LOGINPushing the door to her department, Avery walked in and lowered herself into the chair.She picked her phone from the desk, glancing at Marcus's last message. She had wanted to tell Nathaniel about it, but there hadn’t been enough time to bring it up in Miss Graham’s office.Avery read the message again, then locked her phone and set it aside.For a moment, her fingers lingered briefly against the desk before she drew her hand back, brushing it off as just Marcus being Marcus. Maybe he was just in the mood to go out, or maybe he’d finally decided to stop being so random about things for once. Either way, it wasn’t a big deal.Avery turned back to her laptop and pulled up her work again, even though she couldn’t fully focus.By the time she looked up again, the office had gone noticeably quieter. The sun outside the window had already dipped below the horizon.People were packing up now, drifting out one after the other—chairs scraping softly, bags being slung over shoulders, and goodb
Avery trailed behind as Chloe stepped into Mrs. Graham's office, her heart beating loudly in her chest. She had asked more than once why she was being summoned, but Chloe had only met her questions with a cold glare.The door clicked shut behind them, the sound sharper in her ears than it should have been. Avery’s fingers curled slightly at her sides as her gaze flicked around the room. Mrs. Graham sat behind her desk, her eyes fixed on her laptop. “Miss Cole… please take a seat." She said, glancing up before giving a brief wave to Chloe. “You can leave now—thank you.”"Okay, ma'am." Chloe nodded, sending Avery a final chilling glance before walking out.Avery hesitated for a fraction of a second before obeying, lowering herself into the chair opposite her. “You asked to see me, ma’am?”"Yes. Mr. Hale would like to talk to you regarding the campaign project you handled a week ago." She replied calmly, tilting the laptop towards her.Avery’s brows drew together slightly as she leaned
Avery stared at the notification for a second, her thumb hovering before she finally tapped it open.Marcus: Hey, bestie.She exhaled softly and typed back.Avery: Yeah? What do you have for me, runaway prince?A few seconds passed before his reply came in.Marcus: Hm… Will you be available after work?She paused for a moment, her eyes lingering on the message. Marcus wasn’t someone who usually texted like this without a reason, but then again, it was Marcus.Avery leaned back slightly in her chair, her thumb hovering over the screen as she read it again. Something about it felt a little off, but she couldn’t quite place why.She exhaled softly and typed back.Avery: Depends. Why?The reply didn’t come immediately this time. It was a bit longer than before.Marcus: Dinner. I was thinking we could grab something at that place near your office.Avery blinked at the screen. Her brows knit slightly as she reread it. Dinner? That was unexpected. Marcus wasn’t usually the type to plan thin
Nathaniel walked into the boardroom the next morning in a sleek black suit, paired with a crisp white shirt.He had spent part of the night watching the busy city of London, his thoughts drifting back to Avery.He hadn’t expected the way her face had lit up on the screen the night before. And somehow, it had stayed with him, leaving him more distracted than he cared to admit.Even now, as he adjusted his cufflinks, a faint smile threatened to emerge before he caught himself."Good morning, Mr. Hale." The marketing director greeted, rising slightly from behind the table and giving a polite nod.Nathaniel returned the nod, his gaze scanning the room briefly before settling back on him."Good morning. Is everything ready?""Yes, we've got everything ready for the pitch. The team’s been prepping all morning, and the celebrity guest confirmed arrival times. Please let me know if there’s anything specific you’d like us to adjust." Nathaniel offered a faint, approving smile as he moved towa
Nathaniel: "Wish I could get you over here with me."Avery stared at the message for a moment, a small, helpless smile tugging at her lips.Her fingers hovered over the screen before she finally typed back, "You sound like you actually miss me."She paused, reading it over, then hit send, her smile lingering as she slipped her phone back into her bag and stepped out of the building. The cool evening air slapped her skin, and before she could know it, she was stepping out of the cab.The entire ride had felt too quick, like her mind was somewhere else.Avery stepped into her apartment, kicking the door shut behind her before dropping her bag by the couch. She didn’t bother with the lights at first, just stood there for a second, letting out a long breath of exhaustion.Then she exhaled, grabbed her phone from her bag, and padded into her room.She collapsed onto the bed, clutching her phone to her chest while her eyes traced the patterns on the ceiling.She didn’t even fight it this t
Avery’s gaze drifted toward Nathaniel’s office as she walked down the corridor, slowing her steps as she passed the closed door.She paused, her chest tightening as memories of him slipped into her mind. The way he would sit behind his desk, that teasing smile playing on his lips while he watched her.He had texted her earlier that morning, just before heading to the airport.She had stared at the message longer than she should have, reading it over and over again.Avery let out a quiet breath and tore her gaze away from the door, forcing herself to keep walking.Thinking about Nathaniel wouldn’t help, not here, not while she had work waiting.By the time she reached her desk, she dropped into her chair, her bag thumping softly against the floor. She opened her laptop, squinting at the screen while her fingers hovered over the keyboard. Work was the only thing that could distract her at this moment, and she wouldn’t let herself dwell on Nathaniel.She straightened in her chair, openi
They drove in silence for a while, moving further into a quiet, calmer part of the city.As they turned onto a narrower street lined with trees, Avery noticed the subtle change in the atmosphere—the cool breeze slipping in through the opened window, carrying the faint scent of the ocean.Her brows
Avery walked into her department as if nothing had happened—posture straight, steps measured, and her expression calm and neutral, like someone who had just finished a routine meeting with her boss.Despite the frantic pounding of her pulse in her ears, she still managed to pull off the same profes
The elevator jolted to a stop, and the doors began to slide open. He pulled back slowly, though his hand remained at her waist.Avery blinked, trying to catch her breath. Her cheek was flushed, her breathing a little uneven.Nathaniel, on the other hand, looked far too composed for someone who had
Avery woke with a mix of eagerness and nerves. The night had felt impossibly long, spent tossing and turning as her thoughts kept drifting back to Nathaniel and everything that had happened.Every time she closed her eyes, she saw that smirk of his. The way his voice had softened when he spoke to h







