LOGINThe building was unlike the companies around it. It had no logo. No reception. No glass doors announcing wealth or power. Just matte steel and silence. But the moment Grayson stepped inside, the air changed. Cool. Controlled. Watching. A soft beep echoed as his access card brushed the sensor. The doors sealed behind him with a quiet finality, like the world had just been shut out. The corridor ahead stretched long and dimly lit, strips of recessed lighting casting shadows that swallowed the edges of the walls. Cameras sat discreetly in corners, unmoving, but very much alive. Grayson didn’t slow. His steps were measured, confident, like a man who didn’t need to look around to know he owned the space. He stepped into the private elevator to the last floor. To a quieter space, where there was no chatter, no keyboards, just the low hum of a system running deeper than surface-level business. He stopped at the final door. No handle. Just a panel. He placed his palm against it.
With the intention of trailing after Tessa and finding out what she was up to, Corrine headed towards the door when one of her bosses called her. “ Hey, Corrine.” She turned with an arched brow. “ Here, get me ten copies for each of these files.” A task was handed over to her. “ And do it now.” Her face twisted in displeasure as she took the files from her. ‘ Why now? Why when a lifetime opportunity was about to get snatched from me.’ she screamed internally, marching towards the photocopy machine. Miles pulled away from his desk just then, feeling thirsty for some coffee. He stood up and headed towards the snack room where he overheard almost half of their conversations. He and Tessa stared at each other with widened eyes. “ You're the boss’s wife!” He exclaimed with parted mouth. Tessa’s face pulled together, shivers racing down her veins; she could feel Tyler standing behind her now, but just then, she did the only thing she could think of. She grabbed Miles’s
“ Then what do you suggest I do?” She asked, eyes searching through his. “ To keep loving you? To keep wanting you even while married to your brother?” He took a step closer and extended his hand to touch her. “ Tessy.” She was quick to step back before he could touch her. “ I'm not doing that anymore, Tyler. You gave me your answer that night, remember?” “ Everything I said that night was because I didn't want to hurt you.” “ That's why I also don't want to hurt anybody.” She replied. “ Hurt anybody… who are you referring to?” He asked, pulling back and narrowing his gaze at her. “ I'm not…” “ Grayson?” He cut in. “ All these.. because of Grayson?” “ Tyler.” “ Do you like him?” “ Ty…” “ Answer me, Tessy, do you like him?” “ To what does it matter? He's my husband.” “ It does. It matters to me. If all these are because of him then I can tell you he's not worth it. He doesn't even love you. He doesn't know you as I do and I know how much that matters to yo
After Corrine left the office, she had been smiling to herself. Even though her interactions with Grayson were minimal, as he was more interested in the solution she offered, she felt elated to have gained his attention and even earned a thumbs-up from him. But it's been minutes since she came out of the office and Tessa who had just gone to submit some files but she's still not out. ‘ Maybe she's waiting for him to review and sign the documents.’ she thought to herself. But employees don't usually wait for that. They'll leave and come back to get the documents after it has been signed. She tilted her head up to look at the office. The door was locked. There was no way to know what was going on inside. ‘ Or is she also trying to seduce the boss?’ her jaw clenched as she thought. Her fist curled at the edge of the desk. Not long after, Tessa dashed out of the office, looking all red and flustered. She was shaking as she rushed out of the office. Corrine seems to be the
Her breath came unevenly now. Too fast. Too shallow.And he noticed.Of course he did.Just when she clutched hard at his shirt, he pulled back, just enough to look at her.Her flushed skin, the way her lips parted, the rise and fall of her chest.It made him thirsty for more. His thumb brushed lightly against her jaw, tilting her face toward him.“Still talking?” he murmured.She had called his name before he stopped. But now her throat had gone dry.“I..” she tried, but the words tangled because his gaze had dropped to her lips again.And this time… he didn't look away. The air thickened, the room shrinking to their space, everything blurred out like they were the only thing that existed in the room.It felt heavy. Intense. Charged.Her fingers curled deeper into his shirt, aware of him all, of his scent, his heat, the need in his eyes that made her inner thighs p
‘ That.. can't be.’Tessa dragged her feet back inside, staring so lost with her head ringing. Her chest was pounding, her face going pale while her brows wrinkled in denial.‘ Is Tyler…saying I'm married to an impotent?...is that…why he won't divorce me?’She blinked her eyes. Not like she ever wanted to have sex with him, but…Her skin felt chills that made her shiver, her shoulders were slumped with feelings she couldn't name. “ Hey, Tessa.” A voice called her, jolting her out. She looked up to see an employee staring at her.“ Are you alright? You look pale.” She nodded. “ I'm fine.”“ Okay, here.” She extended some files to her. “ Take it to the boss for approval.”Her heart skipped so hard. Hesitatingly, she took it with a nod.Her chest hammering hard against her rib. ‘ Why am I feeling like this? Am I sad? There's no reason to be. Why does it feel li
“ What?!” Tyler exclaimed softly in disbelief. Not expecting her answer at all. “ Thanks, but I'll just eat something at home.” Tessa had said, refusing his request to take her out. This was the first time ever. That she would refuse him and
His gaze, dark yet innocent, didn't waver, not for a second, with his fingers circling slowly at her lower back. He kept staring back into her eyes, like every second of it mattered.It was supposed to ease the pain, not set something else ablaze. His hand w
“ What was that?” Tessa yelled with a lowered tone, wrist still in his grip. “ Your family needs you now, don't just walk away.”“ You're in pain.” He opened the car door, pushed her gently inside, and closed the door.She inhaled sharply, waited for him to get in
| TWO HOURS BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT |Tessa groaned softly as she turned over on the bed, fluttering her eyes open to the morning when that familiar sharp pain hit her again, below her belly.She sucked in her breath between her teeth, pulled hersel







