom to the entrance door.I checked the door cam and two figures filled the frame. A man and a womanWho the hell were they and what the hell where they doing at my condo? Either way, I opened the door before realizing the only thing I had on were my boxers.They glanced down my form, then at my face like they had a lot to say.I’d admit, it wasn’t one of my best moments. The last thing I remember was crashing out after I called Seb.“Good day, Mr. Kingston. I apologize for the rude awakening,” he smirked. “I’m Detective Harris, and this is my partner, Detective Lee.”He said as they both held up their badges.Detectives, huh?“To what do I owe this… wake‑up call?” I asked, resting
-Alex-“Do you already have something planned out?” She asked, gently freeing herself from my grip.I blinked, blankly.Her eyes rimmed, tears disappearing into the corners like they’d never been.God, she was beautiful.“Um…not quite, any ideas?” I quietly admitted.I didn’t have a plan when I blurted those words earlier. I just wanted to make her feel a little better, and thankfully it worked.“Tell me,” I leaned in. “What’s your ideal first date?”A smile tugged her lips, “It’d be a range of things.”Indecisive. Cute.“A walk or a ride?” I asked, walking up to my car,“I’d start with a ride.” She said as I opened the passenger’s door for her, “Somewhere we can talk…or not talk, if we feel like it.”I grinned, and got into the car.I kept one hand on the wheel, sneaking glances at her like it was the first time she’d been in here.She was quiet at first, fingers tapping the seat, drumming to the rhythm of the music, eyes tracking every passing car.Even like this, she was mesmerizin
-Eve-I turned in the direction of the voice and froze in my seat.It was a kid. A boy.He was around eight or nine. Brown hair, brown eyes. The spitting image of my father.Before I could answer, the door opened and my father appeared in the doorway.“I asked you to stop wandering,” he said to the boy, gesturing for the secretary. “Take him for a walk.” Then, turning to me, he motioned inside, his expression unreadable.I followed behind him, eyes darting across the space.The office had been expanded and redecorated in white and beige, fitted with a small parlor set of leather chairs in front of the desk—fit for a partner.I wanted to congratulate him, but I couldn’t. To do so would make me a hypocrite. I wasn’t happy. Not in the least.He sank into one of the chairs, and I slid into the one across from him.“What can I offer you, Eve?” His tone was casual. Almost too casual. “Water, whiskey, juice—”“Nothing.” I blurted. I wanted to cut straight to the point.He nodded, as if he ha
41(Official)-Eve-I tossed and curled under the blankets, my eyes fluttering open to the sharp brightness of the morning.A cramp stabbed my lower abdomen before my senses fully registered where I was.It was Saturday and I was in Alex’s apartment. In his bed. Wearing his shirt.Last night came rushing back. Dominic. Him.How we had left immediately. How he saw the stain on my dress and pulled over to a pharmacy, buying everything he could get his hands on, doing it without a word.Every atom of embarrassment had fled out the window the moment I asked him to take me back to his apartment.And, that was how I ended up here.“Good morning, sleepyhead,” he said, stepping in with a tray balanced carefully in his hands.On it, golden-brown waffles, fresh berries, a little drizzle of syrup, and a steaming mug of coffee that smelled like heaven.He placed it on the bed, leaned down, and kissed my forehead.“How did you sleep?” He smiled.My cheeks flushed as I nodded shyly. “Well.”In that







