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Walking on Thin IceRiley's POVThe room felt heavy, like the air had thickened after Eric’s words hit me. My body was frozen, my mind struggling to process his insult. Piece of shit?Eric had never spoken to me like that. Sure, we’d had disagreements before, but this? This was venomous, laced with something far deeper than anger. “Eric,” I said carefully, my voice trembling slightly, “what’s going on? Why would you say something like that to me?” Eric didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he paced the length of the room like a caged animal, his hands clenching and unclenching into fists. His expression was a storm cloud of emotions—hurt, anger, betrayal. “You really don’t get it, do you?” he finally said, spinning around to face me. His tone was sharp, cutting. “Get what?” I asked, genuinely confused as to what was happening with him.He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “I actually thought you liked me, Riley. That you cared. But now I see it. You were just looking
Jaxon's POV I stood at the doorway, my sharp, calculating eyes fixed on Riley.Riley looked distressed, his face pale, his lips pressed into a tight line as though holding back a torrent of emotions. A sound—faint but unmistakable—came from within the house. My gaze flicked past Riley’s shoulder, and there he was: Eric, sitting rigidly on a chair, his eyes blazing with barely-contained fury. Interesting.I immediately understood I had stepped into something volatile, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t about to let the chaos stop mr from speaking to Riley. Last night had been... electric. Whatever feelings Riley might have been denying, I had seen the truth in every touch, every gasp. I wasn’t leaving without a conversation. “Riley,” I began, my tone smooth but firm, “we need to talk.” Riley shifted uncomfortably, clearly aware of the tension hanging in the air like a storm cloud. “Jaxon, now’s not a good time.” Eric, who hadn’t taken his eyes off me, let out a dry, humorless laugh
Riley POV I sat on the edge of his couch, staring at the closed door Jaxon had just walked out of. A strange mix of emotions swirled inside me—relief, confusion, and a small, nagging twinge of disappointment. Jaxon had covered for me, spinning a lie so seamless that Eric had begun to question his own assumptions. For that, I was grateful. But Jaxon’s sudden departure lingered in my mind like a splinter he couldn’t ignore. I felt really bad and I wished I could talk more to him but I guess that would practically be impossible now.I frowned, recalling the look on Jaxon’s face when I had lashed out. At the time, I had been too consumed by my own frustration to notice, but now... now I couldn’t shake the memory of the pain I had seen in Jaxon’s eyes. Had my words cut deeper than I had intended? Or was Jaxon upset about something else entirely? Before I could dwell too long on it, Eric appeared in the doorway to the living room, his expression hesitant. “Riley?” Eric’s voice was
Riley's POV Weeks had passed since Jaxon had ended our agreement, and I couldn’t deny the newfound sense of freedom. No more annoying messages summoning me at odd hours, no more tense dinners where every word felt like a gamble. No more having to deal with his manipulative and annoying father who was actually just an evil person.It just felt like I had gotten my life back and I was now the only one in control of everything that happened, instead of feeling like I was a puppet being moved around by strings.Yet, amidst this freedom, there was something hollow, like the echo of a song that had once filled the room but now only lingered in memory. It seemed like something was missing, something that always kept me on my toes and sort of gave me purpose, a reason to keep on fighting.I couldn't exactly explain it so I did my best to push such alien feelings down into the depths of mind so as not to ponder too much on it.The last thing I needed was to be too distracted to do what I n
Jaxon’s POVThe conference room was filled with the quiet hum of muted voices and the rustle of papers. I had entered the room with my usual air of authority, followed closely by my personal guards. My gaze swept over the occupants, assessing their presence, before settling momentarily on Riley Matthews. He was setting up the presentation slides, his focus on the task at hand. For a fleeting moment, my chest tightened. Seeing him again after weeks of silence was harder than I expected. He looked different—freer, lighter. And yet, there was still something about him that stirred a deep, inexplicable ache inside me. I forced myself to look away, reminding myself why I had made the decision to end things. As much as I wanted to be a heartless bastard, I wasn't going to destroy the love that I had seen between Eric and Riley. It wouldn't be fair to any of them if I came in-between them just because I felt like having fun.My father, as annoying and evil as he was, had been right a
Riley’s POVEric and I sat together on the couch, the television humming softly in the background, though neither of us was paying attention to it. He had his arm placed casually over my shoulder, his fingers lightly tracing patterns on my skin. “Babe,” Eric started, his tone light but tinged with excitement, “I’ve been thinking. We should go on a vacation.” I shifted slightly, glancing up at him. “A vacation?” “Yeah,” he said, his eyes lighting up. “We both have been through a lot this past couple months. We deserve a break. Just us, somewhere far away.” The thought of a getaway should have thrilled me, but instead, a knot formed in my stomach. A vacation sounded great in theory, but with everything going on in my mind—particularly Jaxon’s distant behavior—I couldn’t see myself enjoying it. “I don’t know if it’s the right time, Eric,” I said hesitantly. “Why not?” he asked, sitting up straighter. “It’s the perfect time. Work has been stressful for you, and I’m tired of
Jaxon’s POVI glanced over at the open suitcase on my bed, half-filled with meticulously folded clothes and travel essentials. Alexis stood at the foot of the bed, rolling her eyes as she refolded a shirt I had just tossed in. “Honestly, Jaxon,” she said with mock exasperation, holding up a pair of socks I’d balled together. “You run a multi-billion-dollar corporation, but you can’t pack a suitcase to save your life.” I let out a low grunt, leaning against the doorframe with my arms crossed. “I didn’t ask for your help, Alexis.” She smirked, unbothered by my tone. “No, but you need it. And you know it.” I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Alexis had been one of the few constants in my life, and while her meddling could be irritating, I couldn’t deny she was right most of the time. As she folded yet another shirt with precision, she glanced up at me. “You’ve been different lately.” I stiffened, my expression hardening. “What are you talking about?” I asked, curio
Jaxon’s POVMy assistant cleared her throat awkwardly, clearly trying to diffuse the situation. “Mr. Steele, Ms. Carver specifically mentioned that Riley would be the best fit for this trip given his involvement in the marketing project. She trusted him to represent the department.” I didn’t look convinced. “There had to be someone else.” “I’m here now,” Riley said, a little sharper. “And I’m not going to back out last minute. This trip is important for the company.” My jaw tightened, my stare boring into him.“This trip doesn’t concern you.” “It does now,” he countered, standing his ground. “Unless you want to waste time finding someone else to replace me. I doubt the plane will wait for that.” For a moment, we both became quiet as we stared down at each other. I was waging an internal battle, my lips pressed so tightly together I thought they might disappear entirely. Finally, I exhaled sharply, my voice low and cold. “Fine. But stay out of my way.” I'm sure the wor
Jaxon’s POVThe grand ballroom of the gala was nothing short of spectacular, yet it did little to improve my mood. Crystal chandeliers hung like beautiful waterfalls of light, reflecting off the polished marble floors. Tables were set with luxury white linens, followed by arrangements of red roses and gold candlesticks. Guests moved like well-dressed shadows in the low, warm light, their laughter and chatter a distant hum. But for all the beauty, my mind was elsewhere—stuck on the infuriating image of Riley in that damn bar. I almost couldn't get it out of my head and I couldn't help but wonder if I just felt guilty for sending him home for such an insignificant reason.I shook my head slightly, trying my best to sgahe those thoughts away. I needed to focus on this event. It is what's most important.Beside me, my assistant, Natalie, stood nervously, her tablet clutched tightly to her chest. Judging from the look on her face, I could tell she had something on her mind but perhaps
Riley’s POVThe hum of the car engine was oddly soothing as I settled into the seat of Ryan’s car. The city lights of Los Angeles blurred past us, vibrant and alive, their energy a stark contrast to the turmoil still simmering in my chest. Ryan glanced at me from the front seat, his eyes warm and curious. “So, Riley,” he began, his voice breaking the silence. “What is this gala event you're headed to tonight, looking all sharp and dapper?” I shifted slightly, adjusting the lapels of my suit. “There’s a gala I’m supposed to attend. Business-related, of course.” Ryan raised an eyebrow, his smile teasing. “You sound thrilled.” I couldn’t help but chuckle dryly. “Let’s just say it’s been one of those days.” His gaze lingered, inviting me to elaborate. “What happened?” he asked, his tone light yet genuinely interested. “You seemed fine earlier at the bar. That is, of course, before you disappeared and I didn't see you again.” I sighed, leaning back in my seat. “I'm so s
Riley's POVMy hands trembled as I shoved another shirt into my suitcase, the fabric wrinkling under the force of my frustration.Anger burned hot and heavy in my chest, my movements jerky and uncoordinated as I slammed the suitcase shut. The last couple of hours had been hell in my head and I could almost feel myself almost going crazy out of anger caused by only one man.Jaxon Steele. The arrogant, insufferable bastard. If I didn’t need this job to keep paying my rent, I would’ve punched him directly in his smug face and walked out with my head held high. Instead, here I was, packing up my things like a scolded schoolboy. The way he had talked to me was unacceptable and I hated the thought of being chased back to NYC when I should be here helping out the company the best way I know how.The sound of my phone ringing snapped me out of my storm of anger. I glanced at the screen—Eric. Perfect. I swiped to answer and brought the phone to my ear. “Hey,” I greeted, my voice sh
Jaxon’s POV(An Hour Ago)The night was silent, but my thoughts were anything but. I paced my room, unable to shake the gnawing irritation that had been building since the plane ride. Every time I tried to focus on the city skyline outside, my mind dragged me back to Riley. Why this was happening became a complete mystery to me and I wanted it to stop as soon as possible.Something about him unsettled me in ways I couldn’t explain—or maybe I just didn’t want to. Unable to resist the urge, I grabbed my phone and dialed the extension to his room. It rang and rang, but no one answered. My jaw tightened. What was he doing? I tried to brush it off, telling myself I was overreacting, but after a few more minutes, I found myself standing outside Riley’s door. I knocked sharply, my irritation bleeding into my movements. I had expected him to come to the door almost immediately but despite knocking severally, there was still no answer. I knocked again, harder this time. Still nothin
Riley’s POVThe room was quiet now, a sanctuary after the turbulence of the day. I had unpacked most of my things, neatly arranging them in the drawers and closet like I always did—it gave me a sense of control, even if everything else was a chaotic mess. The view from my window was stunning. The city lights of LA sparkled against the backdrop of the night, each one a small fragment of life I wished I could explore. My phone buzzed on the nightstand, the screen lighting up with Eric’s name. I smiled, already anticipating his teasing. “Hey, Eric,” I greeted, answering the call and laying back on the bed. “Riley! Finally! I thought you’d forgotten about me,” Eric said, his tone mock-indignant. I chuckled. “How could I? You’d never let me live it down" I replied with a smile playing on my lips.The conversation flowed easily, as it always did with Eric. He wanted to know everything—how the trip was going, how the city looked, what the hotel was like. “Well,” I began, “the c
Jaxon's POVThe moment I stepped into my hotel suite, I allowed myself a brief sigh of relief. It was as if I had just returned from a long journey and I needed to rest my body, as well as my mind, from the gruelling ordeal I had endured on the way.The space was nothing short of magnificent—floor-to-ceiling windows that offered an unparalleled view of Los Angeles, a sprawling king-sized bed adorned with crisp, white linens, and sleek, modern furniture that exuded quiet luxury. If there was one thing my assistant had managed to do right, it was booking this hotel. The city stretched out below me, a glittering tapestry of lights and movement. From this height, it looked almost serene—ironic, considering how chaotic my thoughts were. I loosened my tie and wandered to the windows, letting the cool glass press against my palm. I loved this feeling of brief liberation, even though it felt alien a few moments later.“Not bad,” I muttered to myself, taking in the view. After a few
Riley's POVThe plane’s wheels touched down with a slight jolt, and I couldn’t suppress the smile that stretched across my face as I looked out the window. We were finally out of the air and now in Los Angeles. The city of stars, sprawling beaches, and endless opportunities. Even though I was here for work—and under less-than-ideal circumstances—I couldn’t help but feel a wave of excitement wash over me. It was my first time being here and I almost couldn't control the constant smile plastered on my face.As the plane moved to the gate, I glanced over at Jaxon, seated several rows ahead in first class. His posture was rigid, and he looked as unapproachable as ever. I sighed. If there was one cloud hanging over this otherwise perfect day, it was him. After collecting my carry-on bag, I made my way off the plane and into the bustling terminal. The energy here was electric, the kind of vibrant chaos that only a city like LA could offer. Jaxon and his assistant were already waitin
Jaxon’s POVMy assistant cleared her throat awkwardly, clearly trying to diffuse the situation. “Mr. Steele, Ms. Carver specifically mentioned that Riley would be the best fit for this trip given his involvement in the marketing project. She trusted him to represent the department.” I didn’t look convinced. “There had to be someone else.” “I’m here now,” Riley said, a little sharper. “And I’m not going to back out last minute. This trip is important for the company.” My jaw tightened, my stare boring into him.“This trip doesn’t concern you.” “It does now,” he countered, standing his ground. “Unless you want to waste time finding someone else to replace me. I doubt the plane will wait for that.” For a moment, we both became quiet as we stared down at each other. I was waging an internal battle, my lips pressed so tightly together I thought they might disappear entirely. Finally, I exhaled sharply, my voice low and cold. “Fine. But stay out of my way.” I'm sure the wor
Jaxon’s POVI glanced over at the open suitcase on my bed, half-filled with meticulously folded clothes and travel essentials. Alexis stood at the foot of the bed, rolling her eyes as she refolded a shirt I had just tossed in. “Honestly, Jaxon,” she said with mock exasperation, holding up a pair of socks I’d balled together. “You run a multi-billion-dollar corporation, but you can’t pack a suitcase to save your life.” I let out a low grunt, leaning against the doorframe with my arms crossed. “I didn’t ask for your help, Alexis.” She smirked, unbothered by my tone. “No, but you need it. And you know it.” I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Alexis had been one of the few constants in my life, and while her meddling could be irritating, I couldn’t deny she was right most of the time. As she folded yet another shirt with precision, she glanced up at me. “You’ve been different lately.” I stiffened, my expression hardening. “What are you talking about?” I asked, curio