Emerson looked down for a moment, his hands fidgeting slightly as though he was collecting himself. When he finally spoke, his voice was steady but tinged with vulnerability.“Mina,” he began, “I know I haven’t been the best fiancé. I haven’t been the best partner to you. I’ve tried to keep boundaries between us and build up walls. I know you’ve felt that.”I nodded slightly, keeping my gaze on him.“That was because everything happened too fast, too quickly,” he continued. “I have to admit—I thought you didn’t know what you were doing. Everything felt impulsive. You had just found out about Eric, you were brokenhearted, you were hurt, and you were seeking revenge. All I wanted to do was help you.”I froze, the words hitting me like a cold gust of wind. There was no malice in his voice, only honesty. I realized he wasn’t accusing me, was he? As telling me the truth and laying himself bare.“I knew it! You're marrying me to help me…. I know it stupid to get hurt by this considering eve
As the car rolled smoothly along the road, I leaned back against the seat, my curiosity growing with every turn. I glanced at Emerson, his calm demeanour doing little to hide the playful smirk forming on his lips."Where are you taking me?" I finally asked, my tone laced with suspicion."It’s a surprise," he replied smoothly.I raised an eyebrow. "A surprise? I’m your boss, remember? Shouldn’t I know these things?""Madam," he said, a teasing glint in his eye, "please, just this once. Let me."I sighed dramatically. "Okay, only once. But don’t do it again.""I won’t, Madam, everything is designed to your satisfaction." he said, his voice dropping slightly on the word 'satisfaction'. The way he said it sent a shiver down my spine, reminding me of just how dangerously captivating Emerson could be.He wasn’t just a great partner—he was a great lover who knew exactly how to ignite the fire between us. Though I had often taken the initiative in our intimate moments, he always found a way t
"Thank you," I told Emerson as I pulled away from his embrace. My eyes locked with his, searching, needing him to see. I needed him to understand just how much this moment meant to me. He held my gaze, steady and unflinching, letting his vulnerability shine through. His transparency made my heart swell, and then he shook his head."You don’t have to thank me," he said softly. "From now on, I’m going to dedicate my life to making you happy."I couldn’t help myself—I hugged him again, tighter this time. But even then, it wasn’t enough. There was something more I needed, something deeper, something that couldn’t be expressed in words or gestures. So, I kissed him.I kissed him hard. I kissed him like my life depended on it, like this connection between us was the only thing that mattered. I kissed him until I couldn’t breathe, until the world around us melted away until there was nothing but him and me.By the time I pulled back, Emerson looked a mix of dazed and amused. His lips curved
The streets of Paris were alive, buzzing with chatter and the aroma of freshly baked pastries wafting from corner cafés. Emerson’s hand never left mine as we walked along the cobblestone streets, the glow of streetlamps casting a romantic hue over everything."I don’t even know where to start," I admitted, my eyes darting from one charming boutique to another. "Everything here feels... magical."He smiled, his gaze soft. "That’s the plan, Mina. Tonight, you’re not overthinking. You’re not planning. You’re living."Our first stop was a quaint little pâtisserie tucked into the corner of a quiet street. The glass display case glimmered with rows of delicate macarons, tarts, and éclairs. I practically pressed my face against the glass, unable to decide."One of everything?" Emerson teased.I laughed, nudging him playfully. "Don’t tempt me."We ended up sharing a plate of éclairs and tartelettes under the warm glow of the café’s outdoor heater. The cream was impossibly light, the pastry cr
I stumbled over my words, completely flustered. "Um, um, he's not—I'm not—he's not…" My voice kept tangling up in itself, and I could barely form a coherent sentence. My cheeks were burning, and I could feel everyone around us stealing glances at the commotion I was unintentionally creating.Across the table, Emerson seemed entirely too entertained by my struggle. He leaned back in his chair, one eyebrow raised, lips twitching as though he were fighting back a laugh. It was infuriating.I mean, the waitress wasn’t entirely to blame. If you looked at it logically, it wasn’t all that far-fetched. Eric—my ex-husband—was Emerson’s son. Emerson had Eric when he was 17, with his high school sweetheart, who was only 16 at the time. By the time Eric was born, Emerson had just turned 18, and his girlfriend, now his wife, was 17. They got married a year later when Eric was a toddler.Emerson’s life hadn’t been easy. He worked tirelessly to provide for his teenage wife and child, building a fu
We went back home after our dinner. The flight was great, smooth, and uneventful. I landed softly into sleep for most of it, my body exhausted from being so hyped up the entire weekend. By the time we reached home, it was nearly morning.We climbed into the car, the stillness of the early hour wrapping around us as we headed towards the Blackwind estate. When we arrived, the driver got out, promptly coming around to open our doors. Thomas appeared shortly after, stepping out to help with the bags and unloading the trunk.Emerson reached for my hand and started leading me inside, but I pulled him back.He turned to me, his face puzzled, a hint of surprise in his eyes.“Come on,” he said softly, urging me forward “Let’s go get some shut-eye before tomorrow. I’m sure there’ll be a lot to work and things to deal with at the office today.”He looked tired, his face reflecting the weight of reality waiting to crash in on us. It made me feel sorry for him.“Come on, just give me two minutes,
We were both holding hands, laughing softly and exchanging smiles, not about anything in particular—just the joy of being together, close, and spending time together. Everything felt easy, as though the world had finally granted us a brief respite from its constant demands.As we made our way up the stairs towards our room, it wasn’t explicitly stated where we were headed, but we both knew. It was unspoken yet certain, a magnetic pull guiding us to the same destination.But just as we reached my door, his phone started ringing.Emerson paused, pulling it from his pocket. His expression shifted into something apologetic, almost guilty, as he glanced at the screen.“I’m sorry,” he murmured, his voice heavy with regret. “I have to take this. It might be important.”“It’s okay,” I replied softly, though disappointment tugged at my chest.He answered the call, stepping slightly to the side but staying within reach. “My assistant,” he explained briefly before speaking into the phone.“Reall
Madeline looked down, her face a deep shade of red as she fidgeted nervously. She seemed utterly embarrassed, her hands clasping and unclasping as if she didn’t know what to do with them. Finally, she sat opposite me, clearly struggling to find the words."I know I’ve been overdoing it," she admitted after a heavy pause."Overdoing what?" I asked, raising an eyebrow."Overdoing this." She gestured vaguely toward the table and then around the kitchen. "Everything."I sighed, my patience wearing thin. "I really don’t understand, Madeline. Could you just explain to me what’s going on so I can understand what the hell you’re talking about?"She exhaled deeply, leaning forward slightly. "Okay, this is the thing. I realized I haven’t been welcoming, and I haven’t been acting well towards you ever since you came here," she began, her tone cautious.I raised my eyes in a way that said, 'Alright, I’m listening. Keep going.'I wasn’t about to interrupt her now. She knew she had been treating me
Trey just grins. "I try."I roll my eyes at him. "I can’t believe you’re actually defending hanging out with Eric." I practically spit out his name.Trey rolls his eyes at me too. "Okay, first of all, I didn’t know he was going to throw the vase at you like that. And second, I get that you’re mad because he’s a cheater, but that doesn’t mean I have to cut him off completely. I can still talk to him. I can still be friends with him.""Yeah, because you’re also a cheater, aren’t you, Tracy Flager?"Trey freezes. His eyes narrow. "Okay, hold on a minute. Just because I’m friends with a cheater doesn’t make me one."I scoff. "Cheaters are the worst kind of people."" What if it was someone close to you? What if it was your mom for example? If you found out your own mother was a cheater, what would you do?" "If I found out my mom cheated on my dad, I would never speak to her again. Ever." My voice holds no space for doubt. Because I know it’s true. The way I loved my father? If my mom
“Come on, Trey, just tell me. Who is it?” I demand, my mind racing with a million different possibilities.Trey lifts his hands, making a grand gesture as if unveiling a piece of art. “Mommy dearest, of course.”I frown. “My mother?”He bursts out laughing. “Of course not. I don’t even know your mother. I meant my mom.”His mother? "Your mother?". He nods excitedly. “Tina flager?” I ask again He grins. “Yep! Isn’t it great? This is going to be an interesting dinner.”I stare at him, baffled. “Are you crazy? You want me to have dinner with your mother?”Trey just shrugs, like this is no big deal. Like the last time I sat at a table with him and his mother, it didn’t end with him in the hospital. Like his mother didn’t want to drag me to a police station by my hair.“The last time the three of us were at the same table, your mom literally tried to have me arrested, Trey.” “I know, good times,” he says, smirking. “Just think about it— in a few decades, when we’re old, sitting in ou
He takes a breath. "I cannot work with Emerson. I’m not working with your ex-fiancé. I’d rather work with your ex-husband than work with your ex-fiancé."I raise an eyebrow. "Wow!""We already have bad blood, okay?" he says, shaking his head. "I don’t want to be in a situation where I say something about you sleeping so beautifully in my bed, and then I find myself in the hospital again."It’s a joke. And I laugh, because—well, it’s true.He grins. "See? You’re laughing. Good beginnings."I shake my head, amused. "So? What are you proposing?""Not proposing," he corrects. "I already did the proposal. I pitched it to the team, and the Blackwind board, and they understood me. They agreed with me."I frown. "Agreed with what?"He leans forward. "You don’t want to go back to the company. But you’re passionate about this project. You want to do this. So if you and I are going to work together, why not do it from here? We can set up an office here—just like A, B, and C."I hesitate. "And wh
I'm already standing, walking to my bedroom. I step inside, and lock it—this time with bolts. I take a long shower, washing off everything that happened today. By the time I slip into bed, exhaustion lulls me into a deep, dreamless sleep.The loud ringing of my phone wakes me. I groggily reach for it, rubbing my eyes as I glance at the screen. An unknown number.For a moment, I consider ignoring it, but something makes me pick up.“Hello?” My voice is hoarse with sleep.Silence.“Hello?” I try again.Then I hear it—the familiar voice,“Nina.”I sit up instantly. “Emerson?”“Yes.” I exhale. “Are you okay? How are you feeling?”“I’m fine,” I say. “Don’t worry about me.""I… I wanted to come after you. I wanted to stop you and talk to you... When you left, I wanted to hold you, to take care of you. I knew you needed me, but I also knew you wouldn’t have liked that. So, I just had to stand there and let you leave.”I sigh. “It wouldn’t have made a good picture if I wanted to quit and prov
I go shopping and buy new clothes.Yesterday, when Trey came back from wherever he had disappeared to, he brought me a few outfits because, according to him, I didn't have any. But today, I doing the shopping. I have my own money—the money Emerson gave me for my trip—so I take myself shopping.I even go to the salon and get my hair done. My nails, too. I throw a spa day for myself, just me, a celebration of… whatever this new chapter of my life. In the evening I have dinner, and then I head towards Trey’s penthouse.I think it’s time I start looking for my own apartment. I have Emerson’s money, after all.Or, you know what? I could still go on that trip to Rio.These are the thoughts running through my head as I step into the elevator. I get off the elevator and I open the door. The moment I step inside, I freeze.I blink, processing the sight in front of me.Trey is standing right there, in the exact spot where I stood yesterday when he came home with that blonde bimbo.And he’s hold
Then, all at once, the decision is made."This is not worth it," I say, standing up so fast my chair scrapes against the floor. I’m not doing this. I don’t care about this job, this project, this entire damn company. I’m not safe here.No one stops me as I step away from my desk."People have put things in my drink," I continue, my voice growing louder. "I don’t even know if they were trying to poison me or just being assholes. I don’t know what they’re capable of. And now this?" I motion toward the broken vase. I look at Eric, who has a forced smile on his face. I know that smile, he knows he fucked up but he is not going to own up to it or apologize. "No. I’m done." I announceI turn toward Emerson. Our eyes meet. His expression is unreadable, but something flickers there—something like regret.I smile tightly, grabbing my bag. "I’m leaving."And this time, I mean it.I am out of the door and already in the parking lot, walking towards my car, ready to leave it all behind. But t
I wake up the next morning in a surprisingly good mood.And as always, when I’m in a good mood, it’s all white for me. A white suit, white shoes, and, of course, my white handbag.When I pull into the parking lot, I spot Trey right away. He’s leaning against his car, phone pressed to his ear, talking animatedly. The moment his gaze lands on me, his entire face lights up."There you go, Miss Harper," he greets, slipping his phone into his pocket. "I’ve been waiting for you. I thought since it’s my first day here, you could show me around."I arch a brow. "You don’t work for Black Wind Company, Treyson. You’re just an affiliate.""Still means I get to be here, doesn’t it?" He smirks. "Besides, don’t tell me you don’t want to see how amazing I look today."I roll my eyes, but I can’t help taking him in. He does look good—annoyingly."Well, you seem to be in a good mood," he notes.I don’t confirm or deny it. Instead, I just say, "You could say something like that."We chat as we walk in
The minute I step inside the penthouse, I close the door behind me and slump to the floor.And then, I start sobbing.I cry. And I cry. And I cry.I have no idea why the tears won’t stop falling. Maybe it’s exhaustion. Maybe it’s frustration. Maybe it’s everything catching up to me all at once.Then, suddenly—The door handle rattles.I freeze, my heart hammering. My head snaps toward the door in alarm.Then I hear Trey's voice—low, amused. A woman’s voice follows, laughing a little too much, a little too loud. And then—kissing sounds.Panic grips me.Oh God. They’re coming in here.I can’t let them find me like this. A mess. My mascara is probably streaked down my cheeks, my eyeliner smudged, my hair wild.I jump to my feet, wiping my tears in a hurry. I run my fingers through my hair, trying to smooth it down, to make myself look less like someone who was just breaking down on the floor.And then the door swings open and Trey walks in With her. The blonde beauty from the club.I sho
We were already in the parking lot. Emerson’s driver had stepped out, opening the car door for him.Then, Trey’s words came back to me.He just decides. One moment, he pushes you away and tells you to take time and think for yourself. The next, he decides you're his again. Just like that.And wasn’t that exactly what was happening?Right now, he had decided I was his girl again. Right now, I am sick, weak, and unable to stand on my own. So he was taking me home. Taking care of me. But what happens tomorrow morning when I wake up feeling fine? Will I still be his? Or will everything go back to how it was—cold, distant, uncertain?Was he doing this because he still loved me? Or was it guilt? Some sense of responsibility because he thought I couldn’t take care of myself?The more I thought about it, the more I realized something painful. Maybe Emmerson was right. Maybe I wasn’t capable of taking care of myself. I never had been. I'd never really been alone. And that scared me more than a