I nearly sighed.She was trying. Trying to get on Su’s good side.Su barely looked up from her files, huffing in annoyance.Iris’s lower lip clenched slightly before she pressed them together in defeat.Such a kid.But the dynamic was clear—Su didn’t like Iris.And it wasn’t just dislike.It was som
"Well, now I have. He said—" Iris’s voice was small, barely above a whisper.Ace’s brow arched, amusement flickering in his eyes like a predator catching the scent of something interesting."He?" Ace interrupted, voice sharp, slicing right through the air.He straightened, his posture shifting, no l
Casual. But his eyes…They were watching me too closely."So, Iris, are you sure you wanna go on this date?" Felix’s voice was light, but there was something lurking underneath it.My fingers twitched in my lap."Why? Is that bad? I have never been on a date," I said, forcing a smile, trying to soun
I remembered our first meeting, which had been a disaster. Susan had been cold and distant, and I had felt like an outsider in her world.Now, as she worked on my hair with a meticulous touch, I could see a different side of her— a side that seemed professional for sure.When she finally pulled the
Her eyes—unaware of the chaos she was causing, wide and bright, flickering between the faces staring at her.Loose strands of hair fell delicately across her face, the rest of her hair styled back in a loose, rolled-updo that was both effortless and chic. She wasn’t even trying to be seductive.And
Her next words only made it worse."Y-You look handsome t-too."Soft.Breathless.Ace’s wicked grin was slow, deliberate, curling with something she wouldn’t understand.She had no idea.No idea what she had just handed him with that one small, innocent compliment.No idea how she had unknowingly of
Something tightened in my chest.We took our seats, the candlelight casting a golden hue over her features.She looked almost ethereal.A waitress approached, setting down wine and a glass of water.Iris thanked her.I frowned. Why?"That’s their job. You don’t have to thank everyone," I said, sett
"Oh...um...," she murmured, her fingers twitching as she fiddled with her napkin, clearly struggling with how to respond.Good.I took a slow sip of my wine, my eyes never leaving hers."What about your brother?" I asked, shifting the focus back onto her.She froze.Not a flinch. Not a nervous tick.
Why did I only notice it now?Ace chuckled—low, knowing."Do your work like a good whore," he murmured, his tone silky but laced with steel. "And show me your devotion, brat."He leaned back, and the pressure of his hands, which had been a constricting comfort around my body, vanished. Like a snake
I blinked, my breath hitching, frustration curling inside my chest."Please…" The whisper left me before I could stop it, before I could hold onto my pride. My head dipped down, shame curling my shoulders inward as I bit down on my lower lip. "Just one kiss. Even a peck."Ace clicked his tongue, th
“Don’t expect me to treat you like a good girl till I believe you’re sorry, Iris,” he murmured, his tone dark and taunting.Before I could process it, his thumb shoved past my lips, forcing them apart. My eyes flew wide, a muffled “Hmph” escaping as my hands shot up, fingers digging into his knees
“Sit on your knees.”…What?I froze.My smile slipped, and a soft “Huh?” escaped me before I could stop it.The warmth I’d felt a second ago twisted into something heavier, sharper, and I blinked at him, caught off guard.“You heard me, my sweet whore,” he said, leaning back with a smirk that stretc
I clenched my fists, inhaling sharply before narrowing my eyes at him.This man.This man would kill me.My fingers tugged at my top, pulling it back down as I tried to piece together what just happened.Why did he stop?I gulped, my throat dry, my body still traitorously warm. Ace smirked, draping
I sputtered, fisting my hands.“Boss,” Joy’s voice cut through my humiliation.“Wouldn’t Hudson sir be angry about what you just did to his sister? Should we, uh, step outside?”Ace didn’t even spare her a glance.“No. Stay here and do your work. I’ll do mine,” he said smoothly, like he hadn’t just
And he had the audacity to ignore me?He didn’t even say thank you!I glared at his back.“Boss,” I said, layering my voice with a little too much sweetness. “It’s past your lunch time. You should eat.”Nothing.Not even a glance.Ace continued flipping through his damn papers like I was invisible.
But it was probably not the sparkly, glittering fairy kind. More like the I-make-people-disappear kind.Joy. That’s her name.Wooow.A woman named Joy working at a place where she literally brings pain. “Oh yeah!! I remember now,” Joy exclaimed, her face lighting up like I was her long-lost best f
Damn it, Iris. Play it cool!His gaze didn’t waver. “May I know what you are doing here?”I cleared my throat. “Uh… just… passing by?”He arched a brow.I let out a nervous laugh and gestured to the air. “You know, just… admiring the architecture?”Then, he tilted his head toward the slightly open d