Sara walked briskly along the sidewalk, her eyes fixed on the office building ahead. She was already running late, thanks to a sleep-filled morning that had left her groggy and disoriented. Madison had specifically told her not to be late, and here she was, already 10 minutes behind schedule.
As she turned a corner, a black SUV sped past her, sending a wave of water from the road splashing over her. The water had accumulated on the road from the morning rain, and the SUV's tires had kicked it up, drenching Sara.
Sara's eyes widened in anger as she felt the cold water seep into her clothes. She let out a string of abusive words, her voice echoing through the morning air.
"Seriously?
The SUV sped past her, sending a wave of water splashing over her; Sara's anger boiled over. "Are you fucking blind, you rich bastard?" she shouted, her voice echoing through the morning air. "Can't you see people? Fucking dog!"
As soon as the words left her lips, the SUV screeched to a halt just a few feet away. Sara was still fuming with anger, her heart racing with indignation.
The driver's side door opened, and a man in a sleek black suit stepped out. He was wearing black goggles, which added to his already intimidating presence. He strode towards Sara, his long legs eating up the distance between them.
As he approached, he ripped off his goggles, revealing a pair of piercing bright blue eyes that seemed to bore into Sara's very soul.
"What did you just call me?" he growled, his voice low and menacing.
Sara stood her ground, her anger still simmering just below the surface. "I called you a rich bastard," she spat, her voice dripping with venom. "And a fucking dog, for that matter."
The man's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in anger. "You have no idea who I am, do you?" He sneered, his voice dripping with contempt.
Sara raised an eyebrow, her defiance unwavering. "No, and I don't care. You're just some entitled rich guy who thinks he can drive however he wants and splash people on the sidewalk."
The man's face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. "You're going to regret saying that," he growled, his voice low and menacing.
Sara stood her ground, her eyes locked on the man's angry face. "I'm shaking in my boots," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
The man took a step closer to her, his eyes blazing with anger. "You should be," he growled. "You have no idea who you're dealing with. I'm not some ordinary person you can insult and get away with it."
Sara's eyes widened slightly, but she didn't back down. "Well, excuse me for not recognizing your royal highness," she said, her voice heavy with sarcasm.
The man's face darkened even further, his eyes flashing with anger. "You're pushing your luck," he warned. "I'm not a person to be trifled with."
The man took another step closer to Sara, his face inches from hers. His eyes blazed with anger as he growled, "If you were a man, I would..."
Sara's eyes flashed with defiance as she interrupted him, "What you would, huh?"
Just as she spoke, her heel suddenly snapped, and she felt herself losing balance. She was about to fall forward, but the man's quick reflexes saved her. He grabbed her waist and hand, holding her upright.
For a moment, they were frozen in an awkward position, their faces still close together. Sara's eyes locked onto the man's, and she could see the anger still simmering beneath the surface.
But before either of them could say another word, a car sped past them, sending a wave of water splashing over them. The water drenched the man's face, and Sara couldn't help but burst out laughing at the sight.
The man's eyes narrowed, and he looked at Sara with a mixture of anger and embarrassment. Sara's laughter only seemed to fuel his irritation, and he tightened his grip on her waist and hand.
The man's expression changed, and he smirked at Sara, his eyes gleaming with a hint of amusement. "Don't be so happy; right now you're under me," he said, his voice low and husky.
Sara's laughter faltered, and she sensed the double meaning behind his words. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized the intimacy of their position. She quickly distanced herself from him, her face cold and expressionless once again.
"Bastard," she muttered, her voice barely audible.
She removed her broken heels and stood barefoot on the wet pavement. Without another glance at the man, she turned and walked away, leaving him standing alone.
The man watched her go, his eyes fixed on her retreating figure. A mixture of emotions played on his face—anger, frustration, and a hint of admiration for the feisty woman who had just walked out of his life. For a moment, he stood there, frozen in thought, before finally turning and walking back to his SUV.
*** Madison's eyes widened in shock as she took in Sara's disheveled appearance. "Sara, you're late," she said, trying to hide a smile. "But first, let's get you cleaned up."
Madison led Sara to the washroom, where she quickly fixed her hair and washed her face. After a few minutes, Sara emerged looking more composed, although her clothes were still damp from the earlier encounter.
Madison nodded in approval. "Okay, now you look presentable. Let's go meet Christopher."
As they walked to Christopher's cabin, Sara's nerves began to flutter. What would he be like? Would she make a good impression?
When they arrived, Christopher smiled warmly at Sara and invited her to sit. He scanned her profile, his eyes narrowing as he read.
"I must say, I'm impressed," he said, looking up at Sara. "You've had some impressive roles in the past. So, I have to ask, why are you looking to work as an assistant here? People usually strive for promotions, not demotions."
Sara hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "It's just personal issues, sir," she said finally.
Just then, the door to the cabin opened, and a man walked in. Christopher looked up, a hint of annoyance on his face.
"Austin, you're late," he said.
The man, Austin, shrugged. "Don't ask," he said. "I met a stupid woman today," he muttered.
As soon as the words left his lips, Sara's eyes snapped to his, and she felt a jolt of recognition. Austin's eyes widened in surprise as well, and they both said in unison, "You."
---
The clock struck 1 AM, and the mansion was quiet, the echoes of laughter and celebration fading into the stillness of the night. Sara found herself alone in the kitchen, the soft glow of the moonlight spilling through the windows. She stood by the counter, absently running her fingers over the remnants of the birthday cake she had baked for Austin. Despite the wonderful evening, a sense of disappointment lingered in her heart.She had poured her love and effort into that cake, but with all the festivities, Austin hadn’t had a chance to taste it. The thought weighed on her, and she sighed softly, feeling a twinge of sadness.Meanwhile, Austin had noticed Sara’s absence when he returned to their bedroom. Concerned, he quietly slipped out of bed and made his way through the darkened halls of the mansion, following the faint light that spilled from the kitchen. As he approached, he could see her silhouette, lost in thought.He stepped inside, and without a word, he walked up behind her, w
The aroma of something vaguely sweet filled the air as Sara stood in the kitchen, a determined look on her face. Today was Austin's birthday, and she had decided to surprise him with a homemade cake. The only problem? Sara still couldn’t cook or bake to save her life. Flour dusted her hair and cheeks, and a smudge of batter smeared across her apron.“Mom, are you sure that’s how you make a cake?” Amir asked, peering over the counter with a mischievous grin.“Yeah, it looks more like a science experiment!” Sam chimed in, giggling as he pointed at the mixing bowl, where the batter was lumpy and oddly colored.“Hey! I’ll have you know that this is going to be the best cake ever!” Sara replied, trying to sound confident as she whisked the mixture with all her might.Layla bounced on her toes, her eyes wide with excitement. “Can I help?" I want to add sprinkles!”“Sure, but only if you promise not to eat them all first!” Sara laughed, knowing full well that sprinkles were Layla’s favorite.
Sara's flight was announced, she and her parents made their way to the gate for boarding. Sara's eyes welled up with tears, and she struggled to hold them back. Memories of her time with Austin flooded her mind—their first wedding night, the countless times he had saved her, their fights, the tension, and the unresolved issues.The staff at the gate asked for her passport and ticket, but Sara was lost in thought. Her mother noticed her distraction and jerked her hand. The coldness in her voice was palpable as she reminded Sara, "Let's go, Sara. We need to board the plane."The staff at the gate asked for her passport and ticket, and Sara's mother handed them over without a word. Sara felt a pang of guilt and regret, knowing her mother's anger was directed at her.Austin sprinted into the airport, his eyes frantically scanning the departure board. His heart sank as he saw the Tehran flight's status change to "Boarding Final Call." He dashed toward the gate, but security guards blocked
"You're putting everything at risk, Austin," Christopher said, his voice rising. "Our business, our reputation, everything we've worked for. And for what? To defend a woman who's supposedly just a part of a fake marriage? You're not making any sense, Austin. You need to get your priorities straight and fast."Austin's eyes flashed with anger, and he grabbed Christopher's neck, pushing him against the glass window. His eyes blazed with fury as he spoke, his voice low and menacing. "Stop calling her 'a woman.' She has a name, and her name is Sara Reed. She is my fucking wife. She always respected you; she thought you were an ideal husband."Christopher's eyes widened, but he pushed Austin away. "Why do you care about her, huh? She's not your real wife. Your relationship was a lie."Austin's face twisted in anger. "Even if the relationship can be fake, the vows are not fake. She is legally my wedded wife, like it or not."Christopher's expression turned probing. "Why? Why do you think so
Christopher closed the door behind him and strode toward Austin, his expression a mix of concern and frustration. "What's wrong with you, man? What are you even doing?" he asked, his voice laced with exasperation.Austin ignored him, taking out a cigarette and walking toward the window. The sound of traffic and city life drifted in, a stark contrast to the tension inside the room. Christopher followed him, his anger simmering."I fucking canceled my honeymoon to clear your mess. What have you done, Austin?" What have you done to Franklin?" Christopher's voice rose, his words tumbling out in a rush. "And now here, in our office, what are you going to do? You've become insane!"Austin turned to face Christopher, his eyes flashing with intensity. "No one has the right to insult Sara," he said, his voice firm.Christopher's expression turned incredulous. "Okay, and can you explain to me why Sara is all of a sudden so important to you?" he asked, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Wasn't your
Maddy walked into Sara's room, her eyes scanning the space as she took in the sight of Sara packing her belongings. Sara's silence was palpable, and Maddy's concern grew as she approached her friend."Are you really leaving?" Maddy asked, her voice soft but laced with a hint of urgency. Sara didn't respond, her focus solely on folding her clothes and placing them in her suitcase.Maddy walked closer to Sara, her expression intense. "Sara, look at me," she said, her voice rising slightly. "I fucking canceled my honeymoon and came here to see you. Was it all true what I heard about that?"Sara sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly as she finally met Maddy's gaze. "Yes," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.Maddy's confusion was evident. "What do you mean by yes?" she pressed, her brow furrowed. "You never told me about your relationship with Austin. You could have told me. Why didn't you?Sara's eyes welled up with tears as she looked at Maddy. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice