She was a gorgeous woman working at the Seymour Group, a big media company.
She cared more about her makeup than her meetings with bosses. Even though she followed orders, she dreamed big about moving up in her career, aiming to be more than just a local TV anchor.
Her main goal was to have her own show and prove herself. One day, she got stuck in an elevator with the boss of the Seymour Group. She saw this as a chance to impress him. To her surprise, the boss, who seemed arrogant at first, knew her already.
His playful talk made her wonder if he was just killing time or trying to get closer to her. Little did she know, this meeting would change her life. They not only worked together but also formed a deeper connection that went beyond work.
Brystin POV Leaning forward on the barstool, I put my elbows on the kitchen island and prop my chin on my hands, watching Hadrian as he gathers ingredients to make the one and only thing he says he can cook—scrambled eggs with “stuff” added. “While you cook…we should talk about the elephant in the room.”…
The subtle dig toward my husband sends Hadrian into his own version of swooning, which looks a lot like a rooster cocking around the pen. His pecs look even more pronounced as his chest swells. “Speaking of Elvis…” He puts his dishes and the pan in the sink before turning back to me. “I want…
I let out a stilted laugh. My lack of housekeeping skills is a frequent joke between the two of us, but it feels especially pointed today. It’s probably just that I hadn’t expected to see him. And my decision to leave him informs how I behave around him, and that feels awkward since he isn’t…
He’s quiet for a beat, seemingly kicking himself for revealing that I’ve absolutely carried him to this position. Finally, he says, “Then you believe me about Hadrian.” I blink back tears. Because he’s right—if I believe this part, I have to believe it all. Have to believe that Hadrian lied when he said he always…
It stings that she’s willing to throw that back on me so fast after sharing it with her, but it’s fair, and so I take it. “Not just about him, but yes, he’s a lot of it. But the board won’t keep me in this position if I don’t provide results, Brystin.” “So you used…
Receiving praise from the man gives the oddest hit of dopamine. It’s unsustainable, and barely pleasurable, but it sure makes me crave more. I read once that humans aren’t programmed to be happy; that instead they’re programmed for survival. My annoying-ass lizard brain must think praise from Samuel Seymour must be necessary for my survival…
God, he feels so…right. Not just physically, but metaphysically. The idea of him is right, in a way that me and Elvis never were. Us together feels natural, like every other thing that pairs in nature. Magnets and iron. Clownfish and anemones. Oysters and pearls. Everything else is just noise, isn’t it? Or it’s just…
“No,” I say again, with as much might and strength as I’ve ever had. “I will not marry you, Hadrian. Not like this. To solve a problem? Without a ring?” He tries to interject, but I mow right over them. “I’ve done that before. That’s not what marriage is supposed to be. That’s not what…
Brystin POV The next several days are spent untangling my life from Elvis’s. Or beginning to, anyway. I meet with a lawyer on Tuesday to start the separation process. Wednesday morning, Elvis and I have a cordial conversation via telephone about division of property. He’ll keep the apartment in the city, of course. I’ll get…
“I’m sorry, that wasn’t clear. I’ll try again—you’re a woman in a man’s world, Brystin. Every job will come at another woman’s expense. You have to look out for you in this business. No one else. It’s cutthroat, but you can make friends elsewhere.” “Okay.” I’m mentally taking notes, wondering if I could ever be…