I 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?”Ther
I walked into the break room at Haven Enterprises, my sanity was messed up with the thoughts of Elias and Sylvia. The hurt from last night still clung to me, making it hard to think straight.My best friend, Sylvia, who I’d trusted for years, had betrayed me. Elias, my fiancé, had cheated on me with her. I was heartbroken, and no matter how hard I tried, the thought of them together wouldn’t leave my mind.“Hey, Trace, you okay?” Brenda asked as I sat down across from her. Brenda was my colleague and a good friend, someone who always knew when I was upset.I looked at her, trying to smile but failing. “Not really,” I sighed. “I… I caught Elias cheating on me with Sylvia last night. They were… having sex. I don’t know what to do now.”Brenda’s eyes widened, her hand immediately going to mine. “Oh no, that’s awful. I’m so sorry.” Her grip tightened on mine, and she seemed genuinely hurt for me. “You don’t deserve that at all. He’s an idiot, and Sylvia, I can’t believe she’d do that to y
I couldn’t move nor speak. The way he looked at me made my stomach wrench in a certain way I didn't understand.“Uh… I… I’m sorry,” I stammered, feeling the heat rise to my face. My hands gripped the files I was holding tighter, but they felt so slippery like they might fall any second.He pushed back his chair slowly, standing up. He was taller than I remembered and his suit fitted him perfectly like it was tailored ready made just for him.“And who are you?” he asked, his deep voice sounding smooth and sexy. His eyes were on mine, harsh but somehow soft at the same time.“I… I work here,” I said, almost in a whisper. My voice barely sounded like my own.He raised an eyebrow, stepping around the desk, and coming closer. “I can see that. But what do you do? What’s your position in the company?”“I’m a… I work in the marketing department,” I replied, wishing my voice didn’t shake so much. “Mr. Lawrence asked me to bring these files to you.”He stopped just a few steps away from me, til
The day had been long and exhausting, but we were finally closed and I was heading back home. My heels clicked against the pavement as I clutched my bag tightly, ready to collapse on my bed and forget about everything that had happened for a while.The streets were quieter than usual.Out of nowhere, a car came speeding through a puddle on the road. Before I could react, dirty water splashed all over me. The cold, filthy water soaked my clothes and dripped down my face. I froze, my mouth hanging open in shock.“What the—” I started, spinning around to see who the culprit was.My heart dropped when I saw who it was. Elias. My ex-fiancé. And right there in the passenger seat, laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world, was Sylvia. My so-called best friend.They had done this on purpose.The car screeched to a halt, and Elias stepped out first, his smug smile making my stomach churn. Sylvia followed, flipping her hair and smirking at me like she owned the world.“Well, look who
It was the kind of an offer that felt like a risk, following Nick home. I kept questioning myself the whole time. Was it smart? Was it reasonable?My house was far away, and I couldn’t bear the thought of walking through town with dirty clothes sticking to me, stained and damp from Elias and Sylvia’s vicious stunt.Nick didn’t seem like someone who would take advantage of the situation, though. He had stepped in to help me without hesitation, and for now, that was enough.“Here goes nothing,” I mumbled to myself, clutching my bag tightly as I got into his car.Nick glanced over at me as we pulled onto the road. “You sure you wanna come?” His tone was gentle.I nodded quickly, avoiding his gaze. “I’m down,” I muttered, though it was obvious I wasn’t comfortable.The silence in the car stretched between us for a few minutes before he said again. “So… umm those two back there. Who were they?”I stiffened, staring out the window at the blur of street lights passing by. “Nobody important,”
What happened between Nick and I wasn’t intended. It wasn’t even supposed to happen in the first place and it could’ve been clearly avoided. But here we are. We kissed, we cuddled. Things got heated, and I almost lost myself completely to him. I was about to cross that line, but somehow, at the last moment, I pulled back. Thank God I did. How could I have let myself loose like that? It’s not like me to give in so easily to someone no matter how charming or irresistible they are. I’m not that kind of woman, not someone who jumps into bed with a guy I just met, no matter how perfect he seems. The awkwardness between us afterward was unbearable. I made up my mind not to let him drop me off at home. He didn’t need to know where I lived. That would make things even more awkward. When I finally got home that night, I couldn’t sleep. My thoughts kept circling back to what had happened between us and how close I came to doing something I wasn’t ready for. Every time I tried to jigg
Brenda and I decided to head down to the cafeteria. I was more than ready for a break after the morning’s workload even though my head was still swimming with thoughts about Nick and what happened between us last night, but I was doing everything I could to keep it together.The last thing I needed was for Brenda, or anyone else to pick up on how rattled I still felt.Brenda nudged me with her elbow as we walked. “You look like you’re carrying the weight of the company on your shoulders. Cheer up! It’s lunchtime.”I smiled weakly. “Yeah, just tired, you know. It’s been a very long morning.”“Hmm,” she said, giving me a side glance. “If you say so.”By the time we got there, the cafeteria was droning with activity. Employees from different departments were scattered around, chatting and enjoying their meals. The smell of food filled the air from burgers, fries, salads, pasta, you name it.Brenda and I got in line, grabbing trays and picking out what we wanted. I settled on a simple chi
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 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