JAYDEN’S POV My driver pulled up to the curb outside Le Jardin and cut the engine. I stayed seated, inhaling deeply, trying to calm my nerves. I wasn’t thrilled about this dinner, but work demanded it. “We’re here, sir,” my driver prompted, catching my eye in the rearview mirror. “Yeah, I know,” I muttered, scanning my tablet screen absent-mindedly. Normally, Cherry would have accompanied me to something like this, but Mr. Charlse had labeled it “casual.” With another exhale, I finally stepped out of the car, mentally gearing up for what was ahead. But before I could take two steps, I heard the distinct sound of another car door opening. Out stepped Melissa, looking polished in a professional pantsuit and flashing a smile I could only describe as triumphant. My brows knitted together in irritation. Great, just what I needed. “Surprised to see me?” she asked, strutting over. I cast a quick glance around, as if anyone else might be witnessing this unwelcome reunion. “What ar
FLORA’S POV "Are you okay?" Alex’s voice pulled me back, gentle and with an edge of concern. I forced a smile, swallowing hard. "Ye… yes, I’m fine," I managed, though my voice betrayed me, trembling slightly. Before I knew it, I had downed the rest of my wine. I caught Alex glancing behind him. I didn't look up to know who it was—Jayden and Melissa were making their way toward us. My heart pounded like it was trying to escape my chest. Please, don’t let Jayden ruin this night. I focused on the champagne bottle, keeping my eyes fixed, hoping they would pass by without stopping. And they did. Jayden and Melissa walked right by, not sparing me even a glance, as if I were a stranger, taking their seats two tables away. I breathed a sigh of relief, releasing the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. When I looked at Alex, he was watching me carefully, eyes narrowed like he could see through every last defense I had put up. “You seem tense, Ms. Roberts. Are you sure you’re alrig
FLORA’S POV Melissa kept staring at Jayden, her eyes practically willing him to pay attention to her, but he seemed oblivious to her looks. Then Alex reached out, leaning forward to help dab at the stain, but I quickly intercepted him, taking it from his hand. “I didn’t mean to ruin your dress,” Melissa said with fake sympathy. I forced a polite smile, refusing to give her the reaction she was looking for. “It’s fine, Ms. Pembroke. Accidents happen.” I turned to the rest of the table. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to use the restroom.” Without waiting for a reply, I hurried toward the restroom, heels clicking on the polished floor as I made my escape. Tonight had just turned disastrous, and I was boiling with rage. Once I got to the restroom, I stared at myself in the mirror, taking deep breaths to calm both my embarrassment and my anger. I wet a paper towel under the faucet and began to blot the stain, muttering under my breath, “Just breathe, Flora. She’s not worth it.” The
ALEX’S POV We were both silent for a while as we got into my car. Flora looked down at her fingers. I knew she was fighting to keep the tears in check, which made me want to hold her and tell her it was alright to let go. Instead, I reached for a handkerchief in the glove compartment and handed it to her quietly. She took it and gave me a grateful look. “Thank you,” she murmured, dabbing at her eyes carefully. I was grateful that I had given Homer the evening off and had driven to Le Jardin myself because of this situation. Now, driving us both home, I would have ample time to think—and unfortunately, all I could think about was what a mess I had created. I deserved a slap on the face for causing her such sadness and embarrassment. I now realized that my whole plan of reuniting Flora with Jayden was not only stupid but impossible, and sitting here with her beside me, I saw how deeply I had miscalculated. I had heard everything Jayden and Flora said in the restroom, and I coul
FLORA’S POV Thank God it’s Saturday. I cracked one eye open and glanced at the clock—it was almost noon. I scrambled up, half-panicked. What? Noon? Sure, it was Saturday, but I still had a ton of work to finish on my designs. Who was I kidding? I needed an excuse to set my eyes on my hot boss. As I hurried toward the bathroom, I couldn’t help but smile, thinking about last night. I had finally opened up to Alex about everything with Jayden. It felt strange, unloading those memories I had usually kept locked up tight, ashamed to recount it especially because of the part I have played. But the way he had listened—no judgment, no pity, just understanding—made me feel lighter than I had in ages. Smiling to myself, I picked up my toothbrush. I needed to freshen up and head over to his mansion—pretending, of course, to work on some designs while waiting for him to come talk with me. Freshly showered and buzzing with energy, I dressed quickly and practically flew out of my room
FLORA’S POV I sat there frozen as Alex and Sasha made their way into the living room. My mother’s gaze darted between Alex and me, her eyes wide and questioning. “Isn’t that Alexander Bennett?” she mouthed, her face clouded with disbelief and curiosity. Before I could even react, Alex was at the table, flashing that million-dollar smile that had my heart stumbling over itself. “Hi,” he said, locking eyes with me in a way that was way too casual for the way he was looking at me. My heart raced, but I managed to snap out of my daze, getting up from my seat. I couldn’t believe he had come all the way here for my birthday. I didn’t know that whatever we had had progressed to this. Sasha took the gift boxes from him and dropped them on the couch, while he extended the bouquet of flowers toward me. “Happy birthday,” he said softly, still smiling, his gaze unwavering. I took the flowers, feeling a little lost for words. Alex looked polished, as always, but there was something abou
FLORA’S POV "Mr. Bennett, would you like to join us for movie night?" my mother asked, completely out of the blue after dinner and the whole birthday celebration. I shot her a glare, but she pretended not to see it, looking as innocent as a saint. Here I was, already feeling a bit unsettled that my boss was here, sitting in on what seemed like our little family gathering—and, annoyingly, his presence had me wet all over. And now, Mom was also asking him to join us for a movie. "Uh, I think Mr. Bennett is a busy man," I started, hoping to save both of us from this awkward scenario. "Nonsense," Alex replied smoothly, flashing that million-dollar smile at my mother. "It’s the weekend, and I would be honored to join you." I stared at him, dumbfounded. Was he really okay with sitting down with three women watching a sappy romance movie? Because that’s all we watch. To escape reality, we choose romantic movies, even the cliché, unrealistic ones. Mom, looking thrilled by his answer
FLORA’S POV I walked back into my room, second-guessing everything. Was this a good idea? My heart raced, and my hands felt clammy, but there was no denying the thrill bubbling beneath my nerves. At least my room was immaculate; all those years at the Kensington estate had drilled tidiness into me. I never left my space messy—a habit that came in handy tonight. The room was dark when I stepped inside. I flicked on my phone’s flashlight, casting a small glow across the space. There was no sign of Alex. My heart jumped. Where was he? I turned slowly, directing the light around the room, but before I could complete a full turn, an arm wrapped firmly around my waist, pulling me back against a warm, solid chest. A hand covered my mouth, silencing the gasp that almost escaped. “Not a sound, flower,” he whispered right against my ear, his breath hot against my neck. A delightful shiver ran down my spine, my body instinctively melting into him as my nerves buzzed with anticipation. “O
JAYDEN’S POV Melissa was sitting by the vanity table when I walked back into her bedroom. She looked like she had a good cry. Good, because she would be shedding more than tears soon. I couldn’t believe all that Levi had told me, and all that I had found out in these past few days. After Levi spilled the truth, I didn’t waste a second. I dragged him straight to Oregun to confirm it. I had contacted my lawyers mid-flight. My security team had flown with us too, just in case Levi tried to pull something. The whole way there, I expected him to back down; to admit he was lying just to get money out of me. But no. if anything, he looked excited to expose her. Melissa glanced at me through the mirror, then quickly looked away like she wasn’t ready for any conversation with me. I had left Rockshire for days without telling her, after all. “You’re back,” she muttered, voice low. “Mhm,” I responded, not moving from where I stood. I was still trying to figure out where to start with her. I
MELISSA’S POV “You’re just good for nothing, aren’t you?” my father’s voice boomed through the phone. His tone was razor-sharp. “Why do you always act so impulsively? Did you expect me to hand you a round of applause after this nonsense?” I gritted my teeth, holding the phone tighter than necessary. “You wanted this,” I snapped back. “I just grabbed the opportunity!” “Can you hear yourself?” he shot back with disdain. “What about your damn wedding to Jayden? This was supposed to come after the wedding. You’re supposed to marry him first, then bring them down. Now you’ve gone and thrown the whole plan out of order!” That was when it hit me, like a slap across the face. I had screwed up. Big time. I had been so consumed by my obsession with ruining Flora that I completely forgot the wedding was supposed to come first. I shut my eyes and let out a shaky exhale as reality sunk in. How could I have been so stupid? Jayden wasn’t even going to talk about any wedding until this investigat
FLORA’S POV I had completely lost track of time. Curled up in the corner of the sofa, as far from the window as I could get, I hugged my knees and tried to untangle the storm raging in my mind. I was confused, devastated, and absolutely terrified. My phone had been ringing nonstop until I finally turned it off. Right now, the only thing I crave is peace and quiet. I had cried so much that my tear ducts seemed to have staged a protest. Now, all that was left was this hollow ache in my chest as I stared blankly into space. My mind was running a marathon, a thousand thoughts vying for attention, but none of them was helpful. A loud bang at the door jolted me out of my thoughts. My heart nearly leaped out of my chest, and I scrambled off the couch, my pulse racing like I had just heard a gunshot. I quickly glanced at the video doorbell screen. Two men were struggling by my door. My stomach dropped. I inched closer to the door, my hands trembling. When I listened closely, I realized one
ALEX’S POV I sat in my car, parked across the street from Flora’s apartment, my knuckles white as I gripped the steering wheel. Reporters flooded the place like predators waiting to pounce on their prey. My pulse was pounding hard enough to make my head throb. This entire situation was a nightmare, ridiculous, fabricated, and blown completely out of proportion. This was precisely what I had wanted to avoid, the reason I insisted on keeping our relationship discreet for now, until she had stood her ground enough. But here it was, splashed across every news outlet, feeding the public a story so salacious it didn’t even matter if it was true. Flora was no “siren” seducing her way up the corporate ladder, as they so gleefully painted her to be. Yes, she had worked as my assistant, but Bennett Fashion wasn’t even under my direct control, it was my mother’s domain. Vicky had been the one to see Flora’s talent, to recognize her brilliance, and to reward her hard work with opportuniti
MELISSA’S POV I perched on the twin couch next to Lisette in the living room, feigning interest in her endless parade of wedding decoration samples. Her overly polished nails pointed at floral arrangements and seating charts while my thoughts danced gleefully elsewhere. My heart wasn’t racing from nerves, it was a pure mixture of excitement and triumph. Finally, Flora Roberts was getting the heat she deserved. And better yet, she was going down faster than I had even dared to dream. “Are you even listening?” Lisette’s sharp tone snapped me back to the present. I turned to her, unable to suppress the smug grin spreading across my face. “Have you seen the news this morning?” Lisette’s perfectly carved brows furrowed slightly. “Does it have anything to do with Kensington?” “Kind of, but it isn’t in a very bad light," I replied casually, savoring the moment. "It’s about Flora. The media’s tearing her apart, calling her out for the manipulative gold-digger she is. This is the per
FLORA’S POV I stepped out of the cab, clutching my handbag, and crossed the street toward our apartment building. Mom had called earlier to let me know she was off to work, so I knew I would have some quiet time to myself before heading to the office. It was a little past 8:00 a.m., on Monday morning, and I couldn’t stop smiling as I recounted my weekend with Alex. It had been a memorable weekend indeed. To think I had been skeptical when Vicky announced I would be going to the business conference in the company of Alex. I was practically dreading it. Now, I wish every work trip could be just the two of us. Business and... well, pleasure. The familiar dingy reception area greeted me as I walked in, exchanging pleasantries with the elderly caretaker before heading upstairs. Our apartment was on the first floor, making the elevator unnecessary, but as I climbed the stairs, my phone buzzed incessantly. I fished it out of my handbag and saw Jolly’s name flashing on the screen. Sighing
JAYDEN’S POV The city lights shimmered like scattered stars outside my hotel window. I leaned against the glass, my forehead pressed to its cool surface as I tried to untangle the mess of emotions. Sleep was very far from me tonight. Seeing Flora again wasn’t supposed to feel like this, like a sharp knife twisting in the wound of my own mistakes. How could I have been so blind? If only I had seen her potential back then. If only I hadn’t let class, status, and my family’s obsession with appearances dictate my choices. Flora could still have been my wife and the most celebrated, rising designer standing by my side tonight. The way people fawned over her tonight made me realize I had truly lost a good thing. But the way she smiled at me tonight gave me a ray of hope. Should I pursue her more? Maybe persistence would make her see me again. But regretting losing Flora was one on the list of my problems right now. I sighed heavily, looking back towards my bed where my laptop sat
FLORA’S POV Alex planted soft kisses on my forehead after another mind-blowing lovemaking session. I was thoroughly and completely spent, my body was a blissful heap, and I loved every second of it. Now, he held me in his arms, cuddling me. I couldn’t even tell how long we had been here, lost in each other. “Do you feel good, flower?” Alex murmured, his voice tender as he brushed his lips against mine. I nodded, as a lazy smile tugged at my lips. “I feel great.” “It’s time to take proper care of you,” he whispered into my ear before slipping out of me and getting out of bed. “Come,” he said, extending his hand. I placed my hand in his, and he pulled me upright before scooping me into his arms. My legs instinctively wrapped around his waist, anchoring me to him. I rested my head on his shoulder, letting out a contented sigh. Tonight had been intense, and my body was exhausted in the best way possible. Alex seemed to understand everything I was feeling without me needing to say a w
FLORA’S POV “Can you untie my hands now?” I asked as Alex pulled away from the kiss, leaving my lips tingling with the aftermath. “Your hands stay tied,” he murmured. Then, he spread my thighs. He withdrew the vibrator, the slick sensation sending a shiver coursing through me. His finger trailed up the sensitive line of my core, and a jolt of pleasure rippled through me, scattering like sparks into every nerve. I slumped forward, resting my forehead on his shoulder, my heart pounding. "You’re drenched,” he whispered into my ear, his breath hot against my skin. The deep timbre of his voice felt like a caress all its own. A moment later, his finger plunged into me, coaxing a gasp from my lips. “You want me, don’t you?” His finger slid out, only to return with an intensity that made my legs tremble. “Answer me, baby girl,” he demanded, his voice tinged with a rough edge that sent a thrill through me. “Yes, I want you,” I panted against his shoulder. He groaned in satisfaction