The next Monday, I was editing a file Gregory had finished drafting to present to Devon when heels clicked loud in the hallway, breaking the blissful silence with its sharp echo.

As I looked up a shadow loomed over my counter. Cara Rachel's smirking face graced me from heaven.

"Hello, there. Mirasol, right? Is Devon inside?"

It took an effort to keep my face straight as my fingers twitched to stain that glossy highlighted cheeks red.

"Yes, ma'am. Do you have an appointment?"

Her smirking lips stretched further as she brushed her sleek blonde hair back. A shiny, princess-cut, blue diamond ring sparkled on her ring finger. "A girlfriend doesn't need appointment to meet her boyfriend, now do they? Much less a fiancee."

A fiancee, huh?

I pursed my lips to stop a sour grimace.

"It is still an office premise and we have to follow some protocols. I'm sorry," I spoke in a calm tone.

She snorted, scratching her fake red nails on my desk. "Protocols, you say? Well, pray tell who are you? The CEO? The founder? Maybe one of the board of directors?"

My own nails drew blood as I fisted my hands beneath the counter. Taking a deep breath never felt more laborious before.

"I'm a rule-abiding employee, ma'am, and I'd appreciate if you cooperate with me. Sir Devon is currently working and any visitor is required an appointment to meet him regardless of the nature of their relationship."

A sharp gleam crossed her blue eyes as she smirked down at me as though I was nothing but a bug she could squash any second.

"Rule-abiding employee, huh? Guess that demotion taught you something, after all. If only you learned to respect those above you as well. Anyway, let's see what Devon has to say about my appointment. See you."

"But, ma'am—"

She sauntered past my desk, sashaying her wide hips clad in a thigh-high cream bodycon, going straight inside Devon's door.

A low growl escaped my lips, unable to rest in my throat any longer. "Oily ass bitch!"

"Hey, Miss Hayes, you done with the report?" Gregory poked his head out of his glass cabin, fixing the glasses on his nose.

I suppressed a breath and cleared my throat. "Just a minute, sir. I'm almost done."

"Be quick. And I told you it's Gregory. Sir is inside that room," he pointed his thumb at Devon's room and smiled.

I gave him a brief tilt of my lips before looking down at my computer.

My mind went back to the blonde bitch seeing her Devon dog and doing God knows what inside her. Those sick freaks were turning this workplace into a hotel room, or was it a brothel? Same thing.

My tongue soured at the thought.

But for real, though, what was she doing? Cara never visited Devon at Trexon Empire before. If anything, they usually preferred high-end restaurants and hotels for their dates. Today was a rare exception... unless she was planning something. If so, I better hurry and find out.

With that thought, I frowned and began to furiously go through the current portion of the file.

After ten or so minutes, I knocked on Devon's door.

The muffled noises of moans answered me and my stomach twisted with a sick feeling.

Those damn hormonal harpies!

I knocked louder, making Gregory snap his head at mine with wide eyes.

He was lucky his glass doors saved him from the slutty soundtracks inside.

A breathy, feminine "come in" finally honored my ears and I all but twisted the knob off its hings as I walked in.

I kept my eyes strictly on the floor, not bothering to look up and sicken myself further, while striding toward Devon's desk.

"The report on this week's sales rate, Sir." I stretched my arm, holding the gray file.

"You are not my PA," Devon's voice husked with mirth. "Where's Gregory?"

"Maybe she wants her old position back?" Cara snickered, humming against Devon's skin.

Did I mention, I slipped and let my eyes flick up for a second only to want to bleach them dry afterward.

Cara was spread across Devon's lap and the glass table hid nothing, especially not the way Devon's fingers were sliding through the hem of Cara's dress.

My eyes met his and he smirked, giving Cara an open-mouth kiss while sick amusement danced in his gaze.

Had I been the old Mirasol, tears would have already drenched my cheeks and I'd have high-tailed out of the door with a searing hot burn scorching my heart as raw pain of jealousy and heartbreak consumed my soul.

Now, the scene just plain repulsed me, enough to want to throw up in their faces and savor their reactions afterward.

But I couldn't do that to them now, do I? After all, I was a doting employee just doing her job.

"Sir Gregory is preparing your next day's schedule, sir," I spoke in the bleak most voice I could muster. "So here I am. Now, if you'd kindly check the it..." I put the file down on the table.

Devon scoffed and waved a hand away. "Yeah, yeah. I'll do it. Now go and send in Gregory an hour later."

"Two hours." Cara pecked his lips.

"Three." Devon's voice deepened as his smirking lips trailed kisses beneath her chin.

I pursed my lips and breathed slower.

Help me, God. I've been your faithful servant for years even though I missed several church Sundays. Don't let me commit the sin of double murders now.

"Alright, sir. I'll inform Sir Gregory."

With that, I turned around and prepared to rush out.

"Oh, and tell him to clear my schedule this Friday night and book a ballroom. Cara and I are going to announce our engagement."

My feet paused.

"And make sure the ballroom has a special suite ready for our private celebration afterward."

"Good idea, babe."

Cara's giggle sizzled my blood and I gritted my teeth.

It took real effort to keep my voice even as I spoke to the door. "Yes, sir."

I hoped there would be a big ass chandelier in that ballroom and it'd fall straight over their ego-ballooned heads.

***

That night, I took my car to a different yet familiar route after work. I had already texted Yuvan that I'd be late as I swerved the wheel to a wide, residential block.

The sparkling two-story homes with spacious yards graced my view every few miles or so. Finally, I spotted the familiar outline of white walls and gray slated roof and stopped my car before the gate.

A breath escaped my lips as I watched lights glowing on the second floor after turning off the ignition.

A couple of moments passed in slow silence like that before I picked up my phone and dialed a familiar number.

It rang and rang and no one picked up.

I dialed a second time and a woman said in a sickly sweet voice that the person had switched off their phone.

My tongue clicked and I frowned down at my phone.

"You left me no choice," I muttered, throwing my phone in a purse.

I got out of the car and walked to the closed iron gate. There was an intercom on the side wall but I ignored it.

If he didn't want to see me, he did not deserve to know I was here either. At least, not yet.

With that thought, I looked down at my black sneakers and the gaps in between the fancy floral motif of the gate.

A harsh breath escaped my lips as I squared my shoulders.

"Here goes nothing."

***

A low groan left my breathless ass as I jumped down on the other side of the gate. The thud of my shoes was soft, nevertheless, I moved fast to slide behind the nearest bush on my right.

I crouched down and waited with bated breath and sure enough, a shadow appeared on a second-floor window, fluttering the cream curtains inside.

It stood there for a minute or so. The shadow shook his head and moved away.

I waited for a few more seconds before leaving the tree and walking toward the waiting porch.

My nerves were jittery, heart pounded hard against my ribcage as I jogged up the steps and rushed to the doors.

I didn't allow myself to think. I didn't ponder over the rights and wrongs. I didn't dare to think what would I do if he refused to see me or pushed me out before I couldn't even speak. The only thing that mattered at the moment was that door and the man behind it. And nothing else.

With that thought steeling my resolve, my fist raised high to knock on the door.

It flung open with a resounding thud before my hand could even meet the surface, revealing a heaving, breathing man towering over me.

His frantic honey-gold eyes roamed all over my body. Concern, joy, and disbelief swirled in them like a raging storm. Right along with a blazing fire of longing and fury.

I drank him in with equal fervor in return, if not more.

His eyes had bags, skin paler than ever as if he had not seen the sun for ages. His dirty-blond hair was frazzled while a careless beard shadowed his chin. He seemed to have lost weight as well, looking much thinner than the last time I had seen him.

His gray tee looked crumpled. The cotton brown trousers had definitely seen better days as well. Those bare feet had blisters and veins popping through the skin.

What the hell happened to the well-groomed man I had come to know?

My throat clogged with a hard lump and I didn't dare swallow it, fearing it might trigger the blurry swell in my burning eyes.

"Doll..."

And in the end, it was that raspy voice that did it for me.

With a strained choke, I lunged forward and jumped into his arms. All rational thoughts left my being as though they were never there.

My arms wound tight around his waist. But it was him who squeezed me tighter into his chest. The pounding of his heart was loud and clear in my ears. What's more, it matched the wild, frantic pace of my own.

Home. It felt like home and I never wanted to leave the encasing warmth of his presence ever again.

"You're such an idiot," he mumbled a low growl against my hair.

I chuckled against his chest, a lone tear dropped down my cheek at the motion. "Desperate times. How did you know it was me?"

"I saw your car outside the gate. You shouldn't have come, Mirasol."

And yet, his arms seemed to hold onto me for dear life as he buried his head in my shoulder. His shaky breath tickled my skin.

I gulped, closing my eyes. "I can see that."

"No, you don't," He shook his head. "You don't know what you are doing. It's dangerous enough to be seen with me."

I frowned and leaned back to look up at him. "And who are you to decide what I should do?"

"Your partner." His dull eyes held a sudden glow of determination.

Stubborn prick. But I too was Mirasol Hayes. I met his gaze with steel in my own.

"Yes. Partner. You are my partner, Sawyer, and I'm not abandoning you."

"You sure did for the last few months," His throat bobbed as he looked away. "And it should've stayed that way."

I nodded. "True. But the funny thing is, it was you who pushed me away," I poked at his chest. "I never left you in the first place."

He frowned at me. "What do you mean?"

I smirked. "Do you always keep your guests standing at the door?"

He blinked, confused at the abrupt change of topic.

What can I say? I had learned from the best.

"Bad manners, Sawyer."

With that, I pushed out of his arms and sauntered inside, basking in the familiar warmth of the house while ignoring the well-known prickle of a honey-gold pair behind my back.

God, I never knew how much I missed this place!

❤  The partners are back together folks!

Who's excited for their next adventure? Do let me know!

See you guys in the next week. Till then, take care of your mind, body, and soul, okay?

Love,
Sabrina ❤