For the first time since I met Adriel, I saw a genuine smile on his face, a real one that crinkled his eyes and revealed his teeth in full display. It was mesmerizing, radiant, and utterly unexpected. I couldn’t look away. If I thought he was handsome before, this smile was a transformation I wasn’t prepared for.Realizing I was staring, I cleared my throat and quickly dropped my gaze to the floor. It was better to count imaginary specks of dust than let him see how deeply I have been staring at him.“I’m sure this will go well,” he said, his voice steady and confident. “You won’t regret your choice. This is going to be a blast.” His eyes stayed fixed on me, but I refused to look up.I reminded myself why I was here. None of this was real. Adriel Jaime wasn’t my boyfriend; he was using me because it was convenient. I was just a stand-in for the countless women who’d drop everything to be in my shoes.If he had ever announced that he needed something like this, it would be an audition
For the first time in months, I allowed myself to sleep in. The feeling was pure bliss, and I wasn’t ready to give it up.“You don’t want to eat breakfast? It’s right here in front of you,” Jessy’s voice cut through my haze as she tugged at me, urging me to eat the meal she had prepared.She had taken the day off so we could spend time together, a rare treat considering how hectic things had been for both of us.I grumbled, tightening my eyes shut and refusing to get up. Even though I was wide awake now, I couldn’t bring myself to leave the warmth of my bed. Deep down, I knew that the moment I stood up, reality would hit me like a freight train.“This is for Zoe,” I whispered to myself, a mantra I repeated every time guilt crept in about the situation I had willingly placed myself in.My phone buzzed on the bedside table, jolting me. Groaning, I reached for it and froze the moment I saw the sender.‘The driver will pick you up in an hour. Be ready’I bolted upright, clutching the shee
Stunning.That was the first word that came to mind the moment I laid eyes on her.Clarissa Miller had always been beautiful, anyone who saw her would agree. But tonight, there was something different. Something radiant. It might have been the way her smile lingered, or how the sleek black knee-length dress fit her like it was made for her alone. Whatever it was, Hope had worked her magic, and I couldn’t deny that it worked well.As Clarissa slid into the car beside me, there were so many things I wanted to say, but none of the words would form. Each thought stayed perched on the tip of my tongue, refusing to leap into the silence between us.The car moved, but the air was heavy, an awkwardness settling between us like a wall I wanted to break down.“So…”“Thanks for this.”We spoke at the same time, our words overlapping. I glanced at her, and she smiled softly, easing the tension just a little.“Ladies first,” I said, offering her a playful grin.She looked away for a moment, then b
I woke up the next morning with a strange, jittery energy buzzing through me. Even so, I couldn’t bring myself to turn on my phone. Somehow, I just knew my face would be plastered all over the media.Pressing my face into my pillow, I screamed, muffling the sound as reality dawned on me.I knew what I had signed up for, I knew this was part of the deal, so why was I feeling like this?“What are you doing?” Jessy’s voice cut through the air, pulling me from my loop.Groaning, I flopped onto my back and screamed again this time without the pillow covering my mouth because I wanted to let out all the feelings that were compressing to my chest.“Let me guess,” she teased, sitting on the edge of my bed, “last night didn’t go quite how you imagined?”I covered my face with my hands, my voice muffled. “It was a disaster. Every time I knew he was watching, I completely froze.”Jessy was enjoying this far too much. “Okay, tell me how you feel.”Before I could respond, her phone buzzed. Her eye
He continued what he was doing, completely absorbed in his task. I didn’t mind watching him, his movements were so fluid, so purposeful, it was as if his hands instinctively knew what they wanted. Watching him like this gave me a strange sense of peace I didn’t realize I craved. The silence between us stretched on, but it was comfortable, almost soothing.“When I was in school,” he began suddenly, breaking the silence. He glanced at me with a soft smile. “I had a roommate who loved cooking. To him, it was therapy, a way to escape the chaos of the world. I used to watch him all the time. Before I knew it, it became my therapy too.”He didn’t need to check if I was paying attention; I was utterly captivated, hanging on every word. Who is this man? He felt so different from the one I thought I knew, it was disarming, almost surreal.“Yeah, I get it,” I said, my voice soft. “Cooking can be therapeutic. Right here, right now, it feels like therapy.”His eyes met mine for a moment, silenci
I shifted awkwardly on my feet, trying to gather my thoughts. How well did we know each other? Professionally? Enough to get by. Personally? Barely at all.Paula, still smiling as if this were her favorite part of the day, leaned closer, her sharp gaze sweeping over us. “Let’s start simple. What’s Miss Miller’s favorite color, Jaime?”I turned to him, arching a brow, curious about what he would say.Without missing a beat, Jaime’s lips curved into a subtle smile. “Blue,” he said, his voice steady.I blinked. He was right.Paula raised an eyebrow at me. “Is he correct?”“Yes, but…” I hesitated. “How did you know that?”Jaime shrugged, looking smug. “You always choose blue pens during meetings. And your laptop case is navy. It wasn’t hard to figure out.”I felt my cheeks warm at the casual observation. He noticed things about me? Why?Paula clapped her hands again, clearly pleased. “Good! Attention to detail. That’s a strong start.”“Your turn,” she said, spinning toward me. “What’s Jai
I couldn’t shake off what had happened last night. I woke up with the same thoughts swirling through my head, refusing to settle. The idea that Jaime had actually hired a chemistry coach of all things was something I never could have anticipated. It was unexpected and very absurd yet there was nothing I could do about that.Jessy sat on my bed, gasping and shouting as I recounted everything to her.“Tell me you’re joking,” she said, eyes wide with disbelief.I groaned, rubbing my temples. “I wish I was.”“And now you have to face him again? After all that?” She flopped onto the bed beside me, clearly enjoying my suffering a little too much.“I don’t even know how to act around him anymore,” I admitted. “It’s like everything keeps escalating, and I have no control over any of it.”Jessy sat up, suddenly more excited. “Oh! Speaking of escalation, have you checked social media?”I blinked at her. “No… why?”She grabbed her phone, scrolling quickly before her face lit up. “Girl, you are
I didn’t need a reminder to remember that I had another practice with Paula today. Just the thought of it made my chest tighten with anxiety, forcing me to swallow hard just to breathe properly.It was almost the end of the workday, which was probably why my mind had drifted to the meeting. Or maybe it was because Jaime had dismissed me so casually earlier. The way he did it like I was insignificant, made my blood boil more than I cared to admit.“What are you doing?”His voice snapped me back to the present. I looked up to see Jaime standing at my office door, his sharp gaze fixed on me.There was nothing soft in his expression, just bold, cold intensity as he studied me. His hands were buried deep in his pockets, and he stood so casually, legs crossed at the ankles, leaning slightly against the doorframe. Anyone watching might think he had just stopped by to see his girlfriend.If only.“I still have a little task to finish up,” I said, gesturing toward my screen.Jaime tilted his h
JAIME ADRIELAfter a long, exhausting day at work, all I wanted was to unwind. But of course, the party I have been invited to still required my presence. And that’s where Clarissa came in.I sent her a message almost two hours ago, asking her to get ready. Even the dress I had delivered to her suite remained untouched. No confirmation, no reply. Where the hell was she?I shouldn’t be this angry, but I was. I was standing right in front of her door, and it was nearly 7 p.m. She wasn’t back.The irritation I have been holding in all day boiled over. She had already pissed me off earlier, ditching the first meeting without a single word. And now she couldn’t even be bothered to answer her phone? Not the calls. Not the dozen texts.That alone was enough reason to fire her, regardless of whatever agreement we had made. She was the first to break it. She was supposed to follow my schedule, not hers.Then the elevator dinged.Laughter, bright, warm, hers, echoed down the hallway before she
Seven torturous hours later, I could barely see my screen. My back ached, my head pounded like a drum, and my neck felt like it was about to snap clean off. Yet, my boss still sat across from me, throwing piles and piles of work in my direction like I was some machine designed to never stop.In just three hours, we had another important meeting. So somehow, I was expected to show up looking fresh and capable, not like the zombie I was slowly turning into.The first groan that escaped my mouth all night earned me a sharp look from him, irritation flaring through his nose.“What exactly were you doing all evening before now?” he snapped, silencing the little complaint that had been building in my chest. I couldn’t even form a reply. What was I supposed to say? Watching TV and sipping wine before he barged in like the devil?He stood abruptly, and for a moment, hope bloomed in my chest.“I need to take this call,” he muttered, waving his phone at me, one I hadn’t even noticed ringing, be
As soon as we landed in Paris, it was nothing but work, one meeting after another.Jaime didn’t even let us stop by the hotel. Instead, he instructed the driver to take our luggage there while we rushed straight into back-to-back meetings.Now, after the fourth meeting of the day, I felt like I was on the verge of collapse. My head throbbed, my back ached, and I could barely register what anyone was saying anymore. My thoughts were consumed by only two things, food and sleep.Meanwhile, the man sitting beside me looked as refreshed as ever.I know it wasn’t a long flight, but still, would it kill him to take a moment to breathe?“Miss Miller, are you taking notes?”His sharp tone snapped me out of my daze. I jerked upright and quickly scribbled something, anything, onto my notepad before it slipped from my fingers.I muttered under my breath as he continued talking, oblivious to my suffering. God, why is he such a workaholic?Suddenly, Jaime stood up and shook hands with the man we ha
CLARISSA MILLERThe thought of going on a business trip with Mr. Adriel, well, Jaime, according to him, kept me up all night. Not a wink of sleep.And it wasn’t just that. My mind wouldn’t stop replaying everything that had happened the previous night.To make things worse, the people surrounding him were insufferable. Annoying, entitled, and self-absorbed. Just thinking about them made my irritation spike again.“Are you awake yet?” Jessy’s voice cut through my thoughts as she peeked into the room.I didn’t even bother pretending to be asleep.“Kind of,” I muttered, lifting my head to look at her.She laughed as she stepped inside, her eyes immediately landing on the suitcase sitting on the floor.“This is the only bag you’re taking?” she asked, her nose wrinkling in distaste.“Yes. What else do you expect me to bring?”Without answering, she flicked on the light and marched toward my bag. Before I could react, she dropped to the floor and popped it open.“What the hell?” I scrambled
Silence filled the car. Jaime had ditched his driver and was behind the wheel himself, his hands steady on the wheel as he drove us through the city. I sat in the front seat beside him, unsure of how I should act or what this impromptu outing was really about.I never imagined that simply sitting in the front seat with a man could feel so… intimate. Not that I was saying this was romantic, but still.Soft blues played through the speakers, filling the space between us. Jaime tapped his fingers against the steering wheel in rhythm with the music, his expression unreadable.I kept my hands folded in my lap, staring out the window, lost in thought, when his voice suddenly cut through the quiet.“What kind of music do you like?”I blinked and turned to look at him, caught off guard. Out of all the things he could have asked, I wasn’t expecting that.“Why do you look so surprised?” he asked, glancing at me briefly before returning his focus to the road.“I just didn’t expect you to ask me
Mr. Jaime returned to the office hours later, looking as furious as ever.He didn’t spare me a glance as he walked straight to his office, slamming the door behind him.Okay, that was weird.Even when he was angry, he never slammed doors.Now I was completely confused. Should I go in and check on him? Should I show him the messages he received while he was away? What exactly should I do that wouldn’t make him bite my head off?Deciding it was best to inform him about his messages, I stood up and made my way to his office.Just as I was about to push the door open, I realized it was slightly ajar, and I heard him shouting. Curious, I pressed my ear against the door.“Can you imagine that? Talking to me about family values as if he doesn’t know what our family is, why we’re the most successful in this part of the world.”He was on the phone, no doubt about that. And whoever he was speaking to, he was venting to them about whatever had him so pissed off.“Exactly. I’m not trying to monop
CLARISSAI tried to find my voice, but it was nowhere to be found. Why did my eyes suddenly burn with unshed tears? I was being so stupid right now.“So, where were we?” Jaime asked casually, as if nothing had happened. As if my heart hadn’t been pounding recklessly inside my chest just moments ago.I clenched my fists, cursing myself for letting my emotions get the best of me. He grabbed the bag of flour from the counter and started giving me instructions. I followed along, mixing the ingredients, but my heart wasn’t in it anymore.I felt ridiculous.“Can I use the restroom?” I asked, my voice surprisingly steady.Without looking up, he nodded.I walked away quickly, pushing open the door to the restroom and turning on the faucet. I scrubbed my hands furiously, wishing I could wash away the embarrassment clinging to me.God, I was such an idiot.“Are you in here?”Paula’s voice startled me, and I hastened to dry my hands, forcing myself to appear composed before stepping out.“Sorry,
CLARISSAOkay, not only is this getting ridiculous, but it’s also kind of funny.Cook together?Does that even make sense?And why the hell is Jaime suddenly smiling like this is the best idea he’s ever heard? He should be just as annoyed as I am. But no, he looks perfectly happy to go along with it.Since he’s clearly on board, I don’t have a choice but to follow through.What have I gotten myself into?More importantly, why does he suddenly look so damn good in casual wear?Does this man ever have a bad day? Ever not look like he just walked out of a magazine?I saw the exact moment he caught me staring. No, not starring, gawking.God. Could I be any more pathetic?But honestly, how could I not look? He’s just standing there, looking unfairly good, and my traitorous eyes won’t stop drinking him in.“Yes, I’ve found that cooking is a great way to open up and express yourselves,” Paula said, looking between the two of us. “It allows you to interact more, to connect.” She smiled. “It’s
JAIME “What are you doing? I thought this was about the rumor, but after what I just saw, I don’t…” “And what exactly did you see?” I cut James off, walking back to my chair and sinking into it. Well, trying to sink into it. I couldn’t even sit comfortably, my damn zipper was pressing too hard against the bulge in my trousers. Fuck. I had a hard-on for my assistant. This was not what I had expected today. Not in a million years did I think I would find myself hiding a hard-on from my own brother. Worse? It wasn’t because of some random fantasy, it was because I couldn’t stop staring at my assistant. James’ jaw tightened. “Do you even know her? Anything about her?” His voice was laced with frustration, but I knew my brother well enough to recognize the underlying concern. He always masked it with irritation, but it was there. “If you didn’t come here to judge me, get on with what you came for,” I said, dismissively. Because, frankly, I had better things to focus on,