MAISIE"What's with that look on your face? You're pale as a ghost!" Miriam snatched the phone from my hand before I could react, peering at the message."Klay just wants to pop in and see Donovan. What's the big deal? You're acting like he fired you from your job or something."She snorted then, eyes glinting with mischief. "Unless...you're scared of running into his psycho cousin again? The one you said doesn't know about the two of you and your little fling?"Philip's brows hiked in confusion as he glanced between us. "Wait, what cousin? Who doesn't know what now? I'm totally lost here."Miriam let out an aggrieved sigh, shaking her head slowly. "I'm so sorry to have to tell you this, cutie...but it looks like you've got some serious competition on your hands for Maisie's affections."She really didn't need to spell it out like that for him in such a dramatic fashion. I knew exactly why she was doing this - it was a blatant attempt at petty revenge for whatever perceived slight or
MAISIEHis words sliced into me, making my chest constrict painfully.I opened and closed my mouth, struggling to find the right response as guilt washed over me in waves."You know what? You need to be way clearer with me here," I scoffed, defaulting to denial and deflection in the face of Donovan's accusation. "What exactly has you so upset - that I couldn't spend time with you earlier, or that I'm with Philip now?"Silence.Donovan stared at a point over my shoulder, his jaw ticking with repressed emotion.I reached out and cupped his cheek, gently turning his face to meet my eyes. "Look, Philip is just a friend and nothing more, you know that. In fact, I'll quit my job and ditch Philip completely if that's what you really want. Then I can be all yours, all the time. How does that sound?"His expression crumpled at that, a flash of something like hurt crossing his features. "That's not what I want," he mumbled, shaking his head."Then what do you want, baby?" I stroked his cheek te
MAISIEThe sound of another car door slamming outside drew everyone's attention.Speak of the devil... Jason himself appeared, cutting an imposing figure in his signature black suit and tie as he stalked up the front path with long strides.His intense gaze swept over the assembled group gathered in the entryway, taking in the scene with a furrowed brow and a slight downturn of his lips."Jason? What are you doing here?" Klay asked, surprise evident in his tone while he eyed the other man warily."I could ask you the same question," Jason countered smoothly, his eyes cutting to me briefly before flickering away in clear dismissal.An awkward tension filled the air as the two men stared each other down like territorial toms squaring off.I felt rooted to the spot like a rabbit caught in the sights of a predator, my heart pounding.How could I possibly explain Jason's unexpected presence to my boss in a way that wouldn't raise even more questions?"Mr. Woods is just here to...say hello,
MAISIEI swallowed hard against the lump of guilt lodged in my throat as Karina's piercing blue eyes swept over me with her ruby red lips twisted into a contemptuous sneer."W-We were just about to have dinner," I stammered, gesturing weakly at the spread of steaming dishes laid out on the low table. "I hope you're a fan of spicy food?""I never eat anything without a good kick of spice," she remarked with a tight smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I'll be delighted to join you all."Which meant Jason would be staying for dinner as well. My stomach twisted at the prospect of entertaining both of them for an entire meal, of having to maintain the façade of polite indifference and forced smiles all evening long.One by one, we took our places around the long dining table in an awkward shuffle – Klay beside me at one end, Philip and Nathan at the other end bookending Miriam, with Donovan, Karina and finally Jason filling the remaining spaces between us.The tension was palpable from the
MAISIE"As if I don't already know," Philip muttered under his breath, dropping his gaze to glare at his plate.Every attempt he had made to nudge our relationship toward something more committed, more permanent, had been met with resistance on my part.This stagnant result was entirely due to my own deep-seated hang-ups about marriage and the finality of such a profound commitment.Every time Philip pushed to take that next step to solidify our bond, to make it official in the eyes of the law and society, I balked. I was paralyzed by my fear of Donovan's rejection and disapproval should I remarry. He had been so opposed to the idea of me dating again after his father's passing.And if I was being fully honest with myself, a huge part of me still shied away from the finality of it all out of some deeply buried insecurity. Some nagging voice in the back of my mind kept me from being able to take that final leap into the realm of legal matrimony.Karina's derisive snort snapped me out o
MAISIE"I was hoping I might request an actual leave of absence then. Not for myself, but...to spend some dedicated time with my son…”The words hung between us, thick with unspoken tension.I saw a muscle ticking in Klay's jaw as he appraised me with those dark, unreadable eyes of his. He didn't seem to get what I was really saying. "Spend more time with your son? Don't you two already live together?"I wiped at the back of my flushed neck, feeling awkward and exposed under his scrutiny. "Mr. Woods, it's...it's not that simple. I don't sleep well at night, I'm always exhausted during the day from running around like a headless chicken. I don't take care of my own health because I'm constantly rushing from one thing to the next. I'm neglecting myself, but I absolutely refuse to neglect my son or be a bad mother to him." I took a deep, steadying breath. "I want to use this chance to actually make some real memories with Donovan before it's too late and he's all grown up, you know?"Kla
MAISIEKarina helped pull me back to my feet, her perfectly groomed brows knitted together in an expression that looked a whole lot more like malice than concern. "What on earth were you two up to out here?" she demanded, her tone accusatory.I opened and closed my mouth like a landed fish, at a complete loss for words to explain the compromising position she'd just walked in on. Thankfully, Jason smoothly covered for us with an easy lie. "We were just discussing a case study for work," he said nonchalantly, not missing a beat.Karina seemed to accept that flimsy excuse with a curt nod, the suspicious glint fading from her eyes. "Ah, I see. Well anyway, I'm beat after today so we'll head out first. Come along, Jason." She looped her arm through his and tugged him toward the door, leaving me to trail awkwardly behind them.As soon as they were gone, I re-entered the house and made a beeline straight for the living room, needing to put some distance between myself and that incredibly te
Maisie"If working for me at the company is going to be a problem for you, I'll have to let you go," Dame stated coolly, her voice as crisp and emotionless as the pristine white pantsuit she wore.I quickly backtracked, not wanting to lose my job over a silly formality. "No, no problem at all! We can definitely speak informally if that's what you'd prefer," I rushed to assure her, waving my hands placatingly.She gave a curt nod of approval, her perfectly coiffed hair not so much as shifting with the abrupt movement. "Good, because I want your help with something important," she said briskly."Oh? Sure, what is it?" I asked, setting my untouched glass of lemonade down on the table to give her my full, undivided attention. This whole situation was bizarre enough already without any distractions.Dame didn't bother with any preamble or lead-in, just went straight for the jugular. "How did you make Klay fall for you?" she asked point-blank.I felt my face flush hot with a confusing embar
MAISIEI wiped away the tear that had rolled down my cheek and turned off the microphone. Looking up, I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself.Being an emotional person with so many feelings can be absolute torture sometimes.I gasped when the door suddenly opened only to sigh with relief upon seeing Jason standing there.My coat hung casually over one shoulder, my bag dangling from his hand."Are you done?" I asked, walking toward him."I finished seconds before you spoke on the microphone," he admitted. "I was listening to your words while I was in the corridor."Mentally reviewing everything I'd just said, I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me. Damn the alcohol for loosening my tongue!"Did I say too much?" I asked, my cheeks warming.Jason lifted my coat, holding it open for me to slip my arms through."No," he said softly. "And you know what? I won't hate him even if he despises me to my core. I'll protect him and always stand by his side, even against his will. I'll
MAISIE"I’ve learned to control myself even more when you're with me," Jason murmured, turning his chair to face the computer.His fingers resumed their effortless dance across the keyboard, yet his thoughts were nowhere near the screen. "It feels like my soul is constantly on the verge of escaping, rushing toward you. No matter how much I look at you, it never feels like enough. I memorize the way you move, the way you sit in stillness. Every little detail of you pulls me in, and my heart beats in sync with your smile."He exhaled softly. "I love you so deeply, so fiercely, that I have to hold myself back. Because if I don’t… I might lose myself entirely."If I had to name what we shared, I'd call it a safe relationship. I'd found myself in the hands of a man who saw beyond my physical form, who cherished the essence of who I was.In this era dominated by cravings and instant gratification, the worst thing that could happen would be surrendering to those shallow expectations and beco
MAISIEJason propped his chin in one hand while his fingers danced across the keyboard."Outrageously beautiful!" He glanced at me from the corner of his eye.I placed my foot on one arm of his chair and pulled my hair back with deliberate slowness. The silky strands slipped through my fingers as I held his gaze."Doesn't my outrageous beauty make you feel anything?" My voice came out huskier than intended, betraying my nervousness."Something like what?" He threw his weight on the back of his chair and placed his warm hand on my leg.His touch sent electricity through my skin, making it difficult to maintain my composure.I bit my lower lip, hesitating for several seconds while gathering my courage. The office suddenly felt too warm, too intimate."Jason... do I not excite you?" The words tumbled out before I could reconsider.His eyebrows rose slightly as he began stroking my leg with gentle, circular motions.My heart hammered against my ribs, and confusion clouded my thoughts."Do
MAISIE"What about Don?" Jason quirked an eyebrow, sliding his hands into his pockets elegantly.The realization hit me. Don! How could I forget?I slumped back into my seat dramatically, resting my forehead on the cool surface of the table."I really wanted to go with you," I mumbled, frustration evident in my voice. Something inside me yearned to be near him, like a magnetic pull I couldn't explain or resist.Miriam's gentle hand patted my head. "What kind of friend would I be if I didn't help you get what you want?"I lifted my head, confusion written across my face. "What do you mean?""The audio equipment is rented for today only," Miriam explained, leaning closer with a conspiratorial gleam. "I need to return everything before ten tonight. I'll tell Don he needs to help me because Nathan has a headache. We'll take our time, maybe drive around a bit before I drop him off. You just need to be back before we return.""I don't have a headache!" Nathan protested.Miriam shot him a wa
MAISIEThe atmosphere between the two tables instantly chilled.Klay stood up, his posture rigid with barely contained anger."Follow me!" he commanded Dame:But Dame merely smiled provocatively. "Why?"Her defiance visibly increased his anger. He fixed her with a penetrating stare and said through clenched teeth, "Why?...""Should I care about your anger?" she challenged, lifting her chin.I swallowed nervously, watching the tension escalate between them. I'd never seen this side of their relationship before."Shut your fucking mouth and stand up fast!" Klay growled. His usual composure was completely shattered.Dame matched his intensity with a withering glare. "Stop cursing! You're not the only one who can do that, you ugly motherfucker!"Professor Hunt placed a calming hand on her shoulder. "Wait, Dame... calm down."Klay's gaze zeroed in on the professor's hand like a laser sight. "Get your hand off her!"I looked at Miriam nervously, and she returned the same anxious glance.The
MAISIEI stopped at the door of Nathan's office when I got there. I peered in and saw Jason deeply absorbed in going over some papers, his face furrowed.I knocked softly on the doorframe and adopted a playfully formal tone. "Will you let me in, Principal Harding?" I teased, referencing his serious demeanor.He looked up with his expression immediately softening into a smile. "Come in."I stepped inside before closing the door behind me with a gentle click.Making my way across the room, I settled into the chair across from him while he returned his attention to the papers in his hands."I got you a surprise!" I announced, holding up the plate with a flourish."Surprise, is it a piece of cake?" he replied without looking up, though I could detect a hint of amusement in his voice.I raised my index finger dramatically as if making an important point. "Wrong, it's not just any cake... it's chocolate cake!"His eyes remained fixed on the documents before him. "No, thank you."Disappointm
MAISIEJason stopped briefly to get a bottle of wine on the way to Nathan's place. I was astonished by the label when he came back to the car and gave it to me."You didn't have to!" I exclaimed, examining the expensive bottle."It's not in my nature to arrive empty-handed, butterfly."When we arrived at Nathan's place, I carefully balanced both gifts in my arms as we got out of the car. Even from outside, I could hear Miriam's voice through speakers singing the birthday song.She had mentioned planning something special, but knowing Miriam, I expected something much wilder than whatever was happening here.We made our way directly to the back garden, where the celebration was taking place. As soon as Miriam spotted us, she set down her microphone on the table where Nathan sat and jogged over to greet us.She looked stunning in a modern black dress that showed off her legs with her hair pulled back in a ponytail.The garden around us was beautifully decorated in white, creating an atm
MAISIEJason didn't follow—perhaps he knew better than to try.I tried to concentrate on wrapping Nathan's present that had finally arrived, but my hands were shaking too much to fold neatly or tie the right ribbons.The sound of an ambulance arriving next door kept drawing my attention away from my task. The sirens wailed, cutting through the evening quiet like a harsh reminder of what had just transpired.I'm not saying Jared didn't deserve consequences for his actions. He had caused immeasurable pain with his interference in our lives yet did he deserve to be injured badly enough to need emergency medical attention?The question troubled me, even as I struggled with ribbon and tape that refused to cooperate with my shaking fingers."Stop giving people second chances they don't deserve, Maisie. It's maturity to accept that no good can come from some people!" Jason's words echoed in my mind.Perhaps he was right. Perhaps no good could ever come from Jared. However, the violence I'd w
MAISIEMy heart pounded against my ribs as I followed them. I knew what was coming: violence, pain, and more fuel for the cycle of hatred that seemed inescapable between these brothers.I hurried down the path to Jason's house, my footsteps quick but hesitant. The front door stood open, swinging slightly in the evening breeze, and I could hear crashes coming from inside. Furniture being overturned, glass breaking.I paused at the threshold with my hand gripping the doorframe. Did I really want to witness this?A particularly loud shatter from the living room made my decision for me. I stepped inside, drawn by concern despite my better judgment.The scene that greeted me was chaos. Jason stood in the center of his once-pristine living room, unwinding his silk tie from around his bloodied knuckles. His breathing was measured but heavy, like a predator conserving energy between attacks.The white shirt beneath his suit jacket was now spattered with crimson droplets."All my troubles bega