econd, time h

ddly familiar about her. The curve of her jaw, the ey

pounded. She coul

me man from that n

cial resemblance

the portfolio she held tempted to fall,

night that carried memories - heart-aching

uddenly cleared his throat, blinking

ard, regaining his usual composure. But the way he star

ed, brows curv

to normal as if something hadn'

ce rang out, calm and collected. "W

ryone's faces, but Kimberly'

in her chest loudly. So loud she could

***

use. One by one, the applicants began filing out of the hall, heels

all group of ladies had already gat

ancing back toward the building. "She only just got he

whole room had disappeared. I swear, they were just standing

imed in. "Pretty face, slim waist, maybe

ealousy and spite ev

ry picture from the hallway. "Wait a second... I knew she looked familiar!" she said, her voice rising with a mix of

tching the phone from her. "That Kimb

nways, even landed a fragrance deal with Deveraux. And then poof-radio silence. No on

folded tightly over her chest, trying to block ou

keep moving, even as her mind spun with th

come to b

rrington had

veryone el

t wrong about o

face had graced billboards and landed many deals. Bu

d by love, had sacrificed her rising career to care for him.

od as one of her deepest regrets,

***

window, staring blankly out at the city

dn't see

stuck in that room.

ught back memori

rs trying to forget that nigh

s decision fueled by too much whiskey and a desperate need

his desk, jolting hi

, glanced at the caller ID

his PA,

red gruffly in a lo

e background check you requested ear

ghtly, his grip tighte

as the woman or not. Maybe he was wro

gainst the desk, his other ha

us's end as he took a hesit

rom six years ago. The one from the penthouse hotel that night.

uddenly plastered on his face as he

***

ired of her to do so before leaving. She picked up her handbag to

man asked with a pol

g the handbag she had just

to see you in his offi

own Kimberly's spi

nd. She could already see the looks on the faces

ss

d, gesturing toward Bryce's o

ls echoed like gunshots against the tiled floors, each s

stop thumping hard

was i

...recog

blouse, pressing her fingers to he

spered to herself. He didn't recogni

ing to regain the poise she'd practiced in fro

her out of her thoughts as the assi

murmured, barely rec

elf toget

back turned to her, one hand tucked into his pocket, the

he told her, but d

rt hammered in her ch

th and hypnotizing th

e soft click of the latch soun

nce settled

ned to face her, and K

handsome than the few

r a quick ma

ke, getting Kimberly out of her silly thoughts

ain. He just called

ho'd been waiting six long years for this exact moment. Kimberl

ame change." His g

e?" Kimberly stammered, her pulse jumped as

gne, so familiar it made her sick. Or it was just

myself it couldn't be you. Not after all this

nked and swa

nized he

couldn't quite solve. "Tell me something," he said,

k in her throat, her hands slightly trembling as she too

e," Kimberly said quickly, grasping for calm, but it slipped through her f

wrists above her head, eyes dark with intensity as they drank her in. "You became mine from the second I touched you....and no am

g as the truth crashed over her. He did recog

h