ALEX’S POV What the fuck is wrong with me? It’s been a week, and I still can’t get the image of Flora kneeling in my office out of my head. I keep telling myself to forget about it, that it was just an embarrassing misunderstanding. But it’s like my brain didn’t get the memo. Her wide, uncertain eyes are seared into my thoughts, resurfacing at the most inconvenient times—during meetings, phone calls, and even in the middle of the night when I should be dead asleep. I’ve tried everything. I asked David to line up more Subs, hoping to distract myself. He delivered, of course—each girl more stunning than the last, all eager to please. But no matter who walked through my door, none of them felt right. And it’s not like I even know what “right” is supposed to feel like anymore. All I know is that none of them were her. So, I did the only thing I could think of: I avoided her. I kept a careful distance at the office and stayed away from her department. Out of sight, out of mind, right? W
FLORA’S POV “You okay?” His voice was a low rumble, laced with a roughness that sent a shiver straight down my spine. I swallowed hard, forcing myself not to react to the heat emanating from him. His fingers tightened just slightly on my hips; a gentle but possessive touch that made every nerve in my body stand at attention. Then, ever so slowly, he turned me to face him. “I—I’m fine,” I stammered, trying to sound coherent. But it was hard to think straight when I was plastered against his bare, sculpted chest, drenched to the bone, and struggling not to combust on the spot. “You sure?” His eyes roamed over me, lingering on my face, my lips—my entire trembling body. Instead of stepping back, he leaned closer, his breath warm against the side of my neck. “You’re shaking.” Of course, I was shaking. How could I not be shaking? My brain screamed at me to move—to put some distance between us—but my body refused to cooperate. It was like my entire being was locked in a battle: the s
FLORA'S POV He didn’t stop until we were inside what had to be his bedroom. The space was massive, filled with muted colors and an air of quiet sophistication. He gently lowered me onto the edge of his ridiculously large bed, making sure I was steady before stepping back. “We’ll get you out of those wet clothes, get you warmed up, and then I’ll check your foot,” he said, his tone casual. Before I could process his words, he turned and disappeared into the adjoining walk-in closet. I blinked, still trying to catch up with what had just happened. He came back a moment later, dressed in a pair of loose navy shorts and a white tank top that clung to his broad chest in a way that did nothing to ease my frazzled nerves. He tossed me a shirt—one of his shirts. My fingers clenched around the soft fabric as I stared up at him, completely bewildered. “What...what am I supposed to do with this?” He arched a brow. “Wear it. Unless you would prefer to stay in those drenched clothes?” I sta
FLORA’S POV My heart felt like it was about to explode. The rapid, frantic beat was deafening, making my every breath sound louder in the thick, electric silence between us. "I—I didn’t mean to intrude. I just..." I stammered, my gaze darting around, trying to find anything—anything—to focus on other than the dangerous look in Alex’s eyes. But he didn’t seem remotely fazed by my weak attempt at an explanation. He took a step inside, closing the door behind him softly, sealing us inside together. The sound of the latch clicking felt like the toll of a bell—a point of no return. “No need to explain,” he murmured, his gaze raking over me like a physical touch. I felt pinned under it, every inch of my skin burning under his scrutiny. “But now that you’re here, Miss Roberts… perhaps you would like a proper lesson.” Heat, potent and overwhelming, assailed me as he took another step forward, closing the gap between us until his scent—clean, musky, with a hint of something dark and
ALEX’S POV My mind was in a whirlwind. I stared at the assistant application forms on my desk, but they weren’t the reason my thoughts were in turmoil. I glanced to my left at the brown manila envelope sitting there, practically taunting me. I knew what was inside it, and I didn’t like it. Not one bit. Last night had tested every ounce of my self-control. Watching Flora stand there, drenched and vulnerable, had me teetering on the edge of losing it. And then... when I caught her in my red room, her curious eyes taking in every inch of my private space... I nearly snapped. It had taken everything in me not to charge at her, to claim her in a way that would leave her breathless and utterly helpless in my hands. But I had reminded myself—she’s my employee. Don’t mix business with pleasure, my internal rule that had, until now, been unbreakable. But with Flora, that rule was becoming more of an illusion, a guideline I was finding harder and harder to follow. I don’t know what it is
FLORA’S POV My heart raced as I made my way to Mr. Bennett’s office. He had asked to see me after work, and I had a sinking feeling about why. If the ground could just open up and swallow me whole before I had to face him, I would take it. No questions asked. Vicky loved my designs and even asked me to create my own for Rockshire Fashion Week. I was ecstatic! After just a week working at Bennett Fashion, I had already earned a promotion. Miss Anderson’s team was full, so Vicky put me on team B, which was fine by me. Sure, no one really spoke to me, but at least I wasn’t being looked down on like before. I went from a lowly office assistant to someone with an actual place on a design team. Each time I thought about it, I had to stop myself from screaming with joy. But my happiness was quickly overshadowed by that message: Alexander Bennett wanted me in his office. Now. How on earth was I supposed to face him after that ridiculous dream I had this morning? Moaning his name out loud
FLORA’S POV Two weeks passed, and everything between Alex and me remained strictly professional. Just like he promised, he gave me all the time I needed to work on my designs, and sometimes, he even threw in a compliment or two, offering suggestions that surprisingly made sense. He had a way of making me laugh, and sometimes he would buy me lunch—much to my surprise, since I was used to fetching coffee for people, not the other way around. Still, every time I saw him, my heart would pound a little faster, and my pussy still clenched. I didn’t want to disappoint him, and I didn’t want to let those feelings ruin what was growing between us—a friendship, something I hadn’t expected. My studio was tucked away in the annex of his mansion, which used to belong to Vicky. It was far enough from the main house that some days, I wouldn’t even see him after hours of work. I only had two models because I started later than the others, but honestly, I was grateful for the smaller workload. Le
JAYDEN’S POV I watched from across the street as Flora stepped out of his car, her expression dazed, her steps slow as she made her way toward her house. My blood boiled. I’m losing my mind seeing them together like this. I hate Alex more and more with every passing second, especially for going after my wife. I knew Flora had met someone else—why else would she have so conveniently served me those divorce papers? But seeing that that someone was my estranged father made it even worse. Ever since that day she left my office, the man I asked to track her every move reported back that she had walked into The Bennett Group and then, later, ended up at Alex’s place, where she spent the night. That night, I couldn’t sleep a wink, tormented by the images of what they might have been doing. How could Flora possibly find a man twice her age attractive? But who was I kidding? I was lying to myself. Alex is handsome—no, he is the kind of handsome that makes heads turn wherever he goes, despit
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