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Chapter 36
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2024-10-06 18:20:27Related chapters
Falling for my cocky Boss Chapter 37
Aiden's P.O.V.I couldn't see the road because it was misty outside just like always when I'm looking through my tears. My knuckles went white with hold onto the wheel, but that did nothing to dissipate what was in my chest. The pain of my heart shattering into a million pieces.How did this happen? How did I let Damien win?I didn't know or care much where I was going; all I knew was that I couldn't go home, couldn't face myself after what I'd just done to the woman I loved. Neon lights of a bar instinctively appeared in my peripheral vision off to the side of the road and I pulled into the lot, parking.The acrid sting of the liquor hit me in the face. Just what I needed. Something to deaden the ache, make me forget."Whiskey," I told him as I slid onto one of the stools against the bar.He said nothing, only poured one and set it before me. I swallowed one gulp of it, wincing; the liquid was burning down my throat. That wasn't enough."Another," I said, slamming the glass down.It'
Last Updated : 2024-10-06Falling for my cocky Boss Chapter 38
Tessa's POV"Oh, I am so sorry, but I won't be able to make it in today. I'm not feeling all that great," I finally managed to get out to the phone to the company managing director, barely understandable anymore even to my ears.No sooner had I hung up than I fell back onto my bed, yanking the blanket over my head. My body went heavy, willing to sink into the mattress. A few-too-many blinks later, my eyes leaked. That ache in my chest wasn't one that dulled since last night. Never thought it possible to feel this broken because of some words.He really did.That was the painful twist that wrung my heart. It was that cold expression of his face then-the tone in his voice then that told me it was over-kept me back.I just lay there, staring dumb at the ceiling and trying to piece something out of it. I hadn't gotten out of bed. The covers acted as if they could keep me in one piece. The room was so dark because my feelings spilt over into surroundings.I knew Aiden was complicated, that
Last Updated : 2024-10-07Falling for my cocky Boss Chapter 39
Damien's POV"You're such a heartbreaker, aren't you?" I leaned against the doorframe of Aiden's office, a smirk tugging my lips. "Poor Tessa must be crushed."Aiden didn't bat an eyelid. His eyes stayed cold, intent. He didn't rise to the bait and didn't even twitch. The restraint of it couldn't be avoided, a tiny shade of impressed, which made teasing him at all a little less fun. Still, I wasn't here just to mock him. We had business."What did you come here for?" Aiden asked, his voice sharp, flat. "To gloat?"Partly." I strode into his office, hands in my pockets, taking my time to look around the room. Aiden's office always seemed so sterile, so organized. Boring. Lifeless. Much like him when he wasn't pretending to care about something. "But I've also come to deliver on my end of the deal. You, my friend, held up your part, so it's only fair I do the same."Aiden's jaw clenched a fraction as he leaned forward, hands clasped together over the desk. "The video. Destroy it." "Imp
Last Updated : 2024-10-07Falling for my cocky Boss Chapter 40
Aiden's P.O.V."Mr. Gray, here is that file you wanted me to work on."Tess's voice was low, professional as she set the document on my desk. I looked up, caught her gaze for that instant in time before she looked away, scrupulously neutral. She was pretending it was all right. And I wasn't buying that. Not after what I'd seen in her eyes, in the droop of her shoulders as she turned away, hied herself back to her desk.She'd been preoccupied but competent, just as she'd been all day. No word had been said between us that wasn't needed. My interactions with her had been business like and I hated it. I hated how things changed between us in such a very short amount of time because of one night, one decision.I ran a hand through my hair. My head seemed to go on spinning like my mind, and it was a great deal more difficult than I'd ever thought breaking it off with her would be. Standing here now, watching her go about the office as if all is right in her world, tore me up inside."Your
Last Updated : 2024-10-08Falling for my cocky Boss Chapter 41
Tessa's POVI eyed the time, five more minutes and I was free. Since he signed off on my leave, a sense of trepidation had clutched onto my chest. I knew desperately that I needed time away from this suffocating office and the thick tension laying between the both of us, but still a part of me dreaded to leave behind all that.It might not have been the best solution, but I needed to do this; it's just that I couldn't stay there, acting all fine and well.I told myself it was for the best and put some important files into my bag.Only a few of us were left holding on for the day, still inside the office. I looked sidewise at the shut door of Aiden's office, that was if he even cared that I was leaving. My heart hardened at the thought, painful jerks.‘Stop it, Tessa. You are stronger than this.’I shook my head and Aiden fell away. The sooner I got out of here the better. Take the week off, sort my head out, and when I return I'd know how to handle him, and everything else. My feeling
Last Updated : 2024-10-08Falling for my cocky Boss Chapter 42
Tessa's POVI pulled the zipper of my luggage and tried to keep my hands still along with my mind that was failing to get things together. A whole week off, away from the company, away from Aiden, and most importantly, away from Damien. I needed this–rebooting to sort things out, take care of this chaos called life.My cell vibrated on the counter, and I turned to its glowing screen, my mom's name flashing across the screen. I let out a heavy sigh, imagining the sound of it if I did answer it, how she'd more than likely sense that something was wrong and would be asking one too many questions, and I didn't want to explain all that, not yet. I silenced the call, slinging my bag over my shoulder as I ready myself to walk out the door and make the drive to theirs.One week I reminded myself. Just one week to clear my head and get away from it all.But just as I reached the door of my apartment, my mobile rang again. This time it was the office number. Brow furrowed, I weighed my options
Last Updated : 2024-10-09Falling for my cocky Boss Chapter 43
Tessa's POVThe minute we were out of that conference room, I stomped down the hall, my head reeling with anger and shock. Chloe? Of all people, she'd be the last one that I would have thought would pull something like that on me. My best friend, my lifelong partner in crime, had just sold me out in front of everybody.I stormed into her office, my fists clenched, my heart jolting hard against my chest. Of course, I gave no courtesy of knocking, and just the opening of the door sent Chloe jumping slightly as she looked up from her desk."Tessa, what are you doing?" she asked coolly, as if she hadn't just stabbed me in the back."What am I doing?" I returned, venom shaking my voice with rage. "What the hell was that back there, Chloe? Why are you lying about me? How could you accuse me like that?"Chloe blinked serenely, face composed-as if this wasn't a big deal. "I'm not lying, Tessa. I'm just doing what's right for the company."My glare was set, but the words caught in my throat. "
Last Updated : 2024-10-09Falling for my cocky Boss Chapter 44
Tessa's POVAs soon as I stepped out of the company building, there was a weight lying heavier inside my chest, as if more than a job was at stake. Chloe, my best friend, betrayed me, Aiden did not believe me, and Damien. he just would be there, always in the back, pulling strings for my fall.How could all this have spiraled so quickly out of my hands?I began my numb walk, it seemed my legs were on some kind of auto-pilot mode, back toward my apartment. A thousand useless thoughts whirled through my mind. How could Chloe do this to me? And Aiden. After all that we had made and shared, how could he look at me and think the worst of me?By the time I got to my apartment, all that anger and fear churning in my stomach gave me a heart attack. I flopped the bag onto the couch and did the same, burying my face in my hands. Hot prickles of tears were beginning to pop into my eyes, but I fought them back. I was angry, not sad anyway. And besides, what good would crying do? I wanted my head
Last Updated : 2024-10-10
Latest chapter
Falling for my cocky Boss Epilogue
TESSA'S POVSunlight streamed through the huge window panes of our house onto the invitations laid across the dining table. I sat with a pen in hand, writing down final guest names, while Aiden leaned against the counter sipping his coffee."We could just elope, you know," he joked, the corner of one lip tugging upwards with a mischievous smirk.I turned a mock glare his way. "After all this planning? Not in your life, Aiden GRAY. We're doing this properly."He laughed, setting his mug down as he ambled over to me. "Properly, huh? That's why you've been vetoing half my suggestions?""You wanted a firework display during the vows!" I reminded him, laughing.“And what’s wrong with that? It would’ve been epic.” He leaned down, pressing a kiss to my temple. “But fine, no fireworks. As long as you’re there, it’ll be perfect.”It was what he said that always made my heart flutter, and the words this time were not an exception. It was one of those weddings that put me into anticipation and j
Falling for my cocky Boss Chapter 130
AIDEN'S POVMonths melted away.Weirdly, life went on since it all came crashing down. It had been months since Damien's death, Chloe leaving the city, Tessa and me over his grave saying our goodbyes. Time didn't heal everything; that it never could. But the space it gave. to breathe, rebuild, and put pieces of our lives back into place-was something all of us had desperately needed.That, with me and Tessa, gradually slipped into rhythm, and whatever in our daily life had disappeared with time turned into the time worth living. The daily morning coffee on the balcony, the late evening lying on the couch curled up, making small talks about the future-this had become a routine thing with us. Indeed, chaos seemed to bypass us somehow, yet the shadows took one corner of my mind with the coming night.But as I watched Tessa, humming to herself and arranging flowers in the sitting room, it suddenly hit me-the ton of bricks they say are always used in such situations. I loved her; I had alw
Falling for my cocky Boss Chapter 129
AIDEN'S POVI did not want to come here. I had told myself that I wouldn't-that some things quite simply were not worth a second chance. But here we were. Tessa stood beside me, her hand in mine, as we walked through the cemetery toward Damien's grave. The wind was cold, a bite into my skin, but nothing compared to the chill now setting into my chest.There it lay, the newly turned soil, the headstone, and the blunt inscription stating his name: "Damien Gray." Seemed so … normal. No great sentences of poetically flowing verbiages, no flowery platitudes of an exaggerated regard. A plain, uneventful name to denote an end of the life so full of promise to me and torn by just so many things… in particular by myself.I had stopped in front of the grave, said nothing. All these emotions warred in my brain, jumbling anger, guilt, sorrow. And it wasn't just because of what happened to him. It was for everything, things that could have gone differently, which I should have done."Do you think
Falling for my cocky Boss Chapter 128
TESSA'S POVChloe sat up against the mountain of pillows that propped her back. Her skin was a dull white; those alert features dulled by exhaustion and pain. When her gaze locked with mine, something flickered over her face-shame, perhaps? Regret?"Tessa," she husked out, her voice husky, yet steady. "I didn't expect you to be here.”"I did," I said, stepping inside. The door clicked shut behind me, and the soft hum of machinery in the room served to fill the brief moment of silence.A minute swept by with neither of us speaking. I had absolutely no idea where to begin, while Chloe seemed to fish for the right words. Then she spoke.“I'm so sorry," Chloe said, her voice breaking. She looked down at her hands, which were twisting the hospital blanket over and over in a nervous fashion. "For everything. For what I did to you. For what I let Damien do.”Her words were like a wave, and all the anger and hurt I'd been trying to bury surfaced. I crossed my arms, my voice sharper than I mea
Falling for my cocky Boss Chapter 127
AIDEN'S POVIt all boiled down to me standing against cold brick outside of a hospital. The sharp night air almost nipped my skin but couldn't take away what had been brewing inside of me since the night Damien was finally gone.Dead.The word reverberated in my mind, hollow yet heavy. He had not reached the hospital. Just a few minutes later, when the ambulance had speedily gone away from the warehouse, the police confirmed that my brother was no longer alive. In the pit of my chest, a tussle between relief and guilt twisted itself into this sensation, which has made me so ill.I stared upwards, trying to make sense of the darkened sky. It was a path he'd chosen, wasn't it? He'd refused every olive branch, clung to his rage, and let it consume him. Still, a part of me couldn't help but ask: What if?The sound of footsteps pulled me from my reverie. Tessa came forward, her face ashen, eyes red-rimmed from crying. She wrapped her arms around her middle, as if holding herself to protect
Falling for my cocky Boss Chapter 126
AIDEN'S POVThe ropes chafing my wrists were heaved into the painfully darkened room by two of Damien's men. My rib cage was racing, pounding within me like a war drum, as my eyes coursed over every inch, scanning the space for her. The echoes of my footsteps rattled through this large, high-ceilinged area, joined by the smothering tension in the air.Then I see her.“Tessa!” screams my hoarse voice in desperation while seeing her tied around the chair, white faced, and tear streaks covering it, her arms bound behind her back, a gag over her mouth, muffling her cries while her big terrified eyes remained fixed on mine, imploring for help.It came finally with the breaking of the silence from Damien's cruel laughter. "Well, well, your Prince Charming is finally here.""Let her go, Damien," I said, shaking all over with anger mixed with fear.Damienne cocked his head to one side, his face a mockery. "And miss this little family reunion? I don't think so.”Damien started to circle me wit
Falling for my cocky Boss Chapter 125
TESSA'S POVThe stench of that dark room shredded through my senses. My wrists throbbed, sore where the coarse ropes had lacerated into the skin, and with each weak inhalation, it was like the final one that could break this tenuous will hanging by a thread.I was not going to back away from him, not from Damien after what he pulled on Aiden, on me, and our lives.Standing in the doorway was a mountain of a man, with a great scar running down his cheek, scraping his boots on the floor and yawning and weighing his weight on one side. He had been left to watch me; now or never was the time to try anything that came into my head.I pulled carefully, testing the looseness of the rope binding my hands, my heart racing in my chest. Hours of subtly working at this knot had finally paid off; it gave way just enough for me to slide my wrists free.I glanced over to the guard, who now had his head leaned back against the wall, his eyes shutting.Go, Tessa. Now.Summoning every last shred of cou
Falling for my cocky Boss Chapter 124
AIDEN'S POVThe house was creepily silent when I went in-the kind of silence that twisted my gut. Something was off because it was too still, too empty."Tessa?" I called out, dropping keys on the counter. Nobody answered.My eyes scanned around the living room, the kitchen-nothing. My chest had already tightened as I tried again, louder this time. "Tessa? Marcus? Garret?"No response.And then I saw it-her phone. It lay on the counter, cracked at the screen, looking like she had dropped it there in haste. Tessa would never leave her phone lying anywhere.Now dread set in as my heart began racing, strode toward the security room for some answers, though my gut already told me otherwise.I burst through the door into the room to find Marcus and two other guards huddled around the monitors."Where the hell is Tessa?" I growled low, an edge to my voice that could cut through glass.Marcus slowly turned to me, white as marble, and seemed to fish for his answer. "Sir… we were reviewing the
Falling for my cocky Boss Chapter 123
TESSA'S POVIt wasn't until we stopped before Aiden's building that the car came to rest; it was my safe refuge now turned into a sanctuary in which the fears inside my head seemed to nestle. Those were instances from two weeks ago, haunting in my mind like some unsavable storm-accusations which memory just didn't seem willing or able to rid itself of."You're home," Aiden whispered, and immediately his voice was an anchor of solace amidst my rioting thoughts.Turning back to him, I pushed a small smile. "Home," I echoed, though the word felt wrong. Was I ever again safe?Aiden climbed out first, coming around and pulling my door open. His firm hand reached inside toward me, steady and reassuringly strong. "Come on; got you.I hesitated, staring at his hand. For a moment, the hospital was safer. Out here, the world was too big, too dangerous. But I chased the fear away, telling myself Aiden would never let anything happen to me.I took his hand and he led me out of the car."Take it e
