I went to the orphanage early in the morning to visit Mia and the other children. I had brought soft toys with me, and the joy on their faces as I handed them out was worth every penny. The morning air was fresh and lively, and I decided to help the chef prepare breakfast in the kitchen. It felt good to be involved, to do something meaningful.
After that, I gently woke the children one by one, teasing some of the sleepier ones who didn't want to leave their beds. We all gathered outside and did some morning exercises together—silly stretches and playful moves that had the kids giggling. Once they freshened up, we sat down to enjoy breakfast as one big, noisy family.
Just as I was savoring the last few moments with the children, my phone buzzed. A message from Austin appeared on the screen: "Having fun?"
Before I could respond, I got a call from him.
"I'll pick you up," he said, without giving any explanation.
"Wait, why?" I asked, suspicion creeping into my voice.
"You'll see," he replied, and then the line went dead.
My mind raced with possibilities. Was he planning something… dangerous? For a split second, A strange thought crossed my mind—What if he's planning to murder me?
Suddenly, the sound of a car horn broke through my thoughts—loud and impatient. Honk! Honk! Honk!
"Oh God, he's here already."
I hugged the kids goodbye, waved to the staff, and stepped outside to find Austin's sleek car parked by the entrance. I climbed into the passenger seat, unease settling deep in my stomach.
"Put your seatbelt on," he said in a tone that felt more like a command than a suggestion.
The car shot forward smoothly, but Austin drove fast—too fast. I gripped the seatbelt, convinced he was going to crash the car and make it look like an accident. But, to my surprise, we arrived safely at his company's office. The ride had been eerily silent, with Austin saying nothing the entire way.
As we pulled up, I couldn't hold it in any longer. "Are you trying to force me to join your company?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
Austin chuckled, shaking his head. "No. I just need you to meet someone."
"Who?" I pressed, now even more curious.
"You'll find out soon enough. And trust me, if you knew, you'd want to meet them."
I slouched back into my seat, feeling both intrigued and annoyed by his vague answer. "Great. I didn't even dress for a formal meeting," I grumbled.
Austin chuckled, finally easing the tension. "Relax. This person prefers informals, anyway."
I sighed in relief, grateful that my casual outfit wouldn't be a problem.
We made our way to his office, where we sat waiting in silence. Five minutes turned into ten, which turned into twenty. The person we were supposed to meet hadn't shown up yet.
I tapped my fingers on the armrest impatiently. "Austin, whoever this person is, they clearly don't care about punctuality."
Austin gave me a sly glance as he noticed the person standing behind me . "Remember your first day at work? You were an hour late." A familiar voice.The sound of familiar heels clicking against the floor made me freeze. My heart skipped a beat as I turned toward the voice.
And there she was—Everett, the very woman Austin wanted me to meet. She stood tall, exuding the kind of confidence that demanded attention.
"You'll wait in the room next door," she said sharply, giving me a commanding look. "We're not done with our discussion yet."
Her tone left no room for arguement. Reluctantly, I got up and went to the waiting room, where I sat, stewing in silence for three hours. By the time the clock read 5:45 PM, Everett finally entered, locking the door behind her. She strode directly toward me, her expression unreadable.
"Why didn't you reply to my messages, Edwin?" she asked, her voice calm but piercing.
"I… I didn't see them," I lied, though it was a weak excuse.
Everett's sharp eyes narrowed. "Don't lie to me. I can tell when you're lying."
"I really didn't see them," I insisted, avoiding her gaze.
Her lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Your eyes wander when you lie, Edwin. They always do."
Caught, I sighed in defeat. "Okay… I didn't want to open them because I knew I wouldn't be able to resist you."
"Resist me?" she repeated, tilting her head slightly, her voice filled with amused curiosity. "Did I ask you to resist me, idiot?"
I chuckled, but the smile faded quickly. "It's just… after the accident, everything in my life changed. You entered my world so beautifully that it scared me. I've already lost two people I loved deeply. I can't lose you too."
Tears welled up in my eyes as the weight of my emotions spilled over. Before I could stop myself, a tear slipped down my cheek. I wiped it away hastily, embarrassed.
Everett's expression softened as she reached out and brushed away the remaining tears. "Stop blaming yourself for the accident," she whispered. "It was my carelessness, not yours."
Before I could respond, she leaned in and pressed her lips against mine—soft but decisive. The kiss took me by surprise, but I didn't resist.
She pulled back just enough to whisper against my lips.
I'm not the one running, Edwin. You are. But run all you want—I'll be right there, catching up to you, within the hour," she murmured, her deep, husky voice coiling around me like a velvet leash, making resistance impossible, the tone which make me obey her.
"I'll chase you, love you, haunt you. I'll crave you so fiercely, you'll have no choice but to surrender. And when you do... you'll be mine—all mine—until the day you call yourself my boyfriend."
She gave me one last look—a dangerous mix of affection and warning, like a spark daring to ignite a fire—before turning on her heel and striding out of the room, leaving me alone with the storm she'd just unleashed.
The soft click of the door echoed louder than it should have, and I leaned back in my seat, struggling to steady my breath.
What the hell just happened?
She swore she didn't believe in love, yet every word she whispered felt like a promise—and a threat. A vow to break through every wall I'd built around myself.
And the worst part? I wasn't sure if I wanted to stop her.
Because, damn it, I knew one thing for certain: I was already falling. And there was no way out of this now—except through her.