QUINN'S POV We arrived at the Musée d'Orsay, its grandeur took my breath away. Bryan led me through the halls, stopping at Monet's Water Lilies."This is my favorite," Bryan said, his eyes locked onto the artwork. "There's something peaceful about it."I stepped closer to it, examining the painting's soft colors. It was indeed a beauty."It's beautiful," I agreed, feeling a sense of calm wash over me.But what surprised me was Bryan's appreciation for art. Growing up, he never showed interest.I remember how, as a kid, Bryan would scribble randomly with his brush, creating a very chaotic mess.Now, he stood beside me, admiring the very thing he once disliked.I couldn’t help but wonder what changed him? How did he develop such a refinery taste?Bryan turned to me, his gaze softening. "You seem so distant tonight."I shrugged, unsure how to respond. His words felt hypocritical. All night, he'd ignored me, his attention elsewhere.Now, he pretended to notice my mood?"I'm fine," I said,
BRYAN'S POVI watched Quinn rush out of the car, tears streaming down her face. My conscience prickled, but I suppressed it.It was all a game, after all. A game to see how much she cared.FLASHBACK_I remember the day I met Camille, at a charity gala at the Grand Palace, supporting a renowned art foundation. She was stunning, witty, and shared my passion for art.Her green eyes lit up every time she smiled. Her raven-black hair fell down her back, framing her heart-shaped face.Intrigued, I made my way through the crowd, exchanging pleasantries with acquaintances along the way."Bonjour, mademoiselle," I said, approaching her. "You seem to be enjoying the evening."She turned, her gaze fixed onto mine. "Oui, merci," she replied, her French accent melted my heart. "The art is breathtaking."We strolled through the exhibit, discussing art, culture, and life. Her name was Camille, a freelance journalist covering the Parisian art scene.Our conversation flowed effortlessly. We shared laug
EVA'S POVI couldn't help but notice Matt's changed behavior ever since Quinn went on that trip with Bryan.He'd always been friendly, but now he’s so attentive, thoughtful, and even charming.I realized my heart never made a mistake when it chose Matt.As I sat at my counter, Matt walked in, carrying a small gift box. "Hey, Eva! He walked up to me smiling.“What you up to?” I giggled whilst trying to peep. He revealed a tiny box behind his back.“I saw this and thought of you," he mentioned, his eyes sparkling.I unwrapped the box to reveal a beautiful silver necklace with a tiny pendant sitting on top."Matt, this is gorgeous! Thank you!"He beamed, leaning in to kiss me openly.I fidgeted. “We’re at work”, I reminded him, but he didn’t seem to care.Some colleagues glanced over, raising eyebrows. I felt a flutter in my chest. Never has he ever been this open in our relationship."Welcome back, Eva," Matt whispered, his breath tickling my ear.Throughout the day, Matt continued to st
QUINN’S POVI slowly opened my eyes to find Bryan's gentle face hovering above mine, his soft lips brushed against my forehead in a tender kiss.Continuously."Hey, it’s time to leave," he whispered, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine.Drowsily, I asked, "What happened?"My voice was mixed with sleepiness and a hint of disappointment.Bryan's hands enveloped mine, his fingers intertwining with mine in a comforting hold. He patted my hands gently, his touch very soothing."I have an urgent meeting to attend to," he explained, his eyes apologetic. "But don't worry, we'll come back to Paris soon. I promise."I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant, but my heart ached at the thought of leaving this enchanting city. The past few days with Bryan had been nothing short of magical, and I wasn't ready for it to end."This trip has been...amazing," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.Bryan's smile fell for a moment, and I sensed a flicker of emotion in his eyes."They've already
I stepped into my cozy home, the warmness and the comforting aroma of freshly baked cookies filled the house. Eva and her excellent baking skills.The moment she saw me, she flung her arms around me. “I’ve missed you, love” and we shared a heartfelt hug, both of us giggling as we chatted about everything and nothing.I handed her a box overflowing with outfits Bryan had bought for me, urging her to pick up whatever caught her eye. "I couldn't possibly wear all of these," I said with a grin on my face."Bryan's shopping sprees are legendary. See this "I pulled out a stunning red dress, holding it up against myself. Eva's eyes widened in approval."Quinn, you'd rock that!" she exclaimed.I chuckled, and for a moment, everything became normal again.As we delved into the box's treasures, I couldn't skip telling Eva about the mysterious woman in Paris. “Eva, there’s something bothering me,” I added, my voice almost in a whisper.“ I need to tell you about this woman in Paris." Eva's expr
As I stepped into my childhood home, surrounded by familiar faces, yet feeling out of place. Everyone was dressed in mourning attire, their faces filled with grief. My heart ached as I spotted my stepmother, her eyes red-rimmed, standing beside Anna's grave.Anna's grave nestled closely to my mother's family plot, and it brought back memories.I turned to her, confusion swirling in my mind.As I wrapped my hair in a black linen scarf, my mind wandered."What's happening in my life exactly? It seems like my world is crumbling around me.I took a deep breath for what felt like the hundredth time and joined the rest of the family, ready to say goodbye to Anna.At that moment, everything was over and everyone offered condolences.I moved to the other side of the cemetery where my mom was buried.And I was shocked to my bones. My mom's ashes were staring back at me. I knelt down, eyes teary. Speaking to her as I held the ashes.Bryan kept his promise," I thought to myself. "But why? What's
As I walked into the club, I felt like a spectacle. Everyone's eyes were fixed on me, their whispers and pointing fingers were unmistakable.I tried to ignore the stares, but my face burned with embarrassment. Eva approached me immediately with concern written on her face. "Quinn, honey, you look horrible. What happened?"She guided me to a quiet corner, away from the prying eyes."I had a fight with Clark," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.Eva's expression became pitiful "About Bryan?"I nodded, and Eva's eyes widened."But I insisted to accompany you and you refused. Quinn, people are talking. They know you're dating him."I sighed, confirming her suspicions. "It's true."“Especially our co workers, they feel you’ve been away for so long and over using the privileges you have.”Her voice dropped to a whisper. "All I can say is, you really need to Be careful, Quinn. Bryan's reputation... it's complicated."Just then, our boss, Mr. Jenkins, emerged from his office. "Quinn
QUINNS POVJasper's eyes sparkled with amusement as I approached. "Took you long enough," he teased.I smiled, taking the seat across from him. "Sorry, I was busy."Jasper chuckled. "I had to plead extra with Eva to get you here. You know I don't ask, I make it happen."My skepticism must have shown, because Jasper held up his hands in mock defense. "Just joking, Quinn. Don't look so serious."My skepticism must have shown, because Jasper held up his hands in mock defense. "Just joking, Quinn. Don't look so serious."He gestured to the empty chair across from him. "Sit, please."I looked around, searching for his guards. Looks like he came alone today. I hesitated for a moment before taking a seat next to him."So," he continued, leaning back in his chair."As friends, since that's what we agreed to be. Why haven't I seen you around in a while?"His tone was casual, but I sensed a hidden undertone."I've been busy," I repeated.Jasper's eyes crinkled at the corners. "Busy avoiding me
I stood before Mr. Jenkins, feeling awful.knew I was in for a scolding, and I wasn't sure if I was ready for it. I looked down at my clothes, which were still damp from the drink the woman had poured on me. The memory of the incident is still fresh in my mind."I see you're still wet from the incident," Mr. Jenkins added. "I'm surprised you didn't think about changing your clothes before coming to see me."I shrugged, feeling a sense of embarrassment. "I didn't have time," I explained. "You asked me to come see you right away."Mr. Jenkins nodded, his expression unreadable. "Yes, I did. Because I wanted to talk to you about what happened. I've received complaints about your behavior today, Quinn. Complaints that you were rude to a customer, and that you seemed completely unprofessional."I felt a surge of defensiveness, but I tried to keep my cool. "That's not fair," I said, trying to explain. "The woman was being completely unreasonable. She was insulting me and making terrible com
I stood before Mr. Jenkins, feeling awful.knew I was in for a scolding, and I wasn't sure if I was ready for it. I looked down at my clothes, which were still damp from the drink the woman had poured on me. The memory of the incident is still fresh in my mind."I see you're still wet from the incident," Mr. Jenkins added. "I'm surprised you didn't think about changing your clothes before coming to see me."I shrugged, feeling a sense of embarrassment. "I didn't have time," I explained. "You asked me to come see you right away."Mr. Jenkins nodded, his expression unreadable. "Yes, I did. Because I wanted to talk to you about what happened. I've received complaints about your behavior today, Quinn. Complaints that you were rude to a customer, and that you seemed completely unprofessional."I felt a surge of defensiveness, but I tried to keep my cool. "That's not fair," I said, trying to explain. "The woman was being completely unreasonable. She was insulting me and making terrible com
I stood before Mr. Jenkins, feeling awful.knew I was in for a scolding, and I wasn't sure if I was ready for it. I looked down at my clothes, which were still damp from the drink the woman had poured on me. The memory of the incident is still fresh in my mind."I see you're still wet from the incident," Mr. Jenkins added. "I'm surprised you didn't think about changing your clothes before coming to see me."I shrugged, feeling a sense of embarrassment. "I didn't have time," I explained. "You asked me to come see you right away."Mr. Jenkins nodded, his expression unreadable. "Yes, I did. Because I wanted to talk to you about what happened. I've received complaints about your behavior today, Quinn. Complaints that you were rude to a customer, and that you seemed completely unprofessional."I felt a surge of defensiveness, but I tried to keep my cool. "That's not fair," I said, trying to explain. "The woman was being completely unreasonable. She was insulting me and making terrible com
QUINN'S POVI glanced at my watch for what felt like the hundredth time, my eyes widening in surprise as I realized I'd been waiting for Bryan for four whole hours. This was unheard of - Bryan never kept me waiting for so long. In fact, it was usually the other way around; he'd often show up at my doorstep unannounced with a charming smile spreading across his face.But today was different. Today, I was the one waiting, and waiting some more. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, my eyes drifting towards the secretary who was typing away on her computer with a look of blatant disinterest on her face.I couldn't help but notice the sarcastic glint in her eye when she mentioned that he would be with me shortly earlier. It was as if she knew a secret I didn't, and it made my skin crawl. I began to wonder if she really told Bryan I was here. I sighed, my mind wandering back to the events of the past few days. It had been a whirlwind, to say the least. After appearing on TV to debunk the ru
QUINN'S POVI glanced at my watch for what felt like the hundredth time, my eyes widening in surprise as I realized I'd been waiting for Bryan for four whole hours. This was unheard of - Bryan never kept me waiting for so long. In fact, it was usually the other way around; he'd often show up at my doorstep unannounced with a charming smile spreading across his face.But today was different. Today, I was the one waiting, and waiting some more. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, my eyes drifting towards the secretary who was typing away on her computer with a look of blatant disinterest on her face.I couldn't help but notice the sarcastic glint in her eye when she mentioned that he would be with me shortly earlier. It was as if she knew a secret I didn't, and it made my skin crawl. I began to wonder if she really told Bryan I was here. I sighed, my mind wandering back to the events of the past few days. It had been a whirlwind, to say the least. After appearing on TV to debunk the ru
QUINN'S POVI glanced at my watch for what felt like the hundredth time, my eyes widening in surprise as I realized I'd been waiting for Bryan for four whole hours. This was unheard of - Bryan never kept me waiting for so long. In fact, it was usually the other way around; he'd often show up at my doorstep unannounced with a charming smile spreading across his face.But today was different. Today, I was the one waiting, and waiting some more. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, my eyes drifting towards the secretary who was typing away on her computer with a look of blatant disinterest on her face.I couldn't help but notice the sarcastic glint in her eye when she mentioned that he would be with me shortly earlier. It was as if she knew a secret I didn't, and it made my skin crawl. I began to wonder if she really told Bryan I was here. I sighed, my mind wandering back to the events of the past few days. It had been a whirlwind, to say the least. After appearing on TV to debunk the ru
QUINN'S POVI glanced at my watch for what felt like the hundredth time, my eyes widening in surprise as I realized I'd been waiting for Bryan for four whole hours. This was unheard of - Bryan never kept me waiting for so long. In fact, it was usually the other way around; he'd often show up at my doorstep unannounced with a charming smile spreading across his face.But today was different. Today, I was the one waiting, and waiting some more. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, my eyes drifting towards the secretary who was typing away on her computer with a look of blatant disinterest on her face.I couldn't help but notice the sarcastic glint in her eye when she mentioned that he would be with me shortly earlier. It was as if she knew a secret I didn't, and it made my skin crawl. I began to wonder if she really told Bryan I was here. I sighed, my mind wandering back to the events of the past few days. It had been a whirlwind, to say the least. After appearing on TV to debunk the ru
QUINN'S POVI glanced at my watch for what felt like the hundredth time, my eyes widening in surprise as I realized I'd been waiting for Bryan for four whole hours. This was unheard of - Bryan never kept me waiting for so long. In fact, it was usually the other way around; he'd often show up at my doorstep unannounced with a charming smile spreading across his face.But today was different. Today, I was the one waiting, and waiting some more. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, my eyes drifting towards the secretary who was typing away on her computer with a look of blatant disinterest on her face.I couldn't help but notice the sarcastic glint in her eye when she mentioned that he would be with me shortly earlier. It was as if she knew a secret I didn't, and it made my skin crawl. I began to wonder if she really told Bryan I was here. I sighed, my mind wandering back to the events of the past few days. It had been a whirlwind, to say the least. After appearing on TV to debunk the ru
QUINN'S POVI walked into the club, the familiar sound of laughter and music enveloping me like a warm hug. It had been a while since I last worked here, but Mr. Jenkins, had called me back in, saying they needed me to cover a shift.I clocked in and began to get ready for my shift, tying on my apron and grabbing a tray of drinks to take out to the floor. As I worked, I couldn't help but scan the crowd, looking for familiar faces, till my eyes landed on Matt, Eva's boyfriend. He shot me a knowing glance, carrying on with his activity.I felt a flutter in my chest as our eyes met. Matt had always been a good friend, but lately, I'd started to notice the way he looked at me, the way he smiled at me.I made my way over to him, he stood up, his eyes never leaving mine. "Hey, how are you doing?" he asked, in his low and gentle voice.I nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine, how’s work been?"Just then my phone rang. I searched around for Mr Jenkins, but he was not in sight. So I grabbed my phone, exc