Rima’s POV
Days turned into a haze after our emotional rollercoaster ride that day. The turmoil Mr. Snow had stirred within me was potent, yet a sense of gratitude towards him lingered for his assistance, despite the complications that had arisen between us.
I had intended to maintain a rigid, formal demeanor in our subsequent interactions, a self-imposed shield against the unease he had sparked. However, his support in helping me overcome my fears made it impossible for me to remain as standoffish as I had planned. Our rapport was slowly reverting to its previous state, before Mr. Demir's revelation had turned everything upside down.
My leading role in the presentation to our marketing team that day seemed to have warmed my colleagues towards me. Many reached out, introducing themselves and offering friendly conversation. I gathered from their comments that Mr. Snow rarely allowed a newly hired personal assistant such immediate responsibility. Typically,
Rima's POVThe rest of the day was a struggle, my mind held hostage by the relentless replay of their passionate kiss. It was like an intrusive advertisement, popping up uninvited, disrupting my focus, and souring the taste of my work.At six, we retreated from the office, each of us disappearing into our own apartments without a word exchanged. A silence filled with questions left unasked, answers left unsaid.I found myself pacing like a caged animal in my living room, gnawing at my nails, my thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and frustration. Was it a real date he was going on? Was he actually considering letting that... that viper, inject her venom and pull him back into her coils?And the most perplexing question of all — why did I care? Why was this affecting me so deeply?I had no claim over him, no right to feel this surge of jealousy. I had practically shoved him away, erected walls between us. And it seemed he had finally received th
Jacob’s POVMy office was a symphony of silence, broken occasionally by the hum of the air conditioner and the soft click of my pen. Work was a distant murmur, forgotten in the corner of my desk, while my mind replayed the events of last night. This wasn't the first time it had done so. Each time, the memories played out like a film, every scene vivid, every emotion raw and real.I leaned back in my chair, eyes fixed on the ceiling, mind far away. The night had begun with a minor disappointment. Anastasia's unexpected cancellation of our meeting had left me slightly off-balance. I had been looking forward to our conversation about a potential business agreement between our firms, but I knew life had a way of throwing curveballs. We would meet again, soon.I had reached out to Rima with the familiar request to work on some tasks, an evening ritual we had become accustomed to. But her immediate refusal took me by surprise. There was a spark of sass in her vo
Jacob’s POVRima and I were deep into our work in my home office, trying to wrap up tasks ahead of our trip the next day. The sudden buzz of my phone broke through our concentrated silence. Normally, I would ignore any call in the middle of a task but seeing Alex's name on the screen, I knew I had to pick up."Excuse me" I said quietly, excusing myself from the room and heading towards the privacy of my bedroom. I knew this was a call about the Demir situation, something I didn't want Rima to overhear. We were just starting to get past the whole ordeal."Hey, Alex" I greeted, my voice laced with anticipation, eager to hear about his meeting."Hey Jacob, how are you doing?" Alex responded in a relaxed tone, his voice free of worry, which somewhat calmed my nerves."Things are good. What about you? How did the meeting go with Demir?" I asked, firm in my inquiry."I don't know what to tell you, man...the meeting was short, formal. He came
Rima’s POVI wished with every fiber of my being that Tony had never contacted me about this. His call had unintentionally opened a wound, causing me a wealth of pain and remorse. His question had forced me to utter a sentence that felt like a death sentence, making me feel as though I'd just ordered a man's death.Yes, that man deserved to feel pain, as much pain as he had inflicted on me. He deserved to endure what he had so thoughtlessly dished out. He deserved to suffer for every heartache, every moment of pain, every loss, and every betrayal he had caused me. But despite all of that, I didn't want to have any part in his suffering. I didn't want to be responsible for it, not even in the slightest.The cruel irony was that I was dying inside over my part in his impending death. He had turned me into someone I didn't recognize, someone who could say words I never thought I'd utter."Treko ymut" I had said. (Let him die)The sentence had fe
Jacob's POVEven before I turned to confirm it, I could feel the absence of her presence. It was as if an unseen tether bound us, one that grew taut and strained the moment we moved away from each other. The sensation was so tangible that it piqued my curiosity, compelling me to veer off from the group heading towards the buffet. Making sure to tread lightly, I slipped back into the club unnoticed.The decision to sit next to her on the bus hadn't been a conscious one. With plenty of space and numerous empty rows, I could have chosen any seat. Yet, I found myself drawn to her. Her quiet demeanor, her closed eyes, and the subtle furrow of her brows suggested a turmoil that resonated with me.I recognized that look - it was the same one I saw in my reflection on the days I felt overwhelmed. As I took my seat next to her, I hoped my silent presence might offer some kind of support. When she fell asleep, her head lolling in a way that looked uncomfortable, I quietly
Jacob’s POVI enveloped her in my arms, our bodies molding together as if we were two halves of a single entity. She nestled perfectly against my chest, fitting into me as though she was the missing piece of a jigsaw that had long been incomplete.Her hair, soft and fragrant, brushed against my chin. It carried a scent - intoxicatingly addictive, reminiscent of vanilla mixed with a hint of something uniquely her, drawing me in, compelling me to breathe in deeply again and again.Her quiet sobs gradually subsided, and I half-expected her to pull away, to retract into her shell after the raw vulnerability she had shown on that stage and during her struggle against me. But she didn't. There was no backlash, no walls hastily erected to protect her bare emotions. I clung to the hope that my intrusion was forgiven, that the fragile barrier she had let down wasn't hastily resurrected.The silence between us was thick and heavy, but I dared not speak, feari
Jacob’s POV"Rima, wait!" I said, my voice echoing throughout the room. The gentleness I had been maintaining earlier was replaced by a fierce urgency.She froze in her steps, turning slowly towards me. Her eyebrows scrunched together in confusion, her eyes wide and vulnerable "What?" she snapped, her voice trembling slightly.I took a determined step forward, feeling the steady throb of my heartbeat against my ribcage "Why are you running away?" I demanded, the intensity in my voice surprising even me.Her expression twisted into a bitter grimace "Because that's what I do best. I could pen an entire novel on the art of running away. When I stumble on a decent publisher, I'll be sure to send you an autographed copy" she retorted with an acidic edge, spinning on her heel to leave.In a split-second decision, I darted towards the door, locking it before she could exit.Her brows raised in challenge "I'm pretty certain you can't remove th
Rima's POVAs I stirred from sleep, a profound sense of restfulness overwhelmed me. It was as if I'd been sleep-deprived for days, and I'd just woken up from an uninterrupted, twenty-four-hour-long slumber.My eyes fluttered open, bleary and unfocused. Yet, my other senses seemed to awaken faster. The warmth of another body radiated against my skin, an arm thrown around me in a protective embrace. I realized my own hand was clutching at the fabric of this person's shirt, pulling them closer to me. My heart, uncharacteristically calm, acknowledged the sense of safety this embrace provided. My mind, surprisingly quiet, confirmed that it hadn't been subjected to the haunting glimpses of my past while it was at rest.It took me a moment to piece together who the person beside me was. But when the realization hit, I bolted upright, a wave of dread washing over me.My gaze fell on the man I'd evidently spent the entire night cuddled up against. It was morning,