تسجيل الدخولShe offered a brief, mechanical bow of her head, turned on her heel, and walked out of the office, closing the heavy doors behind her without making a sound.Jane moved on complete autopilot. The long walk from William’s double doors to her desk felt like dragging her feet through wet cement.Inside her chest, her heart hammered so violently against her ribs it felt on the verge of exploding, leaving a hollow, agonizing ache in its wake. She felt entirely numb, her body brittle and trembling as if the slightest breath would cause her to shatter into a thousand jagged pieces.The pain was far too much to swallow down this time. Hot, silent tears welled up, spilling over her lashes and tracing a slow, burning path down her pale cheeks.Yet, even as her vision blurred into a smear of corporate lighting, she refused to give him the satisfaction. She knew his eyes were locked onto her through the soundproof glass of his office, watching for the slightest sign of defeat.With agonizing cont
William’s lips twitched. He leaned forward slightly, resting his hands on the edge of the desk, reducing the distance between them until she could smell his sharp, expensive cologne mixed with the faint scent of black coffee."She recovered enough to appreciate her new necklace," William murmured, his voice dropping into a low, deliberate tease. "She was very complimentary of your taste, Miss Pascual. She thought the diamonds suited her beautifully."Jane’s jaw clenched so hard a muscle twitched sharply near her temple. "I'm thrilled to hear it, sir. Next time, I'll ensure the jeweler picks an even larger piece so it can properly compensate for her spent evening in the rest room.""Is that concern for my guest?" William asked, his voice velvety, his eyes glittering with a dark, triumphant light as he watched the flush rise up her neck. "Or are you just furious because I carried her out instead of you?""I would rather be dragged through live coals than carried by you, Mr. Reynold," Jan
The elevator was packed wall-to-wall with mid-level managers, junior analysts, and administrative staff, all practically vibrating with excitement over their glowing smartphone screens."Did you see the photos from Manhattan Elite last night?" a marketing coordinator whispered loudly to her colleague. "He literally carried her out! Like a straight-up movie scene!""I know! They are totally back together," a financial strategist chimed in, scrolling through the high-definition pictures of William sweeping Jessa into his arms."I mean, look at her face! She looks completely smitten. And that diamond necklace? That’s not a 'just friends' gift."Jane stood dead center in the el
Jane chewed aggressively, raising a single, dark eyebrow at the screen. "7:00 AM sharp?" she scoffed aloud to her empty kitchen, shoveling another bite of pork into her mouth. "You wish, Reynold. You're lucky if I show up by eight."An hour later, thoroughly stuffed, shower-fresh, and wrapped in her favorite oversized sweatpants, Jane finally collapsed onto her bed. Her anger had settled into a comfortable, sleepy warm haze. She picked up her phone to do her nightly scroll through social media before turning off the lights.She opened her browser, and the absolute worst mistake of her night stared right back at herThe top trending headline across every major Manhattan elite blog and gossip site was plastered in bold, neon-red text, complete with a high-definition photo array:[REYNOLD ENTERPRISES CEO REUNITES WITH SUPERMODEL JESSA WHITE! EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS OF WILLIAM REYNOLD CARRIED HIS 'WEAK-KNEED' BEAUTY OUT OF PRIVATE SUITE AFTER ROMANTIC DIAMOND-STUDDED DINNER!]Jane’s blood instan
"It was my idea. I customized the menu myself—I had no idea you’d turn out to be allergic to... whatever exotic ingredients the private chef sourced tonight. I sincerely apologize, Jessa. Though I hope the diamond necklace compensates for the inconvenience."Jessa’s furious expression instantly melted. The anger in her eyes vanished, replaced by the calculating shine of a woman who knew the exact market value of the platinum-and-diamond piece resting in the velvet box on her lap."Well..." Jessa purred, a triumphant, slow smile spreading across her lips. She reached over, her manicured hand resting lightly on William’s broad shoulder as she leaned in close. "That would certainly be enough for the trouble, darling. I have to admit, your boring little secretary actually has magnificent taste. I like the necklace so much."William stared down at her hand on his shoulder, his dark blue eyes remaining dead cold despite the small, polite smile fixed on his lips.She doesn't have magnificen
A faint, high-pitched gurgle echoed from somewhere beneath her silk gown. It sounded suspiciously like an outboard motor struggling to catch a spark. Jessa’s eyes widened to the size of dinner plates, her posture snapping straight up as a light sheen of cold sweat instantly broke out across her forehead."William, darling," she squeaked, her voice suddenly two octaves higher. "Where... where is the powder room?""Right down the hall, second door on the left," William replied, his jaw twitching.Jessa didn't walk; she practically levitated out of her chair, her backless gown fluttering behind her as she power-walked out of the dining suite at a speed that defied high heels.Not thirty seconds later, the kitchen doors swung open, and Jane stepped in carrying a fresh bottle of sparkling water, her expression an absolute picture of innocent, dutiful secretarial concern.Smirking triumphantly behind William's back, Jane didn't wait around to face the impending nuclear fallout. She darted







