For Tracy Bennett, her date was supposed to be sweet with the man she thought was her forever. Instead, she found him cheating on her with her best friend in the hotel where they had planned to meet. Heartbroken and furious, Tracy stormed out, blinded by tears and anger, only to collide with a stranger. A tall, handsome man whose smirk made her blood boil. That man was Nick White, the wealthy billionaire who had just been appointed CEO of Haven Enterprises, where Tracy worked. She wanted to forget their brief encounter, but fate had other plans. The next day, Tracy discovered that Nick wasn’t just an ordinary stranger, he was her boss with a personal vendetta, and he wasn’t shy about using his power. Charmingly ruthless, Nick made her an offer she couldn’t resist: submit to his whims and seize the chance to get back at those who had wronged her so badly, or risk losing the career she had spent years building.
Lihat lebih banyakI walked into the hotel lobby. Everything looked expensive from the velvet armchairs and uniformed staff who moved like they were in a choreographed dance.
This was a place I wouldn’t normally splurge on, but tonight wasn’t supposed to be just any night. Tonight was my date with my fiance, Elias. We hadn’t been perfect, far from it, but I thought we’d built something real, something worth celebrating. I had even booked one of the fancy rooms to please him, using the money I didn’t have just to make this night special for the both of us. I waited for Elias by the bar and began scrolling through my phone absently, trying to distract myself from the butterflies that twisted my stomach. That’s when my phone buzzed. Sylvia’s name flashed on the screen. Sylvia was my best friend and my only real friend. “Hey, Sylvia,” I said, putting the phone to my ear. “What’s good?” Her voice was breathless like she’d been exercising. “Tee… are you at the hotel already?” “Yeah, I’m at the bar. Why?” There was a pause and my heart beat for a moment. I knew that silence; I’d heard it before when she didn’t know how to break bad news. “Tracy Bennett,” Sylvia finally called me by my full name, her voice lower now, “I just sent you something. Check your messages.” “What is it?” I asked. “Just… check it,” she said quickly and hung up. I pulled the phone away from my ear, frowning, and opened the message thread to see a photo. It took me a moment to process what I was looking at. My Elias was fully naked and sitting on the edge of a hotel bed. And beside him, in nothing but a pair of red socks wrapped around her legs, was Sylvia, my best friend. She was equally naked. And there were more intimate videos of the two having sex. My stomach dropped. The room tilted slightly, and I grabbed the edge of the bar to steady myself. No. No, this couldn’t be real. I stared at my phone, willing it to change, willing it to be an edited video. But it wasn’t. The bartender looked at me, concernedly, but I waved him off. My hand was shaking noticeably. How could they? How could he? How could she? The anger came first and then the tears threatened to drop, but I have always been a strong lady! I shoved my phone into my purse and stood up, my heels digging into the plush carpet as I turned toward the elevators. I couldn’t just sit here. I needed to see it for myself. I needed to confront them. How long has this been going on? Were all those late-night “work meetings” lies? And Sylvia, my best friend, the person I trusted with everything, how could she betray me like this? I reached the elevator and jabbed the button. My reflection in the mirrored doors startled me. My makeup was ruined, and my eyes…? they were red-rimmed, brimming with tears I refused to let fall. Not here. Not now. The elevator dinged open, and a couple stepped out, laughing softly, their hands entangled in a hug. The sight of them made my chest ache. I stepped inside, pressing the button for the top floor where the rooms were located. As the elevator ascended, I thought about my family. My mom has been sick and everyone depended on me so much now, every bill, every expense, every little thing fell on my shoulders. The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, and I stepped into the hushed corridor. I approached the door. Room 204. I stood in front of the door, my hand hovering over the handle while my pulse thundered in my ears. Should I knock? Burst in? What was I even expecting to find? I couldn’t move. My fingers trembled as they grazed the door. And then, from inside, I heard them again. Elias’s low laugh, followed by Sylvia’s unmistakable giggle. The sound broke something inside me. I turned sharply on my heel and stormed back down the corridor. I didn’t want to see their faces, hear his silly excuses, or deal with the lies he’d try to spin. I couldn’t. I slammed the elevator button repeatedly, and when the doors opened, I stepped in and hit the button for the lobby. As I reached the ground floor, the air felt heavier, almost suffocating. I needed to get out. I needed air. I walked briskly through the lobby, ignoring the curious glances from hotel staff and guests. When I reached the bar near the entrance, I slowed, trying to steady my breathing. My hands gripped the edge of a tall stool as I tried to process what had just happened. “Rough night huh?” a deep voice said from behind me. I turned, startled, and found myself face to face with a man leaning casually against the bar. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a sharp suit that screamed money. His dark eyes studied me with a bit of curiosity and amusement. “I’m not in the mood,” I snapped, stepping back. His lips curved into a smirk. “Clearly. But you look like you could use a drink… or a ride. Whichever comes first.” I glared at him, my anger bubbling to the surface again. “I don’t need anything from you. Get lost!” “Suit yourself,” he said with a shrug, picking up his glass. “But wandering around like that, looking as upset as you do, someone less charming than me might take advantage.” He might be right, but I didn’t have the energy to talk. “Thanks for the unsolicited advice, but I’m fine.” He raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but didn’t press the issue. “If you say so.” I turned and walked away, heading for the exit. The cool night air hit me as I stepped outside, and for a moment, I just stood there, letting the silence wrap around me. I didn’t know where to go or what to do. My life, the life I thought I was building, felt like it had crumbled in the span of an hour. Shaking my head, I started walking toward the street, to figure out my way home. I didn’t need some arrogant stranger to take me home. That was when all the tears I had been holding broke free, and I cried like I never had before.The subway rattled beneath me, the hum of tracks and the chatter of commuters filling the air as I stood gripping the pole, my bag slung over my shoulder. Morning light filtered through the grimy windows, catching the faces of strangers lost in their phones or their thoughts.I’d left the apartment early, the memory of last night’s dinner with Nick, candles, his warm hand in mine, still lingering like a soft glow. But today was big: the Reid Corps meeting to finalize the contract, and the issue of the mock-up sabotage was imminent, with Marcus Reed’s name circling in my head. I adjusted my navy blazer and took a deep breath, steadying myself for whatever the day would bring.The subway lurched to a stop, and I stepped onto the platform, joining the stream of people heading toward Haven Enterprises. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out, seeing a text from Clara: “Where are you already? Ms. Devlin’s team is already here!”I smiled, typing back: “On my way. Save me a coffee!
The office was nearly empty as I walked back to my desk, the golden light from the windows casting long shadows across the floor. The hum of computers and the occasional laugh from a cubicle were the only sounds left.My bag was packed, and my laptop shut. Still, I dawdled, my mind tangled in the day’s highs and lows, the situation back at home, Reid Corps’ contract on the horizon, the mock-up sabotage, and Nick’s promise of pasta and a quiet night felt like a beacon, but I couldn’t shake the unease about that ghost account. Who was behind it, and why?I was about to leave when Torres appeared, his glasses slightly askew, a stack of printouts in his hands. “Tracy, glad I caught you,” he said, his voice low and urgent. He glanced around, making sure no one was close, then sat on the edge of my desk. “David and I finished the scan on that mock-up file. You’re not gonna like this.”My heart skipped, and I leaned forward, my hands gripping my bag. “What did you find? Was it a hack?”He sh
The office was more subdued now, the lunch hour ending with people filtering back to their workstations, their voices a gentle buzz over the sound of keyboard clicks. I sat back in my chair, gazing at my phone, Mom’s words concerning Dad’s health and the bills lingering in my thoughts. The cold coffee in front of me was all that had been moved, but I didn’t care.The sabotage of the mock-up was a distant storm compared to the pain of knowing my parents were struggling. I wished I could correct it all, send them money, make Dad recover, and take the burden off Mom, but I felt stretched taut, like I was keeping too many pieces together.Footsteps interrupted my thoughts and I glanced up to see David coming towards me, a frown replacing his usual grin. He held a tablet in his hands, tapping the edge of it with nervous fingers. “Tee, got a minute? I went back over the logs on that mock-up debacle and… it’s strange.” He sat down beside a chair, speaking in a whisper so that no one could ov
I sat at my desk, the office noise receding to a distant buzz as I gazed at the tampered mock-up document in front of me. The incorrect numbers leered back at me, accusatorily silent, and my chest constricted with anger and confusion. Clara had suggested someone had done this deliberately, and I couldn’t help but see Jordan or Suzan as a suspect. Who would sabotage our effort? I massaged my temples and the morning coffee turned bitter in my gut.The marketing floor door swung open and there he was, tall and cutting a path through the hubbub, blue eyes scanning until catching mine. He strode over to where I sat, suit jacket over shoulder, tie still undone from the debrief. "Tee," Nick whispered, taking a chair beside me, steady voice but hinting with concern. "What is it? Clara gave me a quick rundown, but I want to hear the rest from you."I turned to him, fiddling with a pen in my hands. “Someone tampered with the Reid Corps prototype. The data's all incorrect, old data, not the new
I woke to the soft patter of rain against my window, the gray light filtering through the blinds tossing gentle shades across my room. For a moment, I just lay there, wrapped in the warmth of my blankets, the quiet morning wrapping around me like a hug.Nick’s side of the bed was empty, the sheet where he’d been was cool and I reached out, my fingers brushing the spot where he’d slept. A small note resting on his pillow caught my attention. ‘Early meeting. Coffee’s on. Call me later, Tee. –N”. I picked it up, smiling as I thought of last night, the way he’d held me close after my sisters left, making me feel safe when the worries about Mom and Dad crept in.I sat up slowly, the hardwood floor cold under my feet as I slipped out of bed, still wearing Nick’s oversized T-shirt that hung past my knees. The smell of fresh coffee pulled me toward the kitchen and when I got there, I poured a mug, the steam rising in little curls as I leaned against the counter.The taste was strong and bitte
Later that afternoon, I unlocked my apartment door, Nick trailing behind with a bag of groceries we’d grabbed on the way. Emma and Ella were already inside, sprawled on my couch, my laptop open on the coffee table, papers scattered everywhere.Their identical faces, hazel eyes, and dark hair like mine, lit up as I walked in, but I caught the tension in their postures like they’d been arguing.“Hey, big sis!” Emma called, jumping up to hug me, her hoodie smelling faintly of her favorite vanilla perfume. “Thanks for the laptop.”Ella stayed seated, her arms crossed, her voice quieter. “Yeah, we are grateful.” She glanced at Nick, curious but guarded. “Hello, Mr. Nick. Tracy talks about you nonstop.”Nick chuckled, setting the groceries on the counter, his charm on full blast. “All good things, I hope. I’m Nick White, nice to meet you both.” He extended a hand, and Emma shook it eagerly, while Ella gave a small wave, still sizing him up.I raised an eyebrow, kicking off my shoes. “What’s
The café on 5th was a cozy spot, all exposed brick and mismatched chairs, the air thick with the smell of bacon and fresh coffee. Brenda waved us over from a corner table, her red sweater bright, her dark hair spilling over her shoulders. Jason sat beside her, his flannel sleeves rolled up, a plate of half-eaten pancakes in front of him, his broad frame filling the chair. His hazel eyes lit up as we approached, and he stood, offering Nick a firm handshake.“Nick, Tracy, good to see you guys,” Jason said, his voice warm, a faint drawl from his small-town roots. “Brenda’s been hyping this brunch all night.”Brenda laughed, pulling me into a quick hug, her perfume sweet. “Damn right, Jason. I need to make sure my Tracy is alright, and Nick’s gotta pass my boyfriend test.” She winked at Nick, who slid into the chair across from her, his arm brushing mine as I sat.“Am I under a test?” Nick declared, grinning and his hand resting on my thigh under the table, warm and grounding.I rolled my
The conference room at Haven Enterprises buzzed with pre-meeting energy as everyone walked in and out. The projector hummed as Clara fiddled with the laptop, muttering about finicky cables.I was standing at the front, flipping through my notes. My blouse was tight, my skirt pressed, but my stomach churned with nerves and maybe a little too much of Nick’s strong coffee earlier this morning.The client pitch was a big deal, a chance to lock in a major contract, and as senior director, all eyes were on me to make it a success.Nick leaned against the table, his suit jacket off, tie loosened, going over his own notes. He caught my eye, his lips twitched, but he kept it professional, turning to Clara. “We good on the tech, Ms. Clara? Don’t want a repeat of last month’s projector fiasco.”Clara groaned, her curls bouncing as she plugged in another cable. “Yeah, yeah, it’s under control, boss. Unlike Torres, who’s probably still hungover from last night’s happy hour.” She grinned, tossing a
The next morning, I woke to the smell of coffee and the soft clatter of dishes. Sunlight streamed through the blinds, warming the bed, and I stretched, my body sore in the best way. Nick’s side was empty, the sheets cool, and I smiled, knowing he was probably wrestling with that finicky coffee machine to keep his promise.I slipped into one of his T-shirts, the fabric soft and smelling faintly of him, and padded barefoot to the kitchen. Nick stood at the counter, shirtless, jeans slung low, pouring coffee into my favorite mug—the one with the chipped handle I’d claimed weeks ago. The dishwasher was running, clunking like it was on its deathbed, and I smirked, leaning against the doorway.“Morning, chef,” I said, my voice still sleepy.Nick turned, grinning, his hair tousled, eyes bright. “Morning, sleepyhead. And don’t fuss about the coffee. It's ready, black like you like it.” He handed me the mug, his fingers brushing mine, sparking a low hum in my body. “How did you sleep?”“Like a
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Komen