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Last Updated:
2023-05-02 12:52:31
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Fallen Apart Seventeen
ARIA'S POVUsing all the self-control in me, I managed to get into the elevator before I jumped and squealed, hugging the new phone to my chest. When the elevator stopped on my floor, I hopped to Lena's office and barged inside without knocking. "Look who got a nice phone," I announced as I waltz inside holding the phone packed up as my partner. A clearing of the throat made me stop and I looked back to see Nixon staring at me with a raised eyebrow while Lena was busy laughing at my expense. My face was red with embarrassment that I wish I could just disappear. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were busy. I'll come back later." I turned to leave but Lena's voice stopped me."I'm not that busy," she said when she stopped laughing. "So what did Dave say? You were saying something about a new phone." Turning back to them with a smile on my face, I raised the phone pack for them to see. "He got me a new phone." "Really? Dave got you a new phone?" Nixon stared at me shocked. "Yes." I mo
Last Updated : 2023-05-02Fallen Apart Eighteen
ARIA'S POV The rest of the week ran by quickly with me serving coffee to Dave as promised every morning. That weekend the President was discharged from the hospital and they were planning a company party for the next weekend to officially announce Dave as the President.Sunday was a free day, so I took that opportunity to video chat with my brother with my new iPhone. The rest of the family joined the video chat and I seized that opportunity to boast about my new phone. I explained how I got it to them, leaving out the part of me serving coffee to Dave every morning. They didn't need to know that.That beautiful Monday morning, I rushed to work because my team was running behind with the project that we were supposed to submit that Monday. Other teams turned in their projects as expected, so Lena gave us the grace of two more days. After delivering Dave's coffee as usual, I joined my teammate as we strived to complete the project before the deadline. We didn't even get to eat lunch
Last Updated : 2023-05-03Fallen Apart Nineteen
ARIA'S POVWith a scowl on my face, I walked into my team's room, mumbling to myself. I sat on my seat and tossed the flash drive on my desk, cussing at Dave in my head."What got you all worked up?" Summer whispered as she leaned closer to me.Before I could reply, Celestine's voice boomed in the entire office. "That's enough talking, Aria and Summer, get to work. We began working on our project and I made a mental note to start with the design Dave gave me once I was done. Like the last time, our team didn't go for lunch as we were planning to finish and submit the project that day.It was an hour before our working hours were over when Celestine collected all the designs and saved them in her flashdrive before submitting them to Lena. Not long after Celestine came back, the door opened again, drawing everyone's attention. Lena peeped in with a sheepish smile on her face. "Can I talk to Aria for a minute?" "Sure," Celestine nodded at me.I stood up and walked toward the door wher
Last Updated : 2023-05-04Fallen Apart Twenty
DAVE'S POVGoing through all the designs Lena submitted to me, I groaned in frustration for the tenth time. I had gone through two teams' projects and none of them were to my liking. I went through the third team's project and thankfully, I was able to find two designs that were good enough. I was hoping to get something good from the infamous Team 4, but I received a report from Lena later that day that they were running behind and she had to give them extra days.Out of frustration, I called my Secretary using Telecom. "I need you to get me all the resumé of all the current designers in the company. " "Yes, sir," he replied and I hung up.While I waited, I decided to go through the fifth team project and I had to admit that it was better than the last three teams. My Secretary walked in with a load of documents in his hand and placed it on my desk."The files are arranged according to their teams and each team file is arranged according to when they joined the company," he explain
Last Updated : 2023-05-04Fallen Apart Twenty-One
DAVE'S POV"Whose date?" I asked, feeling more confused about the entire situation."Lena's." He buckled his seatbelt and proceed to get out of the car. "Let's go." I held him back by his arm, staring at him like he has gone mad. "What is wrong with you? Why would you want to do that?""I wouldn't have to if you had canceled that 'No dating in the company' rule as I requested of you.""I'm not even the president yet and you are already trying to make me change the rules." I stared at him in disbelief. "It's not as if I'm the only one that would benefit from it." He scoffed as he leaned back into the driver's seat. "What do you mean?" I cocked an eyebrow at him."Do you believe I'm the only one that is being hindered by that damn rule? There are so many people seeing each other in secret in the company. Once that rule is out, they would be able to come out with their relationship. And besides, you think I don't know that you have something for that Aria girl." He smirked."What are
Last Updated : 2023-05-04Fallen Apart Twenty-Two
ARIA'S POVAfter Dave left, I went into Lena's apartment, using the spare she kept under the flower pot near the door. I took my shower first before going into the kitchen to prepare dinner. Contrary to Lena's words, I prepared dinner for the both of us because I had a feeling something was going to go wrong during the date. Don't ask why because I had no idea why I was feeling that way. When I finished cooking, I ate my phone in the living room while watching TV. Not long after I finished my food, the door flew open and an angry Lena walked.Just like I predicted, something went wrong.She dropped her bag on the couch I was sitting on as she began to pace around the room in silence. I knew she was waiting for me to ask what happened, so I decided to put her out of her misery. "What happened?" "You can't believe that douchebag left me in the middle of our date and he didn't even bother to pay the bills before doing so." She raised her voice.The words that wanted to come out of my
Last Updated : 2023-05-05Fallen Apart Twenty-Three
ARIA'S POV"Why on earth would they place anyone from our team on probation?" Michelle voiced out as soon as we walked into our office. "Not to brag, but Team 4 has been the best in this company and we are still maintaining that position. And the worst part is that Aria and Summer are amazing designers, they shouldn't be on the same level with those amateurs." "I agree with you," Caleb added."Let's not make it a big deal guys, I'm sure everything will be fine," Celestine said as she rested against her desk, facing us. "From everything the president said, I gathered that Team 1,2, and 3 projects were the cause of all this because their project was not good enough. He's trying to use this to fish out all the incompetent designers by putting the newest ones on probation. Just like Michelle said, you guys are talented." She pointed to Summer and me. "I don't know what the test will be but I know it involves you guys showing case your skills. As long as you put in your best, you have not
Last Updated : 2023-05-06Fallen Apart Twenty-Four
DAVE'S POVIt came as a surprise to me when Nixon came to eat lunch with me in my office until he told me that Lena was out of the building. Many times Nixon has tried to make me join them for lunch in the cafeteria but I refused, not wanting the attention of the employees on me instead of their food.After lunch hours were over, Nixon left my office and I went back to work. A few minutes later, defeated-looking Nixon walked back into my office and slumped on the couch."What got into you?" I raised my eyebrows at him."She knows." He sighed."Who knows what?" I stood up from my chair and went to join him on the couch."Lena. She knows why we were at the restaurant yesterday." "How would she know that?" I gave him a confused look."I don't know how she did it, but she went to the restaurant and somehow she was able to convince them to let her check the CCTV." He ran his fingers through his hair."So she confronted you?" "Yeah, and I had no choice but to tell her the truth." He sat u
Last Updated : 2023-05-06
Latest chapter
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
