MILES: "Interesting," Steele leaned on the table. His facial expression had changed from analytical to genuinely interested. Truly, the way to this man's heart was through family. What was the way to my heart? Hmm. I was yet to find out. "Her eyes are always reprimanding me. Everyone loves her in and outside the office." I wavered, trying to think of more. "She hates to be woken any earlier than necessary. Her voice gets all hoarse, which makes me laugh. We are still fighting over her gym time." He smiled encouragingly. "She keeps me in line—she's an amazing assistant too, and I'd be lost without her." I sighed, unsure what else I could add. "She's undoubtedly too good for me," I admitted, knowing deep down it was true. I was certain I was the bad person in this scenario, especially given what I was currently doing. "You sent her to meet with me. I had declined, not knowing this. I don't believe bloggers these days because they tend to run with anything that gives them money. And

MEREDITH: Carrying his snacks, I approached his office with trepidation, my heart pounding in my chest. I knocked softly, entering only when he bade me to come in. I would never make the mistake of storming into his office without confirmation; Neymar had made that error once and had nearly paid with his life. My hand trembled slightly as I placed his snacks before him and readied my notebook, waiting anxiously for his instructions. "Sit down, Miss Tate," he commanded, his voice unnaturally calm. Alarm bells rang in my mind. This man was a walking tornado that could erupt at any moment. His calmness was unsettling, making it difficult to gauge the appropriate response. I preferred the blunt and chaotic Miles – at least then I knew what to expect. I fought to keep my breathing even as I lowered myself into the chair, my legs trembling. "Is there a problem, Mr. Pierce?" I asked, clearing my throat. He waved a finger in the space between us. "Whatever we are going to discuss in this

MILES: Her words echoed painfully in my mind. "I would like this to stop." I shifted a little in my chair, acknowledging that her wariness was warranted. I cleared my throat. "As I said, I will only maintain this facade until the project is complete. I need to secure this deal quickly. I'm sorry if it's to your detriment, but we have to move forward – after all, we've already started down this path." Her brow furrowed, but she remained silent. "Unfortunately, Steele is a family man, and I need to portray that image to win him over completely. I've convinced him that I've changed." "And he believed that?" she asked, her tone laced with skepticism. "I was persuasive with my words and actions." I took a deep breath. "If you don't falter, this will be over soon." She tilted her head, her voice quiet but firm. "Pardon my bluntness, Mr. Pierce, but you aren't exactly the easiest person to work with. Acting in love around you is like asking a baby to look after a house. What do you thi

MILES: I couldn't admit to myself that I was struggling to get a good night's sleep. That familiar feeling of restlessness had crept back, and as Saturday slowly unfolded, my heart felt bitter, sad, and unsettled. I hated this recurring emotion that had plagued me before, but I couldn't pinpoint the reason. This inconvenience had pushed me out of bed, and I thought distracting myself with a run might help until I learned of Meredith's absence. Today, I desperately wanted to have her within my sight. It was more than just making sure she showed up for the birthday party. I craved her presence, an unreasonable desire that had consumed me. I couldn't explain why Meredith had become my problem when the women I dated never received this level of attention and concern from me. The only person who bothered me was myself. She eventually gave in to my seriousness, and I grabbed the keys to the Mercedes-Benz. Aside from her occasional glares, the ride was silent. The farther we ventured from

MILES: It took me less than thirty minutes to get ready, but when I went searching for Meredith, she still wasn't done. Nearly another hour and a half had passed, and she was still not ready. Women and their penchant for taking forever to prepare – I just hoped it would be worth the wait. Impatiently, I drummed my fingers on the counter. The tapping of heels caught my attention, and I turned my head, my hand froze halfway as I tried to take a sip of my drink. The Meredith I was used to seeing was nowhere to be found. She had been completely transformed into a beautiful, glowing, and curvy vision of allure. The right clothes, a flattering haircut, and skillful makeup worked wonders, enhancing her natural beauty with a confident aura. Everything she wore fit her perfectly. "You look okay," I mentioned, not wanting to express the overwhelming compliments that flooded my mind. "Just okay?" No, not just okay. She looked stunning, breathtaking, gorgeous. The diamonds looked exquisite o