BOOK ONE OF THE KEITH SISTERS SERIES Nella, a woman disillusioned by heartbreak and betrayal, faces a series of challenges after losing both her corporate HR job and her relationship with Sam, who cheated on her. Seeking a fresh start, she takes a job at a flower shop and later lands a prestigious position at Elevé Cosmetics, where she becomes the personal assistant to Roy Logan, a cold and ambitious CEO with whom she shares a past one-night stand. As Nella navigates the complexities of her new job, she finds herself torn between Roy, whose vulnerabilities stir her, and Ethan, a steady and reliable friend who is secretly Roy’s fiancée’s brother. Meanwhile, Maya, Roy’s scheming ex, plots to tear Nella and Roy apart, and Nella’s toxic ex-boyfriend, Gray, becomes obsessed with her once again. When Nella uncovers dark secrets about her boyfriend and her connection with Roy deepens, she must confront conflicting desires, loyalty, and betrayal. Amidst the chaos, Nella faces an impossible decision—whether to follow her heart and embrace a tumultuous love with Roy, risk betraying her friendship with Ethan, or break free from the toxic relationships that bind her. In a world of shifting allegiances, Nella’s choices will shape her future, forcing her to decide whether true love is within her reach or if she is forever trapped by the tangled knots of her past.
View More~Nella~He leaned in slowly, his gaze never leaving mine, and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. The moment hung between us, lingering far longer than I expected, until I finally pulled back, breathless, and took a shaky step backward. Shock coursed through me, and I stood frozen, but he reached out, gently holding my hands, and stood up with me."Please, just let me go," I whispered, the words almost getting caught in my throat."I'm—I'm sorry, Nella. I didn't mean to hurt you," he said, his voice quiet and filled with regret."But you will," I cut in, my voice breaking. "I don't want you to keep making mistakes with me, please." I couldn't bear to look him in the eye, so I stared down at the floor, my heart fluttered.He lifted my chin, his touch soft but firm, guiding my face back to his. "Listen, Nella," he said, his voice steady, like the first night we ever met. "This isn’t a mistake. Nothing we've done has been a mistake. I know I've made it hard for you, but I didn't know how to
~Nella~I stood there for a moment, unsure of what to say or how to react. “Uh… I was actually supposed to meet Victoria—your sister, I mean—here. I didn’t realize you’d be here,” I stammered, still processing the unexpected encounter.He smiled, a little amused, but didn’t respond right away. Before I could speak again, Victoria appeared, her presence immediately lightening the air. She was holding three wine glasses, a wide smile on her face.“Sorry for keeping you both waiting,” she said, handing Roy and me each a glass before attempting to pop open the bottle of wine. The soft sound of the cork releasing filled the space as she poured the rich red liquid into our glasses.“Thank you,” I murmured, my voice softer than I intended as I accepted the glass. “Cheers to my return,” Victoria said, holding up her glass with a smile. Roy and I exchanged a glance and smiled back, both of us taking a sip of the wine.“I couldn’t wait to finish my MBA in Paris so I could come back and finally
~Nella~The morning sun was barely peeking over the horizon as I took a cab to work. I had a lot on my mind, but I knew I needed to call Ashley—just to give her a heads-up. I didn’t want her to be caught off guard when she found out I was seriously considering giving Gray a second chance.I hit "call" and waited, tapping my fingers nervously on the steering wheel. When she picked up, her voice was thick with sleep.“Hey babe,” I said, my tone lighter than I felt.“Mmm, hey sugar," she murmured, sounding half awake. "What’s going on?”I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Still in bed?”“Yeah... well, I was. Until your call,” she replied, a long yawn slipping through the line.“Ah, sorry. I thought you'd be getting ready for work by now,” I said, surprised.“Nope, off today. I’ve only got a private session with a VIP later,” she answered, sounding more alert now. “So, what’s up? You up early for a chat.”I hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words. “Well... it’s about Gray.”Ashle
~Nella~I turned to excuse myself from Victoria, offering a quick smile. “Sorry, maybe next time,” I said, trying to keep things light.“It’s okay,” she replied, her voice laced with a quiet understanding. As she got into her car, she waved before driving off, her tires screeching slightly as she sped away. I watched for a moment, feeling the lingering weight of the day, then turned and calmly walked to Gray’s car.The drive was long and unnervingly quiet. I glanced over at him every so often, but he seemed lost in thought, eyes on the road, his grip tight on the wheel. It wasn’t until I noticed we were veering off my usual route that I spoke up, breaking the heavy silence.“Hey, I thought you were taking me home,” I said, my voice betraying a hint of confusion.He glanced at me for a moment, his lips curling into a faint, almost unreadable smile. “Come on, babe, just trust me. Let’s talk privately, okay?”I didn’t respond, but my stomach twisted as he continued driving. When we final
~Nella~The office that morning was nothing like it had been before. Victoria’s influence had transformed every inch of the space, imbuing it with an energy that was both fresh and electrifying. What was once a plain entrance now had a beautiful, elegant foyer.The air seemed charged with possibility, as if the building itself had been reborn. Outside, a towering digital screen flashed vibrant 3D advertisements for Elevé’s latest cosmetic line, its vivid hues of pink and lilac dominating the screen like a piece of moving art. Inside, the transformation was just as striking. Everywhere I looked, there were bursts of color — soft pinks, delicate lilacs, and pure whites — blending seamlessly with floral arrangements that breathed life into the space. The walls themselves seemed alive with artistry, adorned with dynamic 3D depictions of the cosmetics that had given the brand its name.It was almost unbelievable that such a dramatic overhaul could happen over a single weekend. The entire of
~Nella~I was back in my room, feeling the weight of everything crashing down around me. The walls seemed to close in as I lay there, staring at the ceiling, my mind unable to grasp anything. It was like the ground beneath me had turned to sand, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t hold on.I had already handed in my resignation letter, ended things with Gray, received a notice from the landlord to vacate the apartment, and found out that Lauren's tuition fee was over $5,000. If she didn’t get a scholarship to Eclipse School of Art, we’d have to fund it ourselves—over $25,000, which we had promised to cover, we didn’t want her to feel left out and make sure her dream comes true. And then, to top it all off, my mom had just been diagnosed with stage 1 cancer. I felt completely powerless, adrift in a sea of obligations and heartbreak.The night stretched on, endless and suffocating. As the minutes passed, my mind went eerily blank, no solutions, no answers. Only a deafening silenc
~Nella~The weekend passed quietly. Same Saturday evening, my mom had fallen ill, and Payson had volunteered to take her to the doctor on Monday. Lauren had also shared with us that her exam was coming up in a few days, which added to the mix of thoughts swirling in my mind. As for me, I had already typed up my resignation letter, and now I was just waiting for Monday to come. I couldn’t help but wonder how Roy would react when I handed it in. I was ready for a fresh start, away from both Gray and the stress of the office.Sunday night, as I lay awake, sleep seemed distant. My mind kept replaying the idea of quitting, and before I knew it, the alarm rang, pulling me from my thoughts. It was as if I had already been awake even before it went off. I quickly jumped into my routine, rushing through a quick shower and dressing in record time. Before I left, I checked in on my mom. She still had a fever, but I reassured myself that Payson would make sure she was well taken care of.I arrive
~Nella~After I finished my bath, I grabbed my phone to check my messages. First, I opened Gray’s texts, which were filled with apologies. I exhaled deeply but didn’t feel like responding. Next, I read Ashley’s message: “Call me when you can pick up. Guess you’re having a great time with Gray.” Then I opened Ethan’s message: “Hope you love your dress. I’ll see you tomorrow.” After that, I found a text from an unknown number that simply said, “Happy Birthday.” I stared at the number for a moment, unsure who it was from.I took off the towel from my hair and started blow-drying it. Then, I dialed Ashley’s number and put it on speaker."Hey, babe," she answered immediately."Hey, sugar, how are you doing?" I asked."I'm doing pretty well. I should be asking you that," she replied."I'm good too. Got lots of presents to unbox," I said, trying to sound upbeat."Ooh, birthday girl! So, tell me, how was your night with Gray? What did he get you?" she asked, excitement in her voice."Well...
~Nella~The bouquet slipped from my fingers, petals scattering across the ground. Slowly, I turned, my feet moving without thought, carrying me toward the door. As I stepped outside the museum, I heard Gray’s hurried footsteps behind me. “Hey, wait up! What’s going on? Why did you just leave?” His voice echoed with confusion and concern.I took a shaky breath, halting just outside. I turned to face him, although that was thing I wanted to do. “Gray, we’re done.” My voice was quieter than I intended, but the words felt heavy. “This—this relationship—it’s over.”He looked at me, his face a mixture of hurt and disbelief. “What? Nella, what did I do wrong? I thought you’d like it. You didn’t even react,” he said, his voice cracking slightly.“You think I’d like that?” I choked out, my voice trembling. “You think that was a gift? That humiliation? Really?” My hands were shaking as I waved down a taxi, desperately trying to hold myself together, but Gray grabbed my wrists, stopping me.“I d
~NELLA~It was finally Sam's birthday, and I was determined to surprise him with the money he'd been asking for, along with a few other gifts. Unfortunately, fate had other plans. I wasn’t even in New York—I had been called to Chicago for an emergency meeting with my boss and a potential partner company. The thought of missing Sam's special day filled me with disappointment, especially since I had so badly wanted to be there, to hand him the money myself and witness the joy on his face. But, as much as I longed to be with him, I had to push through the meeting. Earlier that day, I had sent Sam the money, and his excitement over the phone was contagious. He was over the moon, and I could hear the happiness in his voice as he thanked me repeatedly. We talked for hours, unable to hang up, savoring every moment. I couldn’t wait to be back in New York. In just a week, I would finally see him again. I was still determined to make it up to him with thoughtful gifts when I returned. I lov...
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