ElleMy heels clicked against the scuffed floor as I headed for the stairs. The elevator had been "temporarily out of order" for months - another casualty of tight budgets.Second floor. Third. Fourth.Each step brought back memories. Me doing homework in the break room while Mom worked late. The Christmas we decorated the lab with paper chains because we couldn't afford real decorations. Her teaching me to use a microscope, her voice gentle as she explained how something so small could change everything.Just like the cancer cells that nearly killed me at twelve.I paused outside her office, stomach churning. The frosted glass still had that crack in the corner from when I'd slammed the door too hard after another fight when I was in high school. Back then, she'd been furious about me choosing art over science.Now? Now I'd done something far worse.Sarah's desk was empty - Mom's secretary was probably at lunch. Just as well - I didn't need an audience for this.The daily schedule o
ElleI sidestepped Tom who waited by the car. "And fuck his rules."I flagged down a taxi instead, ignoring Tom's concerned calls. The driver raised an eyebrow as I slid into the backseat, makeup streaked down my face."Rough day?""You have no idea." I rattled off Sophia's address, already fumbling for my phone.It rang twice before she picked up. "Elle? Is that actually you calling me? Did hell freeze over?"Just the sound of her voice made my shoulders drop. "Hey, Soph.""Oh shit." The teasing tone vanished. "What happened? Are you okay?"I swallowed hard. "Not really. Can I crash at your place?""Already pulling out the ice cream. Mint chocolate chip still your crisis flavor?"A laugh bubbled up despite everything. "God, I love you.""I know. Now get your ass over here."The taxi pulled up to Sophia's building twenty minutes later – one of those sleek high-rises with doormen who knew you by name and carried your groceries. The polar opposite of Adrian's old-money mansion with its
ElleSix hours later, we'd worked our way through three movies, two bottles of wine, and a truly impressive amount of Thai food."You know what we should do?" Sophia slurred slightly, twirling a strand of her perfect blonde hair. "We should go out.""Out?" I blinked at her. "Like, outside?""Yes, genius. To a club. With music. And men who aren't your husband." She wiggled her eyebrows. "You can make him jealous.""That's the worst idea I've ever heard.""Which means it's the best. Come on." She pulled me up. "My dad just bought into that new place downtown. We can get the VIP section.""I'm married, remember?""And? It's not like you're dead." She dragged me toward her bedroom. "He's actually..." I stopped myself. Weirdly protective of a man who had me under house arrest. "Nevermind.""Exactly." She flung open her closet doors, revealing a boutique's worth of dresses. "Now, let's find something that'll make every man in that club lose his damn mind."Common sense said to refuse. Go b
ElleWe danced through two more tracks, laughing as Sophia demonstrated moves that should probably be illegal in public. I matched her as best I could, surprised by how good it felt to just exist in my body without worrying who was watching or judging.I nudged at Sophia when I noticed her – a woman with honey-blonde hair and a polished appearance that screamed old money, watching Sophia with obvious interest from the edge of the dance floor. Unlike the bros who'd approached earlier, there was something genuine in her gaze, an appreciation rather than entitlement.She eventually made her way over, her movements graceful and confident. "Mind if I join you? I love this song."Sophia's eyes lit up. "Not at all."The woman – Kai, as she introduced herself – slipped into our circle with an easy elegance. Soon, the three of us were dancing together, but I didn't miss the lingering glances exchanged between Sophia and Kai.Within minutes, her hands were on Sophia's hips, guiding them in a rh
ElleStanding at the entrance to the VIP section, scanning the crowd with laser-focused intensity. Even from across the room, I could feel the force of his anger radiating like heat waves.The moment his eyes locked on mine, everything else faded away. The music, the crowd, Noah – all of it disappeared, leaving only Adrian's burning gaze. He didn't move, didn't blink, just stared with a cold fury that made my skin prickle.Then, without warning, he turned and began cutting through the crowd – straight toward me."You okay?" Noah asked, noticing my sudden tension. "You look like you've seen a ghost.""Worse," I muttered. "My husband."Noah's eyes widened. "Husband? I didn't—""It's complicated," I interrupted, already calculating escape routes. But Adrian was moving too quickly, his tall frame and determined stride parting the crowd effortlessly."Elle." Adrian's voice sliced through the club noise as he reached us, low and dangerously controlled. He didn't acknowledge Noah, didn't eve
“Elle! Get your fat ass to table seven. Now.” The words hit me like a slap, but I keep my expression blank, refusing to let Damien see the sting. He loves that—loves tearing me down, loves watching me squirm. I know I should walk away, tell him to go to hell, but after five years, it’s a habit I haven’t broken. I still hear the voice of the girl I was at sixteen, the one who believed she was lucky to have him. I adjust my apron, my fingers trembling slightly, and force myself to move. Damien has always hated the way I look. Said I was too fat. He takes every chance he gets to make me feel bad about my body. He doesn’t even bother to hide it anymore. He’s spent the last years making sure I know I’m not enough—not pretty enough, not thin enough, not worthy enough of him. But I stayed, didn’t I? I stayed because every cruel word was wrapped in just enough sweetness to keep me hooked. I stop in front of table seven, and my stomach drops. He’s sitting there, of all places, like t
Three Months Later I didn’t belong here. The glittering chandeliers, the clinking of crystal glasses, the hum of polished conversations—it all felt like a cruel joke. Sophie swore this gala would “pull me out of my funk,” but I knew better. This wasn’t about distracting me. This was about proving I was fine. Which, for the record, I wasn’t. Damian and I had been together for five years. Five. And in the blink of an eye—or rather, over the course of one cold, heartless conversation—he was gone. No warning, no closure. Just, gone. And then silence. It had been three months, and I was still choking on the ashes of what we’d built. Sophie hated seeing me like this, I got it. But dragging me here—where he could show up, where his world overlapped with hers and, by extension, mine—felt like punishment, not therapy. “Will you stop fidgeting?” Sophie hissed as she tugged me through the entrance hall. “I’m not fidgeting,” I snapped, pulling at the sleek black mask digging into my te
I shoved through the heavy glass doors. My breath came hard and fast, the pounding in my ears drowning out everything else. The garden stretched below the balcony, but I didn’t see it. My vision blurred, focused only on the humiliation burning under my skin. Damian. On his knee. With her. I gripped the iron railing, my nails biting into the cold metal.Five years of my life wasted. Five years of believing we were building a future, of giving him everything—my heart, my body, my innocence—only for him to toss me aside like I was nothing. I hated him. God, I hated him. I hated the way he still controlled me, the way I cared despite everything. And deep down, I hated myself for staying. My shoulders shook. “Do you always leave when the party gets interesting?” I spun around, startled. It was him—the man from earlier. The one I’d bumped into, the one I’d danced with. He leaned against the doorframe, hands tucked casually into the pockets of his dark suit. His mask was gone now, reve
ElleStanding at the entrance to the VIP section, scanning the crowd with laser-focused intensity. Even from across the room, I could feel the force of his anger radiating like heat waves.The moment his eyes locked on mine, everything else faded away. The music, the crowd, Noah – all of it disappeared, leaving only Adrian's burning gaze. He didn't move, didn't blink, just stared with a cold fury that made my skin prickle.Then, without warning, he turned and began cutting through the crowd – straight toward me."You okay?" Noah asked, noticing my sudden tension. "You look like you've seen a ghost.""Worse," I muttered. "My husband."Noah's eyes widened. "Husband? I didn't—""It's complicated," I interrupted, already calculating escape routes. But Adrian was moving too quickly, his tall frame and determined stride parting the crowd effortlessly."Elle." Adrian's voice sliced through the club noise as he reached us, low and dangerously controlled. He didn't acknowledge Noah, didn't eve
ElleWe danced through two more tracks, laughing as Sophia demonstrated moves that should probably be illegal in public. I matched her as best I could, surprised by how good it felt to just exist in my body without worrying who was watching or judging.I nudged at Sophia when I noticed her – a woman with honey-blonde hair and a polished appearance that screamed old money, watching Sophia with obvious interest from the edge of the dance floor. Unlike the bros who'd approached earlier, there was something genuine in her gaze, an appreciation rather than entitlement.She eventually made her way over, her movements graceful and confident. "Mind if I join you? I love this song."Sophia's eyes lit up. "Not at all."The woman – Kai, as she introduced herself – slipped into our circle with an easy elegance. Soon, the three of us were dancing together, but I didn't miss the lingering glances exchanged between Sophia and Kai.Within minutes, her hands were on Sophia's hips, guiding them in a rh
ElleSix hours later, we'd worked our way through three movies, two bottles of wine, and a truly impressive amount of Thai food."You know what we should do?" Sophia slurred slightly, twirling a strand of her perfect blonde hair. "We should go out.""Out?" I blinked at her. "Like, outside?""Yes, genius. To a club. With music. And men who aren't your husband." She wiggled her eyebrows. "You can make him jealous.""That's the worst idea I've ever heard.""Which means it's the best. Come on." She pulled me up. "My dad just bought into that new place downtown. We can get the VIP section.""I'm married, remember?""And? It's not like you're dead." She dragged me toward her bedroom. "He's actually..." I stopped myself. Weirdly protective of a man who had me under house arrest. "Nevermind.""Exactly." She flung open her closet doors, revealing a boutique's worth of dresses. "Now, let's find something that'll make every man in that club lose his damn mind."Common sense said to refuse. Go b
ElleI sidestepped Tom who waited by the car. "And fuck his rules."I flagged down a taxi instead, ignoring Tom's concerned calls. The driver raised an eyebrow as I slid into the backseat, makeup streaked down my face."Rough day?""You have no idea." I rattled off Sophia's address, already fumbling for my phone.It rang twice before she picked up. "Elle? Is that actually you calling me? Did hell freeze over?"Just the sound of her voice made my shoulders drop. "Hey, Soph.""Oh shit." The teasing tone vanished. "What happened? Are you okay?"I swallowed hard. "Not really. Can I crash at your place?""Already pulling out the ice cream. Mint chocolate chip still your crisis flavor?"A laugh bubbled up despite everything. "God, I love you.""I know. Now get your ass over here."The taxi pulled up to Sophia's building twenty minutes later – one of those sleek high-rises with doormen who knew you by name and carried your groceries. The polar opposite of Adrian's old-money mansion with its
ElleMy heels clicked against the scuffed floor as I headed for the stairs. The elevator had been "temporarily out of order" for months - another casualty of tight budgets.Second floor. Third. Fourth.Each step brought back memories. Me doing homework in the break room while Mom worked late. The Christmas we decorated the lab with paper chains because we couldn't afford real decorations. Her teaching me to use a microscope, her voice gentle as she explained how something so small could change everything.Just like the cancer cells that nearly killed me at twelve.I paused outside her office, stomach churning. The frosted glass still had that crack in the corner from when I'd slammed the door too hard after another fight when I was in high school. Back then, she'd been furious about me choosing art over science.Now? Now I'd done something far worse.Sarah's desk was empty - Mom's secretary was probably at lunch. Just as well - I didn't need an audience for this.The daily schedule o
Elle The next morning, I wanted to die. Not literally. But close enough."Fuck," I groaned, rolling over to bury my face in the pillow. Memories from last night crashed through my hangover – the closet, the clothes, Adrian's hands on my waist...I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, willing the memories of last night to disappear.They didn’t.Nope. Every single humiliating detail was still burned into my brain."Oh god." I shot up, then immediately regretted it as my head spun. I'd yelled at him, got in his face like some drunk, jealous girlfriend demanding answers. In his own house. About his secret designer clothes closet.Perfect. Just perfect.I groaned, dragging a pillow over my face.I bet he regretted everything.Regretted marrying me. Regretted letting me into his house. Hell, maybe regretted even looking at me that first night."He must think I'm insane." I stumbled to the bathroom, avoiding my reflection. "Completely, totally insane."I looked exactly like what I was – a
ElleWe stared at each other.Me—standing in the middle of his closet, hands still on the drawer.Him—watching me like he wasn’t sure if he should be amused or pissed.The closet suddenly felt too small, too intimate. Adrian filled the doorway, tie loose, sleeves rolled up."Having fun?" I forced my spine straight. I’ve been caught already, no need to pretend. "Loads of it ."He moved to a shelf, pulling out a crystal decanter. The whiskey caught the light as he poured. "You're drunk.""And you're observant." The wine made my tongue sharper. "Want to point out anything else obvious? Like how you have an entire department store of women's clothes hidden in here?"He took a slow sip. "You were in my room.""You weren't.""So naturally, you decided to snoop.""I was waiting for you." I snapped. "Like you told me to. Four hours, Adrian. Four freaking hours of staring at the clock, wondering if you'd forgotten you told me to wait. Then I decided to check if you were back. But you weren’
ElleWait for me, he said.So like an idiot, I waited.The first hour after the seven he said wasn't so bad. I took a long bath, even attempted to read one of the leather-bound books from the library.By hour three, I'd discovered the wine cellar.Bad idea? Probably.Did I care? No I don’t.The first glass was to kill time. The second because the wine was actually good. The third because... well, because I was apparently pathetic enough to sit around waiting for a man who clearly had better things to do."This is ridiculous," I told my reflection in the window. Outside, rain had started falling, turning the manicured gardens into dark shadows. "What are you doing Elle?"I took another sip.By midnight, the empty bottle judged me from the coffee table. I'd memorized every detail of my room's ceiling. One by one, I'd counted all the crystal drops on the chandelier. Twice.The house had gone quiet hours ago, all the staff disappeared to wherever staff disappeared to in a place this big.
AdrianShe stood with her hands clasped in front of her, her face a careful mask of obedience.I closed the door behind me, slowly.Her back stiffened."Sit." Marla perched on the edge of the chair, looking nothing like the woman who'd begged me for this job three years ago.I moved to my desk, unbuttoning my cuffs, rolling up my sleeves. The silence stretched long enough for her to start fidgeting.Good."Mr. Blackwell, about Mrs. Blackwell's clothes—" "Stop." I held up my hand. "Before you construct whatever excuse you've prepared, let me be clear. If I ever catch you disrespecting Elle again, you’re out.."Color flooded her cheeks. "I only—""Wanted to humiliate my wife?" She flinched. “You don’t have to like her. But you must respect her. But if I see so much as a twitch of an attitude in her direction? I’m firing her.”Her throat bobbed.“I understand, sir.”I studied her – barely thirty, far too young and attractive to be a housekeeper. That should have been my first warning