LOGINIt was evening and closing hours at Dynamic Group. Noah sat in his dark blue BWM parked just outside the main entrance, it's engine off, windows tinted so no one could see inside. He watched the steady stream of workers pouring out of the building—some chatting in small groups, others hurrying toward the bus stop or parking lot. He waited patiently, eyes fixed on the glass doors, heart beating a little faster than he wanted to admit. After several minutes, Nathan finally appeared, walking beside Elle. They moved together through the crowd, talking quietly. Noah remained perfectly still in the driver’s seat, hands resting on the steering wheel as he observed them through the glass. He couldn’t bring himself to do anything else, he just sat there, watching until they walked past his car and disappeared down the sidewalk. Only then did he collapse back against the leather seat. He dug both hands into his hair, gripping tightly, frustration and exhaustion rolling through him in waves.
Nathan stayed frozen like that for several long seconds, his eyes blazing with enough fury to burn Noah alive. His chest heaved with every ragged breath. Then, as if reality suddenly crashed back in, his fingers loosened one by one. He released Noah’s collar and stepped back, face flushed deep red with a mixture of rage, shame, and exhaustion.He was furious at everything—at the situation, at the years of pain still lodged inside him, but mostly at himself. He was angry that he still hadn’t stood up for himself the way he’d sworn he would. Angry that he hadn’t become the rich, untouchable man he’d promised himself he would be—the one who could finally make his bully pay. Instead, everything seemed stacked against him. The same person who had tormented him for years had now reappeared, but this time pretending to be something else entirely.Nathan turned sharply on his heel and headed for the door. He had only taken three steps when Noah’s voice cut through the heavy silence.“You’re
Nathan dropped into the new chair and let the soft mesh back cradle him. The difference was immediate—supportive, quiet, nothing like the creaky wreck he’d been fighting for months. A small, bitter smile tugged at his lips, but it's not happiness. Just the sharp realization that power really was everything. He’d sent polite requests to the board about a new chair, a fresh coat of paint, even basic repairs to his tiny office. George had shut him down every time, sneering that he was “still only acting” and threatening to replace him if he couldn’t be comfortable on the budget they gave him.Now? One quiet word from the top and everything changed overnight.“Power,” he muttered to himself, voice low in the empty room. He reached out and wrapped both hands around the hot coffee cup. Warmth seeped into his palms, steadying the faint tremble he hadn’t noticed until now. He brushed the back of his hand across his nose, stood up, and grabbed the project file Noah had handed him yesterday.
Nathan pushed open the door to his apartment and stepped inside, the faint scent of takeout still lingering in the air. He turned the lock with a deliberate click, double-checking it out of habit, then let the heavy plastic bags slip from his fingers. They hit the floor with a soft rustle and a muffled thud. Without pausing he crossed the small living room and collapsed onto the couch, his head falling back against the cushions as a long, exhausted sigh escaped him.Today had not gone the way he’d planned. Not even close. Everything felt unbelievable like he’d stepped into someone else’s life for a few hours. Noah had actually apologized. The words had come out of his mouth, quiet and cracked, right there across the table. Nathan didn’t need to question whether it happened, because he’d watched it unfold with his own eyes, felt the weight of every syllable land in his chest.After that, silence had swallowed the rest of the meal. Nathan hadn’t spoken, he couldn’t speak, even when No
Nathan walked back to his department like his legs had turned to lead. The file Noah had given him felt heavier in his hand than it should have—thicker, somehow, even though it was only a few pages. He kept his eyes on the floor the whole way, passing desks and quiet conversations without really seeing them. When he finally reached his office door he paused, fingers tightening around the folder, then pushed inside slowly.He closed the door behind him with a soft click and leaned against it for a second, breathing out. Everything felt unplanned and uncalled for. What was Noah actually planning?Was this another manipulation trick—some elaborate way to pull him back in, make him dependent again? Or was Noah… for real? The bruises, the calm offer, the project details—it didn’t line up with the Noah he remembered. None of it did.He dropped into his chair and laid the file flat on the desk. Opened it carefully. The pages were crisp, professional, it's a joint high-visibility initiative
Monday MorningElle practically flew up the stairs, hrr breath coming in short bursts as she hurried toward Nathan, who was already leaning against the balcony railing waiting for her. The second she reached him she stopped dead, hands on her hips, eyes wide with mock outrage.“Oh you bitch, I will never trust you again!”Nathan only grinned, cheeks already warming despite himself. “No, no… it’s actually not like that.”“What! Why didn’t you tell me you guys went on a date? Twice!” Elle’s voice climbed with delighted disbelief.“Well… I did tell you,” Nathan said, chuckling softly as he rested his jaw in his palm, trying to play it cool even though excitement bubbled under his skin.Elle was too overjoyed to care about technicalities. “Oh my God, that was fast and I’m so happy for you both! How was it? Details—now!”Nathan scratched behind his ear, a nervous little habit, cheeks flushing deeper. “Actually… on Saturday we went to that Chinese place downtown first, then ended up at this
After the brief conversation with Elle, Nathan felt a small breath of relief wash over him, even if it was temporary. He decided to push the chaos aside for now and focus on work because it was early Monday morning, and he couldn’t afford to fall behind. Not with the team depending on him, not with
It was closing time, and Nathan stayed behind as always, determined to finish every last task before leaving. He liked the quiet of the empty office—the way the hum of computers faded, the fluorescent lights dimmed slightly, the absence of chatter letting him focus without distraction. He finalized
Immediately Nathan rounded the corner, he crouched down fast, his back pressing against the rough brick wall as his chest rose and fell in sharp, uneven bursts. He pressed one hand to his sternum, trying to force his breathing to slow, to make sense of the frantic pounding inside. What had just h
Nathan stared at the figure filling the doorway, his chest rising and falling too fast. His lungs burned from the sudden collision, from the adrenaline, from everything.“Are you okay?” Noah asked, his voice softer than Nathan expected. Real concern flickered across his face as he noticed how hard







