The locker room was a whirlwind of activity, filled with female bartenders adjusting their uniforms and applying last-minute touches to their makeup. The scent of perfume lingered in the air, heavy and cloying. At the center of it all stood Mrs. Gina, her imposing figure commanding the room like a general preparing her troops for battle. "So, ladies," Mrs. Gina began, her sharp eyes scanning the room, "you know the drill. Make sure they keep spending until their pockets are dry. Your job is to serve drinks to your customers and keep serving until they've spent everything." Kyla observed the other bartenders as Mrs. Gina delivered her speech. Some were tugging at their already short dresses, trying to make them even shorter, while others adjusted their tops to expose more cleavage. The sight made Kyla's stomach churn. It was one thing to endure flirtation from entitled billionaires, but to willingly provoke it felt degrading. While the others fussed over their appearances, Kyla tugg
The night was a mess, more than Kyla could handle. She had thought the worst was over after the incident with Mr. Benedict Choi at the bar, but now, she felt like everything was falling apart. After the staff meeting, Mrs. Gina made sure everyone left in pairs. Kyla walked with one of the bartenders, her mind racing. She couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen. Her colleague's building was close by, just a few blocks away from Kyla's apartment. As soon as her colleague went inside, Kyla hurried down the quiet street. Suddenly, a hand grabbed her arm and pulled her into a dark alley. "Think you can embarrass me like that?" Mr. Benedict's voice was full of anger. He pushed her against the wall, his grip tight and painful. Kyla's heart pounded. "Let me go!" she yelled, trying to break free. "You need to be taught a lesson," Benedict hissed. He grabbed at her dress, trying to rip it. "Help me!" Kyla screamed, kicking and fighting. At that moment, a car scr
"Let me go, let me go!" Kyla screamed in her sleep. Her voice echoed through the mansion, alerting everyone. The staff exchanged worried glances, unsure of what to do. Reece and Boris dashed up the stairs to his room, their hearts pounding.Kyla was thrashing in bed, her face pale with fear. She kept shouting, "Let me go!" Reece wasted no time. He climbed onto the bed and wrapped her in his arms."You're safe now," he whispered softly into her ear. "No one will ever hurt you again."Kyla clung to him tightly, her small hands gripping his shirt as though letting go would mean losing him. Boris stood by the door, observing the scene. He understood her state and quietly exited, closing the door gently behind him.Reece held Kyla close, brushing a tender kiss on her forehead. Slowly, her screams turned into soft whimpers, and she seemed to calm down. Yet, her stomach growled loudly, breaking the silence.Reece glanced down at her and smiled. He carefully laid her back on the bed and reach
The night at Reece's mansion was magical, a stark contrast to the turmoil that had defined Kyla’s day. For the first time in what felt like forever, she experienced warmth and security in the arms of a man who loved her. Reece’s confession still echoed in her mind. She couldn’t believe it—this wasn’t just a one-sided infatuation anymore. The love she’d quietly nurtured in her heart was finally reciprocated.Dinner was intimate and playful, a balm to her fractured soul."I'm not a baby, I can eat on my own," Kyla teased, rolling her eyes with a smile.Reece smirked but continued feeding her, determined to spoil her."Fine! If that's how you want to play it, here!" Kyla said, grabbing a fork and attempting to feed him. He turned his face away dramatically, feigning disinterest, which made her pout.Just as she started to pull her hand back, he leaned forward, took a bite, and then surprised her with a soft kiss on her lips."I love you," he whispered, his deep voice melting her heart."
Reece's POVReece’s Mansion “Good morning, beautiful,” I said, planting a gentle kiss on Kyla’s forehead. She stirred awake, her sleepy eyes fluttering open. Seeing her on my bed felt surreal. I could wake up to this sight every day. “I’m heading to work,” I continued, brushing her hair back. “Make sure you eat, and Boris will drive you home when you’re ready to leave.” “Have a nice day,” Kyla mumbled with a soft smile before pulling me closer for a quick kiss. As she settled back into the blankets, I couldn’t help but grin. Today was a big day. Last night was horrible, and now, the fallout from my decision to sever ties with the Choi Group was making waves. News about Hastings Empire cutting all business transactions with them had gone viral, tanking their stocks. They were scrambling to fix the damage, but I wasn’t backing down. As I got into my jet-black Ferrari, my phone buzzed. Seeing my mother’s name on the screen, I sighed before answering. “Hello, Mother. What do you nee
Kyla stared at the ceiling in her small, dimly lit room, unable to sleep. Lately, her mind had been a battlefield, filled with thoughts she couldn't control. She sighed, reaching for her bag and pulling out two sleeping pills. She swallowed them quickly and lay back on her bed, hoping they would finally give her the rest she desperately needed.Minutes passed, and just as her eyes began to close, the door clicked open. Someone was in her apartment. Her heart raced for a moment before she caught a familiar scent-musky, rich, unmistakable. It was Reece.She felt him before she even saw him. His lips brushed against her neck, waking her fully from the light sleep. "I called, but it didn't go through," Reece murmured in his deep, velvety voice. "So I rushed over.""My phone's battery is dead," Kyla replied softly, her voice cracking. She turned to look at him and couldn't help but stare. Even after all this time, he took her breath away. Reece was tall, with a chiseled body that looked li
Kyla packed up her things, ready to leave the office for the last time. Her heart felt heavy, but she knew she had to do this. Walking out of Reece’s world was the only way to save herself from more heartbreak. But just as she reached the door, her phone buzzed.It was an email from HR.URGENT: Audit Review – Immediate Action RequiredHer breath caught. What the hell was this?Before she could even process, her office door swung open, and there stood Reece, looking sharp in his tailored suit, but his eyes were wild. "Kyla," he said, his voice calm but with a hint of urgency, "We have a serious problem with the company's audit. Something’s wrong, and I need you to handle it."Kyla stared at him in disbelief. “Now? I just handed in my resignation,” she said, keeping her voice steady.He moved closer, his presence filling the room. “Look, I don’t know what happened. Finance flagged some irregularities, and it’s bad, Kyla. If we don’t fix this, we’re talking millions. This could get ugly
The invitation came as a shock. Kyla had been working late again, trying to wrap up the audit issue when her phone buzzed. It was Reece’s mother.“Kyla,” Mrs. Hastings' voice was sharp and formal, as always. “I need you at the family house tomorrow morning at 10. Sharp.”Kyla felt her stomach twist. “Is there a problem, Mrs. Hastings?”A pause. "No. Just be there. It's important." Then the line went dead.Kyla stared at her phone, her heart racing. She knew Mrs. Hastings never did anything without reason, and whatever this was about, it wouldn’t be pleasant. There was no way she could refuse, though. Not with everything that hung over her.---The next morning, Kyla stood nervously in front of Reece’s family mansion. It was enormous, with tall gates and sprawling gardens. She felt out of place, her palms sweaty as she clutched her handbag. This was not her world—this was Reece’s, where people like her didn’t belong. But Mrs. Hastings had invited her personally. She had no choice but t
Reece's POVReece’s Mansion “Good morning, beautiful,” I said, planting a gentle kiss on Kyla’s forehead. She stirred awake, her sleepy eyes fluttering open. Seeing her on my bed felt surreal. I could wake up to this sight every day. “I’m heading to work,” I continued, brushing her hair back. “Make sure you eat, and Boris will drive you home when you’re ready to leave.” “Have a nice day,” Kyla mumbled with a soft smile before pulling me closer for a quick kiss. As she settled back into the blankets, I couldn’t help but grin. Today was a big day. Last night was horrible, and now, the fallout from my decision to sever ties with the Choi Group was making waves. News about Hastings Empire cutting all business transactions with them had gone viral, tanking their stocks. They were scrambling to fix the damage, but I wasn’t backing down. As I got into my jet-black Ferrari, my phone buzzed. Seeing my mother’s name on the screen, I sighed before answering. “Hello, Mother. What do you nee
The night at Reece's mansion was magical, a stark contrast to the turmoil that had defined Kyla’s day. For the first time in what felt like forever, she experienced warmth and security in the arms of a man who loved her. Reece’s confession still echoed in her mind. She couldn’t believe it—this wasn’t just a one-sided infatuation anymore. The love she’d quietly nurtured in her heart was finally reciprocated.Dinner was intimate and playful, a balm to her fractured soul."I'm not a baby, I can eat on my own," Kyla teased, rolling her eyes with a smile.Reece smirked but continued feeding her, determined to spoil her."Fine! If that's how you want to play it, here!" Kyla said, grabbing a fork and attempting to feed him. He turned his face away dramatically, feigning disinterest, which made her pout.Just as she started to pull her hand back, he leaned forward, took a bite, and then surprised her with a soft kiss on her lips."I love you," he whispered, his deep voice melting her heart."
"Let me go, let me go!" Kyla screamed in her sleep. Her voice echoed through the mansion, alerting everyone. The staff exchanged worried glances, unsure of what to do. Reece and Boris dashed up the stairs to his room, their hearts pounding.Kyla was thrashing in bed, her face pale with fear. She kept shouting, "Let me go!" Reece wasted no time. He climbed onto the bed and wrapped her in his arms."You're safe now," he whispered softly into her ear. "No one will ever hurt you again."Kyla clung to him tightly, her small hands gripping his shirt as though letting go would mean losing him. Boris stood by the door, observing the scene. He understood her state and quietly exited, closing the door gently behind him.Reece held Kyla close, brushing a tender kiss on her forehead. Slowly, her screams turned into soft whimpers, and she seemed to calm down. Yet, her stomach growled loudly, breaking the silence.Reece glanced down at her and smiled. He carefully laid her back on the bed and reach
The night was a mess, more than Kyla could handle. She had thought the worst was over after the incident with Mr. Benedict Choi at the bar, but now, she felt like everything was falling apart. After the staff meeting, Mrs. Gina made sure everyone left in pairs. Kyla walked with one of the bartenders, her mind racing. She couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen. Her colleague's building was close by, just a few blocks away from Kyla's apartment. As soon as her colleague went inside, Kyla hurried down the quiet street. Suddenly, a hand grabbed her arm and pulled her into a dark alley. "Think you can embarrass me like that?" Mr. Benedict's voice was full of anger. He pushed her against the wall, his grip tight and painful. Kyla's heart pounded. "Let me go!" she yelled, trying to break free. "You need to be taught a lesson," Benedict hissed. He grabbed at her dress, trying to rip it. "Help me!" Kyla screamed, kicking and fighting. At that moment, a car scr
The locker room was a whirlwind of activity, filled with female bartenders adjusting their uniforms and applying last-minute touches to their makeup. The scent of perfume lingered in the air, heavy and cloying. At the center of it all stood Mrs. Gina, her imposing figure commanding the room like a general preparing her troops for battle. "So, ladies," Mrs. Gina began, her sharp eyes scanning the room, "you know the drill. Make sure they keep spending until their pockets are dry. Your job is to serve drinks to your customers and keep serving until they've spent everything." Kyla observed the other bartenders as Mrs. Gina delivered her speech. Some were tugging at their already short dresses, trying to make them even shorter, while others adjusted their tops to expose more cleavage. The sight made Kyla's stomach churn. It was one thing to endure flirtation from entitled billionaires, but to willingly provoke it felt degrading. While the others fussed over their appearances, Kyla tugg
Kyla had known Nina all her life. Since the day her parents moved into the neighborhood, she, Nina, and Emma had been inseparable. They were often called the "3 Crazy Girls" because of their wild dreams and fierce determination to chase them. Emma wanted to be a famous fashion designer one day, while Nina dreamed of creating a wellness center for women. They’d all vowed to support each other, no matter what.In about 30 minutes, Kyla had showered, dressed, and was now sitting at the dining table, quickly finishing the meal Nina had prepared. Just as she took a last bite, her phone pinged. She glanced down to see a message from Andrew.“Hello, Kyla. It’s your savior,” the message read.Kyla rolled her eyes. “Savior? Please. He’s persistent, I’ll give him that.” A glance at the time in the corner of her screen sent her scrambling. Stuffing the last few bites into her mouth, she started gathering her things.“Whoa, slow down! You’re going to choke,” Nina chuckled, watching her.“I’m late
Kyla knew she didn’t have the luxury of being picky anymore. She opened her laptop and reluctantly applied for the job as a bartender. Less than five minutes later, her inbox chimed with an email. She’d been hired. They needed her at the bar by five for a brief interview, with her first shift starting at six. She also had to move into a smaller apartment today to save money, which made the day feel especially daunting.She hurried to her sister’s bedside, kissed her forehead, and left the hospital. Outside St. Blaise, she tried hailing a taxi, but they were all full. As she swung her arm, a sleek black Ferrari pulled up beside her. She looked up, surprised, as the window rolled down, revealing Andrew.“Hello again,” he said with a friendly smile. “Need a ride?”Kyla hesitated, glancing down the road. “It’s fine, I’ll just get a taxi. You must be busy.”“No taxis around here at this time,” Andrew insisted gently. “Come on, I’ll drop you off.”After a moment’s pause, she gave in. “If yo
“I’m fine. Thank you for what you did—you saved my life and my sister’s. I’ll pay you back, I promise,” Kyla said, gently brushing his hand away from her neck. She was still trembling, hoping to divert his attention elsewhere, but his gaze lingered on her neck, his fists clenched. “You’re bleeding. You should get that checked first. Forget about the money,” the mysterious man insisted. Kyla frowned. She hated owing anyone money or favors; she knew how easily they could turn against her. “I insist I’ll pay you back. $350,000 isn’t a small amount. Please, don’t refuse,” she replied, gripping his hands. He looked into her eyes, smiled, and seemed to understand her. “Of course. You can pay me back when you’re ready. I’m Andrew, but you can call me your savior,” he said, stretching his hand out to her. “Kyla. Kyla Reed,” she responded, shaking his hand with a light smile. She appreciated his help, but “savior” still felt a bit too much. They stood there, facing each other in awkward s
Kyla sighed, taking a deep breath as she checked her account balance. Balance $10,000 She ran a hand through her hair, leaning against the wall outside her sister's room, and began to cry softly. She couldn't hold back the tears. She couldn't call her parents or Reece for help either. How was she going to get out of this mess? After a while, with swollen red eyes and a runny nose, she rummaged through her bag for a handkerchief, her hand brushing past her purse. She suddenly froze. Opening the purse, she found the credit card Mrs. Hastings had given her to use in London. Her heart pounding with a glimmer of hope, she ran to the nearest ATM outside the hospital, swiping the card with a simple prayer. "Please work. Please, God, just this once." The screen displayed an error message. The card was blocked. Tears streamed down her face. She dialed Reece's number, but it didn't go through. She felt helpless. "Why didn't you confide in me, Emma?" Kyla thought, her heart aching. She m