로그인Nathaniel's P.O.V I got home at six in the evening, two hours earlier than usual, my mind boiling ever since I'd seen Annie's photo that morning. The entire day at the office had been torture. Every time I blinked, I saw those curves, the way the morning light caressed her skin, the silent invitation in that image that had made it completely impossible to focus on anything. I dropped my briefcase by the door and loosened my tie, feeling like it was strangling me. Her photo kept burning in the back of my mind, every detail etched with a clarity that made my whole body tense. It was like she knew exactly where to touch to completely disarm me, even from miles away. I went straight to the bathroom and turned the shower to cold. The icy water hitting my skin made me jolt, but it was exactly what I needed. I tried to let the cold wash away the heat that had followed me all day, tried to calm myself enough to think clearly about what was about to happen. But it was useless. Her image
Nathaniel's POV The phone buzzed on the table, cutting into my review of the monthly report. A notification from the app lit up the screen, and my heart kicked up a notch when I saw it was a message from Annie. I opened it without hesitation. [Even on days when I don't feel like getting out of bed… I definitely do. And speaking of beds… mine was really comfortable this morning, and yours…?] There was an attached photo. I almost dropped my phone when the image finally loaded. Annie was lying on her side in bed, photographed from an angle that showed only her body—perfect curves highlighted by black lingerie that contrasted beautifully against her skin. The soft morning light spilled in through the window, creating shadows that made the whole thing even more intimate, even more tempting. The framing left out her face, but somehow that made the picture even sexier, more mysterious. My eyes tracked every detail: the gentle curve of her waist, how the panties hugged her hips j
I got to the restaurant fifteen minutes before my meeting with Gwen and picked a quiet table in the corner, far from the windows facing the busy street. The place was perfect for what I needed. It was cozy enough for private conversations, but lively enough that no one would pay attention to two women having lunch. I ordered a coffee and tried to sort through the thoughts that had been tormenting me since the night before. Getting put on leave, Marcus's proposal, Nate showing up out of nowhere with those strange flowers, Wanderer's messages getting deeper and deeper… everything felt like one impossible knot, as if my life had turned into an especially dramatic telenovela. Gwen arrived right on time, as always, bringing that positive energy that usually rubbed off on me. Today she looked elegant in a navy-blue blazer that contrasted perfectly with her hair, carrying a leather folder that made it clear she really did have a packed afternoon ahead. "Sorry if I seem rushed," she said
I walked back into the apartment in silence, still trying to process what had just happened in the hallway. The image of Nate walking away was burned into my mind—his tense shoulders, the controlled steps, the way he'd looked at me in those last seconds before turning the corner. I headed straight to the kitchen, grabbed a glass vase from the cabinet, and filled it with water. The bouquet of red roses felt heavy in my hands. Trimming the stems and arranging the blooms seemed to magnify the storm of questions spinning in my head. Why had Nate chosen those flowers? Why had they felt so familiar the moment I saw them? And why, for God's sake, had having him in my home shaken me the way it did? "Red roses definitely aren't 'the team misses you' flowers," Marcus said behind me, dripping sarcasm. I didn't look at him. I kept fussing with the roses, giving them more attention than they deserved. "And where's the card signed by everyone?" he pressed, clearly not planning to drop it.
Nathaniel's POV For a moment, I just stared at Annie standing in the doorway—her hair slightly tousled, her expression frozen in absolute shock. But my gaze quickly drifted past her, into the apartment… to him. Marcus. Relaxed on her couch like it belonged to him. Leaned back with that casual, arrogant posture meant to broadcast control. One arm draped along the backrest, legs spread just enough to make a point, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. Everything about him screamed possession—of the space, of the moment… maybe even of Annie. The air thickened instantly, turning heavy and sharp. Without waiting for permission—but without asking, either—I stepped inside with controlled, deliberate movements, closing the door behind me. The click echoed like a declaration of war. "What are you doing here?" I shot back, keeping my voice low but firm enough to leave no room for games. Marcus's smirk widened, clearly entertained by my unexpected appearance. He didn't stand or even sh
Nathaniel's POV Christian's words were still echoing in my head as I walked out of the Kensington building: "Then what the hell are you doing still not going after her?" He was right. While I sat there obsessing over corporate protocol and worrying about professional fallout, Annie was alone, dealing with a situation Alexandra had engineered with precise cruelty. If I really cared about her—and God, at this point I cared more than I'd been willing to admit—I should've gone to her hours ago. London traffic was especially brutal, but it gave me time to figure out what I was going to say once I reached her apartment. How did I explain that I'd failed to protect her in that board meeting? How did I apologize for being the one forced to give her the worst news possible? How did I show her that she mattered to me more than any corporate policy ever could? That was when I passed the little flower shop on the corner of Regent Street. It was a quiet place I used occasionally for corpo







