ElliotThe day had dragged on longer than I anticipated, filled with meetings, reports, and the endless balancing act of managing Prescott Industries while keeping my personal agenda running alongside it. By the time the office began to quiet down, most employees had already packed up and left for the weekend.I leaned back in my chair, stretching my arms above my head, and glanced at my watch. It was late. As I was about to shut my laptop, my eyes wandered toward the glass wall separating my office from the hallway. That’s when I saw her—Susan.She was standing by the elevator, her posture tense, her phone in one hand as she tapped at the screen with an unusual fervor. Her other hand ran through her hair in frustration. Something was off. She wasn’t her usual composed self.Without giving it a second thought, I grabbed my suit jacket and headed out.“Hey, Susan,” I called as I approached her. She startled slightly, as if pulled out of a heavy trance.“Oh,” she said, quickly shoving h
ElliotThe moment I drove away from Susan’s apartment, I couldn’t shake the tension in my chest. The way she looked at me, as if she were caught between wanting to trust me and wanting to push me away, stayed imprinted in my mind.She was proud...too proud, maybe...but I could respect that. What I couldn’t respect was letting her struggle when I had the power to do something about it.By the time I got back to my penthouse, I already had a plan brewing in my mind. It wasn’t enough to offer her a loan or help her pay the rent; she would never accept that outright. No, I needed to approach this strategically.I loosened my tie as I stepped into my office and dialed Gerald’s number. It was late, but I knew he’d answer. Gerald was dependable that way.“Elliot,” he greeted after the second ring. “Is everything alright?”“Depends on how fast you can get me some information,” I said, sinking into the chair at my desk.“I’m listening.”I glanced at the notes I’d scribbled earlier, then contin
SusanMonday morning greeted me with its usual chaos...spilling coffee on my blouse, almost leaving my apartment without my laptop, and, of course, navigating the unbearable Monday morning traffic. By the time I got to the office, I was ready for the day to prove just as frustrating as the start of my morning.But as I settled at my desk and opened my inbox, something unexpected caught my eye: Payslip Notification – Prescott Industries.Frowning, I clicked on the email, scanning it quickly. My eyes widened as I read the details: Prescott Industries had decided to pay me 50% of my project fee upfront, with the remaining 50% to be paid upon completion of my contract. On top of that, my monthly consulting salary would take effect immediately.I blinked at the screen, half-convinced this had to be some kind of mistake. The contract terms hadn’t mentioned anything like this...if anything, I’d been bracing myself to scrape by until the contract was fulfilled.Excitement bubbled up despite m
Elliot I hadn’t meant to overhear the call, but the moment I stepped into Susan’s office, the tension in her voice stopped me in my tracks. She was facing away from the door, her shoulders stiff as she spoke into the phone. “Please, Rachel, make sure she gets her medication. I’ll figure it out,” she said, her voice strained but steady. Medication? My curiosity piqued as I leaned slightly closer, still unnoticed. Who was she talking about? Her mom? When she hung up, she slumped into her chair, rubbing her temples. It was a rare sight...Susan Hart looking vulnerable, her usual composure cracking ever so slightly. I knocked softly on the doorframe, making her jump slightly. “Hey, Susan.” Her head snapped up, her expression instantly shifting to something guarded. “Hi, Mr Prescott,” she said, sitting up straighter. “What can I do for you?” I held up the folder I’d brought as a pretext. “I wanted to go over the finalized budget proposal. Gerald said you’ve been leading this.” She n
SusanI woke up feeling groggy, my body aching in ways I couldn’t quite explain. The sunlight streaming through the curtains was blinding, and for a moment, I thought I was in my own bed...until I realized there was an arm draped around my waist.Panic shot through me.What…?I blinked, turning my head slightly to see whose arm it was. My heart dropped when I saw Elliot, his face peaceful as he slept beside me. His hair was messier than usual, his stubble more prominent in the morning light.Oh, God.Memories from the previous night flooded back in flashes...his lips on mine, his hands on my skin, the way he murmured my name like it was the only word he ever wanted to say.No, no, no.I tried to pull away, moving slowly so as not to wake him, but his grip tightened around my waist. Before I could react, his eyes fluttered open, and a lazy smile spread across his face.“You’re up already, babe?” he said, his voice still thick with sleep.I froze.Babe?Did he just call me babe?“What d
ElliotI sat in my office, staring blankly at the untouched pile of paperwork in front of me. For the first time in years, I couldn’t focus. The numbers blurred together, and the graphs looked like meaningless squiggles. All I could think about was Susan.Her laugh. The way her lips felt against mine. The softness of her skin. The way she whispered my name last night, with a mix of hesitation and desire that drove me insane.I leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair as fragments of the night played over and over in my head like a broken record.It had started innocently enough...a boss and his subordinate sharing a drink. But by the end of the night, we had crossed a line I wasn’t sure we could come back from. And honestly? I wasn’t even sure I wanted to.Last night, I saw a side of Susan she kept hidden so well...a vulnerable, unguarded version of herself. She let me in, even if just for a few hours. And now, I couldn’t shake the feeling of wanting more.The sound of
SusanI sat at my desk, staring at the glowing screen of my laptop, pretending to focus on the quarterly sales report in front of me. Numbers and graphs blurred together, and for the life of me, I couldn’t concentrate. My mind was trapped, replaying fragments of the previous night in an endless loop.I leaned back in my chair, exhaling deeply. What was I thinking?The memories hit me like flashes of lightning—his touch, his lips, the heat between us. The way I felt safe and completely untethered at the same time. I could still feel his hands on my skin, still hear the way he said my name like it was some kind of prayer.Stop it, Susan. It was nothing. Just a lapse in judgment.But even as I told myself that, my stomach churned. I pressed my fingers against my temple, willing the headache from the hangover—and the guilt—to subside.When I woke up this morning tangled in his sheets, every nerve in my body screamed to run. I didn’t even know who I was last night. Was it the alcohol? The
SusanIt had been a week. Seven excruciatingly long days.The first two days were manageable—or so I convinced myself. After our conversation where I made it clear last week that whatever happened between us was a mistake, Elliot had taken me at my word. Or at least, that’s what it seemed like. He didn’t stop by my office. He didn’t acknowledge my presence when we passed each other in the hall.But by day three, things started to change.I walked into work that morning, coffee in hand, only to find a note on my desk from Gerald.“Please see me immediately regarding your office assignment.”What on earth?When I arrived at his office, Gerald greeted me with that ever-present, professional smile of his.“Good morning, Ms Hart. I hope you’re doing well,” he began, his tone overly chipper.I raised an eyebrow, already suspicious. “What’s this about my office assignment?”“Ah, yes. There’s been a change,” he said, sliding a folder across his desk toward me. “Mr. Prescott has decided it’s b
SusanThe warmth of Elliot’s body anchored me in place, his arm draped over my waist like he had no intention of letting me go. His breathing was slow and steady, his chest rising and falling beneath my cheek.I blinked against the soft golden light streaming through the curtains, my body still aching in the best way possible from the night before.I should get up.But for once, I didn’t want to move.Not when Elliot’s fingers were lazily tracing patterns along my spine. Not when the scent of him...warm, musky, familiar...wrapped around me like a cocoon.I shifted slightly, but the moment I did, his grip tightened, pulling me back against him.“Where do you think you’re going?” His voice was thick with sleep, rasping against my ear.I smiled, tilting my head back to meet his gaze. His dark hair was a tousled mess, his jaw dusted with stubble, and his eyes...still heavy with sleep...watched me like I was the only thing that mattered in the world.“I need to get up,” I murmured.“No, yo
ElliotI used to believe I was a patient man. That no matter how chaotic life became, I could handle it with control and precision.But Susan was testing me in ways I never imagined.I sat at the dining table, fingers tapping rhythmically against the wooden surface. The clock on the wall mocked me—11:47 PM.She was late, again.Dinner had gone cold an hour ago, and the bottle of whiskey I’d sworn I wouldn’t touch was now half-empty.The moment I heard the front door click open, I tensed. Her footsteps slow. Then, the sight of her...exhausted, her hair slightly messy, dressed in a sleek business suit that reminded me just how deep she had buried herself in that damn foundation.She barely glanced my way as she set her purse down, stretching her neck. “You’re still up?”I let out a slow exhale. “No, Susan. I’m sleepwalking.”Her lips pressed together, and I knew I’d hit a nerve. But I didn’t care.“I had a long day, Elliot.” She rubbed her temples, sighing. “Please don’t start.”I pushe
Susan I barely had time to think before Elliot’s lips crashed into mine.It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t patient.It was raw.Like a man who had been starving for too long. Like someone at their breaking point.I gasped against his mouth, but he didn’t let me pull away. His hands gripped my waist, fingers digging in as if to remind me exactly who I belonged to.I had pushed him away for weeks.Tonight, he wasn’t letting me run.His lips traveled down my jaw, hot and demanding, his breath ragged against my skin. My knees threatened to buckle when his teeth scraped the sensitive spot just beneath my ear."Tell me you missed me," he growled.I shuddered, clutching his shoulders. "Elliot..."His grip tightened. "Say it."I swallowed hard, my pulse hammering. "I missed you."A low curse left his lips before he lifted me effortlessly, carrying me toward the bedroom. My arms wrapped around his neck, and my body molded against his as he kicked the door shut behind us.I barely had time to process
Elliot I woke up alone again.The other side of the bed was empty, the sheets cool to the touch. I ran a hand through my hair, irritation already simmering beneath my skin. This had become a pattern...Susan leaving at dawn before I even got the chance to hold her, to talk to her, to feel like we were still us.I sat up and reached for my phone.No messages. No missed calls. Nothing.With a sigh, I tossed the device onto the nightstand and stared at the ceiling.She had promised this wouldn't happen. That her new position at the foundation wouldn’t consume her, that she wouldn’t lose herself in proving a point to my mother.Yet, here I was. Alone. Again.My patience was wearing thin.I climbed out of bed, threw on some sweatpants, and headed to the kitchen, where I found Gerald waiting for me. He was standing by the counter, sipping coffee, his expression unreadable."You look like hell," he noted dryly."Good morning to you too, Gerald," I muttered, grabbing a mug and pouring myself
ElliotThe first time Susan missed dinner, I let it slide.She texted me last minute, saying she was caught up at work, something about an urgent report she needed to finalize before the morning. I replied with a simple Okay, don’t stay too late.But then it happened again. And again.At first, I told myself she was just adjusting to the new job. She wanted to prove herself, show that she was more than just the CEO’s girlfriend playing charity director. And I admired that about her.But admiration turned into irritation real quick.By the fourth night in a row of her coming home past eleven, barely speaking two words before collapsing in bed, I was done being understanding.Tonight, I didn’t bother preparing dinner. What was the point? I sat in the dimly lit living room, glass of whiskey in my hand, staring at the front door like a damn abandoned husband waiting for his wife to return from war.The sound of the key turning in the lock made my jaw clench. The door creaked open, and the
Susan I took a deep breath as I stepped into the headquarters of the Prescott Foundation. The towering glass doors reflected the morning sun, casting a golden glow over the entrance. This was my new beginning, but not in the way Mrs. Prescott had envisioned.The receptionist, a woman in her late thirties with sharp eyes behind black-rimmed glasses, looked up at me and stiffened slightly. "Good morning, Ms. Hart," she said, her voice polite but laced with curiosity.It was clear...everyone here knew who I was. Not as Susan Hart, the new employee. But as her. The woman Elliot Prescott was involved with. The one who had seemingly walked into this job with privilege wrapped around her like a designer coat.I straightened my shoulders, let them think what they wanted. I would prove them wrong."I'm here for my first day," I said with a calm smile.Her eyebrows lifted ever so slightly, but she nodded and picked up her phone. "Mr. Castillo will be with you shortly."I knew of Mr. Castillo..
Susan The morning light seeped through the curtains, casting a soft glow across Meera’s apartment. I blinked awake, the events of last night crashing down like a tidal wave. My head throbbed, not from the wine but from the weight of my choices.I had betrayed Elliot’s trust.And worse...I had done it knowing exactly how much it would hurt him.I turned on my side, expecting Meera to still be asleep, but she was already sitting up against the headboard, scrolling through her phone.“Morning, traitor.” She didn’t even look up as she spoke, but the sarcasm was thick in her tone.I groaned, burying my face into the pillow. “I don’t need the judgment this early.”“Well, too bad,” she snapped, tossing her phone onto the bed. “Elliot called me twice.”That got my attention. I shot up, my heart beating rapidly. “What?”“And texted,” she added, handing me her phone.I hesitated before reading.Elliot Prescott: Where is she?Elliot Prescott: She’s not at the penthouse. If she’s with you, tell
Susan I walked out of Elliot’s office without looking back.I could still hear his voice...sharp, cutting, and desperate...“Don’t do this, Susan.” But I had to.Because in the end, love wasn’t enough.Not when his mother still saw me as an outsider. Not when the world still whispered about how I wasn’t good enough for Elliot Prescott. Not when, no matter how much I tried to prove myself, I still felt like I was fighting a battle I was destined to lose.And if signing my name on a damn contract was the price for being accepted into his family, for securing a future where his mother wouldn’t look at me like I was nothing, then so be it.I ignored the sting in my chest and walked down the halls of Prescott Enterprises with quiet determination. My heels clicked against the marble floors, my heart pounding with every step toward the woman who had made me feel small for so long.Mrs. Prescott was waiting for me.She sat behind a grand mahogany desk, poised and elegant, a picture of unshaka
Susan The message stared back at me like a challenge. Eleanor Prescott requests your presence for lunch. One o’clock. Prescott Tower, 45th floor. I didn’t need to think twice. This wasn’t an invitation...it was a summons. Elliot’s mother had spent years pretending I didn’t exist, treating me like a temporary inconvenience that would eventually disappear. But now, after everything that had happened...the scandal, Elliot’s return, the press conference that rocked the business world...she was suddenly willing to sit down with me? I stepped out of the cab and took a deep breath before walking through the grand entrance of Prescott Tower. The lobby was pristine, with marble floors and golden accents, exuding the kind of wealth that was meant to intimidate people like me. But I wouldn’t be intimidated. The elevator ride to the 45th floor felt both too long and too short. When the doors slid open, I was met with an airy, sunlit dining area. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcased the city