Todos los capítulos de His Earthly Desire : Capítulo 21 - Capítulo 30

I woke to silence that felt engineered.Not natural silence—the kind that comes from isolation, from a place too controlled to allow accidents. The penthouse breathed softly around me, systems humming beneath the walls, air conditioned to perfection. Even the city outside seemed distant, muted behind glass and height and money.Jayden was gone.I knew that before I opened my eyes.His presence always left an imprint—weight in the air, a pressure behind my ribs. This morning, there was none of it. Just the echo of him, lingering like a hand that had let go too slowly.I sat up in the massive bed that wasn’t mine and noticed, with a tightening in my chest, that my phone sat on the nightstand exactly where I’d left it.No messages.No explanation.I swung my legs over the side and stood. The floor was cold beneath my feet, grounding in a way I hadn’t realized I needed. I wrapped the sweater tighter around myself—soft, expensive, unmistakably his. I hadn’t chosen it last night. It had sim

Maya’s house smelled like cinnamon and old books.It wasn’t fancy. The paint on the walls had chipped in places, the couch bore the soft sag of years of use, and the kitchen table had a stubborn wobble that never quite went away no matter how many folded papers Maya shoved beneath one leg.And yet, the moment I stepped inside, something in my chest loosened.This place felt lived in.Real.Maya took one look at my face and didn’t ask questions. She just pulled me into a hug, warm and grounding, the kind that didn’t try to fix anything—only reminded you that you existed outside your own thoughts.“Sit,” she said gently, guiding me toward the couch. “You look like you’re holding your breath.”I sank into the cushions, my body sagging as if it had finally received permission to stop pretending. My hands twisted together in my lap, nerves buzzing beneath my skin.“It’s him,” I said finally.Maya sat across from me, legs tucked beneath her, eyes attentive but calm. “Start from the beginnin

‎The first thing I noticed after the reassignment wasn’t the paperwork.‎‎It was the silence.‎‎Not the absence of sound — the office was as busy as ever — but the absence of him. No quiet instructions murmured over my shoulder. No presence hovering just close enough to feel. No controlled glances that told me he’d already read the thought I hadn’t finished forming.‎‎Jayden Roberts was no longer woven into the fabric of my day.‎‎And somehow, that made him feel everywhere.‎‎My new reporting line came with a different wing of the building. Different elevators. Different meeting rooms. Different faces. On paper, nothing had changed — same title, same salary, same responsibilities.‎‎In practice, it felt like stepping out of an orbit.‎‎Johnson met me by the elevators that first morning, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable.‎‎“Looks like we’re neighbors now,” he said lightly.‎‎I glanced at the floor numbers flashing above us. “Looks like it.”‎‎He didn’t comment on t

‎Johnson didn’t ask casually.‎‎That was the first thing that told me it mattered.‎‎He waited until the office had thinned out, until the glass walls reflected more city lights than people, until the day’s noise had softened into something almost private. He stood by my desk, hands in his pockets, posture relaxed in a way that wasn’t quite natural.‎‎“Melissa,” he said, not rushing the moment. “Can we talk?”‎‎I nodded, closing the file on my screen.‎‎He didn’t sit. He stayed standing, like he wasn’t sure yet if this was a conversation or a risk.‎‎“I’m restructuring my workflow,” he said.‎ “Expanding. I need someone I trust. Someone sharp.”‎‎I already knew where this was going. Still, my chest tightened.‎‎“I want you to be my secretary.”‎‎The words landed cleanly. No pressure wrapped around them. No expectation.‎‎Just an offer.‎‎“For clarity,” he added, watching my face carefully, “this isn’t politics. And it’s not a favor. I work best with people who don’t flinch

‎The detectives didn’t look like trouble.‎‎That was the unsettling part.‎‎They weren’t rushed or loud. No flashing badges. No whispered urgency. They arrived mid-morning, dressed in neutral colors, faces calm and practiced—like men who delivered bad news for a living and had learned not to flinch while doing it.‎‎Jayden was already in the conference room when I was escorted in.‎Of course he was.‎‎He stood near the window, hands loosely folded behind his back, posture composed, eyes sharp with a focus that told me he’d known this meeting was coming long before I did.‎‎“Ms. Sanders,” one of the detectives said gently. “Thank you for making the time.”‎‎I nodded, taking the seat across from Jayden. The glass table felt cold beneath my palms.‎‎“We’re here to update you on the investigation into the fire at your previous residence,” the detective continued. “New evidence has come to light.”‎‎My stomach tightened, but I didn’t interrupt.‎‎“Accelerant was confirmed at the p