ALEX’S POV Everyone at the Summit kept telling me how lucky I was. They were inspired by my success, even though I hadn’t made it early in life. Almost all the other businessmen wished they had my charisma. But what they didn’t know was that my life was a complete disaster behind the scenes. My son wouldn’t speak to me—probably wouldn’t even if it were the last thing he had to do before he died. Loyalty and love felt like distant concepts, slipping further away by the day. I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was only a matter of time before everything crumbled. I had spotted Jayden at the Summit earlier and made a mental note to talk to him before heading back to my room. But catching him was about as achievable as scaling Mount Everest barefoot. After the meeting, I tried to make a beeline for him, but I was intercepted by a group of admirers, eager to discuss business deals and corporate nonsense. By the time I escaped from their clutches, Jayden had vanished. No sign of him
ALEX’S POV I skimmed through the list of new applicants for my assistant position, but none of the resumes were doing it for me. It wasn’t that they weren’t qualified—it was more that I didn’t even know what I was looking for. My last assistant had played a significant role in driving a wedge between me and my ex-wife, and the one I just fired... well, let’s just say “inappropriate” is an understatement. Maybe it was time to hire a male assistant. At least that way, I could avoid any more scandals hanging over my head like a storm cloud. Sighing, I scrolled through the male candidates. Seemed like the safest bet for a fresh start. I had finally agreed with David’s advice to give relationships a break and stick to... Subs. He had talked to Jackson, the guy who apparently knew all the right “connections,” and I was still waiting for an update. I glanced at my wristwatch—an hour past closing time. Great. Exhaustion was settling in, and I still had files from the design department to so
FLORA’S POV “Good girl,” he said warmly, and to my utter disbelief, a strange sense of calm washed over me. He stepped out from behind his desk, moving toward me with deliberate ease. My heart pounded so loudly I was sure he could hear it. Was that a hint of a smile on his face? As he stopped in front of me, I caught the scent of his cologne—something expensive and intoxicating. He tilted my chin up, locking eyes with me. I silently repeated a mantra in my head: Stay calm. Don’t panic. And if he crosses the line, you’re out. But despite my mental pep talk, my pulse raced. “Do you know,” he said, his gaze sweeping over my face, “you have the finest shade of hazel eyes?” My heart skipped a beat. No one had ever commented on my eye color before, and as ridiculous as it sounded, his words made me feel... flattered. And a little off-balance. “I like that you didn’t put up so much effort for me,” he continued, his voice dropping an octave. “So demure, so subtle... and it’s fucking lov
ALEX’S POV Shit! The low purr of the engine filled the silence as I navigated through the evening traffic. The city lights blurred past like glowing embers against the dark skyline, but the real heat was coming from the awkward tension in the car. This had to be the most embarrassing situation I’ve ever landed myself in. Roleplay gone wrong! How did I end up disgracing myself in front of an employee? A new one, at that. What kind of image was this girl going to have of me—and my company—now? I felt awful for dragging her into something she knew nothing about. It was stupid of me to assume she was my Sub, and when she didn’t obey immediately, I had almost taken out my frustration on her. I could only imagine what she thought of me now. I stole a quick glance in her direction. She was calm, her head resting against the car window, but her silence was deafening. I refocused on the road, trying not to overthink it, but to be honest, I was definitely overthinking it. Does she think
JAYDEN’S POV I sat in my cousin’s bar, staring into my glass of whiskey, letting the alcohol slowly numb the frustration that had been eating at me for days. I was still in my work clothes, my tie loosened, and the last thing I wanted was to go home. Home didn’t feel like home anymore. All I got there was my mother’s nagging about pressing charges against Flora for supposedly stealing her jewelry. I had already told her a thousand times to drop it. Pressing charges would be a PR disaster, and honestly, it wasn’t worth it. Then there was Melissa. She had a new request every five minutes, each one more ridiculous than the last, and she blamed everything on her pregnancy hormones. I didn’t want to admit it, but my life had been spiraling out of control since Flora walked out. It felt like a part of me had gone missing, and what really pissed me off was how everyone else seemed to move on like nothing happened—except me. I had done everything in my power to get Flora to come back a
FLORA’S POV The house was strangely quiet when I returned. A different kind of quiet—the kind that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. I had expected to see the eviction crew or at least hear the heavy thud of footsteps and the banging of boxes, but when I stepped inside, it was just... still. “Where did they go?” I asked, frowning at Sasha and my mother, who were seated in the tiny living room. They exchanged a look, and Sasha shrugged. “Got a call,” she replied, gesturing vaguely toward the front door as if the answer lay somewhere out there. “One minute, they were muttering about getting things done ‘swiftly and efficiently,’ the next minute they packed up and left like their pants were on fire.” I blinked, trying to process that. Jayden’s men were never that easy to get rid of. I knew him too well—he was the kind of narcissist who loved to dangle power over people like a puppet master yanking strings. This was his favorite kind of game: to push until you felt
FLORA’S POV Alexander Bennett. Mr. Bennett stood there, in all his intimidating, finely-tailored glory, with the air of someone who owned the world—or at least, a very large portion of it. His sharp gaze was fixed intently on me, making my heart hammer in my chest like a malfunctioning drum. For a moment, I felt completely rooted to the spot, words utterly failing me. “I—Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” I finally blurted, my face flaming red as I scrambled to set the tray down, reaching instinctively for napkins or, better yet, a hole in the ground to disappear into. Just when I managed to find a napkin and handed it to him, Ms. Anderson swooped in like a hawk spotting a mouse. “Oh my God, Sir!” she shrieked, somehow materializing beside me in an instant. “Look what you’ve done, you clumsy, good-for-nothing—how could you spill coffee on the chairman of all people?!” I shrank under her withering glare. “I’m so sorry,” I muttered, my voice barely more than a whisper. But Ms. Anderson
JAYDEN’S POV 'I love you so much, Jay.' Flora’s soft, melodious voice floated into my sleep like a distant echo. It was a phrase she used to say every morning without fail, and I didn’t usually respond when she said this to me, but today… today, I felt elated. It seemed like something was different, and my heart was filled with warmth. “Wake up, wake up, wake up,” she continued with a gentle persistence. “Your bath is ready, and I’ve picked out your outfit. I promise you’ll love this color. It goes really well with your tie.” I groaned, rolling over in bed, refusing to open my eyes. I could almost see her, sitting beside me, her radiant smile brightening up the room. I had been exhausted after my trip last night, and the last thing I wanted was to get up early and head to work. But then, the blare of my alarm shattered the illusion. I flinched at the shrill sound, feeling a surge of annoyance. Why wasn’t Flora turning it off like she always did? I squeezed my eyes shut, stu
FLORA’S POV Rockshire Fashion Night was finally here—or, well, tomorrow, and I was practically vibrating with excitement. A whole month and a few weeks of sketches, late nights, and caffeine-fueled brainstorming sessions were about to pay off. My designs were ready to shine, and I was more than eager to prove myself. But, as with most things in my life lately, joy didn’t come without its shadows. The situation with Alex was a thorn in my side, and not the sexy kind that made you tingle. Ever since Jayden’s unexpected and dramatic office visit, Alex and I had been operating on an unspoken no-contact policy. I was furious at him for his aloofness and remarks about that situation, and to make matters worse, he didn’t even seem phased by my cold shoulder. He mirrored my behavior with frustrating ease, keeping everything between us strictly professional, even when we were alone. Sure, I caught him sneaking a look my way more than once. His gaze always holds a flicker of... somethin
MELISSA’S POV “Don’t even think about calling me again!” I hissed into the phone. “Do you have any idea what I’ve got on the line here? I will have you arrested if you ruin this for me! I’m getting married in a few days to the father of my child. What is wrong with you?” I hung up, almost flinging the phone across the room, but my heart leaped when it started ringing again. This time, I froze as my father’s name appeared on the screen. I wondered if the caller had already reached out to him. I swallowed hard and picked up. “Hi, Daddy,” I greeted, injecting a forced brightness into my voice. “How are you holding up, princess?” my father’s deep, steady voice rumbled through the line “I’m fine,” I said, exhaling shakily. “Just busy with wedding preparations. Jayden wants something small and private, but Lisette is pushing for something big and elaborate.” “Go with Jayden’s preference,” he said firmly. “The less attention we draw to this, the better, especially when it all come
FLORA’S POV Alex stood by his window, his silhouette stark against the city skyline. He was now stripped to only his crisp white button-down shirt. One hand was shoved casually into his pocket, while the other gripped a glass of whiskey like it was the only thing tethering him to sanity. Even with his back to me, I knew he felt my presence. But he didn’t turn around. I cleared my throat, trying to gather my thoughts. “Sir, um...” My voice faltered. Jayden’s words still echoed in my head, jumbled and raw. “I’m... I’m really sorry about that.” Alex finally turned, his expression calm but distant. His piercing gaze didn’t meet mine as he downed the rest of his drink in one swift motion. He walked back to his desk with measured steps, setting the empty glass down before taking a seat. “David just called,” he said, his tone flat. “The mask party has been rescheduled to the night of the Rockshire Fashion event. Adjust my schedule accordingly.” I blinked at him, completely thrown. W
FLORA’S POV I bolted from my desk, forgetting to shut down my computer as Jolly trailed behind me, her heels clicking against the tiled floor. A small crowd of employees had gathered by the hallway leading to my office, their hushed murmurs mingling with one loud, unmistakable voice. Jayden. By the time I reached the scene, it was clear why everyone was gawking. Jayden was standing at the center, yelling my name like a lunatic. The receptionist, visibly flustered, was trying her best to block him from storming in any further. “She’s my wife, and I need to see her!” Jayden bellowed. Heat crept up my neck as mortification washed over me. My fists clenched at his audacity. Did he seriously think this was acceptable behavior? “I’ll take it from here,” I told the receptionist, forcing calmness into my voice. She hesitated, glancing between Jayden and me as if unsure whether to leave. “Are you sure?” she muttered under her breath, clearly unimpressed. “I was about to call security
FLORA’S POV I practically sprinted toward Alex as he stepped out of his sleek car, a beaming smile plastered across my face. I probably looked like a kid seeing candy, but I couldn’t help it. “Good morning, Mr. Bennett,” I greeted, praying my blush wasn’t as noticeable as it felt. Alex’s lips curled into that irresistible smile that made my heart do somersaults. “Good morning, Ms. Roberts. Did you have a good night?” he asked casually, strolling into the busy reception hall like he owned the world—which, technically, he kind of did. Good night? Oh, he had no idea. After what he did to me, my night had been nothing short of spectacular. But we had agreed to keep things strictly professional at work, so I swallowed the urge to gush and slapped on my professional face instead. “Yes, sir,” I replied, keeping my tone as neutral as possible. As we moved through the reception, the familiar chorus of “Good morning, Mr. Bennett” followed us like an entourage. Alex nodded politely whi
JAYDEN’S POV "That is absolutely not happening," I snapped, looking from my mother to Mr. Pembroke, who sat there with his eyes fixed on me, burning with barely contained fury. "I just got out of a marriage. What do you think people are going to say if I jump straight into another one?" Mr. Pembroke's lips tightened as he leaned forward. "Well, you should have thought about that before you knocked my daughter up," he spat back, his tone like cold steel. "I don’t care how you do it, Jayden, but Melissa will be married before this bump is obvious to the world." He cast a withering glance in my direction, making it clear that he expected no arguments. I ran a hand through my hair, muttering, “This was a mistake,” loud enough that I hoped it would echo off the walls and sink into someone’s stubborn skull. My heart felt like it was going to beat right out of my chest as I paced the room. How did I even get here? Mr. Pembroke stood up and looked around. "I will be waiting for an i
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
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 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