SAGETHE sun burst through the leaves above Sage . Every time the wind blew, it caused the shadows to shift below him. The steady sound of the rushing river filled the air. He had propped himself up against a nearby rock. His arms were folded as he stared out into the expansive woods in front of him.Irena 's words kept repeating in his mind. Some were sections of her so-called article that reamed out his family and rich people in general. Some were the words she'd spoken to him. And how she'd spoken to him.He sighed and rubbed his shoulder. There was a knot that had formed there from sleeping on the ground next to her. He rubbed his arm as he thought about the feeling of having her so close to him. Sharing warmth with her.And the kiss they'd shared last night. The closeness he'd allowed himself to feel. He reached down and grabbed a flat rock. He angled his body toward the river and chucked it into the water. It plopped and then disappeared.He was such a fool. He should have never
IRENATWO days later.Irena was sitting in her faded red chair, staring out the window. It's drizzling here which is nothing new. Raindrops settled on the glass and then slid away, leaving a long trail behind. She shivered and pulled the blanket around her. Although it had been two days, she still could not shake off the constant bone-chilling cold. It must come from trauma. "Are you okay?" Lindsay asked, walking behind her. She held a smoking cup in her hand. Irena slid down, nodding. "I think so." Lindsay handed him the cup, then sat down on the equally pale blue flower chair. She clicked her tongue as she stared at Irena . This made Irena uncomfortable, so she changed her position. "What?" she asked. But she already knew what her roommate was thinking. Lindsay had been trying to convince her to talk about the ordeal since her return, but Irena couldn't bring herself to speak. Mrs. Brimone said she had to start talking." Everything that happens to you affects your a
SAGETHE silks under Sage were so soft. Almost too soft. The beeps beside him filled the silence as he stirred on the mattress. Pain shot through his shoulder and he swore. He needed to stop moving, but back in his room felt strange. It's only been five days since he was shot and he's already looking forward to leaving. A knock brought his attention to the door. "Come in," he called. Hopefully it was his doctor and he was there to say that everything is fine and can finally resume his daily activities. When Amanda appeared in the doorway, he groaned. Great. That's not the person he wanted to see. She had completed every job since the hospital handed him over to the doctor. Amanda had been hired to take care of her. It was clear that she wanted full access to him, and the trips to and from the hospital were overwhelming. "Nice to see you're up," she said, looking at him through her glasses. He shrugged. What he really wants to do is run away. Pack your luggage and leave
IRENATHE familiar thrill that ran through Irena as she stood next to fellow reporters and photographers at a press conference no longer had the same effect on her this time. Still shocked that she hadn't told Lindsay about forcing her to leave, she crossed her arms over her chest. Her skirt is flying up and her heels are hugging her legs. It didn't help that there were blisters from the boots Sage made her wear five days ago. Furthermore, Lindsay decided that a press conference sounded extremely interesting and chose to stay and stand right next to Irena . This makes a hasty retreat almost impossible. Lindsay patted Irena 's arm as she smiled at him. "You never told me how fun these things are," she said as her eyes danced in amusement. Irena stared at her. "Probably because they don't," she said. What's interesting is her bed and blanket. A place where she can hide and where the rest of the world doesn't know about her. A place where Sage Kennedy doesn't exist.
SAGE SAGE tried to calm his nerves by staring at Irena . Her tear-stained face and red eyes tugged at his heart in a way he had never experienced before. All he wanted to do right now was hug her and comfort her. But there are a few things that need to be said before he can do that. And they all had to do with the article. On his way to the press conference, he pulled out the magazine, already hating what Irena had written. After all, he saw the first draft. But the more he advances, the more he realizes that she has changed all that. "Is that what you mean?" he asked, opening the magazine to his article. "Or are you just trying to sell copies?" Irena looked down at the page then back at him. She studied his gaze for a moment before nodding. "Yes," she whispered. His heart was beating so hard that it could be heard clearly in his ears. "Yes, you're trying to sell magazines, or yes, you mean that" - he bent down to study the words as if he still hadn't memorized
SAGE16 months later, Snow falls out of the window as Sage walks forward. He looked down at his watch. Irena was an hour late. Where was she? A soft Christmas ballad plays in the background. Amanda did a great job finding a decorator to decorate this cabin. A Christmas tree sits in the far corner with twinkling lights. Titan was lying nearby with Irena 's present tied around his collar. Everything is perfect. Except that Irena wasn't there. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. His outfit made him feel like he was strangling her. He wasn't sure if it was his stress because he was about to ask Irena to marry him. Or that he's afraid Greenland has claimed it again. He should have known he shouldn't have booked a cabin in the mountains of Greenland. But somehow he thought it would be romantic to go back to the place where they fell in love. Man, he can be stupid sometimes. He should have taken Amanda 's parted lips and raised his eyebrows as he told her what he ha
IRENASHE stood inside the elevator, tapping her feet to the music. She shifted her weight and lifted her thumb to chew. Why would Peter invite her on a Saturday? The editor never did that. And if they did, it is for a good reason. Though she tried to suppress her excitement, important words, a career-changing story, kept running through her mind. Her roommate Lindsay is right. There is no need to get upset if it is nothing. She took a deep breath and smoothed her skirt with her hand. There must be something wrong with her recent post. That is all. But Peter wanted to talk to her in person—on a Sunday. A story that changed her career replayed in her mind. Before she could get mad enough to dissect his intentions, the elevator rang, and the doors opened. She walked into the lobby of the Magazine, one of Country's most popular magazine headquarters. The hall was unusually quiet today. Sara, the receptionist, is not sitting at her desk, where the phone usually rings every ten seconds
IRENA "THAT’S why they're here," Peter said, breaking the trance that Sage Kennedy had forced on him. Irena turned around and focused her attention on what her editor was saying. "They must do it. . . damage control, "he continued. "Against what?" Irena asked, glancing at Amanda and then at Sage. What scandalous information may the press have about Sage that the press has not covered? Sage stirred and started pacing the room. Amanda cleared her throat. "There is information should be announcing tomorrow. These are part of the practices in which Sage's late father trained." She turned to look at Irene. "Practices? Like, illegal things?" Irena's voice softened as she watched Amanda. Amanda's expression hardened as she nodded. Glancing at Sage, Irena saw a flat look in his eyes. Her heart rate slowed down. She feels sorry for him. "What does this have to do with Greenland?" Amanda tapped her pen on the planner in front of her. "We will hold a press conference tomorrow mornin