Sloane“What the actual hell?!” Her voice echoed down the hallway, heels stamping on the floor as she stormed into my office. I didn’t have to look up to see who it was; her expensive perfume already gave it away.“Hey Z,” I said casually, still scrolling on my iPad.“Uh-uh, do not, hey me, Sloane,” she snapped. Her oversized dark shades blocked her eyes, but I could still feel the dagger she was throwing at me.I sighed, getting up.“How could you? I thought I was your best friend. But nooo,” she flailed dramatically, “I had to find out on the freaking internet,” she emphasized the word like it had personally betrayed her. “That my best friend’s bodyguard is actually a billionaire. And not annnyy billionaire but freaking Nikolai Dorne”Now beside her, I led her to the couch. She didn’t resist, of course; she lived for dramatic entrances. I placed my hand on her shoulder as she lowered onto the couch, giving her light massages. “I know what you’re doing, and it's ohhh,” she groaned, “
Nikolai’s POVSloane paced the grand lounge of the Drone Empire like a storm on legs. Her heels clicked against the marble floor, her fingers tugging at her lower lip, Something she always did when she was deep in thought. Something I’d memorized.And she was still wearing that green gown.The slit swayed with each step, flashing smooth, endless legs that were doing an excellent job distracting the hell out of me.Focus, Nikolai.This isn’t the time to think about how goddamn beautiful she looks when she’s mad.“Sloane,” I said quietly.She turned.Wide eyes.Sharp voice.“Wait, so let me get this straight…”Her hand flew out dramatically.“You’re Nikolai? The Nikolai? As in, president of Drone Lux Holdings?!”I gave her a small nod. “Yes.”She let out a short, breathless laugh. “Wow.”Just one word.But the way she said it, it carried a thousand emotions. Shock. Anger. Betrayal. Confusion.“Look, I’m sorry,” I started, stepping closer, “I know it’s a lot.”Her head whipped toward me.
Sloane“I love him.”She said it like it meant something.Like it was supposed to fix what she’d done.I blinked. My breath caught. “You love him?” I repeated, stunned.Evelyn looked down, her lashes fluttering as tears filled her eyes. And then, shamelessly, she nodded.I let out a cold, bitter scoff. The audacity.“I… I wanted to tell you, I just… I never meant to hurt you,” she stammered, voice trembling.“Oh, don’t give me that bullshit.” My voice cracked. My hands shook at my sides. “You wanted to hurt me. Don’t act like some lost, confused victim.”“Sloane, no…”“We were best friends for ten years, Evelyn. Ten! I told you everything. Everything! I let you into my world, my life, my heart, and now here you are, standing in front of me, telling me you love my husband?”I paused. “Ex-husband,” I corrected sharply, my voice like a blade.Evelyn’s chin quivered. “H-He loves me too,” she whispered.And just like that, it got worse.I laughed. A short, harsh sound. “So what now? You wa
Sloane“You don’t owe me anything.”His words echoed in my head.I blinked.What?Of course I did.How could he say that with such a straight face? I didn’t just owe him, I owed him a lot. The gown, the necklace, the freaking limo. And now… going to this event together. As my partner? My date?I didn’t even know what to call him anymore.Rio might act like some tough guy on the outside, always calm and unreadable, but deep down… he was kind.I’d once seen him help a tiny bird that fell from a tree. He’d gently scooped it up and set it back in its nest like it was made of glass. That moment never left me.Now that I thought about it, maybe he saw me the same way.The helpless bird.And here he was, stepping in to help again.I glanced at him.He wasn’t looking at me, just staring ahead with that usual calm expression. But under the soft lights of the limo, he looked… really handsome…now I understood why Zara was all about him.His hair was a little to perfect. All dark and curly, like
RioIt was never my intention to hurt her.The second I stormed into my car and slammed the door shut, I felt it…regret.“Idiot,” I muttered, dragging a hand down my face.Why the hell did I say those words like that?Why did I let my frustration slip?I gripped the steering wheel tight, knuckles white, my jaw clenched so hard it hurt.She didn’t deserve that. Not the tone. Not the guilt.All I wanted was for her to remember who she was.Strong. Bold. Unstoppable.But I came off like a jerk.I hit the back of the headrest once with a soft thud and let out a breath that burned.I just wanted her to show up. I wanted her to look that bastard in the eye and make him choke on his smug grin.My phone buzzed on the passenger seat.Are we still on for tonight?I stared at the message, chest tightening.No matter what she decides, I’ll still be there.Just like I promised—The night she broke down in my arms.The night she whispered she had no one.I swore I’d help her burn them all to the gr
SloaneI woke up to an empty bed.No warmth. No noise. Just silence.For a second, I thought maybe it was all a dream…that he hadn’t actually stayed. That I hadn’t cried into his chest like some broken little girl.But the soft scent of cedar and leather still lingered on my room. He had stayed.I sat up, brushing my tangled hair out of my face.Today had to be different. No more crying. No more hiding.Today, I was going to sign those damn divorce papers and put an end to the mess once and for all.I pulled on a hoodie and opened the bedroom door. My feet padded softly across the hallway floor as I made my way to the kitchen. That’s when I saw him.“Rio?” I said, surprised.He turned, holding a tray. Waffles. Warm syrup. A tall glass of milk.“Good morning,” he said simply.I blinked. “Good morning… I thought you had left.”“I was about to,” he said, walking over to the small dining table. “But I figured you might need something to eat.”He placed the tray down gently, as if the soun