n he wouldn't let

e silence was only the

ste time on anything like small talk or unnecessary pleasantries. I appreciated it more

t I belonged to some

, private lounge, going through meeting notes, a part of

egan, it hit me as if someone

fr

s Zac

ell do you think yo

isted. My fin

in days. I hadn't detai

r deserved

of fear wrapped around

, I told myself. Y

d was alre

my bag. I can't afford distractions, not

ss legal jargon. Damon moved through it all like a force of nature-comma

organizing documents, whispering last-minute reminders, book

elf, however, my phone would buzz aga

the hotel, I felt wru

at me while we ste

head back. Don't be late." "Yes, Mr. Cr

rd, he disappeared

on, rolled my shoulders,

door bolted behind me, did I allo

en missed

rom Za

enough to put m

k away from me? After everything I

e onto the bed lik

s tip

ccusations-guilt trips- threats m

time when

in knots until I couldn't tell

zing for things that

s time,

while I typed o

achary. This is over.

een for a long time

ng angrily appear

me the

o ever cared for you. You think some billionaire boss is going to love you? To

hard, more than I

hat Zachary had planted years ago whi

ugh. You will n

t, I faced my phone d

ing to get i

ht so hard to come back from

damage w

as impo

ly morning, staring at a white ceiling, dis

ve o'clock in the morning, I fe

lasted but a few signature signings, a shake

ces

ss with re

have fe

e felt like

frail. A slight diver

s laptop and seemed to diligently work while I taped

e bitten slightly

ok dist

r a question no

ried to will my features i

r. I'm focused

ended moment; those dark eyes contrad

ed back up t

st thing I did was

pid part of me thought that ignoring

ot me into, I wou

ul vengeance, I imme

that. I needed the distraction; I neede

s afforded a respite from the chaos threa

hary found ways to

, ema

voicem

nder my apartment door one night; a g

nk you're bett

g without me.

ngry, and it was fra

y to come to my apartment,

letter in trembling hands, I tr

d the fear down, pretended everything was fin

sn't her

led out my phone and called t

e an alert - it would

in

a new life to let Zachary tear it

few days later after a pa

, hands clasped behind, keeping myse

oing great," h

r me, but I dampe

you, Mr

the desk and narrow

our mind, and I do not tolerate

lowed

his w

rossr

erything was okay and pretend like I

l the

e the

nd he f**king respected strength, ev

voice quietly firm. "Repeatedly. I've been keeping track.

n slow cont

feel u

on of all - no judgment, n

ed. "But I will make sure to take

surprisingly, I saw a flicke

oo

was

ronizing concern. N

acknowl

e res

tle movement giving my sho

id, turning back to wh

of his office,

e first time in yea

pologizing

anding m

r Zac

l he wanted, Yell,

dn't touch

re it m

I am fin

vy right now and I