Leah Carrington thought she’d buried her past—and her feelings—long ago. Married to a kind, dependable man, she’s built a life of stability, even if it lacks the spark she secretly craves. But when her estranged father pulls her into a high-profile business collaboration with a mysterious company, Leah discovers the shocking truth: the man behind it is Dwight, her first love, who disappeared just days before their wedding. Now, forced to work alongside the man who broke her heart, Leah must confront long-buried emotions, uncover the secrets of Dwight’s betrayal, and decide if she’ll follow her head—or her heart.
View MoreThe hours seem to drag on as I sit in the conference room, mentally preparing for the meeting. Ava is there, assisting with the setup, and I can see the eagerness in her eyes. She’s new to this corporate world, and I can’t help but appreciate her enthusiasm and dedication.The door opens, and my father steps inside with a few of his board members following him. His sharp gaze scans the room before settling on me, his expression unreadable. He takes his seat at the table, and the room falls into quiet anticipation. I can feel his presence—always commanding, always expecting perfection.“Leah,” my father greets me with a curt nod, his voice low. He doesn’t need to say more; his words always carry weight.“Dad,” I reply, keeping my tone neutral, though the knot in my stomach tightens. I quickly look around the room, avoiding his eyes for a moment to steady myself. The tension between us is palpable, and I’m acutely aware of every glance from the board members.The door opens again, and D
At exactly eleven, I stand outside Dwight Spencer’s office, inhaling deeply before knocking.“Come in,” his voice calls from inside.I push the door open and step in, immediately met with the sight of him. Dwight Spencer, composed and effortlessly put together, sits behind his desk in a navy-blue suit. His eyes meet mine, sharp and unreadable.I shut the door behind me, keeping my stance firm. “Let’s make this quick.”He doesn’t acknowledge my hostility. Instead, he gestures to the chair in front of him. “Sit.”I hesitate for a moment, then walk toward the chair. I’m here to do business, not engage in petty power plays. I sit, adjusting the hem of my blouse as I settle into the chair, making sure I’m as professional as possible. This is work. Nothing else.His gaze remains steady, and for a brief moment, I wonder if he’s looking at me differently. Dwight always had a way of making you feel like the only person in the room—whether it was his commanding presence or the intense, quiet wa
By the time I arrive at the office the next morning, I’ve already convinced myself that today will be different. That I won’t let Dwight Spencer affect me. That I won’t let the past creep into the present.It’s a lie, of course.I’m still unsettled from last night—Ethan’s words, the realization that he’s right. That Dwight didn’t die, didn’t have an accident, didn’t lose his memory. He simply left. And now, I’m expected to work with him as if none of it happened.A young woman intercepts me the moment I step into the building. She’s bright-eyed and enthusiastic, looking a few years younger than me.“You must be Miss Carrington,” she says, offering a cheerful smile. “I’m Ava. I’ve been assigned as your assistant.”I nod, shaking her hand. “Nice to meet you.”“It’s nice to meet you too.” Her eyes scan my hair with pure admiration. “I had been told I’d know you by the color of your hair. You have the most gorgeous hair.”I chuckle, feeling a little conscious as I pat down my natural aubu
As I drive back, my mind is overwhelmed with thoughts of Dwight. I'd always imagined what it would be like to see him again—on those long, lonely nights when the ache of missing him became too much to bear.In my mind, I pictured him pulling me into his arms, kissing me deeply, and never letting me go. He would tell me that he missed me and was never going to leave again.Foolishly, I'd believed it. I had let him convince me, during our time together, that he was truly in love with me.I was so stupid—naive, young, and foolishly in love. How could I have been so blind?But today, when Dwight looked at me, it was as if I meant nothing to him. I feel the sting of his indifference all over again.The truth was obvious now; Dwight had not been kidnapped, nor had he gotten into a ghastly car accident and died. Dwight had simply wanted nothing to do with me again and had left.He hadn't been wrenched from my arms by death. Dwight had left of his own accord. The urge to cry hits me, but I f
Leah's POV (Two days later…) Dwight Spencer. The man who shattered my world and forced me to rebuild it piece by painful piece.I stare up at the towering structure before me, sleek and monolithic, its dark-tinted glass revealing nothing of what lies inside. There’s no grand logo stamped across the entrance, no bold declaration of ownership—just a name, subtly etched in polished steel near the door. Glimmr. It’s almost an afterthought, as if the man behind it prefers to let power speak for itself rather than parade it.“This is one hell of a building,” Patricia, my father’s executive assistant, murmurs, her tone tinged with awe. I nod absently, swallowing hard. “It is,” I reply, though my voice wavers slightly. Dwight's company name is etched boldly into the sleek silver plaque by the entrance. It looms over me like a silent dare, challenging me to step inside. Without another word, Patricia and I push through the glass doors, entering a pristine lobby bathed in soft, natural ligh
Her picture taunts me from the screen. Leah Carrington. The woman I loved more than life itself. The woman I lost not to time, not to death, but to another man.Her hazel eyes, even through the cold detachment of a photograph, cut through my carefully constructed walls. They seem to ask me the one question I can never answer: Why didn’t you come back sooner?But I did. God, I did. It just wasn’t enough.I lean back in my chair, dragging a hand down my face as the memories resurface. They always do when I think of Leah. I’ve tried to keep her locked away in some deep, hidden part of my mind, but she always finds her way back, clawing her way into my thoughts.I remember the warmth of her smile, so bright it could chase away the darkest storm. The way she’d throw her head back when she laughed, her hair cascading down her shoulders in waves that always smelled like lavender. I remember how she used to dance barefoot in the rain, pulling me along with her, laughing like the world couldn’
Leah’s POV“Come on, you’ve been pacing for the last thirty minutes. Tell me what is really going on.” Ethan’s voice pulls me from my spiraling thoughts, but I don’t stop moving. My mind is too tangled, too restless. “It’s my father,” I answer with a sigh, finally dropping onto the edge of the bed. Ethan props himself up on one elbow, watching me closely. “What about him?” I shake my head ruefully. “I’m sorry, I can’t. Father says it’s confidential information.” I lie. His expression darkens. “Seriously, Leah?” He pushes himself into a sitting position, raking a hand through his messy hair. “After the night we had, you’re still shutting me out?” My chest tightens. Last night had been perfect. A rooftop dinner under the stars, wine that tasted like velvet on my tongue, laughter that felt effortless. I had wanted to say goodnight and return home alone, but Ethan had stopped me. "It’s been too perfect to end here," he had murmured, intertwining our fingers. "Let me stay."
Leah's POVI jerk awake at the shrilling sound of the telephone, my heart pounding in protest at the abrupt interruption of sleep. Beside me, Ethan groans, burying his face into the pillow. “Babe, please, make it stop.” I sigh, untangling myself from the sheets and padding toward the opaque desk where the telephone lays. "Leah Carrington here," I snap into the speaker, still groggy. "Leah." My father's gruff voice filters through the receiver, instantly jolting me fully awake. My heart picks up speed at the familiar tone, and I swallow hard. Father never calls. As a busy man, he’s never had time for idle chitchat. If he’s calling, it means it’s important. I straighten instinctively. "Yes, Father." "Judith has mailed you a few documents I would like you to look over. There’s an important project I will need you on." I swallow hard, taken aback. My father has never needed me to look over official documents—not after I had *disappointed* him by going after my passion: eve
Leah's POV"Congratulations, Cece!" I exclaim, pushing myself out of my chair and throwing my arms around my best friend. I hug her tightly, her fuller figure pressing against my smaller frame. "Thank you," Cece beams as I pull back. Her eyes shimmer with happy tears, and her fingers lovingly trace the diamond-studded ring. Her expression grows thoughtful, as if she’s replaying the moment in her mind. I can’t decide what I admire more: the dazzling ring on her finger or the radiant smile lighting up her face. "You know," she begins, her voice soft, "I never saw it coming. Shaun completely took me by surprise." She glances up at me, her cheeks flushed with joy. I smile knowingly. "Well, I guess now is the best time to tell you—I was in on his secret." Her eyes widen in shock. "Wait, what? You knew?" I laugh at her comical expression. "Of course! It was hard to keep it from you, but Shaun made me promise not to say a word. You have no idea how difficult it was!" Cece looks
Leah's POV"Congratulations, Cece!" I exclaim, pushing myself out of my chair and throwing my arms around my best friend. I hug her tightly, her fuller figure pressing against my smaller frame. "Thank you," Cece beams as I pull back. Her eyes shimmer with happy tears, and her fingers lovingly trace the diamond-studded ring. Her expression grows thoughtful, as if she’s replaying the moment in her mind. I can’t decide what I admire more: the dazzling ring on her finger or the radiant smile lighting up her face. "You know," she begins, her voice soft, "I never saw it coming. Shaun completely took me by surprise." She glances up at me, her cheeks flushed with joy. I smile knowingly. "Well, I guess now is the best time to tell you—I was in on his secret." Her eyes widen in shock. "Wait, what? You knew?" I laugh at her comical expression. "Of course! It was hard to keep it from you, but Shaun made me promise not to say a word. You have no idea how difficult it was!" Cece looks...
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