All Chapters of The CEO'S SECRET BRIDE : Chapter 91 - Chapter 100

The apartment was still cloaked in shadows when Annabel heard the key turn in the lock. Her heart gave a small leap. She was still sitting on the couch, Jude’s card a warm spot in her hand. The front door opened and Fred walked in, his presence immediately filling the space with a familiar, calming energy. He dropped his keys in the small bowl on the table by the door.“Annabel?” he said. He noticed her sitting in the dim light. “You’ve been here all day?” he asked.“I went out,” she said. “For a walk and for coffee.” She didn't mention the taxi, the ride to the city, the meeting with Jude. She still wasn't ready to tell him everything.He walked into the living room and sat in the armchair opposite her, the one where he had sat just this morning. The fabric seemed to sigh as he settled in.“How was your day?” he asked. His voice was tired but still gentle.Annabel took a deep breath. She had to tell him. She couldn't keep this to herself. Fred was her anchor. She needed his opi

Anabelle drew in a breath of fresh air, allowing it to fill her lungs.A panoramic view of the city, a vast canvas of steel and glass was provided by floor-to-ceiling windows. Annabel had a single laptop open in front of her as she sat at a big immaculate white desk. It was both full of the possibilities of her new life and empty of the mess of her previous one. She was still struggling to accept the fact that she and Jude were partners. Only a few days before, she was a directionless woman. She now oversaw a significant project and worked with a man whose name had influence in the field. Reaching out, she touched her laptop's cool metal. In this strange new world it felt like a solid anchor that she could cling to. Her thoughts turned back to the hectic days of feelings and choices she had made. After leaving Carson's mansion, she recalled the terror, the icy knot in her stomach and the silent desperation she had experienced. Her bruised soul was soothed by Fred's words and h

As she walked out of Jude's office, Annabel felt a sense of purpose as the new title of partner weighed heavily on her. Her stride had changed and she now walked with confidence on the smooth marble floor. Outside, the city that had once been a bewildering overwhelming labyrinth seemed to hum with a common goal. In this place people built things, had dreams and realized those dreams. She was now a part of that. The elevator’s numbers flashed by as she descended to her floor resembling road signs. Her office's soft hum was a pleasant sound as the doors opened. It was her own world, a blank canvas. The cool leather of her chair was a familiar comfort as she sank back into it. On her desk, her laptop remained open, its screen a glowing canvas. The blinking cursor was still waiting for her to come back. The cool smooth metal of her stylus felt good against her fingertips as she picked it up. As she gazed at the tablet’s blank page, a profound sense of joy spread throughout her ch

When Annabel got out of the car, the cool night air pricked her skin. She had a sweet drowsiness that clung to her and her limbs felt heavy. Fred's hand was there to steady her arm as she staggered a little still half asleep. “You alright?” he asked “Yes,” she said in a quiet whisper. “I'm just exhausted.”As they made their way to the entrance of their building, he continued to place a soft hand on her back.In addition to the familiar smell of the hallway—a blend of clean air and old brick—the quiet hum of the city was a faraway lullaby. After a gentle chime, the elevator doors opened and they entered. There was a blanket-like quietness throughout the ascent. She was already on her way to the couch when the doors opened. “Annabel,” Fred called. She sank onto the soft cushions, barely paying attention to his voice. Her bag fell to the ground from her lap. The last thing she remembered was how nice the couch felt and the rest of the world was a cozy gentle blur. Fred watched

Annabel was lying in bed with the heavy comforter pulled up to her chin but it didn't make her feel any better. In the quiet darkness, her mind was restless and sharp. She saw a replay of the recent events instead of plaster when she looked up at the ceiling. She caught a glimpse of Fred's face. A few inches off. His eyes had been the entire world in the abrupt, excruciating moment of her awakening and the moonlight had etched the sharp planes of his jaw and cheekbones. He was wide dark and displaying an emotion she had never seen him display before. There was no denying that it had been intense and pure yearning. She turned over on her side and punched the pillow several times. A slow, warm seep of certainty filled her stomach as she realized “He was going to kiss me.”When their eyes locked, there was no other reason why he had been positioned that way, why he had frozen, why his breath had faltered. Wiping something off her face was his weak excuse, a last-minute awkward at