~Joan~I went back to work the following week after submitting my documents at an advertising company, hoping they’d call me soon. The coffee shop was busy as usual, the smell of fresh pastries and coffee lingering in the air.“Hey,” Matthew greeted as he came around the counter while I attended to a line of customers.“Hey. Help me out here, will you?” I shot him a glance before handing a paper bag to a customer, smiling politely as they left.Matthew scratched his hair, hesitating for a moment, before moving around the counter to stand next to me.“Uh, sure,” he said, grabbing a pen to take some orders. Together, we served customers in quick succession, the sounds of the register and muffled chatter filling the space, until we’d finally finished.“That was… thank you,” I said, giving him a brief smile before grabbing a towel to wipe my face. My back ached from standing since the beginning of my shift, and I could feel a dull throb forming in my temples.He gave a curt nod, his expres
~Joan~I listened to Matthew ramble on about his mother. His mother. Calling it boring felt like an understatement. I knew I’d regret this the second I agreed, and now, halfway through the date, I was wishing I could teleport back home.Has he always been this dull?“…She was really surprised that night. My siblings and I were happy we were able to do that for her,” he said, taking another sip of his drink. He’d brought me to a local Chinese restaurant, which was fine—if he’d bothered to ask if I even liked it here.His eyes flicked to my plate. The steak sat there untouched, glistening under the dim restaurant lights. I hadn’t had a chance to place my order. Matthew, in all his wisdom, had just assumed I was a steak lover.“You’re not eating,” he said, his tone unsure. I nodded, leaning my chin on my hand.“Well, I don’t really like steak,” I said flatly, watching as his face turned a faint shade of red. He shifted in his chair, suddenly looking like a kid caught breaking the rules.
~Joan~“Where are we going?” I asked as Aaron took a different route, one that didn’t lead to either of our houses.“It’ll ruin the surprise,” he said curtly. I raised a brow as he pressed harder on the accelerator, the hum of the car filling the silence.“I don’t like surprises,” I stated. He glanced at me, a flicker of amusement in his eyes, before speeding up again. The wind whipped my hair, tangling it into a mess. I should have tied it up.“Are you kidnapping me, Thompson?” I asked, a hint of humor in my voice. He smirked but said nothing. Resigned, I leaned back in my seat, watching the streets blur past.Matthew wasn’t thrilled when I told him I had to leave suddenly, claiming an emergency. He’d offered to come along, but I declined, knowing the last thing I needed was him crossing paths with Aaron. That was a suspicion I wasn’t ready to fuel.Aaron eventually pulled up in front of a gate flanked by high walls. I shifted uncomfortably as it slid open.A house came into view, an
~Joan~I’d never seen anything more sensual than a blindfolded woman swaying to a rhythm only she could hear.Joan’s hips moved in lazy, deliberate circles, her hands gliding down her body as if savoring every inch of herself. She turned slowly, her movements hypnotic, while I sat perched on the edge of my bed, hard as stone and completely captivated.The red dress she wore hugged every curve, a second skin that left little to the imagination. The thought of Matthew’s eyes raking over her creamy skin earlier sent fury rising in my chest. One strap slid off her shoulder, then the other, leaving the dress barely clinging to her chest. Her movements slowed, teasing me with the inevitability of the fabric’s fall. My eyes snapped to her face—those full lips parted slightly as her breathing quickened. Lips I wanted to taste. Lips that drove me insane whenever they opened to argue.Then, slowly, the dress slipped lower, revealing the perfect swell of her breasts. Firm, round, flawless. Min
~Joan~A moan slipped from my lips as I tangled my fingers in Aaron’s hair. There was no better way to wake up than with a man between your legs.I was sore. Last night had been the most action I’d had in three years. Aaron was a beast unleashed, taking me in ways I hadn’t even imagined—against the wall, on the bed, blindfolded. He’d left no stone unturned.Exactly why it surprised me to wake up with his head still buried between my legs, his mouth teasing the swollen bud of my desire. One of his large hands cupped my breast, rolling the sensitive nipple between his fingers as I arched into him. I was sore, but I didn’t care.“You’re so wet for me,” he murmured, his voice like gravel against my skin as he slid a finger inside me.His other hand pressed down firmly on my stomach, holding me in place as my hips bucked.His rhythm started slow and deliberate, every movement building the pressure until I broke apart beneath him. My body melted into the bed, trembling with release, as he r
~Unknown~ “Any updates on the man she’s seeing now?” I asked, exhaling a trail of smoke into the cold, heavy air. I crushed the cigarette under my heel, the ember dying with a faint hiss, before I turned back to face him. The man standing before me shifted uncomfortably. His brown hair clung damply to his forehead, either from sweat or the misty drizzle outside. I could see the faint tremor in his hands before he clenched them into fists, forcing himself to stand straighter. “He’s… uh, he’s kind of a big deal in the tech world,” he said, his voice betraying the fear he was trying to hide. “Runs a company. He’s loaded.” I said nothing, letting the silence drag out. My gaze flickered back to the window, the dark cityscape stretching before me. It was late, but the lights of the distant skyscrapers still blinked, like dying stars. “I don’t know if they’re officially dating,” he continued, as though my silence compelled him to fill the void. “But they spend a lot of time together. Mor
~Joan~“Okay, good luck!” Rhoda said over the phone. I drew in a deep breath, a small smile creeping onto my face.“Thank you. I’ll drop by this evening,” I replied softly, and she made some kissy sounds before hanging up. I took a moment to check my appearance in the mirror.I wore a crisp white button-down and a black skirt, my hair tied back in a neat bun. A touch of makeup brought some color to my face, but not too much. I needed to look professional, and I hoped the nerves twisting in my stomach wouldn’t show.Grabbing my bag, I locked the door behind me and stepped outside, only to feel it again—the strange, creepy sensation that made the hairs on my arms stand on end. It sent goosebumps prickling across my skin.I froze. Someone was watching me.I glanced around, scanning the quiet street. Indie’s door was shut—she had traveled to Germany for some vague reason she’d mentioned last week—and my other neighbor had left early this morning.The street was empty.I shook off the feel
~Joan~Aaron arrived exactly five minutes later. I opened the door just wide enough to let him in, careful to keep our shoulders from brushing.I stayed by the door as he walked a few steps into the room and then turned to face me. My teeth caught my lower lip as I fought to hide the tremble I felt building.His brows knitted together as his eyes searched me, and I swallowed hard.“Can I... can I hug you?” I asked, meeting his gaze. A small, stubborn part of me hoped he’d say no, that it would snap me back to reality and away from this growing delusion.It would remind me what we were—just casual, no strings attached. But every minute I spent with him chipped away at my defenses. I could feel my heart peeling open, wanting to confide in him.I’d already told him things I hadn’t planned to. Things I used to only share with Rhoda. And now, somehow, he was replacing her, though in an entirely different way.“Come here,” he said softly, and my chest tightened as my eyes instantly filled w
~Aaron~I pressed hard on the brakes, bringing the car to a sudden stop. The sound of a gunshot tore through the air, freezing my blood. I stepped out, shutting the door behind me with more force than necessary, my heart hammering in my chest.Louis had let me know the second Joan left the house. I'd promised her a bodyguard before everything spiraled out of control, and he’d been keeping tabs on her to make sure she stayed safe. Maybe I’d had him report a little more than necessary about her daily schedule. That was the only way I could know she was okay—or at least that’s what I told myself.Tonight, she wasn’t okay.Louis had followed her here, keeping his distance until I arrived. I stared at the abandoned building in front of me, my stomach twisting. What the hell was she thinking, meeting Matthew here alone?Speaking of Matthew, the bastard had outplayed me. The moment Denzel informed me about a new text on Joan’s phone, I’d told him to hack into it. That’s when I knew Matthe
~Joan~The next few weeks dragged by slowly, and there was no word from Aaron or Rhoda. Speaking of Rhoda, I’d sent countless messages and called more times than I cared to admit, but she never responded. Maybe she still needed space. Still, it hurt. Rhoda was the closest thing to family I had ever since I left Boswell Child Care. She’d been there for me in ways no one else had.And maybe that was why I was staring at my phone again, scrolling through my old chats with Aaron.Unknown: Change that hair color.Me: Hello to you too, Thompson.Unknown: The hair. I mean it, kitten.Me: Keep this up, and I might start thinking you’re obsessed with my hair.Unknown: I am.A small smile tugged at my lips despite the ache in my chest. That conversation played in my head like it had just happened yesterday. I could still remember how Aaron had texted me for the first time. I never figured out how he got my number, but he’d driven all the way to my house that night just to convince me to chan
~Joan~I returned to work the day after. I felt terrible, like I’d been dragged through hell and left to crawl my way back. No one needed to tell me I looked it too.“Hey, you good?” Alessia asked as soon as I stepped into the office. Our office. By “ours,” I meant mine, hers, a guy whose name I didn’t know, and another woman who, until now, I hadn’t even acknowledged.They hadn’t properly introduced themselves when I started. The signing-in process had been a whirlwind, and Alessia was the only person I’d actually had the chance to meet.And for that, I was fucking grateful.I nodded, dropping my bag onto the desk and sliding into my seat. Alessia pursed her lips, her gaze lingering on me a moment longer than I liked, before she turned away.The other woman in the room, blonde and bubbly, clasped her hands together and stood. Alessia’s expression brightened up immediately, her eyes narrowing as if she already knew what was coming.“Brielle, don’t do anything funny,” she warned.The b
~Joan~I thought getting a job would finally make me happy. Instead, I found myself calling in sick, that I got the flu. Once I left Aaron’s office, I went straight to the convenience store, grabbed a few bottles of beer, and headed home. I drank until I was numb, cried until my eyes felt dry, took a scalding shower, and curled up in bed. Still, nothing felt better. I kept trying to figure out what was wrong, but the answers wouldn’t come.Even as evening fell, I didn’t move. My phone buzzed with texts and calls, but I ignored them all. I knew it wasn’t him. It would never be him again. He had meant it when he said we were done, and my heart—God, my heart—felt like it had shattered into a million pieces.If I thought I’d been in love before, it was a lie compared to this. Aaron made me fall hard, so fast I couldn’t stop it. And then he crushed me.It was over now. I knew I had to let myself mourn what could have been, but I felt so drained, so empty. I wanted to close my eyes and
~Aaron~I tightened my schedule so much that there wasn’t a moment of rest. Even during meals, I barely ate anything. Stress had killed my appetite. At home, I buried myself in my study, avoiding the bedroom. I couldn’t bring myself to go in there—not when Joan’s presence still lingered in every corner.Her father had a hand in my parents’ deaths. How the hell was I supposed to accept that?I’d asked Denzel to dig deeper, but until he brought me answers, my mind was a mess. A knock on my office door came too soon, and before I could respond, it opened. My jaw clenched, irritation already prickling under my skin. I looked up from the file I’d been staring at for hours without actually reading.Adrian Voss stepped in, his expression calm and unreadable, hands tucked into his pockets. He didn’t wait for an invitation. Instead, he slid into the chair across from my desk, crossing his legs casually.“What are you doing here?” I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended.Adrian raised an
~Joan~I reread the message on my phone, my heart leaping all over again:Congrats! You passed the interview. You're expected to start work tomorrow by 8am. Looking forward to working with you! DomisAdA scream burst out of me as I jumped around my tiny apartment, giddy with excitement. My neighbors were probably annoyed, but I didn’t care. Soon, I’d be out of here anyway. Our trip to Paris had ended abruptly after that night at the park. He’d called his driver to take me home once we landed in New York, claiming he had something important to take care of. Ever since, he’d been distant, acting strange. We hadn’t really talked since we got back. Actually, we hadn’t talked at all.I grabbed my phone and sent him a quick text to tell him about the new job, hoping for some kind of response. Then I opened my laptop to finish drafting my resignation letter. With a deep breath, I hit send. Just like that, my time at McCormick’s was over. He’d been a great boss, and I’d miss working for
~Aaron~I handed the ice cream to Joan, and she gave me a tight, half-hearted smile as I settled next to her on the bench.She just stared at the ice cream, letting it drip lazily down the cone. I rubbed my hands together, nudging her lightly with my shoulder.“Hey, what’s going on? You’ve been staring at that cone for a while now. You okay?” I asked, and her beautiful green eyes flicked up to meet mine.I perked up immediately, searching her face.“Or… you don’t like the flavor?” I added, trying to coax a reaction. She shook her head and let out a small chuckle, but it sounded forced, almost like she was humoring me.“No, it’s fine. I mean… I would’ve picked chocolate, but vanilla’s good too,” she muttered. Her gaze shifted, avoiding mine.I frowned. I could tell something was off. I knew Joan too well by now—when something was bothering her, it showed in ways she couldn’t hide, no matter how hard she tried. And right now, she was clearly wrestling with something.I reached out, gent
~Joan~I curled further into the warm, firm body pressed against me, letting out a soft sigh as I tried to ignore the golden rays of sunlight creeping onto my face. I wanted to savor the moment just a little longer before peeling my eyes open, only to come face-to-face with Aaron’s still-sleeping form.The good news? He was still out cold, giving me the rare chance to study him without interruption.His stubble had felt prickly under my fingers yesterday—definitely time for a shave—not that I expected Aaron to bother anytime soon. His dark lashes fanned across his cheeks, his lips now tinted faintly red, thanks to my lipstick.His arm tightened around me, pulling me closer, and I became acutely aware of his very obvious arousal pressing into my stomach.Okay?I hated to admit it, but Aaron was beautiful—if that was even the right word for a man. And he knew it too, never missing a chance to use his looks to his advantage.A low groan escaped him, and his eyelids fluttered. I shut my e
~Joan~His eyes darkened before he swooped me into his arms in one swift move, striding confidently toward God knows where. The yacht probably had rooms in it… I was sure of that. He dropped me gently to my feet and opened a door, pulling me in with him.It all happened so fast, and suddenly his lips were on mine. I melted into him, completely undone. I could count on my fingers how many times Aaron had kissed me. Sure, we didn’t kiss often because it was way more intimate, but now? Now, I wanted to feel his lips on every inch of my body.His hands slid down my thighs, his fingers digging into the soft flesh with just enough pressure to send a jolt of heat curling between my legs. My breath hitched.I tangled my fingers in his hair, tugging, needing more. The heels I wore gave me just enough height that I didn’t have to strain to reach his hungry lips. My hands roamed his body with the same urgency, learning him all over again.Clutching his biceps for balance, I pressed closer, lettin