LOGINALYONAHe tilted his head slightly, “These days, most men want a girl who’s fit. Slim. The kind of woman who takes care of her body like it’s her most valuable asset.” I let out a soft laugh—not because it was funny, but because of how shallow it sounded to me. “Then I guess I’m not interested in that kind of relationship.”“Oh?” His eyes narrowed, curious now. “And what kind are you interested in?” I looked down at the coffee cup in my hand, the warmth of it grounding me before I lifted my gaze back to him. “The kind that doesn’t depend on how you look. The kind that’s still there when life gets messy… when you’re not at your best. I believe in love that stays through every high and low, not one that disappears the moment you stop fitting someone’s ideal.” He didn’t say anything right away, and that silence felt heavier than any sharp remark he’d ever thrown my way.“You’re talking nonsense, Marshal.” He finally rolled his eyes, the movement lazy, deliberate, like he could end the co
ALYONAI came home feeling heavy, and I wouldn’t call the day beautiful—no, it definitely wasn’t. I just wished things could be different… but I pushed the thought aside. As I stepped inside, I wanted to talk to Mom, maybe share a few words, but she was already on a video call with Cassie. I could hear their voices before I saw their faces on the screen. “Hi,” I said softly, joining the call.Cassie smiled warmly. “How was work today?”I noticed Mom watching me carefully, as if trying to read my expression. I forced a small smile and nodded. “I’m learning a lot… there’s so much to take in, but I’m managing.”Cassie’s eyes lit up. “I’m really happy you got a job, Al. It’s important to keep moving forward.”I nodded again, but my mind drifted away, caught in thoughts I didn’t want to voice. After a moment, I asked quietly, “How’s your health, Cassie? Are you feeling any better?”Cassie sighed, her face softening with tiredness. “The doctor said I need complete bed rest. But you know how
Alyona He looked at me as if I were the most inconvenient, uninvited mistake that had just crashed through his day. His expression didn’t flicker with sympathy or even annoyance; it was worse. Disdain. His eyes slowly swept over me, from my stained hands to my flushed face, and then he rolled his eyes with an exaggerated slowness that cut deeper than any words.With a flick of his hand, he signaled to Esrael.“Take care of it,” he said coldly, already turning back to the table as if I wasn’t even worth a full sentence.Esrael rushed to my side, crouching slightly. “Are you okay?” he asked in a low whisper, gently placing a hand on my elbow to steady me.I nodded stiffly, swallowing the lump in my throat, just as Alexander’s voice rang out again—louder this time, sharp and perfectly timed to pierce the silence. “Esrael,” he snapped, “Can we focus here? I’d prefer not to waste company time on people who clearly don’t know how to carry out the simplest task without turning it into chao
ALYONAI rushed out, grabbing everything I needed in a hurry—my phone, my bag, the list of dresses, everything. My heart was already racing, but I didn’t stop. I ran out of the building, down the steps, and toward the metro. I didn’t have the time or the luxury to book a cab. And even if I had, the traffic at this hour would kill whatever time I had left.The metro was packed, bodies pressed from all sides, but I squeezed in anyway. I clung to the railing, breathing through my mouth, trying not to lose it. Every single breath I took was filled with frustration, and every time the train jerked or slowed down, I cursed Alexander in my head.By the time I reached the boutique, I was sweating and out of breath. I collected the dresses and signed the receipt as fast as I could. The moment I stepped out, I checked the time.I froze.Only thirty minutes left. The meeting would start in half an hour, and I hadn’t done anything. The conference room wasn’t ready. The documents weren’t printed o
ALYONAThe next morning, I stood in front of my wardrobe, staring blankly at the clothes hanging inside. I didn’t feel like dressing up. I didn’t even feel like going to the office. There was no excitement, no energy, just this heavy weight sitting in my chest.I wished yesterday had never happened. I wished it was just a nightmare—one of those strange dreams that fade away the moment you open your eyes. I wanted to believe that none of it was real... that Alexander wasn’t really the cruel man I had seen him become.I shut my eyes for a second.And just like that, the memory of our kiss came back.I could still feel it. The way his lips moved against mine, the way his eyes softened, how everything in that moment felt different. For a short while, he wasn’t cold, he wasn’t cruel. He was something else entirely... someone I didn’t recognize, but someone I wanted to believe in.But the moment I opened my eyes, the truth was waiting for me in the mirror. That kiss didn’t change anything.
ALYONAI stepped out of the room, my heart pounding like a drum. What was I supposed to feel? Betrayed? Cheated? Did Esrael know about this all along? I didn’t know who to blame. Maybe no one. I needed this job too badly to walk away. But still… seeing him there, in that chair, with that smug expression—it shook me.The air felt heavy, like it was holding its breath. My hands were clammy, and my thoughts were a mess. He was my new boss, and something deep inside me was telling me he wasn’t going to make this easy for me. No, he was going to turn every day into a test.I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay calm. I looked around for my notepad, remembering he’d given me only five minutes to be ready for the meeting notes. My fingers trembled as I reached for the pen.Suddenly, the office door swung open.He stepped out, rolling his neck like he was shaking off a bad mood. His eyes landed on me with the kind of look that made my stomach twist. Then he tilted his head slightly and moti
ALYONAI walked onto the floor with this unknown, devastatingly handsome man, and suddenly, the whole world took notice. Every head turned, conversations hushed, and glasses froze mid-air.All eyes followed us like a spotlight had been switched on. I could feel their stares trailing over us. With w
ALEXANDERThe morning meeting was sharp and on time. Just the way I liked it.Everyone sat in silence around the long glass conference table—department heads, investors, and assistants. All eyes on me, phones down, backs straight. I remained seated at the head of the table, legs crossed, a glass of
ALYONAWe headed straight to my place. It was the only place we could talk freely. The moment we entered, we kicked off our heels and dashed toward my room, tearing off the gowns as if we were criminals hiding evidence. If my mom had seen us in those designer dresses, she’d interrogate us for hours
ALYONAThe world dropped away, and the music faded. The floor beneath my feet vanished like mist. All I could feel were his lips against mine—warm, soft, yet unmistakably certain. The subtle taste of champagne lingered between us. My fingers slipped into his curls without thought, threading through







