It started with revenge. It turned into obsession. It might just become love. Lillian never meant to fall for her boss. Especially not after one reckless night, a steamy mistake she hoped to forget. But when Nathaniel Caldwell offers her a promotion, she realizes two things: 1. He remembers. 2. He’s not letting her go. He’s charming and calculating. She’s guarded and vengeful. They’re both broken, but they might be perfect for each other. Until secrets explode and Lillian finds out she was just a pawn... or was she the one holding the strings all along? Perhaps a plan to finding love after hours?
View MoreLillian’s POV
The moment I stepped into the apartment, something felt off.
It wasn’t the scattered shoes by the door or the faint scent of expensive cologne mixed with vanilla perfume. It was the energy, thick, tense, almost like the walls were holding their breath.
I dropped my purse on the console table and took a cautious step forward. The TV was off. The kitchen light was dim. And then… I heard it.
A soft giggle.
A moan.
My stomach twisted as my pulse quickened.
I knew that laugh.
I knew that voice.
Without thinking, I pushed the bedroom door open.
And there they were.
Daniel. The man I had spent years loving, trusting, building a life with.
And Jasmine. My best friend.
Their bodies were tangled in my sheets, my bed. Our bed.
Jasmine let out a sharp gasp, yanking the covers up to her chest, as if modesty suddenly mattered. “Lillian…”
Daniel cursed under his breath, scrambling upright, his face drained of color.
For a moment, I couldn’t speak. My throat burned, my vision blurred. A part of me wanted to scream, to throw something, to make them feel the way I felt, betrayed, broken, humiliated.
But instead, I laughed. A dry, hollow sound that didn’t belong to me.
Daniel tried to step toward me. “Babe, I…”
“Don’t.” My voice was sharp enough to slice through steel.
Jasmine opened her mouth, probably to spill some pathetic excuse, but I cut her off with a look that made her shrink back.
I turned back to Daniel, my hands curling into fists. “Get your things and get the hell out of my house.”
“Lillian, please.. ”
“Now.”
He hesitated. For a moment, I saw the wheels turning in his head, probably calculating whether he could manipulate me into forgiving him. Not this time.
I turned on my heels and walked out, slamming the door so hard the walls shook.
The club was loud, the bass thrumming through my veins as I drowned my anger in shots of tequila. The betrayal, the pain, the years wasted on a man who didn’t deserve me, it all simmered under my skin, waiting to explode.
I needed an escape.
And that’s when I saw him.
Dark hair, sharp jawline, piercing eyes that locked onto mine like he could see every thought running through my head.
He smirked as if he knew exactly what I was looking for.
I leaned in. “Buy me a drink?”
He didn’t hesitate. “Only if you let me take you home after.”
I smirked. “Whiskey sour.”
His lips quirked up at the corner. “Classy.”
Our drinks arrived, and I took a slow sip, my eyes not leaving his.
“Rough night?” he asked.
I let out a breathy laugh. “Something like that.”
He didn’t pry. Just lifted his glass and clinked it against mine. “To forgetting for a few hours, then.”
I held his gaze, feeling something stir inside me, a reckless need.
“To forgetting,” I murmured, taking another sip.
He let the silence settle between us again, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was charged.
After a moment, he leaned in just enough for me to catch the warm scent of cologne and something distinctly masculine.
“I have a place not far from here,” he said, his voice smooth, deep, unrushed. “If you want to get out of here.”
My pulse skipped.
He didn’t assume. Didn’t grab my wrist or act like I owed him anything.
He gave me a choice.
I searched his face, strong jaw, full lips, golden eyes that held not only curiosity, but a bit of arrogance. He was sure of himself.
And for the first time that night, I wanted something.
I set my glass down. “Let’s go.”
The ride to his place was quiet, but not awkward. He helped me with my coat, his fingers brushing my shoulder, sending a shiver down my spine.
“Make yourself comfortable,” he said, walking to the bar in the corner. “Another drink?”
I shook my head. “I think I’ve had enough.”
He nodded, pouring himself a small glass of bourbon before turning to me. “You can say no at any time.”
I blinked.
His expression remained calm, but there was an edge of intensity in his voice. “You don’t owe me anything because you came here. If you want to just sit and talk, we can. If you want to leave, I’ll call you a car.”
My breath hitched.
Despite the arrogance I sensed, he was giving me control.
I swallowed, then stepped closer, placing a hand on his chest, feeling the warmth beneath his shirt. “I don’t want to leave.”
His golden eyes darkened, his fingers grazing her hip, slow, deliberate. “Then tell me what you want.”
My pulse pounded.
I wasn’t used to being asked.
I wasn’t used to choosing.
So, I met his gaze, steady and certain.
“I want you to kiss me.”
He exhaled, then leaned in, capturing my lips in a kiss that was demanding.
His hands never wandered without permission.
His lips coaxed.
And when his fingers trailed down my back, gripping my waist, he whispered, “Still okay?”
I let out a shaky breath. “Yes.”
His grip tightened, and when he deepened the kiss, I melted into him.
Tonight, I won’t think about Daniel.
Tonight, I won’t feel broken.
Tonight, I choose to forget.
I let myself sink into his kiss, into the warmth of his hands as they settled on my waist, strong like he was holding something fragile.
Maybe I was.
Maybe I was more broken than I wanted to admit.
But right now, I didn’t feel broken.
Right now, I felt wanted.
His lips traced along my jaw, down my neck, his breath hot against my skin. A shiver ran through me, and I arched into him, my fingers twisting into his shirt.
“Tell me if you want me to stop,” he murmured, his voice deep and steady, vibrating against my throat.
I didn’t want him to stop.
I wanted more.
“Don’t stop,” I whispered.
A soft groan rumbled from his chest as he lifted me effortlessly, carrying me toward the bedroom.
He laid me down gently, his golden eyes searching mine as he hovered above me.
“Still okay?”
The way he kept asking, the way he made sure I was with him every step of the way, it sent a different kind of heat through me, something deeper than just physical need.
I nodded, my hands reaching for him, pulling him closer. “I’m more than okay.”
That was all he needed.
His mouth claimed mine again, slow, like he wanted to memorize every inch of me. His hands roamed my body with the same care, tracing my curves, mapping the places that made me shiver.
When he pulled my dress over my head, he took a moment to look at me, his gaze dark with appreciation.
“You’re stunning,” he murmured, running a thumb along my cheek.
I let out a shaky breath, my heart pounding. No one had ever looked at me like that before, not like I was just something to conquer, but something to savor.
He kissed his way down my body, slow and teasing, taking his time as if he wasn’t in a hurry to get anywhere, just lost in his little way of exploring me.
My breath hitched as his lips brushed my stomach, his hands parting my thighs. His touch was firm as if he knew this wasn’t just about pleasure, it was about letting go, about reclaiming something I thought I had lost.
The moment his mouth found me, my back arched, a gasp slipping from my lips.
He didn’t rush. He took his time, teasing, building the pleasure until I was trembling beneath him, my fingers gripping the sheets, my breath coming in short, desperate gasps.
“Let go,” he murmured, his voice like velvet against my skin.
And I did.
Pleasure crashed over me, raw and overwhelming, and for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel broken. I felt whole. I felt alive.
Before I could catch my breath, he was back above me, his lips claiming mine again, swallowing my moans as he positioned himself between my thighs.
His forehead rested against mine, his breath heavy, his eyes locked on me as he slowly pushed inside.
A deep, satisfied groan escaped him as he filled me, stretching me in the most delicious way.
I gasped, my nails digging into his shoulders as he stilled, letting me adjust.
“You feel incredible,” he murmured against my lips. “I could stay like this forever.”
My heart clenched at his words, at the unexpected tenderness in them.
I didn’t want tenderness.
I wanted to forget.
“Then don’t be gentle,” I whispered, my fingers threading through his hair, pulling him closer.
Something dark flickered in his eyes, and the next thrust was deeper, harder, pulling a moan from my lips.
He moved with a steady rhythm at first, slow and deliberate, making me feel every inch of him. But as my body responded, as I wrapped my legs around his waist and begged for more, his restraint snapped.
The pace quickened, his thrusts more urgent, more desperate, as if he needed this just as much as I did.
The air was filled with heavy breathing, whispered curses, the sound of skin meeting skin.
Pleasure coiled tight inside me again, sharp and insistent, building until I was teetering on the edge.
“Let go, baby.” he groaned, his lips at my ear, his voice thick with need. There was something about the way he said baby. I melted.
And just like before, I let go.
I shattered beneath him, pleasure rippling through me in waves so intense I could barely breathe.
He followed moments later, his body tensing before he collapsed against me, both of us spent, our hearts pounding in sync.
For the first time that night, I wasn’t thinking about Daniel.
For the first time in years, I let myself feel something real.
And as I drifted into sleep, tangled in the sheets and his warmth, I realized one terrifying truth.
I might not even know his name…
But he had just ruined me for anyone else.
***
The next morning, reality hit me like a truck.
My head throbbed as I stumbled into the office, regretting every tequila shot I had downed the night before.
“Rough night?” Mia, my coworker, smirked as she passed me in the hallway.
I forced a tight-lipped smile. If only she knew.
I dropped into my chair, rubbing my temples. Maybe I could survive the day without collapsing. Maybe…
The sound of the elevator doors opening caught my attention, followed by the low murmur of voices as he walked in.
I glanced up… and my breath caught in my throat.
No.
No, no, no.
It couldn’t be.
But it was.
The stranger from last night. The man whose name I hadn’t even bothered to ask.
Standing there in a sharp suit, looking effortlessly powerful, completely in control.
And the entire office stood up as he walked past.
My boss.
The man I had just slept with was my boss.
Nathaniel's POVThere are some places that stop time... not because of where they are, but because of what happened there.For me, it was this rooftop.The same rooftop where I first sat across from Lillian and realized I was royally screwed.Not because she was beautiful... though God, she was. But because something about her saw me.Not Nathaniel Caldwell, heir to a crumbling empire.Just… me.Tonight, the wind was gentle. The skyline sparkled like it was trying to impress her, the way I had on that very first real date. The table was set the same way: two flickering candles, her favorite rosé, a plate of dark chocolate-covered strawberries. Familiar. Soft.She stepped onto the rooftop in a deep green dress that stopped my breath cold.She was elegance and ambition wrapped in soft curves and fierce eyes. And I still couldn’t believe she was mine.“You brought me back here?” she said, a soft laugh escaping her lips as she walked toward me.I stood, reaching for her hand. “Seemed fitt
Lillian's POVAfter everything we had said... everything we had unpeeled from the past like old memories finally left to heal... Luca stood up dramatically and stretched his arms above his head.“Well,” he announced with the flair of a Shakespearean actor, “this emotional rollercoaster has done unspeakable things to my manicure. I must retreat to my lair before I start caring too much.”I snorted. “You care more than you admit.”He gasped. “Lies and slander. I'm telling HR.”Diana rolled her eyes, standing up after him. “Let me walk you out before you sue someone.”As she followed him to the door, I caught the teasing lilt in her voice... the way her fingers brushed his arm a little too familiarly. When he opened the door, she lingered in the threshold.“You still owe me a date, Luca.”He winked. “And you still owe me your cheesecake recipe.”“You’re not getting it.”“Then I’m taking you out twice.”Their voices faded into the hallway, laughter echoing. And for a second, I just stood
Lillian's POVAs if Rachel's drama wasn't enough, Isabelle had to start her own. Again. And this time, it wasn't pretty.I barely had a week to breathe after finally putting Rachel Voss in her place, and now my name was being dragged across every gossip blog and trashy headline in existence. But this time, it wasn’t about business. No. Isabelle went personal. And she went deep.I was in my office, sipping lukewarm tea and reviewing a contract draft when my phone began vibrating like it was possessed. Messages flooded in... from Diana, a few journalists I’d blacklisted, even my old high school roommate. Everyone wanted a statement.Confused, I clicked one of the links Diana sent me, and there it was.“‘America’s New Sweetheart?’ Not Quite... Dark Past of Lillian Carter Exposed by Former Socialite Isabelle Laurent”There was a grainy photo of me from what had to be nearly a decade ago... lip gloss too shiny, heels too high, dress way too tight. And underneath it: a carefully constructed
Lillian's POVThere’s a sound to success.It’s not the click of champagne glasses or the applause echoing through a launch venue.It’s the moment you look around and realize... you did it.That soft, internal exhale when the weight finally lifts off your chest.That’s what I felt as I stood backstage at the Conrad Hotel ballroom, the venue humming with anticipation. From where I stood behind the curtain, I could hear the buzz of the crowd... journalists, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders all gathered for the unveiling of Revive, my consultancy firm’s flagship project.My dream.My damn dream.And it was finally alive.But getting here had been anything but easy.After the fallout with Rachel, the false accusations, the arrest, the court case, and Adrian’s shadow always lurking, I could’ve disappeared. I could’ve decided it was enough.But I didn’t.Because I’d already learned how to stand when the world tried to shove me down.So I reassembled my dream team... everyone I could trust
Lillian's POVI was halfway through my coffee and mentally outlining a partnership pitch when my phone buzzed... once, then twice, then twenty times in rapid succession.I frowned and picked it up.Breaking: Rachel Voss Accuses Rising Star Lillian Carter of Intellectual Theft.I blinked. Then laughed.No. No way.The audacity hit me before the caffeine could.I clicked into the article, scanning quickly. There it was... in all its self-righteous, manipulative glory. A headline screaming that I, Lillian Carter, had “built a business off the stolen blueprints of Voss & Co.” The article quoted Rachel word-for-word:“We’ve seen our models duplicated without credit. It’s disheartening when women tear other women down in a competitive space instead of building together.”She really played the sisterhood card?I stared at my screen in disbelief. My vision blurred, not from tears... but from rage.She was reaching. And I was done being polite.Nathaniel called just as I was slamming my laptop
Lillian's POVRachel Voss.I was sipping my morning tea, buried under a stack of invoices and vendor agreements when my assistant, Zara, poked her head into my office... eyes wide, voice sharp.“Ma’am, you need to see this.”I looked up, raising a brow. Zara never used “ma’am” unless she was nervous.She slid her tablet toward me.The headline read: “Voss & Co. Unveils Innovative Consulting Toolkit for Startups”... and the picture underneath? A sleek, elegant branding design that was almost identical to the one my firm had been developing behind closed doors.Almost.My fingers froze mid-scroll. The font. The structure. The language. It wasn’t a coincidence.“Again?” I muttered under my breath.Zara nodded grimly. “That’s the third overlap in a month. First the internship structure. Then the networking pitch deck. And now this.”I pushed the tablet back and sat in silence, watching the steam curl up from my mug like smoke from something quietly burning.Rachel was smart. I’d give her
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