It was my Freddie, my neighbors cat.

"F****k". I held my chest so tightly, I almost wet myself.

 I bent down, reaching for the small shape brushing against my leg.

"Stop hovering around the elevator, Freddy," I murmured, gently petting him.

Then I stood, my heart still uneasy, and walked straight.

By the time I got to my room, everything felt... quiet.

Too quiet.

The kind of quiet that makes your thoughts louder than they should be.

Less than an hour ago, I was at a party.

Dressed up. Smiling.

Standing beside my boyfriend.

My boyfriend.

I let out a small laugh as I shut the door behind me.

Ex-boyfriend.

It still felt strange in my head. Like I was saying someone else's story.

I leaned against the door for a moment, my heels still on, my body tired, my mind even more tired.

Two years.

Two whole years... and it ended just like that.

No warning. No explanation.

Just...

A door.

A sound.

And the truth waiting behind it.

I pushed myself away from the door slowly and walked inside. My heels clicked softly against the floor, but even that sound felt distant, like it didn't belong to me.

Everything still looked the same.

My couch.

My table.

My bag tossed carelessly on the chair.

Nothing had changed.

But everything had.

I exhaled and walked straight to the bathroom.

I needed to wash the night off me.

The dress suddenly felt too tight. Too revealing. Too much.

I pulled it off slowly, letting it slide down my body and drop to the floor. For a second, I just stood there, staring at it.

That dress...

The same dress he insisted I wear.

The same dress I wasn't comfortable in.

A small, bitter smile crossed my lips.

"Never.... Never again will I let a man, make me wear what I don't want to wear," I muttered softly.

I stepped into the shower and turned the water on.

The cold hit my skin first, then slowly warmed up.

I closed my eyes as the water ran down my face, my shoulders, my back.

And then the thoughts came.

"Why would you do that, Lucas..." I whispered under my breath.

My voice echoed faintly in the bathroom.

"Why?"

I rested my hand against the wall, letting the water run over me.

"Two years... I stayed. I trusted you. I believed you."

My chest tightened slightly.

"You said you loved me..."

The words felt empty now.

"I did everything right... didn't I?"

I let out a small breath.

"I stayed loyal. I stayed patient. I stayed... real."

The water kept running.

"And you still chose her."

That part still didn't make sense.

Not just anyone.

Her.

Serena.

I shook my head slowly, wiping water from my face.

"I must have been blind," I whispered.

Or maybe I just didn't want to see.

After a while, I turned off the shower and stepped out, wrapping a towel around my body.

The air felt cool against my damp skin.

I walked to my room quietly, like I didn't want to disturb something that was already broken.

I sat in front of my mirror.

For a moment, I just stared at myself.

My hair was wet, falling messily around my shoulders. My eyes looked tired. Not from crying-just... tired.

I searched my own face, like I was trying to understand something.

"Where did I get it wrong?" I asked softly.

"Was I too much... or not enough?"

Still nothing.

I let out a small breath and leaned back slightly.

All the memories started playing in my head.

The late-night calls.

The promises.

The "I love yous."

The plans.

Everything.

And now...

Nothing.

Just like that.

I stood up slowly and walked to my wardrobe.

I didn't feel like dressing up. I didn't feel like being anything.

I just wanted to be... comfortable.

I reached for one of my oversized t-shirts-a soft, worn-out one that fell almost to my thighs.

I slipped it on, the fabric loose around my body, simple, easy.

I walked back to the bed and dropped onto it, staring at the ceiling.

A notification appeared on my phone.

Maybe it's him, It was from Maya.

"How's it going? Have you both hookup? But seriously hope you're good?

I signed gently.

"Go to sleep Maya, expect nothing!! Thanks thou I'm good."

I replied.

Silence filled the room again.

Then suddenly...

I laughed.

A soft, quiet laugh.

"I've been such a fool," I murmured.

The words didn't even hurt the way I expected them to.

"I really loved that idiot."

I shook my head slightly.

And that was when I noticed something strange.

I didn't feel like I was breaking.

I wasn't crying.

I wasn't screaming.

I wasn't falling apart.

Instead...

It felt like something had ended.

And something else... was just beginning.

A slow breath left my lips.

Maybe this wasn't the end of me.

Maybe this was the start of something new.

And somehow...

That thought didn't scare me.

My mind drifted again.

But this time...

It wasn't Lucas.

It was him.

The way he stepped out of the car.

The way his voice stayed calm.

The way everything shifted the moment he spoke.

And then...

That moment.

When he came down...

Just to open the door for me.

I turned my head slightly, staring at nothing.

"Who does that?" I whispered softly.

A small smile almost formed... then

disappeared.

Then reality hit me again.

Hard.

My eyes widened slightly.

"What if he recognizes me?"

I sat up a little.

My heart started beating faster again.

"That would be so embarrassing..." I muttered.

Out of all the ways to meet him...

That had to be it?

Not at work.

Not professionally.

But like that?

Hair messy. Dress all over the place. Almost getting attacked on the road.

I covered my face with my hands.

"Oh my God..."

What if he sees me tomorrow?

What if he remembers?

What if he looks at me and just... knows?

"What face am I even going to use?" I whispered.

I fell back on the bed again, staring at the ceiling.

I thought about work. The Nova FM studio. The endless calls. The interviews. The way I had spent two weeks running myself ragged. And now... all of it seemed small compared to what had happened tonight.

I remembered Maya's loud voice, the way she fought for me at the party. Protective. Loyal. So ridiculously outspoken. I couldn't help but laugh softly at her antics.

Sleep didn't come easily.

My thoughts kept moving from one thing to another.

Lucas.

Serena.

The party.

The car.

Him.

Maya.

Everything mixed together until I didn't even know when I finally drifted off.

The next morning came too fast.

I woke up feeling heavy, like my body didn't rest at all.

For a moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling again.

Then it all came back.

Everything.

I closed my eyes briefly, then forced myself to get up.

Life doesn't pause.

Work was still waiting.

I moved slowly, getting ready. Simple clothes. Nothing loud. Nothing that would draw attention.

I just wanted to pass through the day quietly.

But my mind wouldn't stay quiet.

What if he's there today?

What if I see him?

What if he recognizes me?

My stomach tightened at the thought.

By the time I got to the office building, my heart was already beating faster than normal.

I took a deep breath before stepping inside.

Everything felt normal.

People walking.

Phones ringing.

Voices moving around.

Like nothing had changed.

But for me... everything had.

I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and walked in.

One step.

Then another.

Trying to act normal.

Trying to look normal.

Then.

I saw him.

And my heart stopped.

My knees felt weak, my breath caught, and for a moment, I couldn't even think.

He was just standing there, flipping through papers, completely unaware of me. But my brain... my heart... every part of me knew.

That same calm voice. That same quiet strength.

The CEO. My boss's boss.

And the thought hit me hard.

What was I going to do now?

Under the Spotlight

The office was louder than usual that morning.

Phones rang endlessly, printers whirred, and people hurried past me like I wasn't even there.

Normally, I could handle this, but today it felt heavier. My chest was tight, my stomach twisted, and my hands were clammy.

I was at my desk, trying to finish a script, when Mr. Odum stormed past. His secretary, Tania, followed him, flipping through a thick folder.

"Ivy! Live broadcast in thirty minutes. The person who's supposed to do it isn't here.

You're going," Mr. Odum said, not waiting for me to respond.

Thirty minutes. Live. On air. Me.

I swallowed, my mouth dry. "I... I don't know if I can."

Tania leaned over and squeezed my shoulder.

"You can do this. I've seen you work. You're ready. Just breathe, focus, and trust yourself."

I wanted to believe her. But Mr. Odum's sharp voice added weight. "Do it perfectly, or you're out. Shareholders are watching."

I nodded. My legs felt like jelly. My heart pounded. Shareholders. Cameras. Me. Alone.

The boardroom was enormous. Tall ceilings, polished wooden floors, a long table that seemed to stretch forever. Leather chairs lined both sides, filled with people in suits, their eyes flicking between their notes, screens, and me.

A chandelier hung above, golden light spilling over the table and floor. Everything gleamed.

Everything made me nervous.

And then I saw him.

The CEO.

He sat at the head of the table, quiet, still, watching. And the moment I looked at him, I realized... his eyes never left me. Not once.

From the second I entered, from the moment my heels clicked on the floor, he was watching me. I felt it everywhere on my hands, my face, the way I stood, the slight tremble in my voice.

My stomach flipped. My chest tightened.

I hugged my folder like it could protect me. My heart thumped like a drum. My legs shook.

Every step toward the front of the room felt impossible. Every click of my heels echoed in the vast space, and I could feel every single eye in the room, but his gaze was the heaviest.

"Good morning, everyone," I started, my voice soft and shaking. "Today, I'll present the quarterly update and highlight key points for attention."

My first few sentences stumbled. My voice wobbled. But then I remembered Tania's words. Breathe. Focus. Trust yourself.

I kept my eyes on the slides, but I could feel him looking at me. His eyes followed every gesture of my hands, every movement of my shoulders. I felt exposed and small, but also... strange. A little alive.

I guided them through the charts and numbers. The room was silent except for my voice. Every glance toward the CEO reminded me I wasn't alone in this, his eyes were there, watching, but not judging. I tried not to think about him too much, but I couldn't stop feeling the awareness of him.

My pulse raced, my cheeks warmed, and my hands tingled. Each time I looked at the slides, I could feel the weight of his eyes tracing me, from the tip of my shoes to the top of my head.

Every small movement felt magnified.

Minutes passed. I explained the projections, the challenges, the highlights. My sentences grew smoother. My hands moved naturally with the slides. My voice steadied. I could hear the quiet hum of the air, the soft shuffle of papers, the occasional tap of a pen. But underneath it all, his gaze never left me.

I imagined him seeing me like he had last night

helping me when I was in trouble. And now, here he was, observing me professionally, but with that same quiet attention. It made my chest tighten, my stomach flutter, and my knees feel like they could give way.

I finished the last slide. "That's all for today's update. Thank you."

There was a pause. A quiet, heavy moment.

Then... applause.

Not polite clapping, real applause. People nodded, whispered, some even smiled. Relief washed over me, my chest eased, and I let out a shaky breath. I had done it. I had really done it.

Staff came by quietly to congratulate me. My cheeks were warm. I smiled weakly, still trembling slightly.

And then... I heard it.

"Miss Ivy."

I froze.

The voice wasn't just any voice. It was steady, familiar. And it made my heart slam against my ribs.

The CEO had called my name.

Every memory of last night rushed back the street, the harassment, the dress, the cold wind, the way he had helped me. My cheeks burned, my hands tingled, and my pulse raced.

He was looking at me. Really looking. Not just now, he had been watching me the whole time.

Every step, every word, every movement.

I wanted to speak, to move, to hide, but my body refused. My legs felt like lead. My hands were icy. My throat was dry.

The room felt bigger, the chairs taller, the table longer. The lights seemed brighter. And him... just there, standing, watching, calling my name.

He remembers. He saw me. He knows.

I froze completely.

"I said... Miss Ivy."

His voice reached me across the office, low but clear. It wasn't loud, yet it made me look up immediately.

My throat went dry.

"I... yes, sir?" I said, my voice coming out softer than I expected. It shook a little as I stepped forward.

I tried to move normally, but I was suddenly aware of everything my steps, my hands, the way people around us had gone quiet.

Up close, he looked even more imposing than I remembered.

He was tall, with broad shoulders that filled his suit neatly. The charcoal fabric sat perfectly on him, paired with a clean white shirt and a navy tie. Everything about him looked put together, like he paid attention to even the smallest details.

His shoes were polished, catching the light as he shifted slightly.

Then I met his eyes.

They were dark and steady, fixed on me in a way that made it hard to breathe properly. Not harsh, not unkind... just focused.

Like he was really seeing me.

I felt suddenly self-conscious under that gaze.

My heart started beating faster.

He stepped closer.

Then closer again.

He wasn't rushing. Just walking toward me like he already knew I wouldn't move.

I wanted to look away, to focus on something else, but I couldn't.

Everything else in the office faded into the background. The phones, the typing, the quiet conversations, of it all became distant.

"You handled that well," he said.

It took me a second to realize he was talking about me.

A compliment.

From him.

"Th-thank you, sir," I said, holding my folder tighter. My fingers felt cold, even though my chest was warm and tight from how fast my heart was beating.

He didn't look away.

Not even for a second.

He just stood there, looking at me like he was trying to understand something.

I could feel it. His attention.

It made it harder to breathe normally, harder to think straight.

And then-

"Ivy!"

I flinched slightly as Mr. Odum's voice broke in.

I turned as he hurried toward me, Tania right behind him, flipping through a thick folder.

"I want you to send an email to-"

He stopped when he saw who I was standing with.

The change in him was instant.

His posture straightened, and his voice dropped.

"Oh... sir, I didn't realize..." he said, suddenly unsure.

He paused, then waved his hand quickly.

"Never mind. Go on... carry on. Whatever I wanted can wait."

"O-okay, sir," I replied.

He gave me one last look before walking off.

Tania followed, but she glanced back at me once, her eyes curious, almost questioning.

Then they were gone.

The office noise slowly came back, but it didn't feel the same.

I became aware of a few people pretending not to stare, their attention lingering just a little too long before they looked away. Whispers would probably follow later. I could already imagine it.

I turned back to him.

He was still looking at me.

"Let's go," he said.

I nodded quickly and followed him without asking any questions.

The hallway felt longer than usual as we walked. My heels clicked softly against the floor, each step sounding louder to me than it probably was.

My thoughts wouldn't settle.

Where are we going?

Did I do something wrong?

Why did he call me?

I tried to think back to everything I had done that morning, searching for any mistake I might have made, but nothing stood out.

Still, the feeling wouldn't leave.

He didn't say anything, and the silence between us only made me more nervous.

We passed a few employees along the way. Each one greeted him respectfully, their voices polite, careful.

"Good afternoon, sir."

He acknowledged them with a small nod, never slowing down.

No one spoke to me.

No one even tried.

We reached the elevator.

The doors reflected a faint image of us as we stood there. I caught a glimpse of myself-my slightly tense posture, the way I held my folder a little too tightly.

He stepped in first.

I followed.

The doors closed behind us with a soft sound that felt louder than it should have.

The space suddenly felt small.

Too quiet.

Too close.

I became aware of the distance between us. Not far, but not close enough to touch either.

"I've seen you," he said.

I looked up at him.

"I've watched you. Your work. The way you carry yourself. The way you handle pressure."

My breath caught.

I didn't expect that.

I didn't even know what to say.

"I also..." He paused slightly. "...have a problem."

I swallowed.

"A problem, sir?"

"Yes."

The way he said it made it sound important.

Serious.

"I want you to solve it."

"Me?" I asked, confused.

"Yes. You."

My grip on the folder tightened. My fingers pressed into the edges as my mind started racing.

Why me?

Out of everyone in the office... why me?

Then I spoke without thinking.

"I just... I hope whatever happened last night doesn't change your perspective of me," I said quietly. "I'm usually not like that."

The moment the words left my mouth, I wished I could take them back.

But it was too late.

They hung there between us.

He looked at me for a moment.

"I don't mix personal matters with business," he said. "So you have nothing to worry about."

Some of the tension in my chest eased.

But not all of it.

Because he was still looking at me.

Not in a way I could easily explain.

Then he said-

"I want you to be my wife."

Everything inside me stopped.

"...I'm sorry?" I whispered.

"For six months," he added, like it was a normal thing to say.

My heart skipped.

Married?

For six months?

To him?

The words didn't make sense in my head.

"I... I don't understand," I said, my voice dry.

"You don't have to understand everything right now," he said. "Just listen."

I nodded slowly.

My hands were shaking a little now.

"This will be a contract marriage," he continued. "Six months. No complications. No interference with your personal goals. You will be compensated."

Compensated.

The word settled heavily in my mind.

This wasn't something casual.

This wasn't a suggestion.

It was an offer.

A serious one.

"This is not a joke," he added. "I don't make jokes about important decisions."

I looked at him again.

Everything about him still looked perfectly arranged, from his tie to the way his sleeves sat neatly at his wrists. There was a faint scent of cologne, something subtle but noticeable.

I became aware of how close we were again.

The quiet.

The weight of what he had just said.

"Why me?" I asked.

He didn't answer immediately.

For a moment, it felt like he was studying my face, like he was trying to decide how much to say.

Then-

"Because you're exactly what I need."

The words were simple.

But they stayed with me.

The elevator slowed.

I felt it before it came to a stop.

My heart was still beating too fast.

The doors opened.

Light came in from the hallway outside.

But I didn't move.

I couldn't.

My mind was still trying to catch up.

Marriage.

Six months.

Him.

Nothing about this felt real.

And yet, it was happening.

I tightened my hold on the folder, grounding myself in something physical.

Because deep down, I knew.

The moment I stepped out of that elevator...

I wouldn't just be walking into another part of the building.

I would be stepping into something I couldn't take back.

Something that would change everything.

And for some reason, even with the fear sitting in my chest...

A small part of me knew I wasn't going to say no.