LOGINSalome’s POV“He didn’t give me a script, Salome,” Richard said, his voice dropping to a low, steady rumble. He looked me right in the eyes, and for a second, I didn't see the soldier. I just saw a man trying to be honest. “Jeremiah only told me one thing. My job is to protect you. I am here to keep your friends safe and help you with whatever you need today. I am not here to talk you into anything.”I stopped moving. I just stood there in the middle of the pavement, feeling the weight of that statement. It hit me right in the chest. A warm, stinging sensation crawled up my neck and gathered behind my eyes. I blinked hard, trying to keep my vision clear. It was such a strange, unexpected move. Jeremiah was usually so focused on control. He liked to pull the strings until they snapped. But this felt like an olive branch. He was giving me space but making sure I didn't fall.How could he be so cold one morning and then do someth
Salome’s POV“Richard and I had a bet going,” Benedict said, leaning back in her chair with a smirk. “I just lost twenty dollars. I really thought you two would be out for the entire night.”I kept my eyes on my plate, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a blush. I knew they were just trying to break the heavy silence that had settled over the table. The restaurant was loud, filled with the clinking of silverware and the hum of other tourists, but I felt like I was sitting in a vacuum.The food looked great, but I couldn't bring myself to take more than a few bites. My appetite had vanished the second we sat down. Every time the door to the lobby opened, I caught myself looking up, hoping to see Jeremiah walk through.Midway through the meal, Richard’s phone vibrated on the table. He checked the screen and his expression shifted instantly.“It’s Jeremiah,” he told the group.He pushe
Salome’s POV“That kiss was just a lesson,” Jeremiah said. He stood there with his arms locked tight across his chest. “If you want to understand how adult relationships work, you should ask me for advice instead of wasting your time with that college kid.”I stared at him. The confusion that had been clouding my head for the last hour finally cleared. He wasn't just being difficult. He was jealous. I felt like a light finally clicked on in a dark room.“You actually think I am dating Aiden,” I said. I shook my head, trying to process how he could be so wrong. “Listen to me, Jeremiah.”He held up one hand to stop me. His expression was cold. “It is too late for you to explain it away.”I didn't back down. I took a step toward him. Even though I was annoyed, I could feel the heat coming off his skin. It made my stomach do a nervous flip, but I pushed that feeling down.“N
Salome’s POV“You think a fancy room makes everything okay?” I asked, my voice shaking as I stepped into the suite.The space was massive. It was the kind of room that felt too big for just two people, filled with expensive furniture and soft lighting that made every shadow look deep. I didn’t have time to admire the view or the velvet chairs. Before I could even take another step, Jeremiah moved. I felt the heat of him before he even touched me. Then, his chest pressed against my back, solid and heavy.I gasped. The sound seemed to bounce off the high ceilings, making me feel even smaller. My skin prickled. I knew I had to say it, even if the timing felt wrong.“Jeremiah, I shouldn’t have listened to those stories,” I whispered. The air in the room felt thick. “About why you came to Luceland. I shouldn't have told Benedict, either. It was wrong of me.”My face felt like it was on fire. I couldn
Jeremiah’s POV“How exactly did she meet this boy?”I kept my voice flat, like a pane of glass. I watched the wine swirl in my glass and fought the urge to call the waiter back for a double shot of bourbon. My chest felt tight, like a coiled spring, and the only way to survive the next ten minutes was to bury every single emotion under a layer of ice.Clementine didn’t seem to notice. Or maybe she did and just didn't care. She reached for a piece of bread from the center of the table, her eyes bright with a look that was way too dreamy for my liking.“He is the younger brother of one of Salome’s friends,” Clementine said. She sounded like she was narrating a fairy tale. “Apparently, he has been waiting for the perfect moment to ask her out for years. He’s had a massive crush on her forever. Isn’t that the most romantic thing you’ve ever heard, Jeremiah? Don’t you ever wish for a sweet
Jeremiah’s POV“You have it all wrong, I am not here for a date,” I said. My voice was steady, even if my pulse was currently doing a frantic dance against my ribs.Clementine didn’t look like she believed me. She tilted her head and gave me a long, sharp look. I had to move fast. I leaned closer to the table and kept my voice low so the people around us wouldn't hear. I explained the situation as quickly as I could. I told her how Salome had gotten some bad information through the grapevine. She actually believed I had come all the way to Luceland just to meet some mystery woman. It was a joke, really, but Salome wasn’t laughing.As I spoke, the icy wall Clementine had built up around herself started to melt. She nodded along and her eyes softened. She didn’t look like she wanted to slap me anymore. Instead, she leaned in until her lips were inches from my ear. Her perfume was faint, something like vanilla and rain.&l
Salome’s POV“There is only one event on the schedule for tonight,” I said. I kept my voice steady, professional, and clear. “Alpha Sovereign from Fernard Technologies sent over an invite for a yacht reception. It is a welcome party being held in yo
Salome’s POV“You are lying through your teeth, Margot!” Portia shouted, her voice cracking under the weight of a panic she couldn't hide anymore. “That is not how it happened!”Margot recoiled as if Portia had physically struck her across the face. Her polished mask of high-society
Salome’s POV"You really should watch your mouth when the floor is this slippery, Portia."I didn't scramble to my feet. I took a breath, feeling the cold marble against my palms, and pushed myself up with deliberate, slow movements. My elbow throbbed where it had slammed into
Salome’s POVThe luxury hotel was too quiet. The silence didn't feel like peace. It felt like an empty room where something bad was about to happen. Usually, these high-end places have a constant pulse of soft music or the distant sound of rich people talking. Now, there was nothing







