LOGIN“Jaxon,” she called, her voice tight with worry. “Are you sure this is enough? What if—what if they’re still watching us?”Jaxon appeared in the doorway, a deep frown on his face. His usual calm demeanor was gone, replaced by the edge of someone preparing for war. “We’ve done everything we can. This is the best we’ve got. James won’t find a way in unless he gets past this.”His eyes softened as he stepped toward her, his hand gently brushing her arm. “You’re safe here, Mimi. I won’t let him hurt you.”She gave him a strained smile but couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t enough. There was always something lurking around the corner. Something she couldn’t see, but she could feel. She had to make sure Jaxon was safe, too. The weight of responsibility pressed harder now.She nodded, still unsure, when she heard it. The unmistakable sound of a knock at the door.She froze, heart hammering in her chest. Jaxon immediately tensed beside her.“Who’s there?” Mimi whispered.No answer.S
Mimi’s footsteps echoed in the silent hallway as she approached the front door. She had just returned from a long day of meetings, her mind clouded with thoughts of the future. But as she reached for the door handle, a sense of unease crawled up her spine.There, resting on the doorstep, was a bouquet of black roses. Their dark petals stood in stark contrast to the crisp white envelope nestled between the stems. Mimi’s breath caught in her throat.She hadn’t ordered any flowers.Her fingers hovered over the bouquet, as though afraid it would bite. The scent of the roses hit her first—thick, pungent, suffocating. She bent down slowly, the hairs on the back of her neck rising as her eyes scanned the note.Mimi’s heart pounded in her chest as she read the simple words:“Did you miss me?”The handwriting was unmistakable. It was James’s.She staggered back, a wave of dread crashing over her. The past she had worked so hard to bury was now at her doorstep. Her hands shook as she reached fo
“Mimi, I have bad news,” David’s voice was grim. “James is out. Someone bailed him out. An unknown benefactor.”Mimi’s breath caught in her throat. “How? Who would do that?”David paused, his tone lowering, as if the very words could bring danger into the room. “I don’t know. But whoever it is, they’re powerful. And they’re using James to send a message. Something bigger than just revenge on you.”Mimi clenched her phone tighter. Her past with James was messy, painful. She had tried to leave it all behind, but it seemed the ghosts of her old life wouldn’t stay buried.“Are you sure this is the right move? What if this is just a trap?” she asked, her voice shaking slightly, betraying the fear she couldn’t hide.“I’ll look into it,” David replied quickly. “But be careful, Mimi. Whoever is behind this is watching you.”The line went dead, and Mimi stood in the middle of the room, the familiar weight of dread pressing into her chest. She knew James, knew how far he’d go when pushed, but t
A knock on the door interrupted his spiral. Jaxon stepped inside, his face lined with concern. “You okay, man?”Simeon turned sharply, his eyes wide, frantic. “No, Jaxon. Something’s wrong. I—” He stopped, shaking his head as if trying to clear the thoughts from his mind. “I keep seeing him, Jaxon. Damon’s face, his eyes. He’s still watching me. Watching us.”Jaxon frowned, crossing the room to sit beside him. “Simeon, we’ve been over this. The nightmares, they’re just that—nightmares. You’ve been through hell, but it’s time to move on. We all have to.”“No!” Simeon’s voice was sharp, panicked. “I’m telling you, it’s not just in my head. This—this isn’t just a nightmare. It’s real, Jaxon. He’s coming for us.”Jaxon put a hand on his friend’s shoulder, his voice steady, though laced with doubt. “Listen to me. You’ve been through so much. But you’re not alone in this. We’re here, and we’ll get through it together.”Simeon took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, but the unease woul
“You’re going to crush it out there,” Jaxon whispered, placing a hand on her shoulder. His voice was low, but it held the same warmth that had kept her grounded through all the chaos.Mimi nodded, forcing a smile. “I have to. For them. For us.”Her thoughts swirled with the weight of the task ahead. She glanced at Jaxon, her fingers brushing his hand. He was her anchor, the only thing keeping her steady. They had come this far, despite the shadows of their past.When her name was called, Mimi took a deep breath and stepped onto the stage. The crowd’s murmurs grew louder, and for a brief moment, her legs felt unsteady. But she squared her shoulders and walked toward the podium.“Mimi Rayne,” the announcer’s voice boomed, “Founder of Silent Horizons. A leader in accessibility technology.”The applause was warm but fleeting, the crowd’s attention shifting to her. She lifted the microphone, her hands trembling slightly.“Thank you,” she began, her voice clear and strong. “Silent Horizons
Mimi shifted slightly, her fingers gently tracing the rim of her coffee cup, the warmth of the porcelain a small comfort in her hands. "It’s beautiful," she whispered, the words barely escaping her lips.Jaxon’s gaze remained fixed on the horizon, his jaw tight. “Yeah. But something’s off. I can’t shake the feeling that we’re being watched.” His voice was low, almost a growl, as though he had been thinking the same thing for days.Mimi didn’t answer right away. Her mind wandered to Damon. Six months had passed since that night — the night the man who had once been her closest ally in the corporate world, and more, had been taken from her. She had buried him, but the shadow of his death loomed like a thick fog that wouldn’t lift. The grief still lingered, even now.“We’re fine,” she said, her voice steady but hollow. “We’ve built something. You and me. And we’ve made it work. It’s just...the past. It doesn’t let go.”Jaxon turned to her then, his eyes softening. He took her hand, his t







