جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 130

EmmaThe black dress I am wearing feels really nice against my skin. It is made of fabric that fits my body perfectly. The dress is not flashy at all. It is the kind of dress a serious businesswoman would wear. Every time the fabric touches my thighs, I remember what Knox said to me earlier. He said he would take what he wants tonight and I would be thankful for it. I stand in front of the mirror for a while, trying to look calm. My stomach keeps flipping like there is something alive inside me.My little fight with Monica made me scared and jittery. That woman keeps showing up everywhere I go. Like she's my shadow or something.Knox has given me an assurance but I still feel anxious like the worse is yet to happen.I sigh deeply, determined to enjoy the rest of the day and focus on the product launch. But deep down, I know it's going to be hard.Monica has found a way to sneak into the company. And I have a bad feeling that it's going to be real trouble.She should be worried about

KnoxThe question hits me like a punch. The reporter's voice is bright and professional. Her words feel like a kick in the gut. "We know she's your stepdaughter. Is it true there's more to your relationship than just that?"My blood runs cold then hot. I feel the camera on me, the red light recording every move I make. Across the room, Monica's smile hasn't changed. She sips her wine watching me like a cat watching a mouse. I know she started this rumor. I want to go there and wipe that smile off her face but I don't. Not here, not with all these people watching.I put on a face like I do when things are bad at work. Inside I'm furious. I think about Emma, her face on the balcony, her lips after I kissed her. If people find out about us she'll be the one who gets hurt. Not me, or her mom.I clear my throat, wait a bit, then answer. "Emma is my assistant," I say, my voice calm. "She's also my stepdaughter. Our relationship is professional and familial. That's all."The reporter tilts

KnoxI can’t stop pacing. The carpet’s almost worn thin under my feet, and my jacket is crumpled over the chair where I tossed it in frustration. I’ve rolled up my sleeves, hoping it would somehow cool the fire that’s burning under my skin. My shirt’s halfway undone, but it doesn’t help, each breath feels tight, shallow, like there’s something pressing against me from the inside.My mind’s a mess. The picture keeps flashing in my mind, the one that came through just as I was leaving the party.A photo of Emma and me on the balcony, laughing together, caught in a moment that was supposed to be just ours. Damn it. I drag my fingers through my hair, pulling until it stings, my jaw clenched tight enough to make my neck and shoulders ache.I’m suffocating. I need real air, but more than that, I need to find out who sent that damn picture. Who was watching us that closely? How did they know that exact moment to snap the shot and send it to me? Does this mean someone already knows about u

KnoxI stand on the porch this morning, arms crossed tight over my chest, trying to keep my heart from slamming out of my chest. The wooden boards beneath my feet are cold, even though the sun’s already climbing higher. Thank God it’s Saturday. If I had to sit through another round of meetings or fake my way through another day of spreadsheets, I might just lose it. Emma was supposed to be home last night after the party. She never showed. No call, no text, nothing.My phone’s become an extension of my hand. I’ve dialed her number so many times that the screen feels warm against my palm. Every time it goes straight to voicemail. No ringing, no indication that she’s ignoring me, just the same robotic voice telling me the number’s unavailable. I try again, because stopping feels like giving up, and I’m not ready for that. The line stays silent. I run my fingers through my hair, tugging until my scalp stings, hoping the pain will bring me back.Emma’s never stayed out all night. Not on

KnoxI stand in the kitchen doorway with my arms crossed tight against my chest. I am waiting for Emma to say something that will make this nightmare stop. My stomach feels sick with fury at the time. She spent the night with Ethan. The thought alone makes my throat feel tight. What else happened while she was gone? What did they do in those hours when I sat here imagining the worst? I had to call my receptionist from the party because Emma would not answer her phone. My ears still ring from it. My blood feels hot and thick pounding behind my eyes.I force the question out before I lose my nerve. "I am still waiting, Emma. Is it true you left with Ethan last night?" I ask her.She sits at the table with her shoulders hunched. Her hands fall into her lap like they have no strength left. She cannot even look at me. That silence hurts more than anything.Finally she speaks. "Yes.. It is not what you think, Knox.”My chest burns as if someone poured acid inside it. I stalk forward unti