Rima’s POV
The room was silent, save for the sharp echo of Mr. Snow's final threat. Mr. Demir rose from his chair, his smirk still in place.
As he collected his things, he paused, a calculating look in his eyes. He turned to Mr. Snow, his smirk still firmly in place.
“Jacob,” he drawled, a hint of mockery in his tone “You’ve always been good at playing the respectable businessman. But we both know the truth, don’t we?” His eyes flicked to me, then back to Mr. Snow, the insinuation clear.
“Your past… it always has a way of catching up, doesn’t it? It’s a shame your assistant had to find out this way. But we can’t all keep our skeletons as well hidden as we think, can we?”
With that, he shrugged, as if the words he’d just dropped were nothing more than casual conversation. He strolled towards the door, but paused at the threshold, throwing a final glance over his sho
Rima’s POVI took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the decision hanging over me like a storm cloud. I knew the risks, I knew the dangers that came with his family name, but I also knew what I had found in this job - a spark of purpose, a sense of belonging, a place where I was growing and evolving.I thought about leaving, starting fresh, finding a new job. But the idea of abandoning all that I had built, all that I had achieved; as little as it might seem given it’s barely been a week, felt like leaving a piece of myself behind. It was more than just a job - it was a part of me now.His world was a place I had promised myself I would avoid at all costs. But leaving now would mean giving into fear, letting it dictate my decisions, my life….all over again.I was stronger than that. I had faced adversity before, had overcome hurdles greater than this. I could handle it. More than that, I wanted to handle it. I wanted to face the chall
Jacob’s POVI considered reaching out to my brother, seeking his advice on how to handle Demir. Perhaps I could simply pass Demir's number onto Alex, allowing him to deal with the situation and rid me of this nuisance. Yet, Demir's veiled threat - the insinuation that he would do something undesirable if I didn't comply - kept me from giving in to that decision right away. His words echoed ominously in my mind, a dark reminder of the potential storm brewing on the horizon.The question weighed heavily on my mind, a pendulum suspended in the eerie silence of indecision. There were multiple paths to consider, each with its own set of consequences.One option was to confront Demir, to tell him to go to hell and refuse making the introduction. But that could potentially escalate the situation, drawing Rima further into the vortex of danger. The thought was unacceptable, an outcome I wouldn't permit under any circumstances.Another possibility was to inv
Rima’s POVBy the time it was our rehearse for presentation in his home office, it was around six in the evening.My mind was still entangled in the web of today's shocking revelations. I was seething, simmering with a fury that threatened to scorch my sanity.He, the man I had begun to trust, had revealed his ties to the very entity I abhorred to my core - the mafia. Perhaps, he was still knee-deep in the underworld for all I knew. His vague responses neither confirmed nor denied the extent of his involvement with his notorious family.A bitter question gnawed at my heart. How had I fallen into this abyss once more? What cosmic jest was this, God? I tasted bitterness, acrid and potent, as if I had bitten into the most bitter fruit imaginable.This bitterness permeated my demeanor, rendering my interactions with him as dry and rigid as autumn leaves. The words between us, once flowing freely, were now as scarce as raindrops in a desert.
Rima’s POVI woke up with a start, the dawn barely breaking outside. A cold dread flooded my veins as the reality of the day set in. My heart pounded against my chest, a wild and panicked rhythm that echoed the fear coursing through me. My mouth felt dry, my tongue sticking to the roof as if I had swallowed a desert. My palms were slick with clammy sweat, a stark contrast to the chill that seemed to have seeped into my bones. The room spun around me, my stomach churning with nausea.Dragging myself to the bathroom, I looked at the mirror, my reflection staring back at me with hollow, terrified eyes. I splashed icy cold water on my face, hoping to douse the furnace that blazed over my skin. But the heat remained, a cruel reminder of the anxiety ripping through me.I stared at my reflection again, my eyes haunted and uncertain "I can't do this" I moaned, the words slipping out in a defeated whisper. My head dropped, heavy with defeat and disappointment, my g
Rima’s POVAs if on cue, Mr. Snow seamlessly took my place, commanding the room with an effortless blend of charisma and stoicism that had me riveted. He began unfolding the proposal, his unwavering confidence gnawing at my insides. I yearned for his ironclad composure and his unflappable, assured demeanor.A white-hot anger surged within me, a self-directed fury that scorched my thoughts. It was not just a personal failure; I felt as though I had let him down in the most spectacular fashion. This was what truly stoked the flames of my ire.I was more than equipped to deliver a flawless presentation, as he had asserted the previous night. But my crippling fear had sabotaged me, leaving in its wake a profound sense of self-disappointment.Throughout his presentation, I dared not lift my gaze to meet his. I feared the mirroring of my disappointment in his eyes. I was not yet prepared to confront that reflection, so I kept my eyes cast down until he fi
Rima’s POVDays turned into a haze after our emotional rollercoaster ride that day. The turmoil Mr. Snow had stirred within me was potent, yet a sense of gratitude towards him lingered for his assistance, despite the complications that had arisen between us.I had intended to maintain a rigid, formal demeanor in our subsequent interactions, a self-imposed shield against the unease he had sparked. However, his support in helping me overcome my fears made it impossible for me to remain as standoffish as I had planned. Our rapport was slowly reverting to its previous state, before Mr. Demir's revelation had turned everything upside down.My leading role in the presentation to our marketing team that day seemed to have warmed my colleagues towards me. Many reached out, introducing themselves and offering friendly conversation. I gathered from their comments that Mr. Snow rarely allowed a newly hired personal assistant such immediate responsibility. Typically,
Rima's POVThe rest of the day was a struggle, my mind held hostage by the relentless replay of their passionate kiss. It was like an intrusive advertisement, popping up uninvited, disrupting my focus, and souring the taste of my work.At six, we retreated from the office, each of us disappearing into our own apartments without a word exchanged. A silence filled with questions left unasked, answers left unsaid.I found myself pacing like a caged animal in my living room, gnawing at my nails, my thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and frustration. Was it a real date he was going on? Was he actually considering letting that... that viper, inject her venom and pull him back into her coils?And the most perplexing question of all — why did I care? Why was this affecting me so deeply?I had no claim over him, no right to feel this surge of jealousy. I had practically shoved him away, erected walls between us. And it seemed he had finally received th
Jacob’s POVMy office was a symphony of silence, broken occasionally by the hum of the air conditioner and the soft click of my pen. Work was a distant murmur, forgotten in the corner of my desk, while my mind replayed the events of last night. This wasn't the first time it had done so. Each time, the memories played out like a film, every scene vivid, every emotion raw and real.I leaned back in my chair, eyes fixed on the ceiling, mind far away. The night had begun with a minor disappointment. Anastasia's unexpected cancellation of our meeting had left me slightly off-balance. I had been looking forward to our conversation about a potential business agreement between our firms, but I knew life had a way of throwing curveballs. We would meet again, soon.I had reached out to Rima with the familiar request to work on some tasks, an evening ritual we had become accustomed to. But her immediate refusal took me by surprise. There was a spark of sass in her vo