LOGINHenry came home to an empty penthouse. The silence greeted him before anything else.He stood in the kitchen looking at the space where Andrea had been sitting this morning. He waited, thinking maybe she would come home soon. Maybe she would walk through that door and they could talk.But hours passed and she didn't come home.He didn’t go to work, just tried to work at home. He sat at the dining table with his laptop but he couldn't focus on anything. His mind kept circling back to this morning, to Andrea's face, to her words about needing time. To the weight of everything that had happened.He checked his phone but there were no messages from her. He thought about calling but decided against it. She had asked for space and he was going to respect that. After all he was the one that hadn’t listened to her in the first place. If he hadn’t defended Serena all this time against Andrea, maybe they wouldn’t in this situation.********Meanwhile at Crestview, Andrea finished work and sat a
Serena opened the door and her face lit up when she saw Henry standing there. Then she saw his expression and her smile faltered."Henry. Hi. Come in." She stepped aside.Henry walked past her without any greeting. His jaw was clenched and his eyes were hard in a way she had never seen before.Once inside he didn't waste time on pleasantries."I remember everything from last night," he said. His voice was cold and steady. "The bar. You picking me up and what you said to me in the car."Serena's stomach dropped but she tried to play it casual. "I was just helping you. You were drunk and...""You told me Andrea didn't care about me." Henry's voice cut through her words. "You told me you were the one who loved me.""I was just trying to…""And I remember you trying to kiss me."Serena went very still.Henry stepped closer. "I remember pushing you away. I remember telling you no. I remember saying I wanted Andrea."Serena's face hardened. She didn't deny it anymore, she just looked at him
The morning light was soft through the penthouse windows when Andrea woke up with her hand still holding Henry's. She had fallen asleep on the couch sometime after midnight, refusing to leave him alone, afraid that if she let go he might disappear again.She looked at Henry's face while he slept. The anger from last night had softened slightly but it hadn't gone away. It was still there, sitting heavy in her chest.Henry stirred. His eyes opened slowly and for a moment he looked confused, like he was trying to remember where he was and how he got there. Then his expression shifted as the memories came back in blurs. The bar. The drinking. The darkness of the night.He looked at Andrea and his stomach dropped. She was still here."I'm sorry," he said immediately, his voice rough from sleep and alcohol."Go shower," Andrea said quietly. "We'll talk after."He nodded and went upstairs without arguing.While the water ran in the bathroom Andrea sat in the kitchen with a cup of coffee she
Andrea watched Serena help Henry out of the car and she couldn't stand still anymore.She rushed over to them and reached for Henry. "Here, let me help."Serena immediately moved between them, blocking Andrea's access. She put her hand on Henry's arm protectively."I can do it," Serena said coldly. "Where were you when he was drunk? Where were you?"Andrea felt her jaw tighten. "I didn’t know where he was. What is your problem? What exactly do you want?""I don't know what you're talking about," Serena said, trying to move Henry toward the building entrance."Don't play dumb with me." Andrea stepped in front of them. "I know exactly what you want. I know you're in love with Henry and you want him for yourself. Is that not it?"Serena's expression hardened but she didn't deny it. She just kept trying to move past Andrea."Thank you for bringing him," Andrea said, her voice tight. "I can take it from here.""No," Serena said flatly. "I brought him so I'm taking him inside.""He's my boy
Henry woke up at Marcus's house and couldn't stay still.He lay in bed for an hour staring at the ceiling. Then he got up and paced the room. Then he sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the floor. His mind kept circling back to Andrea, even after everything she said to him. He couldn’t stop thinking about her, couldn’t get her out of his mind. After a few hours, he stopped pacing and stood still realizing he couldn't do this. He couldn't sit here and think about it all day.He left Marcus’s house and drove around the city for a while, not really going anywhere, just moving because staying still felt impossible.Eventually he ended up at a club. He went inside and ordered a drink. Then another. Then another.The music was loud, the lights were bright and there were people everywhere but Henry was completely alone in his own head. He kept seeing Andrea's face, kept hearing her voice, kept thinking about the way she had looked at him like he was a stranger.He drank more.The barte
Marcus knocked on Serena's apartment door at nine in the morning. When she opened it she was still in her pajamas, her hair messy, clearly just woken up."Marcus?" She looked confused. "What are you doing here? Why were you being so serious on the phone last night?"Marcus didn't answer. He just walked past her into the apartment and closed the door behind him."Serena, why did you really come back to Chicago?"She stared at him. "What? That's a weird question. You know why I came back.""Do I?" Marcus crossed his arms. "Because I'm starting to think you didn't come back for the city. I'm thinking you came back for Henry."Serena's face went very still. "Why would you say that?""Because Andrea and Henry had a fight last night. A bad one. And it's because of you." Marcus's voice was hard. "So I'm asking you directly. Did you come back here for Henry?""That's not…" Serena turned away from him. "I came back because I wanted to be here. I missed Chicago. I miss my life here.""I don't b
Andrea couldn't sleep. She'd spent the whole night tossing and turning her mind replaying the email from HR over and over until the words were burned into her brain.By the time her alarm went off at 6 AM, Andrea was already awake and absolutely livid. She got dressed with sharp, angry movements; p
Andrea woke before the alarm, suitcase already by the door. She dressed in a dark brown skirt and cream blouse: buttons done high, sleeves cuffed and armor in place. Mindy’s voice echoed again “Just have fun. No overthinking.” The SUV for their departure waited outside. Henry was already in the b
It was the day for the gala, Andrea stared at herself in the mirror and barely recognized the woman looking back.Mrs Carrie had worked magic. Her hair was styled in loose, elegant waves that cascaded over one shoulder, a few delicate strands framing her face. Her makeup was flawless but natural so
Her first official day as Henry Moore's personal assistant started at exactly 8:00 AM the next day.She arrived ten minutes early, coffee in hand and her game face on. Lindsay's desk was hers now, it was right outside Henry's office, quite pristine but empty except for a computer, phone, and a sing







