I pushed the door open with my hip. Praying Sara should be at work already, Sara is such a gist-hungry animal. She wouldn't allow me air until she's heard everything. 

I walked on my toes, the place was small, cluttered, but it smelled like home, the best place I could lay my head. 

I kicked the door shut behind me, flung my purse onto the couch, and let myself fall backward onto Sara's spare bed. The mattress bounced once. I stared up at the cracked ceiling, chest rising and falling fast.

For a second, Marcus flashed back to my mind. His smile. His promises. The way he used to kiss my forehead and say he'd call every night. Three months of nothing. Ghosted. Gone.

I shut my eyes tight, bit down on my lower lip to chase him away, he's the last thing I want on my mind at the moment. Sara was right, I need to let go and nurse my shattered heart.

And then, oh God!

A tiny sting bloomed where my teeth pressed. A small, sweet pain  from last night. 

Alex's mouth had been there, possessive and soft at the same time, sucking gently until I'd kissed him back, hungrily.

The memory hit me like a wave.

Heat rushed straight between my legs.

I could feel his hands grabbing my hips again, warm palms sliding up my thighs, gripping my hips like he couldn't get close enough, like he hadn't been surviving without me.

His warm breath on my neck, my breasts, lower... that wicked tongue licking slow and filthy until I was shaking. 

The way he'd groaned against me, taking me in like air. My breath caught. 

I wrapped both arms around myself tight, arms crossing over my chest, fingers touching the exact spot his fingers had dug into.

 My nipples were hardening again, just like when he teased them, remembering how he'd sucked them until they ached.

My pussy clenched at the thought of him, like she had known him a little over one night.

A deep growl left my throat, alone in the quiet room. Why was this happening to me? When the only right thing would be to forget that anything happened.

His voice echoed in my head, rough and low.

"So wet for me."

"Love how you take me."

"Fuck, you feel perfect."

Every dirty-sweet word had made me drip even more. 

I squeezed my thighs together now, chasing the ache, face burning.

 A helpless smile spread across my lips. Marcus? Gone. Erased.

I was still smiling, lost in the heat, when the door creaked open.

Sara burst in, her eyes bright as always, lips grinning. "You better start talking now.. Every little thing that happened." As she shoved a few strands of her face.

Her foot against the door, it glided softly, jumped onto the bed beside me, making the mattress bounce again.

I squeaked, arms flying to cover my flushed face.

She poked my side. "Too late, I saw that smile!"  "You went home with him, didn't you? The hot guy from the bar! Spill everything. How was he? Scale of one to ten? Be honest.. was he huge? Did he know what he was doing?"

I laughed, couldn't help it. She laughed too, shoving a pillow against her stomach, chin in her hands like a story-hungry child. Eyes piercing into the side of my face.

"He was..." I bit my lip again, tasting that same sweet sting. My voice dropped. "He was simply.. incredible."

Sara squealed, kicking her feet. "Details, Samantha! I need details!"

 "He carried me like I weighed nothing. Kissed me like he'd been waiting years." I turned onto my side to face her, my cheeks pink.

"And when he.." I stopped, shook my head, grinning. "Let's just say I forgot my own name for a while."

 "Yes! Birthday sex wins! So when are you seeing him again?" Sara screamed into the little pillow in her hands.

My smile faded a little. "I'm not, Sara"

She sat up fast. "What? Why not? I think you both have some connection,"

"Because I'm done with men, remember? Marcus wrecked me. I can't go through that again. One night was perfect. That's all it can be. I'm not ready, not pushing."

Sara gave me that look, the one that said she knew I was full of crap but still understood me.

"You're right, Sam," she said softly. "But I see it in your eyes. You're glowing. That man did something to you."

My mouth opened, I needed to defend myself, but deep down I knew she was right. Thinking about Alex made my whole body hum. Took away the hard lump I've had for months. But I couldn't admit that. Not yet.

I reached for my phone on the nightstand to change the subject. The screen lit up with notifications. One email sat at the top, a reminder from last night.

My heart stopped.

I sat up straight, tapping it open fast.

Subject: Welcome Aboard – Report to Victoria Langford Residence

Miss. Samantha Harper,

This is to confirm your position as Personal Assistant to Ms. Victoria Langford, effective immediately. Please report to the address below by noon today. Live-in accommodation is provided as discussed. Salary and benefits will begin upon arrival.

We are pleased to have you on the team.

"Oh my goodness!" I muttered, eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

I read it twice. Then a third time.

"Sara," I whispered, her mouth hadn't stopped running, trying to convince me on keeping Alex

She leaned over my shoulder. "What? What is it?"

I turned the phone so she could see.

Her eyes went huge. She read it fast, then screamed, her high-pitched voice deafening me, then she threw both arms around my shoulders.

Our bodies hit the bed in a tangle of arms and legs, tears hung in our eyes.

Sara's voice the loudest. "You got it! You actually got it!"

"I got it!" I yelled back, my eyes moistened, my heart leaping inside of me, Mia had held my finger the last time I visited, her eyes so pale and white, my heart had fallen into my stomach that day.

This job was everything. Good pay. A real roof over my head. And most importantly, enough money could be saved fast to finally pay for Mia's surgery. 

My little sister's life. There was finally somewhere to start from, I didn't have to continue looking for an apartment or bother about the rent anymore.

Sara rolled off me, both of us staring at the ceiling now, breathing hard from laughing.

"This is more than a dream come true," I said, voice shaky with happy tears.

 "This is... everything." She grabbed my hand and squeezed. "You deserve it, Sam. All of it. New job, new place, new start."

I nodded, wiping my eyes. New job? Yes. New start with Alex? No!

But I know better than to want to argue with Sara on that, she would list a thousand and one reasons on why it's the best thing for me to do.

Well... maybe one tiny secret memory of a stranger named Alex to keep me warm at night. But that was it. Just a sweet memory to hold onto

I sat up, suddenly full of energy. "I have to pack. Like, now. I have just a few hours to be there." I glanced quickly at the tiny clock with broken ears by the bedside.

"I'm helping. And we're celebrating properly tonight, after you wow your new boss." Sara jumped to her feet too.

Our laughter filled the room again, loud and unstoppable, eyelids heavy with tears.

The Google map showed a few minutes before we arrived at the Langfords'.

I sat in the back seat, my old suitcase stood beside me, a smaller one on my lap. For once, the noise in my head felt quiet, the Job had brought in so much peace.

I stared out the window and let a small smile creep onto my face. The kind I hadn't felt in months.

This was it.. a new job. Good money. A proper place to live in.  And most importantly, hope for Mia.

I'd called Aunt Linda this morning before leaving Sara's apartment. Her voice had cracked when I told her the news.

"You got it? Really, Sammy?"

"Yes, Auntie. Live-in position. Full salary from day one. I'll send money as soon as I get paid."

 "Mia's gonna be well again. She's gonna be okay." She'd started crying then, soft happy tears. Aunt Linda is one happy and strong woman I know, the only family Mia and I have.

I could still hear Mia's weak little voice from last week's video call. "Sammy, I want to run again?" Eight years old and fighting harder than anyone I knew.

I had to make them proud. I had to keep her alive, my parents won't be happy if I don't fight, or so I told myself.

My fingers found the gold engagement ring on my right hand. I had slid it back on when I picked it from one of my bags earlier today.. Marcus's ring. 

The only expensive thing I owned. Diamonds glinted around the band, catching every light. I had made up my mind to sell it off, for Mia's surgery.

I twisted it slowly, remembering the night he slid it on my finger. 

One day before he left for his "business trip." He had dragged me to the rooftop, a candlelit dinner waited, my lips parted in shock.  He'd gotten down on one knee, eyes shining.

"Marry me when I get back, Sam. This ring is my promise. I'll always come back to you." His green eyes firm with so much conviction.

I'd cried. Believed every word.

Then the calls got shorter. His voice grew colder. Irritated sighs when I asked simple questions. Until one day, nothing. Three months of silence.

Enough. My throat tightened. I swallowed a hard lump.

I tapped on my phone, opened the gallery, and started deleting. 

Every picture of us, the one we took at the beach, the Christmas we spent at his mom's, his arm around my waist at parties. Gone. Deleted from Instagram. Deleted from Facebook. Deleted from everywhere.

One by one, they vanished.

I paused on the last photo.  Mia and I last summer, arms tight around each other, both laughing at the camera. 

Her little face pressed to mine, eyes bright even though she was already getting sick then. I kept that one.

The taxi slowed. "We're here, miss."

I looked up and my breath caught.

The Langford penthouse stood before me, daring. It was a palace. I felt tiny standing around it.

I squished some notes into the driver's hand, grabbed my bags, and moved past the low iron gate that also formed a fence around the entire building.

 My suitcase wheels, the only available sound to my ears. Relief washed over me. This was safety. I get to live in a clean environment, an environment that feels alive. The environment already whispered peace to my ears.

I stopped at the massive wooden door.

 Dark oak, carved with fancy patterns, and pressed the doorbell. A deep chime echoed inside, my eyes still darting around the entire space, it was much for just a glance after all. 

I smoothed my hair, straightened my simple blouse, and waited. Heart beating a little fast, but excited fast.

The door swung open. And my world stopped.

Marcus stood there. In my face!

Bare chest. Low-slung gray boxers hugging his hips. The clear outline of his cock pressed against the fabric, like it would tear it any moment.

 Beads of water still clung to his shoulders like he'd just stepped out of the shower. His dark hair was messy, damp. That same lazy smile started to form on his lips.

Then his eyes met mine. The smile vanished like he had seen a ghost.

My stomach dropped to the ground. I blinked hard. Rubbed my eyes with two fingers. Looked again. Still him. Still Marcus.

Here. In my new boss's house! 

Half-naked, I had never seen him in such a brief, not this tight, this one carved out the tip of his dick, the type that's meant for gigolos.

"S-Sam?" His voice low, shock all over his face.

My mouth opened. I wanted to scream out his name. I wanted to ask if we were in Texas. But nothing came out.

That confirmed it was actually him, 

My veins thumping against my skin. My suitcase handle slipped from my fingers.

Every promise. Every tear. Every night I waited for a call that never came. It all slammed back into me at once.

"What... what are you doing here?" He stretched his arm like he wanted to touch my arm, then stopped himself.

I found my voice. It came out small and sharp.

"I work here." I found my voice. It came out small and sharp, my eyes fixed on him, at his bare body.

His eyes grew darker. Real panic flashed across his face.

"No. That's not-you can't-"

"I'm Victoria Langford's new personal assistant." My words shook, but I forced them out. "Live-in. Starting today."

He went pale. I was the last person he expected to see around, I didn't belong in that vicinity after all.

I could hear soft footsteps gliding on marble floors. A woman's voice called from inside, light and cheerful.

"Babe? Who's at the door?"

Marcus flinched like he'd been slapped. I stared at him, chest heaving, his nipples still hard like I last remembered, but that doesn't matter right now.

He was here. With her. Living here.

My boss's boyfriend! A live-in boyfriend!

The man who'd promised to marry me, who said he was embarking on a business trip?

The man who'd ghosted me.

The man whose ring I was about to sell to save my sister's life.

Everything I'd deleted a few minutes ago came rushing back. Only now it felt like a cruel joke.

Marcus stepped forward, voice low and urgent. "Sam, listen-this isn't what-"

"Don't." I cut him off, voice hard now. "Don't you dare."

My hands clenched into fists.

The footsteps got closer, Victoria Langford stood before me, her skin shone enough to blind me. She threw a hand over his shoulders.

Over my man's shoulder! No, over my ex's shoulder!

I swallowed a lump, then spread my lips in a convincing smile.

I grabbed my suitcase handle again, knuckles white around it.

Whatever came next, I wasn't running. I just have to choose between my man and this Job!

The nanny, Maria, she'd introduced herself with a quick nod and wide smile, grabbed the second suitcase from the front step without a word. 

She wheeled it smoothly beside mine as we stepped into the foyer. Marble floors gleamed under our feet. I was just too conscious of everything, everything here costs real money. My eyes roamed around, a faint smile clung to my face.

The air smelled expensive, like I had to drop some cents to breathe comfortably here, fresh linen and citrus filled my nostrils.

We turned into the sitting room and my stomach twisted tighter. I jammed my lips together immediately, I can't be found drooling.

Victoria Langford sat on the biggest couch I'd ever seen, cream leather, wide enough to swallow my whole frame. Her laptop balanced on a glass table in front of her. 

My eyes ran through the masterpiece of a human in front of me, blonde hair stuck behind her ears perfectly, a free-sized dress that allowed her skin shine effortlessly, diamond studs catching the light.

 Her eyes caught mine as we entered, blue eyes that could send a man to his knees. For a moment I understood why Marcus was with her, but he was still an asshole for all I care, and I'll never forgive him.

"Welcome, Miss Harper," she said, voice cool and smooth. "Come on in. Sit."

She motioned to the couch across from hers, her eyes flew back to the laptop. I forced my legs to move. Maria parked the suitcases near the wall and disappeared down a hallway. pleated skirt flowing with her, hitting her calves.

I lowered myself onto the edge of the seat, back straight, hands clasped in my lap so she wouldn't see them shake. 

Cold crawled up my spine. The AC hummed softly from a vent overhead, but I knew the real chill came from the man I'd just seen half-naked in this same house. Marcus. My Marcus. Or what used to be.

Victoria tilted her head, her eyes smiled alongside her lips. "You look a little pale. Long trip?"

"Just... excited. And maybe a little nervous." I forced a smile, rubbing both palms, hoping they don't rat me out.

Her lips curved. The smile didn't reach her eyes this time. It was the kind that could slice through glass.

"That's... Understandable. New beginnings are always a bit... unsettling." She closed the laptop halfway, fingers resting on the edge. "Tell me about yourself, Samantha. Why this job?"

I swallowed. "I'm organized. Reliable. I've handled schedules, travel arrangements, and personal errands before. I'm good under pressure." My voice sounded steadier than I felt. "And I need the stability it brings.  For my family."

She nodded slowly. Eyes flickered all over me, like she was sizing me up.

 "Family. Really important. You mentioned a sister in your application?"

"

Yes. Mia. She's... sick. Needs surgery soon. This job means I can help her, hopefully."

Something flickered in Victoria's gaze, softened, maybe. "I respect that, you see... Not all of us are fortunate to have a sibling or siblings." She leaned back. 

"Now, the practical side. You'll handle my calendar, correspondence, some household oversight. You'll live here full-time, I'm sure you already know about that, hence the bags. Your room is upstairs, private bath, good view., I know you'll love that."

I shook my head too fast. "No. It all sounds perfect."

"You seem... distracted. Do you have any questions?" Her eyes studied me for another long second.

"No Ma.. I just.. I'm not. I Promise." I could feel my insides burn as I part my lips to flaunt my pretentious smile.

Victoria's smile sharpened. "Good. Because I value focus. And loyalty. This house runs on trust."

The word loyalty hit like a slap. My palms went damp again. I wiped them on my skirt under the table.

"Tell me," she continued, "how do you handle conflict? If someone crosses a boundary?"

I met her eyes. "I speak up. Calmly. But I don't back down."

"Interesting. And if it's personal?" Eyebrows arched, eyes stern on me.

I felt a lump form in my throat, I wrapped my palms around my duffel bag, steadying myself with it. Images flashed again, Marcus's shocked face, his bare chest, the way he'd said my name as it burned.

 "Personal is... harder. But I'd still protect what matters, personal issues should never affect the Job... And business.

Victoria watched me for a beat. Then she nodded. "Fair enough Samantha."

Silence stretched. She opened the laptop again, fingers flying over the keys. I sat there, heart hammering, mind screaming questions I couldn't ask.

Where is he? Why is he here?

Did he know I was coming? How long has this been going on? 

I wanted closure, I wanted to hear what happened, to know why he stopped calling, to know why he gave me a ring and disappeared.

I bit the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood. Closure wouldn't pay Mia's bills. Closure wouldn't keep a roof over my head. This job would. I chose the job. 

"I'm never going to let him close to me. Sara said he's dead, so is he!" I tried so hard to convince myself of why I should let him be.

For Mia.For myself. 

Victoria finally looked up. Her smile this time was warmer,  real.

"I like you, Samantha. You're direct. You don't waste words. I think we could work well together."

Relief crashed through me so hard my shoulders sagged. "Thank you. You not going to regret hiring me."

She nodded, closed the laptop fully. "Maria!"

The nanny appeared almost instantly, hands folded in front of her.

"Take Miss Harper's bags to the east guest suite. Show her around later. She starts tomorrow morning, eight sharp."

"Yes, ma'am." Maria grabbed both suitcases again.

Victoria stood, smoothing her hair. "And... Welcome to the house once again, Samantha. Dinner's at seven if you'd like to join. Otherwise, your room has a small kitchenette. You could use that, ask Maria foranythingyou want."

 "Thank you, Ms. Langford." I stood too, legs shaky.

"It is Victoria, Samantha," she corrected, already turning toward the hallway. "We're not formal here, Maria would tell you." 

She disappeared around the corner. 

Maria motioned for me to follow. I grabbed my duffel from the floor and trailed her up the wide staircase. My room was at the end of the hall, big windows, queen bed, soft gray walls, a tiny sitting area with a fridge and microwave. Luxurious. Quiet. Safe.

Maria set the suitcases down. "Anything you need, just call the house line. Extension zero."

"Thank you." I smiled back, eyes stuck on the beautiful artwork hung on the wall.  She left with a small nod. The door clicked shut.

I fished my phone out of my duffel bag immediately; I had to speak to Sara at once.