ElaineI stood outside Mr. Smith’s office after he summoned me, my heart thumping in my chest. The door, usually a gateway to opportunities and praise, felt more like the entrance to a lion’s den today. Normally, I would have been excited to be called in, eager to share new ideas and celebrate wins. But not today—not since we lost that very important deal with Bride Essentials.Fear clenched my heart as I contemplated whether I should knock or wait until my nerves settled down. Guilt gnawed at me, reminding me why I was in this position in the first place. Facing Mr. Smith had been so hard these last few days, yet I knew I couldn’t avoid it. It was my fault Roma was in this mess, and no amount of wishful thinking could change that.I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves, and pushed the door open. Inside, Mr. Smith sat behind his desk, looking tired but composed. Nancy was there too, seated stiffly on one of the chairs. Our gazes met, but her expression was hard to read.For
Elaine“What are you doing here?”My voice trembled, betraying the cold front I tried to put up. I crossed my arms, hoping it would make me feel stronger, but it didn’t stop the wave of anger and anxiety rushing through me. Tristan stood in the doorway, that infuriating smile plastered across his face like he hadn’t done anything wrong, like he hadn’t torn me apart with every betrayal and scheme he’d crafted with Megan.Seeing his pearly white teeth as he flashed that charming smile, I felt nothing but dread. It twisted something deep inside me. I felt sick, my stomach knotting painfully. How could he stand there, acting so normal after everything that had happened between us? Everything was broken. Because of him and Megan.And yet, he didn’t seem to mind.“Aren’t you going to invite your husband in?”Husband.That word hit me like a slap. I clenched my jaw, my teeth grinding as I tried to keep my composure. Husband? The title didn’t fit him anymore. Not after what he had done. The ma
ElaineTrevor stood at my doorway, his signature charming smile lighting up his face. He raised a bag of Chinese takeout in his hand and asked, with a playful glint in his eyes, "Care for some midnight snack?"Before I could respond, Tristan appeared behind me and swung the door wide open. A grin crept across his face, like he had been waiting for this moment. Trevor's smile faltered, slipping into uncertainty the second he saw him."I can explain," I stammered, feeling panic rise in my chest. But Tristan cut me off sharply."Explain?" he said. His voice dripped with confidence. "What for? I’m your husband. I don’t need to explain why I’m in my wife’s apartment." His gaze shifted to Trevor. He looked him up and down with barely concealed contempt. "Especially not to him."I clenched my fists as anger bubbled inside me. "Can you stop?" I snapped, my voice sharp. Without waiting for a response, I reached out and snatched the takeout from Trevor’s hands. "Perfect timing," I added, my to
Elaine“Did he really do that?” Liz’s voice rang with disbelief, cutting through the thick silence between us.I didn’t respond. Instead, I sipped my coffee, trying to steady my trembling hands. The events of last night kept replaying in my mind, over and over. Tristan barging into my apartment, his presence filling every corner, suffocating me. I hadn’t slept a minute since.Liz slumped onto the sofa, still stunned. “I always thought Tristan was a jerk, but barging into your apartment without permission? That’s beyond out of line. He’s completely lost it.”I forced a bitter smile. I never expected him to do something like that. Sure, he was arrogant, but this? The fear I felt as he stood there, towering over me like some predator. I can’t shake it. Tristan was powerful, relentless, an alpha. I felt like nothing more than an insect under his gaze, knowing he could’ve done anything he wanted. I wouldn’t have been able to stop him.The thought sent a cold shiver through me.“Elaine? Hel
ElaineThat morning, I woke up with a smile, the kind that felt like it was trying to burst out of me. The text from Nancy the day before had filled me with an overwhelming sense of anticipation. Today, I had a feeling it would be a good day. No, a great day. If Nancy and Mr. Smith had secured a contract with Everett Innovations, it would give Roma Aesthetics the boost we needed to stay competitive given the fallout we had with Bride Essentials.As I brushed my hair, I allowed myself a moment to daydream. A new contract meant stability, hope, and a fighting chance for the company I’d poured my heart into. Today, I wasn’t just going to work. I was walking into a new chapter, one full of possibilities.Looks like things are starting to get better. I grabbed my bag, locked the door behind me, and headed to the street to hail a cab. Almost immediately, one pulled up.The old cab driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror a few times before he finally spoke. "You seem awfully happy
ElaineMr. Everett chuckled, clearly proud of himself, and even Mr. Smith glanced at me with an awkward grin, aware of the tension that was brewing inside me. This reunion was far from anything romantic as Mr. Everett had been thinking. Rather, it was nothing but suffocating. I felt breathless as the room felt heavy with silence. I was speechless and was caught completely off guard. My mind raced and I tried to make sense of what was happening. Looking at Nancy’s serious expression, there's no denying what was happening. Her face confirmed that this wasn't just a regular meeting. It was far more. Mr. Smith, on the other hand, looked anything but pleased. His frown deepened as he glanced at Tristan, who sat there looking far too comfortable for my liking.Mr. Everett Everett’s smile, however, remained as warm as ever. He greeted me with a nod as if nothing unusual had just transpired.I swallowed hard, forcing myself to regain some composure. Tristan's familiar voice cut through the t
Elaine“If there’s no problem, then I guess it’s settled. We can now proceed to the contract signing—"Before I could even react, Mr. Smith stepped in. “I think we can postpone that thought for a moment. While we’re excited to get into this new project, I need to consult with my team first just to make sure we can deliver what’s expected of us. The last thing we want is another failure. Can you give us a few days to study the proposal? We’ll be sure to update you before the end of the week.”I breathed a sigh of relief as Mr. Smith spoke. His words were a saving grace from the pressure I felt inside my chest. Mr. Everett seemed momentarily taken aback but quickly, he recovered with a reassuring smile.“Well, of course. I apologize for being too eager. I was just excited to get started.”“No need to apologize,” Mr. Smith replied with that professional smile of his. “We’re grateful for the opportunity. I’m confident we’ll find the best way forward.”I made myself sit still, trying to kee
Tristan"See? What did I tell you? One heroic act and Elaine would come crawling back to you."I watched the light catch on the glass edges as I swirled the alcohol inside. Seeing my phone on the table and remembering my previous call with Elaine made me smirk. As much as it pained me to admit, Megan was right with her words. I drank the whiskey and felt the warmth slide down my throat. I hated sharing the spotlight, but this victory was partly hers. Megan deserved credit for her counsel, whether I liked it or not. I wouldn’t be in this situation if I hadn't listened to her. As much as I thrived on being the sole architect of my success, Megan had played a huge part in this.It had been too easy. I still couldn’t believe it was this easy. All it took was being her "hero," and Elaine’s defenses crumbled. It was a smart move to involve Mr. Everett after finding out how close Elaine was to his grandson. I had seen her interact with that twerp the night of the presentation and knew they h