MasukShare
Chapter Three: The Art of Pretending to Be Professional
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-02-23 08:26:43It was too early for this. Too early for Damien Carter, too early for professionalism, and definitely too early for Jenna’s level of enthusiasm.
I had barely set my bag down at my desk when I felt the all-too-familiar buzz of my phone. It was a text from Jenna, and I knew, with the kind of dread only a co-worker who could create a scene anywhere could inspire, that I was about to be dragged into something. Jenna (11:34 AM): “Emergency. Coffee machine down. I’m dying. Pls, fake an emergency. STAT. 🙏🏽” I stared at the message. I could already hear the drama in her voice. She’d never been one to keep her near-death coffee experiences quiet. With a resigned sigh, I typed out my response: Me (11:34 AM): “You’re a grown woman, Jenna. Deal with it.” Jenna (11:35 AM): “I’m in a life-or-death situation here. I need the emotional support of my work wife.” I groaned, but just as I was about to reply with something sarcastic, I heard it: a loud, overly dramatic thud followed by a string of theatrical gasps. "Adrianna!" Jenna’s voice carried across the room like a starlet in a soap opera. "I think I’m... I think I’m dying!" I barely had time to look up before Jenna collapsed next to the coffee machine, dramatically clutching her chest. "I... can’t... live... without coffee!" The entire newsroom went silent. Mr. Callahan didn’t even blink. "Jenna, for the love of God, get up." Damien, who had entered the room moments earlier, raised an eyebrow at the spectacle. "Is this... normal?" Before I could answer, I noticed him smirking, and the last thing I needed was for him to think my life was a series of sitcom moments. I grabbed my phone and quickly typed: Me (11:36 AM): “Fine, I’m coming. Don’t die on me.” Jenna popped up like a jack-in-the-box, sending me a text with a finger pointing down at the coffee machine. "This is serious business." "Seriously?" I muttered under my breath as I walked to the coffee machine. “You’re lucky I like you, or I’d let you get really dramatic.” Damien followed me to the coffee machine, his amusement clearly visible as he took in the scene. "Wow. I had no idea ‘office drama’ included this level of performance." I raised an eyebrow. "Let’s just get back to work, Mr. Carter. We’re supposed to be professionals here." His grin only grew. "Uh-huh. And how’s that working out for you?" After retrieving the world’s most tragic cup of coffee (seriously, who sabotages a coffee machine like this?), I handed it over to Jenna, who clutched it with the kind of reverence usually reserved for Olympic gold medals. She took a sip, closed her eyes, and sighed deeply. "I’m saved," she declared, in a voice thick with drama. Damien, standing behind me with an eyebrow cocked, was clearly trying not to laugh. "This is the real heart of corporate life, huh?" I turned to face him, ready to offer some snarky retort about how this is what happens when people’s caffeine intake becomes a professional crisis, but the sight of him standing there, looking utterly amused, threw me off. What was with this guy? Was he always so... intense? He had this serious vibe that made every moment feel like he was preparing to solve a mystery or drop some profound wisdom. Meanwhile, I was over here fighting off coffee-induced caffeine withdrawal and fending off office gossip. I gave him a dry smile. "You get used to it. After all, it’s either the coffee machine or our egos that are usually broken around here." Damien chuckled, his gaze shifting to the chaos unfolding around us. "I think I’m going to like it here." Oh no. "Well," I began, trying to regain some of my usual sass, "now that your caffeine fix is settled, we should probably get back to being ‘professionals,’ right?" I emphasized the word 'professionals' with a dramatic air quote, not-so-subtly mocking the serious tone we were all expected to maintain. "Right," Damien replied with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "But what is ‘professionalism’ really? Is it pretending to care about things you don’t care about?" He waved his hand toward the mountain of office files we were all supposed to pretend to enjoy. "Or is it more about not making the coffee machine cry on the first day?" I snorted before I could stop myself, and for a moment, I wondered if I should be more offended. But instead, I found myself actually kind of enjoying his... irreverence? "You know," I said with a grin, "I might actually start enjoying this partnership if you keep the sarcasm levels this high." His smirk widened, but before he could retort, Jenna, now fully caffeinated, bounced back into action. "Alright, let’s get to work, people!" she announced, ignoring the fact that she’d just spent five minutes lying on the floor earlier. "We’ve got a juicy scandal to unravel, and this coffee won’t drink itself." "Spoken like a true professional," I muttered, earning another smirk from Damien. And that was it—our day had officially begun. A blend of chaos, sarcasm, and something that felt like the early stages of something bigger—but it was hard to tell if that was just the caffeine kicking in or if Damien had somehow become the spark to start something new.
Bab terkait
Ex-change Chapter Four: A Personal Stake
I took my seat at my desk, trying to pretend like I wasn’t still thrown off by Damien’s presence. The morning’s chaos had faded, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something bigger was brewing. "So, what exactly are we looking into with this Thompson project, anyway?" I asked, trying to sound as though I had a solid grasp on what I was doing.Damien leaned against the desk, now entirely comfortable in his own element. "Well," he began, "We’re digging into the depths of the Thompson family’s finances, scandals, and a little bit of dirty laundry. Think of it as a treasure hunt, but instead of gold, we’re finding secrets."I glanced up from my computer, a little stunned by how casually he spoke about something so... big. "I feel like I’m supposed to be scared right now," I said, voice flat.Damien’s grin only grew. "You should be. But don’t worry. I’ll be your guide through the dark, twisted world of corporate corruption."I rolled my eyes. "Great. Just what I need—another guy acting
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-23Ex-change Chapter Five: Tuesdays used to be simple
I used to love Tuesdays. Not the morning part, obviously. But the evening? That was my favorite—dinner with my mom, a good meal, and an hour-long update on my life. The only downside? Her relentless attempts to set me up on blind dates. (A tradition I could really do without.)That was before Eric Thompson happened.Now that the Eric Thompson era is officially over, I have two equally horrible options:1. Brace myself for a fresh round of blind dates.2. Tell my mother I’m pregnant.Both are terrible. So, naturally, I choose to do neither—at least until Eric knows he has a fetus out there with his name on it. Call it closure, or call it my inability to move on from a fling. Either way, I’m stalling.And yet, here I am, on a Tuesday evening—the one part of the week I actually enjoy—except someone is ruining it.Sitting beside me in a not-so-fancy restaurant, waiting for my mother, is none other than Mr. I Like to Meddle himself—Damien Carter.How Did This Happen? Let’s RewindI was at
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-27Ex-change Chapter Six: Another Not So Simple Tuesday
I’ve always believed I had my life under control. Nothing spirals unless I let it.I’m not rich, but I have a stable job—enough to feed my cravings and fund my Target shopping sprees. That counts for something.But, like every tragic heroine in a drama, I realize now—control was only ever an illusion.Eric Thompson walked out of my life with a painful exit. Damien Carter waltzed in like he owned the soundtrack to my downfall. And somehow, he’s the one pulling all the strings.I came to this conclusion while watching Damien smiling at my near-death experience. As if he had planned everything down to the second, he stood up, nodding like a perfect presidential candidate—except he was a liar and a con man.“I’ll be leaving now,” he said, flashing an annoyingly perfect smile.My mother, who had apparently forgotten that I almost died choking because of them, returned his smile with her best mother-in-law-to-be expression.“You should. It’s getting late already,” she agreed sweetly. “We’ll
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-20Ex-change Chapter Seven: The First Move
Looking back, I should have known Eric Thompson would wreck me.Even meeting him started with a disaster waiting to happen. And I remember exactly how it began.A Few Months AgoMr. Callahan is the kind of editor every reporter dreams of having. He’s like that funny bachelor uncle who makes family gatherings bearable. But he’s only human, and sometimes, even he caves under pressure from his superiors.That day, he stormed into the office, eyes blazing, and dropped his tablet onto my desk without a word."See?" He stabbed a finger at the headline flashing across the screen.ERIC THOMPSON: HEIR TO A LEGACY OR JUST ANOTHER PLAYBOY?It was familiar—because the sole subject of the article I was working on at that very moment was also Eric Thompson."I see it," I said slowly, wondering if he was testing my eyesight or trying to make a point."And you don’t even know what you did wrong," he said, voice tight with frustration.I frowned. "I can’t seem to figure it out."His eyes narrowed. "Ho
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-25Ex-change Chapter Eight: When the Past Walks In
“What do you mean?” I asked Damien, stopping myself from falling back into thoughts of Eric.“You don't really have a choice,” he started, holding up a document I hadn’t noticed before. “I took permission from Mr. Callahan.”If I’d been drinking anything, I would have choked.“You took permission to stalk my ex?”He gave me a look like I was being dramatic. “Correction—our exes. And it’s not stalking if it’s for work.”I wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or annoyed. On one hand, it wasn’t something worse—like some new twist involving Eric. On the other hand, it meant I’d have to confront reality. And that reality was Eric.Still, some part of me was relieved. Because not knowing anything about the man who might be the father of my child? That was scarier than facing him.“So, do I have your consent to start our field trip tomorrow?” Damien drawled.I rolled my eyes. “Like you care about consent.”He just smirked. “You’re right. I don’t. See you tomorrow.”I didn’t respond, and he s
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28Ex-change Chapter One: Not Over
Adrianna JamesIn the dimly lit room, the only sounds were our labored breaths, mingling in the charged air. Each movement was a battle, every touch a clash of wills. With one final motion, he pulled away, rolling onto his side with a satisfied grunt.“Adrianna,” he said, his voice low but sharp. I turned, expecting a compliment, a soft word to ease the vulnerability of the moment. Instead, his words landed like a slap.“I’m getting bored. Let’s end this.”The air froze between us, his words slicing through the fading afterglow. A strange mix of relief and anger swirled in my chest. Relief, because at least he didn’t sugarcoat what this was—a fleeting distraction. Anger, because he didn’t even have the decency to let the moment linger.I rose, gathering my clothes with measured grace, his gaze trailing me like a challenge. If he wanted an outburst, he wouldn’t get it from me. Maybe the next woman he does this to will take the honor.“It’s fine,” I said, my tone steady. “This was hardl
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-10Ex-change Chapter Two: A New Day
The morning sun was a liar.Its golden rays painted my small bedroom with false promises of warmth and renewal, but they did nothing to untangle the knots in my chest. I sat on the edge of my bed, a porcelain mug growing cold in my hands, my eyes fixed on the dark liquid inside. The steam curled upward in lazy, shifting patterns—more alive than I felt.It had been a month since that night.A month since Eric ripped away what little self-respect I had left. A month of trying to piece together the wreckage.With a slow exhale, I set the mug down and forced myself to move. My room was in disarray: discarded clothes draped over a chair, an overflowing laundry basket, and a half-empty suitcase from a story I’d covered last week.Today, I told myself, is just another day.I pulled open my closet and reached for my armor: a crisp white blouse, a high-waisted black skirt, and my trusty blazer. Each layer felt like a shield, a barrier between myself and the world outside.As I fastened the las
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-10
Bab terbaru
Ex-change Chapter Eight: When the Past Walks In
“What do you mean?” I asked Damien, stopping myself from falling back into thoughts of Eric.“You don't really have a choice,” he started, holding up a document I hadn’t noticed before. “I took permission from Mr. Callahan.”If I’d been drinking anything, I would have choked.“You took permission to stalk my ex?”He gave me a look like I was being dramatic. “Correction—our exes. And it’s not stalking if it’s for work.”I wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or annoyed. On one hand, it wasn’t something worse—like some new twist involving Eric. On the other hand, it meant I’d have to confront reality. And that reality was Eric.Still, some part of me was relieved. Because not knowing anything about the man who might be the father of my child? That was scarier than facing him.“So, do I have your consent to start our field trip tomorrow?” Damien drawled.I rolled my eyes. “Like you care about consent.”He just smirked. “You’re right. I don’t. See you tomorrow.”I didn’t respond, and he s
Ex-change Chapter Seven: The First Move
Looking back, I should have known Eric Thompson would wreck me.Even meeting him started with a disaster waiting to happen. And I remember exactly how it began.A Few Months AgoMr. Callahan is the kind of editor every reporter dreams of having. He’s like that funny bachelor uncle who makes family gatherings bearable. But he’s only human, and sometimes, even he caves under pressure from his superiors.That day, he stormed into the office, eyes blazing, and dropped his tablet onto my desk without a word."See?" He stabbed a finger at the headline flashing across the screen.ERIC THOMPSON: HEIR TO A LEGACY OR JUST ANOTHER PLAYBOY?It was familiar—because the sole subject of the article I was working on at that very moment was also Eric Thompson."I see it," I said slowly, wondering if he was testing my eyesight or trying to make a point."And you don’t even know what you did wrong," he said, voice tight with frustration.I frowned. "I can’t seem to figure it out."His eyes narrowed. "Ho
Ex-change Chapter Six: Another Not So Simple Tuesday
I’ve always believed I had my life under control. Nothing spirals unless I let it.I’m not rich, but I have a stable job—enough to feed my cravings and fund my Target shopping sprees. That counts for something.But, like every tragic heroine in a drama, I realize now—control was only ever an illusion.Eric Thompson walked out of my life with a painful exit. Damien Carter waltzed in like he owned the soundtrack to my downfall. And somehow, he’s the one pulling all the strings.I came to this conclusion while watching Damien smiling at my near-death experience. As if he had planned everything down to the second, he stood up, nodding like a perfect presidential candidate—except he was a liar and a con man.“I’ll be leaving now,” he said, flashing an annoyingly perfect smile.My mother, who had apparently forgotten that I almost died choking because of them, returned his smile with her best mother-in-law-to-be expression.“You should. It’s getting late already,” she agreed sweetly. “We’ll
Ex-change Chapter Five: Tuesdays used to be simple
I used to love Tuesdays. Not the morning part, obviously. But the evening? That was my favorite—dinner with my mom, a good meal, and an hour-long update on my life. The only downside? Her relentless attempts to set me up on blind dates. (A tradition I could really do without.)That was before Eric Thompson happened.Now that the Eric Thompson era is officially over, I have two equally horrible options:1. Brace myself for a fresh round of blind dates.2. Tell my mother I’m pregnant.Both are terrible. So, naturally, I choose to do neither—at least until Eric knows he has a fetus out there with his name on it. Call it closure, or call it my inability to move on from a fling. Either way, I’m stalling.And yet, here I am, on a Tuesday evening—the one part of the week I actually enjoy—except someone is ruining it.Sitting beside me in a not-so-fancy restaurant, waiting for my mother, is none other than Mr. I Like to Meddle himself—Damien Carter.How Did This Happen? Let’s RewindI was at
Ex-change Chapter Four: A Personal Stake
I took my seat at my desk, trying to pretend like I wasn’t still thrown off by Damien’s presence. The morning’s chaos had faded, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something bigger was brewing. "So, what exactly are we looking into with this Thompson project, anyway?" I asked, trying to sound as though I had a solid grasp on what I was doing.Damien leaned against the desk, now entirely comfortable in his own element. "Well," he began, "We’re digging into the depths of the Thompson family’s finances, scandals, and a little bit of dirty laundry. Think of it as a treasure hunt, but instead of gold, we’re finding secrets."I glanced up from my computer, a little stunned by how casually he spoke about something so... big. "I feel like I’m supposed to be scared right now," I said, voice flat.Damien’s grin only grew. "You should be. But don’t worry. I’ll be your guide through the dark, twisted world of corporate corruption."I rolled my eyes. "Great. Just what I need—another guy acting
Ex-change Chapter Three: The Art of Pretending to Be Professional
It was too early for this. Too early for Damien Carter, too early for professionalism, and definitely too early for Jenna’s level of enthusiasm. I had barely set my bag down at my desk when I felt the all-too-familiar buzz of my phone. It was a text from Jenna, and I knew, with the kind of dread only a co-worker who could create a scene anywhere could inspire, that I was about to be dragged into something. Jenna (11:34 AM): “Emergency. Coffee machine down. I’m dying. Pls, fake an emergency. STAT. 🙏🏽” I stared at the message. I could already hear the drama in her voice. She’d never been one to keep her near-death coffee experiences quiet. With a resigned sigh, I typed out my response: Me (11:34 AM): “You’re a grown woman, Jenna. Deal with it.” Jenna (11:35 AM): “I’m in a life-or-death situation here. I need the emotional support of my work wife.” I groaned, but just as I was about to reply with something sarcastic, I heard it: a loud, overly dramatic thud followed by a string
Ex-change Chapter Two: A New Day
The morning sun was a liar.Its golden rays painted my small bedroom with false promises of warmth and renewal, but they did nothing to untangle the knots in my chest. I sat on the edge of my bed, a porcelain mug growing cold in my hands, my eyes fixed on the dark liquid inside. The steam curled upward in lazy, shifting patterns—more alive than I felt.It had been a month since that night.A month since Eric ripped away what little self-respect I had left. A month of trying to piece together the wreckage.With a slow exhale, I set the mug down and forced myself to move. My room was in disarray: discarded clothes draped over a chair, an overflowing laundry basket, and a half-empty suitcase from a story I’d covered last week.Today, I told myself, is just another day.I pulled open my closet and reached for my armor: a crisp white blouse, a high-waisted black skirt, and my trusty blazer. Each layer felt like a shield, a barrier between myself and the world outside.As I fastened the las
Ex-change Chapter One: Not Over
Adrianna JamesIn the dimly lit room, the only sounds were our labored breaths, mingling in the charged air. Each movement was a battle, every touch a clash of wills. With one final motion, he pulled away, rolling onto his side with a satisfied grunt.“Adrianna,” he said, his voice low but sharp. I turned, expecting a compliment, a soft word to ease the vulnerability of the moment. Instead, his words landed like a slap.“I’m getting bored. Let’s end this.”The air froze between us, his words slicing through the fading afterglow. A strange mix of relief and anger swirled in my chest. Relief, because at least he didn’t sugarcoat what this was—a fleeting distraction. Anger, because he didn’t even have the decency to let the moment linger.I rose, gathering my clothes with measured grace, his gaze trailing me like a challenge. If he wanted an outburst, he wouldn’t get it from me. Maybe the next woman he does this to will take the honor.“It’s fine,” I said, my tone steady. “This was hardl
