LOGINThe café Bernard chose was only a few minutes away from the company.It was a quiet little place tucked into the corner of a busy street, its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the morning traffic while soft jazz music played in the background.Thankfully, it wasn't crowded.I glanced at the time on my watch. "I only have about an hour before my first meeting."Bernard smiled as he pulled out a chair for me. "Then I won't steal too much of your time."We ordered breakfast and coffee, and for the first few minutes, our conversation remained exactly what I had hoped it would be; business, the charity gala, investment opportunities and the future expansion of Smith Corporation.Bernard was an intelligent businessman, and I genuinely enjoyed exchanging ideas with him.Still… I was careful, very careful. Every sentence I spoke remained polite and professional. Every smile had its limits and every compliment was redirected back toward business.I wasn't trying to be rude but I was simply
I was still smiling, even after the long drive to the office and after replaying Dominic's shameless goodbye kiss in my head for what had to be the hundredth time.This pretending thing isn't going to work, I thought, fighting another smile.How was I supposed to act like nothing had happened when that man kissed me in front of Serge as if the entire world didn't exist?I let out a quiet sigh and stepped out of the SUV."Have a good day, Miss Smith," Serge said with his usual respectful nod.I smile. "You too, Serge."I adjusted my blazer before walking toward the entrance of the Smith Corporation building.Employees were already arriving for work, filling the spacious marble lobby with the sounds of conversations, footsteps, and elevators opening and closing.It felt like an ordinary morning.Until I saw him, near the revolving doors stood Bernard Ortega.He was dressed impeccably in a charcoal-gray suit that fit him perfectly, his dark hair neatly styled as always.But that wasn't w
Dominic's penthouse was nothing like I expected.The elevator doors opened directly into the apartment, revealing an expansive living space surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows. The city glittered beneath us, thousands of lights stretching endlessly into the distance.Everything inside reflected Dominic perfectly, modern, elegant and minimalistic.Black marble floors contrasted beautifully with warm walnut wood panels, while the furniture was simple yet undeniably expensive. There were no unnecessary decorations, only carefully chosen pieces that gave the entire place a quiet sense of luxury.It felt... peaceful.I slowly walked farther inside, taking in every corner."So..." I said with a small smile. "You've been hiding this place from me?"Dominic closed the apartment door behind us."It wasn't exactly a secret." He said calmly.I glanced over my shoulder. "Oh?""And you never asked."What?!I laughed softly. "That's your defense?"He shrugs his shoulders. "It works.""It absolut
The kiss left both of us breathless.For several long seconds, neither of us spoke. The world around us seemed to disappear, leaving only the quiet sound of our uneven breathing inside the parked car.Dominic rested his forehead against mine, his eyes still closed. His fingers remained intertwined with mine as if he was afraid I might disappear again.I smiled softly. "I missed you."His lips curved into a faint smile. "I know.""No." I gently shook my head. "I don't think you do."His eyes slowly opened. "I missed Dominic who always argued with me. The Dominic who always acted like he owned every room he walked into. The Dominic who never let me face anything alone."My voice grew quieter."And the Dominic who looked at me like I was his entire world."For the first time that night, guilt flickered across his face. "I… I’m sorry, Sierra. I should've been there."I squeezed his hand. "You couldn't.""I still should've been." He sighed and he hugged me tight.I didn't argue because I k
The dinner finally came to an end nearly two hours later.Fortunately, most of the conversation revolved around business. Bernard discussed the upcoming charity gala, several investment opportunities between Ortega Group and Smith Corporation, and a few projects he believed could benefit both companies.I answered professionally, occasionally adding my opinions while Sasha quietly listened beside me.Still… No matter how hard I tried to focus, my thoughts kept wandering somewhere else. To a certain Russian man. To the way he looked at me before leaving my office and the distance he deliberately placed between us.By the time dessert arrived, my appetite had completely disappeared.Bernard seemed to notice. "You look ti
By the time we left the office, I still couldn’t stop thinking about Dominic. Or more specifically… About the sudden distance he created between us.The change had been so abrupt it left me emotionally unbalanced.Last night, he held my hand while walking beside the river as if he never wanted to let me go again.This morning, he kissed my forehead in front of everyone without hesitation.But a few hours later? “Miss Smith.” Cold, professional and distant.Ugh… I didn’t understand him anymore.And honestly, hearing him calling me that like he didn’t know me, that hurt more than I wanted to admit.
The shift from survival to strategy happened faster than I expected. There was no dramatic announcement, no long debate, no hesitation.One moment we were reacting the next, we were planning a war.The room felt different that night. Every person present carried the same understanding without needi
Dinner with Carlo Nostra quickly became one of the longest evenings of my life. From the moment we sat down at the elegant table inside the restaurant, it became painfully clear that Carlo enjoyed hearing the sound of his own voice far more than anything I might have to say. He spoke constantly a
The flash of cameras had long ago become something I learned to endure. Photographers lined the entrance of the studio like soldiers preparing for battle, their cameras already raised before my car had even come to a complete stop. The moment the door opened, bright white lights exploded in every
(***Go to Sierra Point of View***)--------------------------------Knock. Knock.“Sierra…”The sudden sound at my bedroom door startled me enough that I quickly pushed the IPad I had been reading beneath the pillow beside me before calling out, “Come in.”The door opened slowly, revealing the fami







