Selena’s POVIt was a regular morning in the office, the usual tapping of keyboards and quiet chats. I was battling some designs for Hailey’s Dad’s event – which, yeah, I wasn’t supposed to be working on here anyway – and they were just refusing to make sense when Justin walked in, looking all hyped up – way more than usual.He clapped his hands, and the sharp sound cut through all the office noise like a knife. Everyone looked up.“Alright, team! Gather ‘round, gather ‘round!” His voice, usually a calm baritone, was a little high-pitched today. His eyes crinkled at the corners as he drummed a restless rhythm on the table. Everyone stopped what they were doing, heads swiveling upwards. A collective"What's going on?" hung in the air. A few seconds later, the elevator doors pinged open, and staff from all corners of the building poured out, gathering around the commotion. Hailey ran towards my desk. "We got THE text," she whispered, leaning in. "What text?" I asked, my brows slightl
Selena’s POVThe designated meeting point was the office parking lot, the usual morning rush of cars a familiar soundtrack. I was juggling my bag and a lukewarm coffee, trying to appear nonchalant about the weekend-end getaway. It still felt a little surreal, this sudden escape to the Catskills.As the team started to gather, a few curious glances were cast our way as Justin approached Hailey and me. He had his own sleek duffel bag slung over his shoulder, looking effortlessly put together, as always. Jaden was already there, leaning against a pillar, looking as if he’d rather be anywhere else, yet a faint hint of anticipation flickered in his eyes.“Alright, everyone,” Justin announced, his voice carrying over the morning chatter. “We’ll be heading up to the roof. Our transportation is waiting for us there.”A wave of confused murmurs rippled through the group. Roof? What kind of transportation was waiting on the roof?We followed Justin towards the elevator, the anticipation buildi
Justin’s POVThe fire crackled, and we were all relaxed, telling stories and laughing. It was so different from the usual office atmosphere.I was actually having a good time, which was a total surprise. The fresh mountain air and just hanging out with everyone felt... really nice, honestly. Even Jaden, who's usually so serious, seemed to be chilling out a bit. That was a first!Just when things were peaceful, bam! Silence broken. A low rumble started, growing louder. Everyone looked up, a wave of curiosity passing through the group. It was a helicopter, no mistaking that sound. My stomach dropped. Seriously? Not now, not here. The noise grew overhead, and then, in the moonlight, a figure descended. My heart froze. No way. But there she was. Bella. Everyone gasped. She stepped out looking all dressed up, completely different from our casual evening clothes. And her hair? Not a single strand was out of place from the helicopter ride. Of course not."Hey, guys!" she called out, her vo
Selena’s POV“Selena!”Justin's voice cut through the quiet, sounding as scared as I felt. The last thing I saw was a bird, then my foot slipped, and everything went black. I could just barely hear his voice in my foggy mind. Then, Hailey's worried shouts came from above, her voice pleading. Soon after, the loud sound of helicopter blades filled the air. I blinked and felt myself being lifted, away from the dense, springy bushes I'd fallen into. I was on a slope."Selena? Can you hear me?" His voice was right next to my ear, sharp and fast, as I was lifted. His face was a blurry shape above me."I... I'm okay," I whispered, the words barely audible over the roaring wind from the helicopter blades."You sure?" he asked, his grip on me tightening slightly, a breath he hadn't realized he was holding escaping him. His voice was still tight with worry. "You really scared me." I did? Seriously? With everything going on with Bella, I was surprised he even noticed my slip.He held me tight
Selena’s POV My eyes snapped open. In the quiet light of the hospital room, I saw two figures standing there. Their faces were inches apart. Their lips locked. My breath hitched. What the...?“Jaden… is that you?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper, a mix of disbelief and confusion swirling within me.The figures startled, pulling apart abruptly. The dim light revealed Jaden and Hailey, their faces flushed. Hailey tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. A nervous gesture meant to hide her obvious embarrassment.The tray of fruit beside my bed was a mess, its contents spilled everywhere - a juicy peach on the floor, a handful of grapes scattered across the sheets, and a few slices of pineapple all over the sterile floor. It was a chaotic reminder of what had woken me up and the moment that had been so abruptly interrupted.Jaden's voice was barely above a whisper as he said, "Hello, Selena." His cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of crimson, and he raked a hand through his me
Selena’s POV"The Baldwin twins?" I choked out, the words a bitter, taste in my mouth. "Gigi and Gia?""Yes, I'm sorry, Selena," Mr. Thompson's voice echoed through the phone, a distant, apologetic hum. "There was nothing I could do. My partners wanted them as replacements. They were very insistent."When I heard ‘The Baldwin twins’, I didn’t have to think that hard to know they were no other than my step-sisters, since they maliciously decided to follow my career path as well. The phone went silent, and my anger grew. Gigi and Gia. They were always doing this. Always messing things up for me.They had the love of their father, and the attention of our mother, yet they still found the time to sabotage any chance of luck I had. I looked at the city lights, each one a reminder of the life I was trying to build, a life they were trying so hard to ruin. I made tiny fists, my nails digging into my palms. How could they? How could they be so… unfair?The front door clicked open, and Haile
Justin’s POV My phone buzzed loudly, jolting me out of the serene atmosphere of my penthouse. I drew in a sharp breath, my eyes snapping to the screen as my brow furrowed into a frown. Sam's name flashed on the display - Selena's bodyguard. A shiver of unease trickled down my spine. Something was off. He never called me; I always initiated our conversations. My mind began to whirl with worst-case scenarios as I hesitated for a moment before answering. "Yeah?" I said, my voice firm, a knot forming in my stomach.“Mr. Blanco, we have a situation at Miss Selena's apartment," Sam's voice was tense, his usual calm demeanor a bit torn at the edges. He sounded composed, but I sensed a simmering tension, a worry that made my insides clench with anxiety."There's a guy inside her apartment, Zayn. He was already there when we arrived." My heart sank, a chill creeping up my spine. "Is Selena okay?" I asked, struggling to keep my voice steady. Sam hesitated, and for a moment, I felt like I
Selena’s POVMy apartment felt... tainted. Like Zayn had left a gross, invisible film over everything. His cologne, that sweet, metal-y smell I used to think was okay, now made my stomach do this very weird flip. It was everywhere – the couch, the curtains, even the air itself, like he'd left a ghost behind. I shivered, pulling my robe tighter, but it didn't help. The cold feeling was inside me, deep down.My brain kept replaying the scene, like a broken movie reel, each moment sharp and painful. I'd walked in, expecting my apartment to be my safe place, my quiet zone. But he was there, sitting on my couch like he owned the place. Too relaxed, too smug, that smile just... plain annoying."Selena," he'd said, his voice dropping low, all smooth and husky, making my skin crawl."Don't you think this whole 'playing hard to get thing has gone on long enough? I miss you, you know."Before I could even open my mouth, he was on me, his hands grabbing my face, his touch rough, like he owned
Selena's POVThe image of Justin, shirtless, Bella’s lipstick stains on his chest, burned behind my eyelids. He’d stormed into my apartment, a raging fire of accusations, only to be entangled with Bella moments later. Was his anger just a performance? A way to justify crawling back to her so easily? A bitter taste rose in my throat. Every time I let myself get close to him, my heart ended up shattered on the cold, hard floor. I had to stop this cycle.I ran each footfall in a desperate attempt to outpace the suffocating weight in my chest. As soon as I stumbled into the car, I choked out, "Drive. Now." But the need to escape wasn't just physical.Minutes into the ride, the city lights blurring into streaks of meaningless color, a wave of nausea washed over me. "Please stop the car," I mumbled, my voice barely a whisper. I was trying so hard to stop the tears from falling.Michael’s gaze flickered in the rearview mirror, his brow furrowed with concern. "Stop the car," I practically
Justin's POVI scrubbed at my eyes with the heel of my hand. Was I hallucinating? But the image was seared into my mind: Zayn had handed over a damn gift basket to be delivered to Selena and she had accepted. She wouldn’t even accept a penny from me. How long had this been going on? Had their connection never truly severed after that mess a while back? He’d practically vanished after locking eyes with me, like a guilty rat scurrying into the shadows. Every shade of red imaginable seemed to explode behind my eyelids. My instinct screamed to chase him, to ask why the heck he was delivering gifts to her. Instead, I fumbled for my phone, Jaden’s number a desperate lifeline. He was the only one who could possibly talk me down from doing something I’d regret.“Hey man,” Jaden’s voice, calm and steady, answered on the first ring.“You would not believe what I just saw,” I growled, my nostrils flaring with each ragged breath.“What happened, Justin?” Jaden asked, a note of wary curiosity
Selena’s POV"You're invited to my housewarming." I read the note aloud, the words dripping with a forced cheerfulness that sent a shiver down my spine."Who the heck sends a mystery basket with a housewarming invitation?" I asked, closing the door with a sharp click and turning to Hailey, the basket feeling heavy and ominous in my hands.She practically teleported from the dining table, her footsteps quick and sharp against the tile floor as she yanked the basket from my hands. "How did they even know your favorite cookies and chocolates?" she mumbled, her fingers digging through the basket's contents, the rustling of cellophane and the faint, overly sweet scent of vanilla filling the air."The other day it was flowers, today it's goodies. I had no idea someone had even moved into this neighborhood," I hissed, eyeing the basket with suspicion. The brightly colored candies and perfectly arranged cookies felt like a taunt, a silent, unsettling message."I guess our secret admirers ar
Justin’s POVThe darkness of my bedroom felt heavy, like a suffocating blanket. I lay there, eyes wide, the day's events replaying in my mind like a broken record, the same scene looping over and over. Helping Selena with the eviction… should have been a relief, a weight lifted. Instead, it stirred a restless energy within me, a burning need to make her life better, to smooth out the rough edges,… without getting too close. Too close meant danger, a constant, gnawing fear, but not forever. I'd deal with the looming issue, and then I'd ask her out. My feelings for her were a force, a driving need, and I was determined to make her life better, to give her the peace she deserved.Then, the idea struck me, a sharp, clear solution. An interior design competition. Prestigious, high-profile. A platform to showcase her undeniable talent, and a substantial financial reward – a prize she would win, I knew it. Selena was a rockstar in the event planning world, a force of nature when she set
Selena's POV"Why is Zayn texting me?" Hailey asked, her brows furrowed, her voice laced with a mix of confusion and annoyance.I was a bit shocked. I hadn't realized Zayn had Hailey's number, and after our last encounter a while back, I hadn't expected to hear from him again."What does the text say?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.Hailey held up her phone, the screen glowing with the message. "Something about us being 'neighbors soon.' What the heck does that even mean?" she muttered, her voice laced with a hint of disgust.“Let me see.” I snatched the phone from her, my eyes scanning the cryptic message. "Eww, that’s creepy?" I squinted at the screen, the words blurring slightly. "I don't have time for any Zayn drama, Hails. Justin already warned him to stay away from me. I'm going to bed.""What about me then?" Hailey mock-yelled behind me, her voice laced with a playful panic. "Is he going to come after me?" She squealed, trying to stifle a laugh. "I'm blocking his ass right no
Selena's POV"You don't have to move anymore," Justin said, his voice a low rumble that seemed to vibrate through the air, his gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that made my skin prickle. "This apartment... it's no longer up for eviction."My brain got stuck, like an engine trying to start on a cold morning. First, what was this man doing in my apartment, looking impossibly handsome and smelling faintly of that expensive cologne that always did weird things to my pulse? And with Hailey, no less! I shot her a look that screamed, ‘You better have a damn good explanation for this,’ my eyes narrowed with suspicion."What do you mean, 'not up for eviction' anymore?" I finally managed to ask, my voice a shaky mix of confusion and disbelief. After we'd received the notice; there hadn't been any follow-up, no counter-notice, nothing to suggest a sudden reversal.Justin shifted slightly, the leather of his expensive jacket creaking softly. An unsettling smile touched his lips, a smile
Justin's POV"Alright, gentlemen, let's cut to the chase," I snapped, my voice sharp and decisive, cutting through the static of the conference call. "We're not here to dance around figures. We're here to close this deal." The air in my study was thick with the tension of high stakes and negotiations. "I'm prepared to offer a premium, a significant one, but I need assurances. I need to know we can streamline the integration process, no delays." The stakeholders on the other end of the line shuffled papers, their voices a low hum of agreement. "Good. Then let's finalize the terms. My lawyers will send over the paperwork by EOD."The call ended with a collective sigh of relief, the tension dissipating like smoke. I was determined to acquire this tech company. It was a matter of principle, really. After I lost out on buying out Patel’s father's company because I had to be sure Selena was safe, I wasn't about to let another opportunity slip through my fingers. Especially not one Pat
Selena’s POV"Selena," Hailey practically shouted, her voice strained with a mix of disbelief and anger. "Want to take a wild guess what lovely 'gift' they plastered on our door?"I blinked slowly, my eyes still adjusting to the morning light. "Maybe... a flyer for a cat pageant?" I teased, trying for a light tone, but Hailey's face was a shade of crimson I'd only seen when she was about to explode."We've been served," she mumbled, her voice low and dangerous. "An eviction notice. We have a few days to get out.""Huh?" I choked out, my brain struggling to process the words. "But... how? We're not even late on rent."Hailey ran a hand through her hair. The movement is a bit frantic. "I really have to get to work," she mumbled, her eyes darting towards the clock."We'll talk about this later." And for the second time that morning, she was gone, slamming the door behind her with a force that rattled the walls.I walked to the door, my bare feet padding softly against the cold tile, and
Selena's POVHailey’s eyes widened, and she let out a sharp, almost panicked breath before yanking the phone away, her movements swift. “Nosy much,” she mumbled whilst trying to force an unconvincing smile.“Hails,” I whispered, trying to process what was going on, my eyes twitching slightly. “Is there something I should know that you’re not telling me?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.Hailey shifted her weight from one foot to another but still remained silent. “Hailey Claire Thompson,” I called out her full government name, my voice a bit louder this time. “Who texted you and what are you supposed to tell me that you haven’t?”“How are you sure you’re the one being referred to in the message?” she asked, her eyes scanning the entire room but my face."Don't play dumb," I said, my voice hardening. "You snatched the phone away like it was a live grenade. And you're acting weird. Really weird."She sighed a long, drawn-out sound that did nothing to ease the tension. "It's… it's a bit