The day at work had been long. By the time I got home, I was exhausted, but I still had things to do. I dropped my bag on the couch and let out a tired sigh. My feet ached, and my body wanted rest, but my mind was restless. I had been overthinking all day. Work had been hectic, and on top of that, Nick had been on my mind more than I wanted him to be. It was frustrating.I rubbed my temples, trying to shake off the thoughts. Instead of sitting down, I reached for my phone. I needed something to distract me, and calling my mom always helped.I tapped her contact and waited as the phone rang. It took a few seconds before she answered.“Tracy, sweetheart! Finally, you remember your mother exists! I was beginning to think you had a new family over there.”I chuckled, already feeling better just hearing her voice. “Mom, I called you a few days ago. Remember!?”“A few days? You call that staying in touch? Oh, my dear child, one day when you have kids of your own, you’ll understand the pain
The next day, I was walking into the office building, my mind still half asleep and my body dragging from exhaustion. I didn’t even get a proper breakfast because I was running late, and my coffee was barely helping. I just wanted to get through the day without any unnecessary stress, but of course, life had other plans because the moment I stepped out of the elevator, I bumped straight into Nick.It wasn’t just a small bump. It was one of those moments where you walk too fast, turn too quickly, and suddenly, you’re almost crashing into someone’s chest, except in this case, it wasn’t just anyone, it was Nick White.His hands shot out instantly, holding me before I could stumble, and I felt the warmth of his touch through the fabric of my sleeves. His hold was firm but not rough, like he was used to being in control, used to handling things effortlessly. His cologne filled the space between us, nice, with that hint of something I could never quite describe but always noticed.I swallow
Friday came faster than I expected, and honestly, I was grateful because this week had drained me more than usual. Work had been stressful, my thoughts had been all over the place. Not to mention that I just got dumped by Elias, my ex-boyfriend. And to top it all off, letting Nick into my life earlier in the week had completely messed up the little peace I had. Even though we talked, even though he apologized, I still felt weird about everything, and I hated that he still made me feel so nervous. But I refused to let my thoughts be about him today.I was sitting at my desk, typing away at my computer when Brenda, my best friend at work, suddenly dropped into the chair beside me with a dramatic sigh, making me glance at her. She had that excited-but-also-nervous look on her face, which instantly made me curious.“What is it?” I asked, knowing she had something to say.Brenda tucked her hair behind her ear, leaned in a little closer, and whispered like she was telling me a top-secret mi
Sunday morning arrived with the sun shining through my window, filling my room with light, and even though I was still feeling a little tired from the long week and the shopping trip with Brenda, I knew I couldn’t just stay in bed all day. It had been way too long since I visited my family, and I missed them a lot, especially my twin sisters, Emma and Ella. So, after getting dressed in a simple outfit, I headed to church first, because that was how Sundays always started for me.Church was peaceful. The sermon was about patience and learning to let go of things we couldn’t control, and as I sat there listening, I couldn’t help but think about everything happening in my life right now, my recent breakup with Elias, work, Nick, and even Brenda’s exciting new romance. A part of me wished I could just press a reset button and start everything fresh, but life didn’t work that way.After the service, I left church feeling a little lighter, and instead of heading straight to my parents’ hous
The long-awaited Monday morning came faster than I expected, and even though I was still feeling a little tired from the weekend, I was actually looking forward to getting to work, mostly because I couldn’t wait to catch up with Brenda and hear all about her date. She hadn’t messaged me much over the weekend, which made me think that maybe things had gone really well, or maybe they had gone really bad, and either way, I wanted to know all the details.But the moment I walked into the office, ready to drop my bag at my desk and find Brenda, something completely unexpected happened.Nick was standing there, right near my desk, waiting for me, and the second our eyes met, he gave me that confident little smirk of his, the one that always made my stomach feel weird, even though I didn’t want it to.“Morning, Tracy,” he said smoothly, his deep voice making my skin tingle in a way I really didn’t appreciate. “I need you to come with me to the boardroom. There’s a meeting, and I want you to
I stood up quickly, ready to escape before Nick could say anything or do something stupid, but of course, he wasn’t going to make it that easy.“So,” he said, standing up as well, “did you enjoy the meeting?”I grabbed my notebook, trying to act casual. “Yeah, it was… interesting,” I said.Nick took a step closer, and suddenly, the air around us felt different.“You know,” he said, his voice lower now, “you looked really cute when you were trying to act like you weren’t staring at me, earlier.”My breath caught in my throat.I wanted to tell him he was wrong. I wanted to roll my eyes and walk away.But instead, all I could do was stand there, heart racing, completely aware of just how close he was.But wait…I kind of wanted him.Nick didn’t move at first. He just stood there, watching me with that confident, unreadable expression, as if he could see right through me, as if he already knew how much I was struggling to stay unaffected by him.Then, slowly, he took another step closer.
The office was quiet by the time we all settled into the conference room, just the four of us left behind while everyone else had packed up and gone home for the day. The only sounds were the soft humming of the air conditioning and the occasional clicking of keyboards as Susan, David, Jordan, and I worked on putting together the marketing campaign presentation.My mind somehow kept drifting back to what had happened between Nick and me in the boardroom earlier today. The way he had looked at me, the way his touch had sent a shiver down my spine, the way I had leaned into him without even thinking twice, I low-key wanted it to happen again.I was sitting at the large table with my laptop open in front of me, my fingers moving over the keyboard as I typed up key points we had discussed earlier. Susan was seated across from me, scrolling through design mock-ups on her screen, her glasses slipping down her nose every few minutes as she pushed them back up. Jordan was flipping through a t
By the time Tuesday morning rolled around, I had already sent Brenda at least five texts and called her twenty-seven times, and she hadn’t answered a single one. I wasn’t the type to panic over these things, but after hearing nothing from her for two days straight, I was starting to feel scared.So when I finally saw her walk into the office that morning, I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I had been holding.She wasn’t late, but she wasn’t early either, arriving just in time to avoid being noticed. Normally, Brenda would walk into the office with her usual energy, greeting people, smiling, maybe even making a joke about how much she hated mornings. But today, she just… walked in quietly, head slightly down, as if she didn’t want anyone to notice her.I watched as she set her bag down on her desk and slowly turned on her computer, not even bothering to check her phone or glance around the office.Something was definitely off.I didn’t waste time. The moment I got the chance, I m
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