Asher checked his phone for the third time in five minutes. The last message from Vera still glowed on the screen.I’m sorry.Two words, too vague to bring comfort, too heavy to ignore.He looked up at her door again. Nothing.Not a flicker of light, not the sound of footsteps, not even the shift of curtains. Just silence.Leaning back against his car, Asher ran a hand through his hair, his jaw tensing. It wasn’t like her to shut him out, not like this.Ever since the banquet, things between them had shifted. For the first time, it had felt real. Unfiltered. Like they had finally peeled back the layers and were choosing to see each other clearly, without the armor or pretense.So why the sudden wall?He had replayed their last few interactions in his head a dozen times since he got here. Dinner and breakfast had gone well, better than well. They’d laughed. Teased. And when she’d sent him away with that smug, playful smile, he’d believed it was a promise. That tomorrow would only bring
Vera dropped to her knees, the scent of the flowers wrapping around her like warmth she didn’t know she needed.Her fingers trembled as she brushed them, delicate petals catching the morning light.For a moment, she just sat there. Like a girl left in the wake of something too kind, too patient, too undeserved.Because she didn’t know what to do with gentleness. Not when it came wrapped in Asher Donovan’s hands and spoken in his voice.Not when she’d spent her whole life expecting people to leave.She stood again, carrying the bouquet into the kitchen. Placed it in a tall glass, then stared at it like it had something to say.She didn’t text him back right away. She couldn’t.But she looked at the flowers again before heading to the shower, pressing her fingers to the rim of the vase as if to ground herself in something real. Something soft.He’d come to see her. Waited. And left flowers behind.The steam curled softly around Vera as she stepped into the shower, her bare feet hitting
Vera set the phone down and stood up to get dressed, moving with intention now.She pulled on her favorite pair of jeans, the ones with a single frayed tear at the knee, and an oversized cream sweater that hung just enough off one shoulder to feel casual but still deliberate.She brushed her hair out slowly, braiding it loosely to one side.Today didn’t have to be about pain. Or avoidance. Or ghosts from the past clawing their way into her future.Her fingers hovered over the screen as she opened the message thread again.She didn’t want to sound desperate or cryptic. But she needed him to know that the silence wasn’t rejection. It was just… her learning how to navigate this strange, terrifying thing that felt dangerously close to being real.Vera:I’m sorry for shutting you out. I had some stuff come up that I needed to handle on my own. But I’m here now… if you’re still around.She hit send before she could overthink it.Then, for the first time in hours, she leaned back against the
“Hey,” he said softly.“Hey,” she murmured.For a moment, neither moved.Then, she stepped aside, and he walked in.The smell of basil, lemongrass, and chili filled the apartment as they unpacked the food at her coffee table. Asher set the drinks down, then glanced over at her.“You okay?” he asked, his voice low but clear.Vera paused. She could lie. Could make some joke about craving noodles and call it a night. But something about the way he was looking at her made her lean into honesty instead.“No,” she admitted. “But I will be.”He nodded once, not pressing. Just reached over and handed her a pair of chopsticks.They ate in silence for a while. It wasn’t awkward, though. It was the kind of quiet that hummed with the warmth of unspoken understanding. Like the space between them was no longer filled with games or tension, but healing.Halfway through her pad Thai, Vera set the box down.“You know,” she said slowly, “you didn’t have to come.”Asher glanced at her. “I know.”“But yo
Asher couldn’t help the smile that crept onto his face, soft, a little stunned, deeply affected.Vera, the hurricane in heels, the woman who fought every emotion like it owed her a debt… asleep against him, unguarded.He didn’t move right away. Just looked.She was so different like this. Not because her sharpness was gone, but because the fire in her had quieted to something tender. She looked… young. Not in age, but in vulnerability. And beautiful in that disarming way that made his throat tighten.He didn’t know when he had started falling for her.Maybe it was the first time she’d looked at him like she could read through every lie he’d ever told. Maybe it was when she stood in that banquet hall, proud and unapologetic even when the world tried to make her small.Or maybe, maybe it was right now, when she let herself rest against him without a word, trusting him with her sleep.He gently slid his arm behind her, adjusting so he could stand.Vera stirred slightly, mumbling somethin
Vera threw off the duvet and climbed out of bed in a hurry, her feet meeting the cool wooden floor.Her phone wasn’t on the nightstand. Frowning, she padded over to the couch where she vaguely remembered dozing off, but it was empty, no phone, no Asher.Only then did a small smile tug at the corners of her lips.He’d been a gentleman.Of course he had. He hadn’t pushed, hadn’t tried to take advantage of her vulnerable state. He’d just… let her rest.That thought warmed her more than the morning sun ever could.She reached for a hair tie and swept her hair up into a loose bun, wrapping her robe tighter around her.Her feet carried her through the quiet apartment, every step echoing in her ears.She expected the place to be empty now, assumed Asher must’ve left after tucking her in.But as she turned the corner into the hallway, she froze.There he was.Asher Donovan.Sprawled across the too small velvet couch outside her door, limbs awkwardly folded to fit, his tie loosened, one shoe o
Asher rinsed his face, brushed his teeth with the minty toothpaste she wasn’t kidding about, and let the cold water wash away the grogginess of the night.When he came out a few minutes later, barefoot but looking ten times more awake, the scent of fresh coffee welcomed him like a promise.Vera glanced up from where she stood by the stove, spoon in hand. “So… how was your bathroom experience?”“Life changing,” he said solemnly, holding up the toothbrush she’d left out for him. “I’ve seen the light. Minty. Glorious. I may have to steal it after all.”Vera chuckled, setting the spoon down. “I’ll invoice you.”“Put it on my tab,” he said, slipping onto a stool at the kitchen island. “I’m starting to rack up quite the bill here.”She handed him a mug. “Right. One stolen toothbrush, two cups of coffee, and one night’s rent on the couch.”He took the mug from her, their fingers brushing briefly. “You forgot the emotional support services I provided. You definitely owe me for those.”Vera ti
The silence between them was thick with something new, something that shimmered in the air like static, waiting to be sparked.Vera still hadn’t said the words, but Asher didn’t need them.She didn’t recoil. She didn’t mock. She didn’t run.Instead, she just stood there, watching him with those dark eyes of hers, wide with emotion, with uncertainty, with… something else he couldn’t quite name. But it was enough.So he stepped forward.No questions. No more talk.He simply opened his arms and pulled her gently into him.Vera froze at first, stunned by the sheer warmth of him, by how easily he wrapped around her like he was built to be there.His scent, a blend of something sharp and clean with that faint trace of his cologne, filled her nose, grounding her in the moment.His arms circled her back, strong and steady, yet so careful, as if afraid she might vanish if he held on too tightly.And maybe, for a second, she had wanted to.Because the safety in his embrace felt too real, too ov
Meanwhile…Vera’s Apartment, Late AfternoonAsher sat on the couch in sweatpants and a fitted black tee, Vera’s head resting on his lap while her fingers lazily played with his.A half eaten box of Chinese takeout was perched on the coffee table, and the hum of a soft playlist filled the room.“Don’t you have somewhere important to be?” Vera asked, teasing, eyes closed as she nuzzled into the fabric of his shirt.Asher smirked, brushing her hair back from her face. “I am somewhere important.”She opened one eye, giving him a playful look. “That sounds dangerously close to cheesy.”“It was cheesy,” he admitted, grinning. “But also true.”She smiled, but he could see the worry creeping into her eyes, faint, but there. “I’m not… ruining things for you, am I?”His fingers stilled.He tilted her chin up so she was looking at him. “Vera, the only thing you’re ruining is my ability to focus on anything that’s not you.”She snorted, but her cheeks pinked.“I mean it,” he added, voice soft. “Y
Donovan Estate, Morning Conference RoomThe large oak doors slammed shut, rattling the glass paneling in their frames as Richard Donovan threw the morning newspaper down onto the polished table.The headline was bold, brash, and unforgiving.“Heir Apparent or Scandal Magnet? Asher Donovan’s Wild Romp With Mystery Girl Continues!”The full page spread showed high quality photos from the golf course, Vera in Asher’s arms on the dance floor, and a slightly blurry, but no less damning, shot of the two of them kissing under neon lights at the club.“We’re a goddamn joke!” Richard barked, his hand slamming down on the wood. “Is this what he thinks representing this family looks like?! Playing house with some girl who showed up out of nowhere and parading around town like a celebrity?!”Across the table, Evelyn Donovan sat, her lips pursed tightly as she stared at the photo with icy silence.Dressed immaculately in a cream silk blouse and pearls, she looked calm. But the grip she had on her
Asher walked over without a word, sitting beside her.His hand gently found hers.“Was that about… your mother?” he asked softly.She nodded, her voice nearly a whisper. “She’s dying.”Asher’s jaw clenched, but not out of anger, out of restraint. He was careful not to push, to let her speak at her own pace.“Her assistant. Eliza Renner. Said she was on her deathbed and asking for me,” Vera murmured, voice trembling. “I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t even know how to feel. These people gave me away, and now they want me to just… show up at her bedside like nothing happened?”She looked up at him, her eyes glassy. “I just… I don’t want to open that door unless I’m ready. And I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready.”“I get it,” he said, and then he chuckled softly, surprising her.“What?” she asked, frowning.“I just remembered something,” he said, shaking his head. “The Sterling family… they’re not exactly known for their timing. Or sincerity.”Vera’s eyes narrowed slightly.“Let’s just s
Back in the living room, Asher sat at Vera’s small dining table, his laptop open, eyes fixed on a presentation slide he’d been tweaking for the past twenty minutes.It wasn’t that it needed adjusting, he just needed something to do with his hands, something to anchor him as the world around them buzzed with chaos.His phone buzzed again on the table beside him, lighting up for the third time in under five minutes.Sarah Langford.The name flashed in bold, her contact photo, an old professional shot, looking more and more like a ghost from a different life. Asher watched it ring, expression unreadable, jaw ticking slightly.He didn’t answer.Instead, he picked up his coffee mug, took a sip, and returned to reviewing the same bullet point he’d already reread too many times.The phone rang again.Sarah Langford.Again.He reached out this time, not to answer, but to mute the call, dragging the volume bar all the way down before tossing the device back onto the table with a careless flick
It was surreal.This man, this sharp, untouchable heir, sitting on her worn couch, working like he belonged there. Like he’d done it a hundred times.And then she saw the tray on the coffee table.Two plates. Toast. Scrambled eggs. A small bowl of fruit. And, was that...?“Did you… make lunch?” she croaked.Asher looked up instantly, his face softening as his eyes landed on her. “Hey,” he said, setting his laptop aside. “You’re awake. How do you feel?”“Like a blender exploded inside my skull,” she muttered, rubbing her temples. “Wait. You cooked?”He chuckled. “Don’t sound so surprised. I’m not completely useless.”She wandered closer, cautiously sitting beside him. “Wow. My kitchen must be traumatized.”“I think I won it over,” he said with mock pride, pushing the plate toward her. “Eat. You’ll feel better.”She looked at the food, touched beyond words, then slowly met his eyes. “You stayed…”“Of course,” he replied, more serious now. “You think I’d just leave you after last night?
Lucas stared at his phone, the screen now black after the call abruptly ended.His fingers tightened around the device until his knuckles went white, his jaw clenched so hard it hurt."Asher," he spat the name like venom, as if it had a bitter taste on his tongue. The anger burned through him like wildfire, raw and scorching.He had poured his heart into that voicemail, pleaded, apologized, laid everything bare. And it hadn’t even reached Vera.No. It had reached him.Asher Donovan.Of all people."Son of a bitch," Lucas growled, slamming the phone against the counch so hard it bounced back with a dull thud. His chest rose and fell quickly as his breaths came out sharp and fast.He could still hear Asher’s voice, cool and calculated, playing back in his head like a taunt.You had your chance. And you threw it away.The words echoed louder than they should have. Because they were true.He had made his choice. And it had been the wrong one.Now Vera was in Asher’s bed. In his life. Mayb
The ride home was quiet. Vera remained curled in her seat, her fingers twitching now and then like she was dreaming.Once they got to her apartment, Asher carefully lifted her into his arms again, carrying her up and unlocking the door with the key she’d given him just that morning.The lights inside were soft, the space warm, hers.He took her straight to the bedroom, setting her down gently on the mattress.She stirred, murmuring something incoherent.“Shh, sleep,” he whispered, pulling a light blanket over her.But just as he was about to leave, her hand reached out and grabbed his.“Stay.”He looked down at her, eyes already closed again, her expression peaceful.He nodded once, slowly.“Okay,” he whispered, pulling a chair closer beside her bed. But before he could sit, her grip tightened.“No, not there,” she mumbled. “Here.”She patted the space beside her.He hesitated for only a second, then kicked off his shoes and eased down beside her.She immediately turned into him, curl
Lucas sat in the quiet of his penthouse, the city lights casting pale golden streaks across the glass windows, but the warmth they should have offered was lost on him.The bottle of scotch on the table remained untouched, the glass beside it full, forgotten.He’d poured it earlier, hoping maybe the burn would numb the ache in his chest, but instead, all he did was sit there, unmoving, haunted by every memory of her.Vera.Her laugh still echoed in his ears, sharp, unfiltered, and real.It used to be his favorite sound. Now, it was a ghost. A ghost that haunted every corner of this silent room, of this life he thought he’d chosen for the right reasons.He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, phone in hand.Her name glowed on the screen like a lifeline he wasn’t sure he deserved to grab onto again.Vera Sinclair.His Vera, at least, she used to be.He clenched his jaw, thumb hovering over the call button. It was late, just past midnight.She was probably asleep. Tired. Peaceful.
The bouncer at the entrance, who had recognized Asher on sight, had immediately led them up to the VVIP section. Away from the chaos. Behind tinted glass. Plush velvet couches, bottle service, dimmed lighting, and enough privacy to feel like gods watching mortals below.But after just a few minutes, Vera was already fidgeting.“This is boring,” she muttered, sipping a glass of champagne with a little grimace. “I thought we came here to celebrate, not supervise people like we’re the bored royalty.”Asher, seated beside her with one arm slung across the back of the couch, quirked a brow. “That’s exactly what this section is for. To drink, observe, and not get trampled on by college kids grinding to bad remixes.”She turned to him, eyes bright and mischievous. “But that’s the fun part. Come on, Asher.”He gave her a long look, as if trying to decipher her seriousness. “You want to go down there?”She grinned. “We didn’t come all this way to sit and sip. You promised me fun.”“I said yes