SusanI adjusted my blazer and took a deep breath before walking into the boardroom. This was the opportunity I'd been waiting for...no room for nerves, no room for mistakes.But the moment I stepped inside, my breath caught.Ten years. It had been ten long years since I last saw him, and yet, there he was...Elliot Prescott, sitting at the head of the boardroom table like a king on his throne.The universe had a twisted sense of humor, throwing me into his world when I was at my lowest. Jobless, desperate, and hanging onto the last thread of my self-respect, I'd walked into this meeting thinking it was just another pitch. But then his eyes...those same piercing green eyes...met mine, and for a moment, I couldn't breathe.His piercing green eyes meeting mine the second I walked in. Time hadn't touched him, if anything, it had made him sharper, more composed. The air in the room suddenly felt too heavy."Ms. Hart," a man sitting beside him said, oblivious to the jolt of recognition betw
SusanThey say you never forget your firsts. First day of college. First time living away from home. First real taste of independence. And for me, my first love.I still remember the way the sun drenched the campus that morning, illuminating the sprawling lawns and the old brick buildings. I was 18, full of ambition, and ready to conquer the world...or at least my little corner of it. My backpack was heavier than necessary, my schedule meticulously planned, and my nerves barely under control.I had just exited the lecture hall after my orientation when I saw him. At first, it was just a passing glance. He stood out...not just because of his height or his sharp features, but because of the effortless way he seemed to exist in his space. Like he belonged there.And then I tripped.It wasn't a graceful stumble, either. My heel caught on an uneven patch of pavement, and I went sprawling forward, my books and papers scattering across the ground."Whoa...careful there."That voice...smooth
SusanI hadn't intended to stay up late that night, but sleep wouldn't come. The weight of the day lingered in my chest like an unwelcome guest, replaying itself over and over in my mind: Elliot's piercing gaze, his composed demeanor, and the haunting way he looked at me like he was still trying to figure me out.It didn't matter that a decade had passed since we last stood face-to-face. He still had that unnerving ability to make me feel seen...seen in a way that no one else could.My apartment was quiet except for the faint hum of the city outside. I sank into the couch, clutching a cup of tea I didn't plan to drink. My laptop sat on the coffee table, glowing faintly. I should've been preparing for follow-ups on the proposal, but my mind kept drifting to the past...to the first time Elliot and I weren't just strangers on a campus.****Flashback – Ten Years AgoIt had been almost a year since our first meeting. By then, Elliot Prescott was no longer just the cocky guy who'd helped m
ElliotThe morning light filtered through my office windows as I flipped through the proposal Susan had submitted. My focus was sharp, but not on the document in front of me...it was on her.She hadn't changed much. The confidence in her stride, the way she held her head high, the fire in her eyes when she spoke...it was all still there. But there was something else, too, something I couldn't quite place.She seemed... guarded. As if the years had built a wall around her that no one had dared to climb.I leaned back in my chair, tossing the folder onto my desk. I needed answers. But this wasn't just about the past. I couldn't afford distractions, especially not now.A knock at the door broke my thoughts."Come in."Gerald stepped inside, his usual calm demeanor in place. "Ms. Hart is here for your meeting."My pulse quickened, but I forced myself to remain composed. "Send her in."Moments later, the door opened again, and Susan walked in. She was dressed in a fitted blazer and skirt,
SusanBy the time I left the office that evening, the weight of the day pressed heavily on my shoulders. Seeing Elliot again wasn't just an emotional challenge...it was a test of my resolve.Meera was waiting for me at our favorite bar, a cozy, dimly lit spot tucked away from the city's bustling streets. She waved as soon as she spotted me, a knowing grin on her face."Well, if it isn't the woman of the hour," she teased as I slid into the seat across from her.I sighed, signaling the bartender for a drink. "Don't start.""Too late... How's Mr. Billionaire Ex treating you?"I hesitated, swirling the glass of wine that the bartender had set in front of me. "Professionally."Meera raised an eyebrow. "And...?""And what?""And how are you dealing with it? Come on, Su. You can't just sit there and pretend this isn't a big deal. You two have history."I took a sip of my wine, savoring the warmth it brought. "It's complicated, okay? He's my boss...well, technically my client...and I need th
SusanBy the time I got home, the night's events were still replaying in my head. Meera's laughter, Elliot's smirk, the way my heart had betrayed me by skipping a beat when our fingers brushed...all of it swirled around like an annoying little storm I couldn't escape.I placed the notepad on the kitchen counter and stared at it like it was to blame for everything. If I'd just remembered to grab it from the conference room, none of this would've happened.But it did happen. And now I was back in the tangled mess that was Elliot Prescott."You're over him," I muttered to myself, opening the fridge in search of a distraction. "It's been ten years. You're a grown woman. You don't care anymore."I pulled out a bottle of water and shut the fridge door with more force than necessary. Unfortunately, my little pep talk wasn't doing much to calm the flutter in my chest.I grabbed my phone and flopped onto the couch, scrolling mindlessly through social media. Anything to stop thinking about the
SusanI tossed the phone aside and leaned my head back against the couch, letting out a frustrated sigh. The notepad still sat there on the counter, mocking me with its presence. Why had I left it behind? Was fate playing some cruel trick on me, or was it just my own stupidity?It's just a notepad, Susan, I reminded myself. But deep down, I knew it wasn't about the notepad. It was about everything it represented—the past, the unresolved feelings, the man who had walked away.I got up and paced the living room, my bare feet padding softly against the hardwood floor. "Get it together," I whispered to myself. "He's just another client. Nothing more."But no matter how much I tried to convince myself, I couldn’t ignore the weight of the emotions that had come rushing back. The way his eyes had softened when he looked at me, the way his smirk had sent an annoying flutter through my chest.Suddenly, my phone buzzed again. I snatched it up, hoping it wasn’t Meera with another round of teasin
Present Day: ElliotI leaned against the balcony railing of my penthouse, the city lights sprawling below me. The hum of traffic blended with the occasional distant siren, creating a faint buzz that mirrored the chaos in my mind.Susan.Seeing her again had thrown me off balance in a way I hadn’t expected. I thought I’d buried those memories—tucked them neatly into a box, sealed, and stored away in some unreachable corner of my mind. But the moment I saw her, it was like that box burst open, and I was drowning in everything I thought I’d left behind.Her laugh, her stubbornness, the way she used to light up when she talked about something she loved.And her guardedness now. That caught me off guard the most.The Susan I’d known wore her heart on her sleeve, unafraid to feel, unafraid to be vulnerable. This Susan…she had walls. Walls I didn’t know if I could—or should—break down.I took a sip of the whiskey in my hand, letting the warmth spread through me. It didn’t help. The memory of
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