Ethan A few hours earlier… I sat by the window, the amber glow of whiskey in my glass catching the dim light as I swirled it absentmindedly. The cold air from the open window brushed against my face, but I didn’t feel it. My mind was too consumed by one thing: Skylar. I had sent people to search for her—many people. But no one had found a trace of her. It was as if she had disappeared completely, leaving no sign of where she could be. The more I thought about it, the more it gnawed at me. Who could hide someone so well? My people were the best. The Buckman family's influence was vast. How could they fail? Or worse, had someone with even greater power moved to shield her from me? I had gone from anger and fury, demanding answers, to... well, I wasn’t sure. Now, I felt calm—almost eerily calm—but only I knew that I hadn’t stopped searching. Not really. My feelings for Skylar, the way she slipped through my fingers, felt like a curse. On the nights when I couldn’t sleep, I would l
Skylar I needed air. The moment I stepped into the garden, the cool breeze brushed my red face, easing the warmth from the alcohol. I took a deep breath, letting the fresh air clear my head. The noise from the banquet faded as I walked further away. I just needed a break—from the stares, the whispers, the pressure. I found a seat near the hedge and closed my eyes. My mind drifted back to the banquet, to the moment Cole had taken the wine meant for me and drank it without a second thought. The teasing remarks from the guests still echoed in my mind. "Cole really cares about his wife, doesn’t he?" Their laughter filled the room, amused by the way Cole had taken the glass from me. But no one acknowledged how Ethan had made things difficult for me. The only consolation was seeing the scumbag's face darken with embarrassment when Cole stepped in, stealing his spotlight and showing off as the caring husband. I sighed, rubbing my temples. One thing was clear tonight—Cole was the
Skylar The ride home was silent. Too silent. Cole drove with his usual calm demeanor, his expression unreadable. I sat beside him, my hands clasped tightly in my lap, my heart hammering against my ribs. I stole glances at him from time to time, trying to gauge his mood, but his face remained impassive, giving nothing away. How long had he been standing there, just watching and listening to Ethan and I? Did he hear anything at all? I couldn't tell, and that terrified me. I wanted to say something. To casually ask a question that would help me gauge what he knew. But what if I phrased it wrong? What if I ended up revealing more than I intended? One wrong step, one slip of the tongue, and I could make an even bigger mistake. My throat felt dry, and my palms were clammy against my lap. I clenched my fingers together, willing myself to stay still. Cole, on the other hand, remained completely unfazed. His expression was calm, his posture relaxed as he drove. Not a single glanc
Skylar I lay on my bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Even though the family dinner and its drama had ended the night before, I still felt drained.The expectations, the scrutiny, and the pressure—it had all been suffocating, but thank goodness Cole had handled it all.The sound of my phone ringing jolted me from my thoughts. I reached for it and saw Amber’s name flashing on the screen. A small smile tugged at my lips as I answered. “Hey.” Amber sighed loudly on the other end. “Sky, I need a drink.” I frowned. “What happened? You don't sound so good.” “I’m not,” she admitted. “My dad’s driving me insane.”That was all she needed to say for me to know she was having a rough time at home, because I knew how controlling and strict her father could be. “What is the matter this time?” I asked.“Can you imagine? My father wants to set me up in an arranged marriage!”I nearly sprang out of bed in shock at her words. Amber… in an arranged marriage? No matter how hard I tried, I ju
Skylar I frowned slightly, my eyes scanning the man who had just appeared in front of us. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t quite place his face. He was tall, messy black hair, a lazy grin that probably worked on some women—but not on me.Where had I known him from?His smirk faltered when he noticed my blank expression. His jaw tightened, and a flicker of frustration crossed his face. “You don’t remember me?” he asked in an angry voice. Amber let out a low chuckle, crossing her arms. “Wow, this is quite unexpected. Three years of chasing after Skylar, and she doesn’t even know who you are.” Three years? The realization clicked. Paul— he was one of the men I had rejected in the past. One of the many suitors I had long forgotten. “Oh,” I murmured, finally recalling. “It's you.”He stood with his arm lazily draped around a curvy blonde woman, his gaze sharp as he shot me a pointed look. That same undeniable air of arrogance clung to him, a reminder of one too many reasons I
Skylar I stared at the bar manager in disbelief, my heart pounding in my chest. Did he just say two hundred thousand dollars? TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS!!!For a second, I thought I had misheard, but the stern expression on his face, the way he glared at me, told me otherwise. My mouth went dry. I didn’t have that kind of money—not even close. Before I could react, Amber stepped forward, her voice firm. “I’ll pay for it.” I turned to her, eyes wide with both relief and concern. Amber had always been bold, never one to let anyone look down on her. I could tell she didn’t want Paul or his friend to think we were helpless. With a determined look, she pulled out her card and handed it to the bar manager. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. At least the situation was about to be resolved. But then, the manager’s expression didn’t change as he handed the card back. “Declined.” Amber frowne
ColeThe moment I stepped out of the meeting room, I let out a deep breath. That was exhausting. My friend, Justin, who had recently returned from overseas, and I, along with some board members, had been exploring a business opportunity to increase sales and expand our market presence.The meeting had taken long hours, but it had been successful.“Man, that was draining,” Justin groaned, rolling his shoulders as we exited the meeting room. “You could say that again. But I'm glad we could get everyone on board.”Justin smiled. “You’re right. Why don't we hit a bar and unwind? I really need a drink before I lose my mind.” I nodded, running a hand through my hair. “Fine. Let’s go.” We headed to one of the most exclusive bars in the city and settled in the VIP section, a place meant to keep people like us away from unnecessary attention. The dim lighting and soft music were meant to be relaxing, but
Skylar I never thought a simple night out would turn into something like this.Paul’s grip on my wrist was tight, his smug expression making my stomach twist in disgust. But what truly shocked me was the way he looked at Cole—like he was someone beneath him, someone insignificant.“And who the hell are you?” Paul sneered, his arrogance on full display.Cole didn’t respond. He just stood there, calm and composed, his dark eyes unreadable.Paul took that silence as weakness. His smirk widened as he straightened his shoulders. “Listen, pretty boy, I don’t know what you’re trying to do here, but you need to mind your own business. Walk away now, or you’ll regret it.”I could feel Amber tense beside me, too stunned to even utter a word. I also wanted to speak up, but Cole’s presence kept me rooted in place. He wasn’t reacting- wasn’t angry or offended. He was just watching Paul.Then, without a word, Cole
Skylar"Skylar McLair."Ethan's voice was calm, but each word felt like a slap across my face. "The entire board of directors and I are very disappointed in you."I turned toward him as my heart began to race. There was a pin-drop silence in the room, the kind that only came before a storm.He sat there, his expression unreadable as he announced in a cold voice,"As the managing director of this company, I cannot—will not—tolerate this injustice. For stealing and presenting your colleague's work and attempting to pass it off as yours, you will be removed as the lead designer for this event."The floor beneath me felt like it gave way. But he didn’t stop there."Additionally, for bringing the company this kind of shame and disgrace, you will be stripped of your position as the Senior Creative Manager, and Ivana, in turn, will become the acting Senior Creative Manager."No. No, this can't be happening."What?! Ethan, no! You can't do that! She's lying!" I finally managed to scream, my v
SkylarI stood there, still as a statue, my heart thudding in my chest, hands lightly clenched at my sides. Everyone in the conference room was staring at me, but I couldn’t understand why. Ethan, who had been smiling earlier, suddenly cleared his throat.I looked at him, waiting for feedback, hoping maybe he had questions or minor suggestions—something to fine-tune the work I’d spent so many nights agonizing over."Skylar," he began in a sharp voice, "What exactly is the meaning of this? Did you come here just to waste everyone’s time?"I blinked, confused. A low murmur started somewhere in the back of the room."Excuse me?" I asked politely, furrowing my brows. "I'm... not sure what you mean. I spent a great deal of time creating this design. If there’s anything you feel needs improvement, I’m more than willing to make the necessary corrections."Ethan let out a short, dry scoff that sent a wave of unease through me."Corrections?" he asked mockingly. "Why would I correct a plagiar
SkylarThe past few days rushed by like a blur. With each ticking second, the pre-launch event for the biannual collection drew closer. I could feel the pressure mounting, but I didn’t let it weigh me down. Instead, I poured myself into my work with everything I had. This wasn’t just another jewelry design for me—it has to be the one. I wanted to create something that would leave a mark, something timeless, something people would talk about long after the event.I barely had time to look up from my work, but now and then, I caught glimpses of Ethan around the company. He still worked here, obviously, but ever since Mrs. Popeye, the sharp-eyed and all-business representative from the headquarters, had arrived to oversee things, Ethan had completely backed off. He no longer came close, never tried to chat or talk to me outside work hours, and most importantly, he couldn’t interfere with my work anymore. That alone gave me peace of mind.Finally, I could breathe. With Ethan out of the
Skylar It wasn’t until Ivana stepped out of the office that I finally reached for my phone,and dialed Cole's number.He picked up after the first ring. “Skylar,” he said in that familiar voice of his, smooth and teasing, “did you like your gift?"I smiled instantly, my eyes softening as I leaned against the edge of my desk. “I did. very well. It was perfect. Thank you so much, Cole.”He chuckled lightly. “Don’t mention it. I just knew you’d need it today. How did it go?”I breathed in deeply, feeling the weight of the day slowly lift. “Better than I expected. I wanted to thank you… for always believing in me. You always find a way to pull me through.”There was a pause on the line, followed by a soft sigh. “You’re stronger than you think, Sky. I just help you see that sometimes.”I bit my lip, caught off guard by the sudden warmth that surged through me. The way he had called me ‘Sky’— so effortlessly, so familiarly— made my heart skip a beat."Will you be coming back home today?" I
SkylarFrom the moment I stepped into the office building, I could instantly tell that something had shifted slightly. The hallway wasn’t filled with murmurs or eyes silently accusing me of things I hadn’t done. It was quiet.I blinked, wondering if I was dreaming or if maybe everyone had decided to take the day off.Had Cole done something? Was this what he meant by a "gift"?I didn’t have long to ponder before Athena, yes, Tara’s sharp-tongued assistant, walked into my office. She knocked lightly before pushing the door open, her expression surprisingly neutral. Not smug. Not irritated.“Miss Tara would like to see you in the boardroom, Skylar,” Athena said.Her voice wasn’t curt or laced with any sort of hidden contempt. There was even a calmness to it… maybe even admiration?I blinked again. “I’ll be there shortly,” I responded softly, grabbing a notepad even though I wasn’t sure I’d need it.Athena gave a small nod before stepping out.I smoothed down my skirt, took a calming br
Skylar I was buried beneath my pillow, trying to drown out the morning light and the buzz of reality that I wasn’t ready to face. My phone had rung three times now, vibrating furiously on the nightstand, but I had no intention of picking it up. I just wanted to stay in bed. Forever, if possible.Work? That was a word I didn’t want to hear.The events of the past few days had worn me out. The promotion—if I could even call it that—felt like a punishment. My colleagues looked at me differently now. No one smiled at me in the hallways. Whispers always followed me wherever I went. Even the work atmosphere felt choking and suffocating, to the point that I couldn't really concentrate anymore.How could I work in such a toxic environment?This morning, I decided enough was enough. I wasn't going back to that office anymore.I pulled the blanket tighter around me, ready to resume sleeping when the door suddenly creaked open."Skylar?" Ingrid's voice came in soft, almost coaxing. "Aren't you
Cole"Fire him," I said flatly.Xavier, who had just stepped into my office, blinked. "Sir?""The guard you assigned to watch Skylar," I repeated, my voice colder now. "If he can’t do his damn job, then why is he employed?"Xavier didn’t even attempt to defend the man. He nodded immediately, his expression tight with regret. "Understood. I’m sorry for the way things have been going. Don’t worry, I'll personally handle it."I leaned back in my chair, fingers drumming on the surface of my desk. I didn’t care for excuses today. Not when everything was already spiraling out of control."And the reporter or blogger, whoever he is?" I asked, looking up at him. "The one who posted the videos and pictures?"Xavier hesitated. "We’re still tracking them down. They’ve covered their tracks well, but we’re working on it."I slammed my palm on the desk, the sharp sound bouncing off the office walls. "A single person, Xavier. One man. I don’t care what he’s done—he is not a ghost. Utilize everything
SkylarI stared blankly at the screen in front of me, my fingers resting on the keyboard but not moving at all. My body was there—sitting at my desk, dressed in work clothes, staring at data I couldn't process—but my mind was far, far away.Since the promotion announcement in the conference room, I felt like a ghost. Whispers followed me like shadows. Stares burned my back. Conversations fell silent the moment I walked into a room. And above it all, Ethan’s smug face lingered in my memory like a scar I couldn’t stop touching.I should have stayed strong. I should have ignored it all and focused on work. But it was so hard to focus when every time I blinked, I saw his eyes—that look of smug victory in the conference room. It made my stomach twist with dread—and a deep, pulsing anger.Ivana never came to check on me… as expected. Rather, she kept her distance, and I never saw her around.My phone suddenly rang.I blinked and looked down. Mom.My heart sank. Slowly, I picked it up and an
EthanI leaned back in my chair, watching the corners of my lips curl in amusement. The image of Skylar’s face back in the conference room was still fresh in my mind—tense, shocked, trying to piece together what had just happened. The memory brought a certain satisfaction, a sense of justice delivered in silence. She had thought herself clever, flaunting Cole in front of me that night, pretending I no longer existed. Well, let her enjoy the heat now.Mason stood across the desk, going through some documents, talking numbers and projections. I nodded now and then, pretending to listen, though my mind was elsewhere—until my phone rang. It was Celeste.“Why did you promote Skylar?” she asked immediately I picked the call, her voice sharp and direct.My grip on the phone tightened slightly. I exchanged a brief glance with Mason, who quietly excused himself, sensing the shift in my mood. I leaned forward and lowered my voice.“Celeste,” I said calmly, “where did you hear that?”“That wasn'