Chapter 25***Vanessa's POV:***Sunday evening had finally arrived, and I was a bundle of nerves. Claire had spent the day helping me prepare for my boss's dinner date. Claire was a perfectionist, and I had entrusted her with the task of getting me ready, and maybe she was beginning to do too much. She turned her room upside down searching for the perfect outfit."Vanessa, how's this?" She asked, raising a very skimpy, short, and revealing dress with nude mesh. I shook my head. "Too revealing?" She inquired, and I nodded."Ok, what else do I have here?" She said, looking at the loaded wardrobe with her hands on her hips. "Claire, I told you, something moderate. I'm not participating in a pageant...""But still, you have to look pretty and show him your worth, girl- I found it! The perfect outfit for tonight!" She said excitedly in between explaining why we should do this.As the evening sun painted the sky with hues of orange and pink, I stood before the mirror, barely recognizing the
Chapter 26Vanessa's POV:The night in the car with Mr. Garcia had been humiliating, and I couldn't shake off the burning heat that had crept into my cheeks. His harsh words and actions left a lasting wound, and I found it hard to forget the way my face flushed with humiliation. What did he think of me? Some toy without feelings?The following day at work, my boss acted as if nothing had happened. He was back to his usual distant and demanding self. "Why are you coming at this time?" Was the first question he asked the moment I walked through the door, his eyes staring lazily at me."Time?" I quickly stared at my watch; the time was exactly 7:59, which meant I was one minute away from being late. I was going to explain the time in the traffic, and how I had to walk here, but I'd rather not. I think the universe wants to go against me today, but I wouldn't give up."I'm early," I replied, trying to look straight into his eyes, but there was something about him that always left me intim
Chapter 27***Andre's POV:***Outside, I lit a cigarette, exhaling into the air. Just then, the gate opened with a creak, and a teenage boy stepped in. He was in his school uniform, with his bag slung over one shoulder and an AirPod in his ear. Upon seeing Ethan and me, he paused for a moment, then lowered his gaze to the ground and walked past us without a word.The first time I saw her other son, I thought. Ethan patted my shoulder. "Andre, I asked you nicely not to mess this up. Why are you acting strange?" He inquired."Did you see her son? He must be getting all the love he needs from having a complete family," I commented, changing the subject."Ethan, you know I was younger than him when my mother left me? Just a child who had to deal with things on his own. I had no one to turn to back then; my father was in his world." I took another drag from the cigarette before speaking again."I feel jealous of that young man.""Your brother?"I chuckled. "Says who? Just because he's Tayl
Chapter 28Vanessa's POV:Continuation...Upon my return to the office, he had already packed up. I wondered if we were done for the day. Before I could voice my question, he seemed to read my mind."Yes, we're finished. Did you treat your face?" He inquired, and I nodded in response."Pack your things quickly; I'll drop you off at your house." My spirits lifted upon realizing it was only 3:00 pm, giving me a chance to rest today and then the whole day tomorrow. The 8-9 hour workdays throughout the week were taking a toll on me. Traces of dark circles under my eyes were visible in the mirror this morning which meant I needed proper rest."You're smiling?" He quizzed with an amused expression. "Don't get too happy just yet. I'll drop you home, and at 7:00 pm, I'll come to pick you up. Pack your things for the night as well.""Huh? Where are we going?" I asked with a perplexed look; the smile I had earlier vanished."My house," he revealed. "We're working overtime tonight.""Overtime???
Chapter 29Vanessa's POV:"What makes you think she's better than Stanley, brother?" She asked but he didn't give a reply. She exhaled deeply,"Anyways, In case you're firing her soon, we should offer her a job at the mansion, she looks like she fits in here more than working as your assistant. I'd like to see her refuse work from me." She was looking down on me."I'll consider it, Lou." He said, put his arms around my shoulder and we left her room. In the lobby, he spoke again, "You're so quick to find odd jobs, I guess that's why you found another one after Taylor's, just before I met you. That's an aside, you should stay away from my sister, she doesn't like you already." What do I care if she doesn't? I don't work under her, not that I enjoy working under Mr. Garcia.We walked down the corridors a bit more till we got to the room at the end of the space.He brought out the key and opened the door, and with a heavy sigh, he went inside first. He didn't take time to remove his suit
Chapter 30**Andre's POV:**The room was dimly lit, with a sliver of moonlight seeping through the half-opened window, casting a soft glow on her face.I admired her smooth, milky pale skin as she focused on her work with furrowed brows and a serious face. For the first time since our encounters, I felt something different about this girl, not her typical aura that I disliked.She looked different while working in silence—innocent and with a cute, petite face. Something instantly drew me to her as I noticed her hair flying over her face, must be bothering her, I guessed.Moving closer, softly brushing her face as I removed the hair and tucked it behind her ear, I unintentionally surprised her. She jerked instantly, staring at me with widened eyes."Sir, what are you doing?" she asked.Realizing I had crossed the line, I withdrew my hand quickly, scratching the back of my neck, wondering why I even cared if the hair bothered her in the first place.As I explained, her pouted lips stirr
Chapter 31Vanessa's POV:The room seemed more like a fancy store than a personal closet. There were numerous expensive brands, some unfamiliar to me. The colors and varied materials made decision-making tricky.I stood alone in this extravagant place, feeling small beside the tall shelves. Swiftly, I jotted down my needs: a shirt, pants, a vest, a jacket, a tie, socks, and shoes.Most colors were subdued—beige, brown, grey, navy blue, white, and black. Perhaps he disliked bright colors altogether? That might explain why I never saw him wear any.I chose a white shirt with intricate bird patterns and checked off each item. Neatly arranging everything on the sofa, I meticulously matched the ensemble. As I sorted pants and aligned everything, the door opened."Sir, I've readied your clothes," I announced."Ok," came his brief reply.Inspecting the clothes, the next thing I heard was him yelling my name."Vanessa!" I momentarily puzzled over why he'd be calling me and rushed to address h
Chapter 32Vanessa's POV:As we stepped outside, I edged away from him, maintaining a distance, wanting to create some space between us. "Sir, why are you here? I thought you don't come to places like this?" This restaurant is not a place extravagant, so I doubt he'd come here just for himself."You seem ready for a fight, slow down," he remarked casually with a smirk."Ok. Why are you here?" I asked again, trying to be as subtle as I could."You're right, I don't come to places like this, but as soon as I saw you from the glass window, I couldn't help but wonder what you're up to. Who are those guys, hmm? Tell me." His tone was more inquisitive."Well, it's nothing for you to be concerned with, I'm on my day off, and I can spend the day as I wish." I retorted he was creeping me out by interfering in my personal affairs. Spending so many hours with him throughout"Why was your friend wearing the scarf I gave you? That's stealing, did you know that?" He asked, a frown on his face and
Chapter 70Vanessa's POV:Grace was sitting at her desk, typing away like the world wasn’t tilting. She looked up the moment I approached."Hi Grace, Mr. Garcia asked me to give this to you,” I said, handing her the note.She glanced at it and gave a short nod. "Ah, yes. He mentioned it. One sec."She stood up and disappeared into the file room, returning moments later with a thick stack of folders that looked like they were meant for an entire department. I barely managed to balance them in my arms."Does he plan on working on them today? It's already late," she said with a small shrug."You know how he can be. I'll leave now," I replied."Good luck."I forced a smile. "Thanks. I’ll need it."I turned to leave, but I didn’t even take three steps before I bumped into someone—hard."Whoa!"The files exploded from my hands like confetti, scattering across the floor in every direction."Oh no!" I gasped, dropping to my knees instantly."I am so sorry! Let me help—" the voice said quickly
Chapter 69Vanessa's POVAfter my day off, I returned to work. I tried to keep busy, and buried myself in files and schedules and pointless emails. Anything to stop myself from thinking about his proposal, his voice when he asked me to be his, the look on his face when I said no. I hadn’t slept properly since. And yet, here I was, pretending everything was normal.He didn’t mention it. Not once. He acted like it never happened. But something had changed.Mr. Garcia started assigning me to every meeting, even the ones that didn’t need my presence. I had to sit beside him in the boardroom, beside him on client calls, beside him during lunch briefings. It was like he couldn’t breathe unless I was within arm’s reach. At first, I thought it was a coincidence. Then I noticed the looks. The tension. The way he’d glare if I so much as chuckled at someone else’s joke.Especially Matt Davenport’s. His disapproval of Matt was turning into something personal.Matt was ecstatic when he saw me by
Chapter 68Andre's POV:I dropped Vanessa off without saying much. I didn’t trust my voice—what if it gave away how terrible I felt after she rejected me?More than anything, my ego was bruised. My hands were still gripping the steering wheel long after she stepped out. There was something about the way she walked away—a kind of finality in her steps that made my chest feel like it was caving in. I couldn't decide whether to sit there like a heartbroken teen or actually do something to win her back.The voice in my head kept calling me a fool for letting my guard down, so low that I had to fall for her of all people. But the one in my chest—louder, more desperate—wanted to push through, go all in until she accepted my feelings.The pool house was buzzing with music and laughter when I arrived. My boys were already there, lounging on the sleek leather couches with bottles of expensive liquor in their hands. Ethan gave me a nod, and I returned it wordlessly before heading straight to th
Chapter 67Vanessa's POV:I woke up with swollen eyes and a pounding headache.My pillow was damp, a map of my tears and questions I had no answers to. I hadn’t slept properly, not even for an hour. My body ached, and my mind felt like it had run a marathon through every version of last night—except the one where I said yes.I said no.And I ran.I am grateful he isn't in the room now. I cannot bear the shame of looking at him after what happened last night. Thousands of thoughts flooded my mind. Why would he fall for me of all people? He had been a bully for as long as I can remember—always taunting and making sure I had a miserable time. Or was this advanced manipulation?But I found no answers to any of my questions, including the reason why I had been crying so foolishly.I figured he wouldn't come to the room since he didn't return last night, and I packed our luggage, including the teddy, which for some reason I had gotten attached to, and then got prepared for our trip back.An
Chapter 66Vanessa's POV:Inside were luxury bags and shoes, dresses... Two Hermès Birkin bags. One beige, one red. I heard they cost a fortune, and I couldn't help but think why he'd get them for me.The shoes looked like they were made from diamonds and angel feathers. Shiny bracelets and matching earrings, and then designer dresses with the softest fabrics I had ever felt.I blinked. “No… no, I can’t take these. I haven’t done anything to deserve this.”Andre leaned forward, voice stretched, and I could swear I sensed his irritation there. “It’s rude to reject a gift, Vanessa.”“But—”“Vanessa,” he cut me off softly. “Just accept them. Please...”I stared at the bags. At the perfect bows. My fingers trembled. All my life, I'd never gotten anything for free from strangers. If he was giving this much, clearly he'd want something in return, and I had none—nothing to give back.When I looked up again, he was no longer seated.He had walked around the table, picked up a single red rose
Chapter 65Vanessa's POV:It was Sunday. The last day here. The day before we’d fly back to our normal lives, back to work, stress, and the chaos that followed. And perhaps, he'd go back to his former asshole, bossy, jerk self which I kinda miss.I woke up late—so late that I thought I had somehow slept through half the day. The curtains were partly drawn, allowing thin slivers of gold morning sunlight to pierce through. But what jolted me wasn’t the time. It was the absence.His absence.The bed beside me was empty. Cold, like he'd left for hours. His coat, which he had tossed over the chair last night, was gone. No sign of him. I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, my hair tangled and puffed from the pillow. I blinked at the emptiness, trying to ask too much questions on his whereabouts. Maybe he just went out. Maybe he had a meeting.I shook the thought away quickly. There was a knock on the door. Room service.“Miss Williams,” a female voice chirped politely. “You’re schedule
Chapter 64Third POV:Rain came without warning that afternoon. The skies, once clear and blue, turned a soft, moody grey. The clouds hung low over the rooftops, and a light drizzle began to tap on cobblestones and storefront awnings. It wasn’t long before the drizzle turned into steady rain, soaking the city with its gentle persistence.Vanessa hadn’t expected the sudden change. She stood at the corner of a quiet street, just outside a vintage bookstore, her arms tucked close to her body as the chill from the rain crept under her cardigan. Droplets of water speckled her hair and eyelashes. She didn’t complain, just stood there, uncertain what to do next.And then, as if he had been watching all along, Andre appeared beside her. Tall, composed, and striking in a dark overcoat that didn’t seem to mind the rain.He said nothing at first. Instead, he removed his coat without hesitation and draped it over her shoulders, the warmth and scent of it instantly wrapping her like a quiet embrac
Chapter 63Vanessa's POV:I don’t know how long I stayed in the gazebo, but it was the only place I could find that gave me even a little bit of cover. The shadows clung to me, hiding my flushed face and jittery hands. The kiss had happened so fast, and yet it lingered on my lips like some kind of invisible mark. I could still feel the weight of his touch, the heat of his palm on my back. My heart hadn’t stopped racing.I didn’t want him to find me, but at the same time, I wanted him to. It didn’t make sense.The sounds of the violins echoed. I was stuck in a bubble that had popped and scattered everything I thought I knew about Mr. Garcia—about myself. What he meant by all these.Then I heard footsteps. Slow, steady, like someone who knew exactly where I was. I didn’t have to look to know it was him.“Hiding from me?” his voice came, soft and teasing.I looked up, and there he was, holding a huge, French-dressed fluffy teddy bear almost half his size. It had a red bow and sleepy butt
Chapter 62Vanessa's POV:I've barely been to parties all my life, but nothing… absolutely nothing could’ve prepared me for Genevieve Laurent’s party.From the second we stepped out of the car, I felt swallowed by a whole different world. Like I had walked straight into a dream... or a movie. Everything glittered. The lights, the dresses, the jewelry—even the champagne shimmered in its glass. The mansion itself looked like it was carved from gold and secrets—tall ceilings, grand staircases, chandeliers that sparkled like falling stars. Every corner buzzed with laughter, clinking glasses, French accents, and perfume that smelled like money.I froze at the entrance. Just stood there like a misplaced child in a palace. I wore a nude silk dress Mr. Garcia had sent earlier—tight in places I wasn’t used to. I wasn’t dressed wrong, but I felt wrong. Like everyone here had grown up sipping champagne while I was still figuring out how to pay rent on time.Mr. Garcia stood beside me like I belo