Everything was almost still the same. The company was still the way I redesigned it. I smiled as I walked behind him, looking around my work. It was the first thing I did when we were still friends. He complained that he didn't like how his company looked because his father allowed his sister to remodel it as a birthday wish. His sister did badly at it knowing fully well he hated it. I offered to help him. He was skeptical at first because I wasn't a professional, but I sure showed him and everyone else that I was good at redecoration.Then, I thought I really impressed him with my hard work and that helped my campaign to win his heart. Little did I know he was going to ask me out anyway as part of his scheme."Welcome, Mr. Verlice." The greeting went on and on. The curious eyes of the workers were fixed on the fat lady behind their boss, who looked like she was plucked out of an evil novel. Yeah, I get it."Lavender," Stacy called joyfully, approaching us with a wide smile. It took m
Lavender's viewpointPhineas, the only guy who successfully became Rominic's friend when they were young and the only man who could stand up to his sisters. It wasn't because he was all-powerful, but because he was damn right fearless. He wasn't afraid of anything. Literally. There was one time a python ended up in front of him when we went camping. Phineas sat there nonchalantly staring straight into its eyes before Rominic shot it. Then afterward, he shrugged it off like nothing.Phineas' sky-blue eyes brightened with mischief as he stared at me. I scoffed and looked at Stacy. "I need to go. Trouble has come to find me,"The expression on Stacy's face made it clear she didn't like Phineas either. I didn't hate him, I just didn't like how bold, fearless, and annoying he was. There has to be something that scares a person, but Phineas has none. And even if he did have, he was a master at hiding his fears.I tried to walk past him but he captured me. His arms went around my waist and h
I drummed my fingers on my folded arm as I watched the lady struggle to put her clothes back on. If it was in the past, I would have reacted by crying and running away, but I couldn't be bothered enough to run away and I was able to observe the situation before judging. The naked woman was about to get her head torn by a laptop when I walked in. Rominic already had the laptop in the air, ready to throw it at her head and the rage on his face was enough to make me shiver with fear. I wasn't exactly sure how the situation ended up like that, and I didn't want to pry.The lady barely slipped on her skirt before Phineas grabbed her roughly by the arm and started dragging her out. "Miss Silver," Rominic called spitefully, glaring murderously at her. I wouldn't want to be her. "Do be kind and tell your father that he'll hear from me soon for his generous gift,""My father didn't send me!" The girl yelled distraughtly. "Sir, please—""Leave," he snapped. Phineas dragged the girl out as she p
I walked to the elevator, rubbing my forehead from exhaustion. I pressed the button and the door slid open for me. I was about to walk inside when someone called my name. I turned around and saw that it was Giovanna. She seemed to have changed out of her previous clothes and was wearing something similar to a man's jacket. I raised a brow as she approached me.Giovanna looked at her body and laughed. "Someone spilled coffee on me so I changed out of my clothes. I always carry a spare," she explained. I nodded. She looked at the elevator and back at me. "Work already ended for the day,""The boss sent me on an errand. As you can see," I showed her my phone and my wallet, "I didn't carry my things. I'm signing out for the day,""Oh," she looked at her wristwatch. "Wanna go together?" I shook my head negatively. I liked that she was friendly but I didn't know her at all and I still had trust issues.Giovanna shrugged and started to walk away. "See you tomorrow, Laverne… Can I call you th
"Take a seat if you wish to," he said coldly and walked out of the room. I stared after him, rubbing my ass as I whimpered. He was acting quite cold. It wasn't like he used to be. Rominic was the sweetest… okay, facade, I get it.I sighed and stood up, groaning as the pain shot from my butt cheeks to my knees and elbows. I kicked off my shoes, pulled my sweater over my head, and tossed it on the leather mid-century modern sofa, the only one in the office that could fit four semi-fat people. I sat down on it and wiggled my throbbing ass for comfort."Bastard," I didn't even know whether to be angry or cry from the pain and humiliation, so I just chose both. Cry in rage. It would be so easy to kill him, we were alone after all. But I couldn't. Working together was a bad idea, but again, I couldn't quit. I needed to lay a good example for Zachary. If I quit, he'd know and distance himself from his father. As tempting as the situation was, I prefer not to.I never got the love of my fathe
You know that feeling where you feel like the ground should swallow you up? Well, that was how I felt while sitting in his car and staring out of the window.I wanted to scream and yell from the earlier incident. I blame him for angering me and making me come after him. The fortunate reward is that he didn't die, that should be good enough as an apology for him. But what I saw…I groaned and sank into the car seat, fighting the urge to bury my face in my knees and turn to mud. As much as I was trying to be brazen about it, I knew it wasn't something I wanted to live with. It's not like I haven't seen it before, but I had always been a big-time prude and it had been years since I saw a fine naked man. The keyword is fine. I don't know if it's possible but he looked bigger than before or maybe it was because it'd been years since I last saw 'him'. And the worst part was that I was supposed to be an erotophobe.Why didn't I feel repulsed by the sight?Why did I like what I saw?And Jesus
I quietly ate at the dining table, not conversing with the kids or grumpy Rominic. He was still in pain and I felt so much better after crying because he deserved it. Crying reminded me of why I need to hate him, and why I must show him no mercy for his wrongdoings.Zachary and Savia noticed it, but they didn't do anything to question me and I was glad they didn't. "So, Mom, you're quiet," Zachary stated, looking at me from the corner of his eyes. Or not.I sighed, he was ready to bother me. "I'm tired,""So I'm guessing your day didn't go so well," Savvy added, giving me her signature smirk. I rolled my eyes to Nic who grumbled something about me being an insufferable woman."Dad, how did your day go?""Bad, terrible, and I blame your mother,""Seriously?" He slammed his fork down and flared his nostrils in furious annoyance."Yes, seriously. Working with you is like signing a contract with the grim reaper. First, you almost lost your mind because of holographic snakes," my cheeks bu
"I was going to tell him but there were snakes!" I exclaimed.Rominic stared at me seriously. "What happened to my children?""Some bitch teacher—""Manners, young lady," I scolded, glaring at Savia.She huffed. "Can't I just swear out loud this once?""No,""Permitted,""Rominic! You can't go encouraging your kids to swear! She's just eight!""I'm like a few months away from my ninth birthday,"My lips twitched into a sneer. "That doesn't warrant it, sweetheart. You're not allowed to swear even in your head,""That's taking away their freedom of speech," Rominic said in a somewhat complaining manner.I glared at him. "They are kids, Nic,"He rolled his eyes with a scornful glare. "You cursed at me the whole day,""I'm an adult in my early thirties,""Then you should show a good example too,""They can swear as much as they want when they are grownups," I argued, folding my arms once again."No one is allowed to tell my children what to do. They can do and say whatever they want,"I an