All Chapters of GUILTY DEVOTION: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

Later that night, Nicholas drove her to a hidden rooftop restaurant in the city. There were no signs, no crowd, just a steel elevator that opened into candlelight and skyline.A breeze carried soft jazz as they sat in a secluded booth, wine glasses clinking, plates of grilled lamb and herbed risotto spread between them."This place is unreal," Cassie said, sipping her wine.Nicholas smiled. "I figured after the week you had, you deserved something… quieter.""And here I thought you were taking me up here to bribe me for something.""Only your Netflix password. The one you won’t give up."She laughed, the tension leaving her shoulders for the first time in days."I told Mia and Chloe," she said softly, picking at a piece of bread.He looked up, curious. "Yeah? How’d that go?""They screamed. Mia said she’s saving it for her wedding speech opener. Chloe just kept asking if you have a brother she can latch on to."Nicholas chuckled. "I don’t but I’m flattered.""I told them maybe, just m

That night, when the office finally emptied and the walls stopped humming with usual quiet judgment, Nicholas didn’t say a word.He just walked into my office, his eyes looking tired and heavy, and held out his hand.I didn’t ask questions. I simply stood, slid my fingers into his, and followed him quietly.We didn’t speak during the elevator ride or on the way to the parking garage. His grip was firm but not forceful; it felt like he needed to keep touching me just to stay grounded.Fifteen minutes later, we pulled up to a narrow side street in West Hollywood, where a wine bar sat discreetly between two indie bookstores. There was no flashing sign, no sidewalk crowd; the only thing visible there was just a small wooden door with golden letters that read “Thom & Rue.”Inside, the air was warm and hushed. Jazz curled through invisible speakers as everyone settled at their table. The place smelled like red wine, aged oak, and lavender candles that burned low on each table. A hostess gre

|Cassie|The salty breeze hit my face before my toes even touched the sand, and for a second, I considered turning back. I just wasn’t feeling the outing but Mia and Chloe insisted so I had no choice. The last thing I wanted was to pretend I was okay. But Mia and Chloe had practically dragged me out of the house after I ghosted them for two days.“Cassie, come on! You need this. You need some fresh air,” Mia had said.“Yeah,” Chloe had added. “We’re not taking no for an answer so grab your bag and prepare to hit the beach, you moody bitch!”Always aggressive but that was her way of loving me and looking out for me.Now here we were, walking the beach just as the sun stretched high and lazy over the huge waters. Mia was already pulling off her sandals, and Chloe carried a small cooler full of iced tea and snacks. I tried to force a smile as they picked a spot near the rocks and set up a blanket.“God, this is perfect! I am glad we came today.” Chloe said as she plopped down and stretch

|Victoria|Two days later, after visiting Nicholas, we were moving to publish the Youth campaign ad as input in our tasks tracker for the month when I got a call to pick up the governor’s usual health supplements from the reception.He has always been sensitive about things like that so I made sure to order them myself, pick them up at the reception, and stack them in his safe where he loves them to be.The elevator doors hadn’t even closed before my phone buzzed again. A strange headline lit up the screen like a fire alarm.Governor’s Office Implicated in Multi-Million Dollar Land Acquisition Bribery Scandal.I blinked in shock. Immediately, my fingerprint pressed on the sensor to see the full message. My eyes were reading through every line at an insane speed and right beneath it, in bold:Anonymous Source Alleges Direct Links Between Victoria Montgomery’s Office and Illicit Land Sales.I didn’t breathe the rest of the way up; I couldn’t! By the time I stepped off on the fifth floor

The hallway buzzed with tension as I walked to the meeting room. There were phones ringing, whispers and yelling from every corner. We passed two reporters getting escorted out by security. I could feel the heat of suspicion hovering in the air and it was sincerely tiring.In the cabinet strategy room, the others were already gathered; Chief of Staff, Press Secretary, Deputy Governor, and two senior aides from Ethics and Outreach. The Governor, in a navy power suit, sat at the head of the table, arms crossed, his face strong as a stoneThe Governor, sleek, He had already dismissed his lawyers because it wasn’t a legal meeting. It was a war council.“Victoria,” he said as I entered. “Finally, I’m glad you’re here. We’ve got decisions to make as fast as possible.”“We always do,” I replied, sliding into my seat.The Chief of Staff, State Campaign Director, Press Secretary, Deputy Chief, and I flanked the long conference table. No one looked relaxed. Everyone had been briefed but no one