Everything about Marie, including her laugh words and eyes, seemed to erode the barriers he had painstakingly erected around himself. He had attempted to persuade himself that it was nothing more than a brief digression in judgment.However, he knew in his heart that it had gone beyond that. He was growing attracted to her. It came to him more suddenly than he had anticipated. He was reluctant to acknowledge the possibility that his meticulously crafted world might be collapsing due to something so dire. Human. Still, it was present. He could no longer ignore it.His gaze strayed to the mirror image of his own face. Who was he becoming? A man caught between his obligations and his desires between the woman who had become a complication he didn't know how to handle and the company that had defined his life. A conflict that he had not expected. One that he had no idea how to fix. A nagging doubt that had been pursuing him for days was causing him to become extremely frustrated. As his
After some hesitation, Aaron threw open the door and let Susann in. He was surprised by her unexpected arrival because he hadn't anticipated her visit at this hour.Aaron shut the door after her as she entered the room with deliberate yet gentle steps, his mind buzzing with questions.He tried to speak steadily, but he could feel his heartbeat quicken and asked, "What is it, Susann?" Although he was unsure of what to anticipate, he was aware that she rarely arrived with pointless chatter.Susann turned to him, taking a deep breath and maintaining her poise. She started off by saying, "I've been observing something," in a measured tone and with deliberate word choice. After pausing, she went on. "It concerns you and Marie."Although Aaron's brows furrowed slightly, he remained silent. Susann had always been perceptive, constantly watching and conscious of details that others missed; he hadn't anticipated her bringing up his relationship with Marie.He prepared himself for the impendi
Marie was wide awake in her bed, the room cold leaking through the sheets that did little to keep her warm.She was unable to close her eyes even though it was cold. In the fog of her mind, sleep seemed so far away. She kept thinking about Aaron.Not doing so was unavoidable. Her mind was still clear with the picture of him in the rain holding her so tenderly and fiercely at the same time. She could feel his heart beating in time with hers, his chest rising and falling against hers, and the warmth of his embrace.The bond they had formed at that moment had not been significantly weakened by the wet clothing.It had been honest, open and vulnerable. As well as his statement. As they stood there in the rain, he spoke to her in those gentle, almost contrite words. She had been surprised by the sincerity in his eyes as he spoke. She had never anticipated him lowering a wall, but it felt as though he was opening up in a way that he had never done before. Her memory was etched with that g
Marie's eyes fluttered open, and she lay on the bed for a while, enjoying the gentle morning light that came in through the curtains.She felt airy and a lightness in her chest that hadn't been there the day before. She had the feeling... excited. She was excited to see Aaron once more. The recollection of their fleeting passionate moments together—in his arms in the rain—made her heart race.His words and the warmth of his touch had made an impression that would last. She was eager to see him again to have a nice connection and to see if he would behave the same way he had the previous evening.Smiling to herself, she tossed the covers, climbed out of bed and hurriedly started getting ready for the day. She tried to look perfect, to get every detail just right when applying her makeup using a steady hand.She was having trouble focusing because her mind was racing. She was only able to think about Aaron and the way he had held her and gazed at her. What had changed in him during th
Marie’s heart was pounding as she stared at Aaron, expecting him to turn to face her and ask why. But Aaron continued to move. He persisted and did not reduce speed.He moved quickly, but his back was stiff. When they got to the door, he held it open for her, but his jaw was clenched, and his eyes were still focused forward.“We are late,” He said curtly as if that clarified everything.” Go out.”Marie's chest became constricted. The distance was there once more—the chilly temperature. Still following him, still surprised, she went outside. Did she say or do something that caused the change overnight, or did she misinterpret every moment between them? She followed him while keeping an eye on the back of his as he took deliberate, quick, and long steps.It crossed her mind that he might have cut her off because of something that had happened, but she was unaware of it. Her thoughts were disrupted when Susann walked alongside Aaron, catching up to them.She stated in her typically comp
Marie bit her lip, fighting the frustration that was growing inside her. She wanted to question him about his behavior and why, after everything they had discussed, he had abruptly distanced himself. She was unable to ask because the words felt stuck in her throat.She was careful not to exacerbate the situation. She became increasingly irate as the minutes passed. The silence was intolerable. She was confused by what had happened.The memory of the warmth between them the night before when everything had felt so right only made the present more painful. What had she done to deserve this coldness? Why was he acting this way? In what way was he able to simply cut her off? She looked at Aaron once more, but he ignored her. He didn’t even turn to face her. While he drove, she could see his clenched jaw and focused face, but there was no warmth or connection.Just a detached icy concentration on the path ahead.With her voice barely audible over the hum of the engine, Marie muttered, “wh
They reached the entrance of the building, and Aaron stepped inside without a second glance at Marie. She observed him in, glancing over her shoulder to peer at Susann walking in at the back of her, looking just as impartial as Aaron. Marie felt a pang of jealousy. Susann appeared to understand exactly how to handle Aaron’s coldness, while Marie felt like she changed into wholly lost.Why the hell was he giving her a cold reception?They walked into the big assembly room, where numerous shareholders had already been waiting. The room became full of an irritating, expert atmosphere. Marie felt small and out of place, standing in the back of the room at the same time as Aaron took his seat at the top of the table. He right away started talking about enterprise, his voice consistent and commanding as he went over the figures and strategies.Marie watched him with a mixture of admiration and frustration. This became the man she had seen the nighttime earlier than—sturdy, assured, and deci
As quickly as the last shareholder walked out, Marie didn’t wait for Aaron. She drove her chair back and stood up quickly, feeling a rush of hysteria. She couldn’t sit down there anymore or live in the cold room packed with unstated tension. She didn’t need to make it worse by means of lingering. She didn’t need to force herself on him.Without a glance at everyone else, she walked out of the room. Her footsteps echoed inside the hallway, everyone louder than the final. Her coronary heart beat quicker as she moved, and her thoughts had been scattered. Why is Aaron performing like this? What had passed off? Why had he pulled far away from her so unexpectedly?She drove those thoughts apart as she moved towards their workplace. It was less complicated to keep on foot and moving than to sit down in that silence and attempt to make sense of all of it. However, as quickly as she stepped into the office, the stress in her chest elevated. There was no escaping this. There was no escaping the
Marie held the file to her chest with trembling hands. Her mind whirled with anger, incredulity and fear as her heart hammered against her ribs.She didn't give a damn.“Hey sweetheart, as smooth as ever Aaron said as soon as he entered the room, greeting her.Marie stayed put. Instead, with all the rage raging inside her, she slammed the file against his chest after lifting it. It hit with a sharp, loud thud.“Explain this,” she snapped before Aaron could even react. Confusion knitted his brows as he grabbed the file out of instinct. He flipped it open while glancing down at it. Then, his body froze.His voice was low and too controlled as he asked, “Where did you get this?”She swore, “That's what you have to say? Not a single attempt to tell me this isn't true? Not a single word to deny it?”Aaron let out a slow breath and closed the file. “Marie—”She interrupted him with a raised voice, saying, “No! Don’t ‘Marie’ me! Aaron, I want the truth. Everything. Now.”Aaron's jaw tighten
When Marie entered the house, it was still as quiet as before. A tiny chill went down her spine in the silence. It always seemed like a place with secrets, and she was resolved to find one today. With caution, she made her way to Howard's study, her bare feet making no sound on the cool floor.She was positive that Howard wasn't at home. Anger-fueled, he had stormed out earlier. Now was her opportunity. She went to the door, but it was locked. The heart of Marie skipped a beat. That was not what she had anticipated.She hesitated for a moment. Would she be caught by someone if she turned around? No. I need to locate that image. With her thoughts racing, she took a step back and bit her lip. Where would Howard store the key? And then she realised. His chamber. She turned and rushed up the grand staircase without another second's hesitation.Her heart raced with each creak of the ancient wooden steps. She moved swiftly but carefully looked around corners to make sure no one was observi
Marie ran.She was not able to breathe, no matter how hard she tried to hold on to something; the world around her was blurry. The ground beneath her feet seemed to go on forever; it was neither warm nor cold, nor was it soft or hard.However, she was aware that she needed to continue running. Her chest rose and fell with urgency as she held her breath in sharp gasps.The wind had stopped. There is no sound. Just a spooky emptiness that caused her chest to constrict uneasily. Then—. A voice. Soft. Muttering. Weak. Marie. . . . Pulse thumping against her ribs, she skidded to a stop. Her gaze swept over the shifting mist as she turned.The quiet pressed against her ears. Then—. Marie heard the murmur once more. Closer this time. She was gasping for air. At her sides, she balled her fingers into fists. Like a chilly breath against the back of her neck, the voice, familiar but far away, sent a weird sensation racing through her. Her throat was dry as she swallowed hard. As though the air
Aaron, whose whole body was glowing with rage, barged into their bedroom. His shoulders were tense, his feet were heavy, and he raked a frustrated hand through his hair. Closing the door behind him, Marie followed in silence.Something raw flickered in his dark, intense eyes, making Marie’s stomach knot. After a moment of hesitation, Marie moved closer. “Aaron. . . .” With a sharp exhale, he turned to her. His jaw was tight, his dark eyes blazing with anger. “He was without right,” he snarled. “He has no damn right to treat you that way.” “Please, Aaron—” “I ought to have done more,” he interrupted, his tone full of annoyance. “The instant he raised his voice toward you, I ought to have intervened.”Marie tried to calm him before his rage overtook him by gently reminding him, “You did” in a softer tone.Aaron's laughter was sour. “Not enough.” He paced the room like a confined animal while shaking his head. “I wasn't expecting him to say it aloud, but I knew he would react this way
Marie gripped the photo with shaking fingers. As she struggled to process what she was seeing, she breathed in sharp, short gasps. This is totally strange. There should be no such thing. How manage? She asked herselfThen—. The door flew open. Marie’s heart hit her ribs as she jolted. Howard entered, engulfing the room with his massive frame that blocked the doorway.The maids huddled together in fright.They were aware. They felt terror. Marie had hardly time to respond. Between her feet the picture fluttered to the floor as it slipped from her shaking fingers."What the hell are you doing here?” He yelled.Marie swallowed. “I was just—" “You were just what?” His fists were clenched at his sides, but his voice remained uncannily composed.Marie made herself talk. “I was only tidying up.” Howard's eyes strayed to the cloth she was still holding. His jaw muscle twitches. “Cleaning?” he asked again incredulously.Marie nodded and took a deep breath. Howard, however, was not persuade
Strangely, the mansion was silent.Marie was reading a magazine in the living room when her thoughts drifted. When she woke up, the bed was empty because Aaron had left early for the office. She usually spends the morning curled up in his arms with soft sheets, but today was different. Lonely. With a sigh, she threw the magazine on the coffee table. There was nothing to do. Her bones began to grow restless. Although she could have gone for a walk, she didn't enjoy the idea of being by herself in the expansive estate. Rather, she got up and walked toward the main hall, her bare feet softly tapping the marble floor.As she passed the open archway leading to the grand foyer, she noticed movement. A couple of maids were busy cleaning the staircase railing and polishing the furniture. Marie came over to them with a smile. “Do you require any assistance?”The maids' eyes widened as they turned to her in shock. A short woman with graying hair gave a quick shake of her head. “Oh no, Mrs. Sa
Aaron’s fingers lightly touched her smooth skin as he moved his hands down Marie's bare arms.Marie's voice was shaking as she uttered his name in a whisper, “Aaron.”There was a lot of uncertainty and longing in the sound. Aaron looked into her worried eyes with his dark ones. He could see the vulnerability that she was trying so hard to conceal, the fear that was still present behind her eyes.Her heart pounded, but this time it wasn’t out of fear. Something else—something more profound—occurred inside her whenever he was near. “I have always been scared. For a very long time, even before the nightmares, I was afraid.”As if he could protect her from all pain and anxiety, Aaron’s eyes grew softer, and he bent down to plant a kiss on the top of her forehead. “I understand,” he said in a whisper. “Marie, I understand. But you no longer need to bear it alone. I'm always here for you."His words were so genuine that they made her breath catch in her throat. She found comfort in the war
It was a suffocating dream for Marie. Her bare feet started to sink into the muddy ground as she ran through a pitch-black forest. She was caught by strong invisible hands that dragged her back and into the abyss. She snapped out of it. She was surrounded by warm arms from behind before she could even regulate her breathing. Aaron pressed his chest against her back and whispered “Shh…” against her ear. “You are safe. I've got you.”Eventually, Marie's tense body relaxed as he pulled her closer, his strong arms enclosing her and shielding her from the aftereffects of her nightmare. She nestled her face into his bare chest as she turned in his arms, inhaling his reassuringly fresh masculine aroma.She mumbled her voice trembling, “It felt so real.” Her fingers lightly touched his skin as she held onto him even more. “It felt like my whole being was being consumed.” As Aaron gave her back soothing strokes, his breathing remained steady. He said in a steady, quiet voice, “It was only a
Howard grabbed the steering wheel and got into his car, but he didn't turn on the engine. His stomach roiling with anxiety, he continued to stare at the house.Howard had acquaintances. He had been dealing with criminals, con artists and liars for years. The man at the door had all the telltale symptoms of someone hiding something: his forced casualness in speech, his stiff posture and the way his eyes darted away too quickly. He was making a false statement. Exhaling, Howard drummed his fingers on the dashboard. “What on earth went wrong here?” He grabbed his phone and quickly browsed through his contacts.A short while later, he hit the call button. After two rings, a recognisable voice answered. “Yes?” Howard was uninterested in polite conversation. “Tell me. How on earth did you make this so bad?” The pause. Then a sigh. “What do you mean by that?” Howard tightened his jaw. “I rapped on the door. Richard was gone according to the man who answered, left, departed silently.”One