LOGINThe cruel insult hung in the stale air of the small living room while I stared at my sister with wide, horrified eyes.I watched her take another slow sip of my expensive dark roast coffee, and a hot wave of deep betrayal burned the back of my throat.She was sitting comfortably on the faded beige couch I bought with my own hard-earned money, and she was wearing the clothes she stole directly from my bedroom closet.When I looked past the couch, I saw the messy pile of dirty dishes David had left in the kitchen sink, proving that he was still the same lazy slob he had always been.Chloe had propped her bare feet up on a stack of my favorite data science textbooks, and she was using my academic hard work as a literal footrest while she insulted my intelligence."Y-you have absolutely no right to be in my apartment after everything you did to me behind my back," I stuttered out while my hands curled into tight fists at my sides."Y-you do not get to come into my home and treat my belong
I pressed my hands flat against the cold tinted glass of the passenger window while my heart hammered a frantic rhythm against my ribs.I watched Maximilian lean down over David's kneeling form, but the thick soundproofing of the luxury vehicle blocked out whatever lethal words my boss was whispering into the cold air.David let out another muffled scream that barely reached my ears, and he curled his body forward until his forehead touched the dirty pavement.He cradled his broken right wrist against his chest while his shoulders shook with heavy, pathetic sobs.A few minutes ago, I was terrified that David would find a way to hurt us both because he always used his loud voice and angry fists to get exactly what he wanted.Now, the man who had tormented me for three years was crying on the sidewalk in a puddle of spilled alcohol.I stared at the brutal scene unfolding outside, and a deep wave of pure awe washed over my trembling body.Maximilian simply stood up from his crouched posi
I threw my car door open and stepped out onto the cracked concrete before David could strike the passenger window again."Lock the doors right now and do not open them for anyone," I ordered Alexandra while keeping my voice steady to help her stay calm.I pushed the heavy metal door shut behind me, and the loud click of the automatic locks confirmed she was sealed safely inside the bulletproof cabin.The cold Chicago wind hit my face the second my dress shoes touched the dirty street, but the freezing temperature did nothing to cool the boiling rage inside my chest.I stood up to my full height and stared at the pathetic man who was still screaming vile insults through the tinted glass of my luxury vehicle.David raised his dirty fists to pound on the window again, so I decided it was time to redirect his drunken attention away from the woman I loved.I did not rush around the front bumper or shout angry threats because I wanted him to see exactly how little I respected him.I walked
I kept my trembling fingers wrapped tightly around the dark fabric of Maximilian's suit sleeve because the sudden sight of my ex-boyfriend on the sidewalk made my blood run cold."Oh sh-shit, Max, it's David," I stuttered out while pressing my back firmly against the soft leather passenger seat to put as much distance between myself and the window as possible.I watched the man who had tormented me for years stumble across the cracked pavement, and a fresh wave of panic tightened my chest until I could barely draw a proper breath.David kicked a rusted metal trash can into the busy street with a loud shout, and he nearly lost his footing on the uneven curb before catching his balance against the dirty brick wall.He lifted a cheap brown liquor bottle to his mouth and took a long drink while his bloodshot eyes scanned the empty sidewalk around our apartment building."Please, let's just put the car in reverse and drive away right now before he sees us," I begged Maximilian with a despe
Alexandra sniffled quietly and wiped her nose with the back of her hand."You don't have to say nice things just to make me feel better, Max," she muttered while staring out the side window at the passing buildings."I never say things I do not mean, and I never waste my breath on pity," I fired back instantly without raising my voice.I needed to undo the decades of psychological damage those people had inflicted upon her, and I knew I had to be relentless about the truth."Your curves are absolute perfection, and I meant every single word I said when I told you I wanted to wake up next to you."She whipped her head around to look at me, and I could see the shock widening her dark eyes behind her thick glasses."Y-you were just teasing me this morning to make me feel less awkward in your kitchen," she stammered out with a heavy blush staining her cheeks."I do not joke about the things I want, Alexandra, and I want you," I declared while navigating the large vehicle around a slow-mov
Alexandra hesitated for a second longer before she took a deep breath and slid into the soft leather passenger seat of my Maybach.I reached out to push the heavy car door shut so she was safely secured inside the luxurious cabin away from the cold air of the underground garage.I walked around the front grille of the sleek vehicle and climbed into the driver's seat while adjusting my suit jacket to give myself room to breathe.The quiet interior of the car blocked out the echoing sounds of the concrete parking structure the second I pulled my door closed.I pressed the ignition button to wake up the silent engine and gripped the smooth leather steering wheel with both of my hands.Alexandra kept her head turned toward the tinted passenger window while I navigated the large car out of the VIP section and drove up the concrete ramp toward the exit.We pulled out onto the busy Chicago streets where the gray afternoon sky matched the lingering gloomy tension inside my chest.I merged int
ALEXANDRA’S POVI quickly moved my right hand over my black computer mouse. I clicked the save icon located at the top of my digital spreadsheet to ensure my complex mathematical formulas were securely stored on the corporate server. I pushed my wide leather chair backward and stood up from my heav
ALEXANDRA’S POVI stared directly up at Mr. Harrison's pale, sweating face. The large data analytics department was completely silent. Dozens of senior analysts and junior interns stopped typing on their mechanical computer keyboards and looked across the wide room at my small corner cubicle. My de
ALEXANDRA’S POVI stepped off the crowded train car and walked slowly up the concrete stairs toward the busy street level. The freezing morning wind pushed aggressively against my heavy black wool coat as I walked two long blocks down the crowded Chicago sidewalk. I finally reached the front entran
ALEXANDRA’S POVI walked across the soft carpet of the dining room and approached the circular wooden table. Maximilian stood up from his seat and pulled the empty wooden chair out for me. I stepped forward and sat down on the comfortable cushion. He gently pushed the heavy chair forward until my kn







