We. I haven't heard that in so long. I nodded, leaning dangerously closer. His eyes slid down to my lips before he looked up to my eyes again."I am seeing that now. Hopefully, it isn't too late."Something passed in his eyes, and suddenly, I felt his hand in the back of my hair, pulling me further into him. Till I could feel the soft lines of his lips against mine."With me, you are never too late."His words caressed my skin more than they actually reached my ears, and I felt heat rise up my chest, my heart expanding a little more. My eyes met his, and I brushed my lips against his."Let me take you to the bath."He rolled his eyes, and I gave a small laugh. "You are like a child right now."He slowly sat up, pushing his hands through his hair. I immediately stood up and handed him my hand. He was at least twice my size, and I knew it was just a gesture, but I wouldn't be able to pull him up.He took my hand, then tugged me forward a bit, his eyes darkening a little. "Florian..."
I am not sure how long I stood in that bath, but when I got out, Florian was standing close to the dresser, his eyes focused on the mirror. He was wearing black pants and a belt, and nothing else.I swallowed hard and walked into the room, my eyes resting on his broad back. I felt my breath hitch in my throat before I pulled my eyes away from him, letting them navigate to the clean white box resting on the bed."Is this the dress you were talking about?"He turned slightly to me, his eyes falling below my face for a short moment before he gave me a smile. "Try it on."I nodded slowly, then walked to the box. It was neatly folded inside, and I moved the complimentary card away from the box.I pulled out the dress and let it fall down to my feet, my eyes taking it in. It was a shiny silk dress with sleeves made of a string of pearls and an arrangement of the same strings ofnpearls over the chest area, leaving enough to tease and even more to imagination.I looked up to Florian, who sti
I took a bit more time to brace myself, and Florian gave me a bit of space. I hated them for ditching me like that. For taking Ronan's side till the very end, even after everything he had done to me. I hated them for pushing me out to the streets like I wasn't their own consensual decision. I never asked for them to bring me here. I never asked for any of this.I wiped the tears off my face and walked out of the closet. Florian was standing the the door, his eyes thin, his hands pushed in his pockets."Are you sure, Roxanne?"I nodded slowly. "I just need to fix myself up in my room."He nodded. "Feel free."I sloely walked out of his room, hatred mounting in my heart with each step I took closer to my room. I stepped into the same bedroom that a stranger loved me enough to make for me, but not my own mother. Even after giving Ronan every little thing he asked for. It was sickening.I sat in front of the dresser and slowly started to apply makeup. I had learned it back then so I woul
Florian had massively undermined how big of an event we were going to. Not that we were underdressed for the elite five-star hotel the car came to a stop in front of, or the herd of reporters that suddenly ran to the car once they realized it belonged to Florian. I mean, even if Florian wanted to be underdressed, he was physically cursed to never be able to.Not just his body, the god level proportions, or the perfectly sculpted face, he had an astronomical amount of money, style, and taste to match it. A shirt from his drawer could easily cost more than all of the allowances I was given at home till the very day I started working."What... are the reporters for?"He gave a small smile. "It's a big day for the company, love. Hence, the celebrations."I nodded slowly. "What is this...""You will learn it in there. No one knows yet."I nodded slowly, my eyes narrowing. "You are... not cooperating with my father's company, are you? I mean, I know he is pretty successful, but..""Is he as
I blinked, looking up to Florian, who now, more than ever, seemed like the man I used to know. His eyes were cold and focused, and the sharpness of his gaze could effectively slice through an enemy.He gently pulled me with him, and I took the first step forward. I turned, my eyes falling on the red carpet we were walking down, and I felt the weight of their potential presence suddenly fill me.People started to clap and stand up, and I turned around to the crowd on my left. Just happy elegantly dressed people clapping their hands. I swallowed and turned to the left. My brain slightly blurred out Florian so I could see the crowd. To my relief, I couldn't see any of them. I heaved a sigh of relief and started to turn around when I saw it. A beaded sheer glove that I remember my mother buying the last piece of. I remember how much I had loved them back then, and right now, it did nothing but knock the air out of me.My lips parted, my feet merely following Florian's lead at this point.
Blood drained from my face, and I turned to Florian, my eyes wide, my chest heaving. My heartbeat slowed to oblivion, and I could barely hear my own heartbeat or even feel my own feet.Frederick Wood. That was my father's name. That was....Florian's expression was blank, his eyes watching me keenly as the announcement continued, something about how the companies will be remodelled and restructured under the new leadership of CEO Florian Hunt, who will take the liberty to assign new workers for each of the companies he had acquired.I turned sharply, and as predicted, my parents were on their feet for the first time ever since the party started, and my mother looked like she was ready to give up the ghost. My dad was trying to look a little bit more composed, but he was doing a bad job at it."There is still a tiny bit more," Florian whispered to my ear, his hand running down my arm. "The party just started, sweetie."I turned to meet his eyes, and the darkness in them threatened to d
"Don't you fucking dare!" My father suddenly yelled, causing me to look up, fear reverberating through me as I met his rage filled eyes.I could hear Florian chuckle behind me, and I swallowed hard, gripping the pen tighter. All I wanted was to run behind Florian and hide, but I knew I should start sucking up for myself now. Against the abuse. Against the pain.I sniffed hard, then looked up, meeting his eyes."Why not? Why did you let go of your little company, Mr. Frederick?"Florian broke into a laugh behind me, and it only thickened my skin, only made me want to go lower than I already have. They had so much fun breaking me apart over the years. Why would they be angry now that it was my turn? Why would it hurt then for me to find my own way?"You... how dare you?" My dad said, stepping forward slowly. "You cooperated with that man to snatch my company from me?! You disguised as an investment and...""You needed investment?" I asked, my eyes darting to my mother. "Why? Did taking
"Roxanne, please. Pleaase, I am begging you. We have debts, we have.... we have so many things to do and... the hoise, Roxanne. Do you want us to have to sell the house? Do you want us to..."I blocked it all out as I leaned over the documents, reading the first clauses. Florian was right. This was much better than spray painting them.I blocked out my mother's pleas and, without a word, signed on the papers. The hall was silent, but Florian started to clap, causing the entire rom to immediately lighten up with a round of applause.People began to stand up, and soon, it turned to a standing ovation. It was exactly the sort of validation I needed after standing up to my parents for the first time in my life.Floroan came up beside me and kissed my cheek before taking the documents and handing them to his attorney."You did well, sweetheart. You are a brave, strong woman."I nodded, turning to him. He gave me a small smile, and I bit down on my lips, letting out a small, shaky breath.I
FLORIAN'S P.O.V I took a deep breath and looked down at the suit I was wearing. It was the same one that dad had kept to attend my wedding in. It was Roxanne who had suggested it, and now that I am, I felt it all the way to my bones.I looked around. It was just me and the officiating priest, waiting for Roxanne.I have dreamed of this day my entire life. Watching her walk down the aisle to me. Her dress. Her smile.The door cracked open, and I straightened even more, my heart pounding hard as I watched the door. It opened wide, bathing the church in sunlight. I kept my eyes on it till I finally saw her. She was standing there, like she had materialised out of my most ambitious dreams. My heart pounded in my chest, and I found myself reciting the vows I had memorised ever since we started wedding planning. It's not like there was a lot to plan.She looked up to me, and even through the veil, I could see her smile. It reminded me of the reason I had never even looked at another wom
ROXANNE'S P.O.V I woke up with a start, my heart beating wildly in my chest. I immediately turned to the left side of the bed, already preparing my heart for the ultimate fuckery that it had all been a dream. The hugs, the kisses, the tears... that it was all nothing but me yearning.To my surprise, Florian was already awake, his body half covered by the sheets, his hand holding up his chin as he watched me, a soft tender look I his eyes.I let out a sigh of relief, my eyes slowly blinking as I savoured his presence.He gave me a smile, then reached his other hand out to me. "Did you wake up to check if I was real?" I nodded truthfully, then adjusted, so I was lying next to him, my eyes taking his. "I think I would really die if you weren't."He smiled, his hand reaching up to gently caress my face. "You are just as beautiful as you were a year ago."His voice was a small whisper, and I drew even closer."You are going to have to promise me something."He laughed, then brought my ha
I sat on the edge of the same hotel suite we had stayed in the we came here together a year ago for my birthday, my heart feeling rather heavy. I could hear the sound of the bath, and even though I had promised myself to be calm amd stay in here, it was hard to not want to barge in there just to make sure he really was back. To make sure my Florian really was alive.I took in the hotel room. It looked like he had been here for a while. Probably not the entire year, but still a bit of time. I walked to the dresser, and my heart felt even heavier. My pictures were sitting in glass frames all over, adorning the dresser.I swallowed, tears stinging the back of my eyes. There were lots of books to the side. Mostly about healing. Forgiveness. I wondered just how much he believed he needed to work on himself just so he could love me.I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath, just as the sound of the shower stopped. I held my breath, then slowly turned to him, my lips parting. He was by t
The kiss was slow, and I felt all of the parts of me that had broken over the last year slowly come together again. My mind fought the possibility that this man was really Florian, but my stupid, stupid heart was already fluid for him. Like he wasn't gone for a whole year. Like he didn't disappear for a whole year.When he broke the kiss, I found myself leaning towards him, needing more, begging for more with everything in my body except my voice.His thumb ran across my face, wiping the tears away. He then leaned close, kissing those tears away, like I always imagined he would during those late nights when I lay in bed, missing him."I am sorry," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "I am sorry I put you through that. I am sorry, Rox."I opened my eyes, my chest heaving. "You... Are you really Florian?"He nodded slowly, a single tear falling off his cheek. "I am sorry."I swallowed, reaching for his hand. Like I needed to make sure. Like I needed to know. "You... you died.
I have asked the question several times. How would it feel for time to stop? How would it feel if... for a second, for a minute, time stops, and we breathe?I just realized that I was wrong about being able to breathe. Time froze in place for me, and so did everything as I know it. My tears, my trembling fingers, my beating heart, my breath.My fingers dangled off the door knob, and I just stood there, unable to think. Unable to do a thing. I swallowed hard, then blinked, a long tear running down from my left eye. Is it that I had been bestowed a minute from the heavens? To hear that voice before I go back to the emptiness that I am still learning to embrace?I bit down on my lips. That voice, that name... it belonged to a part of my heart that will probably forever carry pain. Probably forever, carry regret.I closed my eyes and took a step forward. My imaginations now have voices. Very beautiful voices, but I knew I wad going insane.I turned the door knob just as a small snicker
EXACTLY 364 DAYS LATER"You became an international violin sensation in such a short time. Of course, we know you have been playing ever since you were a child, but how are you coping with being a celebrity and also the CEO of a multitrillion dollar company like the Hunt group?"I nodded slowly to the last question of the interviewer. My eyes focused on her. The question reeled in my mind, and I blinked fast and hard in order to make sure the tears wouldn't come falling. I played around with the ring on my finger, then broke into a small laugh. "Trust," I said finally. "There is someone who trusts me, and even though I have let them down once, I am determined to never do it again."She smiled. "There has been gossip around the...""You said that was your last question."She smiled a little shyly. "How about one more?"I bit down on my lips. I knew what she was going to ask. Everyone knew Florian had died a year ago. Everyone knew I was here because he handed everything to me. And the
My eyes opened to the dim lights of a painfully familiar hotel room. My lips parted as a silent tear ran down the edge of my left cheek. I sat up slowly, my legs drawn to me. The room felt so ghostly. So empty. Like it had been stripped of everything that ever made it come alive. Like it had been stripped of what it used to be.I looked around. On the dresser was Florian's phone, a bouquet of flowers, a wrapped item, and his gun. I swallowed hard, my heart breaking all over again.Seeing the gun reminded me of just how real this was. That my Florian was truly dead, and I was the reason for it. That my Florian would never come back, and it's all because of me.I stumbled out of bed and walked towards the dresser, my eyes falling on my reflection. I looked like a ghost of myself. Nothing like the woman who had been so properly loved just hours ago.My knees felt weak, and I grabbed the edge of the dresser to keep stable, my heart pounding in my chest.I reached for the flowers first,
My world crashed and burned right in front of my very eyes. I leaned to Florian, my mind knowing exactly what had happened. He was gone. The bullet of my betrayal still embedded in his chest, the tears that I put in his eyes forever there.But my heart... my heart refused to believe me. We shared a kiss in bed just hours ago. He lay hid head on my lap and laughed like the entire world was beautiful. He told me that he loved me. That he always wanted to lay on my lap.I doubt this was how he wanted it to be. I doubt he wanted to be on my lap, dead. I doubt he wanted to see me cry."Florian?"There was no answer. The night was quiet, like even the world knew I had lost my heart. Not just a piece. Now, just a part of me. Roxanne, as I knew her, was dead with Florian. "We were going for dinner, remember?""Miss?" One of the doctors said, and I looked up, shaking my head. "Shhh, Florian hates noise. He also hates my tears, so why is he letting me cry?"I looked down at him. He looked
I gasped, my breaths stopping in my throat, my eyes flying open. Florian was still standing in front of me, his hand wrapped around the gun, his eyes wide. I almost didn't want to look down. Hell, I hated that it felt almost compulsive for me to look down.My chest heaved, and I felt my heart strings pull farther than I ever expected. I could feel the sticky wetness on my face. I could feel it on my hands, but hell, I hoped something had spat on me, and it wasn't what I was thinking.I slowly looked down, and I gave a small yelp, my eyes immediately filling with tears. I shot Florian. I really did shoot him.I slowly looked back up, and he was still watching me, his eyes darting across both of mine."Florian," I managed to say, taking a step even further. As if that was all he needed, his hands let go of the gun, and he fell to the floor at my feet."Florian!" I screamed, my hands immediately letting go of the gun too.I went on my knees, my hands cupping his face, the blood stains