JaydenI stood still, trying to control the thudding in my chest. Richard hadn’t said a word yet, just sat there watching me like I was some kind of case study. His elbows rested lazily on the armrest of my chair, fingers steepled together under his chin, his gaze unreadable.I cleared my throat softly, smoothing down my tie as I tried to regain my composure. “Mr. Kane,” I began, keeping my voice even. “To what do I owe this... unexpected visit?”He didn’t answer right away. He just kept staring, his eyes moving slowly over my face, my shoulders, my hands. I could hear the ticking of my wall clock suddenly, each second dragging longer than the last.Eventually, he leaned forward, his elbows pressing down on the desk, and stood up slowly. “Mr. Turner,” he said, tone dry. “How long have you been working here now?”I blinked. “Two years, sir.”He hummed softly in response, walking around the desk now. Each step he took echoed off the walls. “Two years. That’s a decent amount of time, isn
Jayden's POVI walked through the corridor like a ghost floating in a sea of whispers. My shoes made soft, measured sounds against the tiled floor, but it was the echo in my head that was louder, Richard's voice, that damn smile on his face, and Emilia... God, Emilia.The image of her throwing herself at him, like he was her hero or something, played on a loop in my mind. The way she smiled, the way she kissed him without hesitation, like I never existed. Like all those years we spent together meant absolutely nothing.I clenched my jaw, forcing my hands into my pockets to keep from punching the nearest wall. But no, not now. Not here. Not when eyes were everywhere."Yo, Turner."I turned my head slightly and spotted one of the younger interns, Derek or Daniel, whatever his name was, standing too close for my liking, his arms folded as he leaned by the water cooler."You good, man? You look like you just saw a ghost."I gave him a cold smile. "You ever get the urge to chew glass, Dere
Jayden’s POVThe second that office door opened, the air shifted. My chest tightened before I even saw who it was.And then I heard it.“Hey, babe.”Richard Kane.I froze like a statue, unable to turn, but knowing damn well who was behind me. His voice was clear, smooth, and full of that arrogant confidence I hated. And worse… he was smiling. Big.What the hell?My brain scrambled for answers. He was supposed to be in custody. That stupid scandal, he was supposed to be ruined, finished. But now he was here… in front of me. Free. Smiling. Like none of it ever touched him.I didn’t even get a chance to breathe before Emilia darted past me like I wasn’t even there. Her body brushed mine and nearly knocked me off balance. That’s how fast she ran to him. She threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly like he’d just come back from war. Then she kissed him. Right there. So damn passionate I wanted to vomit.My stomach twisted with something hot and bitter.Richard held her close, hi
Emilia’s POVThe conference room was packed. Rows upon rows of employees sat with stiff backs and fake interested faces, the buzz of murmurs still lingering like smoke after a fire. I heard my name whispered again, felt the subtle shift in attention as soon as I stepped inside, heels clicking against the polished floor. Eyes were everywhere, curious, judgmental, uncertain.I didn’t flinch. I didn’t frown. I lifted my chin, let my eyes sweep across the room like I owned every inch of it. And in a way, I did. Not by title, but by everything I’d stood through, fought through, for this company and for Richard.I walked slowly to the front, to the center of the room where the podium waited like a spotlight. 500 pairs of eyes. Not a single one made me pause.I took my time placing my palms on the wood, grounding myself. The room quieted almost instantly.“Thank you for coming,” I began, my voice steady but sharp enough to cut through the air. “I know some of you were probably in the middle
Emilia’s POVTrevor was still staring at the unconscious guy on the ground like he couldn’t believe what had just happened. His mouth opened and closed a few times, but no words came out. I swear, if he looked any more stunned, I might have had to snap my fingers in front of his face just to make sure he was still breathing.Finally, he managed a whisper, “Where the hell did you learn to fight like that?”I glanced at him, shrugged, and wiped my knuckles on a tissue I pulled from my purse. “I didn’t say I couldn’t fight.”“Yeah, but… that was,” he shook his head, eyes wide, “That wasn’t just fighting. That was like... trained assassin level stuff. You didn’t even hesitate.”I smirked but kept walking. “Don’t flatter me. I hesitated. I gave him a chance to walk away. He just didn’t take it.”Trevor trailed behind me like a lost puppy, clearly still too stunned to think straight. “Okay, but seriously. Did you take classes or something? Like MMA? Or are you secretly ex-military? What are
Emilia’s POVI leaned in toward Trevor again, a tight smile on my face, even though my heart was beating faster than it should. “Okay, don’t freak out,” I whispered calmly, my fingers still wrapped around my warm coffee cup.He stiffened. “Why would I freak out?” he asked, his eyes narrowing instantly.I kept my eyes on his, holding his gaze so he wouldn’t glance around and alert whoever was watching us. “Because… we’ve got two shadows.”Trevor paled a little, then shifted slightly in his seat. “What do you mean, shadows?”“Don’t look back,” I said in a soft but firm voice, placing my hand lightly on his to calm him. “There’s a man by the window. Newspaper guy. Hasn’t flipped a single page since we got here. I mean, come on, who even reads newspapers anymore? And the woman across the street, she’s pretending to wait for a bus that already came by three times.”He swallowed hard. “Oh my God.”“Trevor,” I warned. “Do not freak out.”“I’m not freaking out!” he whisper-yelled.“Then stop