Creed’s POVI watched in growing horror as Yu-Yu slumped into the chair opposite me, burying her face in her hands, and let out a heartbreaking sob. My body tensed. What the hell was I supposed to do now?I wasn’t used to this. I had no problem dealing with a screaming client or firing an incompetent employee on the spot, but a crying woman? That was a whole different battlefield—one I had never won.I opened my mouth, then closed it. I rubbed my jaw, exhaled sharply, and finally pinched the bridge of my nose. Why did I say that?I hadn’t meant to be cruel. I was just… curious. I had a habit of speaking without a filter, especially when something intrigued me. And Yu-Yu Roman intrigued me in ways I didn’t want to admit.I was about to tell her to stop crying—that it wasn’t that serious—when I suddenly remembered Lucy.My sister, Lucy, had been the toughest girl I knew. Smart. Determined. The kind of person who would argue until her face turned blue just to prove a point. But then ther
Yuki's pov Eric leaned back against my bedroom door, arms crossed, that same cocky smirk plastered on his annoyingly perfect face. "I don't understand why you're so angry with me. You should be happy, rolling on the ground, barking like my little puppy, happy to see its owner."I rolled my eyes so hard I was surprised they didn’t fall out of my head. "Right, I should be really glad and happy to see my boyfriend—who went on a trip I couldn’t afford anyway, knowing how much I wanted to go there—and despite all of that, managed not to give me a single fucking phone call over the two weeks he was there. And when I finally called you, you were apparently busy. That’s really fucked up, Eric, even for you."Eric let out an exaggerated sigh, stepping forward, hands finding my shoulders. He started kneading the tension there, his touch irritatingly familiar. "Okay, baby, look, I’m sorry. Let Daddy make it up to you."I jerked away, swatting his hands off. "I don’t want you to touch me. Get of
Yuki's povThe sharp smack of my resume hitting the floor echoed like a gunshot in the room. My eyes darted to the crumpled paper lying there, a small but loud reminder of how this day had already gone to shit.I stood there, mouth slightly open, staring at the manager like she’d just cursed my ancestors. What the actual hell?“I’m sorry,” she said, though her tone suggested she wasn’t sorry at all. She crossed her arms, her nails clicking against her sleeve like a countdown to my dismissal. “We’re not hiring.”I blinked, thrown off. “Not hiring?” I echoed, incredulous. “I saw the vacancy notice. Like… this vacancy notice.” I held up my phone, scrolling to the job listing I’d literally applied for two days ago.She didn’t even glance at it. “Well, the position’s been filled.”What? No. No, that didn’t make sense. I’d prepped for this interview for days. I’d ironed my pink blazer to perfection, styled my hair like I was meeting the love of my life, and walked into this cold, soulless o
Yuki's povThe aroma of jasmine tea curled through the air like a calming balm, its warm tendrils dancing around my senses. I sat cross-legged on the couch, the teacup cradled in my hands. Suzu was sprawled out at my feet, her little three-legged body stretched like she had no worries in the world. Lucky her.Lily was bustling around the kitchen, humming some off-key tune as she sorted Grandpa’s meds for the day. She wasn’t exactly a great singer, but she had the kind of energy that made her presence comforting. My best friend, my rock, my unofficial therapist.“So,” she called out, her voice slightly muffled over the clinking bottles. “How’s the unemployed life treating you, Mr. Fancy Blazer?”I snorted into my tea. “Just peachy. I’ve got the free time to sip tea like an old English lord. All I need now is a butler to feed me grapes.”Before Lily could respond, the crash came.It started with the shattering of glass, the teacup slipping from my fingers and hitting the floor as Grandp
Yuki's povThe morning sunlight filtered through the kitchen window, casting warm golden streaks across the countertop. Grandpa sat at the dining table, watching me with vague curiosity as I helped him with breakfast.Lily had texted earlier, saying she’d be late. That left me in charge.I flipped the eggs with practiced ease, Making sure they were cooked to the precision grandpa liked.“Here you go, Pops,” I said, setting his plate down. “Sunny-side up, just how you like it.”Grandpa nodded, his eyes slightly vacant, but he still managed a small smile. “Thank you, Laurie.”I stiffened but quickly forced a grin. “No problem, old man.”I placed his morning meds next to his plate. “Don’t forget these.”As he started eating, I turned to the kitchen counter, only for my stomach to drop.Electricity bill: $200 Money owed: $420 Total: $620 “Fuck,” I muttered under my breath.At this rate, I’d have to start selling my organs.Before I could wallow in my financial despair, my phone vibr
Yuki's povThe wig felt strange as it tugged snugly over my head, a little tighter than I would have liked. Lily stood behind me, arms crossed in exasperation, her lips pursed as she stared at my reflection in the mirror.“You know,” she said, tugging the wig to adjust it just right, “when you called me asking if you would look good as a girl, I thought you were just fishing for compliments. If I knew you planned to lie your way into a job, I would have said no!”I grinned, brushing her off with a dramatic flick of my hand. “Oh, come on, Lily. I’ve been bullied half my life for looking like a girl anyway. I might as well make money from it. Call it poetic justice.”Lily narrowed her eyes. “Uh-huh. And you think you can fool them? For how long? A week? Maybe three?”“Three weeks is more than enough to prove my worth,” I said confidently, shrugging.She didn’t look convinced. But then, as she stepped back and I turned to the mirror, a strange hush fell between us.The reflection staring
Yuki's pov---When I walked into CreedX Technologies that morning, every ounce of confidence I had was tightly packed into my carefully chosen outfit: a black fitted skirt that ended just above my knees, a crisp white button-down shirt, and Lily’s shimmering red pumps—shoes I swore I’d never return. The outfit was subdued compared to my usual vibrant style, but I needed to play it safe. The makeup Lily applied blended so seamlessly it felt like a second skin, softening the edges of my masculine features just enough. My name on the application? Yuyu Roman.As I sat in the lobby, hands folded over the leather portfolio I brought as a prop, I kept my head high. I told myself, “You’ve got this, Yuki—no, Yuyu.” It had been a month of relentless preparation. Lily drilled me on how to speak, how to walk in heels without looking like a baby deer, and how to answer interview questions with enough charm to keep suspicions at bay. This was my chance. I needed this job. For Grandpa. For Suzu. Fo
Yuki's povI practically kicked the front door open, nearly tripping over Suzu in my excitement. The little rascal yelped and scrambled back before barking at me like I’d committed the ultimate betrayal.“Oh, don’t look at me like that, Suzu! I freaking did it!” I scooped him up, spinning us both around in a dizzying twirl. “I got the job! Can you believe it? Me! I freaking did it!”Suzu licked my cheek, completely oblivious to the life-changing moment we were celebrating. I grinned and let him down before turning to my grandfather, who was fast asleep on the sofa, mouth slightly open, chest rising and falling in peaceful slumber.My heart clenched a little.I crouched beside him, carefully tucking the blanket around his frail body. “Grandpa,” I whispered, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. “Things are starting to look up for us, okay? Just hold on a little longer.”He stirred slightly but didn’t wake. I took that as my cue to leave and bounded up the stairs to my room.The moment
Yuki's pov Eric leaned back against my bedroom door, arms crossed, that same cocky smirk plastered on his annoyingly perfect face. "I don't understand why you're so angry with me. You should be happy, rolling on the ground, barking like my little puppy, happy to see its owner."I rolled my eyes so hard I was surprised they didn’t fall out of my head. "Right, I should be really glad and happy to see my boyfriend—who went on a trip I couldn’t afford anyway, knowing how much I wanted to go there—and despite all of that, managed not to give me a single fucking phone call over the two weeks he was there. And when I finally called you, you were apparently busy. That’s really fucked up, Eric, even for you."Eric let out an exaggerated sigh, stepping forward, hands finding my shoulders. He started kneading the tension there, his touch irritatingly familiar. "Okay, baby, look, I’m sorry. Let Daddy make it up to you."I jerked away, swatting his hands off. "I don’t want you to touch me. Get of
Creed’s POVI watched in growing horror as Yu-Yu slumped into the chair opposite me, burying her face in her hands, and let out a heartbreaking sob. My body tensed. What the hell was I supposed to do now?I wasn’t used to this. I had no problem dealing with a screaming client or firing an incompetent employee on the spot, but a crying woman? That was a whole different battlefield—one I had never won.I opened my mouth, then closed it. I rubbed my jaw, exhaled sharply, and finally pinched the bridge of my nose. Why did I say that?I hadn’t meant to be cruel. I was just… curious. I had a habit of speaking without a filter, especially when something intrigued me. And Yu-Yu Roman intrigued me in ways I didn’t want to admit.I was about to tell her to stop crying—that it wasn’t that serious—when I suddenly remembered Lucy.My sister, Lucy, had been the toughest girl I knew. Smart. Determined. The kind of person who would argue until her face turned blue just to prove a point. But then ther
(Yuki’s POV)Mornings sucked.Especially after the emotional wreckage that had been last night.But I wasn’t about to let that ruin my work ethic, so I dragged myself back to the office before sunrise.The only person around was Carl, the cleaner, mopping the lobby with his usual slow, methodical swipes.“Ah, look who’s here before the cock crows,” Carl mused, side-eyeing me as I strolled in. “What’s got you out of bed this early, Yuyu?”I gave him a dramatic sigh. “Oh, you know. Just my boss being the devil incarnate. He gave me ten months’ worth of files to finish in a single day.”Carl whistled. “Damn. That’s rough.”“You have no idea.”I leaned against the reception desk, waiting for the maintenance guy to finish up with the elevator. Carl continued mopping, occasionally glancing at me with amusement.“Not gonna lie, kid. You dress fancier than anyone I’ve seen at this place.”I grinned, doing a little spin to show off my outfit. “Flattery will get you everywhere, my dear Carl.”T
Creed’s POVI leaned back in my chair, fingers pinching the bridge of my nose as I replayed the events of the day.That ridiculous outfit. That obnoxious energy. That mouth.She was a walking migraine wrapped in neon fabric, and no matter how hard I tried to ignore her, she had a way of forcing herself into my line of sight—into my thoughts.It pissed me off.I didn’t like being aware of people.I liked order. I liked predictability. I liked a well-oiled machine where everyone knew their place and did what they were supposed to do.And then she happened.Yuyu Roman wasn’t just a distraction—she was an eyesore, a glitch, a misplaced splash of color in a world that ran on monochrome efficiency.So, I did what any rational boss would do.I buried her in work.Ten months’ worth of files dumped onto her desk with a deadline that was impossible to meet.4 PM.That should’ve broken her.Or at least made her shut up for a few hours.Instead, she had the audacity to smile at me.Like I was som
I groaned, my forehead pressing against my desk as I stared at the mountain of paperwork still left to do."Why is this happening to me?" I mumbled into the wooden surface. "Why am I suffering? What did I ever do to deserve this?"I peeked up at the pile, hoping it had magically shrunk while I was wallowing in self-pity.It had reduced—a lot, actually. I was almost halfway through. But was that supposed to be comforting? No. No, it was not. Because it was 5:58 PM, and I was still here.The office was getting quieter. People were packing up. Going home. Living their best lives. Meanwhile, I was stuck here, drowning in mind-numbing reports.I sighed and leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair.There was no way I could keep going.Lily always left by 3 PM, which meant I needed to get home to check on Grandpa and Suzu. I had responsibilities. A life. A three-legged puppy waiting for me.If I left now and came back really early tomorrow, Creed wouldn’t notice, right?I mean
Monday morning rolled around, and I made damn sure to strut into the office like I owned the place.Pink corporate shirt? Check. The brightest neon pants ever seen in human history? Double check. Black flats to tone it down just a little? Sure. But the real highlight? My bumblebee tie and matching bumblebee hair clip. I was art.Heads turned as I walked by, but I barely acknowledged them. Let them stare. This was fashion. This was personality. This was me.Settling into my cubicle, I leaned back, fingers laced behind my head, and sighed contentedly.Work wasn’t even that hard. It was actually kind of nice. They were paying me an ungodly amount just to sit in an air-conditioned room, type away at my laptop, and do what I loved.Code."You know what, Mom?" I muttered, tapping away at my keyboard. "I think I finally understand what you saw in this place. It’s awesome here."The guys around me—my new office bros—were already in a heated discussion about a particularly stubborn bug in the
Monday came faster than I would’ve liked, but there was no escaping it.I had to be up early, looking presentable for work again. Unfortunately, that meant another boring, neutral-toned outfit.Red top. Black skirt. Corporate doll.At least Lily was kind enough to do my makeup again, making sure I looked flawless. She’d been meticulous, ensuring my eyeliner was sharp enough to stab my enemies.Still, as I stood in front of the mirror, I couldn't help but sigh. “This outfit needs something,” I muttered.Then inspiration struck.I grabbed my trusty box of colorful pins and went to town, decorating my shirt with them like a human Christmas tree.Lily walked back in, took one look at me, and shook her head. “You had to, didn’t you?”“What?” I grinned. “I have to add a little personality to this doll outfit. It’s a public service, really.”She snorted. “I give it an hour before someone tells you to take them off.”“An hour is better than nothing,” I declared, tossing my bag over my shoulde
Lily joined me within minutes, her expression tight with concern. “Where the hell could he have gone?”I shook my head. “I have no idea. We need to check everywhere he might’ve gone on foot.”And so we did. We checked the supermarket he sometimes liked to visit, the park where he used to sit and watch people go by, and even the old railway tracks he had no reason to be near. Nothing.“Dammit,” I muttered, pacing.Lily placed a hand on her hip. “Think, Yuki. Anywhere else?”I hesitated. “There’s one place. Mom used to take me there a lot. Maybe he—” I didn’t even finish before I was already moving.It was a small restaurant tucked into a quiet street, an old-fashioned spot with warm lighting and a nostalgic feel. But as I approached, my heart stopped.Stepping out of a sleek black car, adjusting his suit with effortless arrogance, was none other than Creed Malcolm.Panic shot through me. I spun on my heel and bolted in the opposite direction.“Hey—where are you going?” Lily called afte
Yuki's pov Joe’s workhouse looked like the kind of place people went into and never came out. It was tucked between two abandoned buildings, the flickering neon sign above the entrance barely hanging on to life. Stepping inside, I was hit with the overwhelming stench of gasoline, metal, and something else—something rancid.The walls were covered with oddities: old weapons, half-dissected animals pinned to wooden boards, and rusted tools that looked like they had been used for something far worse than construction. A human skull sat on one of the shelves, staring at me like it knew I didn’t belong here.“Joe?” I called, voice tight.A heavy thud came from behind the counter, and then Joe emerged—towering, broad-shouldered, and built like a tank. His face was partially shadowed, but I could see the deep scars running down the side of his neck. He looked like he belonged in a crime documentary, the kind where they interviewed ex-convicts behind blurred screens.I put on my best smile. “