Jessica's POV The atmosphere in the office was tense as I watched Frank and Isabella engage in their sordid display. I calmly took out the proposal letter with Bright Star from my bag and waved it in the air. With a smile, I said, "What about this proposal letter with Bright Star? They plan to feature our jewelry during the Christmas season." Frank and Isabella looked at the proposal letter in my hand, their faces turning extremely ugly in an instant. Their expressions were filled with disbelief. Everyone from the team gathered around, and in no time, the office was buzzing with discussions. "Bright Star? That's the largest shopping center currently, with no less than a hundred shopping buildings in Los Angeles!" one colleague exclaimed. Another colleague praised generously, "Wow, Jessica, you are really amazing!" Some expressed doubt in a low voice, "This can't be fake, right? She's only been here for a short time. How could she achieve this?" Lillian spoke up,
Jessica's POV Plagiarism? I deliberately frowned at Isabella, "What nonsense are you talking about?" I said this, but in my heart, I felt a sense of relief, as if the sword of Damocles hanging above my head had finally fallen. I had always thought Isabella and her crew would tamper with the production line or the promotional video. I didn't expect them to be waiting for me here. "Your pretense is useless now. Everyone should check X," Isabella said with a gloating tone. I opened my computer and found that there was already a trending topic on X, #AlphaCompanyChristmasCollectionPlagiarism. Upon checking, it was a personal designer named Terry who claimed that I had previously wanted to collaborate with him, but the collaboration didn't work out. Now he found that our newly launched Christmas Love Song had used his design ideas. He also attached an alleged sketch of his creative ideas. The entire office instantly erupted like a bomb had gone off, completely breakin
Zander's POV In the Harrison Group, the CEO's office. I was not working at my desk as usual. At that moment, I was restless, pacing back and forth in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, my hands clenching and relaxing unconsciously. Looking at the endless stream of cars outside the window, I couldn't calm my heart. I rarely have such restless moments. Jessica's situation was like a huge rock pressing on my heart, preventing me from focusing on work. I'm not sure about her current situation. I don't know if she will be hurt by this frame-up? I know her talent and efforts well and never believed she would do something like plagiarism. At that moment, my phone rang. I pressed answer immediately, but Serena's voice came from the other end. "Mr. Harrison, I... I feel rested now. Can I come back to work?" Serena said in a pleasing tone. "There's no rush, take some more time to rest," I said, hanging up without waiting for Serena to respond. She chose the wro
Jessica's POV Alvin was already prepared, and the company's HR and security personnel quickly arrived at the office. Compared to Frank's and Isabella's dejected faces, Lillian seemed a bit reluctant. Before leaving, she looked at me with red eyes and said, "I'm sorry, Jessica, I really had no choice." I looked at her and said, "If you had told me you were forced before you stood up and lied to defame me, I would consider believing you, but now..." "I really wanted to tell you, but I didn't dare..." Lillian said anxiously, then she glanced at Frank beside her and seemed a bit scared as she said, "Moreover, I have helped you a lot." "To be frank, that's your job..." Before I could finish my sentence, the security personnel behind her pushed Lillian's shoulder. She bit her lip and glared at me as she left. "Come to my office," Alvin said, leading the way out of the office. I followed Alvin to his office. Along the way, my mood was complicated yet resolute. I alrea
Jessica's POV The warm water stream felt like Zander's hands, making me excited and nostalgic. As I regained my senses slightly, the bathtub was filled with hot water, and I lay down in it. The warm water enveloped my entire body. My spirit began to relax, and my memories started to scatter. For some reason, I thought about my first time with Zander. He removed the coat off my body, and I laid down on the soft, comfortable bed. Taking a deep breath, I parted my legs open. He came down and sat between my legs. His fingertips traced down the bare flesh of my legs as I quivered out of fear. His fingers curled around the edges of my underwear as he hovered his masculine body over mine. I felt myself shrinking underneath him. His wicked glare burned through me as the underwear came off. His finger ran through my entrance. I winced and wondered what he was doing to me. A shiver of anticipation ran through my mind as he moved down. Fire raced through my body as Z
Jessica's POV Bullshit! Did he really think I'd buy such a lame excuse? I'd heard from Johnny that Downey had gotten a beating for harassing a female bartender before. Given his lousy behavior, there was no doubt that this was deliberate. I forgot to ask when their vacation ended and left the door unlocked. "You need to get out of here right now!" I pointed at the bathroom door, my voice dripping with anger. Downey shifted his weight, taking a slow half-step back. His dawdling was clearly an act. He had no intention of leaving so easily. His disgusting gaze swept over me, "Hey, are you feeling unwell? You look flushed. How about I help you out?" As he spoke, he inched closer with that hand I despised. Seeing his approaching arm, I hurled the cup in my hand at him and shouted, "Don't you dare touch me!" He took two steps back, still mumbling, "Don't get so excited. It's a misunderstanding. I really didn't mean it. I always stop by your room when I'm back, didn't
Four days ago. Zander's POV With the Alpha's announcement and the shift in public sentiment online, the malicious reporting against Jessica's designs finally came to an end. I knew in my heart that Alvin valued her highly, and she shouldn't face any more significant troubles. Yet, not being able to see her, I was still deeply worried. I had to admit it to myself-I missed her so much. Unable to focus on work all day, I drove back to our villa. As I walked through the door, I realized every corner was filled with our memories. Those beautiful moments spent with her kept surfacing in my mind, causing my heart to ache even more. I paced back and forth in the room and eventually picked up my phone to call Dwayne. "Hey, Dwayne," I said. My tone was a bit impatient. "Mr. Harrison, what can I do for you?" Dwayne's voice came through the phone. "Get me a new phone and a new number," I said. "No problem. I'm on it right away," Dwayne responded. As my assistant, he kn
Zander's POV Seeing Tawny at Warren's house at that time was, to be honest, quite unexpected. However, the incident from the dinner party was still fresh in my mind, and the subsequent gossip and ridicule I faced had been quite unpleasant. Thus, it was difficult for me to have a good attitude towards Tawny. Tawny looked at me with anticipation, her eyes as if waiting for my response. I took my coffee cup and drained it in one go, showing no intention of talking to her. Her gaze gradually shifted from expectation to grievance, with a hint of loss flickering in her slightly lowered eyes. At that moment, Winnie came out of the kitchen carrying a tray of vibrantly colored macarons. Her eyes swept between Tawny and me, instantly sensing the awkward atmosphere. "These are macarons I just baked. Try some," she said, placing the tray on the table. Then, with a smile, she explained to me, "Tawny's parents have gone on a trip, and I thought the poor girl would be lonely at
Jessica's POVI don't know when I drifted off into a deep slumber, but I remember waking up to the sweet embrace of a dream.As the first rays of morning sunlight gently caressed my face, I awoke with an unprecedented sense of relief.Upon arriving at the dining room, Justin and Aurelia were already seated at the table.Justin was flipping through a finance magazine, while Aurelia sipped her morning tea quietly."Good morning," I greeted them with a smile.The maid approached and placed a glass of milk in front of me."Please replace it with juice, thank you." I instructed the maid on a whim.As usual, Justin casually cut his food while nonchalantly asking, "How many days do you plan to stay at home this time?"I was taken aback for a moment, realizing that deep down, I was looking forward to returning to Los Angeles.After pretending to ponder for a moment, I said, "I'll be heading back tomorrow.""What?" Aurelia looked at me in surprise.My face immediately felt hot. I coughed light
Jessica's POVThe clear sound of the notification was jarringly out of place in the quiet room, instantly shattering my reminiscence.I walked over to the desk and saw a new email on the laptop screen.The unfamiliar sender piqued my curiosity. With a click of the mouse, I opened the email to find a video file attached.Could this be some kind of virus?Despite my concerns, my overwhelming curiosity led me to click play.As the video began to load and the image gradually clarified, my heart sank as if plunged into an icy lake.The video was a surveillance recording. The familiar layout and setting let me instantly identify it as Zander's office.In the footage, a man and a woman were seen entwined, subsequently engaging in intimate acts.The woman, with long and thick golden curls, was straddling the man's lap, slightly tilting her head back.It was Serena!And the man facing away from the camera was indeed Zander. I remembered the suit he was wearing. I must have been standing at the
Jessica's POVI walked into the dining room, where the butler stood respectfully to the side, swiftly pulling out a chair for me.My gaze casually swept across the open kitchen, catching sight of a figure in a pristine white chef's uniform bustling about the stove.Justin seemed to notice my attention and explained, "This is the chef I've specially invited for today. He's a master chef from a three-star Michelin restaurant. His culinary skills are exceptional. You'll get to taste it."I nodded as he skillfully flipped the steak. His every movement was smooth and fluid, as if he was performing an exquisite dance.In no time, a perfectly cooked steak was served in front of me. The tender meat had a delightful caramel color.The side dishes were also arranged with care, resembling a piece of fine art.A small stir in my heart, Justin remembered my favorite medium-rare.As I took a couple of bites of the steak, savoring the wonderful taste of the meat, Aurelia, sitting opposite me, said w
Jessica's POVI stood quietly. Gazing at the bodyguard and the impressive convoy before me, my thoughts inevitably drifting back to my childhood.It was a time deeply branded by my family's unique background.My father, the legendary figure who once commanded the entire Mafia kingdom in the underworld, made a significant decision that changed the fate of our family - entering the business world.However, this decision was not without its challenges.Many rival Mafia families still harbored resentment towards us. They were seeking opportunities to provoke trouble.During those days, my life was surrounded by strict security measures.Whether it was my daily commute to school or occasional outings, I was always accompanied by a group of well-trained bodyguards.Later, Justin made an extremely cautious arrangement.He chose his most trusted subordinate, Johnny, to become my adoptive father.As a result, I spent most of my time living with Johnny.I only returned to New York, to the home
Jessica's POVFrank's voice was so loud. It seemed to make my phone vibrate with his fervor.However, it couldn't quite mask the lack of conviction in his words.Watching his performance, I couldn't help but sneer, "His mind is really strong. He's still lying at this point."Alvin also shook his head helplessly and said, "Otherwise, how could he have been causing so much trouble in Alpha for so many years? People like him have long cultivated a 'strong mindset'."Frank's channel was flooded with more viewers.More and more people began to question him based on the evidence we had released.Frank didn't want to respond, but he had to face it.Just then, there was a knock on his door.Frank was taken aback for a moment, then breathed a sigh of relief.He muttered quietly, "Who's here at this time?"He got up to open the door. When the door opened, his face turned pale instantly.Several police officers stood sternly at the door, one of them saying, "Frank, you are suspected of spreading
Jessica's POVTabitha's words had barely left her lips when Alvin and I exchanged a swift glance.We were confirming our shared suspicions in that instant.Ever since I received that malicious email, I had felt a vague connection to Frank, though lacking concrete evidence and unsure of his further moves.However, it seemed that he was not as formidable as I had imagined. His tactics were just so-so.Alvin nodded slightly and turned to Tabitha, his tone steady and calm, "I see. Release what we prepared earlier.""And that's all?" Tabitha questioned."One more thing, check who is absent now," Alvin added.Tabitha's face was etched with concern. She wanted to say something more but stopped herself, simply responding with an "Okay," before hurrying out of the office.The door closed. Alvin and I took out our phones to check Frank's live stream.On my phone screen, Frank's face loomed large. His expression was exaggerated and almost comical as he spoke at length.He waved his left hand tow
Jessica's POVThere were two reasons for me saying that to Zander.First, I was ready to face the trouble head-on.Second, I was telling Zander that he didn't need to take care of me anymore.After all, I planned to divorce him. Our current intimacy was inappropriate.Zander immediately caught the implication in my words.His eyebrows furrowed. Then, he instinctively retorted, "You're not fully recovered. Why the rush to go to the company?"I looked at him, my tone resolute, "It's just a common fever. I'm not as fragile as you think. Moreover, can I hide here for the rest of my life?"Zander's lips twitched. He wanted to argue, but in the end, he sighed and said nothing.For a couple of years, he knew me well. Once I made a decision, it wasn't easy to change.He looked at me helplessly. I found the creamy mushroom soup suddenly tasteless.I watched him put down his knife and fork. I immediately stood up, taking his plate."I'll clean up today," I said.I stacked the dishes and carried
Zander's POVDamn it! We were just minutes away from tumbling into bed together.The damned lights returned like a cold blade, ruthlessly severing the aura we had been wrapped in.The moment the power came back, it was as if the world snapped back onto its tracks.The flame that had just ignited between us was wavering under the sudden brightness.Jessica seemed to regain her senses with the return of the lights, pushing me away forcefully.I was still dazed, and stumbled backward from the force of her push.Each intimate moment we had just shared shattered like foam.But I was already aroused.My pants taut with the discomfort of my erection.When Jessica's gaze inadvertently swept over the evidence of my arousal, it was like a jolt of electricity, hitting me and causing every nerve to tremble with excitement.Yet the clear embarrassment on her face doused me with cold water, cooling the passion that had just been boiling.She quickly averted her head, avoiding my gaze.Then, she sai
Jessica's POVThe lights suddenly went out. But I knew I was not alone.I tripped over something under my feet and exclaimed in surprise, almost falling. Zander caught me.His hand was on my boob. Damn it. I was not wearing a bra.I quickly stood up.Suddenly, I could smell him-his famili