LOGINDamon I arrived at the company with my jaw clenched, expecting another exhausting discussion about the recent media scandals. I was ready to fight the board, ready to defend my position.But the moment I walked into the project manager's office, my heart stopped.Mia was already sitting there.A sharp, painful ache hit my chest just looking at her. After the disaster at Jim’s soccer match, the atmosphere between us was excruciatingly polite but distant. She gave me a small, tight nod as I sat down in the chair next to her, but she didn’t look me in the eyes. The space between our chairs felt like a freezing, endless ocean.The project manager didn't waste any time. He leaned forward, his face grim."Damon, Mia, thank you for coming," he started, shuffling a few papers. "I'll get straight to the point. Although the project exceeded all of our expectations, we have a massive problem. Several of our primary investors are threatening to withdraw their support."I froze. "What?""They are
Mia I spent the entire evening replaying everything that happened at Jim's soccer match.The image of that text message on Athena’s phone kept flashing behind my eyelids, burning into my mind. I wanted to believe Damon. I truly did. But Athena’s confidence, the effortless way she had smiled on that field, kept clouding my judgment. It felt like a heavy fog I couldn't escape.To keep from losing my mind, I threw myself into looking after Jim. I cooked his favorite dinner, helped him unpack his muddy gear, and forced a bright, cheerful energy I didn't actually have. I was determined not to let him notice how badly I was hurting inside.But kids see everything.As I was tucking him into bed, Jim looked up at me from beneath his blanket, his big eyes quiet and perceptive."Mom?" he asked softly, tugging at the edge of his sheet. "Are you and Damon mad at each other?"My throat locked up. "No, sweetie. We're just tired from work. Why do you ask?"Jim shrugged his small shoulders, looking
DamonThe engine of my car was still ticking, cooling down in the driveway, but my blood was boiling so hot I could practically feel the steam rolling off my skin. I didn't even bother cutting the lights. I slammed the door and marched up to Athena’s porch like I was ready to kick the wood clean off the hinges.I kept seeing it over and over. Mia’s face. That look of confusion and hurt when Athena had walked up at the soccer field, acting like she owned the place, acting like I’d personally invited her to sit in my spot. Mia hadn't said a word, just turned and walked away with Jim, and that was the worst part. She was too graceful to cause a scene, and I was too stunned to stop her.I hammered on the door. Hard.When it swung open, Athena was there, looking way too composed. She had this little smirk on her face, like she’d already won a game I hadn't realized we were playing. She leaned against the frame, crossing her arms."Damon," she said, her voice all soft and sickly sweet. "
MiaThe morning of Jim’s soccer match was the warmest, brightest day we had seen in weeks.Damon and I had agreed to put the office, the board members, and the terrifying shadow of the resurfaced files aside. We owed this to Jim. We had promised him.The moment we walked onto the grassy field, Jim’s face lit up like the sun.He was already in his bright blue jersey, his cleats digging into the damp turf as he warmed up with his teammates. Every few seconds, he would look back toward the sidelines, his eyes searching the crowd until they locked onto us.When he saw Damon standing right beside me, Jim let out a wild cheer, jumping up and down and waving his arms frantically."Look, Coach! They both came!" Jim shouted to his trainer, pointing at us with a grin so wide his cheeks looked like they would split.Damon chuckled softly, a genuine, relaxed sound that I hadn't heard in weeks. He raised a hand, waving back at Jim with an easy, warm smile."He’s really getting good," Damon murmure
AdrianI refused to accept it.I couldn’t. Every single day, watching Mia and Damon grow closer was like swallowing broken glass. She had chosen him. After everything we had been through, after everything I had done for her, she had actually chosen *him*.But I wasn’t going to sit back and play the martyr. My resentment only grew hotter with every soft glance, every shared smile, and every whispered conversation they had in the office corridors. It fueled a bitter rage deep in my chest.Then, the perfect crack in their armor appeared.At the office, the air was thick with panic. Word was spreading that several major clients involved in Damon and Mia’s newly completed project were getting cold feet. The endless, toxic media scandals surrounding Damon’s personal life were starting to bleed into the business, staining the very project they had poured their souls into.The rumors in the breakrooms and elevators were growing louder by the second: if the negative press didn't die down, the
Mia I couldn’t stop thinking about Athena’s warning.Her terrified face replayed in my mind on a loop all night, keeping me awake.The next morning, I met Damon for breakfast at a small diner before work.Jim insisted on following me and I let him. The second our coffee was poured, I leaned in and told him exactly what happened in that dark hallway.Damon listened, his fingers tightening around his mug.“Athena has never looked genuinely afraid of anything in her life,” he admitted, his voice low and tight. “If she’s scared, something is seriously wrong.”Damon rubbed a hand over his face, staring into his untouched coffee.“She has indeed lied before,” he admitted. “Manipulated people. Played games. But fear? I’ve never seen that look in her eyes. Are you sure it’s not just all an act at the end of the day?”“She wasn’t acting,” I answered. “She looked like someone who expected to die for speaking to me.”His jaw tightened.“If that’s true, then whoever she’s afraid of isn’t just d
MiaI felt the gazes of my co-workers trailing me as I moved towards my office. Some looked away once I met them. Others remained, offering small smiles. They both held the same thing.Sympathy. Pity.By now I was sure the entire company was aware. There was nothing I could do about it but ignore i
MiaDamon’s voice cut cleanly through mine. I turned to him.On his usually impassive face was something I couldn't read, but perhaps it was my imagination. Soon after he looked at me harshly.“Don’t be unreasonable Mia.” he said, “Athena is staying. Why would she need to leave when her family is h
MiaIt felt like I'd been dunked in an icy bath, chilling my bones into reality. She leaned closer to Damon holding his arm and looking up at him with a smile. But all I could focus on was the jewellery adorned on her neck. The necklace I thought he'd bought for me.Laughter arose, forcing me to r
MiaA lump formed in my throat as the words I wanted to say, the revelation that hung at the tip of my tongue was swallowed back. I kept my expression neutral as I nodded.“I’m sorry Mr Nova. It won’t happen again.” Silence stretched through minutes when I heard his footsteps. Before I knew it, ar







