ELOISE “Morning, Jenna. Surprised to see you this morning,” I chirped, flashing her a mischievous grin. Jenna had been pulling all-nighters at her current job, and it seemed like we hardly had a chance to catch up despite sharing the same roof. “Good morning to you, too. You look different today,” she remarked, then her eyes widened. “Oh, my God. What did you do to your hair?” I smirked. “I decided to get a haircut after work yesterday.” “Damn, you’re rocking the new look, but those long locks were your asset. Why on earth did you do that?” Jenna asked, getting up close and even daring to touch a few strands. Honestly, I was just annoyed without any major reason. Not major, I repeat. There was just this guy who kept haunting my thoughts, not letting me get a good night’s sleep, and I just couldn’t stand it. He hadn’t even had the decency to show up and left me hanging, waiting for me to decide, though I hadn’t figured it out. Not that I didn’t want to get back at Zoey and Cha
ELOISEI tried to push away the sad news Mr. Ross had dropped on me earlier in the morning. Keeping myself calm as usual, I noticed Trina conversing with someone from the IT department. She was packing her stuff into a large box while the IT person unplugged her computer cables. “What’s going on?” I furrowed my brow. “Did you quit?” Trina burst into laughter. “Seriously? I’m one of the top employees of this company! No, we’re relocating!” she exclaimed excitedly. “We? To where?” “We’re getting our own special office.” My eyes widened. “A new office just for our team?” “No, just you and me. We’ll be working closely with the boss,” she explained. “The boss? Wait, what do you mean?” I was already dealing with the shock of Malcolm’s news, and now another surprise awaited me. Working closely with Zoey or Chase was something I never wanted to do, not at all. Trina playfully rolled her eyes. “Come on. You can’t fool me with that innocent act. I know you’re smarter than that.” I blin
ELOISE “Why me and Trina? Why not Ms. Craig? She’s our boss," I asked him. “Ms. Craig will be needed in your department,” Adam said simply. “Remember what we spoke about in the car last week?” “The collaboration, yes. I understand.” “You and Ms. Jackson have the potential to work at the Sebastian Picture headquarters, and both of you will be in charge of giving me reports directly. We will choose only one of you. And since you are such a stubborn, defiant woman with a smart mouth, I had to tell you this when I shouldn’t. It’s too early and unfair to Ms. Jackson, don’t you think?” I avoided his eyes. I was just too triggered by his actions. Obviously, I was wrong about that. Mixing personal relationships with work wasn’t a good idea, and my judgment was clouded. But wow! A chance to work with Sebastian Pictures? That was huge. An opportunity that would only come in a million years. It was one of my biggest dream! I bit my lip. “I’m sorry.” “You need to learn your place, Ms. W
ELOISE Dang, it was already seven. I blew out a sharp breath and squeezed my temples with my fingers. The pending paperwork had consumed me, and I hadn’t noticed the time passing. Trina had already left because she needed to prepare dinner. I glanced at my phone and furrowed my brows, seeing 34 missed calls and 20 text messages from Trina. I had completely lost track of time. I tapped her number to call her back. “Hey, I’m sorry I didn’t notice the time.” “Where are you? I thought you were supposed to be here at six?” she questioned, her voice laced with impatience. My bad. “I know.” I sighed, feeling guilty. “I’m finished here. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” “I’ve been calling a million times, but you wouldn’t answer.” “I’m so sorry. My phone was on silent.” She grunted in panic. “I was going to tell you that there was a change of plans. Our parents came here with my brother, so we can’t have dinner here tonight. We’re going out instead. It was a surprise; I didn’t know th
ELOISE “Yes, and you must be Harvey,” I replied with a smile. He chuckled, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “Trina was right about you, but her description was slightly different,” he remarked. “Right about what?” I asked, curious to know what his sister had shared about me. “But oh, where is Trina?” “She sent me here alone. She’s stuck with our parents.” What the heck? I immediately wanted to protest. She must have done this on purpose. “Why don’t we sit first and order our dinner?” he said again. “Of course.” He walked to my side and pulled out a chair to help me sit. To be fair, he was thoughtful. It’s like we were already friends who hadn’t seen each other for a long time. I sat across from him. I watched him as he put his iPad in his briefcase. I also noticed how casual he looked in his blue shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows and a black suit jacket. “What brings you to New York, if I may ask?” I asked. “Oh, I’m here because I have a business project. My work h
ELOISE I gasped. He swept me off my feet a bit, but I shouldn’t be fooled by sweet talk. I already learned from experience. I glared at him and forcefully pulled my arm away. “You want me? Well, aren’t you a player? I don’t believe you. I don’t like how you look at me, how you talk, or how you do things in such a strange and mysterious way. You’re supposed to like Zoey. We’re not friends either. Please, let me go now, Mr. Sebastian.” I pushed away from him with all my might, leaving him with a confused and startled expression. He stood there like a statue, and I was relieved that I could finally put some distance between us. I had already said plenty, and I couldn’t bear to be near him any longer. He was strange in ways I couldn’t explain; all I knew was that I had to stay away from him. I returned to dinner with Harvey, and our food was already served. He watched me closely, noticing my change in demeanor. “Is there something wrong?” he asked softly, concern clear in his gray e
ADAM Harvey fucking Jackson was all over her like they were some happy couple, and Eloise didn’t seem to mind. I couldn’t tear my eyes away, even though it was torture to watch them flirt right before me. There was when she touched his arm while laughing, and I’d never seen her laugh like that with me. But before that, she dared to call me strange. A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. “Come in.” Ms. Jackson entered and closed the door, and she came alone. Where’s Eloise? Perhaps it was the perfect time to ask Ms. Jackson what her brother was doing here and his agenda. “Sit down, Ms. Jackson,” I ordered. “Of course, sir.” She took a seat in front of me. “Where’s the report?” “Here.” She placed the binders carefully on my desk. “Eloise is still working on hers. She’ll give it to you today.” “I see, but before we proceed…” I looked up at her and stopped swinging my chair. “Let’s cut the bullshit and be real. It’s been a long time. And since when did you become Trina, T
ADAM I woke up in an unfamiliar hotel bedroom, my skull throbbing as I tried to collect my thoughts from an awful night. I must’ve gotten drunk and ended up here. My head was just too occupied with Eloise and the Jacksons, and I needed to get away from those distractions. Lying next to me was a redhead, her skin as pale as paper and her wavy hair on my bed. However, it wasn’t the same redhead I preferred to wake up next to. My mind instantly drifted to Eloise, the woman who had been messing with my thoughts lately. The woman beside me was Michelle, a woman I’d already fucked from the past. “Hey…” I nudged her shoulder. She groaned and blinked her brown eyes. “Adam.” “We need to go. Get up.” She lazily pulled herself up, and the blanket slipped, revealing her breasts. I quickly averted my gaze, feeling a strange discomfort. Though Michelle was undeniably attractive, my interest just wasn’t in it. My head kept circling back to Eloise, and I even imagined her last night beneath me
ADAMTwo Months LaterI stared at the array of takeout containers at the dining table.Chinese. Pizza. Sushi. And what looked like... pancakes?I glanced at my wife, rummaging through another bag of food with a look of utter dissatisfaction on her face.She sighed heavily, dropping back into her seat with a huff.“This isn’t what I wanted,” she muttered, poking at a container of stir-fried noodles with her chopsticks. “Why do they always mess up the order? I specifically said no onions.”I bit back a smile, sipping water to hide my amusement. She’d been in a mood all evening—no, all week. She snapped at the delivery guy, rearranged the table three times, and now complained about the food. It wasn’t like her to be so... irritable.“Do you want me to order something else?” I offered, keeping my tone calm.She groaned. “No, it’s fine. It’s not your fault. I’m just... hungry.”“Alright,” I said, taking a bite of sushi as I watched her pick up a slice of pizza. She inspected it and then pu
ELOISEThe news was everywhere.“BREAKING: Adam Sebastian Takes Charge as CBS Undergoes Major Changes.”The TV screen in the corner of Adam’s—I meant our—living room displayed his gorgeous face as the anchor discussed his triumphant return to CBS. I sat curled up on the plush leather couch, my bare feet tucked beneath me.The move to Adam’s penthouse had consumed our week, but things felt more real for the first time since our whirlwind honeymoon—more tangible than they had a couple of weeks ago.“Following the high-profile arrest of former CEO Christopher Jackson on charges of fraud and embezzlement, CBS has been acquired by Sebastian Pictures,” the reporter announced.I glanced toward Adam, who sat in the adjacent armchair. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, and he held a glass of scotch.His hair was slightly tousled, as though he’d run his fingers through it one too many times. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes—those piercing ocean blues—held a flicker of satisfaction that only
ADAM The music shifted again, this time to something bolder—a sign that the night’s main event was about to begin. The guests settled at their tables, and so did Eloise and I. Servers glided through the crowd, topping off glasses with champagne, some served canapés. Christopher then stepped onto the stage like a man who believed the world bowed at his feet—because, for now, it did. I smirked. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, his tone booming through the room. “Thank you all for joining us tonight to celebrate our annual holiday gala and another year of extraordinary success at CBS.” Polite applause followed. His smile widened. “This year has been one of tremendous growth, and we owe that to our investors, our partners, and of course, all of you.” He gestured broadly to the crowd. “But tonight, we celebrate more than profits. We celebrate vision—the vision that built this company into what it is today.” The applause grew louder, but Christopher held up a hand, silencing them. “An
ELOISEThe Astoria Royale buzzed with the presence of celebrities, influential politicians, renowned news anchors, and prominent CBS journalists, all gathered for tonight's grand event.Towering glass chandeliers bathed the grand ballroom in a soft, golden glow, and the scent of vanilla and champagne lingered in the air with some faint traces of expensive perfumes and cigars.It was intoxicating. Dizzying. I still wasn’t used to this, not even after all the lavish parties back in Scotland.I stepped onto the red velvet carpet leading into the ballroom, the click of my emerald stilettos barely audible beneath the hum of conversation, the smooth notes of classical jazz, and bursts of laughter.The crowd stirred when Adam and I entered. Cameras flashed from behind us, and photographers called out for us to turn and pose.The flashes were blinding, but Adam’s warm, steady hand at the small of my back grounded me. I glanced up at him.God, my husband was breathtaking tonight.Adam wore a s
ELOISEThe night was unusually calm for New York—no sirens, no distant honking horns. It was just the quiet hum of the city beneath us and the distant shimmer of lights stretching to the horizon.I leaned on the balcony railing of my house, my fingers wrapped around the warm ceramic of my coffee mug, while Adam stood beside me, resting his weight against the edge.His face was hard to read tonight—calm but calculating. The kind of expression he wore when his mind was turning over something too heavy to leave unspoken. I’d grown used to the layers in his looks, but tonight, there was something sharper.“Are you going to tell me what’s on your mind, or do I have to pry it out of you?” I teased, though my voice came out softer than I intended.Adam’s lips quirked into the faintest smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You’re getting good at that—reading me.”“It’s not hard. You practically radiate tension.” I leaned closer, resting my head against his shoulder for a moment. “Talk to me.”
ELOISEWhen Adam and I first entered my place to meet Jenna and grab a few things, my best friend was already standing by the door, hands on her chest.She looked at us with disappointment written all over her face, but I knew it had more to do with the fact that I hadn’t told her I was getting married.“You traitor,” she mumbled.I sighed, not wanting to disappoint her further. I immediately hugged her.“I’m sorry. I have no excuse. But can we please sit inside so I can explain?”“You told me I’d be your maid of honor!”She glanced at Adam and scowled.“Another traitor.”“Hi! Jenna, right?” Adam flashed his sweetest smile.Jenna’s mouth dropped open, but she quickly looked away.“Just come in.” She stepped aside.We entered the living room while Adam looked around, taking in the space.“You do have a nice place here. Maybe we should stay?” he teased.Jenna gasped and rushed in front of us.“Are you guys—kicking me out?”I laughed. “Don’t listen to him. He’s just kidding!”We sat down
ELOISEThat evening, while I was showering, Adam joined me. He wrapped his arms around me from behind while his lips placed soft kisses on my shoulder. I moved my hair to the side and looked back at him. Even after everything, it still felt surreal. Adam was my husband now.Just a few weeks ago, I met this man because of a simple mistake on a blind date, and he became someone who supported me. But there was still so much I had to learn about him, many things we needed to resolve and discuss.Under the shower, we stayed silent, savoring each other’s presence. Words became unnecessary with each kiss on my shoulder, neck, and back. I surrendered to the surge of emotions, my body burning with every touch of his fingers on my skin.Adam’s lips traveled down my back to the space between my buttocks. I moaned, arching my back as his tongue slid through. I gripped the wall; the only sounds were the splashing water, my rapid heartbeat, and my heavy breathing. His fingers traced my slit, and my
ELOISEWhen the doctor left, Adam and I watched Davina sit beside Malcolm’s bed, her hand never leaving his face.The doctor told us he didn’t know when my brother was going to wake up, but he should still be able to from his temporary coma.Davina was the first to speak. “How… how could Callum do this to me? After everything…”Dad was standing by the window with his hands folded across his chest when he finally broke his silence. “Callum did it because I let him. Because my ambition and greed blinded me.” There was a long pause before he turned to face us. “I did this. I did this to our family... to Malcolm. I was too focused on making sure the Cunningham name stayed strong. I was one-sided.”Davina’s eyes flicked, and her lips pressed tightly together. “You can’t blame yourself for this. I asked you to—”“I can blame myself,” Dad cut her off. “I’ve seen the signs. To think that I almost gave away my only daughter.” He waved his hand towards me.My heart skipped a beat. I wasn’t sure
ADAM Eloise and I continued to move through the crowd, accepting congratulations and well wishes from the guests. I kept glancing around the room, scanning the crowd for any sign of Jonathan, but he had taken the initiative and was now talking to Callum. He had probably slipped away during the ceremony to begin his part of the operation. Now, all I could do was wait for him to make contact. Eloise chatted with her relatives near the buffet table when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I stepped away from the crowd, keeping my movements casual. I checked the message. It was from Jonathan: We spotted the ambulance, but one of my men outside hit a small complication. I glanced around again, making sure Callum wasn’t watching, and I remained calm. I moved toward a secluded reception corner, pressing the phone to my ear as I dialed Jonathan’s number. Jonathan gestured to Callum to wait a moment as he answered my call. “Jonathan, what’s going on?” I asked, my voice low but urgent. “I’m sor