Ray hurried down the hallway of the luxury hotel, his footsteps echoing against the polished marble floors. The call had been urgent—Lila had insisted on meeting face-to-face, and though Ray had tried to explain that he had plans,, Lila’s persistence left him with little choice, the deal he was about to close was something he'd been after for long.
When approached the grand entrance of the hotel’s exclusive lounge, Ray adjusted his tie, his expression turning serious to his monotone bossy like, that he was. He stepped through the double doors, greeted by the subtle hum of conversation and the scent of fresh flowers that filled the air. Lila was already there, seated at a table in the corner, her perfectly styled hair catching the light from the chandelier above. “Mr Ray,” she greeted him with a warm smile, standing to give him a brief, professional hug. Her perfume, a mix of jasmine and something citrusy, lingered in the air between them. “Thanks for coming oSamira walked slowly down the dimly lit street, the chill of the evening air biting at her cheeks. The day had stretched longer than she’d planned, her thoughts wrapped tightly around the image of Ray and Lila in the hotel lounge. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw them leaning in close, their conversation just out of earshot but so full of unspoken familiarity. It wasn’t the first time Ray’s work had come between them, but this felt different. Lila wasn’t just business; she was poised, confident, and everything Samira feared she wasn’t. Even with the excitement of being chosen as a finalist in the Global Perfume Creation Competition, Samira couldn’t shake the feeling that Ray’s world was moving on without her. She fumbled with her keys as she approached the front door of their home, her hands shaking with a mix of anger and exhaustion. The lock clicked, and she stepped inside, her footsteps echoing in the silence. The apartment was dark, save for
Samira woke up early Sunday morning, the first rays of dawn barely creeping through the blinds. The quiet of the apartment felt stifling, like the walls were closing in around her. She couldn’t remember the last time she had slept peacefully, without the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her like a heavy blanket. She knew she couldn’t stay, not today. She needed air, space—anything but the four walls that held the echoes of last night’s conversation with Ray.Samira dressed quickly, grabbing her coat, purse, and slipping on her shoes with quiet efficiency. She avoided looking at Ray’s door, not wanting to risk waking him. She glanced at her phone but decided against leaving a note. What could she even say? She wasn’t running away; she just needed time to think, to breathe without the constant pressure of everything that had gone extremely hot and sweet but at the same time wrong between them.She stepped out into the crisp morning air, pulling her coat tighter around her as she
Samira stood at the edge of the Seine, her fingers brushing against the delicate fabric of her gown as she gazed at the glittering lights of Paris. It was the night she had dreamed of, the culmination of months of hard work, late nights, and restless mornings. The final round of the perfume competition was tomorrow, and she was here, standing in the city of lights, her future hanging in the balance. Yet, for some reason, she couldn’t shake the weight on her chest—the remnants of everything unresolved between her and Ray. She inhaled deeply, trying to draw in the calmness of the evening, but it felt forced, like she was pushing away the storm brewing inside her. Samira had spent so long chasing this dream, fighting for her place in a world that often felt like it had no room for her. And now that she was here, the silence was deafening. The soft hum of her phone pulled her back to the moment. Mike had texted her, asking how things were going. She smiled faintly at his concern. He had
Ray’s breath caught in his throat as he stared at the figure standing across the room. Delly. He blinked, his mind struggling to catch up with the surprise of seeing her here. She was the last person he expected to see in Paris, let alone in the middle of the most important night of Samira’s life. Samira, for her part, was completely blindsided. Of all the people to appear, it had to be Delly—her friend, the one who had dragged her into the mess with Ray in the first place. The one who had asked her to impersonate her on the night Ray had proposed, insisting she turn him down on Delly’s behalf. Samira had agreed, partly because she hadn’t thought much of Ray at the time and partly because she had felt loyal to Delly. But now, standing here, her heart pounding in her chest as she faced both Ray and Delly in the same room, she felt her world tilt dangerously out of control. Ray recovered first, his eyes narrowing in on Delly. He hadn’t seen her in years, not since that fateful night w
Samira stood frozen on the stage, the sound of applause fading into the background as the announcer’s voice reverberated in her ears. “The winner is… Sabine Lafleur!” The crowd erupted, but Samira barely registered it. Her heart plummeted as she tried to keep her face neutral. The room blurred around her, and suddenly, the weight of everything crashed down on her shoulders. She had lost. She wasn't even amongst the first three, not even the top ten. She was supposed to be happy for Sabine, but all Samira could feel was a deep ache gnawing at her insides. This competition had meant everything. She’d worked tirelessly for years, sacrificing so much just to prove to herself whenever an opportunity comes her way, she'd just gotten that opportunity when she joined , and maybe to prove to Ray, that she was worth something—beyond the tangled mess of impersonation and lies that had bound them together. And now… now she had nothing. Her body moved automatically, a forced smile plastered
Ray had been silent for most of the drive since they left the backstage, but his hand never left Samira's hand, he was gripping it as if he could transfer his strength to her. The lights of Paris flickered past the window, but Samira barely noticed. Her thoughts were a tangled mess of emotions—fear, doubt, and that ever-present ache of uncertainty about her place in Ray's life. The city of love held little comfort tonight, and even Ray’s touch, felt heavy with everything unsaid between them.They arrived at his suite in one of Paris’s grandest hotels, a place that exuded elegance and understated luxury. The doorman greeted them with a polite nod as they stepped inside, the warm glow of chandeliers bathing the lobby in a soft golden light. Ray guided her to the private elevator, and as the doors slid closed, the silence between them grew thicker.When they finally reached the penthouse, Samira could hardly bring herself to appreciate the breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower that gree
Ray’s smile vanished completely when he saw the image on Samira's phone. His jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened with concern. He stepped closer, dropping down the towel from around his neck and sitting on the edge of the bed beside her. "Samira," he began, his voice steady but tinged with urgency. "I was going to tell you about the ring. I left it in Canada during my last business trip after our wedding, but I had planned to get it back. I had no idea who has it now, or how it ended up in someone else’s hands." He searched her face, trying to gauge her reaction, but she remained stone-faced. Samira's fingers clenched around the phone as she studied his expression. There was something genuine about the way he said it. His voice didn’t waver, and his body language remained calm, during other times Ray would have asked her if she was jealous, but at the moment she could clearly see he wasn't feigning, but her trust was fragile—frayed at the edges by d
Ray woke up just as the first light of dawn crept into the suite, casting soft shadows across the luxurious space. Samira lay beside him, her breathing steady, her face softened by sleep. The events of the night before still swirled in his mind, the mix of emotions lingering in the air between them. He had done his best to reassure her, to convince her of his commitment, but he knew there were still cracks in their fragile bond. Quietly, he slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb her. He needed space to clear his head, to work through the tension that had been building inside him for days. After dressing in workout gear, he left a note on the bedside table for Samira, letting her know he was headed to the hotel gym and would be back in a couple of hours. The hotel gym was empty when Ray arrived, the soft hum of machines filling the room as he set himself up on the treadmill. The rhythmic pounding of his feet against the belt helped him focus, helped him push everything else to