SHARON'S POV
Morning sunlight spilled through Maxie's cream-colored curtains like it had no idea what kind of night I'd just survived, last night was chaos but I was grateful to have slept here and not my house. Maxie's house was quiet except for the faint hum of the fridge and Maxie's uneven breathing on the couch beside me. I should have been asleep after everything that happened but my mind had replayed every sound, every hand that grabbed me, the screech of tires, the gunshot… over and over.
People say fear drains you, maybe it does but when I woke up, I didn't feel weak i felt light, hollow even like I had already spent every drop of fear left in me.
Maxie stirred, her hair a wild mess, opening her eyes slowly... "You didn't sleep at all, did you?"
I smiled and reached for the mug she'd left me. "Sleep's overrated."
Her eyes narrowed. "You're not going anywhere today, Sharon not after last night." she frowned her brows deliberately waiting for my response
"Max," I said, soft but firm, "I'm fine. I'm going to work."
"Fine?" She sat up. "You were kidnapped. A cop got shot right in front of you and you haven't even given a statement."
I turned away before she could read my face. "The police can wait. They said I was in shock, right? Let's just keep it that way."
Her lips parted like she wanted to argue, but I was already walking toward the bathroom. My body ached, my lip stung, and when I looked in the mirror, the bruise on my cheek had bloomed purple. No amount of concealer could hide everything, but I tried anyway. If I could paint over the fear, maybe I could paint over the truth too.
By the time I got dressed, Maxie had switched from angry to desperate. "At least let Marcus drive you."
"I'll call him if I faint dramatically on the stairs," I said, picking up my bag.
She followed me to the door. "Shar, please, talk to Zion. He was, he's worried sick."
The thought of Zion's face when he saw me last night, all cold and furious, almost made me pause.
"He'll live," I said, flashing her a smile that didn't reach my eyes.
Maxie rolled her eyes.... "What's with this boring joke of I'll live, he'll love, she'll live..."
I just laughed and started walking away
"take care babes"
AT THE OFFICE
The office looked the same as it always did, bright and fake and buzzing. People whispered as soon as they saw me, but I ignored them. I'd learned that pretending not to care makes people more uncomfortable than yelling ever could. I wouldn't blame them either, even I and Maxie gossiped when there was new tea....
Gabriel looked up first. "Hey, Shar! You sure you're okay? You look…" He hesitated, glancing at the faint mark the makeup hadn't fully covered.
"Like someone who fought her pillow and lost?" I offered.
He forced a laugh, but Tia wasn't buying it. She leaned on her desk, arms crossed. "That's a hell of a pillow, girl. You wanna tell us what really happened?"
I shrugged, pretending to look for a file in my drawer. "Just slipped in the bathroom. I'll live."
Tia's expression softened, but her voice stayed sharp. "If you say so. I'll pretend to believe you until you decide to tell me the real story."
I gave her a wink to soothe her crave for the real story "Deal."
The morning dragged but I greeted Angel and David with my brightest smile, just to irritate them. Every keystroke, every sip of coffee, felt like defiance. By the time I cleared my desk and picked up the report I'd been saving, I'd convinced myself that going to Aec's office was just business but not the normal kind of business someone else would think
My body and mind had other plans.
I hummed a tune as I walked down the corridor, the click of my heels echoing like I owned the building. The air shifted the moment I reached his door, he wasn't in. I turned around to return back to my office but I saw him heading up.
I didn't have to look to know who it was.
Aec stood at the end of the hall, suit perfect, expression unreadable, briefcase in hand. His gaze held mine, steady and silent. For a second, the world shrank to that look then I smiled slow, teasing, like I hadn't almost died last night.
He moved first, long strides eating up the space between us, not saying a word. He brushed past me, opened the door, and gestured for me to step in.
Inside his office, the air felt warmer. He set his briefcase down with a thud while I leaned against the edge of his desk, pretending not to notice how his eyes followed every movement.
"Good morning, boss," I said, reaching up to straighten his tie. My fingers grazed his collar, and he stiffened slightly.
"Sharon…" His voice dropped low. "What happened to your lip?"
"Oh, this?" I touched it lightly, faking nonchalance. "Nothing serious. Maybe I'll tell you later.... Over dinner at your place?" I paused, tilting my head and also allowing whatever confusion he had on to sink "Oh wait, you're married now, maybe somewhere more appropriate."
His brows twitched. "Why are you here?"
"To work. To talk. To see if we ever really ended our contract." I met his eyes with a smile that dared him to blink first.
He folded his arms. "You mean the one you ripped up while calling me insane?"
"People change," I said, stepping closer. "You already took my first time, Aec. It feels rude to stop halfway through a story."
For a second, silence hung heavy between us then a sharp, humorless laugh escaped him... The first time I'd ever hear Aec laugh
"You think that's funny?" I asked, frowning.
He smirked, the corner of his mouth curling coldly. "You. You're funny, Sharon. Because if what you mean by took your first time means we had sex then you are silly"
My stomach dropped. "What?"
He leaned forward slightly. "You passed out before I could even think about it. We did a lot of things, but that wasn't one of them."
Heat flushed my cheeks. I'd told Maxie we did, not the details, but enough. My confidence wavered for half a breath before I forced it back.
"Then I guess you owe me, boss." I turned to leave, hiding my embarrassment behind a toss of my hair.
His hand caught my wrist, firm and warm. "You have no idea how hard it was not to touch you that night," he said, voice lower, rougher. "But now? Now I won't stop myself."
The air thickened. I could feel his breath, his nearness, my heart betrayed me, beating faster even as I tried to look amused.
Just as his fingers traced up my arm, there was a knock. Something inside me screamed bad timing
I froze but he didn't seem to flinch
Tia's voice filtered through the door. "Sir, I've got the files you asked for."
I slipped free of his hold just as the door opened. She stepped in, saw my face, and something like suspicion flashed in her eyes.
"I'll leave you to your files," I said, brushing past her but I noticed footsteps behind me, walking fast to catch up
"Sharon," Tia called once we were outside, "the boss's wife is here again. You might want to thank me, I just saved your pretty face."
I smiled, slow and dangerous. "Tell her not to worry. I can handle the heat."
Tia blinked, clearly confused then I gave her a wink. "Don't bother figuring me out. You'll get there eventually
I swayed my hips, swaying enough to prove I wasn't broken and maybe to remind myself of it too.