The weekend was a whirlwind of chaos and emotions. I spent most of it packing, shoving my life into suitcases and boxes without much of a plan. I just knew I couldn’t be there when Dan returned. Not another second under the same roof with him.Anna and Cheryl from the charity organization kept calling, their numbers flashing on my screen again and again, their texts piling up. They wanted to know why I hadn’t shown up for the charity organization meeting we’d planned for the weekend. But I couldn’t face them, not now, not until I figured out how to put my fractured life back together. So, I didn’t answer.When I finally made the call to my mom, I could feel the anxiety gnawing at the edges of my resolve. It rang twice before she picked up, her voice cheerful. “Amber, hi, sweetie. How are you?”“Mom…” My voice cracked, and I had to take a deep breath to steady myself. “I… I need to ask you something.”There was a pause on the other end. “What’s going on?”“Can I come stay with you for
Hearing your parent in the act has to be one of the most awkward and mortifying things on the planet. It had been two days since I moved in with Mom, and every single night, I heard them. Loud. Really loud.Right now, the sound of the bed slamming against the wall and Mom’s exaggerated cries filled the air. For a moment, I debated running down the hall to check if she was okay because, honestly, it sounded more like she was sobbing than enjoying herself.“Oh, Roberto, you’re such a beast!” she cried out, her voice echoing through the walls. I grimaced, feeling the urge to throw up.I grabbed a pillow and pressed it over my head, hoping to muffle the noise, but it didn’t help. Mom’s shrill screams cut right through. “Oh, Roberto, just like that! Harder, harder…”I sat up, almost in tears. How was I supposed to get any sleep when they were at it every night? Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough money to check into a hotel, so I had to endure this nightmare until my lawyer made Dan pay wh
One of the things I hadn’t fully considered about working for Liam was how much the closeness would affect me. The way his presence stirred something in me, something I had been trying to push away whenever I was close to him. Something I wasn’t ready to face.It’s been a week since I took him up on his offer and became his assistant. And while I’d started to get a handle on his schedule thanks to his secretary’s patient guidance, there was one thing I couldn’t control: the magnetic pull I felt every time we were alone.Around him, I felt a strange mix of ease and tension. Liam was a good boss and a good friend too. But there was something about him that set my heart racing; those piercing eyes of his that seemed to see through me, the quiet authority in his voice that seemed to seep through my skin every time he spoke. His presence made me want things I had no business wanting.I’d been fighting it with everything I had. Not only was my divorce far from finalized, but I couldn’t imag
What the hell just happened?One minute, things were going well, so well I wanted to freeze time and live in that kiss forever. But, of course, the universe had other plans. The shrill ring of my phone shattered the moment like a bucket of ice water.My best friend had the worst timing in the history of mankind. Of all times, he chose that moment to call and for what? To remind me of our stupid plan to have drinks later tonight.And by the time I ended the call, Amber was gone. She bolted like the place was on fire. Why did she run? It was as if she couldn’t wait to get out of here quickly enough. Did I misread the signs?I let out a groan, pushing my fingers through my hair. Maybe I scared her away. Now I felt bad for kissing her, but the truth was I couldn’t help myself. I have wanted to do it since that night I ran into her at the gala.I know her divorce isn’t final yet, it’s the reason I have been keeping my distance even though I so badly want to kiss her every time she was clos
AmberLiam wouldn’t leave me alone no matter how hard I tried to push him away. The harder I pushed, the closer he got, and he never failed to make it known that he was going nowhere.I’ve stopped trying now because, deep down, I don’t want him to go. Even though part of me feels like I should be running the other way, I can’t seem to keep him at a distance.He insisted on driving me home after work every day, and I had to fight him off from trying to pick me up in the mornings too. We’re not technically dating, and the last thing I want is my colleagues thinking otherwise.Now we were seated in his car, parked in front of Mom’s house. It’s become a ritual of some sort, Liam drops me off, and we spend at least ten minutes in his car talking about anything and everything.“So what are your plans for the weekend?” He asked, turning to look at me.“It all depends,” I replied, my breath catching slightly at the intense way he looked at me.He had ditched his suit jacket earlier in the day
LiamAmber wasn’t herself today.I noticed it almost immediately after I picked her up from her mum’s. Something was wrong and it was evident in how her laughter didn’t quite reach her eyes and how often she got lost in thought. She was barely paying attention to the game, standing there as though she didn’t even care that she was losing. The competitive side she always had whenever we played, wasn’t there. After I knocked down all the pins on my turn, I glanced back at her, smirking. “Are you letting me win on purpose?”Amber stepped up to the line, grabbed her ball, and gave me a tired smile. “Maybe today’s just your lucky day.” She rolled the ball, and it veered to the side, knocking over only one pin.“That’s not like you,” I said, folding my arms as she turned back to me.She shrugged, brushing it off. “I’m just not feeling it, I guess.”“Something’s bothering you,” I pressed gently. “What is it?”“Nothing.”She said it quickly, too quickly, and I wasn’t buying it. But I also k
Amber“Did I do something wrong?” Mom asked as I packed my things to move to Liam’s place, a hint of guilt on her face.It was at the tip of my tongue to tell her that one of the reasons I was moving out was because of her titanic tussle with her man every night, but I quickly decided against it.“No, Mom, it’s because of Dan. I don’t want him coming here to cause trouble for you.” is that the only reason?I silence the voice in my head with a slight shake of my head. “And besides, Liam’s place is closer to the office.” Yeah, keep telling yourself that.Mom’s lips curled into a smile as she listened. “What?” I asked, now feeling defensive.“You realize what you’re doing right? You’re going to Liam for protection.”I opened my mouth to argue, but no words came out. The truth was, when Liam offered for me to move in yesterday, I wanted to say no. I really did. But the fear of what Dan might do next stopped me.Does that make me a coward? Running when I should be standing my ground? But
AmberBrian’s club was located in the bustling part of the city. The place was alive, the air buzzing with music and chatter as stylishly dressed people flocked inside. Liam pulled his sleek black SUV into the valet line and handed his keys to a young man in uniform.Before we could make our way inside, a tall, good-looking guy around Liam’s age approached us, his smile wide and warm. Liam immediately stepped forward, clasping his hand in a firm shake before pulling him in for one of those bro hugs.“Good to see you, man,” Liam said, his tone light.“Good to see you too,” the guy replied before turning to me. “And it’s good to see you again, Amber.”I blinked, my brows furrowing in confusion. See me again? I couldn’t place him, was this Brian? My confusion must’ve shown on my face because Liam stepped in.“This is Brian,” he said with a knowing grin.My jaw dropped. The Brian I remembered from high school looked nothing like this. The Brian I knew was Obese used to sit on the bleacher
After I dropped the bombshell about Dan hitting Amber, Dad was the first to pull himself together. He looked at me, shaking his head, and said he had no idea that guy used to lay a hand on her. “That’s bad. It’s a good thing Amber left,” he added. “No woman should have to endure a beating in a marriage.” I could tell he meant it. His voice had that steady, no-nonsense tone he gets when he’s pissed.Mom, though, she was still in shock. Her eyes were wide, and she spoke up before Dad could say anything else. “I had no idea,” she said, her voice soft, almost trembling. “Thank God Amber left. Poor Amber. I wonder why she pretended to be happy while he was hitting her.” Then she paused, and I could see her thoughts shifting. She turned to me, her expression tightening. “Even though what Dan did was awful, Liam, you don’t need to insert yourself into this situation. You can help Amber without dating her. This whole thing is messy and you shouldn’t let yourself get dragged into it.”I couldn
When I pulled up to my parent’s house, I barely had time to step inside before I heard my name.“Well, well, look who finally decided to show up,” Lilian drawled from the living room, a glass of wine in her hand. I already knew what her smirk was about and I wasn’t in the mood.I sighed. “Hey, Lils.”She smirked and walked over. “Your mom’s in the kitchen, and let me tell you, she is not happy.”I rubbed the back of my neck. “Yeah, I figured. She called me earlier.”Lilian raised a brow. “So, you and Amber, huh? No wonder you were so damn on edge the last time her name came up at dinner.”I shot her a look, but she just grinned and took a sip of her wine. “So tell me, when exactly did this start?”“We only started seeing each other after she left Dan,” I said firmly. “That marriage was a sham, Lils. And she already served him divorce papers, but he refused to sign them.”Lilian hummed, tilting her head. “Yeah, but Dan’s out here making it look like you two were sneaking around behind
Back at the office, I couldn’t focus. My mind kept drifting to Amber, her tear-streaked face, the way her voice cracked when she told me what Dan had done. The rage I felt earlier was still burning in my chest, a steady, unrelenting fire. And I felt like hitting something more, like I felt like hitting Dan.I wanted to hurt Dan. Badly.The bastard had always been a selfish prick, but this? Smearing Amber’s name, painting her as the villain just to salvage his fragile ego? That was something I wasn’t going to take, and I would make sure that he paid.I clenched my fists at the memory of her breaking down in my office, feeling powerless as she read the comments tearing her apart. If I had Dan in front of me right now, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to hold back.I had just wrapped up a meeting when my phone rang. Brian.I already knew what this was about. My phone had been ringing non-stop since that idiot released his ridiculous statement—media houses, bloggers, reporters, all wanting to co
Liam let out a curse as he read the statement Dan had released. “That bastard doesn’t just know when to stop,” he muttered.I couldn’t believe this. This was low, even for Dan. Then again, he had always been selfish. He had never cared about how his actions affected me as long as he came out looking like the perfect husband. I should have known he would go to any length to spite me. But I never thought he would drag me through the mud like this—turning me into a villain for the whole world to see.Liam placed my phone on his desk and reached for me, holding my face, his thumbs brushing away the last of my tears. “Amber,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “Don’t worry. Everything is going to be okay.”I let out a humorless laugh, shaking my head. “You don’t understand, Liam.” My voice wavered as I gestured helplessly toward my phone on the desk. “People are tearing me apart online. They’re calling me a cheating whore. A liar. Dan has made me out to be the villain, and they’re eating it
The moment those words left my mother’s mouth, my stomach clenched. "Are you sure?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper."It’s all over social media, Amber," she said, her tone laced with urgency.My fingers tightened around the phone as dread coiled in my chest. “I’ll call you back,” I muttered, ending the call before she could say anything else.My heart pounded as I tapped open Twitter. The trending section confirmed my worst fear. My marriage to Dan was making headlines.I clicked on the top post, and a video started playing. It was from the restaurant a few days ago. Dan sat across from me, his hand reaching out to grip mine, I jerked my hand away, my expression unreadable to an outsider, but I knew what was running through my mind in that moment. Disgust. Frustration. Resentment.The caption beneath the video made my throat tighten:“Is there trouble in Sullivan paradise?”The post went on to speculate about my absence from Dan’s recent luncheon, suggesting that we had sepa
I stirred awake to a sensation so blissful, so warm, that I thought I was still dreaming. Soft lips brushed along my bare shoulder, trailing a path of heat down my spine, sending tiny shivers racing across my bare skin. After making love into the early hours of the morning, we both slept naked in each other’s arms.I let out a sigh, somewhere between contentment and need, as the lips ventured lower, followed by the featherlight touch of his fingers gliding over my hip.A slow, indulgent kiss pressed against the dip of my back. Then another. My body arched instinctively, drawn to his touch, my skin buzzing with anticipation. A deep chuckle rumbled from behind me, sending another wave of warmth curling in my stomach."Liam," I whispered, my voice still thick with sleep.His lips brushed my ear as his hand slid up my thigh, his touch both possessive and reverent. "Morning, beautiful," he murmured, the huskiness in his voice making my stomach flutter.I barely had time to respond before h
Throughout the day, Liam and I tried our best to keep our hands to ourselves and act professional around each other. It was hard but we made it to the end of workdayThe ride back to the penthouse was quiet, but there was an unspoken tension crackling between us. As he drove, Liam's hand rested on my thigh, his thumb tracing slow, lazy circles against my skin. It was an absentminded touch, but it sent shivers down my spine. I placed my hand over his, feeling the warmth of his palm beneath mine. It was such a simple act, yet it felt so intimate.My mind kept drifting back to what he had said that morning. My girlfriend. He had called me his girlfriend. The words kept replaying in my head, twisting and turning in my thoughts. Should I bring it up? Should I ask him if he really meant it? It shouldn’t be a big deal, but for some reason, it was.Swallowing hard, I pushed the thought aside and turned to him. "How's your dad?" I asked, hoping to distract myself.Liam glanced at me briefly be
I padded out to the kitchen, the smell of something sweet filling the air. My eyes landed on Liam, standing by the stove, flipping pancakes with effortless ease. He was still shirtless, his toned back and strong arms flexing with every movement. The sight of him cooking, completely at ease in the kitchen, did something strange to my heart.Liam turned just then, catching me staring. A cute smile spread across his face, his dark eyes filled with warmth.“Coffee?” he asked.“Yes please.” I smiled, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "Need any help?"He shook his head, lowering the heat on the stove before reaching for a mug. "Nope, I got it." He poured me a cup of coffee, fixing it just the way I liked, before handing it to me. "You just sit there and relax."I took the mug, warmth spreading through my fingers as his fingers brushed mine. "Thank you."Liam leaned in and kissed my nose before turning back to the stove. I settled onto one of the barstools by the island, wrapping
I woke up the next morning, tightly snuggled in Liam’s arms. His warmth surrounded me, his steady breathing a soothing rhythm against my skin. As I slowly opened my eyes, I found him already awake, watching me with a soft, content expression.“Good morning,” he murmured, his voice husky from sleep. Oh God, I love his morning voice.“Good morning.” A slow smile spread across my lips as I snuggled deeper into his embrace. “So… all of that wasn’t a dream?” I whispered, still half-dazed from sleep and the surreal nature of waking up beside him.Liam chuckled, his chest rumbling against mine as he leaned in to press a soft, lingering kiss on my lips. “No, sweetheart. It was very real. Every single moment.”I sighed against his lips, my fingers tangling in his hair as I pulled him in for another kiss. I can’t seem to have enough of him. The reality of being in his arms, feeling his touch, was something I never thought I’d have. Yet, here we were. When he finally pulled back, his gaze search