LOGINONE NIGHT. A SECRET CARRIED FOR YEARS. A CONTRACT THAT COULD DESTROY EVERYTHING. When Isabella Davenport catches her best friend in bed with her fiancé, her perfectly planned future shatters in an instant. Devastated and drowning in betrayal, she seeks oblivion in the arms of a gorgeous stranger on a night of reckless passion she expects to forget. But fate has a cruel sense of humor. Weeks later, Isabella discovers her new boss is Damien Thorn the cold, commanding CEO of Thorn Enterprises, and the very man she woke beside that morning. The attraction between them is immediate, undeniable, and impossible to resist. What begins as an office affair ignites into something deeper, and for the first time since her world collapsed, Isabella dares to believe in happily ever after. Then she discovers she's pregnant. Damien's reaction destroys her. He accuses her of trapping him, calls her a gold digger, and reveals he's already engaged to another woman a marriage forced upon him by his dying grandfather. Humiliated and heartbroken, Isabella is fired and left with nothing but the truth growing inside her. She disappears without a trace. FOUR YEARS LATER... Isabella has built a quiet life in a new city, raising her son, Lucas, and burying the memory of Damien Thorn deep in her heart. When she meets Sebastian Cole, a charming, compassionate man who becomes her closest friend she finally feels safe again. But safety comes with a price. Drowning in debt and desperate to protect her child, Isabella agrees to a contract marriage with Sebastian. It's simple: he pays off her debts and becomes a father figure to Lucas; she gives him freedom from his family's relentless pressure to marry. No strings. No feelings. Just friendship.
View More"Ok Angela, remember, first impressions last." I tell myself as I step out of the grey taxi.
I brush at my peach work dress, making sure I look my best for the first day of work as Mr Cross secretary.
I fix the skinny black belt around my tiny waist, because it is feeling slightly uncomfortable.
I gaze up at the four story glass building that is now my work place.
"This is it." I say to myself before walking off.
“Hey lady, are you gonna play?" The cab driver yells after me.
I hurry back to his car, take out a 20 to give to him.
"Keep the change." I smile at him.
"There is none." He frowns at me before driving off.
I smooth down my curly shoulder-length brown hair before walking back to the entrance of the building.
Never did I dream of working at Metrosports, but here I am, about to step into a lifelong dream of mine.
I reach out to open the door, not realising that they are automatic, so they open on their own.
I glance around to make sure no one saw that before proceeding inside.
The cool crisp air from the inside hit me in the face, along with the powerful scent of a male cologne.
"Hello, maybe I help you?" A pretty blonde standing at the reception area asks.
She gives a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"I'm Angela Smith-"
"Oh, yes. The new secretary. Someone will be down in a minute to show you around."
I can see the blonde checking me out as I wait. When our eyes meet, she gives me a not so genuine smile, then peers at the computer before her.
"Angela?" Another blonde ask, as she step out of the elevator.
"Yes."
"You can call me Adele, right this way, please." She turns her back towards me and walks off.
I play with the ends of my hair, now feeling self cautious, after seeing two other blondes passing us by.
"So, I will give you the run through of how things work around here. As previous secretary and now agent, I think I am the best person to tell you what Mr Cross expects from you."
I look around the spacious building. From the outside, it didn't look like much. It had no life or personality to it, but on the inside, it is a different statement.
With blown up posters of athletes on the walls, numerous awards, and trophies in show cases.
"Wow." I say, as I pass different office areas with people busy on the phone, or busy at their task.
"Yes, in here you are an adult, so all the childish behaviour is behind you." Adele said.
"Welcome to the fourth and final floor. There are only two offices here, yours and Mr Cross. This is your office, lovely space and view if you enjoy looking at back allies. The meeting room is down the hall on your left, the boardroom is on your right."
"No one is allowed up here expect for you, and the man himself. You have two breaks, one at 12 and the other at 4. Work finishes at 7 and starts at 9 the next morning. Please don't be like the last idiot that thought she had to come back after 2 hours. She was the laughing stack for a month because of that, and quit shortly after."
"You are expected to put through only potential clients, no prank calls, no paparazzi, not even his parents. Make any and every appointments, doctor's visits, dental check up. Book flights and hotels."
"You go to all events with him, hanging off his arm like a little rich bitch and laugh at all his stupid jokes."
"And please, please, any interviews that you are going to get him booked for make sure they are meaningful. Mr Cross hates wasting his time."
"You are also responsible for getting only Mr Cross lunch. Don't let anyone else do it. Don't get anyone else's lunch either. Mr Cross likes his coffee black, with two sugars. It is to be placed on the left side of his desk. One in the morning, a soy latte at around 1 and sweet tea at 5, all in the same position."
"Work credit cards are in the centre draw, so is your work I.D. Oh and don't spend on anything too personal, the credit card is to only buy you lunch, and book your tickets when leaving the country."
I nod at all Adele said, trying to keep up because she is talking too fast and hardly gives me time to respond.
"Get it, got it, good. Have fun. One more thing, no flirting with Mr Cross. Keep it strictly business." Adele opens the door, about to walk out.
"Wait, I don't have a passport."
"Well, get one before the day is out."
“How?’’
Just then, an attractive-looking man enters my office. Adele steps aside for him.
"And who might you be?" He asks.
"Angela, she is the new secretary." Adele respond for me.
The man, whose black hair is slicked back with gel, runs his hazel eyes up and down my body. As his thin pink lips form into a lopsided grin, causing his already handsome angular face to brighten up.
"Lose the shoes. They look awful." He said, then turn to leave.
"Who was that?"
"Mr Cross." Adele give me a look, one that said 'are you for real?'
I open my mouth, but didn't get a chance to say anything.
"It's fine, just make sure you do your work and you'll be ok. The phone is ringing, the greeting is Metrosports, where stars are signed and aligned."
I place a hand on my forehead to calm myself down before answering the phone.
"Metrosports, where stars are signed and aligned.''
"Clear my schedule and get me a spot in the NBA Draft pick. There are new talents to represent and I want us at the forefront." Mr Cross said.
Moments after, he exist his office.
I rush to move his appointments to a next day, and block out the rest of the day, while sending those who had a meeting with him the memo.
I hurry to write down all the names and numbers of those that I didn’t have time to message, before running out of my office.
I make it just in time for the elevator doors to open.
Mr Cross glance over at me, then down at my shoes.
"Still wearing those ugly things I see." He said while entering the elevator.
I didn't respond as I enter as well, because I didn't think the way I dressed would have mattered.
"I have my eyes on Kylie Marks. He seems promising. What do you think?"
I rattle my brain to remember who that is. "I think he has potential."
Mr Cross scoffs, "just potential?"
"Yes, I think Ryder Jones would be a better pick. I have been watching him since his first day at UCLA. He is the best Point Guard on the team. Not to mention his jump shots."
Mr Cross smirks, "I'll take your word for it then."
I breathe out, not knowing what to expect from working with Mr Cross because his face hardly gives anything away.
While we exist the building, I notice even more blondes walking around, making me second guessing myself.
I touch my brown hair, hoping that I didn't have to bleach it and become a fake blonde with horrible roots.
The morning of the wedding dawned golden and perfect.Isabella stood at the window of the cottage, watching the sun rise over the ocean, her heart full to bursting. Today was the day. The day she had waited for, fought for, dreamed of. Today, she would marry Damien Thorn.Not because of a contract. Not because of obligation. Because she loved him, and he loved her, and they had finally found their way back to each other."Isabella." Eleanor's voice came from behind her. "It's time."She turned to face her mother—the woman who had raised her, who had loved her, who had fought for her every step of the way."I'm ready," she said.The garden was transformed.Flowers bloomed everywhere—roses, lilies, wildflowers that seemed to have sprung up overnight. White chairs lined the grass, filled with family and friends. A canopy of fairy lights and silk draped over the altar, where Damien waited.Isabella walked down the aisle, Lucas on one side, Lily on the other. Her dress was simple, elegant,
The mall was crowded, the Saturday afternoon rush filling the corridors with noise and movement.Isabella walked hand in hand with Lucas, his small fingers warm in hers. He had been asking to come for weeks—something about a new video game, about the toy store, about the ice cream shop that always gave him extra sprinkles.She had agreed, partly because she loved seeing him happy, partly because she needed the distraction. The lawsuit was over, the contract was gone, but the weight of the past still lingered."Mommy." Lucas tugged at her hand. "Can we get ice cream first?""After the toy store.""But I want ice cream now.""After the toy store." She smiled down at him. "Patience, my love."He sighed dramatically, the way only a child could. "Fine."They found the video game, the toys, the brightly colored aisles that made Lucas's eyes wide with wonder. Isabella watched him explore, his laughter echoing through the store, and felt a peace she hadn't known in years.She had survived. Th
The morning after the verdict, Isabella woke to a world that felt brand new.She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, the weight that had pressed down on her for so long finally lifted. The contract was gone. The clause was invalid. She was free, truly, completely, irrevocably free.She heard movement in the kitchen, the smell of coffee drifting through the house. She climbed out of bed, wrapped a robe around herself, and padded downstairs.Damien was at the stove, making pancakes. Sebastian was at the table, reading the newspaper. Lucas and Lily were in their high chairs, chattering about nothing."Good morning," Damien said, turning to face her."Good morning." She crossed the room, kissing his cheek. "What's all this?""Celebration." He smiled. "We're free, Isabella. All of us."She looked around the kitchen at the man who had fought for her, at the man who had loved her, at the children who had given her purpose. Her heart swelled with gratitude."Thank you," she said. "Both of you
The morning after the school play, Isabella woke to find a note on her pillow.She sat up, her heart pounding, and opened it with trembling hands. The handwriting was familiar, sharp, angular, unmistakably Damien's.Isabella,Meet me in the garden. I have something important to tell you. DamienShe dressed quickly, her mind racing. What could be so important that he couldn't say it inside? She walked through the house, past the sleeping children, past Sebastian's closed door, and stepped into the garden.The morning sun was just beginning to warm the earth, casting long shadows across the grass. Damien stood by the fountain, his back to her, his shoulders tense. He turned as she approached, his face pale, his eyes red-rimmed."Isabella." His voice was soft. "Thank you for coming.""What's going on?"He took a breath, steadying himself. "I've been thinking about the contract. About the clause that's been holding you hostage."Her heart stopped. "What about it?""I'm going to break it.
Monday arrived like a verdict.Isabella stood outside Thorn Tower for the second time in seven days, but everything was different now. The building hadn't changed, still forty stories of glass and steel piercing the Manhattan sky but she had. The woman who'd walked through those doors a week ago ha
The lobby of Thorn Tower was a cathedral of ambition.Isabella stood frozen just inside the revolving doors, her breath catching at the sheer scale of the space. Marble floors stretched toward infinity, polished to such a high shine that they reflected the forty-story atrium like a mirror lake. A c
Dawn arrived like a bruise pale purple and ugly.Isabella hadn't slept. She'd lie on her bed fully clothed, watching the ceiling fan trace lazy circles while her mind replayed the night's horrors on an endless loop. Jonathan's face when she caught him. Priscilla's defiant eyes. The way they'd both
The silence stretched like a wire pulled taut.Isabella stood frozen in the doorway, her eyes moving between her fiancé and her best friend as if watching a film she couldn't quite comprehend. Jonathan scrambled off the couch, grabbing for his pants with shaking hands. Priscilla pulled the blanket












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