Hi! I did not update yesterday because I decided that every Thursday is my day off. ^_^ Hope you understand!
After the day's whirlwind of emotions and surprises, we finally arrived home. The moment we stepped through the door, Joaquin headed straight to his room without a word. I watched him disappear down the hallway, his determined stride indicating he had no intention of lingering.I felt a slight pang of disappointment but shook it off, reminding myself that we both needed some time to unwind.I made my way to my room, feeling the weight of the day lift slightly as I entered my personal space. The quiet offered a stark contrast to the bustling office, and I welcomed it. After setting my bag down, I pulled out my phone and dialed Jessy’s number.I needed to hear a friendly voice, to ground myself after everything that had happened.The call connected, and Jessy’s cheerful voice filled my ears. “Hey! How are you? What the hell, you didn’t tell me you’re now engaged to Joaquin!”My eyes widened in shock. “How did you know about that?”Jessy laughed. “When Joaquin showed up to get you yesterd
I woke up with a start, my eyes snapping open in the darkness. I squinted at the clock on my nightstand and groaned softly. It was 3 AM. I let out a sigh, wondering why I always seemed to wake up at the most inconvenient times.After tossing and turning for a few minutes, trying to will myself back to sleep, I gave up. A cup of tea might help soothe my restless mind.Slipping out of bed, I wrapped myself in a cozy robe and quietly made my way to the kitchen. The mansion was eerily quiet at this hour, the only sound being the soft padding of my feet against the polished floors.As I rounded the corner to the kitchen, I paused, surprised to see a faint light coming from within.Joaquin was already there, sitting at the kitchen island. He was wearing a robe, but it was untied, revealing his bare chest and boxer shorts. I felt a flush creep up my neck and quickly looked away, letting out an awkward cough to announce my presence.Joaquin glanced up, looking as surprised to see me as I was t
Determined to make a point, I set my alarm earlier than usual. When it went off, I jumped out of bed with a sense of purpose.I took a long, hot shower, blow-dried my hair, and straightened it until it was smooth and shiny. I tied it back in a half-up style, leaving a few tendrils loose to frame my face.I chose my outfit with care: light blue slacks and a matching light blue blazer. Underneath the blazer, I wore a white bralette top that showed just a hint of my midriff. It was daring, but I figured the blazer would make it office-appropriate.I applied my makeup meticulously: a light powder to even out my complexion, a precise line of eyeliner, and a bold lipstick that made my lips pop. When I looked in the mirror, I hardly recognized myself. I felt beautiful, confident, and ready to face the day.I wanted to surprise Joaquin, so I spoke to one of the maids and arranged for a driver to take me to the office earlier than usual. When I arrived, I felt the weight of everyone's eyes on m
As the office buzzed with chatter, I could feel the eyes of my colleagues on me. I tried to focus on the document in front of me, but their whispers were impossible to ignore."Can you believe she's engaged to Joaquin?" one of them murmured."No wonder she's here," another responded. "I thought it was weird she got the job so quickly.""Did you see how he made coffee for her yesterday? He never did that for any of his previous editors."I sighed inwardly, resisting the urge to defend myself. Engaging in office gossip would only make things worse, and besides, I had a contract with Joaquin to protect. Instead, I pretended not to hear them, keeping my eyes fixed on the screen in front of me.The clock on my desk showed it was almost lunchtime. My stomach grumbled, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten much this morning. I decided to head to the pantry to grab something to eat. Just as I stood up, Joaquin’s voice cut through the murmurs."Haven, let's have lunch together."I glanced over to se
The house was quiet, the kind of deep, serene quiet that only comes in the middle of the night. I was deep in sleep, lost in a dreamless slumber, when the harsh ringing of my phone yanked me awake.Groggily, I reached for it, squinting at the screen. The time glowed back at me: 2:00 AM. The number was unknown.Confused and a little apprehensive, I answered. "Hello?" I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep.There was a brief pause, and then a robotic, pitchy voice came through the line, sending a chill down my spine. "Leave Joaquin or else Haven will get hurt."I bolted upright, my heart pounding in my chest. "Who is this?" I demanded, my voice shaking. "Why are you threatening me?"The voice on the other end let out a distorted laugh that sounded eerie and unnatural. "That's none of your business. Leave his house tomorrow and resign from your job, or you'll get what you deserve." The call ended abruptly, leaving me staring at my phone in disbelief.My mind raced, trying to process what ha
The sight of the blood-stained message left me trembling. I felt cold, my breath coming in shallow gasps. Joaquin's face darkened with anger as he read the note, his hands clenching into fists."This is serious," he muttered, his voice tight with barely controlled rage. "We need to call the authorities."He took out his phone and called his secretary, quickly briefing him on the situation. Within minutes, the office was buzzing with security personnel and investigators, the once bustling workspace now a scene of tension and urgency.I watched as they dusted the package for fingerprints, took photographs, and questioned everyone who had access to the office. The whole time, I couldn't shake the image of the blood-stained note from my mind.Joaquin stayed by my side, his presence a steady anchor in the chaos. "We'll find out who did this," he assured me, his voice resolute. "I won't let anyone hurt you."As the investigation continued, I noticed a small symbol on the corner of the photog
The dim light in the warehouse flickered as the figure stepped closer. I couldn't make out their features, but the menace in their voice was unmistakable."You must follow my instructions if you want to keep yourself safe," the robotic voice continued. "Any deviation, and you'll regret it.""What do you want from us?" I demanded, my voice wavering.A distorted laugh echoed through the warehouse. "You'll find out soon enough. For now, you'll follow these simple commands. First, Haven, you are to stay away from Joaquin. No communication, no contact. If I see you together, you'll both pay the price."I felt a surge of anger and fear. "Why are you doing this?""That's for me to know and you to find out," the voice replied mockingly. "Second, you'll publicly announce that you are breaking off your engagement with Joaquin. Make it convincing."Joaquin tightened his grip on my hand, his eyes blazing with fury. "We won't play your games," he said through gritted teeth."You have no choice," th
The drive to Joaquin's bachelor pad was shrouded in a tense silence. The gravity of our situation weighed heavily on both of us, but there was also a shared determination to face this together.When we finally arrived, I was struck by how different it was from his mansion. The pad was more homey and comfortable, filled with personal touches that reflected Joaquin’s true personality.As we stepped inside, I couldn't help but ask, "So, what’s the story behind this place?"Joaquin smiled, a mixture of nostalgia and rebellion in his eyes. "When I was rebelling against my father, who forced me to study business, I used the money I earned from my first book to buy this pad. It was my way of asserting my independence."I looked around, taking in the cozy, lived-in feel of the place. "Did your father know?""He was furious," Joaquin said with a chuckle. "He couldn't understand why I’d buy this when I already had the mansion, which he thinks is better than this pad. But this place was my sanctu
The hospital room was quiet, save for the faint beeping of the monitors. Joaquin lay in the bed, his face pale but peaceful, a bandage wrapped around his side.The doctors had assured us that the wound wasn’t deep, but he had lost a significant amount of blood, necessitating an overnight stay for observation. I sat by his bedside, holding his hand, my mind racing with everything that had happened.Ethan had worked quickly to block the news from reaching the media, preventing any commotion that might alert Joaquin’s father. He stood by the window, speaking in low tones with hospital staff and making sure everything was handled discreetly.I squeezed Joaquin’s hand gently, the events replaying in my mind. He had rushed to protect me without a second thought, and the thought of him being hurt because of me was almost too much to bear.I worried about the state Joaquin’s beloved bachelor pad, unsure if I had turned off the stove in the chaos. But Ethan had reassured me that the officers ha
I woke up with a start, the room bathed in the warm hues of the setting sun. The clock on my bedside table read 7 PM. Rubbing my eyes, I stretched and stood up, feeling the lingering effects of the nap. I decided to check on Joaquin.As I approached his room, I noticed the door was slightly ajar. Peeking in, I saw him still asleep, his face peaceful and relaxed.Not wanting to disturb him, I decided to do something nice for him. I’d cook dinner. Quietly closing his door, I headed to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, I saw that most of the meat needed to defrost.Letting out a sigh, I rummaged through the cabinets and found some canned meats: spam and corned beef. I settled on the corned beef and decided to mix it with onions. I also decided to cook some rice since it would make a hearty meal.We hadn't eaten since lunchtime and both of us would be hungry when we woke up.As I prepared the ingredients, I decided to listen to some music. The beat of the song filled the kitchen, creating a
As we arrived home, I headed straight to my room to sort through the new clothes we’d bought. It felt surreal to have so many new outfits.I’d never had this much before, even when I was living alone. I happily folded each piece, admiring the various styles and colors. It was a luxury I wasn’t used to, but it felt nice.Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. I looked up to see Joaquin leaning against the doorframe, a soft smile on his face."What's up?" I asked, returning his smile."I just wanted to see what you’re up to," he said, his eyes scanning the room. "Are you happy?"I nodded, still smiling. "Yes, I’m happy. I feel very spoiled, actually.""Good," he said, stepping inside and sitting on the edge of my bed. "You deserve it.""I almost feel guilty about all of this," I admitted, folding another shirt. "But since you keep reassuring me that it’s alright, I thought maybe I could abuse you more financially."Joaquin laughed, the sound rich and genuine. "It will never be an abuse
“Did you see their faces?” I managed to say between fits of laughter.Joaquin nodded, his shoulders shaking with amusement. “I think we might’ve just ruined their date.”“Well, at least we’re having fun,” I replied, grinning.Joaquin looked at me, his eyes sparkling with mirth. “That we are, Haven.”As the laughter subsided, we continued eating, sharing small, amused glances and smiles. The earlier tension between us had completely dissolved, replaced by a comfortable camaraderie. It felt like a real date, a real connection, even if it was born out of an arrangement.I realized then how much I enjoyed Joaquin’s company, and how, despite the odd circumstances of our relationship, moments like these made it feel genuine. We finished our meal in high spirits, ready to see where the rest of the day would take us.Just as we were about to head home, I stopped in my tracks, a sudden realization hitting me. “Wait, Joaquin, we forgot to buy underwear!”He chuckled, clearly amused by my oversig
We walked through the mall, our matching outfits drawing occasional glances and smiles from passersby. It felt surreal, being in a couple’s outfit with Joaquin, especially considering our situation. Despite the pretense, it was surprisingly enjoyable.We had just returned from the parking lot after stowing our numerous shopping bags in Joaquin's car. The rest of the day stretched ahead of us, and I was looking forward to it. "Let's have lunch together and then watch a movie before heading home to relax," Joaquin suggested.I smiled at the idea. "How about we watch a movie first and then eat? That way, we can talk about the film while we eat.""Sounds good to me," he agreed, and we made our way to the cinema.As we stood in line, I glanced at the posters of the showing movies. There was a range of options: romance, action, and horror. Joaquin turned to me, raising an eyebrow. "What would you like to watch?"I felt a thrill of excitement. "Let's watch a horror movie."He arched an eyebro
Joaquin and I walked through the mall, my arms laden with bags filled with beautiful clothes. Dresses, blouses, jeans, shorts, and even office wear—everything I had always wanted but never allowed myself to splurge on. Joaquin had insisted on carrying most of the bags, which made me feel both spoiled and grateful."I really feel like a fiancée," I said with a playful smile, glancing at him.Joaquin laughed, a deep, genuine sound that made me smile even wider. "Even though it's an arrangement, I'm more than willing to spoil you. Not because of the contract, but because I want to."His words warmed my heart, and I felt a rush of happiness. "Thank you, Joaquin. This means a lot to me.""Next, let's get you some footwear," he said, steering us towards a shoe store. "Sneakers, slippers, sandals—whatever you need."I grinned, feeling a bit giddy with excitement. "Are you sure? Because I'm really loving this shopping day."He laughed again. "How many times do I have to reassure you, Haven? It
I stood there, awkwardly shifting my weight from one foot to the other, as Joaquin rubbed his temples. The tension from my ill-timed question about Clarise still hung heavily in the air.Joaquin sighed deeply. “Alright, let’s get ready to head to the mall,” he said, his voice strained but calmer.I hesitated. “What should I wear? My clothes from last night are office wear, and I don’t really want to put those back on.”Joaquin, clearly still affected by my earlier question, responded with a hint of irritation. “Just make do with what you find in my closet.”I let out a sigh, recognizing that I had overstepped and that he was dealing with his own emotions. Without another word, I turned and went back to his room. I knew his reaction was valid; I had asked something deeply personal that he clearly didn’t want to share.As I rifled through his closet, I noticed an oversized white hoodie. It looked comfortable, and I decided it would work as a makeshift dress. I pulled it on, finding that
As we finished breakfast, my curiosity got the better of me. "So, who do you think this woman could be? If it's not one of your exes, could it be a stalker? Someone obsessed with you?"Joaquin sighed, leaning back against the counter. "It's possible. There have been women who took an interest in me, especially those within the same social circle who thought a connection with me could benefit them. Some even suggested merging businesses through marriage."I chuckled at that, shaking my head. "Sounds like something out of a drama or a book. But would they really go so far as to cause a scandal like this?"He shook his head, a thoughtful look on his face. "No, they wouldn’t risk their reputation like that. But you’re right, someone with enough resources to pay off my maid and make her fear for her family... that’s someone with a lot of power."I frowned, contemplating. "Who could be rich enough to threaten your maid? And if they’re that rich, why would they even bother with something like
I woke up with a splitting headache, my body aching all over. The sunlight hit my face directly, making me squint as I slowly opened my eyes. The first thing I noticed was Joaquin still on top of me, snoring softly. I stared at him in disbelief, the absurdity of the situation hitting me all over again."Joaquin," I mumbled, pushing him gently. He didn't budge. I pushed a bit harder, but it was like trying to move a boulder. Being six feet tall and heavily built, he outweighed my five-foot-four frame significantly. I sighed in exasperation. "Seriously?"After a few more futile attempts to shift him, I gave up and wiggled out from under him. Once free, I sat up, rubbing my sore shoulders.Damn it… sleeping with him here on the couch in only one position… it really does hurt the body.My face heated up as fragments of last night’s events flashed through my mind. The kiss, the touching, the way he made me feel… and then him falling asleep on my chest."Unbelievable," I muttered, shaking my