Rose knew she had to be careful.
Kelvin was starting to see her to sense that something wasn't right. If she played this wrong, he would catch on.
So, she crafted her plan meticulously.
The first step was planting the seed of doubt.
She started slipping small, pointed comments into conversations with senior executive casual remarks about Anna's work ethic, subtle suggestions that maybe she was too ambitious Nothing outright accusatory.
Just enough for whispers to start.
Then came the setup.
Late one evening, when most of the office had cleared out, Rose stayed behind, waiting until the security feeds rotated to their blind spots. She had studied them for weeks.
With practiced ease, she slipped into one of the executive storage rooms the place where highly sensitive contracts and financial records were kept.
And then, she planted the evidence.
A forged request, signed under Anna's name, requesting access to restricted documents. A fabricated security log showing her ID had been scanned near confidential files.
By the time anyone noticed, the story would already be written.
Anna Banner, the bright young intern with too much ambition caught in an unforgivable scandal.
Rose smiled to herself as she exited the room, her heart steady, her resolve ironclad.
By the end of the week, Anna Banner would be nothing more than a cautionary tale.
And Kelvin?
He would never trust her again.
The applause was deafening.
Wolfe Industries had just been named the best-performing company in the world a recognition that cemented Kelvin Wolfe's legacy as a leader who could turn ambition into reality. The entire office was buzzing with excitement, the energy electric as employees toasted to their collective success.
Anna stood at the edge of the crowd, watching Kelvin as he addressed his team. His words were confident, his gratitude genuine, and his presence commanding.
She couldn't help but feel a swell of pride not just for the company, but for herself.
This internship had changed her life.
Because of Wolfe Industries, she had been able to take her mother, Maria, away from her father's toxic grip. She had opened a flower shop for her; a dream her mother had clung to for years but never thought possible.
Now, Maria was flourishing, happy in a way Anna hadn't seen since she was a child.
And Anna owed it all to Kelvin Wolfe.
When the celebration wound down, Kelvin approached her, his expression softer than usual.
You've been a big part of this, he said, his voice low enough that only she could hear.
Anna shook her head, smiling. I'm just an intern.
Kelvin's gaze held hers. You're more than that.
Later that evening, Anna found herself standing in Kelvin's penthouse suite, the city lights stretching endlessly beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.
She had finally accepted his invitation for dinner not because she wanted to blur the lines between professional and personal, but because she wanted to thank him.
For everything.
The meal was exquisite, but it was the conversation that lingered. Kelvin was different tonight less guarded, more open. He asked about her mother, about the flower shop, about the life she had built outside of the office.
And Anna found herself sharing more than she intended.
When the plates were cleared and the wine glasses half-empty, the air between them shifted.
Kelvin stepped closer, his gaze steady, his voice quiet. You've changed me, Anna.
She froze, her heart racing.
I don't know how to explain it, he continued, his tone raw, unguarded. But you make me want more. More than this penthouse, more than the company. You make me want… a life.
Anna's breath caught as he reached for her, his hand brushing against hers.
And then, before she could think, before she could stop herself, his lips met hers.
The kiss was slow, deliberate, and impossibly warm.
When they finally pulled apart, Kelvin rested his forehead against hers, his voice barely a whisper.
I want you, Anna. Not just tonight. Not just now. I want you. I want to build a life with you, you make me whole, your presence brightens my day, I want to be your man, I want to care for you, I want to have children with you, I want to travel the world with you, I can't imagine my life without you.
Anna ran off, she couldn't bear it, she told herself he was drunk and didn't mean any of the things he said.
She ran.
The warmth of her lips, the electric tension, the fragile moment where everything had felt right gone in an instant.
Kelvin stood frozen in his penthouse, the echo of her absence pressing against his chest like a weight he couldn't shake.
Had he moved too fast? Had he scared her?
The thought clawed at him, twisting through his mind until it was all he could feel.
He reached for his phone, his fingers gripping it too tightly as he dialed her number.
Ring.
Ring.
Voicemail.
Again.
And again.
Nothing.
She wasn't answering.
Kelvin swore under his breath, pacing the length of the room, dragging a hand through his hair. He had never been good at uncertainty he thrived on control, on knowing exactly where he stood.
But with Anna?
He was drowning.
Finally, desperate for something or anything he called the one person who might understand.
Jackson.
The line rang twice before his friend picked up, his voice tired but amused. Kelvin, what's up?
I need a drink, Kelvin muttered. Come out with me.
Jackson sighed. Man, I will love to, but Samantha needs me home. She's exhausted, and
Kelvin barely heard the rest.
His jaw tensed, jealousy creeping in where he didn't want it. Jackson had someone someone who was constant, someone who stayed. Someone who wanted to stay.
Kelvin had no one.
You're a terrible friend, Kelvin grumbled, half-heartedly, trying to ignore the hollow ache settling in his chest.
Jackson chuckled. I'm a married man, and soon-to-be dad. You will survive.
Kelvin didn't answer.
Because right now, he wasn't sure he would.
The call ended, and Kelvin grabbed his keys, the decision already made.
If Jackson wouldn't drink with him, he would drink alone.
The bar was loud, buzzing with laughter, glasses clinking, neon lights flickering through the haze of alcohol and bad decisions.
Kelvin drowned himself in whiskey one glass, then two, then five until the world felt like it was spinning.
But no amount of liquor could chase away the thought of her.
Of Anna.
Of the way she had run from him.
Had he already lost her?
And if he had how the hell was he supposed to survive it?