ANMELDENI step back into my apartment, my hand on the door. “Don’t come here again. And don’t try to contact me.” As I move to close the door, Dominic moves quickly, grabbing my wrist and pulling me toward him again.Again, he embraces me tightly, inhaling my scent with desperate hunger.Then he pleads, “Please come back to me, Jess baby. Leave him. He can never love you like I do. No one will ever love you like I do.“Obviously,” I sneer and react on pure instinct. My knee shoots up, connecting solidly with Dominic’s stomach. As he doubles over, gasping, I slap him hard across the face, the sound echoing in the empty hallway.“Stay away from me!” I yell, backing away from him.Dominic straightens slowly, wincing as his hand touches his reddening cheek. The shock in his eyes quickly morphs into hurt.“Jess-” he starts reaching for me.“Don’t!” I hold up my hand, my entire body trembling with rage. “You are not and will never be the man for me. Leave me alone!”My voice breaks on the last wo
Dominic steps closer, his expression a perfect mask of false sympathy. “I wish it's a lie. But there’s more, Jess baby. Something he definitely hasn’t told you.”I shouldn’t bother asking him. I should shut the door in his face. But the words escape before I can stop them, “What?” “She’s pregnant,” Dominic says softly, watching my face carefully. “And the timing… well, it makes one wonder, doesn’t it? He’s tied you up with a ring and got his ex pregnant. What does that speak of him?” The implication hits me like a physical blow. I feel color drain from my face as my grip tightens on the doorknob for support.“That’s not possible,” I whisper.“It's the absolute truth. Now tell me, how well do you really know Allister Blackwaters, Jess? He’s an Alpha wolf with needs and access to any type of she-wolf he wants.”For a moment, doubt begins to cloud my mind. I confessed to Allister that Dominic tried to kiss me, and he already knew I was with Dominic even before I told him. But he forga
~Jess~After an evening with the girls, I’m left completely exhausted. So, exhausted that I can't wait to get home, take a shower, and have a cool sleep.As we get closer to the house, I open my phone and forward a text to Allister: “[How is your evening going? Have you been able to sort through the pile of files on your desk?]”He did say that he needs to sort through some urgent pack files and won’t be able to make it to the medical center to pick me up.I wait for a while, but there's no reply from him, so I shrug. I guess he's very busy.My emergency driver drops me off in front of my apartment, and as instructed, he stays in the car to make sure I'm safely inside before leaving.Allister’s recent worries about my safety have become so ingrained in me that I take quick glances as I head in.The elevator ride to my floor is uneventful, but as I approach my apartment door, a familiar scent makes my steps falter.Dominic.The distinctive fragrance of his perfume reaches me before I
"What? What are you saying?" Agnes asks.I’m still speechless at this point."I am serious, Aggy. Thomas is back in Lilycity. I hear that Smith and Agary is partnering with a Glovida, a small firm, to pursue a tower construction contract with the Ceaser groups, Thomas Maclwin’s company. Glovida is to create a mind-blowing ad piece, and Smith and Agary will execute the building project. Thomas's father was the one dealing with Julian initially. But now that Thomas is back, his father is stepping back to give him the reins."“The hell, Ursy, how do you know all this?”“Are you for real. You want to play with an asset like me?” Ursy chuckles“Industry machine,” I tease Ursula, and she laughs happily. “But is what she said true?” I ask Agnes, who nods slowly.“Yes, it is. But… It's still under wraps. I’m shocked that Ursy would have this many details.”Ursula shrugs, “not snitching on my source.”“So, is Thomas' return good or bad news?” I ask."Bad news.” Agnes groans. “Oh dear! I cannot
~Agnes~Reporting sick just to avoid work is something I’ve never done in my entire life. But when I woke up today, I knew I wasn’t ready to face Julian… not yet.It turned out to be a blessing in disguise, though. I spent the day curating concept boards, material palettes, and drafting layout ideas for Tania’s home.By evening, I’ve accomplished so much that I can’t help but feel proud of myself.My phone beeps, and I pick it up immediately. It’s a message from Aldine.“[Aggs,Do you mind a little business chat after work? I’ll be at the Vespa. Pius is coming along too. I want to discuss a collaboration, and he wants to make sure I’m not trying to poach you into ditching Smith & Agary.]”Relief settles in as I read the message. For a moment, I’d thought Pius’s presence might have something to do with last night.Another message comes in from Ursula.“[Got into Greymark University for my Masters. Celebration at the shooting range after work.]”Now that’s some good news.I glance at th
~Agnes~The moment Julian opens the door, and we come face to face with Aldine, I freeze.Awkward tension drools between all of us as Aldine stands with her arms folded and eyebrow raised.We march behind Aldine to one of the empty rooms on the third floor. Julian and I sit down, while Aldine starts pacing."Well, is this not cozy? What exactly were you two doing in there?" She asks suspiciously, her eyes moving between the two of us.Heat spreads over my skin as I run over in my head everything she could have heard.Julian looks helpless as he exchanges a glance with me, and we turn back to Aldine.I shake my head. "Nothing. Julian and I just had something to discuss. That is all." I reply, trying to play it off, but my nervous laughter gives me away.Aldine shakes her head, her eyes more on Julian than me. "I heard noise in there, and it certainly wasn't from talking," she says in a firm tone. "And even if I did not know you both so well, it is no secret that since you started worki
~Rosie~I’ve barely made it to the hotel before breaking down in tears. I may not be the best person in the whole world, but I'm definitely not the worst.I’ve had my ups and downs. And my need to remain at the top of the chain may have shaped my life in a certain way, but that’s all because I want
I break into a run. My shoes slam against the pavement as I close the distance.The suited bastard is about to shut the door when I grab it and shove it open.“Move,” I growl at him, wincing at the sharp pain shooting through my body.The man turns to me, seemingly pissed. He steps forward like he’
~Jess~It’s been a very long and stressful day.After carrying out several surgeries at the hospital, I was so exhausted and was getting ready to head home when Allister’s call appeared on my phone screen.“Bloom,” he calls. “Had a great day?”“More like a stress day,” I groan. “I am so exhausted.
~Jess~ I sit across from Sarah at our small dining table, the food she prepared between us. Opening the large serving dish to scoop some for us, a rich aroma wafts out, making my mouth water instantly. “Wow, it smells amazing,” I say, inhaling deeply. “Olga, you really outdid yourself.” Inside t







