LOGINBy evening, the office had emptied, leaving only Avery behind. She stood in the conference room, carefully going through the proposal details before heading to Nathaniel to report back to him.She had gone through a few pages, but she couldn't focus, let alone retain anything she read. No matter how hard she tried to push every thought away, her mind kept circling back to Nathaniel. She had told herself she could handle staying away from him for a while, but knowing she would be working this close to him, she doubted she could keep her composure.Avery smacked the peperwork against her head repeatedly, pacing the conference room in frustration. She took a slow, steadying breath, trying to calm herself while adjusting the slides, repeating her lines over and over."This proposal introduces a multi-channel marketing strategy designed to strengthen—" she paused, glancing at the paperwork again, "brand visibility, deepen user trust, and drive product—"A frustrated hiss escaped her lips
Nathaniel headed into the compound with Avery following a few steps behind. Several heads turned, eyes trailing after them. It was rare to see Nathaniel arrive with someone, contrary to his distant, upright aura.If there was one thing everyone knew about Nathaniel, it wasn’t loudness. It was his distant, almost melancholic composure. He kept his gaze fixed ahead, eyes steady, steps measured as they walked through the lobby.When they reached the elevator, Nathaniel adjusted his tie, his gaze brushing over her for a fleeting moment before shifting to the ascending numbers. Neither of them uttered a word, each lost in their thoughts.The moment the elevator doors slid open to their floor, Avery quietly stepped out, while Nathaniel stood there, watching her walk away with his usual unreadable expression. Avery pushed the door open into her department and slipped inside, the familiar buzz of her department greeting her.She headed straight to her desk, trying to shake off the tension f
After Nathaniel left the room, Avery slowly slipped out of the bed, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She headed toward the tall mirror standing in the corner, its polished frame catching her well-built body. She examined her face, which was a little bit puffy from lack of sleep. After taking in every detail of her reflection, she made her way towards the bathroom. She couldn't afford to keep Nathaniel waiting downstairs.Inside the restroom, everything was perfectly arranged, almost as if someone else lived here besides Nathaniel. New toothpaste, new toothbrushes, neatly stacked essentials—everything she needed was already waiting for her.Avery let out a quiet chuckle as she settled into the bathtub. “At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if I found a woman’s clothes in here.”When she finished, Avery blow-dried her hair and stepped out. She paused at the bedroom door, surprised to find a neatly folded, brand-new set of clothes waiting on the bed. Beside the cloth
Avery lay awake in the unfamiliar guest room, staring at the crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling as rain tapped heavily against the window. No matter how had she closed her eyes, her thoughts kept drifting back to Nathaniel—the tension between them in the living room, the way his gaze had lingered on her.The room shimmered with quiet luxury. Although it was designed in a modern style, it still carried a touch of old-world elegance, as if it were guarding secrets from another era. The air smelled clean, with a faint hint of polished wood and vanilla. Avery wondered how he had managed to keep the place so pristine when she hadn’t seen a single worker since her arrival.She pulled the blanket tighter around herself, a soft creaking sound slipping through the wall and sending a quiet shiver down her spine. She turned onto her side and squeezed her eyes shut, as if sleep might come if she tried hard enough.Just when she thought nature had given her a grace, a sound rippled th
Nathaniel stepped aside to let her pass, the silence between them heavier than the rain tapping against the window.The room gleamed with a polished marble floor and sleek, minimalistic furniture as she carefully settled on the chair, the soft leather pressing gently under her skin. A giant abstract painting rested on the wall, dominating the living room. The room was eerily empty, contrary to her expectations of workers scurrying everywhere. She watched Nathaniel as he lowered himself into the chair next to her, his presence suddenly filling the quiet space. Her throat flushed with heat as the faint scent of his cologne lingered around her, her pulse quickening.Avery pushed the stack of files toward him as he grabbed them deftly, his eyes scanning each page with unwavering concentration.While waiting, Avery took in the room once more.At the far end was a carved area dedicated to bookshelves, filled with different books.As her eyes roamed around, she felt her jaw clench due to
Avery dragged herself back to the office, her feet aching from hours of walking through beauty stores, interviewing customers, and comparing products.She placed the research work neatly on her desk, arranging the folders in a small pile. Today had drained her completely, and she couldn't wait to stack all her drafts together and be done with the chaos.Most of the staff had already gone home, leaving the room quiet except the shuffle of the remaining employees.Chloe was still there. Of course she was. She was one of the few employees always lingering behind after everyone else had left.Chloe sat comfortably behind her desk, eyes fixed on her screen.When she looked up, her lips curved in a smile that didn't reach her eyes."Miss Cole." she said. "All done with the research?" "Yes." Avery replied, swallowing her irritation. "I got everything we need.""Good," she nodded. “MR. Nathaniel already left. You would have caught him if you’d come about thirty minutes earlier.""Should I le







