paced back and forth, exhaustion dragging at every muscle in my body after the torment I endured at work, yet my mind refused to settle. I had stayed late to finish the remaining tasks, unable to utter a single word ever since I heard that name.

He had already made his move.

And it was my fault.

I was the one who handed him the final key to reach the Thornes.

Criminal. That was exactly what I felt like nothing but a criminal.

My steps halted abruptly. I leaned my head against the wall as a broken sob crawled up my throat. My fist slammed into the wall again and again, each hit fueled by frustration. "Why... why? Just WHY?"

Why was I so weak? Why couldn't I stand up to him even once?

Because he had shaped me that way.

From the day I discovered he was seeing other women behind my mother's back, I became his enemy. From the day he first struck me, I became his puppet. From the day I started hiding his secrets from my mom, I became his obedient little stepdaughter.

On that one day, when I surrendered every string to him, he wrapped them around his fingers and controlled me for years. He struck me countless times, threatening to erase me from existence. And when I finally grew older grew braver enough to push back fate turned me into an orphan.

My mother never saw the monster she welcomed into our home. No one did. I never told anyone. I didn't want people to see me as small, helpless, or someone so easy to break.

And look where that silence led me life dragged me straight back into the same nightmare, and once again, I failed to muster the strength to fight.

A shrill ringing snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts. I wiped my face and grabbed my phone. A smile flickered when I saw the name on the screen; Jane, my attorney and dear friend. If anyone could offer some sort of good news to brighten my collapsing world, it would be her.

"Hey, J," I answered, my voice rough and worn-out.

"Seraphina..." Her voice faded, making my brows pinch together.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. Don't get so tense. I'm just... sorry I haven't been able to do anything yet." She tried to sound casual, but the hesitation behind her words was obvious-too obvious to miss.

"That's not everything. What are you hiding?" Jane was one of the strongest lawyers in the city, yet even she was powerless when it came to him, Creed.

"I don't want to pile more stress on you."

"You know it'll be even worse if you don't tell me."

She sighed in defeat. "Fine. I have two pieces of news for you, one good, one bad. Which do you want first?"

"The good one?"

"Ryan got beat up by his wife." She burst into laughter, pulling a small chuckle from me too.

But the moment faded quickly. "And the bad news?"

"Well..." She paused. Long enough for me to think the call had dropped. Then her voice returned, low and heavy. "Creed has them guarded like prisoners."

"What?"

My heart dropped. He couldn't do that to the elders. Their minds were fragile; this would shatter them.

"They can't leave, can't do anything without permission. He even cut off my visiting hours completely."

A hot surge of anger ignited deep inside me, spreading like fire through my veins. The room around me seemed to fall silent, swallowed by the roaring in my head. Only my ragged breathing filled the dark space.

"I'll talk to you later, Jane. Take care."

"Seraphina, don't you"

I hung up before she could finish.

All I saw was red.

Bright, furious red.

How could he do this after I had done everything he demanded?

I dialed his number, waiting through the slow, infuriating rings.

No answer.

I tried again.

And again.

And again.

Each attempt met with the same silence until my patience snapped and I hurled the phone onto the mattress with all my strength. It was late. That bastard was probably asleep resting comfortably while those elderly people suffered... while I unraveled.

A string of curses tore through my mind before sleep finally pulled me under, too.

Warmth brushed over my skin, soft and coaxing, slowly dissolving the darkness that had held me. I blinked groggily, immediately shielding my face with a hand as sunlight speared straight into my eyes.

It was bright. Too bright.

I turned to the clock on my bedside table and shot upright so fast the room spun violently. There were only twenty minutes left before work began. Twenty minutes until the IL project meeting.

Oh, for fuck's sake!

The next ten minutes vanished in a chaotic blur. I flew through my morning routine, showered at lightning speed, and threw on the first outfit my hands landed on a V-neck blouse paired with a pencil skirt.

If anyone had been keeping time, I could've secured the Guinness World Record.

My phone rang just as I climbed into my car. It was Mr. Cortez.

"Ms. Vale, where are you? The meeting begins in seven minutes."

"I'm almost there," I lied without shame. Everyone lied about their location; it was practically human nature. Praying I wouldn't be late, I tore through the streets, no doubt breaking more traffic laws than I could count.

When my heels finally tapped onto the marble floor of Vancouver Co., the clock struck nine. I didn't even wait for the girl at the elevator to move aside. I slipped in ahead of her, muttered an apologetic smile, and jabbed the button. Leaning on the gold wall, I tried to steady my breathing while the floor numbers blinked higher and higher.

Just as the nineteenth-floor doors parted, my heart resumed its frantic sprint right before I slammed straight into him. And by him, I meant him.

A sharp gasp escaped me as my body collided with his, my face smacking directly into his rock-solid chest. Pain shot through my nose.

Fantastic. Just fantastic.

I straightened quickly, clutching my throbbing nose then froze. I had just rammed into Jaxon Thorne. His gray eyes narrowed frostily beneath taut brows, his jaw clenched hard. He hadn't budged from the impact at all.

"Sorry!" I squeaked.

His lips thinned, and he continued glaring daggers at me. Not a word, just pure, cold warning.

Before he could incinerate me on the spot, the door beside us swung open and Mr. Cortez appeared. "Ms. Vale, you made it." His gaze shifted. "Sir, everyone is waiting for you."

With a curt nod, Mr. Thorne walked in though not without striking me with another icy glare.

Timidly, I trailed behind him. But the moment I lifted my eyes, my heart dropped and anger surged through me like wildfire.

Creed stood across the conference table, flanked by his entourage. My gaze darted to Mr. Thorne, who calmly shook hands with Mr. Vancouver, intentionally ignoring his rival.

Creed's lips curved into a smirk when he spotted me. He wasn't here just for business. He was here to steal exactly what Thorne wanted.

Before anyone noticed my shift in demeanor, I forced myself to regain composure and sat beside Mr. Cortez. My heart hammered, but more than fear, the urge to punch Creed made my fists curl. The glare I shot him hopefully delivered the message loud and clear.

Mr. Vancouver cleared his throat. "Mr. Thorne, I believe you know Mr. Creed. He has also shown interest in the project."

With uninterested ease, Mr. Thorne gave Creed the slightest nod, irritating him instantly.

"Then let's begin. Mr. Thorne, you'll present first."

On cue, I stood, grabbed my laptop, and walked to the front with confidence. I had done this countless times and I would make sure this one was unforgettable.

Watch your back, Creed.

I connected the laptop to the projector as the room's lights dimmed. After introducing myself, I began. The next ten minutes flowed smoothly. When the lights brightened again, several impressed expressions made my chest swell with satisfaction.

Even Thorne's face held the faintest upward curve.

Creed's, however, darkened.

"Excellent!" Mr. Vancouver clapped.

I thanked him and sat down, grabbing the glass of water to soothe my dry throat. As Creed's assistant walked past me to present, my chair jerked suddenly sending the glass flying out of my hands. Cold water splashed across my blouse.

What the actual hell?

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, Ms. Vale! I didn't mean to," she squealed in that shrill voice, but I caught the mockery hidden behind her apology.

Witch.

"It's fine," I said flatly, accepting tissues from Mr. Cortez and wiping myself dry. Just wait until Thorne won the deal-I wanted to see the look on their smug faces then.

But fate clearly despised me.

"Ms. Vale," Thorne's voice cut through the room. "You may wait outside."

What? Why? "Sir-"

"Leave."

No room for argument. No explanation.

Heat crawled up my neck as humiliation stabbed me. I bit my lip and walked out, leaving behind two self-satisfied smirks.

How could he do that? He was no better than Creed. Ungrateful, cold-hearted jerk.

Still fuming, I asked a nearby employee for directions to the washroom he stared at me far too eagerly, which should've been my first clue. I slammed the door shut and turned toward the mirror.

And froze.

My blouse white, already thin, had turned completely transparent. My red bra was boldly on display.

My cheeks flamed. My ears burned.

How in the hell did I not notice?

Then it hit me this was why Thorne had sent me out. And why that man had stared at me like that.

I squeezed my eyes shut. I wanted to fall through the floor or be buried alive.

Grabbing more tissues, I tried drying the fabric, but it didn't help much in this summer heat. Eventually, I managed to make it somewhat presentable and hurried back late, no doubt.

I was rounding the corner when someone yanked my arm, dragging me behind a wall.

I looked up, teeth clenched. "Creed, you bas-"

His expression was cold. "Seems like you don't care about those poor seniors as much as you claim."

"What would you know about love?" I spat, though my heart raced. Still, I knew he wouldn't dare touch me here. I wasn't a child anymore and we were in a public hallway.

"I know plenty. Enough to do whatever it takes to secure my empire, something you clearly don't understand."

"After everything I've done, you still dare say that? What have you done? You locked those elders away after promising you wouldn't harm them," I hissed. Fury roared through me.

"And I kept my word," he replied smoothly. "I didn't lay a hand on them. But..." His tone darkened. "...if you keep acting the way you are, sweetheart, I'd suggest you say your goodbyes soon."

His dark eyes bored into mine before he walked off, leaving a fresh wave of terror behind.

My hands trembled. Sweat dotted my forehead.

Why couldn't I remember that I was the weak link? That one slip of temper could get people hurt? Why couldn't I just be the obedient little puppet he molded?

Seconds later, hearing footsteps approach, I straightened myself and stepped out only to collide with a towering figure.

Mr. Thorne.

His steely gray eyes swept over me, assessing my state. Without a word, he shrugged off his suit jacket and draped it across my shoulders. He pulled both sides together and fastened the button while I stood frozen, staring up at him.

My breath caught as he leaned closer. His minty breath and masculine scent washed over me, sending my heart into a frenzy.

"Next time," he murmured, "remember not to wear red during working hours."

Straightening, he turned and walked away.

"Congratulations, Ms. Vale! We secured the deal thanks to your outstanding performance yesterday."

"Thank you so much, Mr. Cortez," I replied warmly.

Thorne Corp. had officially won the contract, which perfectly explained why Creed left the meeting in such a foul mood. He hadn't reached out since, and that alone was both a relief and a fresh source of anxiety. I had no clue what he was scheming next.

"Also... I'm sorry about what happened there," Cortez added, appearing genuinely remorseful despite it not being his fault at all.

"It's fine," I assured him with a small smile.

Even if the CEO was a cold, arrogant jerk, he only sent me out to protect me. But that didn't change the fact that everyone had already seen... everything-Cortez included. My cheeks heated up at the memory, and I shifted my gaze only for it to land on a black leather folder sitting on his desk. Bold letters read: V.V.I. - very, very important.

"What's that?" I asked.

His eyes followed mine, and instantly, his whole demeanor shifted. "Uh... nothing," he said quickly, grabbing the folder and slipping it into a drawer. "Now what were you asking for again?"

A frown tugged at my brows. Whatever was in that file was clearly significant and equally secretive. But it wasn't my business. It shouldn't be.

"I need the financial records for Casper Motels so I can prepare the contract."

"You'll find those in the finance department. Just give them a call."

"Um..." I scratched my head awkwardly. "I don't know anyone from finance. Honestly, the only people I know here are you, Mr. Thorne, and the doorman."

He chuckled. "My mistake. I completely forgot I never gave you a proper tour. I'll call someone to bring the files to you."

"Thank you." I started to walk away, but he called after me again.

"Have lunch with me in the cafeteria today. I'll introduce you to everyone."

"That sounds great," I replied, genuinely pleased.

Back in my office, I found another mountain of work waiting for me: sending a letter to three hundred people, each needing different names and dates.

I exhaled heavily.

What if I dropped a poisonous tarantula into Creed's bed? Or better yet... into his suit?

Would he die?

Or would he somehow manage to corrupt the tarantula too?

If that vile man simply didn't exist, the lives of so many including mine would be blessed with peace. I could be a normal employee with a normal boss, worrying about normal things like rent and groceries instead of being haunted by phone calls and the threat of prison walls.

Huffing, I forced myself to focus on the task, when suddenly my phone rang. I nearly jumped. Frantically checking the caller ID, I sighed in relief, and my mood lifted instantly.

"Brooke!"

"My girrrl!" came the loud, honey-smooth voice of my best friend.

I hadn't seen her in months not since I left Canada.

"How are you? I've missed you like crazy!"

"Same! But am I going to keep missing you? Absolutely not. I'm coming!"

I shot out of my chair in pure excitement, my smile stretching until my cheeks hurt. "Wait-really?!"

"Yes! I already bought the ticket. I'll be there soon."

"Oh my God, I cannot wait!" I was practically bouncing around the room.

"Neither can I! Now listen to orders like ten cartons of ice cream. You know my favorite. We're having our soul-freezing competition again!"

I laughed. "Of course! It's a tradition."

A notification pinged on my laptop, drawing my attention. A new email. I opened it and my eyes flew wide.

It was from the boss next door.

Report to my office. Immediately.

What now?

"Brooke, I've gotta go. Work emergency. Safe travels-I can't wait to see you!"

I hung up and rushed to his office. As usual, he was buried in work.

"Sir, you called?"

"It seems you have a great deal of free time, Ms. Vale," he said without looking up from his papers.

My brows drew together. "Why would it seem that way, sir?"

He finally looked up and set the papers aside. "You're not paid to chat with old friends during work hours."

My jaw unhinged.

How in the hell did he know that? Unless...

I leaned forward, glanced at his monitor-and gasped, eyes nearly popping out of my head.

He'd been watching me.

A wave of hot embarrassment washed over me. I knew the camera existed, but still-I wasn't exactly mindful of every tiny thing I did all day. And what had I been doing right before the call ended?

Oh God.

"Sir," I muttered stiffly, "I don't mind the camera in my office, but I'm not very comfortable being watched like that."

"It's called surveillance," he responded coolly.

His calm tone made my eyes twitch. "It's called invading privacy," I snapped back.

"If it bothers you that much, you know where the door is," he said simply, gesturing behind me.

Unbelievable.

If I could, I'd gladly shove his arrogance someplace unpleasant and storm out but life had my ankles chained. So, swallowing pride, I forced the next words out:

"I'm sorry, sir. I have no objections."

"Excellent. Then you won't mind managing those too." He pointed to my right.

I turned and nearly screamed.

Files.

Not just files. Mountains of files stacked on the cabinet.

Was he insane? Was this a punishment for taking a phone call?

"Sir..." I croaked.

"Yes. These are cost and profit analyses for several new resorts. I want every number verified."

It felt like someone had dropped the entire planet onto my shoulders. My current workload already pushed me to the edge now this? When exactly did he expect me to finish? Two hundred years from now?

As if reading my thoughts, he added, "Two days. You're dismissed." Then he returned to his documents like I was invisible.

I deflated with a long exhale.

God, help me.

But apparently God took a vacation, because it took not two days, not even three but four grueling days, to finish checking every line of those cursed reports. And the devil-man still wasn't satisfied about the extra day delay.

At last, I was done. And look at that it was nearly lunchtime. Finally, I could escape to the cafeteria, have lunch with Mr. Cortez, and be around humans who weren't Jaxon Thorne.

Stretching on my tiptoes, I lifted my arms and loosened my stiff joints, bending and twisting

Then froze.

The camera.

I squeaked and darted out of my office before the surveillance could catch more humiliation.

In the cafeteria, laughter echoed around our table as coworkers shared stories.

"I heard from Sarah that even the sixty-year-old chairman of Hawks Group once flirted with our boss right in the middle of a meeting," Howard said, prompting more laughter.

"Our CEO is such a heartthrob that every woman practically drools over him," Jessica sighed dreamily.

"Have you drooled over him yet, Seraphina?" Melody asked mischievously, making everyone turn to me.

I grinned. "You'll know from the headlines when it happens."

Everyone burst out laughing.

"Girl's got jokes," Anthony winked before shoveling spaghetti into his mouth.

I rolled my eyes. There was always one like him in every workplace.

Lunch went wonderfully. Cortez introduced me to so many lovely people. Despite our intimidating CEO, the company was full of warm, welcoming employees. And that only made the guilt twist deeper in my chest. I was deceiving all of them into good, hardworking people who didn't deserve any of this.

My eyes stung, and I wiped quickly before anyone noticed. Then my phone vibrated. Dread crashed back into me.

"H-hello?" I answered shakily.

"The next project," came that dreaded voice.

I shut my eyes, and the tears I'd tried to hold back spilled freely. I had no choice.

"C-Casper Motels," I whispered.

"See you there."

Before I could argue, a tap on my shoulder froze every drop of blood in my veins. I turned slowly.

And the manager stood there.

Only this time, his expression was far from friendly.

"Who were you talking to, Ms. Vale?"

"W-Who were you talking to, Ms. Vale?" Mr. Cortez repeated, his brows pulling together in suspicion.

I swallowed hard, lowering my trembling hand that still clutched my phone.

He heard me. He must have heard everything. Any second now, he'd report it to Mr. Thorne, and that would be the end of me-straight to jail.

No. Not now. Not when the old age home depended on me more than ever.

"I–I..."

He lifted his hand slightly and I flinched, making his frown deepen.

"Ms. Vale? What's wrong? Who was on the call?"

He stepped toward me again, and panic flooded every part of me.

"I... You have to believe me, Mr. Cortez. I swear I didn't-"

He suddenly gripped my shoulders, firm but gentle. "Calm down! You look like you've seen a ghost. Was it your mother? Did her condition worsen?"

"What?" I blinked at him, stunned.

"I saw you crying earlier, so I assumed..." he hesitated. "You mentioned your mother was sick, didn't you?"

My heartbeat, which had been in a wild sprint, slowly began to settle. He didn't hear anything. Judging from the sincere worry on his face, he had no idea.

Thank heavens. Relief washed through me in a heavy wave.

"Y-yeah... yeah. She's just... not feeling good today."

---

Two weeks slid by. In that time, the Thornes secured three more deals against Creed Co. Yet Silas never confronted me again or even looked in my direction. Every time he lost another contract, he strolled out of the building with that maddening smirk-like a man who'd just discovered a shortcut to Aladdin's magic lamp. The sight alone was enough to send my imagination spiraling about the dark, twisted plans brewing in that devilish brain.

But more alarming was Mr. Thorne's growing attention toward Creed. Every time Silas's name appeared, the crease between his brows sank deeper. If even the tiniest spark of suspicion lit up in his mind, it would take him mere seconds to uncover the truth.

And that truth... was me.

Dropping back into my seat, I exhaled loudly and rubbed my temples. Thinking this much was drilling holes into my skull. Most of today's tasks were done, and I waited for the next batch.

Maybe caffeine would help salvage what was left of my sanity.

I made my way into the office kitchen and poured myself a warm, fragrant cup of coffee. One sip, and for a moment, the tension eased, dulling both my anxiety and the pounding headache.

"He's working you hard, huh?"

I nearly jumped out of my skin. Coffee splashed onto the counter as I spun around.

Melody, an assistant accountant from finance, stood there with a sheepish smile. This was only the second time I'd seen her since Mr. Cortez introduced us at lunch. Short, slightly chubby, black curls framing her round face she looked harmless and sweet.

"Oops! Didn't mean to scare you." She grabbed some kitchen towels and started wiping up the mess.

"It's fine," I answered, dragging the last word as I recalled her comment. "And yeah... he definitely is."

She chuckled. "You signed up for it."

If only she knew I'd actually signed up for something far, far worse.

"Oh! And the ledger you asked for-it's finally ready. Should I bring it now?"

"That would be perfect."

"Sorry it took longer. With Delaney gone, everything's piling up on us." She rubbed her tired, puffy blue eyes.

I offered a sympathetic smile. "Don't worry. I completely understand. The new accountant will join us soon."

"That's a relief. Wait for me by the stairs."

I nodded and waited until she returned with the completed files.

"Thank y-"

A sudden crash echoed upstairs-a loud slam followed by crying. Melody and I looked toward the staircase at the same time.

"What was that?" she murmured.

I shrugged and started up the stairs, Melody hot on my heels. When we reached the top, a tall blonde woman darted into the elevator, sobbing hysterically.

"What on earth...?" I whispered. When did she arrive? And why was she crying like that?

Melody sighed. "The boss's girlfriend. Well... ex-girlfriend now."

"What?" My eyes widened.

"Yep. That's the eleventh, no, twelfth girl I've seen storm out of his office in tears in three months."

My jaw dropped. Jaxon Thorne, a playboy? And women willingly dated him?

But my shock dissolved instantly when my phone pinged. A fresh email from the CEO.

Report to my office. Now.

Oh great. Was I supposed to clean up whatever emotional hurricane just happened?

I bid Melody goodbye and hurried toward his office. The moment I stepped inside, my eyes nearly popped out.

He was livid, furious and halfway through unbuttoning his shirt. The entire front of it was stained with streaks of red.

What in the world happened? My gaze flicked to the desk, one wine glass half full, the other completely empty.

Did she throw wine on him?

Before I could stop myself, a snort slipped out. My hand shot up to cover my mouth, but it was too late.

The beast was already wounded... and half-naked... right in front of me.

I swallowed hard as he advanced toward me, shirt in hand, icy rage in his eyes.

"Is my appearance amusing to you, Ms. Vale?"

I shook my head furiously, stumbling backward, desperate to keep my gaze above his perfectly sculpted abs and praying I wouldn't drool. Or choke on my drool.

"S-sir, y-you have a meeting i-in t-twenty minutes."

But he didn't stop until he was towering directly over me so close I felt like I was inhaling him. His cologne rich, warm, overwhelmingly masculine wrapped itself around my senses, heating me in all the wrong ways. My breaths grew shallow and uneven. My heart thrashed like it wanted out of my chest.

He dipped down, and I froze. For a split second, my lips parted, thinking he was about to kiss me.

But his mouth moved past mine, stopping at my ear.

"If you want to keep your job, Ms. Vale, keep those pretty lips shut next time."

He straightened, grabbed my hand, and shoved the ruined shirt into it. "Send that to laundry. Bring my spare."

I nodded like a malfunctioning robot and bolted out the door. Whether for air or survival, I wasn't sure. But then, unexpectedly, a smile tugged at my lips.

He thought my lips were pretty.

Oh God. What was wrong with me?

Forcing those thoughts away, I waited until my heartbeat calmed a little and then sprinted to the manager's office bursting in without knocking.

"Mr. Cortez! I need-" I stopped mid-sentence.

He was... dancing.

Dancing. With an imaginary partner. Around his desk.

The moment he noticed me, he froze like a soldier caught off duty. "Ms. Vale!" His cheeks flushed bright red as he scrambled back to his chair and pretended to type furiously on his laptop. "Wh-what do you need?" he stammered, avoiding my eyes completely.

Was today absolutely determined to be insane?

"I need Mr. Thorne's spare suit. Right now."

"Oh! Uh... there." He pointed toward the file cabinet. I retrieved the package.

Before leaving, I glanced back at his mortified expression. "Nice moves, Mr. Cortez." I winked and rushed away.

Back in the CEO's office, he stood facing away from me, his bare back on full display. I took a quick, guilty moment to admire the marble-hard muscles sculpting his shoulders and biceps. My gaze drifted lower to the way his dress pants gripped his thighs and a shaky breath escaped me.

Get it together, Seraphina.

"If you're done staring," he said coldly, extending a hand without turning.

My face burned. I ripped open the package and marched forward, placing the fabric into his palm. "H-here, sir."

Finally, he turned around. His eyes narrowed, jaw tightening as he let out a long, sharp exhale. The cloth fell open from his hand.

I frowned.

"Huh?"

Velvet. White polka dots. Crocheted lace.

It looked like a cloak straight out of an old lady's vintage trunk.

Realization hit. My eyes widened impossibly.

Wrong package.

For a second, I wanted to laugh imagining him in that ridiculous cloak. The next second, I wanted to cry because one look at his face promised death.

Why was the universe doing this to me?

I rushed to snatch the garment so I could beg Mr. Cortez for the correct suit before Mr. Thorne ended my existence. But of course, my luck had other plans.

His hand tightened on the fabric, yanking me forward. I collided with his chest hard and the air knocked out of me.

"Does this look like a joke to you?" he barked.

A shiver shot down my spine. "N-no, s-sir. I-I didn't-"

My lips trembled uncontrollably. He was going to fire me. I felt it in my bones. I couldn't lose this job until Creed backed off from my people.

"I warned you. You're f-"

The door burst open with a loud crash.

"Mr. Thorne!" a panicked voice shouted.