{Nathan's POV}I took off my shirt the moment I entered the room and headed straight to the bathroom for a quick shower. I couldn’t shake the look on Martha’s face from my mind, something was wrong. Something was definitely bothering her.As the warm water cascaded over me, I replayed the events of the evening. My mother’s attempts to stop me from pressing Martha further only made my unease grow. What was she hiding? Why didn’t she want to open up?Grabbing a towel off the rack, I wrapped it around my waist and walked out of the bathroom toward my closet. After slipping into my nightwear, I decided I needed to check on her. If something was wrong, I needed to know.Making my way to her room, I reached for the door handle when her voice stopped me.“I’ve told you to stop calling me,” she said, her tone sharp and firm. “If you continue with this, I won’t hesitate to cancel the investment deal.”Curiosity rooted me in place. Who was she talking to?I leaned closer, pressing my ear gently
{Martha's POV}I scrolled through the files on my desk with a satisfied smile. Everything was settled; all I needed now was to wait for the profits. Closing the file, I leaned back against my chair, spinning it around to face the glass wall. The city looked surreal from up here, like something out of a TV show.Smiling, I closed my eyes, taking a deep, relaxing breath. The door creaked, and the next thing I heard were footsteps. I spun the chair back around to face the door.Thankfully, it was Cherie. She walked in and said, “It's lunch break, ma’am. What would you like me to get?”“Have you had lunch yet?” I asked her.She briefly shook her head, forcing a small smile, clearly surprised by my question. “No, ma’am. I was just about to get mine.”I stood up, grabbing my bag from the small locker beside my desk. “Let’s go out for lunch.”Her face brightened into a genuine smile. “Okay, Miss Evans.”I handed her my bag, and she took it. We walked out of the office together, with me leadi
{Martha's POV}The rest of the day felt like a blur to me. Each minute, I found myself complaining and trying to push the memory of Peter stalking me out of my head. I had finished my work for the day and decided to hang out in the office to pass the time.“Miss Evans, someone is here to see you,” Cherie said as she entered the office a few minutes after I had started dozing off. A blue file was in her hand, which she placed on the table.“Who’s that?” I asked, lifting my head from where it had been resting on the armrest of the sleek black chair. I caught her gray eyes flickering to meet mine.“I don’t know her. She said her name is Ruth,” Cherie replied.“Okay,” I said, sitting up and stretching my arms to shake off the sleep. “Let her in.”“Okay, Miss Evans,” she said softly before walking out of the office.I picked up the blue file from the table, flipping through the papers to skim their contents. The details were written in bold letters, outlining the company’s progress in ship
{Peter's POV}I stared at the phone in my hand with a wide smile. I couldn’t believe she fell for it, she didn’t even recognize my voice. It was good that she didn’t, and I had played my game well.I stood up from the bed and walked over to the wardrobe to change into something decent. Maybe a green sweatshirt and black pants would look casual. I slipped into them, selected one of my favorite romantic perfumes, the kind that always set the mood just right, and finally grabbed my keys from the nightstand.“Honey, where are you going?” Rachel’s voice rang out just as I was about to leave the room. It suddenly dawned on me that she’d been there the entire time. I turned in her direction. “I have an important meeting to attend at eight.”She sat up on the bed, wiping her eyes with her palm before focusing them on me. “Why now, honey? I wanted us to spend some quality time together. Do you always have to go to meetings?”Her complaints had no real merit, and every minute she delayed me in
{Martha POV}I scoffed, rolling my eyes heavenward as Peter reached for the button on the stereo. He glanced at me briefly before pressing it, and the music started softly, gradually increasing in volume.Each passing second fueled my irritation, the anger simmering inside me reaching its peak. The fact that I was sitting in his car, the very car that had once belonged to my father, made my skin crawl. This car, now in the possession of the man who didn’t think twice before taking everything, was a cruel reminder of all I despised about him.Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t even notice when we arrived at Brea’s residence.“Thanks, Mr. Henderson,” she said with a cheeky smile, turning to me with guilt etched on her face. “I’m sorry for trying to speak for you, Miss Evans.”I realized my hands, resting on my lap, were clenched into tight fists. I quickly released them and forced a smile. “No problem, Brea. Have a good night’s rest.”“Thank you, Miss Evans,” she replied softly before closin
{Martha's POV}The soft, rhythmic beeping of my phone pierced through my groggy state, pulling me from sleep. My eyes fluttered open, and I found myself curled up on the backseat like a child seeking warmth. My body ached, and my damp clothes clung to my skin, I reached for my phone staring at the screen for a while before dropping it back. I straightened up, my gaze shifting to the driver’s seat expecting to see Peter but he wasn't there.“Martha, oh my God, what happened?” Carolina’s voice startled me as she swung the door open, her eyes widening in alarm.I sighed, casting a weary glance at my soaked clothes and dripping bag. The rain had done a number on me, and now the chill seeped into my bones. Gently, I climbed out of the car as Carolina reached over to grab my bag.“Don’t tell me you've been under the rain,” she said, her voice filled with sympathy “Please don't tell me you got into the rain because of Peter.”“No, I didn’t,” I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper. My fin
{Martha's POV}The soft creak of the door stirred me from sleep. I shifted on the bed, my gaze drifting toward the sound. Nathan stepped into the room, his movements careful as he approached. He settled beside me, filling the empty space on the bed.“Good morning, my love,” he greeted with a warm smile, though his eyes were clouded with concern.I tried to respond, pushing myself upright, but a sharp sneeze cut me off, followed by a dry cough that left my chest aching.Nathan's eyes widened as he leaned closer, his hand gently brushing against mine before moving to my forehead and neck. His touch was cool against my feverish skin. “You’re burning up,” he murmured, worry etched into his expression.I attempted to assure him, but another sneeze escaped, and the cough persisted. My body felt heavy, and a feverish heat coursed through me. “I’m not okay,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.Nathan stood quickly, retrieving a napkin from the closet and pressing it into my hand. “He
{Martha's POV}"Mr. Henderson, you can’t go into her room," I heard Carolina’s firm voice outside the door. "She's resting for now, you can wait in the living room untill she wakes up."Her words pulled me from sleep, the muffled argument catching my attention. Slowly, I sat up, my body aching but with a faint relief settling in. The door was shut, but Carolina’s raised voice pierced through.Gripping the doorknob, I hesitated for a moment before turning it. The door creaked open, and I found myself face-to-face with Peter. His piercing eyes locked onto mine, filled with a strange mix of concern and something I couldn’t quite place.Carolina stood behind him, her face twisted in frustration. "Martha, how are you feeling now?" Peter asked, his voice calm, almost tender, laced with a sympathy I didn’t want.I didn’t answer. Instead, I turned and walked back to the bed, pulling the blanket over me as though it could shield me from his presence. Carolina followed, positioning herself prot
{Martha’s POV}Mrs. Henderson gave me a sweet smile, the kind that hinted she knew something I didn’t. She removed her summer hat and placed it beside her, then leaned back in her seat.“You know, Martha, after all these years, I thought you’d be smart enough to come out of your shell.”I blinked, trying to decipher her words. It was clear she was playing the same game Rachel had attempted earlier, using carefully chosen words to push me to the edge, to make me lose control of my anger and spill the truth. But I refused to give her the satisfaction. Instead, I remained composed, pretending not to understand where she was heading.“What are you talking about, Mrs. Henderson?” I asked, arching an eyebrow.She paused for a moment, adjusting her posture on the lounge chair before speaking again. “I had a little conversation with Nathan yesterday. About you.” She tilted her head slightly, gauging my reaction. “I was very concerned, you see. I wanted to know more about you.”A chill crept u
{Martha's POV}I stood up from the bed, raising a hand to block the sunlight peeking through the slightly open curtains. As usual, Nathan wasn’t in the room, I assumed he was already up and getting ready for work.Walking over to the bathroom, I freshened up, changed into a fresh pair of light brown overalls, and headed downstairs.By the time I reached the kitchen, I found Carolina sitting on the counter, her eyes glued to her phone while she absentmindedly nibbled on a carrot.“Good morning, ma’am,” she greeted as I walked past her toward the refrigerator to grab a bottle of chilled water.“Morning, Carolina,” I replied, taking a seat across from her at the counter. Twisting open the bottle, I took a sip, then rested my hand on the counter, watching as she typed furiously on her phone before suddenly looking up at me.“You won’t believe this,” she blurted, her eyes widening to the size of baseballs. “The Hendersons are hosting an event to honor the death of the Stewart family. And g
{Peter’s POV}“Something tells me that she is Martha,” Rachel’s voice rang out from the living room just as I stepped inside.She immediately sprang up from her seat, rushing toward me, her excitement barely contained. The way she had said Martha’s name made my chest tighten with unease.My mother sat on the three-seater couch, scrolling through her phone with a level of seriousness that only fueled my suspicion.“Honey, you won’t believe this if I tell you,” Rachel exclaimed, her face lighting up as she met me halfway across the room.I sighed, already exhausted from the day, and rubbed a hand over my jaw. “What is it?” My tone was flat, but I couldn’t help the flicker of curiosity in my voice.For days, Rachel had been relentless about Martha, accusing her of being behind the termination of our contract with the Evans. She was convinced it was some elaborate revenge plot. I had laughed it off every time, finding the whole idea ridiculous.Martha Stewart, the fat, timid woman I once
{Martha's Pov}Peter adjusted his grip on my hand and stepped in front of me, his blue eyes piercing into mine. "I don't know why I feel so..." He paused, as if searching for the right words. "Happy whenever I'm with you. I feel safe, and maybe that's why I tell you things."I pushed aside the unsettling feelings prickling my pulse as I slipped my hand free from his grasp. "I know how this might seem to you, Mr. Henderson," I murmured, stepping back. I knew this was my moment to convince him, but I couldn't stop myself from speaking the truth. "But you're married, and I'm sure your wife is at home right now, wondering why you haven't come back. And you know that I'm with Nathan. I don’t want things to get messy because of this."Peter took a step closer, reaching for my hand again. And to my own frustration, I let him. I seemed to be allowing a lot of things lately, and the urge to slap myself back to my senses was stronger than the urge to slap him."We shouldn’t let that bother us,
{Martha's POV}I grabbed a file from the stack Hendrix had placed on my desk and scribbled my signature on the first page before setting it aside with the rest of the completed documents.Flipping open another file, I signed it quickly, only to pause and glance at the remaining stack waiting for my approval. With a sigh, I realized I'd been doing this for hours now, reviewing purchase confirmations and sales reports. I couldn't help but wonder just how many products had been sold so far and how many more orders needed verification.The sudden ringing of my phone pulled me out of my thoughts. Without checking the caller ID, I picked it up and brought it to my ear.“Hello?”“How are you doing, Martha?” Peter’s voice came through the speaker, instantly making my stomach twist. Instinctively, I felt the urge to hang up, but I quickly reminded myself to stay composed. I had a plan, and I needed to stick to it. If I wanted to get my hands on those documents, I had to keep up the act.“I’m f
{Nathan’s POV}The day had been far more stressful than usual, especially compared to my regular routine of scheduled surgeries and checking in on patients a few days after they've been discharged.I dropped the tab onto my desk and sank into the brown leather chair opposite it. I reached up to massage my temples, the tension in my head throbbing, before letting my head rest on the armrest. I closed my eyes, trying to clear my mind and release the weight of the day before I gathered the energy to finish my remaining tasks.The creak of the door pulled me out of my momentary respite. I lifted my head to see who was at the door.“Dr. Nathan, one of your patients is here to see you,” Nurse Hannah said, her hand still on the doorknob.I glanced at her through tired eyelids. “Who is it, precisely?" The question slipped from my lips slower than intended.“Mrs. Henderson,” she replied, shutting the door. Almost immediately, it opened again, and Mrs. Henderson walked in, looking more excited
{Martha's POV}I took a deep breath and exhaled sharply as I sat in the passenger seat of the car. The city lights flickered through the tinted windows, casting shadows that danced across my face.Through the rearview mirror, I caught Hendrix stealing a glance at me before quickly looking away. He was always unreadable, but tonight, I sensed something behind his gaze, curiosity, perhaps, or maybe concern.The dinner had gone well. Peter had been thoroughly engaged, hanging onto every word, savoring every moment. And yet, all I could think about was the feel of his hand in mine, It wasn’t supposed to happen.I hadn’t planned for physical contact, hadn’t accounted for how much it would unsettle me. And the fact that it was just the beginning, that there might be more, made my stomach churn with unease, there had to be another way.I shook my head, my mind racing for an alternative. Some way to get those documents from Peter without spending more time with him, without letting him touch
{Martha's POV}My heart ached with every passing minute as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. For the fifth time, I reminded myself why I was doing this. Why I had to.Carolina straightened the last section of my hair, running her fingers through the strands with admiration. I couldn’t deny it, the smooth, silky look suited me. My brown waves shimmered under the vanity light, framing my face just right.I reached for a lip gloss and coated my nude lips with a subtle sheen. Turning toward Carolina, I placed my hands on my waist. “How do I look?”Her smile was bright, teasing. “Beautiful. I’m sure Peter won’t be able to resist staring at you.”I rolled my eyes but smiled. “Thanks.” I grabbed my silver purse from the vanity and tugged down the hem of my plush dinner dress. “If Nathan comes before I return, tell him I went out for an important meeting.”Carolina chuckled. “Got it. Just make sure to break a heart today.”I smirked, shaking my head as I stepped out of the room.—The
{Peter's POV}I ended the call and dropped my phone onto the desk, rubbing my sweaty palms together. I hadn't realized just how nervous I was until I received confirmation that the video of Rachel had been removed from the internet. Thank goodness for the influence I had.Letting out a deep sigh, I ran a hand through my hair before rising from my chair. I walked over to the glass wall, gazing out at the city. This had always been my favorite thing to do, watching the endless movement of people below, the vibrant city lights blending into a symphony of colors, and the chaos that somehow always seemed perfectly organized.The soft creak of the door opening behind me pulled me from my thoughts. I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.Mabel was the only person in the entire Stewart Company who had unrestricted access to my office. Not because I fully trusted her, but because she was my personal assistant."Mr. Henderson, there’s a lady here to see you," Mabel’s small voice chimed