Chapter Ten: This is Movie Shit.

Nara's POVI collapsed onto my bed like someone had sucked all the life out of me. It was late Friday night, almost Saturday morning in fact and my body felt like it had been run over by a truck.My feet were swollen from wearing heels all day, my head was throbbing and my mind wouldn’t stop replaying that moment in Mr Blackwood's office.Fiancée.The word still made my stomach twist in a way I didn’t want to examine too closely.A warm body shifted beside me on the mattress. Fran.I turned my head to look at her. Fran was very pretty with dark brown hair that fell in soft waves around her shoulders and bright hazel eyes that always seemed to sparkle with mischief even when she was exhausted. She was the kind of friend who showed up with snacks and zero judgment when you needed her most.We met back in college during freshman year. I was the fiery, ambitious girl who spent most of her time in the library, while Fran was the loud, outgoing one who dragged me to parties I didn’t want to

Chapter Eleven: Hands Without Gloves

Nara's POVFran was having way too much fun with this.“Stop moving, Nara! You’re gonna mess up the eyeliner,” she said, leaning in close. Her hazel eyes were full of excitement as she finished my makeup. With her dark brown hair tied up in a messy bun, she looked cute and focused at the same time.When I finally stood up in the emerald green dress and my only heels, Fran stepped back and whistled.“Girl… you look hot. Like, dangerously hot.”I laughed nervously and checked myself in the mirror. The dress fit perfectly and it made me feel elegant but also a little exposed. “I feel like I’m pretending to be someone else.”"Don't say that Nara. You look amazing and you better own it." I ssmiled at her and gave her a strong nod.Just as we opened the door and stepped out of my room, Jake stepped out of his at the same time. He froze when he saw me and his mouth literally fell open. He just stared for a few seconds, completely shocked.“Nara…?” he finally managed. “Where the hell did you

Chapter Twelve: Dude, I'm Not Gay!

Keegan's POVI sat at my desk, staring at the city lights through the glass wall. The office was dead quiet, just how I liked it as everyone had gone home hours ago.I reached for my coffee and knocked the damn mug over making hot liquid spill across the desk and all over my gloves.“Fuck,” I muttered.I yanked the soaked gloves off and threw them aside and opened the drawer where I kept spares, but it was empty.I cursed again. I had been so sure I was completely alone tonight so I decided to leave without them. It was risky, but I was too tired to care.I grabbed my coat and headed out.I was walking down the hallway, mind racing with thoughts about the gala and whether Nara had managed not to embarrass me, when someone crashed straight into my chest.I held the person on instinct. There was one hand on her waist and the other wrapped around her bare arm.Skin to skin.Time stopped.Nara Quinn looked up at me with those bright amber eyes, wide with surprise. The emerald green dress

Chapter Thirteen: There's Something In Her Blood

Keegan's POVOne week earlierA few days passed after that night and I still couldn’t stop thinking about it. The feel of Nara’s warm skin under my fingers, the way my body didn’t react with pain and the shock in her amber eyes when I froze like an idiot. I had avoided the office completely since then, working from my home office instead.I didn’t trust myself around her right now.I sat behind my large wooden desk in the home office, staring at the laptop screen. The morning light came through the tall windows, but I barely noticed as my mind was somewhere else.My phone rang, it was the scheduled video call. I answered and leaned back in my chair.“Dr. Sterling,” I said, my voice flat.Dr. Sterling’s calm, professional voice came through the line. “Good morning, Keegan. Cole is joining us as well.”“Hey, man,” Cole added casually as his face filled my laptop screen. “Still alive after the other night?”“Barely,” I muttered.Dr. Sterling cleared his throat. “Alright, let’s get straig

Chapter Fourteen: Rules Were Made to Be Broken

Nara’s POVI sat at my desk, staring blankly at my computer screen as the cursor blinked on the same sentence for the fifth time, but the words wouldn’t stick. My mind kept drifting back to that night four days ago.The way Mr Blackwood had caught me and the way he had looked at me shocked, like his world had flipped upside down before storming off like I had burned him.He hadn’t come into the office since then, not once and that wasn’t unusual for him, but this time it felt different.The memory of his stunned blue eyes kept me up at night. Was he angry? Was something wrong with him? Had I crossed some invisible line?I sighed and glanced at the clock. 12:07 PM. Finally it was lunch time.I stood up, stretching my stiff back, when I heard the private elevator ding at the end of the hallway.My heart skipped.Keegan Blackwood walked past my open door in his signature black suit. He didn’t stop or even slow down but his deep, commanding voice cut through the air like a whip.“My offic

Chapter Fifteen: We're Moving, Babe!

Nara’s POVI stared out the window of the moving van, watching cars and buildings blur past as the road kept stretching forward like it was taking me deeper into something I still couldn’t fully believe was real.Next to me, Fran was curled up close, her head resting on my shoulder as she hummed happily along to the song playing on the radio. Her dark brown hair tickled my neck every time she moved.I looked back at the cargo area behind us. My entire life was packed in there; boxes, suitcases, a microwave, a toaster, and yes… even the fridge I had fought to bring. It looked ridiculous and I couldn't help but wonder.How did I get here so fast?Just yesterday, I had walked into my room with my phone in my hand talking to Fran, still in shock.“Fran… he asked me to move in with him.”She had screamed so loud I thought the neighbors would call the police. Less than thirty minutes later, she was in my apartment with boxes, tape and pure chaotic energy.“What are you doing?” I had asked,