LOGINTONYTwo Weeks LaterThe Glass PenthouseThe afternoon sun filtered softly through the massive dining area window, casting blocks of warm light across the sleek, polished surface of the table.Tony sat back in his chair, a half-eaten plate of rice resting in front of him. He unhurriedly scooped another spoonful, lifting it to his mouth under a heavy, unwavering gaze."How is it?" Lily asked.Her tone was sharp with inquisitiveness, her eyes tracking the movement of the spoon."Mmm-hmm," Tony mumbled around the food, nodding slowly.His mouth was entirely full, his brown eyes shifting from the plate up to her face."Mmm-hmm as in... good or bad?" Lily pressed, locking her gaze onto his.A single, perfectly sculpted eyebrow shot up in a demand for clarity.Tony merely nodded again, taking his time to chew and swallow the rice before attempting to speak.Across from him, Lily gestured lightly with her spoon, cutting a small arc in the air to prompt him.A gentle smile broke across Tony's
I remained standing entirely alone in the empty hallway, the crushing weight of what had happened pinning my feet to the floor.---TONYAfter Returning to His RoomTony strode into the master bedroom, his face a mask of simmering tension, and sat heavily on the edge of the king-sized bed.Lily closed the heavy door behind herself, her eyes locked on his rigid posture.She walked over with a slow, deliberate grace, settling on the mattress right beside him."Is that all you'll say?"Lily began, turning her head to study him.Tony raised his gaze from his lap, turning his head toward her.Their eyes met, and he slowly raised a single eyebrow."Is that all you'll say?" Lily repeated, her voice dripping with an intense, quiet gravity as they locked eyes."I overheard your conversation out there."Tony shook his head softly, his gaze shifting away from her to stare blankly across the room."What would you have me do?""I don't know. Maybe more," Lily spoke again, reaching out to place her
Tony blinked.The silence in the hallway of the penthouse became suffocating.“What do you mean you lost the car I bought for you?”His gaze stared straight down into my soul, heavy and pinning me to the spot.I couldn't bring myself to respond.My throat felt like it was coated in ash; no words came out. My lips parted slightly, but the air in my lungs refused to form a syllable."Ava, talk to me."Tony spoke again, his voice dropping into a low, dangerous tone.He took a heavy step closer, entirely closing whatever space was left between us, his massive frame looming over me.“What do you mean you lost the car I bought for you?” he repeated, his brown eyes narrowing, his gaze fixed on mine.My breathing became loud, ragged, and entirely audible under the crushing weight of his stare.My fingers twitched violently at my sides, instinctively clutching the fabric of my sweatpants.I know you’re not deaf,” Tony said, staring at me with a confused frown.Still, the paralysis held me.I c
I rolled from my back onto my side, eyes slowly parting open as my hand reached for the phone beside me on the bed. My room was still dim at 6 a.m., faint dawn light barely touching the windows. I tapped the screen awake. The glow lit up my face. I squinted, heart lifting with fragile hope as I scrolled through notifications, inboxes, the school’s social pages, news apps— anything that might say my car had been found.Nothing. No messages. No updates. Just silence.I dropped the phone onto the mattress with a soft thud and rolled onto my back, staring blankly at the ceiling. My chest rose and fell slowly beneath the blanket. For a few seconds I just breathed in the quiet, eyes tracing the faint shadows above. A quiet breath escaped me. How do I tell Tony? The thought spiraled, tightening my stomach.I shut my eyes briefly, then opened them again with another sigh. Pushing the blanket off, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and rose to my feet. I padded quietly to Liam’s crib. He
Without a word, she extended her arm, my bedroom key glinting in her palm."Liam is asleep. I’ll be back tomorrow.""Thank you," I whispered, taking the cold metal from her fingers.Maggie didn't say anymore words.She brushed past my shoulder, her coat rustling as she stepped out onto the porch before I could utter another apology.I whirled my head around, watching over my shoulder as her rigid silhouette marched down the driveway, climbed into the very cab I had just vacated, and vanished down the street.The car's headlights swept across the glass facade of the penthouse as it turned the corner, plunging the front yard back into shadow.I let out a long, ragged breath, turned back around, and quietly clicked the front door shut.As I crossed the expansive, minimalist living room, my eyes locked onto Lily.She was lounging on one of the plush white couches.The moment our eyes met, a sharp smirk spread across her lips.I immediately rolled my eyes and looked away.I had absolutely
Moments later, the soft electronic chime of the ride-share notification vibrated against my cupped right palm, pulling my eyes downward.I held the phone over my lap, the screen illuminating my pale face in the dim library waiting room.Your driver has arrived.A hollow, heavy breath escaped me.It did absolutely nothing to ease the sharp, aching knot tightening deep in my lower belly.The very last thread of hope— the fragile delusion that maybe, just maybe, my car would be recovered before I had to leave— evaporated into thin air.I pushed myself up from the plastic chair.At the sudden movement, the eyes of the two campus security officers seated across the room flickered sharply toward me.My gaze shifted between them."I'm leaving. I have to go home."The first officer gave a solemn nod.The second leaned forward, hands resting on his knees."I know you're stressed, but the school is doing everything we can to recover your vehicle as we speak and bring the thief to justice. I’ll
The door shut behind them with a soft click, sealing them away from the pounding music outside. Her fingers remained laced with Tony’s as the lock turned quietly into place. The second it did, he moved. In one swift motion, he spun her around and pressed her against the wall. His taller frame clos
TONY.An Hour Later.After ECO 412.Tony sat lazily in the back row of the classroom between Marcus and Jerry after the class had ended.Most of the students were already gone.Only a few scattered voices remained around the nearly empty classroom.But Tony and his boys remained exactly where they
He walked further into the room casually.Like none of this was strange.“Tony…” My voice came out smaller than intended. “Who is this?”My gaze shifted from him to her.Then back to him again.Tony looked toward her briefly.Then smiled softly.“Introduce yourself.”My chest sank instantly.And th
Something warm spread through Lily’s chest at those words.A satisfaction she couldn’t quite hide.Then Tony pushed himself away from the doorway.“Come on. Let me show you around.”The rest of the tour was quick.The living room.The kitchen.The private lounge.The gym area.The backyard with a c







