A lie. But wasn’t that what everyone did when asked this question? Lying?He gave a small nod, not questioning it. “How about yours?” I asked, tilting my head.“Great,” he said. Just a single word. He nodded again, but I saw the way his gaze flickered downward, the way his grip on his fork tighte
He bit his lower lip, exhaling sharply. Yeah, he already knew what I meant."I’m happy I still have my friend back," he said, tapping his chest lightly, like he needed to feel his own heartbeat."See you later, darling," he added, turning away, his voice teasing, but there was an underlying heavines
But no one came.I was alone with him.“I heard you had a brother who wanted to kill Ace,” Agostino said, his voice calm, almost conversational.My fingers curled instinctively into the fabric of my jeans, nails pressing into my palms.“Yeah… he…” My voice wavered, faltering as I struggled for the r
My stomach twisted.They know everything.“Well.” I exhaled, my shoulders slumping. “Today I lost that job.”“Why?” Agostino’s tone was casual. But his eyes weren’t.“They closed the shop. Suddenly.”Vadim hummed, as if that was the most predictable thing in the world. “Happens to local places all t
My head snapped up, eyes wide. "Huh?"He tilted his head slightly, his smirk deepening. "That’s what he calls you, right? Mini bear?"I hesitated. "Yeah…" My voice dragged, my cheeks burning hot.“Why does he call you that?” Agostino’s voice cut in.I blinked, frowning. "I… I don’t know. He just doe
A slow, unimpressed exhale left Agostino. He flicked his tongue against his teeth, like he had already predicted my answer, like it bored him.“No,” he said simply.I frowned. “No?”“He knows everything about you,” Agostino said, watching me closely.My breath hitched.“It’s only you,” he murmured,
And somehow—That laughter hurt more than any insult ever could."An oblivious girl in this generation. How unique." Vadim's voice slithered through the air, smooth and laced with mockery. But beneath that—beneath the easy amusement—there was something else. Curiosity. Surprise. Maybe even a bit o
I refused to look up.I knew what I’d see.Sympathy. Pity. Mockery.I don’t know anything."That’s alright. You still have many options, though, if you don’t like him."Vadim's voice was light, casual—like he was talking about switching brands of coffee instead of my relationship with Ace.My finger
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