LOGINNEW LOCATION: ITALYFOUR MONTHS LATERHeavily pregnant, Diana stood in the doorway of the master bedroom, one hand resting protectively on her stomach as she stared at the two naked women sprawled across the rumpled sheets.The same old scene.Empty bottles. Syringes. Used condoms. Thank God I had my mask on, she thought.She wasn't about to let a single particle reach her lungs. Or her unborn childEven with it, she could taste the chemical tang at the back of her throat—acrid, invasive. .The shower roared in the bathroom.Tarzan must be in there.“Everyone out,” Diana said, clapping her hands sharply. “Time to go. Now.”The women stirred groggily, scrambling for heels and crumpled dresses before shuffling past her, eyes averted. The door clicked shut behind them.Diana turned toward the bathroom.“Boss?” she called. “Boss?”No answer.A knot of worry tightened in her chest as she walked forward. The sound of rushing water grew louder. She pushed the door open and was immediately s
Lena wiped at her cheeks with the back of her hand and drew in a slow, shaky breath.“It was just a dream,” she whispered to herself. “I knew he was too good to be true.” She hugged the giant teddy bear one last time, then forced herself to let go.Her phone continued vibrating on the nightstand.*Mom calling...*She cleared her throat, quickly dried the last traces of tears from her face with a tissue, and answered.“Hi, Mom.”“Oh, sweetheart!” Rosa’s warm voice flooded the room like sunlight. “Were you sleeping? You sound tired.”“I was,” Lena admitted, managing a small smile. “I just woke up.”“How are you doing? Are you eating well? And how’s school?”“I’m doing okay. Classes have been great—busy, but I’m learning so much.”“I’m glad to hear that.”Lena hesitated, then said softly, “Mom… I wanted to tell you something.”“What is it, darling?”“The academy announced that we’ll be staying for six months.”“Six months?”“Yes.”“But… it’s already been two months since you left!”“I kn
His body pressed closer, guiding her back against the sturdy shelves. One hand splayed across her lower back, pulling her flush against him with possessive hunger, while the other threaded through her hair, tilting her head exactly where he wanted.She melted into him. The fight drained from her limbs as the kiss deepened—languid, consuming, and achingly familiar. Every slow stroke of his tongue and subtle roll of his hips stoked a heavy, liquid heat between them.When he finally pulled back just enough for her to breathe, his forehead rested against hers. His breath fanned warm and ragged across her lips. For a long moment, the only sounds were the faint creak of the shelves behind her and the wild thunder of her heartbeat.Then his voice came—low, rough, strained with the last threads of restraint.“I don’t hate you, Lena.”His thumb brushed the corner of her mouth in a slow, almost reverent caress, as if he still couldn’t believe he was touching her again.“I tried. God knows I tr
When the notes were done, Lena rose from her station and headed toward the spice room off the main kitchen, basket in hand.Tarzan followed.Her heart kicked into a frantic rhythm.When he had called it her dream, could it be he was acknowledging their past? Or was he simply playing the role of guest supervisor, speaking to her the way he would any other student? The question gnawed at her.Just then, a large hand smoothly claimed the basket from her grasp with effortless authority. He didn’t step beside her. Instead, he allowed her to walk ahead, his long strides deliberately measured so he remained a half-step behind. For someone with such long legs, the choice was intentional—and unsettling.Lena swallowed tightly, fighting the urge to glance back. The weight of his presence pressed against her back like a tangible force as they stepped into the narrow, dimly lit spice room. Shelves rose on every side, heavy with jars of cumin, turmeric, dried chilies, saffron, and rare aromat
"Your name?"The deep voice was so achingly familiar that her heart stuttered to a halt.Lena froze.Slowly, she lifted her head.Tarzan stood directly in front of her station—so close she could see the tiny flecks of silver hidden in his striking hazel eyes. And there it was: that same playful, heart-stealing smile from the early days, when he'd flirted with her every chance he got.How could he still smile like that? Like nothing had ever happened between them?She was too stunned to answer. Her lips parted, but no sound came.Tarzan dropped his gaze to the name badge clipped to her chef's jacket. His gloved fingers brushed against it lightly."Mine..."He read it aloud, then looked up at her.Lena blinked. Her badge clearly said Lena, not Mine. Was he messing with her?Before she could react, he unclipped it with effortless confidence, pinned his own name badge onto her uniform, and slipped hers into the breast pocket of his jacket—directly over his heart.Lena searched his eyes, d
The kitchen suddenly felt too small, too hot—too much. Lena could barely hear the nervous chatter around her over the frantic pounding of her own heart. Tarzan. The same man she had spent countless sleepless nights trying to forget. Her fingers tightened around her pen until her knuckles ached. She forced her gaze down to her notebook, clinging to the blank page like a lifeline. Don't look at him. Don't let him see you. A sharp clap cut through the tension. Chef Isabelle's voice rang out. "Everyone, listen up." The room fell silent. "The fridge garden is fully stocked—everything you could possibly need is there. Fresh herbs, rare spices, premium proteins, and seasonal produce. You know where to find it all. Your time starts now. First, take ten minutes to finalize your recipe notes. Precision on paper leads to perfection on the plate. Begin." The class scattered in a burst of nervous energy. Notebooks flipped open, and pens scratched furiously against paper. But for Lena, th
You will never truly understand heartbreak until it comes from the same man who once adored you—who protected you, who loved you without hesitation. “What’s the number?” My husband’s voice came from the doorway. I flinched and looked up. That’s how sad my life had become—the usual routine of ste
Tarzan glanced back toward the bed.Lena had pushed herself up slightly, clumsily tugging at her clothes with some drunken determination. Her fingers fumbled with the buttons of her blouse as she mumbled to herself, “Too hot… stupid clothes…”“Baby, I need your help!” she called out suddenly, frow
LENA'S POVMy cheeks were still warm long after we pulled apart.The kiss had been soft, almost reverent, yet it left my racing in a wild, joyful rhythm I couldn’t quite tame. I buried my face deeper into the enormous bouquet he’d brought me, inhaling the sweet, heady fragrance of fresh roses and
LENA'S POVAfter cooking, I waited for Tarzan to come back so we could eat together.Although he had told me he might stay out late, I couldn’t bring myself to eat alone, so I decided to wait.Hours passed.I was starting to feel uncomfortable—worried, and maybe even a little scared. The memory of







