JUNEJune sighed as frustration bubbled inside of her, threatening to spill over. He just had to be the only one who could help her."So..." He leaned forward, invading her space in a way that made her suck in a breath. He trailed a finger along her shoulder. "Do you want my help or not?"She swatted his hand away with a glare "Want me to go on my knees and beg?"An amused smile spread across his face. "Goddamn, June. A simple yes would have done the trick."She cleared her throat. "I guess, yes."He flicked a finger against her ear softly, making her scowl. "Who are you looking for? Your boyfriend?"She didn't have the time to explain the details to Ollie so she agreed with his absurd assumption. "Yes." Bold of him to think anyone would want to be with her.He nodded nonchalantly. "Let's go."She spun around, deciding to wear her cropped top properly. She didn't want to follow after him looking so out of place compared to his pristine, and perfect look.She had her hand around the hem
OLLIE Ollie should have collected June’s number instead of giving her his, knowing the probability of her calling him was almost zero. At least, now he would have been able to reach her. He’d gone back to the security room and confirmed that she found her boyfriend, but for some reason, Ollie still wanted to know how it went. ‘Boyfriend.’ The word left a sour taste in his mouth. He’d never felt such deep hatred for a stranger than he felt presently for June’s boyfriend. The rage that twisted inside him was irrational and almost primal. He didn’t know this guy, had never even seen him, yet he wanted to hurt him—badly. He could already tell that her boyfriend was a jerk. June, coming to the casino looking disheveled because of him had Ollie’s blood boiling, and he’d never wanted to smash someone’s face in more than he did now. Ollie prided himself on not caring about petty things like this, but here he was, fuming over a woman who wasn’t his. What was his life turning into? T
OLLIEOllie’s head lifted as the door to his office swung open with a muted creak. Wearily, he rubbed his eyes with his thumbs, feeling the grits of sleepless nights. “Do you have it?”“Yes.” Seth strode towards him, pausing at the edge of the desk before holding out the file containing June’s details. He couldn’t turn a blind eye to it. He needed to know what really happened and why June was crying?When last had he been this worried about someone?Seth had worked for him for years, handling tasks his secretary couldn't. Seth rarely ever talked and was stoic to the fault. One of the many reasons the both of them lasted together for this long—never too many words, never too many questions.Ollie’s fingers closed over the file, the soft crinkle of paper filling the room as he flipped through the pages.“It’s her brother,” Seth said flatly with no further explanation, but Ollie already understood what he meant.He looked up from his file. “Her brother?” Not her boyfriend." His voice hel
JUNEJune had gone through the excruciating, tormenting moment of telling Amy that she couldn’t cover the entry f*e for the swimming competition because John had squandered it and left her penniless—though she’d skipped that part—. It felt as though she’d swallowed shards of glass when the words left her lips.Amy hadn’t questioned her, she’d shrugged, “I didn’t really want to go anyway. It was just some stupid competition.” But June had seen the spark die in Amy’s eyes even as she tried to brush it off. She, more than anyone, knew her sister’s genuine excitement and how much she actually wanted to do this. Watching Amy’s enthusiasm fade felt like a knife to her gut. The one time Amy took something seriously, June had failed her. Again.She despised the recurring feeling of being a disappointment to the twins.She worked so hard to be able to provide for the twins, yet, it was never enough, she was never enough.The twins were always so understanding and too mature for their age. They
OLLIEOllie’s jaw tightened as he entered the hall, the stiff collar of his shirt choking him as much as the forced pleasantries he was about to endure.Coffered ceilings adorned with plastered medallions, glossy hardwood floors, people draped in expensive attire, and the soft melody of a grand piano playing in the background—it was a typical high-class event. Nothing more than a showcase for the wealthy.To Ollie, it felt like a hollow performance. This charity gala had zero ties to the people in need; it was just a platform for elites to network and flaunt their statusIt would be hypocritical of him to pretend he didn’t benefit from these connections, but it didn’t change the fact that the event felt empty at its coreHe hated being here, but his stepmother, Rachel, had hosted the event. He’d dodged too many of her invitations already, and avoiding this one wasn’t an option. He didn't have anything against her, but they weren't close when they lived under the same roof. She'd been t
OLLIE He whipped around quickly in an instant to find June crouched down at Theo’s feet picking the broken pieces. A cold, simmering angry rushed through his veins as Theo reached down for June.His blood ran cold. Then, he was moving, closing the distance between them in long strides.“Lay a finger on her and you won't have it anymore,” he said in a dangerously low voice, reaching down and wrapping a protective grip around June’s wrist before pulling her to his side. Without breaking eye contact, he tossed his business card at Theo. “Send me the bill for your suit. And your shoes.”Theo’s stunned expression might have been satisfying under different circumstances, but Ollie wasn’t in the mood to savor it. Without another glance, he guided June away, moving swiftly through the crowd and out of the event hall.Once they reached the privacy of a small, dimly lit room, Ollie finally let go of her hand. He scanned the room briefly, ensuring they were alone, before turning to her, his gaze
JUNEThe disappointment on Ollie’s face was fleeting, but she caught a whiff of it before it disappeared.His throat worked before he rasped. “Because I want to be nice to you.”She studied him. “That’s it? Nothing else.” She sensed where this was heading, and she wanted it to come sooner rather than later to spare herself from deeper disappointment.His voice softened. “Not everything is a transaction, baby. People just do things. You know like been nice.” His voice dropped.But that wasn’t how the world worked. Her knuckles grazed the smooth texture of the countertop. “People don’t do nice."“Is it that hard to believe I don’t want something in return?” He pressed.His act twisted her gut. It was unfamiliar and she wasn’t used to it. "Just say what you want." She didn't want to build him up in her mind just for him to let her down eventually.“How fucked up do you think I am to demand something from you. For what?” A flicker of hurt crossed his eyes, or was she mistaken?She licked
JUNEJune woke up on the right side of the bed for once. A certain irritating, handsome man might’ve had something to do with it, but she wasn’t about to admit that.Her good mood carried her through the morning until two girls showed up. Everything about them screamed trouble. One wore a floral designer jacket that clashed with her sneer, while the other had a porcelain-doll face twisted in faint disgust as she scanned the café.“Latte. Extra caramel." Floral barely looked at June as she placed her order with just a wave of her manicured hand before taking a seat.“Macchiato, oat milk,” Porcelain followed, looking down her nose at June."Coming right up," June said.Normally, she would’ve told them orders were taken at the counter, but she was still riding her good mood.Minutes ticked by as they rejected each drink. Floral would sniff, Porcelain would sigh, and she could feel her mood growing brittle.“This is so not what I ordered.” Floral scrunched her nose as if she smelled somet
Two years later. She did it. Finally, she was a certified interior designer. Today was another great milestone for her. With the help of the twins, her friend, Lola who couldn’t be here because she was several countries away And most especially her man. Who’d been with her through thick and thin. Whose loyalty never waver. Whose patience never ran thin. Whose love multiplied daily. Even when she moved across the country, to California, he’d followed her, he’d took charge, he’d been there for her. He’d stayed with her. He’d and made her take the backseat which she was very much pleased. He’d made her the happiest woman on earth. Her heart swelled with the ceremonial gown on her. “Oh my fu—“ Aiden’s exclamation was abruptly cut off when his eyes locked with hers. “Oh my.” He muttered under his breath. He’d become grumpier as he grew older. “What happened?” Amy’s puzzled gaze scanned the surroundings, searching for the cause of Aiden’s displeasure. A gasp escaped her lips, and she
Ollie had been practically glued to her side. He hadn’t been apart from her for more than a minute. And that was a stretch. He followed her around the house like a lost puppy. Whenever she took a step, he was around by her side. “What did you want? What do I need to do? Where are you going?” He would say with so much love and care. She wasn’t complaining at all about his clinginess. As a matter of factly, she loved so much. She missed him so much. Now that he was finally with her, she was never going to let go ever again. Being with him felt like she could finally breathe. She was genuinely happy. She couldn’t explain the level of joy his presence alone brought to her. They’d been indoors for four days without a pint of curiosity for the outside world. It could be burning down and they wouldn’t even care. As long as they were with each other. During those periods, they’d caught up with each other’s life. They’d shared their deepest insecurities. They’d made love so many times. Th
She was just out of the restaurant she worked part time when she bumped Rachel, Ollie’s step mother. When Rachel’s eyes met hers, the smile on her face broadened and Rachel instantly enveloped her into an embrace. “Isn’t this a pleasant surprise?” Rachel’s voice carried a warmth of genuine delight. June returned the hug. “It is.” As Rachel withdrew, she added, “How have you been?” “I’ve been good. Thank you. What about you?” June asked. “I doing well dear. What else can this old lady do?” a shared laughter echoed between them. “What are you doing here?” “I work here.” June answered, her eyes meeting Rachel wrinkled corners. Rachel said with a low hum. “I’m a regular here and I never stumble across you.” “I work the evening shift.” She’d switched shift with one of her colleague who’d pleaded with her. “Must be the reason.” Rachel said, her hand resting on June’s shoulder. “By the way, I heard you broke my son’s heart.” June tensed up, unsure of what to response. “I…” She st
Max: Are you busy?Ollie: Yes. Max: See you by 7. At Eden.It wasn’t hard to make out Max in the bar. His blond hair stood out like a beacon in contrast with the subdued ambiance of the bar and his outfit. A black turtle neck with matching trench coat. When he flopped on the chair opposite Max, he said. “This has better be for a good reason or I might just kill you. ” Max leaned back, no words just a raised brow as Ollie’s hand sought for bottle positioned between them. Not caring what it was, he poured himself a generous measure into the glass. It felt dull as it slid down his throat. He’d gotten accustomed to the taste of liquor. They almost tasted like water to him. “Take another swig, you will need it.” Though, Confused at what Max was implying, he took another swig. The burn of the drink a familiar comfort. This was how he kept his sanity. This was how he kept going after June. She ruined him and he couldn’t even hate her for it. He'd accepted June the type of love he co
She’d been an unfixable mess since the breakup. Firstly, because there had been an unending swirl of chaos within her. Secondly, because life was still life. A colossal mess. She had no luxury to mourn a broken heart. Every morning, she rose to her feet, not because she wanted to but because she had to. She showed up at multiple part-time jobs until she broke a nail because she had to. To top it, she had to read for the exams.When she’d told the twins and Lola about her ambition, they were so proud of her. They mattered to her but deep down she wanted someone else praise. The persono who’d told her it was okay to dream and instilled this confidence into her to take a step towards her dream. The actual person who’d motivated her to take this risky step wasn’t there. At 2 am or 6 pm, when she ate, when she slept when she worked, when she studied. He was a constant pillar in her mind. She had no right to think about him but she couldn’t help it. He was everywhere. He was in every
It always worked. Work had always been a perfect distraction for him anytime he needed to push something aside and not think about it. Until now. Workloads upon workloads. It couldn’t stop the image of June burning the pages of his mind. It haunted him with vividness that made it impossible for him to concentrate. Her anguished voice echoed in his ears, refusing to fade. Her cruel words whipped him like a lash. Her pained face that he wanted to console even after everything.His brain had been on a maddening repetitive loop. We’ve had our fun. Fun?The word taunted him. All he wanted to do was drown thoughts of June out of his mind but everything he’d done proved futile. Seated at his cluttered desk, surrounded by towering stacks of paperwork, but the weight of his workload did little to divert his thoughts. Three days. Twenty hours. And June hadn’t left his mind for a millisecond. Twenty hours of work a day had done little to distract him. June, even in her absence, was a r
He’ll leave you. He’ll regret ever being with you and he’ll leave you. Ollie’s father's words stuck to her, not leaving her mind for a tiny moment just like the ghost of his hand on the skin of her neck, she could also his word strong invisible vise choking her. That’s all it is to you. You don’t deserve him. Shaken by the incident, June’s hand trembled as she extended an arm to the car’s window control panel, her index finger pressing down as if seeking escape from the stifling words that had choked her She’d hoped that the breeze would ease the ache she was feeling. No, it didn’t Instead, it stung her skin with its painful lash. June was quick to wind up the window before slumping into her seat. The more her mind pounded on the words, the more it churned her inside and broke her into pieces. Her insecurities build with thick layers.He would leave you. Soon. He would. The words echoed once more, cutting deeper than any physical wound. An involuntary sob broke out of her m
A week later, June was meeting John at the said hotel. June found it weird that the hotel was deserted, and her eyes darted around in search of signs of life. They were just an old red peacock car and a surprisingly manicured lawn in sight. Before June could change her mind, she made a beeline to the lobby’s entrance. She just wanted to be over it as soon as possible. When she entered, her eyes glanced through the person seated in the corner of the lobby. He wore a fedora. John waved to her from the far end of the lobby. His face was hidden behind a baseball cap, casting a shadow over his features. She hadn’t recognized him at first, her eyes narrowing as she squinted to make out his identity.She sighed with relief and made her way to him. The creak of her footsteps on the grimy floor echoed through the desolate lobby. John’s eyes met hers as she approached, and he smiled croakily, the lines of worry etched on his face evident even in the dim light.“Hey,” she said as she droppe
A sense of uneasiness swept over her when she pulled open the door to reveal John. Her brother whom she’d forgotten existed until now. John's hand shot up, his fingers moving in a stiff, awkward wave as his lips formed a tight smile. “Hey.” “What are you doing here?” June raised a brow. It was a surprise that John had stayed away when she asked him to. But she was determined to report to the cops if he showed up at her doorstep back then. Now, three months had passed. It would be a big joke if he thought she would let him in again. John chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “Our reunion went a lot better in my head.” His eyes darted through the dimly lit porch. Her lips pulled into a deep line of scowl. Reunion? After what had happened? The memories of the past twisted her inside into a tight knot.Her grip clenched around the doorknob. “Can you at least invite me in?” John raised a hopeful brow.“No.” she gripped the door’s edge and closed it in on her body, leavi