Casey P.O.VThe apartment was in disarray, a testament to the whirlwind of emotions that had swept through it. Clothes were strewn across the floor, half-packed boxes littered the living room, and the faint sound of honking from the moving truck outside filtered in through the open windows."You still have two days but you decide you will move out today only just a few hours after your ex told you to move out, " Zazu said , her voice seething with anger as she pulled out a suitcase from the closet. She opened the suitcase on the bed, somehow folded clothes and placed them into a suitcase, though she was angry her movements were deliberate and calm whereas I was throwing anything in the bag on whatever I was getting my hands on.“I just want to get out of here and end this drama" I replied, throwing another handful of belongings into a bag with a mix of anger and sadness. "I can't believe he did this to me. I trusted him and kept the house in his name because….”. I dumped another set o
Owen P.O.VTurning the shower off I lifted the towel off the rack to dry myself off.I stepped out of the bathroom, wrapping the towel around my waist, and gazed around the room. The bed was a tangled mess, sheets strewn about like a wild animal had ravaged it. The pillows were scattered across the floor, and the blankets were twisted and knotted. But the girl from last night was nowhere to be seen.I scanned the room, my eyes searching for any sign of her. Her purse was not on the table, her phone and keys next to it were all gone. "Hello?" I called out, my voice echoing off the walls. "You here?" I flipped the long curtains of the window to see if she was hiding there. You never know when girls get some weird ideas of hiding and the girl from the last night sure came from the psychopath category.I approached the bed, peering underneath, thinking maybe she'd passed out or fell down and rolled under the bed. Who knows. After experiencing her Jacky Chan moves last night I can believe
Casey P.O.V The blaring alarm clock pierced the early morning silence, its shrill sound dragging me from the depths of sleep. My hand flailed across the nightstand, fingers brushing against the cold, hard surface until they found the culprit. With a loud, frustrated groan, I slammed the off button and rolled back under the covers. Not two seconds later, my phone alarm joined the party. I let out a loud groan, throwing the pillow over my head as though it could block the incessant noise. It didn’t. "Fine, fine, I am up," I muttered as I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and glared at my phone. The screen blinked mockingly. 8:30 AM.Two hours until the job interview. I dragged myself to the bathroom, flipping the light switch and wincing as the brightness stabbed at my barely-open eyes. My reflection in the mirror was nothing short of a disaster.Puffy eyes with dark circles, hair a tangled mess, and a crease across my cheek from sleeping on the pillow wrong. "You have got th
Author P.O.V “Following you? Wow dude , you sure think something of yourself. I would not waste my breath on a guy like and stalking you is the last thing I want to do in this universe" Casey retorted. She folded her arms and looked straight ahead "I am just trying to get to an interview but nothing is going according to the plan.I do not know whose face I have seen first after waking that my entire day is going so bad. First the car broke down and now this man”. “Must have seen her own” Owen whispered, looking out of the window. “Did you just say something?” She gave her a side eye. “Nothing. I just said you are looking beautiful”. Owen gave her a sarcastic smile. “Nice cover up but already heard what you have said .Now get out, that is the least you could do after what you have done.” she said, and looked out of the window. “Then why did you ask ? Why would I leave the cab and what do you mean by that is the least you could do after what you have done? ” Owen gave her a conf
Casey P.O.VI reached the office building, panting heavily from having walked the last two blocks after the tense cab ride with Owen.The towering structure loomed above me, its glass façade reflecting the morning sun. I paused for a moment to catch my breath, straightening my clothes and trying to smooth out the wrinkles from my hurried sprint.Taking a deep breath, I pushed through the revolving doors and into the lobby. The cool air conditioning was a welcome relief from the outside heat. I walked up to the reception desk, where a friendly-looking woman greeted me."Good morning. How can I help you?" she asked with a smile.“I am here for an interview," I managed to say, still slightly out of breath. "My name is Casey Maxwell.”She nodded and typed something into her computer. "Ah, yes. You're here for the position with Mr. Thompson. Please take the elevator to the top floor. You'll find another receptionist there who will assist you.”I thanked her and made my way to the elevators,
Casey P.O.V I woke up to the sterile smell of antiseptic and the soft beeping of medical equipment. My body ached, and my head felt heavy .I slowly opened my eyes, groggily taking in my surroundings. As my vision cleared, I saw two familiar faces hovering over me. “C..an yo..u get o..ff my f..ace?” I asked hoarsely and was barely audible. “Oh she is fine.” They both sighed in relief and stepped back. Zazu grabbed the cup from the bedside table , filled it with the water and helped me take a sip. "We're so glad you are okay. You gave us quite a scare.” As I sipped the water, I tried to piece together what had happened. Fragments of memories flashed through my mind - a loud crash, a searing pain, and then nothing. My brain was completely blank after that. "What...what happened?" My head started throbbing in pain. Zazu and Deniz exchanged a nervous glance before Deniz began to explain. "You were in a car accident. We are still not entirely sure what happened, but you've been out
Owen P.O.VIt was ten in the morning when I stepped into my restaurant, the familiar hum of activity enveloping me as the scents of cooking food wafted through the air. The clinking of glasses and soft murmur of conversation filled the space. As I walked past the bustling kitchen, my friend and chef , Oliver, approached me with pursed lips.“Hey, man," Oliver said, wiping his hands on a towel. "There is someone waiting for you in the back, in the outdoor section. Says she is from a news company.”"Thanks, Oliver. I will handle it," I replied, giving him a part on the shoulder I went to my office to keep files of yesterday’s meeting.Making my way to the outdoor patio, I spotted a woman sitting at a table by the large glass windows that overlooked the garden. She was striking, her presence immediate and undeniable. Her long, dark hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, framing a face with sharp, defined features. Her eyes, a deep green, flickered with curiosity , observing her su
Author P.O.VNo one responded to the door when the doorbell rang. The girl in a blue velvet shirt and short skirt on the other side rang the doorbell again impatiently, she was tapping her foot impatiently. Losing her patience she began to bang the door impatiently.“Owen open the damn door, now” the girl shouted from the other side. Disturbed from the chaos Eva woke up. She pulled the sheet up to cover herself and looked at the clock. It was seven in the morning. Another bang on the door forced Ava to get out of the bed. Owen was in the shower when she lifted his shirt from the floor, put it on and answered the door, unaware of the atom bomb that was about to explode outside.Ava opened the door , saw a girl standing there leaning against the side wall, chewing gum in her mouth. She stood up straight, looking Ava from top to bottom, the smile left her face when she saw what the other woman was wearing. “Is Owen home right now?” she asked, putting her left hand on the door. She pushe
Casey P.O.V. The crisp January air brushed against my face as Zazu and I stepped out of the cab in front of the L.A. Stadium. The towering lights of the arena glimmered in the evening sky, and the hum of excitement from the crowd around us buzzed in my ears. I glanced down at my jersey-style top, a shade of blue and white to match the Los Angeles Rams team, and felt a rare sense of anticipation. Zazu adjusted her own jersey, grinning ear to ear as we approached the gates. “Can you believe Mark just handed me these tickets?” Zazu said, practically skipping beside me. “Poor guy. Bet he’s regretting his work emergency right about now.” “Well, his loss is our gain,” I said, laughing as we handed our tickets to the attendant. Once inside, we grabbed a large bucket of buttery popcorn, its warm aroma wafting through the air, and made our way to our seats. The stadium was electric, the roar of the crowd rising as the players from both teams jogged onto the field. I had not been to a footb
Owen P.O.V The Lawyer’s Appointment The hours dragged until it was finally time to meet the lawyer. I arrived early, the sterile waiting room doing little to calm my nerves. The lawyer greeted me with his usual professional demeanor, but his words barely registered. My mind was elsewhere, consumed by the thought of Casey walking through that door and what it would mean for us once the papers were signed. I did not have to wait long. Casey arrived exactly on time, as she always did. She stepped into the room with her usual grace, but there was a tension in her shoulders that was not usually there. Our eyes met briefly before she turned to the lawyer, giving him a polite smile. She was cordial, professional, keeping everything on the surface. I hated it. We sat across from each other at the conference table as the lawyer went over the details, explaining the final steps. My eyes flicked to Casey now and then, but her gaze stayed firmly on the paperwork. “Say something.” The voi
Owen P.O.V The sound of my apartment door clicking shut behind me barely registered as I stepped outside. The morning air was crisp, and the city was already alive with its usual bustle. But it was not the noise or the brisk weather that caught my attention. It was Casey who caught my attention. She was standing a few feet away, next to her car, her arms crossed and her expression frustrated. Her car was off, yet she was not getting inside it. Instead, she was glancing down the road, occasionally stepping forward to flag a passing cab. Each one sped past her, leaving her standing there, tapping her foot on the pavement impatiently. I frowned. What was she doing here, looking for a cab, when her car was right there? Is her car not working? As I watched her wave her hand at yet another cab that did not stop, my new car pulled up. My driver stepped out of the vehicle, holding two Starbucks coffee cups in one hand. The steam rising from the lids told me they were fresh. “Morning, si
Owen P.O.VThe kitchen had always been my sanctuary, a place where chaos transformed into order, where raw ingredients became something greater. Tonight, I hoped it could also be a bridge, a way to reach Casey. She had seen Eva’s public apology, and while it had cleared my name, it had not been enough to erase the hurt I had caused. I wanted to prove to her that my words were not hollow promises, that I truly meant every syllable when I said I’d do whatever it took to earn back her trust.I rolled up my sleeves and surveyed the ingredients laid out on the counter. Casey loved Italian food, especially a good homemade ravioli. I remembered her mentioning it once during one of our passing times. It had been a casual comment, something about how her grandmother, her mother's mother used to make it for special occasions. Back then, I had tucked the information away, never knowing I would use that gun for my benefit ever . But now, it felt like the perfect way to show her I was paying atten
Owen P.O.VShe did not say anything at first, her hand still absently scratching behind Google’s ears. The silence stretched between us, and I felt the weight of her guarded stare. It was as though she was trying to decide whether I was worth her time or effort but I could not let her go on thinking the worst of me without knowing the truth. She deserved an explanation. No more assumptions, no more misunderstandings. It was now or never.“Casey,” I said softly, leaning forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “Please. Just give me a chance to explain what really happened that night. I know what you saw, and I know it hurt you. But it was not what you think.”Her hand froze mid-motion on Google’s head, and she turned to look at me, her eyes narrowed. “What’s left to explain, Owen? I saw her in your apartment. I saw her kiss you.”I exhaled, my shoulders sagging under the weight of everything unsaid. “You saw part of it, but not all of it. I never kissed her.”She crossed her arms, leani
Owen P.O.VThe silence in my apartment was deafening. Google lay at my feet, his tail wagging occasionally as if he sensed my distress. I stared at the ceiling, my mind racing. Casey would not answer my calls, and her door had been firmly slammed shut by Zazu. I had no one to blame but myself.How could I have been so blind to let Eva in? I should have sent her packing the moment I saw her at the door. Instead, I gave her the benefit of the doubt. Now, Casey thought I had betrayed her.The thought of Casey’s hurt expression the way she sat with her face in her hands made my chest ache. I could not let this stand. She deserved an explanation, but I knew words alone would not fix this. Actions had to speak louder.I needed to fix this.Google barked softly, pulling me out of my thoughts. I scratched his head absently, an idea forming in my mind. “Alright, buddy. Let’s start with Eva,” I muttered.Next Day…..The next morning, I stood outside Eva’s office. It took a few calls and some ch
Owen POV I pulled on a navy sweater, smoothing the fabric as I glanced at myself in the mirror. It was casual, warm, but still decent enough to make an impression. Casey would appreciate it or so I hoped. She had a way of throwing me off balance with her sassy words and even sassy looks, but tonight, I wanted her to see a different side of me. It was not often I put thought into things like this. Dates used to be effortless,another night, another woman, no strings attached. But this was Casey I am doing all these for. And somehow, with her, everything felt different. The sound of the doorbell interrupted my thoughts. My chest tightened, and a grin spread across my face. She was here. Right on time. I headed for the door, my steps quick, excitement bubbling in my chest. When I opened it, my smile froze in place before vanishing completely. It was not Casey who stood outside. Eva was. My jaw tightened as I took in the sight of the woman standing on my doorstep, perfectly polished
Casey P.O.VGetting ready for a date with Owen felt like being stuck in a mystery novel where you already knew the twist would irritate you. The man refused to give me any clue about where we were going, just a vague instruction to “dress casually” and “wear warm clothes.” Honestly, what did that even mean?“I hate surprises,” I grumbled, glaring at the sweater I had thrown onto the bed.Zazu, sitting cross-legged on the floor, let out a dramatic sigh. “You’ve said that about a hundred times now, Casey. Relax, it’s a date, not a covert mission.”I shot her a look. “If I wanted a surprise, I’d order a mystery box online. Dates are supposed to have details, Zazu—details! So I can plan my outfit and prepare mentally.”“Mentally? You’re going on a date, not to war.” She chuckled, standing to inspect the sweater. “And for the record, this is perfect. Warm, casual, and adorable. Plus, he probably wants to see you comfortable, not freezing to death in a cocktail dress.”I groaned. “Fine, but
Casey’s P.O.V The buzz of the gala preparations was a strange mix of chaos and excitement. The event was just a day away, and while the fallout from Rachel’s actions had initially shaken me, it had also ignited a determination in me that I hadn’t felt before. This was my chance to prove myself, to show Mr. Davenport and the supervisors that I could excel even under pressure. After the meeting yesterday, Rachel had stormed out of the office, leaving behind a trail of venomous glares and whispered threats. While her behavior had been exposed to some extent, I could not shake the feeling that she was not done with me. But I did not have the time or the energy to dwell on that. I had a gala to prepare. The morning was a flurry of last minute vendor calls and double-checking every detail. The floral arrangements, the seating chart, the lighting , everything has to fit perfectly in these puzzle. I had Karen helping me coordinate with the caterers, and even some of the supervisors had