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19. Sweet Lies and Stolen Glances
Last Updated:
2025-07-01 02:22:32
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Guilty Pleasure #2 46. Half a Step Behind
The gala was a spectacle of crystal chandeliers, flowing champagne, and the low hum of orchestral music weaving through the crowd. Chatter echoed between glasses clinking and the soft clatter of heels against marble. Lights shimmered above, casting a golden glow over the room filled with laughter, celebration, and carefully curated charm. Waiters moved gracefully between people, trays balanced with gourmet hors d’oeuvres and expensive wines.But Elena Carter felt none of it.Elena stood near a towering ice sculpture shaped like the company’s logo, forcing a smile as a board member droned on about market trends in Southeast Asia. She was smiling, laughing, and nodding at people she barely remembered being introduced to. Her smile was painted on, her words rehearsed. Inside, a dull ache pulsed like a quiet drum. She sipped the champagne, letting the fizz distract her from the sting in her chest. Her mind, however, was miles away or more accurately, fixed on the man across the room.“Ele
Guilty Pleasure #2 45. The Unspoken Silence Before Midnight
The boardroom hummed with soft murmurs, glass walls glinting with sunlight that poured in from the panoramic windows of the Singapore skyline. The mahogany table stretched long, sleek, and polished to perfection, its surface cluttered with crisp papers, glinting pens, and water glasses that barely had a sip taken from them.Elena sat straight beside Ryan, her notepad in front of her though she hadn’t jotted a single word in the past five minutes, her fingers tapping lightly. Her eyes darted across the room, from one suited executive to another, her nerves surprisingly steady. The previous day’s meeting had softened the pressure, today was more of a formal gesture, a signature to mark success.The final terms had been negotiated, the numbers triple-checked, and now, all that remained was the flourish of ink on paper.Vivian, poised and immaculate in a tailored navy suit, slid the document toward them with a practiced smile. "A pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Johnson."Ryan didn’t
Guilty Pleasure #2 44. The Weight of Words
The morning sun filtered softly through the gauzy hotel curtains, painting the room in shades of golden warmth. The sunrise painted Singapore’s skyline in hues of gold and pink, but Elena barely noticed.Elena stirred under the light quilt, blinking slowly at the unfamiliar ceiling. For a moment, she just lay there, unmoving, her thoughts swirling like mist.Ryan’s voice from the night before echoed in her ears. “Just one. But she’s worth every second.”At the time, her heart had clenched. But now, the words wouldn’t leave her alone. Did he mean her? Or was there someone else? Someone before her? Someone who had also stood on a rooftop crying into his chest, only to leave their memory carved into his voice?The thought sank in her chest like a pebble tossed into still water. She stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She splashed cold water on her face, pressing her palms to her cheeks. She walked out with a sigh, not bothering to fuss over her hair like she usually did. Her
Guilty Pleasure #2 43. The Fire Beneath the Ice
Elena barely had time to process Ryan’s icy command “wait here” before he was already moving. Elena blinked. “Ryan…” One moment, he stood beside her, rigid with restraint. She watched him disappear into the lounge through the tall glass doors, her heart pounding. The look in his eyes was a storm she didn’t know how to name, cold fury wrapped in lethal precision. His stride deceptively calm, like a storm disguised as a breeze that didn’t match the tension radiating from his frame. One of the men, the tall, cocky one in a navy blazer who had made the comment, smirked and stood up as if greeting an old friend. Whatever he was expecting, it wasn’t what came next. Ryan didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t throw a punch. But the way he leaned forward, one hand braced on the table, the other in his pocket, made every man there flinch. His lips moved, sharp, clipped words. But something about his posture made even the office help nearby take a cautious step back. “Let’s clarify something,”
Guilty Pleasure #2 42. In Suits and Shadows
The morning started with chaos. Elena’s alarm blared at 7:00 AM. She slapped it off, rolled over, and promptly fell back asleep. The second time she woke, sunlight was streaming through the gaps in the curtains, and her phone showed 8:17 AM.Fuck!She bolted upright, nearly tripping over the discarded heels from last night as she scrambled to the shower. She stood in front of the mirror, her toothbrush dangling from the corner of her mouth as she fumbled with the buttons on her blouse. Her suitcase lay open, clothes spilled out like a war zone. The clock read 8:42 a.m.“Shit,” she mumbled through toothpaste foam, darting to rinse her mouth.She was late. She was supposed to meet Ryan for breakfast at 8:30 exactly, and he hated tardiness. Ryan was going to kill her, or worse give her that soul-piercing, silent stare he reserved for employees who failed to meet his expectations.The irony wasn’t lost on her, she’d slept barely three hours, thanks to the whirlwind of emotions from last ni
Guilty Pleasure #2 41. What Lingered in the Silence
Elena stood in front of the full-length mirror in her hotel room, scowling at her reflection, frustration mounting with every passing second, her suitcase wide open, a battlefield of dresses, shoes, and accessories scattered around her like casualties of war. “Nothing fits. Nothing works. I look like a college girl trying to impress her boss,” she muttered to herself.Three discarded outfits lay strewn across the bed, a silk blouse and slacks that made her look like she was heading to a boardroom, a sundress that felt too casual, and a jumpsuit that had seemed like a good idea until she’d put it on. “Why didn’t I pack something classier? Sexier? Fancier?” She felt like crying at that moment.She held up a silky blue off-shoulder dress, frowned, and tossed it too back on the bed.“Too much,” she muttered, running her fingers through her curls. “Why do I even care what I wear? It’s not like it’s a date.”But even as she said the words, her pulse quickened. The idea of going sightseeing
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