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Forty-One
최신 업데이트:
2023-05-23 10:34:51관련 챕터
Fallen Apart Forty-Two
ARIA'S POVI stood in the elevator, going up to the top floor because of the text I received from Dave asking him to come to see him in his office when I was supposed to be having lunch in the cafeteria.On getting to the top floor, I walked toward the office to see Dave's secretary typing furiously on his computer. "Aren't you going for lunch?" I asked him."I will once I'm done with this," he replied without sparing me a glance.I pushed the door open to see Dave in his position behind his desk, typing away on his phone. "This better be important because I'm starving," I said as I stood in front of his desk.He placed his phone on the table, giving me a sheepish smile. "Does me wanting to see you count as something important?" "That's it, I'm leaving." I turned to walk out of the office but he quickly caught up with me and pulled me into his arms. "You can't keep doing this every day." I looked up to meet his eyes.He circled his arms around me, bringing me close to his chest. "I k
최신 업데이트 : 2023-05-24Fallen Apart Forty-Three
DAVE'S POV"Come on, what the fuck is going on?" I said dropping my controller on the tiled floor of my room. "Why do I keep losing?" "What's wrong? Have you lost your legendary gift after going to London?" Nixon mocked. Back when Daniel, Nixon, and I used to play video games together, I would call myself the legendary player whenever I beat both of them which was why Nixon was feeling over the top and mocking me because he beat me three times in a row."Shut up." I stood up to sit on my bed, directly opposite the picture I took with Daniel on my graduation that was framed on the wall. I forgot to mention that we were at my parent's house because they insisted we come to have dinner with them, so Nixon and I decided to hang out in my room while we wait for the food to be ready. "So Lena told me you took Aria on a fire balloon ride on your first date," he asked as he came to sit next to me."Yeah." I smiled as I remembered the huge smile on her face when she looked down at the city
최신 업데이트 : 2023-05-25Fallen Apart Forty-Four
ARIA'S POVStaring at the dress design I drew for more than thirty minutes, I could tell that there was something wrong with it but the question was what. I couldn't pinpoint the flaw in the design and it was driving me nuts. Determining to put myself out of my misery, I decided to seek help from an expert. "Michelle, can I get a minute with you?" "Sure." I stood up from my desk and approached with the sketchbook in my hand. Placing the sketchbook on her desk, I asked, "Can you please tell me what's wrong with the design?" Her eyes scanned through the design thoroughly before she said, "The lines right here don't correspond with the rest of the design." She pointed to the collar of the dress. "It's not that noticeable but it would be a hassle when you try to sew the dress with that line there." "Ahhh." I nodded with my mouth open. "Thank you so much." "Is it just me or does the office feels so dull today with Celestine not here?" Summer voiced out."I know, right," I agreed as I
최신 업데이트 : 2023-05-26Fallen Apart Forty-Five
ARIA'S POVSitting on the edge of Lena's bed, I scrolled through my social media account, waiting for Lena to decide on an outfit so we can leave for Mr. Mendez's birthday party. According to Lena, Mr. Mendez opted for a less extravagant dinner party much to his wife's dismay. They invited only their family members and a few friends which extended to Lena. She and the guys insisted that I tagged along when all I wanted to do was watch N*****x and sleep, but I had to agree because I couldn't resist Dave's puppy eyes.I placed my phone in my purse and sighed. "Will you just pick a dress? If you continue at this rate, the party would be over before we get there." "I'm almost done." She came out of her closet in a red-laced gown before sitting in front of the mirror to fix her hair and makeup. She put her hair in an updo before painting her face with everything in the makeup bag but to my surprise, the final result was beautiful. "Okay, I'm all set." She stood up and grabbed her purse.
최신 업데이트 : 2023-05-28Fallen Apart Forty-Six
DAVE'S POVThroughout the party, I was all smiles when I noticed that my mom took a liking to Aria, mostly because of her relationship with Lena but I was sure they will get closer if they meet each other more often. My cousins took it up as a task to mock Nixon and me for being single, almost forcing me to announce to them that Aria was my girlfriend but I couldn't because she wasn't ready to let anyone know yet, especially my family.It was a relief for Nixon and me that the party ended well without any drama because we noticed the tension brewing between Jenny and Lena, and I could tell that Lena refused to spend the night at the house because of Jenny. I had no idea what was going on between them, so I made a mental note to ask Aria when I get the chance. After watching Lena's car drive out of the gate, Nixon and I made our way back into the house. The moment I stepped into the living room, I froze in my steps at the next words that came out of Jenny's mouth."So what do you guy
최신 업데이트 : 2023-05-29Fallen Apart Forty-Seven
LENA'S POVMillions of butterflies erupted in my stomach as I stepped out of the house that afternoon to see Nixon waiting for me. He was dressed in simple jeans and a white shirt and he still managed to look devilishly handsome.I had to admit that I had a crush on him since the first day I met him at Styles Company. Everything about him screamed professional and intelligence which was my type of guy. I thought it was a tiny crush that would fade but my crush began to grow into something stronger when I got closer to him and got to experience the playful side of him.Months later, I realized that Nixon felt the same way toward me but I feign ignorance because I wasn't ready to put my job on the line by acting on my feelings for him. What I didn't expect was that Nixon would go out of his way to get the 'No dating ' rule in the company canceled just to be with him. That action of his made my heart surrender completely to him and I didn't make any attempt to control it.Every fiber of
최신 업데이트 : 2023-05-30Fallen Apart Forty-Eight
ARIA'S POV"Is Dave going somewhere today?" I asked Lena as we stepped out of her car. "He texted me this morning not to bring him coffee.""Yeah, he has an interview concerning our new fashion line that we are launching soon," she replied. "Nixon also went with him." "Oh okay." I nodded as we made our way into the building.When we alighted from the elevator on the fifth floor, we saw all the designers exiting their offices and moving toward the conference room."What's going on?" I turned to Lena with a confused look."We are all expected to watch the president's interview, so each department gathered to watch it in their meeting room," she explained and I nodded. "See you there." She strode to her office.I walked toward my team's office as the others made their way out. "Meet us at the conference room," Summer said as she walked past me.Stepping inside the office, I went to my desk and placed my bag on my chair. I brought out my phone, typing a short text to Dave. 'Good luck o
최신 업데이트 : 2023-05-31Fallen Apart Forty-Nine
NOTE: I will be changing POVs mid-chapter.ARIA'S POVTaking a deep breath, I pushed the door to my team's office open. I walked in with my head down as I could feel everyone's eyes on me. The moment I took my seat, Summer turned her chair to face me."Is it true?" she asked. I glanced to meet her curious eyes and I looked around to see everyone else giving me the same look. Realizing there was no point in lying since Dave already said it all, I nodded in response."So I was right all along," Michelle said, making everyone including me turn to her with a confused look. "Mr. Mendez's secretary is my neighbor, so he told me about how you used to bring him coffee every morning and go to his office during lunch break. We had an ounce that something was going on between you two and it was proven right today." She smiled. "Congratulations, by the way." "You're cool with it?" I asked because I was expecting a different reaction."Of course. I have no reason not to be, neither does anyone
최신 업데이트 : 2023-06-01
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Fallen Apart Part 2: Chapter Twenty Five
I took her view and entered the room. The view that my eyes chanced upon, a woman sitting at the brink of the bed and burying her face in her hands, had revved up my heartbeat; she lifted her head and looked at me. There was surprise as well as confusion in Aria's gaze."Dave…what are you doing here?" she asked, tremulous her voice.I stepped closer to her, and my heart went out to her. "Aria, please, don't do that. We have to talk. You had to know how much I love you, and we have got to do this together. Please don't make this mistake. Don't decide without you talking to me," she said.She stared into mine, her own already welling with water. "I don't know if I can do this, Dave. I'm scared… so scared."."I know you are," I said, my voice cracking as the emotions spun their way inside of me. "But I'm scared too, Aria, scared to death of letting go of you and our child. We can face this together. I love you and will be with you no matter what. Please just allow us a chance."She tremb
Fallen Apart Part 2: Chapter Twenty Four
DAVE'S POVThe reports lay on the desk as my eyes looked at them without really seeing. It was two weeks ago—the night that had unleashed all my emotions with Aria. She hadn't been returning my calls or texts, and every time I tried to find her, the doors closed in front of me.It was as if that had been such a welcome distraction from the growing pit of dread deep in my stomach—one which it was easy to leave my focus on. Therefore, I just thought that probably Aria needed some space and time to think, and I gave it to her. But the days were beginning to slip into weeks; the chasm between us began to feel impossible to cross.I was just about to get into the other useless read-through of the reports when the shaking of my door broke with a knock. Before I could get a chance to answer, Nixon walked in, a sad look across his face."Dave, we have got to talk," he said, shutting the door.I rose to my feet; missed a beat in my heart. Nixon never did drama so whatever his news was, it had
Fallen Apart part 2: Chapter Twenty Three
Returning to Chicago was very much like stepping into the storm all over again. The city was the same—booming and ruthless; only I was different now. The sojourn at Pittsburgh had poured in a new perspective and a brief sabbatical from the storm that life was getting transformed into. Onwards, as I pushed open the doors and jumped into the office of the magazine, all my lugging from the past came back and sat on my shoulders again.I virtually wore the broadest smile ever as I greeted colleagues around, with their eyes to my back, and whispers trailing down the hall. News about Jax did travel fast, and however much I wanted to act like I did not hear the murmurs, they were impossible to ignore."'Did you see him? Jax is still in prison…Isn't she the one who used to go out with him?"Yeah, apparently she's trying to steer clear of any more drama. Who can blame her?"The two prattled on, voices droning in my ears as I looked down, burying myself in my work. I had the art of evasion of
Fallen Apart Part 2: Chapter Twenty Two
Xavier had spent most of the next fortnight within the confines of the house with his baby daughter, little Aurora; mankind could attribute getting associated with the atmosphere of normality amidst these crazed minds in and around people. They made one feel slightly better, anyways. The bright spot in my life was Aurora, Xavier's baby. Her laughter and innocence diverted my mind from that hurricane inside my guts.And Xavier, he never stopped showing up. Either waiting to hold me with all of my words, many, or sitting wordless with me when my words failed. He had wars of his own, his own aches: waiting for Savannah to return, raising Aurora on his own. But it never crossed him from how he was acted at that it was of much miracle to be noble, he quared each new day with that kind of fortitude. I saw and wished I could find it in myself.And suddenly it was one of those evenings where one sat in the porch with the sunset overhead, and this very question was coming alive inside me since
Fallen Apart Part 2: Chapter Twenty one
ARIA'S POVAnd there was the sun, first off, up close, shining warmly but in an absolutely singular, discreet design, wringing and bright out through the blinds and all over my bed. For one moment all was also right in my world; this was just some stupid nightmare. For a brief second, there was a sense that everything in the world was also just fine; it was all just some ridiculous nightmare. But as the fog of sleep thinned, I could see the face of reality coming creaking down upon me.There was the weight of a body beside me and the familiar scent of Dave's cologne in the air. Dread consumed me as my head turned to his, slowly, heart in the throat, lying beside me, still asleep. His face really looked peaceful, quite unlike the trouble that I knew was dwelling underneath.Panic surged through me at the full force of what I had done. As soon as I lay in Dave's bed, in full nudity and all the sheets, it all came back, the way that I kissed him. I had let myself fall into the biggest t
Fallen Apart Part 2: Chapter Twenty
DAVE'S POVDarkness had passed as I finally drove the old Civic through the winding city streets, my brain swirling with thoughts that snaked into a cocktail of feelings, triumph and unease. The news of Jax spread like a wildfire through the grapevine, and much as I loathed to admit, somewhere deep inside me, the thought of his downfall came with a bit of joy. That definitely had to be said: he had it coming. Not half of me, though—there was another that couldn't see past Aria's face in my head when she discovered all that she had been told. What would she do? Didn't she see this as a way to get rid of him and finally turn back to me? Or would she retreat into herself as she had retreated before, only this time even more broken?It was with all that running through my head that I pulled up outside Aria's apartment. I parked the car, opened the door, and let the cool night air do little to settle the restlessness in my chest. I came to her front door and knocked, waiting for her to an
Fallen Apart Part 2: Chapter Nineteen
ARIA'S POV Long before the fallout hit. My phone started going off and never stopped, vibrating out of its cradle the second the story broke. Friends, colleagues, reporters—everyone wanted a piece of the madness. I ignored them all as my heart raced, scrolling through the headlines; each one landed in my gut like a gut punch: “Jax Grayson's Secret Life Exposed!" “Exposé in the Fashion World: The Unimaginable Reality of a Fashion Giant!" "Jax Grayson Probed for Money Laundering!" I felt like throwing up. My stomach somersaulted with the words of the allegations. They had to be wrong. Simply wrong. Jax was one of the good guys, sweet …How in the world could he have held something like this secret from me? From everyone? My hands were shaking as I fumbled with that bar of digits to call Jax, hoping against all odds that there was some kind of explanation; a way that maybe this could all just be a horrible, horrible mistake. But when he picked up, his voice came flat, resigned.
Fallen Apart Part 2: Chapter Eighteen
DAVE'S POV I crossed through the doorway into my office, started pacing, and wondered how to deliver this piece of dynamite to Nixon. My office was quiet except for the humming of air conditioning. Inside my head was a no-man's-land. What I was doing, I felt, was walking a tightrope. One wrong step and everything could come crashing down. But at that moment, thinking of her in Jax's arms, of her being able to smile again the way she used to smile at me, made it resolute, and somehow, I knew I had to go through it. This morning, Nixon was extremely caught up. He had one meeting and call after another, so he was active. Still, I knew that at least I had to try and speak to him before going any further with the plan. He wasn't just a friend; he was my brother-in-law, partner in crime, the one man who could talk me out of any crazy idea I came up with. I inhaled slowly, then walked into his office. The door swung a bit wide, and behind the desk, I could see him buried in some paper
Fallen Apart Part 2: Chapter Seventeen
ARIA'S POVMy phone buzzed, it must have been for the hundredth time that morning. I didn't need to look, though all texts and notifications seemed to come down to the same thing. Well, the rumour mill hadn't stopped since Jax and I got together, but today… Today felt different. You could feel it in your bones, like a storm about to hit just out of sight."I rather reluctantly opened my phone again to scroll through the scores of messages, tweets, and posts flooding my feed. I looked up sheepishly to see what adorned every major gossip website: "New Power Couple: Aria Stephenson and Jax Grayson Romance Heat Up!" with pictures of him and me leaving that wedding together last night.". The photos had captured everything—how Jax used to hold me close and how I'd look at him.But the captions only distorted everything, making what was such close, personal time between the two of us into a public spectacle.The anxiety mixed with impatience surged, upped by apprehension in my chest. This
