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It has never been easy for Evelyn Albert. She experienced the harsh realities of life after being abandoned as a child and left to fend for herself. She hopes to break away from the bonds of poverty while working as a secretary for the wealthy and enigmatic billionaire Peter Austin. But Evelyn's life is completely changed when a startling revelation about her history is made. Peter Austin runs his world with deadly efficiency. Known for his cool attitude, he has no time for distractions-until Evelyn enters his life. Her quiet resolve and innocence begin to crack his well-guarded walls. As power struggles, family secrets, and old enemies threaten to tear them apart, Peter and Evelyn must travel a dangerous path filled with betrayal, desire, and forgiveness. Will love be their final rescue, or will the lies of the past kill them forever?
Evelyn's POV
I grabbed my purse tightly as though it would protect me from the commotion of the day as I hurried through Austin Enterprises' glass doors. I looked at the clock on the far wall and saw that it was 8:57 AM, and my heart was racing. Almost on time. Once more.
"Evelyn, are you cutting it close?" The hum of the workplace was broken by Olivia's piercing voice.
I could tell she was grinning without even looking. She always had that arrogant tone in her speech, as if she was waiting for me to make a mistake.
I said softly, keeping my head down, "I'm not late," and made my way to my desk.
She whispered, "Not yet," loud enough for me to hear, along with the others. There were a few sneakers.
I choose to disregard them. I had become accustomed to the side-eyes and murmurs after years of this. But every time someone like Olivia reminded me of how insignificant I felt in this tall corporate world, my stomach turned.
I sat at my desk and started my old computer. Like every morning, the cumbersome machine took a very long time to start. I attempted to concentrate while my fingers lingered over the keyboard. However, I was unable to ignore the sinking sensation in my chest as I heard Olivia laughing behind me.
A flurry of phone calls, emails, and paperwork filled the morning. I ignored the grumble in my gut. I had barely made it through dinner last night, and I still had two days till payday, so lunch was out of the question today.
I tried to work quietly and keep my head down, but the office tension was too much to handle. Because of him, everyone spoke a little softly and moved a little more quickly.
Austin Peter.
The air in the room was sucked out by his presence as he walked in like a storm cloud. My heart raced at the sound of his shiny sneakers on the marble floor.
I hoped he wouldn't notice me, so I kept my eyes fixed on my screen.
"Mr. Wallace!" His voice, as cold and cutting as ice, echoed across the room.
I went cold. I looked up slowly from my desk. The marketing manager, Mr. Wallace, was standing next to the coffee station, holding a shaky cup.
"Yes, Mr. Austin?" Wallace's face went white as he stammered.
Peter's face was grim as he held up a file. "Is this what you consider to be appropriate work?"
"I-I don't comprehend"
"You spelled the client's name incorrectly. on each page.
The office fell silent.
Wallace opened and closed his mouth, but nothing came out.
Peter took a step forward, his tone lowering but not softening. "Are you aware of how embarrassing this is for the business? For me?
"I'll take care of it immediately"
"You've been fired."
It was a slap of words. Wallace looked at Peter in disbelief as his cup clattered to the ground.
Peter turned on his heel and said, "Pack your things." "You have until noon."
As he left, his eyes darting around the room like a blade, the place remained silent. I glanced back at my screen immediately, my hands shaking.
I was unable to make any mistakes. Not one.
The office was nearly deserted at the end of the day. The majority of my colleagues had departed, keen to get away from the oppressive stress that Peter Austin had brought with him. I wanted to go too, but there were still a ton of incomplete reports on my desk.
It was 7:10 PM when I looked at the clock. There weren't many of us left.
My phone rang just as I was ready to turn off my computer.
Mrs. Lane's voice broke over the receiver, "Miss Albert." Her tone made my stomach turn. She was the operations manager. "The quarterly report contains a serious error."
I responded tremblingly, "I-I didn't work on that report, ma'am."
"I'm not interested. Make it right. Right now. By 8:30 p.m., Mr. Austin needs it.
Before I could object, the line died.
Panic brewing in my chest, I gazed at my screen. I scanned the file after opening it. It was a complete jumble, with missing graphics, inconsistent numbers, and missed crucial portions.
This was not even intended for me to work on! However, what option did I have?
As I started editing, my hands were shaking. It seemed like a ticking time bomb every second.
My hands were clammy and my head was hammering by the time I pushed "Send." It was 8:25 PM when I looked at the clock.
I let out a sigh of relief. It was finished. I might be able to go home now.
I picked up my suitcase and got up to go.
"Miss Albert."
I was stopped in my tracks by the deep voice.
Peter Austin was standing behind me with his arms folded when I cautiously turned around. My heart almost stopped when his piercing grey eyes were fixed on me.
"S-Sir," I stumbled, gripping my bag very firmly.
"What keeps you here?" Although he spoke in a calm tone, I could feel the tension below it.
I hastily clarified, "The quarterly report had a problem." "I-uh-fixed it and forwarded it to your email."
His eyes never left mine as he took a step closer. "You fixed it?"
"Yes, sir."
He examined me with that unreadable gaze of his for a minute without saying anything.
"Please come to my office," he replied at last.
I felt sick to my stomach. "Now?"
"Yes, right now."
With my heart thumping so loudly that I was certain he could hear it, I silently followed him. What had I done incorrectly? Was something wrong?
Peter motioned me inside his modern office as he opened the door. The room was softly lighted, with a desk lamp casting a gentle glow on the polished surfaces.
He ordered, "Sit," and shut the door after me.
I sat tensely on the chair's edge and obeyed. As I waited for him to say something, my hands gripped the hem of my skirt.
Peter examined me while leaning on his desk and crossing his arms.
"Are you aware of the reason I called you here?" His tone was even as he asked.
With a dry throat, I swallowed hard. "N-No, sir."
He cocked his head slightly, making it hard to read his face.
"Let's discuss your performance."
My heart raced as I braced myself for what was coming next. Would this be the end of my job-or the start of something far worse?
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?
Katie was forced to marry Dillan, a notorious ruffian. Her younger sister mocked her, "You're just an adopted daughter. Count your blessings for marrying him!" The world anticipated Katie's tribulations, but her married life unfurled with unexpected serenity. She even snagged a lavish mansion in a raffle! Katie jumped into Dillan's arms, credited him as her lucky charm. "No, Katie, it's you who brings me all this luck," Dillan replied. Then, one fateful day, Dillan's childhood friend came to her. "You're not worthy of him. Take this 50 million and leave him!" Katie finally grasped Dillan's true stature—the wealthiest man on the planet. That night, trembling with trepidation, she broached the subject of divorce with Dillan. However, with a domineering embrace, he told her, "I'd give you everything I have. Divorce is off the table!"
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!