All Chapters of The Night Before I Knew Him: Chapter 121 - Chapter 130

236 Chapters

What I must do

>"You're saying nonsense," I hear Hermes mutter under his breath as he revs his bike and zooms inside, leaving me standing with my luggage by the gate. Figures. I expected nothing less from Hermes Grande. Cold, stubborn, infuriating. Always so impossibly difficult.But it doesn’t matter. None of it matters. Because in the end, I will have what I came for. I will marry Hermes Grande. That is the only thing that counts.Father was right — leaving Ireland was the only way to make this happen. As soon as I set foot in Las Vegas, I can feel it: everything I’ve ever wanted is finally within reach. Hermes and I are fated, meant to be. The universe has been conspiring to bring us here, and I will not let anything — or anyone — stand in my way.I tighten my grip on the handle of my suitcase. I will save his company, stabilize the mess left behind, and remind him why he ever trusted me in the first place. I will remove every obstacle, every unwanted piece in his life, just as I ha

Are you okay?

JuneI’m still reeling. The air feels heavy around me, thick enough to choke. My eyes stay locked on the mirror, and the girl staring back looks… unrecognizable. This girl is pathetic.I can't still believe that Hermes has a fiancée.I can't even call him Hermes anymore. It feels wrong in my mouth and so I correct myself– Mr. Grande has a fiancée.The word still feels unreal in my head, like a bad joke no one’s laughing at. Fiancée. I let the syllables echo inside my skull until my chest starts to ache.So that’s her—the “nobody” he said meant nothing. The woman who apparently means everything now.Why did he lie about her? To get into my pants? I can't even say that because he didn't even fuck me those days I was in his house. Ugh!I sigh, dragging my hands through my hair, my breath trembling as it leaves my lips. My heart feels as though someone’s twisting it slowly, wringing it dry. But I can’t cry. I’ve already wasted enough tears over things that weren’t mine to begin with.H

I fucking love you

~Hermes~I step onto the podium, the lights stabbing into my eyes, the applause pounding against my skull. Twice again, I wish I could be anywhere else.I stand beside Natalya, my expression tight and practiced as the cameras flashes endlessly as though trying to peel my skin off. Every fake smile I'm forced to give today feels like a new form of torture.Natalya flashes that same dazzling, disgusting smile. The one that always looked like victory— the one that makes my blood boil.Six months.For six fucking months, I have to put up with this charade — with her smiles, with her perfume, with her pretending she hasn’t destroyed me before.My jaw flex. I take a slow breath, forcing composure as the crowd quiets.I can’t look down. I can’t look for her, but every fiber of me aches for her name. June.I shut my eyes briefly. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. After I rejected her, I wanted to disappear. Let her finish her internship, graduate, live her life without me dragging her

Not you, Miss Alexander

"Will you be my temporary secretary until I get a new one?"Natalya’s smooth, silky voice echoes through my ears, and for a second, I swear I didn’t hear right.One minute ago, I was fighting the urge to flip the damn table and tell both of them to fuck off. The next, I was stupidly offering to get them drinks—just to calm myself, to breathe, to not explode.And now the reason Hermes rejected me—his fiancée—is asking me to be her temporary secretary.I almost laugh. Almost, but instead, I drop my gaze, my jaw tightening. I can’t believe it. They really want me to play secretary again. The girl they call whenever someone quits. The disposable helper. Someone to use when needed, and discard when done.My fingers twitch at my side, nails digging into my palm.I raise my eyes to him. Hermes, no, Mr. Grande. His face is angled down, his hand pressed against his temple like he’s one second away from losing it."Miss Alexander here has a project she’s overseeing at her current department,"

Enough of the chit-chat

I trace my finger along the silver nameplate on my desk, Natalya Voss, Chief Communications Officer.It shines. Clean, elegant. Exactly how I like it, although I'd prefer the last name to be different. Soon.Hermes really outdid himself this time — the office is perfect. The glass walls, the subtle scent of cedarwood, the silver accents. He’s fast, meticulous, always three steps ahead. That’s one of the many reasons I like him. When Hermes sets out to do something, he doesn’t stop until it’s done.My gaze drifts to the folder on my desk. The intern’s file. June Alexander.I smile, leaning back in my chair. She looks so… harmless. A little timid, a little naïve — that kind of quiet that makes people underestimate her. I can use that.The goal is simple. If Hermes is sleeping with someone in this company — and I know he is — I’ll find out who. From my observation, even in this workspace, he's acting different. The same Hermes I used to know, but… not quite. I can feel when someone is

Don't find another man

JuneThe moment Vanessa leaves and the door clicks shut, the air tightens again. I’m about to speak, when his phone rings. He doesn’t even look at me, just picks it up, muttering a low, deep "Yes?" before turning slightly away.Typical.I cross my arms and shift my weight, staring at the edge of his desk. He speaks in short, calm replies—"Okay," "Fine," "Do that." Nothing emotional, or revealing.Still, I can feel his eyes flicker toward me every few seconds. It’s subtle, but I see it. He thinks I don’t. My stomach knots. I drop my arms to my sides, fingers brushing against my skirt. For some reason, it suddenly feels like I’m a little girl waiting to be told off by her daddy.Ex-daddy, to be exact.The thought hits, and I almost roll my eyes at myself. Really, June? Daddy jokes? Now?I shake my head lightly, trying to shove that ridiculous thought away and focus. Hermes Grande lied to me. He broke my heart. He made me feel like a fool. And just because he hugged me once and muttered

I might kill her

I take a slow sip of my milkshake, eyes fixed on the children playing in the distance. Their laughter floats in the air, mixing with the soft chatter of parents and the rustle of leaves. "I think Hermes is dating some girl," I finally say, my voice even, but my grip on the cup tightens. "And I need to find out who."Charlotte turns to me, her brows pinched, her expression caught between amusement and disbelief. "What do you mean Hermes is dating?" She lets out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Oh, Nat. You can tell me Hermes has slept with half the women in Vegas, and I’ll probably believe you—but dating?" Her tone drips with irony. "That’s not true."She shifts on the bench, crossing one leg over the other as she adds, "I even introduced him to my friend once, but guess what? She didn’t even last a day. I don’t know the real reason they fell out."Charlotte sighs, long and dramatic, settling deeper into the bench. "She only said he’s an asshole, and apparently Jake's better than hi

Hermes, are you okay

~Hermes~The night air was sharp against my skin as I leaned against the balcony railing, dragging smoke from the cigarette between my fingers. I knew I had promised Ted I’d quit. Hell, I did promise. But if I didn’t take this hit, my head might just explode with the chaos rattling around inside it."And you’re going to regret letting me go."June’s words echoed, relentless, teasing at the corners of my mind. Regret? I was already regretting it. Every damn day since I left her at the roadside, since she reminded me how easily my life could feel hollow, compared to even when I was in the hospital, I felt this emptiness gnawing at me.I don’t want her to find someone else. The thought alone twists my gut. I can’t—I won’t—stand the sight of another man with her. I want to be selfish. But life isn’t that simple. Life never is, especially not with Natalya suddenly injected into the mix.I wish I could pull back from this entire charade my father orchestrated, pull the plug on the engagemen

A lot to discuss

JuneMy teeth gnaw nervously at the end of my pen as Scott drones on about the quarterly report. I’m not hearing a word—at least, not in the way he expects. My mind is too busy plotting.If Scott would just shut up for five minutes, I could rush out, find Tobias, and start phase one of my so-called “relationship.” A fake relationship, obviously. The goal? Make Hermes Grande regret everything. Make him jealous, confused, and hopefully so miserable that he finally confesses whatever it is he’s hiding under those tailored suits and cold stares.The issue is Tobias doesn't know my real goal and I'd like to keep it that way.That’s the plan. Revenge and heartbreak, sprinkled with a little humiliation."Meeting dismissed," Scott’s voice finally booms.Before the words even finish echoing, I’m already on my feet, stuffing files into my folder and marching toward the door like a woman escaping prison.Behind me, I hear Amaka’s voice: "Hey, Jojo, what’s for lunch today?""Hamburger," I answer

Don't leave me

~Hermes~I groan into my palm, rubbing my temple as a dull ache spreads across my skull. Last night is a complete blur—every memory gone. I can only recall the faint taste of the drink Natalya poured for me and… nothing else. Blackout. Total, absolute blackout.A flicker of suspicion crosses my mind. Did she drug me? I shake my head. No. She wouldn’t—well, not exactly wouldn’t, but still… I’d have noticed, right? I could ask her, but she’s nowhere to be found since I woke up. And I haven’t even checked the company, not really. Not since morning. Honestly, I didn’t want to risk bumping into June.I could call her—but I don’t even have her number. God, curiosity is eating me alive. My stomach twists as I imagine all the possibilities.Part of me is grateful, though. I woke up fully clothed. Natalya has this… uncanny way of getting her way with me when I’m unconscious, and it’s simultaneously terrifying and infuriating.My thoughts are cut short as the door shifts, and I lift my gaze.Th

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