Emily stepped into the company lounge, balancing the neatly wrapped meal in her hands. She unfolded the packaging, revealing an exquisitely arranged lunch. A delicate seafood bisque, still warm and rich with flavor. Tender slices of seared beef, arranged atop a bed of creamy truffle mashed potatoes. A fresh, vibrant salad with edible flowers, lightly dressed in citrus vinaigrette. A small dessert—a handcrafted dark chocolate tart, topped with gold flakes. A small white note was tucked inside. “You didn’t eat much this morning. Don’t go hungry.” Emily paused, running her fingers over the paper. She didn’t need to guess. This was Adrian. And from the very first bite, she knew the food was made by his private chef. She had eaten this chef’s cooking several times now. And each time,it was perfect. By the time she finished the meal, she felt warm, full, and strangely taken care of. Without overthinking it, she pulled out her phone and sent a quick text. Em
As soon as they entered the penthouse, Adrian loosened the top buttons of his shirt, his movements slower than usual. “I’m going to take a shower,”he murmured. Emily nodded.“Okay, I’ll wait on the couch.” She had barely sat down when the bathroom door creaked open slightly. “Emily.” His deep voice carried through the air. She turned her head.“What?” The door opened just enough for his hand to slip through. “I forgot to bring my clothes.” Emily let out a soft laugh.“Really? You always seem so well-prepared.” Adrian didn’t respond, simply waiting. Shaking her head, she got up and walked toward his walk-in closet. His suits and shirts were arranged with sharp precision, each piece reflecting his meticulous nature. She grabbed a set of dark-colored sleepwear and returned to the bathroom, pushing the door open slightly to pass them through.
Emily collapsed onto the bed, staring at the ceiling, her heart still racing. Her fingers brushed against her lips, as if to erase the lingering heat from his kiss. But the problem was—she didn’t want to erase it. She squeezed her eyes shut. He’s drunk. That was the only explanation. That was the only thing that made sense. And yet— Even as she told herself that, she couldn’t ignore the way her entire body still burned from his touch. She turned onto her side, burying her face in the pillow. But no matter how hard she tried— She couldn’t forget the way he kissed her. Couldn’t forget how it felt when his lips touched her skin. And worst of all— She couldn’t forget the way her body had responded. It took a long time for sleep to come. - The next morning, Emily woke to the smell of something warm and familiar drifting through the air. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and stepped out of the guest room, following the scent toward the dining area. O
Attached was a link. Emily frowned and clicked it— And her stomach dropped. A Design’s Newest Collection–Official Product Launch Event! And standing there, front and center— Vivian Sinclair. Emily’s grip on her phone tightened. Vivian was dressed in an elegant silk dress. A pale champagne color. Subtle, yet refined. And on her chest, embroidered in delicate thread— A single white begonia. Emily felt a cold rush sweep through her. The same dress. The one Adrian’s designer had given her. The one she had worn the day she bought his cufflinks. The one Vivian was now claiming as her own. Her heartbeat quickened as she scrolled down. The comment section was already buzzing. “That dress is stunning! Where can I get one?” “Vivian, please tell me this is part of the new collection!” And then,Vivian’s personal reply: “So sorry! This is an exclusive design—something I created for myself. No duplicates available!” Emily let out a sharp breath, her j
Emily arrived at A Design, knowing today was her last. Her resignation had been sent in, but it wasn’t until she walked into the design department that she fully realized— People hadn’t expected her to actually go through with it. “You’re really leaving?”one of her coworkers asked, looking genuinely upset. Emily smiled softly.“Yeah.” Her assistant hesitated.“But…what about Mike? I thought you two were practically engaged?” Emily barely blinked.“We broke up a long time ago.” Silence. Then—a ripple of whispers. People exchanged stunned glances. It was like she had just confirmed one of the company’s biggest rumors. But Emily didn’t stay to watch their reactions. She simply handed in the last of her paperwork, thanked her colleagues politely, and walked out of A Design for the final time. It felt…freeing. Emily thought she would just head home and rest—but Adrian had other plans. Right after lunch, he picked her up himself. She barely had time to ask whe
A Design’s PR team was distancing themselves. Even the board members who had once spoken kindly to her were staying quiet. Vivian was alone in this. Her father sighed heavily, running a hand through his thinning hair.“Vivian, I swear to God, if you mess this up—” “I won’t.” Vivian lifted her head, her voice suddenly steadier. Her father’s glare didn’t soften.“Then fix it. And fast.” With that, he turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. The house fell into a tense, suffocating silence. Vivian slowly exhaled. She reached forward, gathering the papers into a neat stack, her fingers smoothing out the creases. Her gaze fell onto the official cease-and-desist order. Her own name printed boldly next to words like“unauthorized use”and“intellectual property theft.” Her nails dug into the paper. Emily.
Emily stood on the yacht’s deck, the salty breeze threading through her hair as she gazed up at the sky. The sea stretched endlessly before her, a vast expanse of deep blue, calm and steady. For the past few minutes, her phone had been vibrating relentlessly inside her bag. Over and over. She didn’t need to check to know who it was. Mike. But she didn’t pick up. Instead, she let the sound fade into the background, focusing on the shifting sky. She turned toward Adrian, who stood a few feet away, effortlessly composed, one hand resting on the yacht’s railing. “Look,”she murmured, tilting her head.“The sun is coming back out.” Adrian followed her gaze. Dark storm clouds had hovered over the water earlier, blocking out the light. But now, slowly, the sun pushed through, its golden rays piercing through the gaps in the clouds. He glanced back at her, eyes sharp but unreadable. “My parents will be returning next week,”he said suddenly.“They’ve heard about the we
The morning sun reflected off the waves as Emily and Adrian stepped off the yacht. They had spent the night onboard, the evening stretching into laughter, quiet conversations, and a rare sense of ease. But now, reality was waiting for them onshore. As Emily followed Adrian toward the waiting cars, she noticed that instead of heading for the same one, Adrian walked toward another. She frowned slightly.“You’re not coming with me?” Adrian adjusted his cufflinks, his usual composed expression in place.“I have a confidential meeting to attend.” Emily blinked.“Oh. Okay.” Adrian gestured to one of his drivers.“Take her home.” Emily nodded, sliding into the car. As the vehicle pulled away, she leaned against the window, watching Adrian’s car disappear into the city traffic. Emily hadn’t even reached home when her phone rang. She glanced at the screen. A familiar number.
As the applause faded and the lights dimmed slightly, a soft transition played across the massive LED screen behind Emily. The crowd turned to look— and there it was. A sleek, elegant Möbius strip, rendered in brushed platinum and rose gold, slowly rotated on the screen. It was the official brand symbol of her new line. The host, standing beside the podium, turned toward her with a smile. “Ms. Hart, could you tell us a bit about the meaning behind this design?” Emily smiled, steady and poised, her voice carrying gently through the mic. “The Möbius strip has a fascinating history,” she began. “It’s a one-sided surface—continuous, infinite. No beginning, no end. It symbolizes unity, eternity, and the beautifully complex nature of connection.” She paused, then added, her eyes softening slightly. “When I created this brand, a part of its philosophy was inspired by my husband. This symbol you see here is also the foundation of our wedding ring design. Because I believe every s
The space between them stretched thin, charged and brittle. People around them were starting to notice, glancing over with curious eyes. The gift box remained suspended awkwardly between them, Mike’s hand still waiting, expectant. Emily’s fingers curled into her side, rigid with the effort not to move, not to take it. A heartbeat later, a warm hand closed over the box. Another arm slid around her waist in a firm, unmistakable claim. Emily exhaled in a rush as Adrian pulled her gently against him, his presence a wall between her and everything else. He turned to Mike with a polished smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Mike,”Adrian said smoothly, his voice calm and cutting all at once. “Good to see you. Please, enjoy the evening. Have a seat.” Without waiting for a response, Adrian laced his fingers through Emily’s and steered her away with effortless possession. Emily followed, her heart hammering, the heat of his hand grounding her as they moved through the crow
Adrian smiled against her hair, then shifted to the side, pulling the covers up over both of them. He gathered her into his arms, tucking her securely against him, her head nestled under his chin, his hand stroking soothing circles along her spine. Emily let out a tiny sigh, the last of her tension melting away. Wrapped up in his arms, with the steady thud of his heartbeat against her ear and his breath warm in her hair, she finally felt herself drift. Safe. Loved. Home. Adrian kissed the top of her head one last time and whispered, "Sleep, baby. I'm not going anywhere." And with that promise stitched into the night between them, they both surrendered to sleep—together. - The design studio was finally finished— polished marble floors, glass walls that caught the sunlight just right, sleek modern lines that spoke of ambition and elegance. It stood just a few blocks away from E International, nestled in the heart of the city’s thriving downtown core. When E
With a low,ragged growl,he shifted,gripping her hips firmly as he drove into her with a sudden,deeper thrust. Emily gasped sharply,her back bowing off the bed,her nails digging into his skin as he filled her completely,claiming her in a way that left no room for thought. He caught her mouth in a fierce kiss,swallowing every broken sound she made,moving inside her with a raw,aching need that he no longer bothered to hold back. His control—so carefully maintained—was gone now,undone by the way she trembled for him,by the way she clung to him like he was the only thing keeping her grounded. And he was. He always would be. Their bodies moved together in a wild,desperate rhythm,each thrust sending another tremor through her,each kiss deepening the way they unraveled into each other. In that moment,nothing else existed— just the burn of skin against skin, the frantic beating of two hearts colliding, and the unspoken vows stitched into every breathless touch. Emily’s
He reached the bed and lowered her carefully onto the mattress, his hands lingering a moment longer than necessary, as if reluctant to let her go. Emily looked up at him, her hair fanning out across the pillows, cheeks flushed, eyes wide and soft. Adrian stayed there for a beat, hovering above her, his gaze tracing every inch of her face like he was trying to memorize her all over again. Then, without a word, he leaned down and kissed her. Slowly. Deeply. The kind of kiss that didn’t rush, didn’t ask for anything—only gave. His mouth moved against hers with a tenderness that made her heart ache, like he was pouring everything he couldn’t say into that single touch. Adrian shifted, bracing one arm beside her head, the other sliding along her waist with a patience that made her tremble. His fingers brushed the hem of her pajama top, tracing small, reverent circles against her skin, as if asking permission without ever needing to speak. When Emily gasped softly against hi
Emily caught a glimpse of Adrian holding his phone up, filming something. She tilted her head curiously. “What are you doing?” He didn’t look away from the screen as he answered, voice low and steady. “Recording you,”he said.“So next time you’re scared, you can look back and remember this feeling—this moment when you chose courage. Then, little by little, we’ll stack up so many good memories that the fear won’t stand a chance.” Emily blinked, then smiled—a small, genuine smile that reached her eyes. He was right. Facing things, handling them one step at a time, was how real confidence was built. Not overnight. But piece by piece. Her heart felt lighter. When they finally headed back down the winding mountain roads, Emily kept her hands steady on the wheel, a quiet kind of pride blooming in her chest. They decided to stop for lunch on Lexford Boulevard again. Emily pulled into a spot near the restaurant. As she climbed out, a loose piece of gravel shifted under he
The next morning, Emily was about to grab her purse and head out—the interior designer from E International had texted, asking her to come by and check out the preliminary renovation plans for her personal design studio. She picked up her car keys from the counter—but her fingers hesitated. A small tremble ran through them. Just as she was about to tell the driver she might need him to take her instead, the distant growl of an engine caught her ear. Emily turned—and froze. A bright yellow SUV pulled into the driveway. The window rolled down. Adrian. He smiled lazily at her from behind the wheel.“Come see your new ride. Tell me if you like it.” Emily stared for a second, stunned. The SUV was wild and beautiful—bold yellow with clean, muscular lines that somehow managed to look both untamed and sophisticated. Even the rims were touched with a subtle, eye-catching gleam of color. Before she could find words, Adrian cut the engine, got out, and walked over. He pr
Adrian’s expression softened. He reached out, pulled her gently into his arms. She didn’t speak, not right away. Just breathed. Just trembled. He pressed a kiss to her hair. Then, quietly— “Sometimes the body remembers what the mind forgets. Especially when it’s something you weren’t ready to carry.” His thumb brushed along the back of her hand, grounding her. “Sometimes the mind tucks things away until it’s ready,”Adrian said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.“Especially when you’re that young. Four years old…most people don’t remember much.” “But something in you held onto it,”he added, his voice quiet but certain.“And whatever it was—whoever they were—you weren’t alone then.” He leaned closer, pressing a steady kiss to her temple. “And you’re not alone now,”he whispered.“Whatever you remember, whenever it comes back—I’ll be here. You don’t have to carry it
Emily blinked, then laughed softly.“I was going to wait until everything was ready to reach out. But yes, I am. And if any of you want in, I’d love to have you.” Word spread like a spark on dry kindling. Members from A group, B group—familiar faces with eager eyes—turned toward her, nodding, asking if it was true. Emily nodded.“It’s not fancy yet. We’re still laying the foundation. But if you’re willing to take a leap with me…” “You don’t even have to ask,”Lily said.“We’re in.” Emily smiled. It didn’t matter what she had left behind anymore. Because what she was building—was hers. - After wrapping things up at A Design, Emily headed out and got into her car. Emily had only been driving for about five minutes when it happened. A screech of tires. The sudden slam of metal against metal. A car veered sharply into hers, clipping the side mirror and jolting her vehicle with a force that sent her heart lurching into her throat. She froze. The world spun for a sec