Asher's POV The ride home felt longer than usual. I leaned back in the plush leather seat of the car, watching the city lights blur into streaks of yellow and white as we sped through the streets. My mind was stuck on her and I needed answers now answers only someone with the right skills could dig up. Pulling out my phone, I scrolled through my contacts until I found the name I was looking for: Clark. He was the best private investigator I’d ever worked with, and I had a feeling this job was going to require his finest skills. The phone rang twice before he picked up. "Asher, what’s going on?" I didn’t waste time on pleasantries. “I need you to start looking into someone for me. Her name’s Nerissa Blake. I want everything—where she’s been, who she’s been with, why she disappeared. Leave no stone unturned.” There was a slight pause on the other end, and I could almost hear Clark raising an eyebrow. “Nerissa? Is this the same girl who ghosted you?” My jaw tightened. “Yes.” H
NerissaI walked into the office the next morning. The usual chatter filled the air, but today felt different. There was an uneasy feeling hanging over the room, and I couldn’t shake the sense that something was wrong. Just as I sat down, my boss called me into his office. My stomach twisted with nerves; the last time he did this, it was for a performance review, and I’d only just managed to pass.“Nerissa,” he said, his voice serious. “I need to talk to you about a transfer.” My heart sank. I knew what that meant. I’d heard the rumors, but I was hoping they wouldn’t be true. “You’re being moved to the top floor. Black Industries has merged with us, and they want you working directly under Mr. Blackwood.”I nodded, even as I clenched my fists. Damn Blackwood. I had only just started my life here and he was already set out to ruin it. Coupled with the fact that I was hiding his baby.I went to the bathroom to clear my head, hoping to shake off the anxiety. As I leaned over the sink, tw
Nerissa I pushed Asher off me cleaning my mouth furiously even though the feeling of his lips still lingered. "How dare you kiss me without my permission?" He gave me a smug smile and sat on his chair, "Because you are mine now, Nerissa. The moment you became my secretary you became my possession." How in the name of everything normal did I end up with this cocky rich man? "Think about the money, think about the money" I chanted to myself. I took a deep breath and flashed my professional smile. "With all due respect, Mr Blackwood..." "Please call me Asher." "With all due respect, Mr Blackwood, please don't touch me without my permission or you would be sued by assault." I didn't wait for him to talk before I walked out of the room. I walked towards the ladies room still seething from what had just happened..The nerve of that infuriating annoying...... I forced a polite smile as I passed a few colleagues in the hallway. The weight of expectations clung to me like an ill-fitt
NerissaI walked back toward the office, my heels clicking against the polished floors, but my mind was miles away. Why did Dan bring up Silver? Had he seen her? Had she asked about me?I shook my head, pushing the thoughts away. It didn’t matter. She didn’t matter.What mattered right now was getting through the day without losing my sanity. By the time I reached Asher’s office, I had regained my composure. I knocked twice, waiting for permission to enter. “Come in.” His voice was clipped, impatient. I pushed open the door and stepped inside, immediately noticing the tension in the air. Asher sat behind his desk, his fingers tapping against the dark wood, his jaw set tight. “You took your time,” he remarked, not bothering to look up from the papers in front of him. I bit back a retort. Professional. Indifferent. Play the part.“I was in the middle of something,” I replied smoothly, walking over to stand beside his desk. He finally looked up, and for a brief moment, somet
NerissaIt had been a few weeks since the first awkward elevator encounter, and I was starting to get used to seeing my neighbor with a new girlfriend every week. Honestly, it wasn’t my business, and I kept reminding myself of that. Still, I made sure Luke didn’t come in contact with him. The last thing I needed was Luke picking up any habits from someone who clearly didn’t care about anyone else’s comfort.The loud music blasting through the thin apartment walls didn’t help either. Sometimes it started early in the morning; other times, it kept going well into the night. I’d started using earplugs just to get some sleep.At work, things were surprisingly better. Asher hadn’t been coming to the office lately, which was a huge relief. I didn’t have to constantly worry about accidentally saying or doing something that might give away my secret. I could actually breathe.I’d also made a few friends. Dan, from the IT department, was a sweetheart with a quick wit, and Leah from accounting
Nerissa The next morning, I arrived at the office feeling a sense of calm. The previous evening's drama with Jace and his girlfriend was behind me, and I was ready to tackle the day's tasks. Balancing work and caring for Luke had become my routine, and I was growing more comfortable with it.As I stepped into the building, I exchanged greetings with Leah and Dan, who were chatting near the entrance. Their friendly smiles were a welcome start to the day."Morning, Nerissa," Leah called out."Good morning! How's everything?" I replied.Dan chuckled. "Same old, same old. Ready for another thrilling day in the world of IT."We shared a laugh before I made my way to Asher's office. My plan was to organize his workspace before he arrived, a routine I had maintained during his absence. I knocked lightly on the door, and hearing no response, I pushed it open.To my surprise, Asher was seated at his desk, reviewing some documents. He looked up, his piercing blue eyes meeting mine."Nerissa,"
Nerissa I spent the rest of the morning trying to act like I wasn’t spiraling. How could everything change so fast? One day I was a simple assistant with a semi-peaceful routine, and now I was being told to shadow a man like Asher Grayson to every meeting and every event like some executive groupie. And worse—I had no way out of it. The contract I’d signed blindly on my first day, desperate for work, had just become a leash around my neck. At exactly three o’clock, Asher stepped out of his office. I was already on my feet before he even called my name. “Let’s go,” he said, not waiting to see if I followed. I did, of course. Because what else could I do? He didn’t speak much in the car, just typed away on his phone. I sat beside him, stiff as a board, fidgeting with my skirt and wondering if he could sense how badly I wanted to be anywhere else. The boutique was in a quiet corner of the city—discreet, classy, expensive. Everything about it screamed Asher Grayson. I stepped insi
Chapter One The music pounded in my ears, each beat reverberating through my body as I stood by the bar, a drink in hand. It wasn’t enough to drown out my impulsive words. "You look so hot," I blurted, my hand reaching up to brush a lock of his dark hair. The words were out of my mouth before I could stop myself, and my fingers lingered longer than they should have. I froze. What had I just done? This wasn’t me. I wasn’t the type to flirt with strangers in clubs. Especially not after… well, everything. The last few months had been a wreck, and I was far from stable, both mentally and emotionally. My ex, who I had thought was my forever, had been cheating on me for three years. Three. Years. And now I was standing here in a smoky club, probably looking like a mess with my wavy red hair barely contained in a loose ponytail and smudged mascara from an earlier cry session. What was I expecting from this guy? I could feel my face heating up, embarrassment rolling over me in waves. The
Nerissa I spent the rest of the morning trying to act like I wasn’t spiraling. How could everything change so fast? One day I was a simple assistant with a semi-peaceful routine, and now I was being told to shadow a man like Asher Grayson to every meeting and every event like some executive groupie. And worse—I had no way out of it. The contract I’d signed blindly on my first day, desperate for work, had just become a leash around my neck. At exactly three o’clock, Asher stepped out of his office. I was already on my feet before he even called my name. “Let’s go,” he said, not waiting to see if I followed. I did, of course. Because what else could I do? He didn’t speak much in the car, just typed away on his phone. I sat beside him, stiff as a board, fidgeting with my skirt and wondering if he could sense how badly I wanted to be anywhere else. The boutique was in a quiet corner of the city—discreet, classy, expensive. Everything about it screamed Asher Grayson. I stepped insi
Nerissa The next morning, I arrived at the office feeling a sense of calm. The previous evening's drama with Jace and his girlfriend was behind me, and I was ready to tackle the day's tasks. Balancing work and caring for Luke had become my routine, and I was growing more comfortable with it.As I stepped into the building, I exchanged greetings with Leah and Dan, who were chatting near the entrance. Their friendly smiles were a welcome start to the day."Morning, Nerissa," Leah called out."Good morning! How's everything?" I replied.Dan chuckled. "Same old, same old. Ready for another thrilling day in the world of IT."We shared a laugh before I made my way to Asher's office. My plan was to organize his workspace before he arrived, a routine I had maintained during his absence. I knocked lightly on the door, and hearing no response, I pushed it open.To my surprise, Asher was seated at his desk, reviewing some documents. He looked up, his piercing blue eyes meeting mine."Nerissa,"
NerissaIt had been a few weeks since the first awkward elevator encounter, and I was starting to get used to seeing my neighbor with a new girlfriend every week. Honestly, it wasn’t my business, and I kept reminding myself of that. Still, I made sure Luke didn’t come in contact with him. The last thing I needed was Luke picking up any habits from someone who clearly didn’t care about anyone else’s comfort.The loud music blasting through the thin apartment walls didn’t help either. Sometimes it started early in the morning; other times, it kept going well into the night. I’d started using earplugs just to get some sleep.At work, things were surprisingly better. Asher hadn’t been coming to the office lately, which was a huge relief. I didn’t have to constantly worry about accidentally saying or doing something that might give away my secret. I could actually breathe.I’d also made a few friends. Dan, from the IT department, was a sweetheart with a quick wit, and Leah from accounting
NerissaI walked back toward the office, my heels clicking against the polished floors, but my mind was miles away. Why did Dan bring up Silver? Had he seen her? Had she asked about me?I shook my head, pushing the thoughts away. It didn’t matter. She didn’t matter.What mattered right now was getting through the day without losing my sanity. By the time I reached Asher’s office, I had regained my composure. I knocked twice, waiting for permission to enter. “Come in.” His voice was clipped, impatient. I pushed open the door and stepped inside, immediately noticing the tension in the air. Asher sat behind his desk, his fingers tapping against the dark wood, his jaw set tight. “You took your time,” he remarked, not bothering to look up from the papers in front of him. I bit back a retort. Professional. Indifferent. Play the part.“I was in the middle of something,” I replied smoothly, walking over to stand beside his desk. He finally looked up, and for a brief moment, somet
Nerissa I pushed Asher off me cleaning my mouth furiously even though the feeling of his lips still lingered. "How dare you kiss me without my permission?" He gave me a smug smile and sat on his chair, "Because you are mine now, Nerissa. The moment you became my secretary you became my possession." How in the name of everything normal did I end up with this cocky rich man? "Think about the money, think about the money" I chanted to myself. I took a deep breath and flashed my professional smile. "With all due respect, Mr Blackwood..." "Please call me Asher." "With all due respect, Mr Blackwood, please don't touch me without my permission or you would be sued by assault." I didn't wait for him to talk before I walked out of the room. I walked towards the ladies room still seething from what had just happened..The nerve of that infuriating annoying...... I forced a polite smile as I passed a few colleagues in the hallway. The weight of expectations clung to me like an ill-fitt
NerissaI walked into the office the next morning. The usual chatter filled the air, but today felt different. There was an uneasy feeling hanging over the room, and I couldn’t shake the sense that something was wrong. Just as I sat down, my boss called me into his office. My stomach twisted with nerves; the last time he did this, it was for a performance review, and I’d only just managed to pass.“Nerissa,” he said, his voice serious. “I need to talk to you about a transfer.” My heart sank. I knew what that meant. I’d heard the rumors, but I was hoping they wouldn’t be true. “You’re being moved to the top floor. Black Industries has merged with us, and they want you working directly under Mr. Blackwood.”I nodded, even as I clenched my fists. Damn Blackwood. I had only just started my life here and he was already set out to ruin it. Coupled with the fact that I was hiding his baby.I went to the bathroom to clear my head, hoping to shake off the anxiety. As I leaned over the sink, tw
Asher's POV The ride home felt longer than usual. I leaned back in the plush leather seat of the car, watching the city lights blur into streaks of yellow and white as we sped through the streets. My mind was stuck on her and I needed answers now answers only someone with the right skills could dig up. Pulling out my phone, I scrolled through my contacts until I found the name I was looking for: Clark. He was the best private investigator I’d ever worked with, and I had a feeling this job was going to require his finest skills. The phone rang twice before he picked up. "Asher, what’s going on?" I didn’t waste time on pleasantries. “I need you to start looking into someone for me. Her name’s Nerissa Blake. I want everything—where she’s been, who she’s been with, why she disappeared. Leave no stone unturned.” There was a slight pause on the other end, and I could almost hear Clark raising an eyebrow. “Nerissa? Is this the same girl who ghosted you?” My jaw tightened. “Yes.” H
The air in the car felt thick and suffocating, pressing in on me from all sides as Asher loomed over me. His presence filled the small space, stirring memories I had spent the last five years burying. His face was unreadable, but those sharp sapphire eyes—the ones I remembered too well—held a knowing glint that sent my heart racing. I shifted uncomfortably beneath him, my back pressing against the leather seat as I tried to put some distance between us. "What do you want, Mr Blackwood?" My voice wavered despite my best efforts to sound steady. I wasn’t that girl from five years ago—the one who had let herself get swept up in a moment. I had responsibilities now. A life I needed to protect. He didn’t answer right away. His hand, large and calloused, brushed against my cheek, and I flinched. That touch, once igniting sparks, now only fueled my fear. I was trapped. He was too close, too calm. Too dangerous. “You disappeared,” he finally said, his tone steady but his eyes flashing wi
My heart skipped a beat. I knew those eyes—those sharp, brilliant sapphire eyes that had haunted my dreams for five long years. They belonged to *him*. Asher. The man I had hoped never to see again.I forced myself to remain calm, to keep my composure, though my legs felt like they would give out at any moment. I felt a hand on my waist before I could crumble and I stared into the chocolate eyes of my boss"Are you okay, Miss Blake?""Of course" my voice came out as a squeak and I cleared my throat "of course Mr, Strauss"He released me, "This is Asher Blackwood, my partner and my friend""Good morning Mr. Asher" I smiled as I stretched out my handsHe shook it and didn't release it, he tilted his head slightly, studying me as though trying to place my face. "Have we met before?" My heart pounded so loudly I was sure he could hear it. *No. No, this can’t be happening.*I swallowed hard, forcing a small, strained smile. “No,” I lied, hoping my voice sounded steady. “I’m afraid you mus