Brenda and I decided to head down to the cafeteria. I was more than ready for a break after the morning’s workload even though my head was still swimming with thoughts about Nick and what happened between us last night, but I was doing everything I could to keep it together.The last thing I needed was for Brenda, or anyone else to pick up on how rattled I still felt.Brenda nudged me with her elbow as we walked. “You look like you’re carrying the weight of the company on your shoulders. Cheer up! It’s lunchtime.”I smiled weakly. “Yeah, just tired, you know. It’s been a very long morning.”“Hmm,” she said, giving me a side glance. “If you say so.”By the time we got there, the cafeteria was droning with activity. Employees from different departments were scattered around, chatting and enjoying their meals. The smell of food filled the air from burgers, fries, salads, pasta, you name it.Brenda and I got in line, grabbing trays and picking out what we wanted. I settled on a simple chi
The day at work had been long. By the time I got home, I was exhausted, but I still had things to do. I dropped my bag on the couch and let out a tired sigh. My feet ached, and my body wanted rest, but my mind was restless. I had been overthinking all day. Work had been hectic, and on top of that, Nick had been on my mind more than I wanted him to be. It was frustrating.I rubbed my temples, trying to shake off the thoughts. Instead of sitting down, I reached for my phone. I needed something to distract me, and calling my mom always helped.I tapped her contact and waited as the phone rang. It took a few seconds before she answered.“Tracy, sweetheart! Finally, you remember your mother exists! I was beginning to think you had a new family over there.”I chuckled, already feeling better just hearing her voice. “Mom, I called you a few days ago. Remember!?”“A few days? You call that staying in touch? Oh, my dear child, one day when you have kids of your own, you’ll understand the pain
The next day, I was walking into the office building, my mind still half asleep and my body dragging from exhaustion. I didn’t even get a proper breakfast because I was running late, and my coffee was barely helping. I just wanted to get through the day without any unnecessary stress, but of course, life had other plans because the moment I stepped out of the elevator, I bumped straight into Nick.It wasn’t just a small bump. It was one of those moments where you walk too fast, turn too quickly, and suddenly, you’re almost crashing into someone’s chest, except in this case, it wasn’t just anyone, it was Nick White.His hands shot out instantly, holding me before I could stumble, and I felt the warmth of his touch through the fabric of my sleeves. His hold was firm but not rough, like he was used to being in control, used to handling things effortlessly. His cologne filled the space between us, nice, with that hint of something I could never quite describe but always noticed.I swallow
Friday came faster than I expected, and honestly, I was grateful because this week had drained me more than usual. Work had been stressful, my thoughts had been all over the place. Not to mention that I just got dumped by Elias, my ex-boyfriend. And to top it all off, letting Nick into my life earlier in the week had completely messed up the little peace I had. Even though we talked, even though he apologized, I still felt weird about everything, and I hated that he still made me feel so nervous. But I refused to let my thoughts be about him today.I was sitting at my desk, typing away at my computer when Brenda, my best friend at work, suddenly dropped into the chair beside me with a dramatic sigh, making me glance at her. She had that excited-but-also-nervous look on her face, which instantly made me curious.“What is it?” I asked, knowing she had something to say.Brenda tucked her hair behind her ear, leaned in a little closer, and whispered like she was telling me a top-secret mi
Sunday morning arrived with the sun shining through my window, filling my room with light, and even though I was still feeling a little tired from the long week and the shopping trip with Brenda, I knew I couldn’t just stay in bed all day. It had been way too long since I visited my family, and I missed them a lot, especially my twin sisters, Emma and Ella. So, after getting dressed in a simple outfit, I headed to church first, because that was how Sundays always started for me.Church was peaceful. The sermon was about patience and learning to let go of things we couldn’t control, and as I sat there listening, I couldn’t help but think about everything happening in my life right now, my recent breakup with Elias, work, Nick, and even Brenda’s exciting new romance. A part of me wished I could just press a reset button and start everything fresh, but life didn’t work that way.After the service, I left church feeling a little lighter, and instead of heading straight to my parents’ hous
The long-awaited Monday morning came faster than I expected, and even though I was still feeling a little tired from the weekend, I was actually looking forward to getting to work, mostly because I couldn’t wait to catch up with Brenda and hear all about her date. She hadn’t messaged me much over the weekend, which made me think that maybe things had gone really well, or maybe they had gone really bad, and either way, I wanted to know all the details.But the moment I walked into the office, ready to drop my bag at my desk and find Brenda, something completely unexpected happened.Nick was standing there, right near my desk, waiting for me, and the second our eyes met, he gave me that confident little smirk of his, the one that always made my stomach feel weird, even though I didn’t want it to.“Morning, Tracy,” he said smoothly, his deep voice making my skin tingle in a way I really didn’t appreciate. “I need you to come with me to the boardroom. There’s a meeting, and I want you to
I stood up quickly, ready to escape before Nick could say anything or do something stupid, but of course, he wasn’t going to make it that easy.“So,” he said, standing up as well, “did you enjoy the meeting?”I grabbed my notebook, trying to act casual. “Yeah, it was… interesting,” I said.Nick took a step closer, and suddenly, the air around us felt different.“You know,” he said, his voice lower now, “you looked really cute when you were trying to act like you weren’t staring at me, earlier.”My breath caught in my throat.I wanted to tell him he was wrong. I wanted to roll my eyes and walk away.But instead, all I could do was stand there, heart racing, completely aware of just how close he was.But wait…I kind of wanted him.Nick didn’t move at first. He just stood there, watching me with that confident, unreadable expression, as if he could see right through me, as if he already knew how much I was struggling to stay unaffected by him.Then, slowly, he took another step closer.
The office was quiet by the time we all settled into the conference room, just the four of us left behind while everyone else had packed up and gone home for the day. The only sounds were the soft humming of the air conditioning and the occasional clicking of keyboards as Susan, David, Jordan, and I worked on putting together the marketing campaign presentation.My mind somehow kept drifting back to what had happened between Nick and me in the boardroom earlier today. The way he had looked at me, the way his touch had sent a shiver down my spine, the way I had leaned into him without even thinking twice, I low-key wanted it to happen again.I was sitting at the large table with my laptop open in front of me, my fingers moving over the keyboard as I typed up key points we had discussed earlier. Susan was seated across from me, scrolling through design mock-ups on her screen, her glasses slipping down her nose every few minutes as she pushed them back up. Jordan was flipping through a t
Nick’s kiss was a spark, his lips firm and warm against mine, igniting a heat that burned away the morning’s chaos—the cafeteria confrontation, Priya’s betrayal, the missing USB. His office door clicked shut behind us, the hum of the marketing floor muffled, leaving only the sound of our breathing and the faint creak of his desk as I leaned against it.His hands cupped my face, his thumbs brushing my cheeks, and I melted into him, my navy sweater catching on the wood, my body craving his touch after the day’s storm. The Brew & Bean stakeout loomed, but here, in this stolen moment, it was just us, and I needed him.I deepened the kiss, my tongue sliding against his, tasting coffee and the sharp edge of his desire. “Nick,” I whispered, my voice thick, my hands gripping his shirt, pulling him closer until his body pressed against mine, his cock already hardening through his slacks. “I need you. Now.” My words were a plea, my pussy aching, the stress of Priya’s theft and Suzan’s lies fuel
I smoothened my slacks, and took a deep breath, the lobby’s quiet steadying me. “Okay,” I said, my voice calmer now, meeting their concerned gazes. “I’ll be careful, I promise. Thanks for pulling me out of there.” My gratitude was genuine, the weight of their support grounding me.Clara stopped pacing, her curls settling, her hand resting on my arm. “Just don’t do that again, Tracy,” she said, her voice soft but firm. “We’re on your side, but you scared me. Go find Nick, and stay out of trouble.” Her smile was small, encouraging, and I nodded, feeling a pang of guilt for worrying her.David pushed off the wall, his grin returning but tempered. “Yeah, save the hero stuff for Brew & Bean,” he said, his tone light but his eyes serious. “Let us know if you need any help. I’m not great at spying, but I can make a mean distraction.” His offer made me laugh, easing the tension, and I gave them both a quick nod before heading to the elevators, my steps purposeful. The audit waited, but the my
Clara's revelation about Priya in the cafeteria, with Suzan and Jordan struck me like a spark, igniting a surge of anger that drowned out the hallway’s chatter and footsteps. My navy sweater felt too tight, my hands clenching as I pictured them sitting together, pretending everything was fine while Priya had stolen the USB and Suzan was planning a secret meeting with someone at Brew & Bean. They were in the cafeteria, and I needed to confront them now.“Clara, please cover for me if Mr. Lawrence asks where I am,” I said, my eyes meeting hers. “I’m going to the cafeteria. I have to talk to them.”Her eyes widened, her curls swaying as she grabbed my arm gently. “Tracy, please think about this. Confronting them in front of everyone could cause problems. Can’t you wait for Nick and Torres to do the talking?” Her concern was clear, but it only strengthened my resolve.“I can’t wait,” I said, easing my arm free, my slacks brushing softly as I turned. “They think they can deceive us. I’m go
Hannah’s voice was steady but strained, pulling me back as she tapped a bullet point. “Lawrence wants every asset tracked—mock-ups, budgets, even email chains. He’s acting like the board’s about to audit us personally. You think this is about the glitch?”I rubbed my temples, forcing my focus to her question, though my eyes flicked to the door, half-expecting Priya to walk in. “Probably,” I said, keeping my tone even. “The board heard rumors, and Lawrence is covering his bases. Let’s prioritize the mock-up revisions and budget logs—those are the hotspots. Pull the design files and I’ll handle the financials.”Hannah nodded, her brown eyes grateful. “You’re a lifesaver, Tracy. I’ll have the files by noon. Sorry to dump this on you—you look like you’ve got enough going on.” Her concern was genuine, and I managed a small smile, touched by her warmth despite the weight of my suspicions.“It’s all good,” I said, standing to stretch, my navy sweater pulling taut. “Team effort, right? Let me
The sharp buzz of my alarm jolted me awake, dawn’s gray light seeping through my curtains. I fumbled for my phone, silencing it, and dialed Nick, my voice hoarse as I sat up, the chill of the morning prickling my skin. He answered on the first ring, his tone alert despite the hour. “Tee, you’re up. What’s going on? You sound tense.”I swung my legs over the bed, my bare feet hitting the cold floor, and took a breath. “I am. Last night, Priya came to my apartment. She said Clara gave her my address. She overheard Suzan in the design lab, on the phone, planning to meet someone at Brew & Bean tonight to ‘get a file.’ Priya sounded scared, Nick, but something about her felt wrong. Too nervous, like she wasn’t telling me everything.”Nick’s voice tightened, a rustle suggesting he was moving. “Brew & Bean keeps coming up. Priya’s new and could she be trusted? What if she is feeding you half-truths to throw us off? What’s your gut say?”I stood, pacing to my dresser, my reflection pale in th
The city streets blurred past as Nick’s car sped away from Haven Enterprises, the USB drive was secured in my jeans pocket. My heart still raced from our close call in the design lab, the memory of those footsteps and the sweeping flashlight etched into my nerves.I leaned against the passenger seat, the cool leather grounding me, and glanced at Nick, his jaw tight but his eyes bright with the same adrenaline coursing through me. The streetlights cast fleeting shadows across his face, and I felt a surge of gratitude for his steadiness, his willingness to dive into this mess with me.“We did it,” I said, my voice low, a mix of relief and determination. “I believe this file ties Jordan and Suzan to the sabotage. Tomorrow, we hand it to Torres and figure out our next move.”Nick nodded, his hand resting on the gearshift, his fingers brushing mine briefly. “Yeah, someone was in that hallway. If they saw us, this whole thing could get screwed.” His tone was calm, but the warning was clear,
The marketing floor was a hive of activity as I stepped out of the break room, the soda can cool in my hand, its fizz still bubbling against my nerves. The hum of printers and the clatter of keyboards filled the air, but my mind was locked on Torres’s revelation—Suzan accessing a backup file after Marcus’s login, her phone call.I wove through the cubicles, my cream slacks brushing softly, and headed toward my desk, ready to check the Reid Corps follow-up reports. But before I could sit, Mr. Lawrence’s voice cut through the noise, calling from the conference room doorway.“Ms. Bennett, a moment, please,” he said, his gray suit impeccable, his expression stern as always.Beside him stood Ms. Carver, a board member known for her piercing questions and zero patience for delays.My stomach tightened—board members didn’t drop by for casual chats.I nodded, setting my soda on my desk, and followed them into the conference room, the glass walls giving a clear view of the bustling floor.Clar
The first rays of dawn crept through the blinds of Nick’s apartment, painting faint stripes across the hardwood floor where I stood, stretching my arms above my head. I’d stayed the night, the warmth of his bed and the memory of our closeness lingering, but sleep had been restless, I kept thinking about the workstation we planned to check tonight. I wore one of Nick’s T-shirts, the hem brushing my thighs as I padded to the window, the city waking below in a soft haze of light. My coffee mug steamed on the sill, and I sipped it, the bitterness grounding me as I braced for the day.Nick stirred behind me, his footsteps soft as he joined me, his arms slipping around my waist, his chin resting on my shoulder. “Morning, Tee,” he murmured, his voice rough with sleep, his breath warm against my neck. “You’re up early. Thinking about our mission?”I leaned into him, his solidity easing the knot in my chest. “Yeah. I keep replaying everything—Suzan’s email, Jordan’s attitude, that coffee shop.
The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the park near Haven Enterprises, where I’d slipped away to clear my head after the archive room meeting. I sat on a wooden bench, the faint rustle of leaves and distant laughter of kids on a playground softening the edges of my thoughts.My phone rested in my lap, a text to Ella half-typed: “Coming this weekend with Nick. How’s Mom holding up?” The Suzan-Marcus email weighed on me, a knot of suspicion tightening with every new clue, but I needed a moment to breathe, to reconnect with family before diving back into the mystery. I hit send, watching a squirrel dart across the grass, and let the park’s calm settle over me.Ella’s reply came fast: “Mom’s stressed but hiding it. Dad’s being a stubborn mule. Nick’s coming? OMG!”I stood, brushing off my green dress, and headed toward the office to grab my bag. The park’s peace lingered, but Suzan’s guarded face and Jordan’s evasiveness crept back, sharpening my focus. Torres’s workstation logs wo