MasukMonica “Look, just breathe, alright? Calm down and explain the situation,” Gina says over the phone, her voice steady, but I can hear the worry behind it.Gina and I have been close since we decided to team up against Knox.I let out a long, frustrated sigh and sank onto the couch, shaking with anger and anxiety. “A few minutes ago, the police showed up at my door. They said they got an anonymous tip to check me for drugs.”“Shit, did they find anything?” she asks, her tone sharp and concerned.“No!” I nearly scream. Then I slap my temple in frustration.“If they didn’t find anything, then you should just calm down,” she said, trying to sound reassuring, but I can tell she didn't fully understand the weight of it all.She didn’t get it. I wasn’t just dealing with a random check. Now, I was on their radar. I was on a damn watch list, and this visit wouldn’t be the last. I could feel the dread settle deep in my chest.“I wish it was that easy,” I say, my voice tight. “I’m just… I’m ter
MonicaI stand by my window, staring out at the city as the first light of morning begins to spread across the buildings.My cigarette burns between my fingers, the smoke curling lazily into the still air of my apartment. I take a long drag, inhaling deeply, feeling the warmth of the smoke filling my lungs. I exhale slowly, watching it spread against the glass.Anger surges through me, filling my chest like a dark cloud. Anger at Knox, at everything he represents in my life now. Everything I’ve worked for, everything I’ve planned, it all feels like it’s slipping through my fingers, no matter how hard I try to hold it together. I thought I had him, thought I was so close. A few weeks ago, I almost had sex with him. If I’d just gone a little further, if I’d just made him feel enough, I could have trapped him. A pregnancy would have been my ticket. I would have roped him in, made him stay, forced him to be mine again. And then maybe, everything would have fallen into place.But now…
EmmaI smile at Ethan as he jokes about something that happened during his day.I should probably stay away from him, especially with everything going on with Knox, but I can’t seem to resist. I tell myself it's harmless, that we're just friends, that it's not anything more than that.I’ve tried hard to keep things platonic, especially after that… embarrassing day when I woke up naked in his bed. My cheeks burn just thinking about it, how tangled the sheets were around me, the confusion that hit me like a ton of bricks when I realized where I was, and the panic as I scrambled to piece together the night before. I promised myself I’d set clearer boundaries after that, no more getting too close, no more crossing lines. We could keep it friendly. No strings attached.But then Ethan flashes me that smile, the one that always makes everything feel easier, more effortless. And for a moment, it works. His humor, his charm, the way he can make everything feel light, even when life is heavy.
KnoxI sit at my large desk, the thought of being unable to trace the missing funds still bothers me.I have to push it aside for now, to revisit it later. Stacks of files scatter in front of me, each one requiring my full attention. The morning sunlight filters through the blinds. I pick up one folder after another, each page filled with numbers, graphs, and documents that demand my focus. I write quick but precise notes in the margins, adjusting plans, and fine tuning ideas. The work itself isn't difficult, but it is mentally demanding. It gives me a sense of control, especially on a day when everything else feels unpredictable.A firm knock interrupts my concentration. I glance up from the paperwork, barely breaking my focus before I call out, “Come in.”The door opens smoothly, and a young woman steps into the room. She's tall and carries herself with confidence.I can tell immediately that she's a professional, well dressed in business attire that fits the environment perfe
EmmaI let out a long, weary sigh as soon as Knox step out of my room. The soft click of the door closing feels like it’s echoing in the silence that fills the space, making everything feel strangely empty and heavy. It’s like his absence pulls all the air out of the room.I move slowly to my bed, my body feeling like it's carrying a thousand pounds. I fall onto the mattress, burying my face in the pillow. The exhaustion isn’t from my job. No, it’s this constant, gnawing frustration deep inside me. This unshakable feeling of hitting a dead end in my personal search, one that’s leaving me breathless. My chest feels tight, like something heavy is pressing down, making each breath feel harder than the last.I remember when I was in high school, asking my mom about my dad. I asked her so many times over the years, but every time she shut me down. She’d either change the subject or walk away without a word. Maybe one day, I’ll find him and understand why he was never part of my life.
KnoxThe moment Ben closes his laptop and gives me that small nod of agreement, I feel the real taste of victory.I signal the waitress for the check, but then change my mind and ask her to bring the most expensive bottle they have on the shelf. She raises an eyebrow but doesn’t argue. When it arrives, I pour two generous glasses. Ben and I clink them quietly. Neither of us says much. We don’t need to. The images are safely stored on my laptop now, locked behind a password only I know. Monica’s secret is no longer just a suspicion. It’s usable evidence.I leave the lounge a little after nine. The night air feels cooler against my skin as I walk to the car. The drive home passes in a smooth, almost dreamlike blur. Streetlights slide across the windshield, music plays low on the radio, and every few minutes, I catch myself smiling without meaning to. The weight that’s pressed on my shoulders for so long finally feels lighter. Not gone, but bearable. Tonight, I can breathe.I pull in
KnoxI sit behind my desk in the morning, and I am looking at Mr. Carter on the opposite side of the desk from me. Light from the sun, beams through the open blinds to the tile floor. I always feel like my office is a fortress, but now it seems like I’m trapped in a cage. I lean forward on the sh
KnoxThe question hits me like a punch. The reporter's voice is bright and professional. Her words feel like a kick in the gut. "We know she's your stepdaughter. Is it true there's more to your relationship than just that?"My blood runs cold then hot. I feel the camera on me, the red light recordi
EmmaHe keeps me in his arms. Maybe he believes I will vanish if he releases his hold on me. My legs feel weak and my inner thighs are wet from our contact and my shirt sticks to my body after I sweat. I can feel his heart racing against my chest with a rapid pulse that matches my own heartbeat.H
KnoxI sit behind my desk, chest so tight it hurts to breathe. The image won’t leave my head. Ethan’s mouth on hers, her soft laugh right after. My fingers dig into the armrests until the leather creaks.“Emma,” I say, voice low and dangerous. “You let him kiss you?”She stands in front of my desk







