เข้าสู่ระบบANTONI smacked my lips as I glanced at the restaurant through my windshield.“Are you sure this is a good idea, Zara?” I asked, holding my phone to my ear.“Of course,” her high-pitched voice came through the speaker. “Anton, you need to meet new people, okay? You said things were getting awkward between you and Ashley.”I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples.The situation with Ashley was something I couldn't explain, mostly because I didn't understand it myself.One minute, everything between us felt normal. We were friends. We talked, laughed, and spent time together without having to think too much about it.Then Garrett came along.And suddenly, the thought of Ashley getting closer to him irritated me more than it should.I didn't want whatever was happening inside my head to grow into something that could ruin our friendship. That was why I'd gone to Zara for help.Her solution?A blind date.I opened my eyes and leaned forward, resting my hands on the steering wheel. “Yeah.”“
SELENEAfter listening to Jordan, I honestly didn't know what to say.I couldn't pretend he was completely innocent. He had made mistakes, and some of them had hurt people badly. But after hearing what really happened with Gwen, I could understand why he'd carried that guilt for so long.I looked at Ashley.“Can you excuse us for a moment?”She hesitated for a second.I knew she still had a lot she wanted to say to Jordan, but that could wait.She quietly nodded, got up from her seat, and walked out of my office.Once the door closed behind her, I looked back at Jordan.“I understand why you didn't want her here.”He exhaled slowly but didn't respond.“Did you see Gwen after she left the hospital?”“No.” His answer came quietly. “I heard she left, so…”“So what are you going to do now?” I asked. “Are you going to keep letting that moment torment you?”His gaze dropped.“I just…”“Stop running from it.”He looked at me.“You're never going to feel better if you keep carrying all of tha
SEBASTIANThe meeting had been going smoothly.At least, until I dropped the news about the deal I'd just secured.“I've finalized the agreement with Hartwell International,” I said, sliding the folder across the table. “The contract will be signed by the end of the week.”A few of the board members exchanged impressed looks.“That’s a significant deal,” one of them said.“It is,” I replied.The discussion that followed was productive. We went over the numbers, the projected growth, and how the company would handle the expansion. Everyone had something to contribute, and for once, there were no pointless arguments around the table.Then, just as the discussion was winding down, one of the older board members cleared his throat.“There is one other matter.”I leaned back in my chair. “Yes?”“I heard a rumor that you may be stepping down from your position.”The room went quiet.I almost smiled. “I’m not stepping down.”He looked slightly surprised. “So the rumor isn't true?”“Not even
JORDANThere are moments in my life I wish I could bury so deep that no one would ever find them.Not because I’m ashamed of what happened.Because I’m ashamed of what I did.One of those moments was the day Gwen reached out to me.Gwen Hayes and I were what people would have called a power couple. One wrong seating arrangement in an art class had somehow turned into a full-blown romance.I loved her, and she loved me.And for a while, I genuinely believed we were meant to be.Until we weren't.Six months into our relationship, things started falling apart. We argued over things that shouldn't have mattered. We picked apart each other's flaws. Somehow, every conversation turned into another disagreement, and every disagreement left us a little more exhausted than before.I was frustrated. I was tired.And the worst part was that I had started thinking about ending things.But I couldn't do it.Because no matter how difficult things became, I still loved her.Then the pictures appeared.
ASHLEY/ SELENE “Shit,” Zara exclaimed. “I knew she was going to find out sooner or later.”I didn’t say anything. I simply dropped my bag on the nightstand."I mean, I get why she’s pissed,” Zara continued. “I’d be pissed too if my best friend had been dating my brother and didn’t tell me about it. But I doubt she’ll stay mad at you for long, so just give her some time.”She gently patted my back.“What did Jordan do? You said he was with you when Selene overheard.”“I don’t…” I swallowed hard. “Can you just leave me alone?”Zara looked at me for a moment before nodding.“Okay. Call me if you need anything.”She stepped out of my room, quietly closing the door behind her.I sighed and dropped onto the bed, the weight of the day finally settling over me.This wasn’t how I wanted Selene to find out about my relationship with Jordan. Now, it felt like I had been a terrible friend for hiding something so important from her.And yet, despite the guilt twisting inside me, I couldn’t stop r
SELENEI wrapped my arms around Sebastian, pulling him into a warm embrace.“How was work today?” he asked when I finally eased back.“Hectic.” I sighed, already making my way toward the passenger-side door. “We've been planning for the exhibition. I can't wait for it to be over.”“It'll be over soon,” he assured me as he settled into the driver's seat.“In two weeks,” I reminded him, climbing into the car.I reached into my bag for my phone, but my fingers found everything except what I was looking for.I frowned.Then it hit me.“Shit.”Sebastian glanced at me. “What?”“I left my phone in my office.”I sighed, already reaching for the door handle.“Just give me a minute. I'll be back.”“You sure you don't want me to come with you?”“I'll be back.” I shook my head. “Just wait here.”I stepped out of the car and hurried back toward the building.The office was already quiet when I entered. Most of the lights were off, and Ashley's desk was empty. She had already packed up for the day.







