Atticus straightened out her slightly wrinkled dress as she stood up from the long wait. Her name had just been called for the interview. Many applicants were competing for the position of secretary to the owner of Royal Everette Manufacturing Company, a firm that produced luxury yachts for the wealthy across the globe. She took a deep breath, preparing for the questions that awaited her. This was her fifth interview, and she had failed the previous four because she couldn’t provide proof of her educational background. She hoped things would be different this time. She was determined to show the CEO of Royal Manufacturing Company that she was fit for the job, even without a diploma or transcript of records. Compared to other applicants she felt that she was the only difference there with her plus-size body compared to those sexy applicants. She was hoping that her soon-to-be boss wouldn't be based on body size or look. She desperately needed this job. It had been almost si
“Bullshit!” he growled, glaring at her. “I’m not here to play games, Atticus. If you’re after money, you won’t get anything from me.”Her mouth fell open, but she quickly shut it, glaring back at him. “What are you even talking about, Sir? I’m just here to interview for the vacant position at your company. If you don’t want to interview me, just say so, Mr. Everette. I’ll leave. You don’t have to yell at me.”He froze, his intense gaze still locked on her. “What’s with the ‘Sir’ and ‘Mr. Everette’? Why can’t you call me by my name?”Her patience was thinning, but she forced herself to stay calm. She had to remind herself that this man was a potential employer. “Sir, let me clarify something, okay?” she said, her voice steady despite the irritation building up inside her. “I don’t know you.” She emphasized each word. “I only know that you’re the owner of this company and, if I’m lucky, my future boss. So I don’t understand why you’re acting like you know me or why you’re speaking to me
Atticus’s POVWhy do I keep remembering his face over and over again since I stepped out of his building? His green eyes, his lips, his body — what?! Why do I even bother? His attitude is terrible!As she was setting her table, a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. A smile tugged at her lips.That must be the food Lineth promised.Excitedly, she walked to the door and opened it.Her smile vanished when she saw a man she didn’t recognize standing there. Her brows furrowed.“Who are you?”The man in front of her was handsome — too handsome to trust. His sharp eyes and tailored tuxedo looked out of place in front of her modest home.“I’m Sean Song,” he said, showing her an ID. “I’m here for you, Mrs. Ever—” He cleared his throat. “Ms. Roan.”She raised an eyebrow. “What do you want?” she asked, switching to English effortlessly.He glanced past her into the house. “May I come in?”“No,” she said firmly, crossing her arms over her chest. Who in their right mind knocks on someone’s
Atticus repeatedly checked Phoenix’s address on the calling card while riding the elevator to the top floor of the Buena Building. According to the card, Mr. Everette’s penthouse was on the highest level.This man is that rich, she thought.She took a deep breath and adjusted her clothes. She needed to look presentable in front of Mr. Everette. Since she was applying to be his assistant, she had to make a good impression to ensure she wouldn’t lose the opportunity.“I’ll do my best,” she muttered to herself.When the elevator doors opened to her destination, she stepped out. She couldn’t possibly get lost—there was only one door on the floor, marked with “Everette.” She knocked, and within seconds, the door opened. Phoenix Everette greeted her, shirtless, wearing only jeans, while drying his damp hair with a towel and leaning slightly on his cane.“Come in,” Phoenix said.Atticus’s lips parted slightly as her gaze dropped to the man’s stomach. Butterflies seemed to flutter wildly in h
Phoenix POV.“If you need anything from the mini-grocery downstairs, just dial 121 on that phone,” I said, pointing to the wall-mounted device. “It’ll connect you to the front desk, and they’ll deliver it straight to your door. No need to go out. While I’m gone, either rest or clean up.” My gaze lingered on her face. “You have dark circles under your eyes. You should get some sleep.”She nodded quickly, offering an awkward smile. “Take care, Sir—I mean, Phoenix.”I watched her for a moment, memorizing her face, before turning and walking out of the penthouse. As the door clicked shut behind me, I felt my composure slip. Every step away from her seemed to grow heavier, but I forced myself to keep moving. Atticus. Of all the people I thought I had left behind, it had to be her.Later, I sat in Lee’s barn, a place more suited for private meetings and casual hangouts than livestock. The usual laughter and banter from my friends filled the room, but I was miles away, lost in my own thought
Atticus woke up in an unfamiliar room.Panicking, she bolted upright from the soft bed and looked around the place. Where am I? she wondered. She got out of bed and nearly tripped over a backpack on the floor. As her eyes landed on the bag, memories of the past few hours came crashing back.She let out a sigh of relief when she remembered where she was. She was currently in the penthouse of Phoenix Everette, working as his helper. But why was she in the bed?The last thing she remembered was falling asleep on the sofa. Did Phoenix carry her and place her on the bed? The thought made her heart skip a beat. But she quickly shook her head and dismissed the idea. No. Maybe I just forgot that I came into the room and lay down here. She nodded to herself, agreeing with her own explanation.She picked up her backpack, placed it in the closet, and checked herself in the mirror to see if she looked presentable before heading out of the room.When she reached the living room, Atticus bit her li
ATTICUS immediately drank the water and glanced at her. “Thanks.”“For what?” she asked, confused.“For the meal.”“But you bought it yourself, so thank yourself instead.” She stood to clear their dishes and carried them to the sink. “Go ahead, Phoenix. I’ll handle this.”“I’m not thanking you for the food,” Phoenix said.She paused and turned to him. “Then for what?”“It’s been two years since I’ve enjoyed a meal with someone,” he said, his gaze locked on hers. “Thanks for that.”Her heart raced uncontrollably. “You’re welcome.” Phoenix nodded, stood, and left the kitchen. Atticus, however, gripped the edge of the sink, her hand resting over her wildly beating heart.“Good God,” she whispered, closing her eyes tightly. “What is this I’m feeling?”She massaged her chest, as if trying to calm her erratic heartbeat. “Stop beating so fast. You’ll only end up hurt.”Taking a deep breath, she resumed washing the dishes.After tidying up the kitchen, Atticus headed to the living room to wa
Atticus still couldn’t shake off the dream she had. Every detail lingered in her mind, and the memory of Phoenix’s lips on hers sent her nerves into chaos. She couldn’t focus, completely distracted by how vivid it felt.Good God, what is happening to me?“Done?”The sudden voice startled her, causing her to drop the sandwich she was holding. Thankfully, it landed on the plate. She forced a smile, turning to face Phoenix and handing him the lunchbox containing four sausage sandwiches. “Here you go.”Phoenix accepted it with a nod. “I’m heading out.”She only managed to nod back, turning away quickly. Her heart was racing uncontrollably, and she couldn’t calm it down. She listened as Phoenix’s footsteps retreated and the door opened and shut behind him. Only then did she exhale deeply, her heartbeat finally settling.Rubbing the spot on her chest where her heart was, she muttered to herself, “Why does he affect me this much? I just met him, for Christ’s sake!”With a frustrated sigh, At
“Phoenix, I’m okay.” Atticus repeated the words several times to her husband, who was persistently assisting her as they walked toward the door of his house. “Really, Phoenix, I’m perfectly fine.”“Let me take care of you,” Phoenix replied.Apparently not satisfied, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her toward the door.“Phoenix!” she exclaimed, laughing and playfully slapping his chest. “Put me down. I can handle myself.”“Just let me do this, sweetheart,” Phoenix said, planting a kiss on her cheek before continuing his walk.Atticus could only shake her head. Since last night, when she woke up after resting, he had been extra sweet to her.And ever since she recovered all her lost memories, she felt whole again. She felt complete. And happy. Especially because she could feel just how much her husband loved her.Phoenix hadn’t stopped caring for her since last night. He was thoughtful, sweet, and loving—just like the Phoenix she had married years ago.“Open the door, sweethea
THE NIGHT was chilly. Atticus felt the cold breeze, especially since she wasn’t wearing a jacket to fight off the biting cold.Her frightened eyes fixed on the man pointing a gun at her. She recognized him—he was one of Phoenix’s employees, but she didn’t know his name.“W-what do you want from me?” she asked, her voice trembling with fear.The man pressed the gun against her forehead, making her entire body shake in terror.“Be quiet.”Her body trembled. Phoenix called for her husband in her mind. Phoenix… help me, please…She instinctively placed a protective hand on her stomach. She couldn’t afford to get hurt. She needed to be strong—for the child she carried. She hadn’t even told Phoenix yet that he was going to be a father soon.She needed to get back to him. He’d surely be worried if she didn’t return home soon.“Please, let me go home,” Atticus pleaded. “Have mercy. My husband might be looking for me—”“I said shut up!” The man glared at her and slapped her hard across the fac
Atticus could feel every beat of her heart as Phoenix kissed her passionately. Her mind wrestled with whether what they were doing was right, but her body’s desire to be one with her husband prevailed.She missed him. She missed him terribly. And she wanted to be with her husband, even just for today.So she gave in as Phoenix removed every piece of her clothing, leaving nothing behind. He did the same, stripping himself bare before leaning down to kiss the fullness of her ample breasts tenderly.“Oh,” Atticus moaned as Phoenix’s tongue swirled around her taut nipples.Her nipples ached, seeking the wicked play of his tongue. When Phoenix took her hardened peak into his warm mouth, she clung tightly to his head, pressing her chest closer to him.“More, Phoenix,” she moaned. “Lick me more… more… ohh.”Atticus’s body tingled as Phoenix’s hand massaged her other breast, drawing louder gasps from her lips. When he switched his mouth between her breasts, she gripped his hair tightly, overc
Phoenix just stared at her before turning away. She stood up, placed the tray of her used dishes on the round table, and then sat on the sofa, cradling her head as she stared at the floor.She bit her lower lip when the sharp pain in her head returned. Flashes of blurred memories forced their way into her mind, leaving her even more frustrated.Why couldn’t her memories come back clearly?Why were they always a blur?“Are you okay?” Phoenix’s voice broke the silence.She quickly erased the pain etched on her face and looked up at him. “I’m fine.”Doubt shadowed his face. “You’re pale.”“I said I’m fine.” She stood, attempting to walk away, but as soon as she took a step, the searing pain shot through her head, making her cry out in agony.“Argh!” she screamed, clutching her head, nearly collapsing before Phoenix rushed to catch her.“Fuck!” Without hesitation, he carried her in his arms and quickly brought her to the master bedroom, laying her down on the bed.“Phoenix! It hurts!” she
“Do you want to eat out—”“No.”“Atticus—”“Leave me alone, Phoenix.”Atticus stormed into the guestroom, slamming the door shut to keep him out. Phoenix clenched his fists to stop himself from barging in.She needed space, so he would give it to her.He left and went to the bar, grabbing two bottles of rum. Opening one, he drank straight from the bottle.Atticus, meanwhile, sat frozen in her room, staring blankly into space. Her heart ached for her husband, but she stopped herself. She shouldn’t feel that way for someone who had hurt her and given her false hope.But she couldn’t stop her feet from walking toward him or her hand from tapping his shoulder.“Stop drinking,” she said.Phoenix turned to look at her, his eyes emotionless. “Why?”“It’s bad for you,” she replied.He snorted. “Bad? Yeah. Right.”Atticus sighed. “Stop it. You won’t gain anything from drinking,” she said, her tone firm.Phoenix sighed and stared at her. “If I stop, will you pay attention to me? Will you care f
WHEN Atticus ENTERED the Master Bedroom she used to share with Phoenix, she immediately saw her husband lying face down on the bed, sound asleep.The smell of alcohol filled the room. It was clear that Phoenix had been drinking. She knew Phoenix couldn’t hold his liquor well; his tolerance was low.She sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes fixed on her husband’s handsome face. Bitterness, pain, and anger instantly welled up in her heart. She quickly averted her gaze as a tear rolled down her cheek.The pain in her heart resurfaced. Seeing Phoenix’s face again made her chest ache deeply.She stood up and took a deep breath to calm herself.Her gaze fell on a large picture frame on the wall. Her heart softened at the sight of their wedding photo.They looked so happy, so content. Who would have thought everything would end up like this?She exhaled deeply, letting out a careful sigh before turning her gaze away from the photo.She looked around the entire room. Nothing had cha
Lineth shrugged. “Just a guess. Besides, the past is the past. Move on and move forward when you can. Don’t bury yourself in the past because you might end up miserable in the present and future. If you’re not careful, you’ll grow old alone.” She warned her. “Go talk to him. Now that you’ve regained your memories, I’m sure you know where your husband’s house is.”At Lineth’s words, she suddenly stood up. “Fine. I’ll talk to him, and if he can’t give me a reason why he didn’t look for me, I’ll forget about him. And I’ll ask him for an annulment.”Lineth rolled her eyes. “Do you even have money for the trip to the city?”Her shoulders slumped. “No.”Lineth sighed and took something out of her pocket, handing it to her. “Here’s your fare.”She gratefully hugged Lineth. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”Lineth patted her back. “That’s what friends are for, as they say.”She smiled and tightened her hug. “Thank you.” Then she let go. “I’ll follow your advice and talk to him right now
The shock was evident on Sean’s face when he opened the door. Phoenix knew he looked worse for wear, but he didn’t care about that.“Sean… help me.”Sean stared at his swollen eyes and sighed. “What happened?”“I went to see Atticus this morning.” His heart felt like it was being torn apart by the memory of what had happened earlier. “She said we had a child, but the baby died. A premature baby… and then she said she waited for me, and now she’s angry at me because I didn’t look for her because I didn’t show up because I sought revenge while she was suffering too. I feel like such a prick. I want to beat myself up. I want to kill myself for hurting my wife. Fuck, Sean,” he couldn’t hide his tears anymore, “I don’t know what to do anymore. I feel so hopeless. I don’t know what to believe, or what to do. I don’t know. I’m so lost.”Sean sighed deeply and loosened the door.“Get in,” Sean said. “Head to the pool, stay there for now. My wife and kid are in the living room. I don’t want th
“ARE YOU sure you’ll be okay on your own?” Blaze asked, his tone laced with concern as he dropped her off at her small home in the province. “Is there someone to look after you here?”“I’ll be fine, Doc,” she replied with a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Besides, my neighbor-slash-friend will be here soon, so don’t worry.”“Are you sure?” He didn’t look convinced, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he could see through her facade.She nodded firmly. “Yes, I’m sure.”Blaze sighed, then reached out to ruffle her hair. “Alright, but I’ll wait until your friend arrives before I leave.”“There’s no need,” she protested, shaking her head. “And anyway, it’s embarrassing… My house—”“That’s okay.” He messed up her hair again with a soft chuckle. “I’ll just wait outside. Promise, you won’t even notice I’m here. I won’t creep you out.” He gave her a reassuring smile. “Now, go inside.”Though she wanted to argue, she knew it was useless. Blaze was as stubborn as they came. With a resigned sigh