By the time the office began to empty in the evening, Selena was drowning. She hadn’t even completed two documents from the mountain of work Julian had dumped on her. Her desk was littered with papers, her hair was disheveled, and she had a pencil awkwardly tucked behind her ear. She glared at the spreadsheet on her screen like it had personally offended her. “How the hell do people do this every day?” she muttered, slamming her head lightly against the desk. “This isn’t work; this is torture.” Selena flipped through a document, reading the same sentence for the fifth time. “What even is a market analysis?” she groaned, tossing the paper aside. Her hands found her temples, rubbing them as if massaging her brain might somehow make her smarter. She missed acting. Memorizing lines, doing photo shoots, walking red carpets—it all felt like a dream compared to the nightmare of deciphering Julian’s financial jargon. “This column isn’t even aligned properly! Is that my job to fix?!”
The announcement of the new production under the Grant Company’s sister branch sent a wave of excitement across the employees. It was a rare opportunity for the company to expand its influence in the entertainment world. A murder mystery romantic drama was an unusual yet intriguing choice, and the buzz surrounding the project was palpable. Selena sat stiffly at the long glass conference table, a notepad and pen in front of her. She tried to focus on her task—writing down key points of the meeting—but her nerves were getting the better of her. Julian was at the head of the table, exuding authority as usual. His calm, measured voice dictated the flow of the conversation, and everyone else in the room hung on his every word. "The story revolves around an unsolved murder in a small coastal town," one of the department heads began, glancing at Julian for approval. "The protagonist, a private investigator, is brought in to solve the case but gets entangled in a romantic relationship w
Selena sat hunched over her desk, her forehead resting in her palm as she stared at the seemingly endless stack of papers. Her mood matched the gloomy gray skies outside. Her stomach churned with cramps, her head throbbed from frustration, and every five to ten minutes, Julian’s sharp tone sliced through the office like a dagger. “Miss Frost!” Julian’s commanding voice made her flinch. He was standing by her desk, holding a paper like it was a contaminated object. “This report is incomplete. Do you even read what you submit, or do you just hope for the best?” Selena bit her tongue, swallowing the retort burning in her throat. “I’ll fix it,” she muttered, keeping her voice even. Julian’s eyes narrowed, and he leaned closer. “Don’t ‘fix it,’ get it right the first time.” He dropped the paper on her desk with a heavy thud before walking off. Selena sighed, slumping in her chair. She grabbed the report, her fingers trembling slightly as she scanned the pages. It didn’t seem incom
"Miss Frost," Julian started, his tone low and dripping with disdain, "how long are you planning to waste everyone’s time with your incompetence? A simple task of taking notes—notes!—and you managed to botch it completely." Her hands clenched at her sides as she bit back the sting of his words. "I’m doing my best," she muttered. "Your best?" He scoffed, throwing the pen in his hand onto his desk with a clatter. "Your best is mediocre, and that's being generous. You think this is some playground where you can show up and coast on your reputation? If you want to survive here, Miss Frost, you need to be better than this." Selena's patience snapped. She slammed the notebook she was holding onto his desk, glaring at him with fire in her eyes. "Why don’t you just say it, Julian? You hate me! You’ve been breathing down my neck all day, waiting for me to mess up so you can pounce." Julian leaned back in his chair, his jaw tightening. "Watch your fucking tone," he warned coldly. "Or
As the car pulled into the long driveway of Julian’s villa, Selena was too exhausted to pay much attention to her surroundings. She just wanted to get inside, grab some rest, and forget about her tumultuous day. Julian, on the other hand, was unusually silent, his mind still replaying the odd mix of arguments, scolding, and the awkward pharmacy detour. But as soon as they stepped inside the house, Julian froze in his tracks. “Julian Mathers!” a sharp yet familiar voice echoed through the grand hall. Selena looked up, startled, and saw an older woman sitting elegantly on one of the plush sofas. She was dressed in a lavender silk blouse and a pearl necklace that radiated class and warmth. Her silver hair was swept into a bun, and her sharp, intelligent eyes zeroed in on Julian. “Grandma?” Julian muttered, visibly caught off guard. Selena blinked, unsure of what to do. Julian’s grandmother? “I’ve been waiting here for hours, young man!” The older woman stood up with surprisi
Selena stormed into her room, slamming the door shut behind her with more force than necessary. Her blood was boiling, her stomach was aching, and her head felt like it would explode. She flopped onto the bed, clutching a pillow to her chest, and screamed into it.“That insufferable, egotistical, self-centered, pompous jerk!” she yelled into the fabric. “Who does he think he is? God’s gift to humanity? More like the devil’s curse to women!”She threw the pillow across the room in frustration, watching it hit the wall and flop to the floor. It wasn’t nearly as satisfying as she’d hoped.“I can’t believe I’m stuck in this stupid situation!” she continued, pacing back and forth. “And now I have to deal with his stupid face every single day! Ugh!” She dramatically flopped back onto the bed, her hand resting over her stomach. “And on top of it all, I’m dying from period pain! This is all his fault!”She glared at the ceiling as if Julian himself were etched into it. “I hope his socks never
Selena was surprised at how peaceful the next few days turned out to be. After the tension-filled encounters with Julian, she had fully braced herself for a storm of scolding and sarcasm. But instead of criticism, she got... silence.Julian barely spoke to her. Even when she fumbled, he didn’t explode like usual. Instead, he assigned Clara to oversee her work, giving her clear instructions to train Selena thoroughly.Clara, always cheerful and optimistic, was thrilled to take Selena under her wing. “Don’t worry, Selena. You’ll get the hang of this in no time!” she chirped on the first day of their lessons.And Clara was right. Selena, determined not to give Julian any more ammunition against her, poured herself into the work. She picked up everything surprisingly fast, from drafting emails and handling schedules to understanding the basics of business correspondence.“Wow,” Clara said one afternoon, looking over Selena’s completed reports. “I have to say, Selena, you’re a quick learne
Selena entered Julian’s office with a steaming cup of coffee, carefully placing it on his desk. She half-expected his usual sharp critique or, at the very least, his cold indifference. Instead, he glanced up from the document he was reading and said, “Thank you.” The two simple words froze her mid-step. She blinked, her mind racing. Had she misheard him? Julian Grant thanking someone? Still, she managed to recover quickly and replied, “You’re welcome,” before turning to leave. “Wait,” his voice stopped her in her tracks, smooth and commanding. Selena sighed inwardly and turned back toward him. “Yes?” Julian leaned back in his chair, his piercing gaze studying her for a moment before he casually said, “I wanted to inform you that I’ll be working through the weekend. There’s some business to attend to with the sister company.” Selena raised an eyebrow, already suspicious. “What does that have to do with me?” “You’ll need to be available,” Julian replied smoothly. “Isn't i
TWO MONTHS LATER -The grand rehearsal hall of the Berlin Opera House echoed with the resonant notes of a soprano practicing her scales. Selena stood at the center, her voice soaring as she perfected the aria she had spent weeks rehearsing. She had come to Berlin with one goal in mind—Broadway. She wanted to prove that she was more than just an actress. That she could stand on a stage and hold an audience captive with nothing but the power of her voice.But reality was harsher than she had expected.Despite her talent, she had been rejected for the role of prima donna three times. The first time, the director told her she lacked the "seasoned control" of an experienced opera singer. The second time, she was told that while she had an impressive voice, she didn't have the presence needed to command an entire stage. The third time, the rejection letter simply said: "Not yet."She had cried in her room that night, wondering if she had made the right choice leaving everything behind. But
Julian sat in his private office, staring blankly at the city lights outside the floor-to-ceiling window. The glass of whiskey in his hand remained untouched, the ice melting slowly, much like the rigid walls of hatred he had built around himself. His heart was in turmoil, twisting with a kind of pain he hadn’t felt in years. The weight of his mistakes pressed down on him, suffocating and relentless. Selena was gone.And now, the truth was staring him in the face, mocking him for his blindness.A knock on the door brought him back to the present. One of his most trusted men, Mason, entered, his expression grave. “Sir, we’ve completed the investigation.”Julian turned, his cold eyes locking onto the man. “Tell me everything.”Mason placed a file on the table. “The evidence that implicated Selena in your parents’ accident was falsified. We traced it back to Samantha Frost.”Julian inhaled sharply, his grip tightening around the glass until his knuckles turned white. The name alone was
Harrison Frost sat in his grand yet empty office, the weight of years of selfishness pressing down on his shoulders like a mountain he could no longer bear. The mahogany desk before him, once a symbol of his power and success, now felt like a relic of a life built on lies. His once-thriving company, a legacy he had spent decades building, had been on the brink of collapse. But Julian had saved it.The very man he had once feared.The very man his daughter—his true daughter—had loved.Julian Mathers sat across from him, arms crossed, his sharp, unreadable gaze fixed on the older man. The silence between them was thick with tension, unspoken words, and regret. Julian had not come for business today. He had come for answers. And Harrison knew he could no longer evade them.Harrison swallowed hard, his mouth dry as he adjusted his tie. His hands trembled slightly, betraying the calm facade he tried to maintain. “Julian… I—”“Talk.” Julian’s voice was cold, but his patience was thinner tha
Samantha sat in the lavish living room of the Frost mansion, delicately stirring her tea, a satisfied smirk playing at her lips. Her long, perfectly manicured nails tapped against the porcelain cup as she leaned back into the plush velvet couch. The sun streamed in through the tall glass windows, casting a golden glow over the elegant room, but nothing compared to the warmth of victory she felt within.Selena was gone.Finally.The older sister she had always loathed, the one who always outshined her, had packed her bags and left the country.Samantha hid her glee behind a carefully constructed mask of sadness, occasionally letting out a sigh of mock concern whenever her father, Harrison, brought up Selena’s departure.“She’ll come back,” Harrison said, though his expression betrayed his true emotions. There was no sadness in his voice, only irritation and worry. He wasn’t concerned about Selena—he was concerned about himself.With Julian divorcing her, their ties to his empire were s
Selena stood in front of the large window in her childhood bedroom, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as if trying to hold together the shattered pieces of her heart. The city lights outside glittered like distant stars, but their beauty felt hollow, mocking the emptiness inside her. This place—this house, this city—had once been her sanctuary, her home. Now, it felt like a prison, every corner suffused with memories that clawed at her soul. Of Julian. Of his cold, calculating eyes. Of the way his voice had dripped with venom when he told her the truth. Her chest tightened, a sharp ache radiating through her as she recalled the moment she had read the divorce papers. The words had burned into her mind, searing her with their cruelty. He had never loved her. He had only married her for revenge. The realization had shattered her, leaving her raw and exposed, as if her very essence had been stripped away. She had to leave. There was nothing left for her here. Her fing
Julian sat alone in his office, the dim glow of his desk lamp casting long, jagged shadows across his face. The room was silent, save for the faint hum of the city outside, but the quiet did nothing to soothe the tempest raging within him. His hands, clenched into tight fists, rested on the polished surface of his desk, the knuckles white with tension. His chest felt like it was being crushed under an invisible weight, each breath shallow and labored, as if the air itself had turned against him. The divorce papers lay in front of him, signed and finalized. She was gone. It was what he had wanted—wasn’t it? Then why did it feel like his entire world had just been ripped apart? He leaned back in his chair, his head falling heavily against the leather headrest. His eyes, bloodshot and weary, stared blankly at the ceiling. The room seemed to close in around him, the walls pressing closer with every passing second. His mind was a chaotic whirlwind of thoughts, each one sharper an
Selena’s hands trembled as she folded the last piece of clothing into her suitcase. The divorce papers lay abandoned on the bed, the inked words blurring in her tear-filled vision. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, but the tears kept coming. This was really happening. Julian was releasing her. She had lost him. Not that she ever truly had him in the first place. Dragging her suitcase behind her, she stepped out of the room that had once been theirs. The hallways of Julian’s mansion felt colder, emptier than ever before. Every step away from this place felt like a dagger twisting deeper into her chest. She had thought she had found love. But all she had found was pain. The servants looked away, some whispering amongst themselves. No one stopped her. No one said a word. It was as if she had never belonged here. Julian had made sure of that. Outside, the driver stood waiting. His gaze was somber, but he didn’t question why she was leaving with nothing but
Selena sat on the cold floor of Julian’s study, her entire body trembling as silent sobs wracked her frame. The weight of his words still echoed in her mind, suffocating her. "Did you really think I fell in love with you? That I wanted you for anything other than revenge?" The man she had loved, the man she had foolishly given her heart to, had never once seen her as anything other than a target. A means to an end. Her chest ached, a deep, unbearable pain that wouldn’t go away. She wanted to tell him the truth. She wanted to scream that she wasn’t the one who had killed his parents. But she couldn’t. Because if she did, then Samantha— Her phone suddenly rang, the sharp sound cutting through the suffocating silence. With shaky hands, she reached for it, barely able to see the screen through her tear-filled eyes. Samantha. For a moment, Selena hesitated before answering. "S-Sam…" Her voice was broken, barely above a whisper. "Did you tell him?" Samantha’s voice c
Julian noticed something was off the moment Selena stepped into his study.Her face was pale, her hands trembled slightly as she clenched the fabric of her dress. She looked like she had seen a ghost.His brows furrowed."What’s wrong?" His voice was softer than usual, concern flickering in his dark eyes.Selena opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her throat was too dry.Julian stood up from his chair and slowly walked toward her. He placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch surprisingly gentle."Selena, say something." His concern deepened.Selena gulped, gathering her courage. I have to do this… for Samantha."I… I need to tell you something," she finally whispered.“Okay,” Julian’s gaze sharpened, sensing the weight of her words. "What is it?"She hesitated, her lips trembling. "It's about the accident," she forced out. "The accident of your parents."The air in the room changed instantly.Julian’s expression hardened, his grip on her shoulder tightening unconsciously."Go on,"