로그인EMILY I scrambled to my feet, but as soon as I came face to face with the man standing before me, it felt like I was about to collapse right back to the floor. He was still dressed in the same clothes he wore to work earlier, except his white button-down sleeves were rolled to his forearm, revealing a sleeve tattoo that stretched up to the right side of his chest. “Mr. Calloway,” I whispered. He slipped his hands into his pockets, studying me like he had all the time in the world. “It’s Cole outside the walls of Ways Enterprise,” he finally said in a calm, smooth voice. “Mr...” I was about to say when his brows rose in a warning look. “Uhmm…” I cleared my throat. “Cole,” I said in a tight whisper, feeling awkward saying his name out loud. His eyes drifted shut for a brief second as he took a slow inhale, making me wonder if he was angry, irritated… or both. We stood in an uncomfortable silence, making me finally voice what I’d been meaning to ask.
EMILY~Thursday Evening~ I wanted to believe that Cole telling me to follow him on this trip was a joke, but here I was, pacing around my room with an open box and clothes scattered across my bed. I’d wanted to work at Ways for years, and now that I was finally fulfilling that dream, everything felt like it was moving so fast. I spent four years hating Cole for what he did to me. And after getting my life together and applying for a bigger job, I thought fate was finally working hand in hand with me. Till boom—I crossed paths with him, and then the next minute, he was my boss. I know it’s been six years since that crazy event, and I should be moving on, especially since he didn’t recognize me. But sadly, I couldn’t do anything about the pent-up anger I’d kept hidden for this long. Buzzz… My phone rang, pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts. I looked to see who it was, and Annie’s name flashed across the screen. My palms grew sweaty as I hit the answ
EMILY “What?” I said in a shaky voice. “I’ve come to a conclusion. We’ll be working together on this project.” Not knowing what I was doing, I tried to stand, but my legs betrayed me, sending me right back into my seat. My thoughts felt scrambled. Not too long ago, he wanted to make me regret working here, and now he wanted me working alongside him. He was truly unbelievable. “Hello, Ms. Carter.” He snapped his fingers in front of my face, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Did you understand a word I said?” He asked. My brows shot up as I voiced the thought that had been circling my head. “One minute you want me regretting working here, then the next you want me working alongside you?” I asked, not caring about the way his jaw flexed. Seeing how quiet and unfazed he remained only annoyed me more. “Is that how bad you want to make me regret working—” “Watch your tone, Ms. Carter.” He rose so abruptly that his chair squeaked across the floor. “This
EMILY It’s been one day, 4 hours, 35 minutes and 28 seconds since I got an email from Cole. And yes, I’ve been counting because I believe Cole Calloway is either watching me through a camera that is positioned by my desk, or he’s hacked the camera on my computer. I stared at my poor computer, which I had used an unhealthy amount of tape to cover its camera. My mind wandered back to my new life and how it felt like fate was trying to play a game on me. But at the same time, I had to remember that I can’t risk my opportunity here and put Aria at risk of being homeless all because I couldn’t keep myself together. So, I would rather fall a thousand times in the process of trying than let it mess me up. “Everyone, to the conference room. Right now.” Cole’s voice boomed through the intercom, making me jump in my seat. Everyone began to scramble toward the conference room, while I stayed rooted to my seat. “Aren’t you coming?” Aria asked as she leaned over my de
EMILY “Have a seat,” he said as he clicked the door shut. The sound echoed through the office, making me flinch. I was still standing there when he moved past me like a lion in its territory. His perfectly tailored suit stretched across his broad frame as he settled into his chair. “I hate repeating myself, Ms. Carter.” He gestured toward the seat in front of him. His eyes followed every movement I made as I quickly sat down. “Sorry, sir,” I apologized quietly. Silence settled between us as he studied me, his steady gaze making me squirm in my seat. He cleared his throat. “So, Ms. Carter, how does it feel being one of the luckiest people who get to work at Way’s Enterprise?” I opened my mouth to answer, but suddenly forgot how to speak. He seemed so casual. Too casual. Like he didn’t remember who I was. Not even from the bar. Which only made me wonder why a man who promised to make my life miserable was acting like this. “I asked a
EMILY ~Flashback to Six Years Ago~ “Hey, four eyes!” Troy, Cole’s best friend, called from behind, and laughter erupted from their group. Even Cole was laughing. “Please, Troy.” I said quietly, keeping my eyes down as I walked faster. “I’ve told you to stop calling me that.” But the seven of them surrounded me like a pack of predators, blocking every escape. “Aw, don’t be shy now,” one of them sneered. “You love the attention, don’t you?” “Maybe if you stopped stuffing your face, we’d actually see your eyes behind those glasses,” another added. I swallowed hard. “Please, Troy. Stop.” “But I’m not lying, you smelly, fat girl,” he mocked, pouting dramatically. More laughter followed. My throat tightened painfully, but I refused to cry. Not again. “I’m not doing this with you,” I muttered, trying to move around them. “I have a chemistry class.” Before I could take another step, something yanked me backward. “Not so fast, fatty.”
EMILY ~NEW YORK~ ~One month later~ ~Monday~ I looked at myself for what felt like the millionth time in the mirror after ten different hairstyles and seven outfit changes. Finally, I was satisfied. My hair pulled into a tight bun, and my white long-sleeved blouse looked modest enoug
EMILY Four of the most handsome men I’ve ever seen sat confidently, their presence exuding money and power. Each of them was draped in expensive Armani and Prada suits, broad shoulders filling the seats like they owned the place. Is this heaven? I thought. If it is, someone please pinch m
EMILY CARTER~NEW JERSEY~~Terry’s bar~ “Mommy, are you coming back soon?” I smiled, pressing the phone closer to my ear as I sat against the locker in the break room. “Soon, baby. I just have few things to settle, remember?” A small pause. Then, her small voice came through the phone, qui







