Anika's P.O.V Kathy noticed me and hurried over, showering me with compliments as I emerged from my car. She donned a black and gold dress with a semi-transparent neckline that elegantly highlighted her curves, leaving her looking stunning. "Wow, you're fantastic!" she exclaimed. "Thank you," I replied with a smile. "You're no slouch yourself," I grinned. "Is this you?" she asked, clearly impressed. "No," I replied, rolling my eyes. "I'll let that slide, but you look stunning tonight," she praised me. "Thanks. Where's everyone?" I inquired impatiently. "They're inside. You're fashionably late, and Mr. Jordan is delivering his speech to the reporters in there," she informed me. "Oops... Well, head in. I'll catch up in the hall later," I told her, and she raised an eyebrow. "Are you certain?" she inquired, and I nodded in affirmation. "Alright, make sure to arrive early because soon enough, it'll be your turn to deliver the speech," she advised before walking away. My heart
Anika's P.O.V Right after Kathy left, James appeared almost instantly. "Well... How about you share something about yourself?" he suggested, taking a seat on the nearby chair, and I joined him. "There's not much to discuss. My life tends to be pretty uneventful," I responded, my voice trailing off. "Come on, there must be something worth talking about," he prodded, giving me a gentle nudge. "Alright then, what do you want to know?" I inquired, placing my arms on the table and resting my chin on them. "Everything about you, literally everything," he grinned. "Alright, I'm Anika Downs. I've been running this company since my parents passed away. I have a sister and a friend named Laura—" "Hold on, are you implying that Laura is your only friend?" he interrupted a hint of surprise in his tone. "Plus, Kathy," I added, causing him to raise an eyebrow. "I don't buy that. How can someone as attractive as you have just two friends?" he questioned. "What's wrong with that?" I shot ba
Anika's P.O.V I awoke slowly, feeling an overwhelming sense of exhaustion. Letting out a yawn, I sighed, my surroundings leaving me disoriented. Then, reality crashed down upon me, and I gasped audibly as the events of the previous night flooded my memory. What the heck had I done? Kelvin was still asleep, his arms wrapped around my waist as he spooned me from behind. Beneath the sheet that covered us, we lay naked. What on earth did I just do? Cautiously slipping away from Kelvin, I sat up, suppressing the sudden headache that pounded in my head. I pushed aside my tousled hair, tucking it behind my ears. My gaze lingered on Kelvin, who slept soundly, emitting soft snores. His innocent appearance while asleep contrasted sharply with the current situation. Getting to my feet, I collected my scattered clothing from the floor and tiptoed to the bathroom. A quiet change of attire was in order. At the moment, I wasn't prepared to engage with Kelvin, not when things were so awkwa
Kelvin's P.O.V I awoke with a throbbing headache, greeted by the morning light. My temples pulsed as I rubbed them, then reached for my phone to check the time – it was already six in the morning. Groaning, I sank back into the bed, shifting slightly and realizing I was naked under the blanket. Confusion knitted my brow. "How did I-? Oh, damn it," I cursed, a wave of remembrance flooding in from the previous night. Why did I let that happen? I should have had better control over myself and exercised some self-restraint. I was supposed to despise her, avoid her, and never fall into her trap again. So why the hell did I do the exact opposite? I sighed and raked my fingers through my hair. I messed up royally. Why did I even attend that party? I shouldn't have shown up, no – I should never have taken that drink and let myself get drunk. But I couldn't resist, not when I saw that jerk James talking to her. I impulsively grabbed whatever the bartender had on offer and downed it. I
Anika's P.O.V I sank onto the couch, my hands covering my face as I stifled the urge to let tears escape. I refuse to cry over Kelvin anymore. Who does he think he is, toying with my emotions as if I'm some sort of plaything? I had never understood him since he returned after disappearing for five years. He used to act as if he hated me, avoiding me at all costs. I even begged him at one point, but he slammed the door in my face. And now he was attempting to mend things between us when I had long lost interest in anything to do with him. He was beyond belief. He even claimed he's staying to fight for our love. Right... He was delusional. Maybe he was still intoxicated from last night, the alcohol lingering in his system, clouding his judgment. *** Day one (1) "Mr. Jordan is in your office, he arrived before I did," Kathy rushed to inform me as soon as I entered the company. I halted in my steps and faced her, taken aback. "Why is he here?" I questioned, surprised. "I'm not s
Anika's P.O.V I gazed at him for a moment before bursting into laughter in my seat. He regarded me with a bemused expression, but I couldn't have cared less. Was he asking me out on a date? Seriously? I thought he intended to fight for me, not to confess crazy things. After Kelvin gave me an odd look for a while, I gradually composed myself and wiped away the tears caused by my hearty laughter. He must be wondering why I found it amusing that he was inviting me on a date. I mean, he hadn't stopped giving me that "you're being silly" look. "So, is that a yes?" he asked with a grin. "No," I retorted, rolling my eyes. "Alright then, I'll just keep coming here for no reason." "No!" I exclaimed, and he couldn't help but smirk. "So, you agree?" he grinned. I let out a sigh. It's either I reluctantly agree to this silly date with him or endure his constant pestering and teasing about that night. His presence was a distraction that made it hard for me to focus. "Fine," I said, rolli
Anika's P.O.V "So, what can I get you?" the irritating manager inquired, although it seemed like she was directing the question solely to Kelvin. She flashed him that annoying smile, oozing with fake charm. "I'd rather not deal with you. Have someone else attend to us," I retorted, not hiding my displeasure. The woman's gaze turned to me, her brows knitting into a frown. "With all due respect, ma'am, I'm here to assist, whether you like it or not. It's not your call to decide who serves you. You should consider yourself fortunate to be in a place like this," she spat back, surprising me with her audacity. I hadn't anticipated her responding so rudely. "Just because I didn't react when you insulted me earlier doesn't mean I'm unintelligent. Why am I being treated this way? Is this how you treat all your customers?" I seethed, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "No, just the less privileged ones," she sneered, her smirk infuriating. "How dare you? Do you have any idea who I a
Anika's P.O.V I closed my eyes and sighed, tightly clutching my pillow. Why was I feeling this way? I should be happy that he was leaving. I mean, I wanted him to leave, so why was I sad about him leaving? I remembered the look he gave me after our kiss. It felt like we would never see each other again, and I felt heartbroken. I was surprised that I kissed him back. It was as if I was already used to him. During that kiss, I felt a spark inside me, and my heart raced so fast, it felt like it might explode. I was so confused about my feelings, and it was incredibly frustrating. He was leaving the next day, and I might never see him again. I felt devastated when he left five years ago, and now that I finally saw him again, it turned out he was leaving soon. I didn't know what to do anymore; I didn't understand myself. *** My eyes fluttered open as the sun's rays slowly invaded my room, earning a groan from me. Why does morning have to come so soon? Couldn't the hours be a bit