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
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
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
Reece’s POVThe moment I left the warehouse, I couldn’t shake off the weight of Benedict’s words. My own mother, Mrs. Hastings, had stooped so low as to pay someone to hurt Kyla. The image of her—the woman I was beginning to care for—being used as a pawn in my mother’s twisted games made my blood boil.The drive back to the mansion felt like a blur. I could barely keep my hands steady on the steering wheel, gripping it so tightly my knuckles turned white. By the time I arrived, my head was pounding, and my emotions were a storm I couldn’t calm.Walking into the house, I didn’t bother to announce my presence. The sound of my shoes echoed through the grand hall, and the maids quickly moved out of my way when they saw my face. I didn’t stop until I reached the living room.Kyla was there, curled up on the couch with a book. She looked peaceful, completely unaware of the chaos raging inside me. When she noticed me, her face lit up with a warm smile.“Reece? You’re back early,” she said, c
Kyla’s POVThe moment Reece walked out of the mansion, my legs gave out, and I sank onto the cold marble floor. The sound of the front door slamming shut echoed in my ears, but the silence that followed was even louder. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to stop the tremors shaking my body.I wanted to run after him, to beg him to let me explain, but what was there to explain? I’d lied. I’d deceived him. No matter how much my feelings for him had changed, the truth remained—this all started with a lie.I stared at the suitcase Reece had angrily thrown into the hallway. It had been sitting there for days, untouched, because a part of me foolishly believed I could stay. But now, there was no escaping the inevitable.I wiped my tears and forced myself to stand. The room felt suffocating, and every corner seemed to hold a memory of him. His voice, his touch, his laughter—all of it was a cruel reminder of what I was losing.As I dragged myself upstairs to pack, the weight of the situa
Reece’s POVThe moment I left the warehouse, I couldn’t shake off the weight of Benedict’s words. My own mother, Mrs. Hastings, had stooped so low as to pay someone to hurt Kyla. The image of her—the woman I was beginning to care for—being used as a pawn in my mother’s twisted games made my blood boil.The drive back to the mansion felt like a blur. I could barely keep my hands steady on the steering wheel, gripping it so tightly my knuckles turned white. By the time I arrived, my head was pounding, and my emotions were a storm I couldn’t calm.Walking into the house, I didn’t bother to announce my presence. The sound of my shoes echoed through the grand hall, and the maids quickly moved out of my way when they saw my face. I didn’t stop until I reached the living room.Kyla was there, curled up on the couch with a book. She looked peaceful, completely unaware of the chaos raging inside me. When she noticed me, her face lit up with a warm smile.“Reece? You’re back early,” she said, c
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