Ethan's POVThe rage hasn't left me.It's still pulsing—white-hot and unrelenting—beneath my skin like magma, ready to erupt. I pace the floor, each step echoing against the marble tiles. My fingers twitch restlessly. Every few seconds, I glance down at my phone. The last message I had sent him stares mockingly back at me.Did she look... happy?I want to know more than anything. Had my absence in her life caused her to sigh out in relief?Was she mourning me—the way she had mourned Dwight? Or was I just a pesky fly she had been dying to get rid of?I scan my phone screen again... waiting... anticipating. But no text bubble shoots up, nothing to indicate that the thug is getting ready to respond.He'd better not be messing with me. If he's holding out, making me wait on purpose, I'll break his damn face the next time I see him.I'm not in the mood.Not when Leah's out there, gallivanting like nothing happened. Like she hadn't just ghosted me, like she hadn't stopped picking my calls,
Leah’s POV I’ve been waiting for over an hour.At first, I was patient. Understanding, even. Maybe he was caught up. Maybe something urgent had come up. Maybe Carter had forgotten to let me know that Dwight would be a while. But now—now I’m just restless.My fingers tap incessantly against the arm of the leather chair. The soft whoosh of the central air system is the only sound in the room, aside from the ticking of the minimalist wall clock. I’ve checked my phone more times than I care to admit. No messages. No missed calls.I've tried to keep myself occupied with a few word games, but not even that can keep me from overthinking.Does Dwight even want me here? Had he truly written me off after he left Greece?I think about that night again... About his confession, those brutal truths I'd stopped myself from thinking about, afraid that if I did, I'd go insane. Or worse...I'd realize that maybe Dwight was truly not the problem. Maybe it was me all along. Maybe it was my impatience...
Dwight’s POVThe moment I see her, my chest tightens.I hadn’t expected her to show up. Not after everything that happened in Greece. Not after the things I said—the things I should never have said. And yet, here she is. Standing right by my desk, not flinching, not hesitating, not saying a word.I don’t know why she’s here. Maybe it’s the fire. Maybe she heard about the damage and thought I needed... what, comfort? Closure? Pity?I glance beyond her shoulder toward the office door, where Jordan and the two security consultants had exited just moments before. They had barely left when Carter quietly motioned toward her, and now she’s standing in my office, looking as composure as ever. I take a moment to study her, taking in the long gray skirt that hugs her in the laugh places, as well as the I wey silk blouse that molds against her frame. My eyes linger around her chest and the memory of how delectable she'd looked that night in her hotel room back in Greece bombards. I suddenly
Ethan's POV The knock comes hard—three quick raps against the front door. I glance up from the laptop screen, where Leah's pictures are littered all over. I'd saved dozens and dozens of pictures since we'd gotten together. Way before we got together...Leah had always been a fantasy. A delightful woman. A sweet little reward I couldn't wait to have—The knock comes again, harder this time, interrupting my thoughts.I don’t call out to announce that the door’s open. I don’t have to. The bastard walks in like he owns the place—like every lock and latch is beneath him. The air changes when he enters. Heavy. Stale. The scent of sweat and something coppery clings to him like a second skin.He steps into the living room, boots leaving faint marks on the pristine tile. His jacket is slung low, his knuckles scraped and red. And I notice—he sees the broken bottle near the bar, the puddle of whiskey dark against the floor. His eyes pass over it, but he doesn’t mention it. Good. Smart."Where a
Leah’s POV The door to Dwight's office clicks shut behind me, the sound final, almost hollow. I take the stairs down this time instead of the elevator, needing movement, needing the air, needing anything that isn’t Dwight’s silence echoing in my ears.The moment I step outside, the city air hits me. Not quite fresh, not quite foul—just New York, as usual. The wind tosses my hair as I walk toward my Audi, fingers curling tighter around the keys. My heels click against the pavement, each step a drumbeat of emotion I refuse to name. I slide into the driver’s seat, shut the door, and stare through the windshield.For a long moment, I just sit there. Let the noise of the street muffle into background static. Dwight's office felt like a closing chapter, the kind of ending I hadn’t prepared for, no matter how many times I told myself I was over him.I hadn't expected him to be so cold. Or to take the resignation so seriously.I shut my eyes as I recall the outburst in his conference room, a
Ethan's POV Evening sits on my shoulders like a soaked coat—heavy, suffocating. I’ve been pacing the same strip of carpeted floor in my living room for over an hour now, waiting for a call that hasn’t come. The phone’s on the table, screen face up, and every time it lights up, I nearly twist my neck snapping around to check it. Still nothing. No message. No threat. No update.Silence.That thug should’ve called by now. Should’ve sent a text, a picture, something. Proof that the housekeeper was taken. That the job was done. I paid good money for swift execution, not radio silence.But here I am. Waiting.I rake both hands through my hair, frustration buzzing in my jaw. And underneath it, something worse—fear. Not the surface kind either. The real kind. The kind that crawls under your skin and pulses against your ribcage. The kind that knows you crossed a line too deep to walk back from.I shouldn’t have laid hands on her.My housekeeper. The annoyingly curious woman who never knew whe
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 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
Ethan's POV Evening sits on my shoulders like a soaked coat—heavy, suffocating. I’ve been pacing the same strip of carpeted floor in my living room for over an hour now, waiting for a call that hasn’t come. The phone’s on the table, screen face up, and every time it lights up, I nearly twist my neck snapping around to check it. Still nothing. No message. No threat. No update.Silence.That thug should’ve called by now. Should’ve sent a text, a picture, something. Proof that the housekeeper was taken. That the job was done. I paid good money for swift execution, not radio silence.But here I am. Waiting.I rake both hands through my hair, frustration buzzing in my jaw. And underneath it, something worse—fear. Not the surface kind either. The real kind. The kind that crawls under your skin and pulses against your ribcage. The kind that knows you crossed a line too deep to walk back from.I shouldn’t have laid hands on her.My housekeeper. The annoyingly curious woman who never knew whe
Leah’s POV The door to Dwight's office clicks shut behind me, the sound final, almost hollow. I take the stairs down this time instead of the elevator, needing movement, needing the air, needing anything that isn’t Dwight’s silence echoing in my ears.The moment I step outside, the city air hits me. Not quite fresh, not quite foul—just New York, as usual. The wind tosses my hair as I walk toward my Audi, fingers curling tighter around the keys. My heels click against the pavement, each step a drumbeat of emotion I refuse to name. I slide into the driver’s seat, shut the door, and stare through the windshield.For a long moment, I just sit there. Let the noise of the street muffle into background static. Dwight's office felt like a closing chapter, the kind of ending I hadn’t prepared for, no matter how many times I told myself I was over him.I hadn't expected him to be so cold. Or to take the resignation so seriously.I shut my eyes as I recall the outburst in his conference room, a
Ethan's POV The knock comes hard—three quick raps against the front door. I glance up from the laptop screen, where Leah's pictures are littered all over. I'd saved dozens and dozens of pictures since we'd gotten together. Way before we got together...Leah had always been a fantasy. A delightful woman. A sweet little reward I couldn't wait to have—The knock comes again, harder this time, interrupting my thoughts.I don’t call out to announce that the door’s open. I don’t have to. The bastard walks in like he owns the place—like every lock and latch is beneath him. The air changes when he enters. Heavy. Stale. The scent of sweat and something coppery clings to him like a second skin.He steps into the living room, boots leaving faint marks on the pristine tile. His jacket is slung low, his knuckles scraped and red. And I notice—he sees the broken bottle near the bar, the puddle of whiskey dark against the floor. His eyes pass over it, but he doesn’t mention it. Good. Smart."Where a
Dwight’s POVThe moment I see her, my chest tightens.I hadn’t expected her to show up. Not after everything that happened in Greece. Not after the things I said—the things I should never have said. And yet, here she is. Standing right by my desk, not flinching, not hesitating, not saying a word.I don’t know why she’s here. Maybe it’s the fire. Maybe she heard about the damage and thought I needed... what, comfort? Closure? Pity?I glance beyond her shoulder toward the office door, where Jordan and the two security consultants had exited just moments before. They had barely left when Carter quietly motioned toward her, and now she’s standing in my office, looking as composure as ever. I take a moment to study her, taking in the long gray skirt that hugs her in the laugh places, as well as the I wey silk blouse that molds against her frame. My eyes linger around her chest and the memory of how delectable she'd looked that night in her hotel room back in Greece bombards. I suddenly
Leah’s POV I’ve been waiting for over an hour.At first, I was patient. Understanding, even. Maybe he was caught up. Maybe something urgent had come up. Maybe Carter had forgotten to let me know that Dwight would be a while. But now—now I’m just restless.My fingers tap incessantly against the arm of the leather chair. The soft whoosh of the central air system is the only sound in the room, aside from the ticking of the minimalist wall clock. I’ve checked my phone more times than I care to admit. No messages. No missed calls.I've tried to keep myself occupied with a few word games, but not even that can keep me from overthinking.Does Dwight even want me here? Had he truly written me off after he left Greece?I think about that night again... About his confession, those brutal truths I'd stopped myself from thinking about, afraid that if I did, I'd go insane. Or worse...I'd realize that maybe Dwight was truly not the problem. Maybe it was me all along. Maybe it was my impatience...
Ethan's POVThe rage hasn't left me.It's still pulsing—white-hot and unrelenting—beneath my skin like magma, ready to erupt. I pace the floor, each step echoing against the marble tiles. My fingers twitch restlessly. Every few seconds, I glance down at my phone. The last message I had sent him stares mockingly back at me.Did she look... happy?I want to know more than anything. Had my absence in her life caused her to sigh out in relief?Was she mourning me—the way she had mourned Dwight? Or was I just a pesky fly she had been dying to get rid of?I scan my phone screen again... waiting... anticipating. But no text bubble shoots up, nothing to indicate that the thug is getting ready to respond.He'd better not be messing with me. If he's holding out, making me wait on purpose, I'll break his damn face the next time I see him.I'm not in the mood.Not when Leah's out there, gallivanting like nothing happened. Like she hadn't just ghosted me, like she hadn't stopped picking my calls,
Ethan's POVI can’t sit still.The leather beneath me creaks every damn time I shift, but it’s not enough to keep me grounded. My knee bounces like a drumbeat I can’t silence, my hands clench and unclench around the phone that hasn’t given me a single update. Not one. Not from her. Not from anyone.I glance at the screen again. Nothing. Just the cold glow of the home screen mocking me.No missed calls. No new messages from Leah. Nothing.I swipe up, check our last conversation for the hundredth time. It was brief. Distant. Polite. The kind of message you send to someone you’ve decided not to love anymore. I start typing a new one—Call me when you can—but delete it before it gets the chance to sit in her inbox unread.She won't reply. She’s completely shut me out. Has probably moved on by now.I toss the phone beside me on the couch, but the emptiness of my palm instantly drives me insane. I snatch it back. My thumb hovers over the contact marked Unknown—a number I’ve memorized, though
Leah's POVI linger by the window longer than necessary, clutching my now lukewarm mug of tea. I find myself shifting back to thoughts of Dwight.He hadn’t called.Carter had picked up when I called the office. Polite but clinical, offering no details other than "He's in a meeting." And after that—nothing. No follow-up. No text. No call. No acknowledgment that I’d reached out at all.The ache in my chest is one I’m becoming familiar with. It’s not loud. It doesn’t scream or demand attention. It’s subtle—like a soft pressing weight against my ribs, constant and steady.He’s avoiding me. I know it now.I leave the window and place the empty mug on the counter. The apartment feels too still now, too quiet despite the city noise spilling in through the glass. I can’t do this. I can’t sit here another minute wondering if he’s okay, if the fire has weighed on him, if he’s drowning in all of it alone.Decision made, I head back to the bedroom.I start getting ready for work.It feels strange
Leah's POVThe city glimmers beneath me, framed by floor-to-ceiling windows as I move through my penthouse. The marble tiles are cool against my bare feet, the soft hum of ambient jazz weaving through the quiet as I begin my nightly routine.In the en-suite bathroom, warm lights glow from behind a gilded mirror. I stand before it, slowly removing the remnants of the evening. Each product—cleansing oil, foaming wash, rose-infused toner—lines the counter like an artful arrangement, the routine itself a ritual of comfort. The heated towel beneath my fingertips is plush, indulgent. But tonight, the luxury feels secondary. My mind lingers elsewhere.Dinner with Dad.His warmth, though subtle, had unsettled me more than his silence ever did. It wasn’t just the way he asked about my welfare or offered to refill my glass—it was the effort. The intentionality behind every quiet gesture. For a man like Felix Carrington, even the smallest shift felt seismic.I dab my face dry and change into sof