Chapter 3

ZURI'S POINT OF VIEW

“TMI, babe! Way too much information!” Jenica’s face was bright red as she fanned herself, and I burst out laughing.

“Sorry! Got carried away!” I grinned, still chuckling as she rolled her eyes.

“God! You could’ve skipped the explicit parts, you know? My poor virgin ears!” She covered her ears dramatically, making me laugh harder. “Alright, alright—just keep going already. Ugh.

I took a deep breath, letting the laughter fade before picking up the story.

——

My head felt like it was being pummeled with a sledgehammer. God, I hated hangovers.

I lay still, willing the throbbing to ease, when the door clicked open and a woman’s voice cut through the silence.

“Hon, your mom—oh my God!!”

I shot upright, wincing as my skull screamed in protest—but the pain was nothing compared to the shock of seeing my boss bolt upright beside me, stark naked.

“AHHH!!!!” I shrieked, and he froze, staring down at his bare body as if just realizing he was undressed. He scrambled to pull on a pair of boxer shorts.

“AHHH!!!!” I screamed again when I looked down and saw I was naked too, yanking the sheets up to cover myself completely. My eyes darted to Carmilla, who stood in the doorway, her hands flying to her mouth. “Helios… how… how could you do this to me?” Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed into her palms.

The truth hit me like ice water. My boss and I had woken up in the same bed—both naked.

I remembered the moans, the heat, everything from the night before.

I’ll be damned!

“C-Carmilla… hey… it’s not what it looks like.” Helios’s face was pale, his hands trembling as he stared at her, unsure whether to move closer or stay put.

“Not what it looks like?!” She spat the words, her voice cracking with fury. “Then explain it! Don’t tell me you and Zuri were having a bible study in here with no clothes on?!” He had no answer for that—instead, his gaze shifted to me.

“Zuri… I never thought you could do this to me. Of all people.” Her tears fell harder, and I felt my own eyes burn with shame.

I was mortified. I’d never imagined I’d do something like this—especially not to someone about to get married. And worst of all, it was with my boss.

Note to self: Never get drunk again.

“No… Carmilla, please. Let me explain—nothing happened.” I stared at Helios in disbelief as he lied through his teeth. What the hell? Even caught red-handed, he’d choose to deceive her.

The man was pathetic.

Carmilla slapped him so hard across the face that her hand left a bright red mark on his cheek. “Do you think I’m stupid? Don’t you dare make a fool of me, Helios!” She turned to me, and I flinched under her gaze. “Tell me the truth, Zuri. Did something happen between you two or not?”

Hope flickered in her eyes. Even now, seeing us like this, she was clinging to the idea that it wasn’t real. That’s how much she loved him.

I looked at Helios—his eyes were practically begging me to lie. I could do it. I could tell her nothing had happened. But every time I met her gaze, the words stuck in my throat. We were both women, and I knew how much this would hurt—but she deserved the truth.

“Yes,” I whispered, my voice barely audible, but it cut through the silence like glass.

Carmilla’s sobs grew louder, and I squeezed my eyes shut, knowing Helios would never forgive me for this.

When I opened them again, she was pulling her engagement ring off her finger and hurling it at his chest. He caught it mid-air, his jaw clenched tight. “There will be no wedding. Goodbye, Helios.” She turned and ran out of the room, the door slamming behind her.

Helios stared at the ring in his palm, his face unreadable, completely still. My heart hammered against my ribs—I knew how ruthless he could be. I knew he’d never let this go.

Suddenly, he threw the ring across the room with a roar. “GODDAMMIT!”

He was in front of me in two strides, his hands wrapping around my throat so tightly I could barely breathe. I clawed at his fingers, digging my nails into his skin, begging him silently to let go—but his grip only tightened.

“Remember this, bitch,” he snarled, his breath hot against my face. “I will make your life a living hell. I’ll break you until you’re begging me to kill you. Be ready.” He released me so violently I stumbled back, then pulled on his clothes and stormed out, slamming the door hard enough to shake the walls.

I collapsed onto the bed, clutching my throat and coughing until my ribs ached. His fingers had left bruises that would surely be dark by morning.

My hands were shaking as I walked into the office the next day. Sure enough, purple marks wrapped around my neck—I’d tied a scarf around it to hide them. I forced a smile, greeting coworkers as if nothing was wrong, but the moment I stepped onto the CEO floor, my chest tightened with dread. I knew he meant every word he’d said—and I had no idea what he’d do next.

I didn’t have to wait long. The intercom on my desk buzzed the second I sat down.

“Zuri. Get in here.”

I rushed into his office, and the first thing I saw was a mountain of papers stacked on his desk. He pointed at them without looking up.

“I want a soft copy.”

“Sir?”

“Email it to me. And you’re not leaving until it’s done.”

I swallowed hard, staring at the pile—easily a thousand pages. He wanted me to type all of it up and send it to him?

When I didn’t move, he finally looked at me—and I saw pure fury in his eyes.

“What are you waiting for, bitch?”

My lips trembled at the word, tears stinging my eyes as I grabbed the stack and hurried out.

I’d barely made it through fifty pages when my stomach growled. Lunch break had come and gone. I stood to head to the cafeteria, but the door to his office swung open.

“Where do you think you’re going?” His voice was ice-cold.

“To eat, sir.”

“Did you send the files yet?” He glanced at my desk, at the mountain of papers still waiting to be typed.

“Not yet, sir—I’m not finished.

“Then you’ll never leave this desk until you’re done typing every single damn page!” He snarled, pushing past me toward the elevator.

“Sir—” I started to protest, but his hand cracked across my cheek so hard I staggered back. I tasted blood where my lip had split open.

“I pay you to work, not complain,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “I told you I’d make your life hell. This is just the beginning, Zuri. Just the beginning.” He stepped into the elevator and the doors slid shut.

My legs gave out, and I sank to the floor, sobbing as pain radiated from my cheek, my lip, my throat—and deep in my chest, where it hurt the most.