My Boss Will Stop At Nothing To Have Me のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 31 - チャプター 40

Lillian's POVThe music was low in the background, something sultry and jazzy, a perfect match for the dim, moody lighting of Diana’s club. She always said she didn’t trust places that didn’t have red velvet on at least one piece of furniture, and her personal lounge upstairs had enough of it to become a small theater.I held my glass, a strawberry mojito that was more strawberry than anything else. Diana, across from me in her signature leather pants and attitude, gave me the kind of look that made me want to either slap her or spill everything.I did the latter.“So…” I started, swirling the straw around my drink like it held the courage for me to talk. “You remember my boss, Nathaniel?”Diana raised an eyebrow like I had just asked her if she remembered breathing. “Tall, broody, impossible cheekbones, and you practically combust whenever he walks into a room? That Nathaniel?”I rolled my eyes. “You make it sound like I pant after him.”“You do pant, Lill. Silently. Like a polite Vi

Lillian's POVI didn’t ask for the days off… I informed them.Nathaniel didn’t like it, of course. He called twice. Sent a follow-up email that was more cold than concerned. Then a final message that simply said, “Fine. Take the time you need.”Translation: You’ve made your point, and I don’t like that you’re not explaining it.But I didn’t care. Not this time.Because right now, Diana needed me more than he did.She was still curled up on the couch when I arrived at her apartment, blanket over her shoulders, hair in a loose, defeated bun, and the remnants of a bottle of wine on the coffee table.I didn’t knock. I let myself in with the spare key I never returned, even though she had threatened to change the locks a dozen times.She looked up, eyes swollen and rimmed red. “You didn’t have to come.”“I know,” I said simply, setting down the groceries I had picked up on my way over. “But I did.”She tried to smile, but it cracked halfway through. “You should be working.”“I am working,”

Nathaniel's POVI didn’t go to work.Not the next day. Not the day after that. Not the entire damn week.I stayed home… if you could call this place a home. It felt more like a glass box with walls that I didn’t want to see: regret, silence, and the sound of Lillian’s voice telling me not to touch her again.The slap had faded from my skin, but not from my memory.It echoed every time I shut my eyes.I didn’t bother shaving. Barely ate. The only thing I consumed was the news that Lillian hadn't returned to work either. She disappeared just as completely… only she had a reason. I had shame.And no idea how to fix what I broke.The knock on the door came on a Friday morning.Persistent.Loud.Annoying.I ignored it.The knocking turned into pounding.“Open the damn door, Nathaniel!” came Luca’s voice, irritated and unmistakably Luca.I groaned, rolled off the couch, and shuffled barefoot across the floor like a man twice my age. I cracked the door open.Luca didn’t wait for an invitatio

Isabelle's POVThe scent of eucalyptus oil filled the room, curling through the quiet like a whispered promise of serenity.I exhaled slowly, arms lifted in a practiced stretch, the morning light spilling through the windows of my penthouse apartment. Soft instrumental music played from my speakers. Peaceful. Intentional.This was my moment.My calm.My control.Until my phone rang.I ignored it at first, anyone worth knowing knew not to disturb me during my morning yoga.But it rang again.And again.With an irritated sigh, I stepped out of my pose and grabbed the device off the table.Clarisse.I rolled my eyes and answered. “This better be good.”“Turn on the TV. Now. Channel six. Now, Isabelle.”Her tone wasn’t panicked. It was worse, it was gleeful. Like she was watching something burn and couldn’t wait for me to see it, too.My stomach twisted.Remote in hand, I turned on the channel. And there he was.Nathaniel.Looking perfectly composed in one of his tailored suits, standing

Nathaniel's POVThe second I stepped off the stage and out of the blinding studio lights, my phone started vibrating like it had a personal vendetta against me.Call after call.Message after message.I didn’t need to look to know who they were from… my parents. Probably calling to ask if I had lost my damn mind.They had spent years cultivating the perfect narrative. Isabelle Laurent and I were supposed to be the crown jewel of every high society headline. Now I had gone and shattered it in front of the world, no PR cleanup, no warning, no family consultation.But I didn’t want to talk to them.Not now.I silenced the fifth call from my father and scrolled until I saw Luca’s name. His call had come in during the broadcast.I hit redial.“Holy hell,” he answered almost immediately. “You actually did it?”“I did.” I exhaled, loosening my tie. “It’s done.”There was a long pause on the other end. “Nate… I told you to do something big, but I didn’t mean detonate-the-whole-situation big.”