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Chapter FiftySeven

Author: Tory June
last update Last Updated: 2024-11-05 18:29:17

Trying to bring my breathing under control, I stabilised myself against the icy glass of the window ledge.

Tyler was standing there, his presence apparent, a face that I had attempted to bury deep inside my consciousness. I had thought I had forgotten about him.

However, when I saw him once more, my heart rate increased, and I felt a conflicting mixture of contempt and something that felt perilously near to love.

Greetings, Sam! The tone of Tyler's speech was gentle, and his stare was unwavering, filled with something that was too close and too familiar.

After taking a deep breath, I compelled myself to provide a response. I said, "Tyler," maintaining a steady tone of voice, despite the fact that each syllable seemed like it was balancing on thin glass. What are you doing in this location?

I was extended an invitation. That you would also be here was a surprise to me. He placed his hands into his pockets, his shoulders stiff yet serene, his gaze never leaving mine. “But I’m glad you
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    The pleasant hum of voices filled the gallery, mingling with the smooth jazz seeping through the air. I held my glass loosely, pretending to sip as I listened to the gallery owner reel off facts about the next installation. My mind wandered, but.. I could only envision what my own place would look like in a few short months, its walls bursting with chosen things that I’d handpicked. Just the thought of it made me tingle with enthusiasm. But then a chill, a change, and a low, familiar voice pierced through the evening’s warmth. “I knew New York was missing something without you.”My breath stilled, and I spun around, feeling my fingers tighten over the glass. Caleb. He looked every bit as sharp as I recalled.. polished, confident, his eyes searching my face like he hadn’t seen it in weeks. Which he hadn’t. A quick up-and-down demonstrated how time had just made him look even more put-together. I attempted a pleasant grin, hoping my amazement didn’t show. “Caleb. I didn’t know y

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  • The "EX" Factor    Chapter FiftyNine

    When I entered my gallery the following morning, I took a deep breath and inhaled the slight aroma of newly painted rooms and varnish. We were two weeks away from opening, and the room was really coming together. It was a mixture of excitement and fear all mixed into one. My attention was suddenly drawn away from my thoughts as I heard a knock at the door. I had just started organizing some display pieces. I turned around, half-expecting to see my helper, but as I did so, I saw Tyler standing there. I was briefly taken aback by his sudden presence, and I blinked in response. It had been years since he had previously visited in this manner, and the manner in which he stood, with his hands stuffed into his pockets and a tightness around his mouth, made it quite evident that he was not simply there to say hello."Tyler," I answered, noticing that my heart rate was quickening. "Have I forgotten about a meeting that we might have?"He gave a small shake of his head while his eyes wander

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  • The "EX" Factor    Chapter Sixty

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  • The "EX" Factor    Chapter SixtyOne

    I was late. As I rushed across the busy pavement, the city in which I was standing buzzed with activity and vibrated with vitality. SoHo was in full swing, with galleries staging shows, art collectors weaving in and out of coffee shops, and the unmistakable buzz of creative minds. SoHo was a bustling neighborhood. Even though the big opening of my gallery was only a few days away, the weight of the final touches seemed to increase with each step that I took. In spite of the fact that today was meant to be about promotion and networking, my thoughts was too preoccupied with recent happenings.I felt as though I was caught between old flames after Caleb's abrupt reappearance, his approaches, and Tyler's clumsy attempts to reinsert himself in my life. The mystery love letters just made things more confusing than they already were. These letters had been arriving on a daily basis, and each one seemed to be that much more personal than the one that came before it. It was as though som

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  • The "EX" Factor    Chapter SixtyThree

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  • The "EX" Factor    Chapter NinetySeven

    The room was tight, with that smothering hush that comes only after bad news. Tyler sat at the head of the long, polished table in the conference room, his mouth clenched, his gaze fixed on the financial predictions on the screen. The numbers did not deceive. They formed a dismal picture that he couldn't ignore. "Can someone explain to me how the Hartwells managed to undercut us again?" His voice was sharp, but beyond the rage was tiredness... a man breaking at the seams. Across the table, his executive team exchanged anxious looks, with no one eager to respond. "Sir," one of the younger analysts finally said, "it appears they've secured a significant investment from overseas." It provided them with the liquidity to offer better conditions to Smith Corporation. Tyler threw his fist on the table, rattling the glasses of water in front of them. "And we hadn't seen this coming? "How did we miss this?" The head of market research admitted they did not have timely access to the

  • The "EX" Factor    Chapter NinetySix

    When I answered Daniel's call, his warm voice immediately relieved some of the tension in my chest. "Samantha," he said smoothly. "I was hoping you'd be free for dinner tonight." Dinner? I paused, looking at my desk, which was stacked with paperwork. However, burying myself in work hasn't done much to quiet the noise in my head lately. "Dinner sounds great," I remarked, my tone lighter than I felt. "Perfect," he responded. "I'm in the Juniper Room. It's calm and private... one of my favorites. Do you want me to come pick you up? The offer caught me off surprise; it was a simple but considerate gesture. "Oh, no, it's fine," I responded immediately. "I am still at the gallery, but I will drive myself. "I need the drive anyway." There was a beat of silence before he spoke again, his tone curious. “You sure everything’s okay?” “Absolutely,” I lied, forcing a smile even though he couldn’t see me. “Just been a long day, that’s all.” He didn’t push, thankfully, and aft

  • The "EX" Factor    Chapter NinetyFive

    The soothing hum of my gallery filled the air as I sipped my coffee, my limbs working on autopilot as I placed the day's new items. I hadn't had time to catch my breath since yesterday's press frenzy.Everyone was still talking about their collaboration with Daniel's company. I should have been overjoyed, but instead I felt a peculiar heaviness. Maybe it was Ann's teasing call last night, or the countless queries about Daniel that flooded my inbox this morning. Or perhaps it was the familiar tug on my chest. The one who said Tyler's name when I didn't want to hear it. I shook the notion away and concentrated on the painting in front of me, changing the angle on the easel. My gallery, Artistry Heights, was my haven. Nothing could affect me here, or so I thought. The bell from the front door shocked me. I turned to greet the customer, but my heart dropped as I saw him. Tyler. He stood just inside the door, his tall figure rigid and his jaw set in an unsettling way that ma

  • The "EX" Factor    Chapter NinetyFour

    I extended my arms above my head, wincing as my back protested the hours I'd spent crouched over my laptop. The quiet hum of the city filtered through the window, a constant reminder of the life that still thrived beyond Ann's apartment. The room was dim save for the brightness of my screen and the digital clock in the corner, which read 12:43 AM. My workspace was chaotic, with half-empty coffee cups, sticky notes with reminders, and a stack of sketches that needed to be finalized for an upcoming gallery assignment. I needed a distraction. The option was to let my thoughts drift back to Tyler. To Julia. Hello to everyone. God, I had been willing to give him another chance. Despite his aunt's harsh remarks and the mountains of baggage between us, I was prepared to try. But he'd shattered that fragile relationship with a truth I couldn't ignore: he was still sleeping with her. The notion twisted in my chest, harsh and cruel. I shook my head and concentrated on the image, r

  • The "EX" Factor    Chapter NinetyThree

    "I'm going to kill you for this," I shouted into my phone as I paced near the door to Artistry Heights Gallery, my small haven that felt too huge to fill tonight. The clean area shone under warm golden lighting, with every nook perfectly displaying the handpicked designs I'd spent months creating. "I'm sorry!" Ann's voice crackled across the line. "There was traffic, and I had to stop for gas…" "You know I hate showing up to these things alone." I adjusted the neckline of my midnight blue gown, the fabric stroking across my skin as if it could soothe the anxiety churning inside me. "Please hurry up. "I am starting to feel like a stray dog at a purebred gala." "You'll be fine," Ann reassured me, her voice full of false confidence. "Just channel that CEO energy you always bragging about. "You got this!" Before I could respond, the call went dead. Typical Ann. I sighed, squared my shoulders, and walked into the center of the networking event. The gallery was humming with act

  • The "EX" Factor    Chapter NinetyTwo

    Tyler slammed the conference room door behind him, sending reverberations through the office's quiet hallways. His chest heaved as he leaned against the wall, placing his hands against his temples. The meeting with Smith Corporation had been disastrous. Every word exchanged seemed like another brick crumbling from the flimsy wall that held his firm together. The Hartwell family. The Hartwells were circling like vultures, and Tyler's stomach churned at Smith Corp.'s shaky commitment to their alliance. He could feel the weight of each decision on his shoulders. If they lost the Smith deal, it would cause a domino effect, and he wasn't sure RindCorp would survive. His phone buzzed in his pocket, so he took it out, expecting a message from Ben. Instead, there was an email with a synopsis of their present financial situation. Tyler opened it, but the figures blurred together, leaving him unable to focus. He exhaled sharply, his throat tightening as frustration clawed at him. "Mr

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