LOGINEvery instinct in his body screamed at him to snatch the phone right out of her hand, but Jane smoothly turned her back to him, tucking her hair behind her ear as she continued chatting in hushed, secretive tones.Frustrated, dark, and dangerously close to losing his mind, William yanked his personal phone out of his pocket as it buzzed with an incoming text.[Victoria: Just spoke to Mike! He landed in LA yesterday and is flying into Manhattan as we speak. I sent him Jane’s contact info. You’re welcome, little brother! xoxo]"Damn it! Damn it!" William swore under his breath, his eyes turning a lethal, stormy blue.Mike. Of all the people in the world, it had to be Michael Cavill.The history was a complete nightmare. Mike wasn't just some random billionaire; he was William’s best friend back at Oxford. He had spent two solid years pining after Victoria, only for Victoria to aggressively friend-zone him into an honorary brother. Out of sheer, chaotic spite, Mike spent the next decad
"Office of Mr. Reynold, Jane speaking," her voice came through the line—smooth, cold, and entirely devoid of life. "How may I assist you, sir?"William leaned back against the leather seat of his sedan, his chest heaving as he closed his eyes, fighting the overwhelming urge to drive back to the tower and pull her into his arms right then and there."Jane," William rasped, his baritone thick with an uncontrolled, raw edge he couldn't hide. "Cancel the gala."Jane’s voice faltered for a fraction of a second, the sudden break in her composure so quiet William almost missed it over the static of the line. But almost as quickly, her wall snapped back up, impenetrable and freezing."Sir, it cannot be canceled," Jane said, her tone flattening out into that terrifying, nonchalant efficiency."Everything is set. The finance department has already approved the non-refundable deposit for the grand ballroom, the media outlets have locked in their exclusive slots, and both PR and HR have aligned
William stood frozen behind the glass, the phone still pressed uselessly against his ear. A sudden, bitter taste filled his mouth.He had wanted to provoke her. He had wanted to force a confession out of her, to drive her to the absolute edge until she finally admitted how much she cared. But as he watched her calmly open a blank spreadsheet to finalize the budget for his fake engagement, a horrifying realization hit him like a physical blow:He hadn't forced her to break. He had just pushed her entirely away.The hours bled together in a suffocating, unbearable blur. For the first time in his career, William Reynold accomplished absolutely nothing.He sat behind his massive mahogany desk, staring through the glass wall as Jane executed every single one of his orders with terrifying, flawless precision. His suit was picked up and hung in his private wardrobe by 9:55 AM sharp. The reservation at Le Monde was confirmed. The three afternoon strategy meetings were rescheduled without a
She 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 agoni
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







