LillyNo amount of money could make a winter beach photoshoot enjoyable."Damn drone," I mutter, setting up the equipment case and popping it open. It's twenty-five degrees and chilly near the ocean. Who schedules a photoshoot in January on the water? Only rich folks, I guess.Kate, my business part
For a moment, I stood frozen, spine rigid, feeling my pulse thud so hard I could almost see it through my jacket. I didn’t even need to glance at the screen to know the type of handsome Michael embodied—the kind that made every woman’s head turn. He was stupidly handsome, like a model or a deity scu
LillyThe subway ride home feels endless, even with Kate dropping me off at the nearest station so I can avoid changing trains. Mallory and I reside on a quiet street in deep Brooklyn, a neighborhood brimming with cultural diversity—a taco truck on one corner, bubble tea on the next. We adore our vi
Michael8 months later…"As it turns out, being a complete jerk for years and then calling off your engagement with a socialite isn't great for business."I look up to find Jonathan slapping today’s copy of the New York Star on my desk."I've already seen it. And I kept this quiet for months. I have
Michael “I’m going to that damn wedding.”“No chance,” Jonathan shoots back.He fixes me with a steely glare from across the conference room where tensions are high. His dark eyes are hard, jaw clenched in frustration. While I try to appear nonchalant, leaning against the cooling vents, inside I’m
LillyI gaze up at the office building, a mix of wonder and unease churning in my stomach. Midtown Manhattan isn’t a place I frequent. Almost never, really. A cab honks loudly, a cyclist curses, and I flinch, edging closer to the towering structure. This isn’t my world. I prefer the familiarity of t
Lilly"Lilly," his voice is flat, his gaze unyielding. If he's taken aback by my presence, he doesn't betray it. I scrutinize him greedily, a habit I've never quite managed to shake whenever he's around. It's a conflict—I loathe my inability to look away as much as I resent being captivated by him.
Lilly"I'm serious, Mal. He offered me fifty thousand dollars to be his date to this wedding."Mallory and I are seated on the compact couch in our sunlit living room. Lush greenery drapes over every available surface, and the expansive skylight floods the space with daylight. We sit with our feet t