LOGINYULIA After getting that balance-ruining head, Kendrick needed a minute to clean up. By the time we were ready for dinner, the last traces of my jet lag had disappeared. Kendrick had changed into a crisp linen blue shirt and khaki shorts, while I wore a light, flowy dress that moved gently with every step. He took my hand as we left the room, and instead of heading straight to the main restaurant, he led me toward the beach.The moment I saw what had been prepared for us, I stopped walking.A small table sat directly on the sand beneath a canopy of soft lights. White linen covered the table, with candles flickering between elegant plates and polished cutlery. Beyond it, the ocean stretched into the darkness, the waves rolling toward the shore beneath the moonlight.I looked at Kendrick. “Wow!”His lips curved into a satisfied smile. “You like it?”“Like it? Kendrick, this is beautiful,” I murmured, taking in our dinner setting.“I thought you deserved something special.”He guided
KENDRICKWith my latest project underway, I knew more was bound to hit the fan, but before it did, I wanted to do something nice and private for my girl.So when Yulia told me she wanted to go on vacation, I decided there was only one way to do it—give her an experience so unforgettable that every other trip would pale in comparison. Admittedly, I didn’t like vacation like that. Anytime I left the country, it was for business. I saw no value in taking time off just to look at the fucking water or be by my lonesome. All I did was be swallowed up by my thoughts, and whether I was around Europe or on other continents, the shit didn’t feel good.I also hadn’t met a woman that I felt comfortable enough with to fly out of the country. The majority of the time, when you spent too much fucking time with a woman, she justifiably began to expect more from the relationship.I wasn’t on that before Yulia. Just gifts and a couple of sex-filled nights together were all I was willing to proffe
YULIA“That was quite a show.”I froze so suddenly that I swear my heart stopped.Every muscle in my body locked in place, and for several seconds, I couldn't bring myself to turn around. I knew that voice. I had heard it enough times to recognize it anywhere, and right now, hearing it was probably the most embarrassing thing that could have happened.Oh, God.I slowly looked toward the doorway and found her standing there with the most amused expression I had ever seen on her face. “Shit,” Kendrick muttered under his breath.I wanted to disappear.“Don't move,” Kendrick said to me and looked toward his cousin. “Celeste. Face the wall and give us a minute to get dressed.”Celeste immediately burst into laughter. “Okay, okay. I'm facing the wall. You two carry on with whatever professional activities you were apparently conducting in here.”“Celeste,” Kendrick warned.“I'm quiet!”I covered my face with both hands, feeling the heat spread all the way to my ears. There was no way I wa
KENDRICKI stared at Yulia from across my office, unable to decide which emotion deserved to win. Anger, relief, hurt, or the overwhelming urge to cross the space between us and pull her into my arms.She stood there quietly, her fingers intertwined in front of her. For the first time since she'd walked through my door, the confidence I'd always seen in her seemed to have disappeared.I leaned back against the window and arched a brow. “Well?”She gulped, holding tight onto her purse. “I uh… I came to apologize.”I said nothing. Just stood there, arms crossed, taking in her sad expression.Her eyes dropped to the floor before she forced herself to look at me again. “I should have come sooner, but I didn't know what to say. Every time I thought about calling you, I remembered what I said at dinner.”“You mean when you told me loving me is going to cost you everyone else?”She nodded slowly. “Yes.”My hands curled into fists on the desk as I glared at her. “The last time Sophie came bet
YULIA“I really messed up, Adeline.” I stopped beside my bed and pressed my phone tighter against my ear.I had walked the length of my bedroom so many times that I was beginning to memorize every little detail of the carpet beneath my feet.The cream curtains were half-drawn, allowing the morning light to spill across the room, but I barely noticed it. My mind was still stuck at dinner the night before.My father's proud smile.My mother's questions.Kendrick's silence. And then the sound of that glass breaking in his hand.“You think?” she replied immediately.I winced at her tone. “Adeline.”“No, Yulia. I'm serious. What were you thinking?”I resumed pacing, rubbing my forehead. “I wasn't thinking clearly.”“You obviously weren't.”“I know.”I could hear her sigh through the phone.“I don’t understand. What are you really scared of, Yulia?”“Of the future.” I peeped through my window, but was lost in thought. “I’ve been thinking about that lately. And I said that to him.”“Yulia…”
KENDRICKBy the time I left the penthouse, I was furious. Not the kind of anger that made me want to break something. This was worse.It sat beneath my skin, hot and restless, replaying every word Yulia had said until I could barely think straight.Maybe I'm scared that one day you'll get tired of fighting.My hands tightened around the steering wheel.How could she think I would get tired? After everything we'd been through? After everything I'd done to prove that I wasn't going anywhere?I pressed harder on the accelerator, my jaw clenched. The city lights blurred past the windshield.I loved her. That was the problem. If I didn't love her, none of this would hurt so fucking much.My phone rang through the car speakers.Victor.I stared at the screen for a second before answering. “What’s up?”“Damn, bro,” Victor said with a laugh. “You chose the exact moment I'm out of the country to go to the club without me?”Despite myself, I let out a bitter chuckle. “Trust me. I'm not having a
KENDRICKI shouldn’t have kissed her. It wasn’t even a kiss worth overthinking—just her cheek, a brief moment of contact that should’ve meant nothing.But it did, and that was the problem.I ruffled my hair, staring blankly at the surveillance analytics displayed across my MacBook’s screen while ab
YULIA“This is it?” I asked, glancing around the parking lot filled with cars. “Yes.” Kendrick parked his car and turned to me. “Ever been to a street race?”I shook my head wildly, speechless all of a sudden. His expression barely changed, but his eyes said otherwise . “Then prepare yourself. Yo
KENDRICK“What were they thinking, letting her live with you?” Victor asked, leaning back lazily in the chair across from my desk like he owned the space.“Safety.” I shrugged, flipping through the folder in front of me without bothering to look up. “Apparently, her father thinks London will collap
YULIA“We’re almost there, baby girl.” My father watched me as I angled towards the side window, lost in my thoughts.“I still can’t believe you eloped and got married.” I glanced at him, and he was smiling.“Well… I can’t be single forever. I’m ready to settle down and spend the rest of my life wi







