I wasn’t one for parties. Not when they make me feel a little bit sick and not when I end up standing there and pretending to enjoy myself while secretly counting the hours until I could leave.But this wasn’t just any party.It was a big day today—a celebration for the company, one of those events where attendance wasn’t exactly mandatory, but skipping it would raise a few eyebrows. So, after much internal debate and a little too much peer pressure from Clara, I caved.I wasn’t sure if Nick would attend, but as the CEO, he was supposed to be there. And that was one of the many reasons that made me want to go.Still, I wasn’t in a rush.I took my time getting ready, standing in front of my closet longer than necessary, debating whether I should bother dressing up. But then I remembered Clara’s comment from earlier, ‘If you’re going, at least try to look like you want to be there.’ so I gave in and picked something that felt… classy.The dress was red. Not my usual choice, but it hugge
Nick’s eyes were filled with something I couldn’t quite name, but it made my stomach twist in anticipation. His fingers were still on my waist, his grip firm, like he wasn’t ready to let go. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go home with him, but I didn’t want to deny him either. The way he looked at me—like he already knew I was going to say yes—made it impossible to refuse.I swallowed, my heart thumping hard against my ribs. “To your place?” My voice was quieter than I intended.His lips twitched, but his grip on my hips didn’t loosen. “Yes,” he murmured, his thumb brushing the bare skin where my dress dipped low on my back. It was a single word, filled with desire and passion.I hesitated for half a second longer, but the heat between us was unbearable. The tension had been growing all night, and now that we were here, standing so close, his scent filling my lungs, my skin burning from his touch—I couldn’t turn back.So I nodded in agreement.His grip tightened just slightly before he
The ride back to my place was mostly silent. Not the good kind, not the one that felt laden with anticipation, but the one that made my chest feel tight, like I had swallowed something too big and I couldn’t quite breathe right away.Nick kept his eyes on the road, his grip on the steering wheel tight. The streetlights outside flashed across his face in soft, golden streaks, highlighting the hard lines of his jaw, the set of his mouth, the flicker of something indistinct in his expression.I didn’t know what to say.I could still feel the heat of his hands on my skin, the ghost of his touch lingering even as the moment had slipped away. It was strange how quickly things could shift from craving, to doubt, to something neither of us knew how to name.I turned my head slightly, stealing a glance at him. His knuckles were white where they gripped the wheel, his lips pressed into a firm line. His breathing was even, controlled, but I could feel the energy radiating off o
I was sitting at my desk, staring at my computer screen, but I wasn’t really seeing anything. My fingers rested on the keyboard, unmoving, while my brain kept replaying last night over and over again. Nick had looked at me and his voice had cracked when he talked about Patricia. I had felt—so close to him but still standing at a distance. It was messing with my head in a way I didn’t like.I exhaled slowly, rubbing my temples, trying to shake it off. Work. I had to focus on work. But it was one of those days where nothing was really happening—no urgent emails, no meetings, no tasks that couldn’t wait. People were still moving around, talking and answering phones, tapping on their keyboards, but everything felt so dull today.That was when Brenda walked in.She plopped down into the chair next to my desk, holding a cup of coffee, her long dark hair pulled into a low ponytail. She looked at me for a second, then spoke.“Okay. Something’s wrong with you.”I blinked, dragging myself out of
The day had been slow, the kind of slow that made you count the minutes and check the clock every few seconds, hoping time would move faster. Work was dragging, and there wasn’t much to do except stare at my screen, answer a few emails, and pretend I wasn’t still thinking about Nick. But just when I thought the day would crawl by without anything interesting happening, Mr. Lawrence Peterson called me into his office.“Take Jordan with you,” he said, sliding a paper across his desk toward me. “I need you both to pick up some important documents from the courthouse. They were supposed to be sent over, but there was some mix-up, and now they won’t release them unless someone from the office comes in person. You need to sign for them and make sure everything is in order before bringing them back. Think you can handle that?”I grabbed the paper, nodding. “Yeah, sure.”Mr. Peterson nodded back, already looking at something on his computer like he had a million things to do. “Good. Don’t tak
Thursday morning and I had barely gotten through my first cup of coffee before Nick called me into his office, asking me to help him plan and arrange everything for the major board meeting scheduled to be held in an hour. Today was the day anyone who had a problem with the Chief Executive Officer could voice it out.He looked different today. Less of the usual confident Nick, and more like someone bracing for a storm. His suit was smoothly pressed but his facial expression was tight. He didn’t say much about it, and I didn’t ask.Instead, we got to work.The boardroom had to be set up with all the necessary reports, financial statements, and presentation slides. Everything needed to be in order. I followed Nick’s instructions, double-checking every detail, making sure all the documents were in order.Nick kept his focus on the work, but there was something in the way he behaved that made me finally ask.“…do you think this meeting is going to be tough?” I asked, not because I didn’t a
The moment I stepped out of the building, the cool evening air hit me, and for the first time since morning, I felt like I could finally breathe. The board meeting and the initial preparation for it had drained every bit of energy out of me. It was long and completely exhausting. Right from when Mr. Daniels had gone after Nick or the way the whole room had felt like it was one wrong word away from turning into a fight.I was still lost in thought when I heard a familiar voice call my name.“Where have you been all day?”I turned and saw Brenda walking toward me, her bag slung over her shoulder, her expression somewhere between concerned and curious. She was staring at me like I had just disappeared off the face of the earth, which, to be fair, I kind of had.I sighed, rubbing my temples. “You don’t even want to know.”Brenda raised an eyebrow, stopping in front of me. “Oh, but I do. Because I tried looking for you during lunch, and guess what? Nowhere to be found. I texted, I called,
The sun was barely up when my alarm went off, and for a moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to decide if I was ready to get out of bed. It was Saturday, and usually, I’d take my time waking up, maybe roll over and go back to sleep for a while. But today was different because I had plans.Brenda’s second date with Jason was happening later in the day, and she wanted me there. I had already agreed, so there was no backing out now.With a sigh, I finally pushed myself up, stretched my arms over my head, and ran a hand through my hair. My phone was sitting on the nightstand, and I grabbed it, checking the time. It was still early, but I needed to start getting ready.I dragged myself out of bed, shuffled to the bathroom, and grabbed my toothbrush. While I brushed my teeth, my mind wandered, thinking about the day before. Brenda had been so happy when she talked about Jason. It was the kind of happiness that made you believe in true love.I rinsed my mouth, splashed so
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
We crossed the living room, the city lights twinkling through the windows, and I glanced at the couch, remembering how we’d tangled there last weekend, his hands everywhere on my body. My pussy throbbed at the thought, but I pushed it down, focusing on the moment. His apartment felt like home now, my throw blanket was on the couch, my favorite mug was in the cabinet, and even my shampoo was in his bathroom. It was ours, in a way, and that thought made my heart tight with something deeper than lust.In the hallway, the flickering light shone faintly, and I nudged him. “See? Told you it’s still broken. You’re gonna regret it when I face-plant one of these days.”Nick sighed, pulling me past it. “Alright, alright, I’ll call the electrician tomorrow. Are you happy now?”“I'm thrilled,” I said, sarcasm dripping, but I squeezed his hand, loving how he let me nag and how he listened even when he pretended not to.The bathroom door swung open, and the familiar marble and glass greeted us, the
The kitchen was a mess of taco crumbs on the counter, a smear of spicy mayo on the island, and the faint smell of grilled chicken lingering in the air. I wiped my hands on a dish towel, the bourbon’s warmth still whizzing in my veins, and leaned back against the counter, watching Nick stack our plates in the sink. His shirt was untucked, his sleeves rolled up, and his hair was still a little wild from my fingers earlier in the car. God, he looked good, all relaxed and domestic, like this was our routine—and it kind of was.“Those tacos were a solid eight out of ten,” I said, crossing my arms, my skirt shifting slightly as I hopped back onto the counter, legs dangling. “But you’re still not topping my mom’s recipe. She’d school you.”Nick snorted, turning on the faucet, the water hissing as he rinsed a plate. “Your mom’s tacos? I’m calling bullshit, Tee. You just don’t wanna admit I’m a culinary god.” He flashed me a grin, his blue eyes catching the kitchen lights, and I felt that fami