Se connecterKnoxA week later, I sit at the head of the long conference table with anger burning steadily inside my chest. Monica, my ex-wife, occupies one of the investor seats as if she still belongs in my world. I still remember how she tried to seduce me.Her presence fills me with deep irritation that refuses to fade. I never wanted her anywhere near this company again, yet here she sits, calm and watchful.Every time my eyes drift toward her, the resentment grows heavier, pressing against my ribs like a stone I cannot remove. I force myself to focus on the meeting, but the sight of her across the table keeps pulling my attention back, stirring up old pain and fresh frustration that make it hard to breathe normally.We complete the usual review of our products and their profit margins. The figures are solid and the projections look promising, but none of it brings me any real satisfaction today. My thoughts keep circling back to Monica and the frustration of having her involved in matter
KnoxI watch the flicker of doubt settle deep in Emma’s eyes as she gazes at me. My chest tightens with instant regret. I slipped. I shouldn’t have brought up her father. The words just spilled out, and in that moment, I let my emotions get the better of me. Emma doesn’t deserve this kind of confusion or pain.I lean back against the headboard, the cool wood pressing against my back, while her eyes remain fixed on me, searching for answers I’m not ready to give. The quiet in the room grows heavier until she finally speaks, her voice soft and careful.“What else did she say about my father?” She pauses before asking, her voice trembling slightly, “Is he alive?”Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I know Victor Collins; I’ve known him for years. He was once a close friend, but too much has happened since then. There are things I’m not allowed to say, things I promised Gina we’d keep from Emma. It’s a delicate balance, one that I’m scared to break.I remain silent for too long, a
EmmaI push open the front door, the weight of the day heavy on my shoulders. The office felt endless, every email, every meeting pulling at me, until my head throbbed with exhaustion. But as soon as I step inside the house, a rich, warm smell wraps around me, garlic, spices, something delicious sizzling on the stove. My stomach tightens, and for the first time all day, I feel a small sense of relief. Whatever’s cooking smells like home in the best possible way, a reminder that someone cares enough to make the evening feel gentle.I drop my bag by the door and follow the scent to the kitchen. There he stands, Knox, shirtless, his broad back to me, wearing low-slung shorts and a dark apron tied loosely around his waist. His muscles shift beneath his skin as he stirs something in a pan, his movements focused and calm. The sight of him in this quiet moment stops me completely. Heat rises to my cheeks, not just from the stove but from the simple tenderness of it all. He looks so at e
KnoxI sit behind my large desk, the morning light slanting through the blinds, showing light on the financial reports spread out before me. The office feels like tension today, suffocating me, as if the walls are closing in with every passing minute. Mr. Adams, our accountant sits opposite me, his usual calm demeanor masking the quiet tension between us. His fingers move faster than usual as he turns the pages of the ledger, each one bringing us closer to a glaring gap in the numbers. It's about the significant amount of money that has vanished, and the weight of it pressing down on my chest.I lean forward, my voice low but sharp with frustration. "Mr. Adams, walk me through this again. How does something this big go missing when every transaction crosses your desk? You see everything before it moves."He meets my gaze without hesitation, his expression steady, professional, but there's no apology in it. "Sir, these payments could never have been processed without your direct aut
EmmaThat night, I toss and turn on my bed, unable to escape the whirlwind of thoughts spinning in my head. The mattress creaks softly beneath me with every restless shift, but no position brings comfort. My mind replays the same painful memories, the faded name in the book, my mother’s cold words about the man who left us, the heavy loneliness that settled in my chest and refuses to leave. Sleep stays out of reach, teasing me.A gnawing hunger pulls at me. I realize I haven’t eaten anything since early this morning. The emptiness in my stomach shows the one deep inside me. But this one, I can try to fix. I push the covers aside and sit up slowly, feeling the weight of the day press down on me. My legs dangle over the edge of the bed for a moment while I gather the strength to stand. I adjust my nightgown where it’s bunched up around my waist, smoothing it down with careful hands. I make my way to the door on quiet feet, the floor cool under my bare feet. I open the door just en
EmmaTears well up in my eyes the moment I open the old book again. My hands tremble as I hold it carefully, almost afraid it will fall apart in my fingers. I stare at the page where my father’s name is written in neat, faded ink, and beside it, a date that means nothing and everything to me at the same time. That single line is all I have of him, just a name and a date. With nothing more.A tear escapes, falling onto the paper, and it spreads slowly, staining the words like a dark cloud over his name. I sniff hard, trying to pull the sadness back inside, and wipe my eyes roughly with the back of my hand. The sleeve of my shirt feels damp now, but I don’t care. I close the book gently, slide it back into the drawer where it has stayed hidden for years, and push the drawer shut. The soft click of the wood feels gentle, like closing a door I never wanted to open in the first place.The only thing I truly know about my father is his name. My mother never speaks of him. Not once in a
EmmaHis words send me staggering out of his arms. I feel a wave of panic wash over me.“Come on, babe,” he reaches for me but I step away, angry at him. “It's just a joke. I mean no harm.”His eyes soften with a smile when he notice that I look apprehensive.The blaring music did little to calm my
KnoxThe moment they enter the room, I know it's time to act. My jaw tightens in rage. Blood roars in my ear.I warned her about that guy but she chose to disregard my words.As I climb the stairs, the blaring music starts to fade. I storm to the door and that's when I hear a blood cuddling scream
Emma My phone gives a sharp ding and I glance down at the screen. An email notification pops up on the screen.I click it, and after it loads, the message appears.It contains the official company email I will be using as an executive assistant and the log in details.The words staring at me from
KnoxThe golden rays of the sun, streams through the window, bathing the room in a golden glow.My eyes snaps open, I quickly shield my eyes from the golden rays. I turn to the other side of the bed to see Gina sleeping soundly beside me.My lips curl into a smirk. I thought she'll sleep in Emma'







