Oh, I was so wrong, so very very wrong.Even though I had filled up my week with meetings to address quarterly reports and the status of my investments in other companies, I still couldn't get my mind off her.I didn't even spend any time around her besides a random exchange of greetings here and there out of politeness, but it still felt like she was in every corner of my life.Every time she walked passed by my office, I couldn't help looking up from my desk.Every time I turned a corner, I couldn't help feeling like I had caught a glimpse of her light curls, only to find there was no such person.Every time I ended up near any sort of sweets, I couldn't help thinking about whether or not she would like it.And, worst of all, she continued bringing me dinner to my office every evening at 7 PM on the dot.Even though I barely interacted with her anymore, she would always come knocking on my door in an adorable little outfit, whether it be a simple black skirt or a dark-colored a-line
Thump.Thunk.Thump.Thunk.I slammed my fist down on my desk in complete and utter irritation from this man-child, hissing, "Don't you have your own company to run? What the hell are you doing in my office on a Tuesday morning?" Benedict froze mid-swing with another pen sitting loosely between his fingers. He cocked his head side, feigning innocence. "But I'm visiting my friend?" I frustratingly rubbed my circles against my temple, grumbling, "I need more coffee." Thump. Unable to withstand his nonsense any longer, I abruptly stood up from my seat and stormed out of my own office, slamming the door behind me. I strode straight down the corridor toward the micro kitchen, exuding such a dark aura that all my employees immediately turned away in hopes of avoiding my wrath. As I took a sharp turn into the micro kitchen, I faltered in my step when I saw the back of a familiar light-colored brunette standing next to the coffee machine. The anger simmering in my body instantly calmed d
Benedict hadn't tried to contact me again since that day. It had already been three days, and he had never let a day go by without filling my inbox with clutter. I probably shouldn't have snapped at him like that. Despite his outgoing and obnoxious personality, he was still a child at heart and easily got his feelings hurt. Maybe I should pick up some pastries at his favorite dessert shop on my way to work tomorrow.I sighed as I tossed my papers back onto my desk, noting the setting sun just outside my office window. An entire day had gone, and I had barely been able to get anything done between the heavy guilt sitting on my consciousness for lashing out at Benedict and my inability to prevent my mind from drifting off to a certain little brunette. Gathering up my revisions on the blueprints and contracts for my joint project with Benedict's firm, I decided to search for Ms. Belcalis and hand her these changes before heading home early, even though I knew I wouldn't be able to ge
Pushing through a dreadful 20 mins of stomach-churning drive, I eventually reached her place on the upper side of Manhatten in Washington Heights. It might've been a bit of an intrusion of privacy, but I had fished her address out of the HR system to bring her back. Her home was a quaint little townhouse squeezed between two large buildings. There were all sorts of green vines and plants spilling out of her windows and growing up along the exterior of her house, giving it a bit of a down-to-earth feel despite being awfully close to the Bronx. I parked the car in front of her driveway, trying to think of a good way to tell her husband what had happened at work and preparing myself for what will most likely be a resignation letter from Ms. Belcalis next week such that I probably wouldn't ever see her again after today. My stomach dropped at the thought. Was this really it? I glanced over at her peacefully sleeping body. Despite everything that had happened today, she still looked
His little body had immediately tensed up at my question but he remained as silent as ever, keeping his lips tightly shut. The only thing that told me that he had heard my question at all was the slight frown that appeared right after.But it had disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. He immediately pulled his hands away from Ms. Belcalis as if he had been burned and hopped off the bed with a slight humph. Avoiding my question all together, he instructed, "You can stay downstairs for the night since it's late, but don't try anything." I nodded silently and gathered all the dirty items off the nightstand. The shredded clothes, dirty clothes, and bloody basin. Taking one last glance back at the pair, watching how he meticulously tucked his mother in with an array of blankets, I stepped out of the bedroom with an armful of items and made my way downstairs. It was pitch dark outside with only a few rays of moonlight shining through the windows. There was the usual random hollering
"You arrived at the office late today, Mr. Cordova. Did something happen?" I shook my head as I followed Joseph to the room holding all the mock-up designs. "No, I was just dropping off some sweets to Benedict as an apology. He's been a bit upset with me since last week." Joseph chuckled lightly as he held a hand up to his lips, trying to hide his amusement. "Ah yes, Mr. Serman can be quite the character sometimes."He stopped in front of a room just a couple of doors down from my office and held the door open for me. I stepped into the display room, glancing at the mock-up of my new headquarters in the corner of the room and all the notes scattered across the center table. The mock-up was quite detailed and followed the design plans to the tee. A tall skyscraper rounded at the top with glass walls looking over the city with 80 or so floors. Plus an open garden concept on the roof of the building with open access to any of my employees. I picked up a few of the papers on the table
"Reegan? What are you doing here?" A man with shaggy midnight black hair and a familiar set of grey eyes— the two key traits inherited by all the men in the Cordova family— stared back at me blankly, clearly not in the best mood. When I opened my door this morning, I hadn't expected to see my younger brother standing outside my apartment. With only a five-year age gap, we never had a bad relationship, especially since he had no desire to take over the family business, but he wasn't one to visit others.He worked as a freelance hacker who would've stayed inside his house 24/7 if it wasn't for my mother's mandatory weekly family dinners. As such, he stood just half a foot shorter than me at only 6 feet tall, with a much leaner build than my own from sitting around at his apartment all day. "I didn't want to come, but—" Reegan was abruptly cut off when an arm was suddenly thrown around him, and a familiar brunette popped up in the doorway."I thought we should hang out together this
He was covered in splotches of dust from head to toe. Even the collar of his shirt was torn apart. A bright red mark decorated the left side of his cheek, and deep scraps were littered across his hands.What happened to him?Why was he here by himself?I quickly made my way toward the little boy, parting the crowd like the red sea with my large frame. The moment I reached him, I swiftly scooped him off the ground. Liam reflexively swung his hand toward my face but immediately stopped mid-motion when his eyes widened in recognition. A series of emotions flashed through his eyes, from anger to shock to relief to panic. Tears brimmed at the corner of his eyes as he incoherently sputtered, "T-that man... O-over there... he w-was... he's t-trying to..." I never expected to see his previously cold demeanor break down like this. I caught his flailing hands, not wanting him accidentally hurt himself. "Liam, please try to calm down first. I can't help you like this."He yanked his tiny fis