Chapter 1 YOU ARE NOT MY WIFE

CORA I stared at the red lacy lingerie in front of me and blushed shyly. After hesitating for a while, I finally put it on and laid on the king-sized bed, assuming a sexy posture. Twenty minutes later, my husband, Lucas Grey, walked into the room and when he saw me, a look of surprise appeared on his face. I thought it was because I was putting on sexy lingerie, and I felt embarrassed, blaming myself for allowing my best friend, Emily talk me into such foolishness. I learned quickly that I thought wrong. "What the hell are you doing in my bedroom?" Lucas thundered, his voice completely different from that of the man I had married a few hours ago. I sat upright and was about to speak when he ordered, "Get out of this room right now." I instantly got off the bed but rather than leave, I asked, "What is wrong, Lucas? Why are you speaking to me so disrespectfully?" He snorted, "Disrespectfully? I am appalled by your shamelessness. Why would you come into my bedroom, and that too dressed like a slut?" My hand moved reflexively as it aimed for his cheek but I paused midway and took it back. Controlling my emotions, I said carefully, "I will not tolerate being disrespected Lucas, I am your wife." He scoffed, "You are not my wife, Cora. Stop feigning ignorance in front of me. I especially hate people like you." I tried to make sense of what was going on while he grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the room, pushing me outside. I stood with my mouth agape while he went back into the bedroom, picked up my luggage and my clothes in the wardrobe which I had taken inside earlier, and flung everything outside his room. I stared at my luggage which was now lying at my feet while an angry Lucas stood by the door of his bedroom, fingers pointed at me as he said, "Do not forget your place. When you are merely a stand-in bride, how dare you shamelessly throw yourself at me and try to share my bed?""Stand in bride?" The words rang in my ears but everything suddenly felt like a movie. "What are you talking about, Lucas?" He regarded me for a while and shook his head, "I don't believe this. Your parents explained everything to you and you gave your consent. Your dad signed the agreement so what stunt are you trying to pull now?""My dad?" I still could not understand what he was saying. "The guest room is over there by your left, that's where you'll stay," he said pointing in a different direction. "Cora, I know I am very hot and you are not the first woman to throw yourself at me but get this into your head; Avery is the only girl who has my heart and I will never cheat on her. Just because you live in my house for now doesn't mean anything will happen between us. Stick to the plan, and once I get what I want and Avery returns, this arrangement will come to an end." Hearing the name Avery made my head spin. I shook my head, "No, Lucas. Everything you have just said, I am hearing for the first time. Why would I be a stand-in bride for anyone? He sighed and massaged his temples as though I was frustrating him, and he was fed up with speaking to me, "I can't do this with you, Cora." With these words, he went into his room and shut the door. My heart was in so much pain that I could barely breathe. But I knew this wasn't the time to be weak. I needed to properly understand what was going on, and if Lucas' words were anything to go by, then my dad owed me some explanations. I quickly arranged my luggage but still left everything in front of his door. Fortunately, there was no one else inside the house. I took out a dress, went into the guestroom he had pointed at, and changed into a blue dress. Afterward, I called my dad. The moment he answered the call, the first thing he said was, "I'm sorry, my daughter. My hands were tied. Please forgive me." Hearing those words from the man I trusted and respected the most, tears finally seeped out of my eyes. "Why would you make me a stand-in bride for my younger sister?" I cried. "I can't fault Mom because she didn't give birth to me, but I trusted you and you betrayed me. How could you betray me?" My father's voice shook as he spoke, "I'm sorry, Cora. I really needed help. My health was already bad and then my business was failing. When Lucas came with the proposal, I wanted to turn him down but I had to think about your sister too. She would have been here if it weren't for her career. Lucas would have lost his inheritance as the only criteria his grandfather placed was for him to get married and produce an heir at this age. You don't have to do anything with him, just put up appearances until your sister returns. You know that being related to the Greys is not an opportunity that comes by every day and Lucas invested a lot in my company. I didn't have a choice." "Why didn't you tell me the truth?" I asked. "You should have at least told me, Dad." "I know I should have told you, my dear, and I wanted to, but your mom reminded me that you are strong-willed and stubborn at times. You would not have agreed to it, especially because you don't get along with Avery. Please just play along until she returns." I smiled bitterly, wiping my tears, "These are just excuses, Dad, and they mean nothing to me. If I knew the truth, I would not have built castles in the air. I was such a fool to have fallen for the man who is in love with my younger sister. How could you all do this to me? You're not my family, you're all my enemies and I'll never forgive any of you for this." I ended the call and almost immediately my phone began to ring. At first, I thought my dad was calling me back but I noticed it was a foreign number. Seeing the country code, I had a rough idea who the caller might be but I answered it anyway. Avery's voice rang into my ears as she said, "Hey sis, what's up? By now, you already know that Lucas belongs to me. Yes, you may be married to him but he's my husband. I had to make this call to give you some rules; first off, you are allowed to stay in the guest room but do not step your feet in our bedroom. Don't go near my man or try to seduce him, not that you will succeed if you try. But, it's important for you to have some self-awareness and not embarrass yourself before him. As it is, you are short and horrible-looking, and Lucas is head over heels in love with me so he can never look at you. I'll be back very soon to take my place, and once that happens, you can get lost. These are just the few reminders I wanted....." I hung up on her, gritting my teeth as I struggled to control my anger. Once I became calm, I went back to the living room, picked up my luggage, and began to walk out of the house, I was done dealing with them all. Just as I approached the exit door, Lucas appeared in front of me and locked the door, taking out its keys. He began walking back to his room when I said, "Stop right there, Lucas. What do you think you are doing?" He stared at me and sighed. He spoke softly as he replied, "Your dad called me and I got to find out you were not aware of this arrangement from the start. I'm sorry about the way I spoke to you earlier. Where are you going with your luggage?" I rolled my eyes, "Isn't it obvious? I'm leaving." He walked closer to me and stated, "You and I are husband and wife, so you're not leaving." "I am not your wife," I shot back. "You made that perfectly clear. You may have gotten married to me but it was done through deceit. My consent was not sought so I will not spend another second in this house. Don't expect me to play by your rules, Lucas. I am not anyone's doormat." "Really? Are you this selfish? You're only thinking about yourself?" He retorted "Selfish!" I exclaimed. "You called me selfish? You all are the selfish ones, not me! You don't have the right to call me that! None of you do!" "Fine, if you insist on leaving, your father will pay the price." He threatened. "Once I pull out my investments and his company starts failing again, I wonder if his weak heart will be able to take it. Will he be able to witness all his hard work go down the drain because his daughter was too selfish to think about what was best for her family?" I could not believe this was the same man I had fallen in love with at first sight. "Do not forget that Avery and I share the same father," I reminded him. "Go ahead and do your worst. I'd like to see you spend the rest of your life with your beloved after killing her father." I stretched out my hand, "Give me the keys, I want to leave." He shook his head, "You know, I initially wanted to marry someone else and I told Avery about it. I planned to get a contract wife, pay her, and then present her to my father as my wife until your sister came back. But she was uncomfortable with it. She didn't want me to be with an outsider. She said she could only trust family, so she suggested you. She was the one who told me to go to your parents and explain everything to them, and that's what I did. It was all for your sister." "And what about me?" I yelled. "What about my life? What do you think will happen to me when Avery comes back? I'll become a laughingstock in front of everyone." "No, you won't," he replied. "We will just get divorced. I promise I'll pay you alimony and you can move on with your life. If anyone asks why we divorced, you can just say it was due to irreconcilable differences. I will say the same thing." I clapped my hands, "Wow, Lucas, you have it all figured out. Good job. The keys, now." Lucas put the keys in his pocket and raised his hands as he said harshly, "I've tried talking to you in a civil manner but you are either just plain dumb or too stubborn for your own good. Since it has come to this, you are not stepping out of this house until your sister arrives. As long as we are married according to the law, I will get my inheritance and you will not get in the way. Take your luggage to your room and get used to being locked in here until your sister returns." I wanted to speak but he showed me his palm as he said, "Enough! This conversation is over, Cora." I gritted my teeth once again and balled my fists as he turned and began to walk away. My eyes darted to one of the flower vases in the living room and without second thoughts, I picked it up and smashed it on the back of his head. As he landed on his face, I took out the keys from his pocket and swiftly opened the door. Once I got outside with my luggage, I was surprised to see more than ten men in black suits sitting on the patio. My heart began to race but I turned my face away and pretended to be oblivious to their presence. I realized Lucas must have called them there because they were not present when I first arrived. None of the men said a word as I walked away. When I opened the gate, however, I heard Lucas' voice give the order, "Don't let her leave, catch her." I turned and saw him standing outside the door with blood dripping from his head while all the men charged toward me. Leaving behind my luggage, I ran as fast as my feet could carry me. Just when the men were getting closer, I stopped a taxi and got inside. "Just go straight," I instructed the driver. I couldn't go back home or to the police. I remembered my best friend, Emily, and was about to call her when the car suddenly came to a halt.""What happened?" I asked the driver. "Get out of my car. You didn't tell me you were being chased and whatever it is, I don't want to get involved." He replied. My eyes widened in shock, "How did you know I was...." The words stuck to my throat when I heard the sound of tires screeching. A white Hilux pulled up right in front of the taxi and I spotted Lucas' men. Putting my phone back in my pocket, I immediately got out of the taxi and began running away from the Hilux while the men continued chasing me. I spotted a tall building by my left with the inscription SUN INDUSTRIES at the top. The company was familiar to me because I had once sought a job there. I dashed into the company and without bothering to look back, headed for the elevators. One of the men who had gotten really close to me grabbed one of my arms just when I was about to get into the elevator. I pushed him with my other hand and he let go briefly before charging at me again. The elevator doors opened at this point and a strong hand suddenly pulled me inside. The doors closed before the man could get to me again and I sighed in relief. I looked up at the tall man who had saved me to express my appreciation, but my mouth fell in surprise when I realized who it was, and I exclaimed, "Mr. Reign Fletcher?"

Chapter 2 CLAUSTROPHOBIC

REIGN I walked into SUN INDUSTRIES with a smile on my face and a bouquet of roses to see Lisa, my girlfriend. Our mothers were best friends and had been so since their youth. Both families were so close that Lisa and I practically grew up together. She was the closest person to me and when we both got into college, I confessed my feelings to her and she accepted to be my girlfriend. Our families were so happy about it and our marriage was inevitable. One of the things I loved about Lisa was her drive. She was so passionate about work, yet reserved and hardworking. She took over SUN INDUSTRIES from her blood father, Williams Sun, who was released from prison years ago, and in no time, she took the company to much greater heights. The excitement on my face died when I arrived at her office and learned she wasn't around. We had agreed to meet at three and I was a very punctual person. I dialed her number and when she answered the call, she said, "I am so sorry, Reign. Something important came up and I had to quickly dash out to take care of it.""Is it more important than me?" I asked. "I have been out of the country for a few months and back for a week but haven't seen you. Don't you miss me?" She chuckled, "Come on, Reign, be understanding. I'll be there soon." I had really missed her so I waited for over an hour. However, I had put aside a lot of work to be there and could not wait anymore. I dumped the bouquet in the trash as I walked away. I took the elevator from the twentieth floor down to the ground floor. The moment it opened, I saw a young lady in a blue dress. I could see the fear in her eyes when a man grabbed her arm. She pushed him away and for some reason I could not explain, I pulled her into the elevator and hit the button for the twentieth floor. As the elevator doors closed, I stared at the lady whose height stopped almost at my chest. But then again, I was very tall so she could be considered average. I was tempted to ask her who that man was and what he wanted but we weren't close, so I kept silent. She seemed surprised when she looked up and saw my face. She gasped and called out my name, causing me to say, "You seem to know me. Have we met before?" She shook her head and replied, "Who doesn't know you, Mr. Fletcher? Thank you for helping me just now." I nodded, "You're welcome. I hit the button for the twentieth floor earlier, where would you like to get off so I can send you there?" My question had just left my mouth when some of the elevator wires suddenly snapped and the elevator went into a free fall. The lady screamed and we each held onto a part of the elevator as it plunged down. But the elevator stopped abruptly when we got to the tenth floor and the lights went out. I quickly pressed the buttons to open the door but they had stopped functioning. I tried several times but nothing worked. We were trapped in the elevator and it wasn't how I planned for my day to go. I hit the emergency button to call for help and I had no idea if it worked. Unfortunately, there was no emergency phone, which I also found strange. I turned my attention to the lady with me and noticed she had moved to a corner of the elevator. Her fingers were crossed, her face as white as a sheet as she shivered while muttering, "This can not be happening, no, no, no, why me?" Her teeth began to chatter and I walked closer, took off my jacket, and covered her body with it, "Don't get too frightened. I'm sure help is coming. Everything will be fine soon." I folded the hands of my long-sleeved shirt because the elevator began to get a little hot. "I am claustrophobic," She cried. "I won't make it if I remain here. Why me of all people?" I stared at her for a while, as though I was seeing a movie, and suddenly had an idea. I took out my phone to make a call, which was something I ought to have done from the very beginning. However, my phone was out of service, making it impossible for me to speak to anyone on the outside. "Try calling someone with your phone," I suggested to her. She nodded and tried to dip her hand into her pocket but could not. I noticed her struggling until her hand finally went to her chest. She held on to her dress at her chest as she gasped for air and struggled to get up but then, she slumped and lost consciousness. It was my first time to experience something like this in an elevator, so I became a little shaken up. Kneeling beside her, I tapped her cheek repeatedly, saying, "Open your eyes, young lady. You have to survive this." However, she remained unconscious. I checked her pulse and realized it was very weak. Deciding to revive her, I began to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on her but did not get any results. I wiped the beads of sweat that had formed on my forehead and continued applying compressions to her chest, however, she still did not wake up. As a measure of last resort, I tilted her head, opened her mouth, and bent over her face as I gave her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. I continued putting air into her mouth until she finally opened her eyes and inhaled. Relief washed over me and I sighed, feeling at ease, but then our eyes met, and she gazed at me as though she was peering into my soul. She had the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen and for a second, I got lost in them. What captivated me the most was the certainty I felt at that moment that it wasn't the first time I was meeting her. I regained my senses and moved my face away, helping her to stand on her feet. She continued to stare at me, her eyes filled with surprise as she said, "You revived me. Thank you, Mr. Fletcher.""Just call me Reign," I replied. "Are you okay?" My question seemed to suddenly make her aware of our plight. She looked around the elevator and shook her head, "No I am not okay." Sitting down once again, she covered her face and began to cry, "I'm going to die. Why am I always unfortunate? A day I thought would be my happiest, turned out to be my worst.""Stay strong, okay? I'm sure help will come soon. Just hang in there." I assured her. She smiled bitterly and stretched out her arm to give me my jacket, "Thanks for this but you can have it. As it is, it's already very hot in here and we're running out of air.""No, we're not," I assured her. "We're over breathing due to anxiety and your claustrophobia makes you think we are losing air. Elevators are not airtight so trust me, we will not be dying due to lack of oxygen here. Try to be calm." She shook her head and I could tell she doubted my words. She lifted her hand and stared at the wedding ring seated on one of her pretty fingers. She took off the ring and let it fall on the floor. Wiping her eyes, she said, "You know, I got married today. I was so happy until I got home and learned I was merely a stand-in bride. My younger sister is the one he loves and they have been dating. He needed to get married to claim his inheritance and my sister is pursuing her dreams in Paris. Everyone came together and said, 'Hey let's ruin Cora's life,' without thinking about my feelings. How could they not have told me? My dad, and everyone else I trusted betrayed me. I resigned from the job I painstakingly got two years ago because I was told doing such a job would be an embarrassment to my husband's family but I was merely a joke in their eyes. How could I not walk away after finding out everything? But no, that became a crime and he sent his goons after me. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for them. I hate them all and I'm so tired of everything. I just want to die...I don't want to live anymore, I'd rather just die." Seeing the lady break down in front of me made me feel sorry for her. I reached out my hand to her and said, "Come on, it's safer to be on your feet." She looked up at me and hesitated. After a minute passed, she wiped her tears and took hold of my hand. Right at that moment, a loud explosion from beneath us shook the elevator, and the part where she was sitting broke open. I quickly grabbed onto a part of the elevator again as I held onto her hand. She screamed in fright as her legs dangled dangerously while she stayed suspended in the air, ten floors above the ground. "Please don't let go," she cried. "I don't want to die, I don't want to die. Please save me."

Chapter 3 ELEVATOR

CORA When I was pulled into the elevator and found out it was by Reign Fletcher, I could not believe my eyes. How could I? The Fletchers were the wealthiest family in London. His mother, Paige Fletcher was a music legend and it was no secret that she was spoiled silly by her husband who loved her more than anything else in the world. Tiffany Fletcher, Reign's sister was a popular singer who was just like her mother. She was presently on tour and I was one of her die-hard fans. Reign was the different one who was believed to be enigmatic, avoided the media, and rarely granted interviews. There were no scandals about him and even though people knew a lot about the other Fletchers, he was the exception. What were the odds that someone like him would be kind enough to value a life like mine? When he gave me mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and I opened my eyes, it was as though I saw the face of an angel sent to me from above. I was awestruck by his kindness and humility. What I was going through in the elevator was unexpected. I never imagined it and that's why for a moment, I lost it and wished for death. My behavior was in stark contrast with Reign's who seemed calm and in control even at such a time. As though the universe was more interested in my negative speeches, I suddenly found myself on the brink of death. But more than anyone, I wanted to live. I was only twenty-one, in my prime, and still had many more years ahead. I looked up at Reign, begging him not to let go of my hand. He was barely standing on his two feet as a larger part of the elevator had broken off. If he hadn't been standing on the edge and hadn't reached out his hand to me when he did, I would have been dead already. My entire body was surrounded by heat as everything below me had gone up in flames. Reign was sweating when I looked up at him and when I looked below, all I could see was fire. That explosion....this was definitely not an accident. I wondered if Reign knew this too. The more I looked at the fire below, the more I believed I wouldn't make it. It didn't seem like help was arriving since that should have happened a while ago. I didn't know why my life was filled with so much misfortune. I was sweating profusely, both because of fear and the heat, and in no time, this began to affect Reign's hold on my arm. My arm began to slip slowly from his grip and left with no choice, I finally accepted the inevitable; There was no way I was going to survive. I had to make peace with it. I looked up at a distressed Reign and smiled before saying, "Thank you for everything, Reign. I will always remember you." As I closed my eyes, ready to accept my death, my life flashed before me. I remembered how my mum died when I was just two and my dad remarried immediately because he wanted me to have a mother to look after me. I remembered all the maltreatment and injustice I suffered at the hands of my stepmom and how my dad always stood up for me, even ready to divorce her back then. I remembered when Avery was born and how she became the apple of everyone's eye. She was the beauty princess with long legs like my dad's while I had my mom's height. I remembered how Avery always looked down on me and put me down because she was the favorite child. My dad didn't have much but he still used everything he had to send her to one of the best modelling schools in Paris so she could become an international supermodel. I remembered how I struggled for a job after finishing law school. I went to a lot of firms but they wouldn't hire me because I didn't have a strong background. I also went to SUN INDUSTRIES to join their legal department but I wasn't allowed and now I was going to die because of their elevator. I remembered when my best friend, Emily told me about a job opportunity in a firm and I was so happy about it. When I got there, however, the only available job was that of a secretary. In my desperation, I took it and for two years, it paid my bills until my stepmom asked me to resign because I was getting married to Lucas. At first, seeing her being so nice to me, I thought it was because I was getting married into a wealthy family, but it turned out that she just wanted to ensure I had nothing to fall back on. I recalled the first time I saw Lucas, how my heart had fluttered, and how shocked I had been that he wanted to marry me. I remembered our first date and how he made me feel special, the public proposal, professing his love for me in front of the media, and stealing my first kiss at the altar. I remembered how he kicked me out of his bedroom so disrespectfully earlier in the day and I gritted my teeth. It was the most painful of all my memories. The sound of a painful groan made me open my eyes and I realized I was being pulled up by Reign. The pain in my arm was intense and unbearable but I knew he was in even more pain. However, he did not stop pulling me up with only one hand until I was right in front of him. "Quickly hug me," he instructed. He let go of my arm and quickly caught my waist with the same arm while I threw myself at him, hugging his body tightly so I wouldn't fall off. He was breathing very hard and I knew he must have exerted a lot of energy. Everything suddenly felt like a dream. Was I still alive? I looked up at him and saw that he was still holding onto the elevator with his other hand. How could a man like him, go to such an extent to save me? He looked down and our eyes met again, drilling into each other's. He did not look away but I did. I buried my face in his chest and closed my eyes. His scent filled my nose and for the first time, I could swear my body secreted pheromones. It didn't change the fact that I was in a lot of pain in many other parts of my body. My vision soon became blurry and a nagging fear began to eat me up; if I lost consciousness again, this time I would certainly die. However, the lights came on and, the elevator doors swung open at this moment and a renewed sense of joy and hope filled me up. I looked up at him with tears brewing in my eyes and a smile on my face. I could hear the expressions of surprise from those on the other side but our gazes remained fixed on each other until, he said, "We made it, Cora."

Chapter 4 A SECOND CHANCE

CORA As we were rescued out of the elevator, Reign requested a stretcher for me. At this point, Lucas' men in black suit who had been chasing me, all rushed towards me, wanting to take me away even in my condition. Reign lost it and punched the first man who touched me. He landed on his back and lost consciousness. All the other men moved back, shocked by his action. I turned and stared at him, surprised at how strong he was. A small crowd had already gathered and they were all staring in surprise. Reign looked disheveled and his shirt was soaked with sweat, completely different from how he looked when I first saw him. I was so weak that I could barely move my body. I could not understand how he could still act as though nothing happened to him. Right before I was wheeled into the van, I mumbled a 'thank you,' to him and he smiled. I didn't know if I would ever see him again and the chances of our paths crossing again were almost zero. I sadly closed my eyes and waited for the van to move. However, the moment it did, a voice asked, "How do you feel?" I opened my eyes in surprise and stared at Reign. I wondered why he was following me to the hospital but then it dawned on me that he also needed to see a doctor. I smiled at him and nodded, "So much better." Two hours later, I opened my eyes and looked around, I was alone in a hospital room. My arm had been bandaged and my body wasn't in so much pain anymore. I remembered falling asleep right after the doctor gave me an injection and I wondered if Reign had left the hospital. The door was opened right at that moment and the person who walked in was Reign Fletcher. He seemed to have just washed his face since it was wet, and he held his jacket in his hand. He sat down beside me and smiled, "You look so much better, Cora.""You didn't have to come here but you did," I replied. "Thank you so much. I owe you my life. Are you okay?" He nodded, "I've always been like this, you know. I like to be thorough. I am fine and, I just needed to be sure you are okay. About what you told me earlier, Cora...I want to give you a piece of advice. Do not run from your problems, face them and deal with them. Take this as being born anew. You got a second chance at life, make sure it's worth living. After everything I heard you say, I believe you are a strong woman. No matter what, always fight until the very end, don't give up easily, and trust me, your resilience will take you far. I've also once been helpless and in danger and someone risked their life to save mine. Don't feel you owe me anything because I would never have forgiven myself if I failed to save you. Here's my personal card....about that job, you can always call me if you need help getting one." I received the card gratefully and smiled, "Thank you so much. You don't know what this means to me." He nodded, "You're welcome. I've paid for your hospital bills, you can be here until you are ready to leave. Take care, Cora.""I'll always remember you as my hero," I told him. He smiled and got up to leave, but I reached out my arm and held his hand. He turned and looked at me in surprise while I asked, "What happened to us....the explosion....was it really an accident or was....? "Why are you being intimate with my wife?" A voice suddenly interrupted us, and recognizing who it belonged to even without looking, I felt renewed anger. I turned and stared at Lucas briefly; the very reason I had almost lost my life. As he walked toward us, I turned my attention back to Reign. He had not spared Lucas a glance all this time. I let go of his hand and he gently tapped mine, saying, "All the best, Cora." When he turned, I could see the look of shock on Lucas' face because he recognized Reign. He had a plaster around his head and when I recalled the Vase I had smashed on the back of his head earlier, I felt a little better. He pointed a finger at Reign in surprise and said, "Yo...you?" Reign ignored him and walked away without another word. My gaze followed him all the way out and one question lingered in my mind, "How can a man be so perfect?"

Chapter 5 WHAT IS IT GOING TO BE?

CORA After Reign walked away, I closed my eyes and acted as though Lucas was invisible. I thought about Reign's words of advice and realized he was right. Running away wasn't the solution because I was legally bound to Lucas, despite how much I now hated that fact. I needed to come up with a plan that would benefit me and also keep Lucas from acting rashly toward me. An idea came to my mind just as Lucas coughed, "Pretending to be asleep now that it's just two of us?" I opened my eyes and stared at him, "What do you want? Is it not enough that you sent your goons after me to send me to my early grave?" He scoffed, "You are one to talk, Cora. Haven't you seen the bandage on my head? It's all thanks to your hard work. I'm letting it go just this once. Never in your life attack me again because It will end badly for you, I can promise you that. By the way, how do you know Reign Fletcher?""He's my bestie," I lied. Lucas stared at me in surprise, "I thought Emily was your bestie, and how come you didn't see it fit to mention that you were acquainted with Reign all the time you claimed to love me?" I sat upright and replied, "First off, I can have two besties, there's no law against that. Secondly, my friendship with Reign is very special. I don't see the need to share that with anyone unless it's necessary. Of course, after what you did I called Reign on the phone and ran to him. Didn't your goons tell you what he did to one of them? He was angry that such injustice was meted out to his friend and he wanted to deal with you but I calmed him down." Lucas' eyes widened in shock as he stuttered, "Reign... Fletcher.....really wanted to deal.... with me? In the end, we are agemates, and you are my wife. He has no right to interfere and come after me just because he has more wealth and status." I rolled my eyes, "Unless we are in front of your grandfather, don't ever refer to me as your wife, again." His eyes lit up, "That means you'll still play along, right?" I nodded, "Yes, but I have some rules; I've already mentioned one. While I stay in your guest room, I demand privacy, hence, you are never to step foot in my room. I intend to return to work. You are not to interfere with my work in any way. I will keep up appearances when necessary but you and everyone involved in this will have to show me respect. I will not tolerate being insulted or disrespected in any way. Finally, if you still plan on locking me up, I've already told Reign about it and he's asked me to call him every two days, that way he can be sure I am safe. If he is not able to reach me after two days, the first thing to go down will be your family's company. Your father's political career will also be ruined because I have recorded myself explaining my situation on video and I've sent the file to Reign. I'm sure you understand everything I've said, so, what is it going to be, Lucas?" His face turned red with anger and I could tell that he did not like being threatened, especially by me. I silently hoped he wouldn't call my bluff because everything I had told him was a lie. I couldn't go back home because my dad and stepmom would only anger me to death. Living with Lucas for a while would make it easier for me to cut down on my expenses, especially feeding. Once I got a job, I would save up and get a nice apartment for myself. That way, I will be rid of the nuisances around me. After calming down, Lucas nodded, "Fine, I'll follow your rules, as long as you play your part." With these words, he walked out of my hospital room while I smiled, feeling on top of the world. I went back to Lucas' house with him that night and kept thinking about what happened in the elevator. It was like a dream, one I knew I would never forget. That night before I slept, the memory of me opening my eyes to see Reign peering into them after he gave me a mouth to mouth, and the way I felt when I buried my face in his chest kept replaying in my mind. I could not wait to take the bandage off my arm and go to see him. As I slept, his face was the only thing I saw in my dream, and just as he did inside the elevator, he spoke to me gently and kindly. I went to the hospital and got the bandage removed from my arm the next day. I stopped by the mall and bought a beautiful white gown with a matching pair of red stilettos which almost cost me an arm and a leg, before going back home. After preparing what I was going to wear, I decided to call Reign and tell him about my desire to get a job but then, I couldn't find the card he had given to me. I searched for it frantically at home but it seemed to have suddenly disappeared. I ran back to the hospital, hoping I'd accidentally left it there but I couldn't find it. I asked the doctor if he had seen it and he said no. As I took a cab back home, I recalled that Lucas had been there the day I got the card and probably saw me accepting it from Reign. Seeing that I threatened him, he may have secretly taken the card away to frustrate me. I became so angry that it clouded my reasoning. I went back home and waited for him to return. The moment I heard his car drive in, I went out to the living room. Once he came inside the house, I stretched out my hand and said, "Give me back the card you stole from me."

Chapter 6 WEAK IN THE KNEES

CORA "Excuse you!" Lucas could not believe his ears. "Are you accusing me of theft in my own house?" He snapped. "What card are you even talking about and why the hell would I steal it?" Listening to his response, I realized I had gone overboard because I had no proof. How could I say it was Reign's personal card when I had already bragged that he was my bestie? Without another word, I turned and went back into my room. I sat on the bed and hugged my knees, feeling very sad. I regretted not saving Reign's number the moment I got that card. What if I never got the chance to meet him again? The mere thought of this made me feel like crying. My eyes lit up when it finally occurred to me that I could reach him on social media. However, my bubble was busted when I realized that he was not on social media. How could he live like that? The closest thing to him which I found was FLETCHER CONGLOMERATES, but that was his company's account. It was probably managed by someone else so there was no way I could reach him. I became sad again. However, my eyes lit up once more when I realized I could go look for him at his company. Why didn't I think of this from the start? I picked out a simple dress and wrote down everything I planned to say, in case I was interviewed on the spot. I left the house very early the next day. However, when I arrived at FLETCHER CONGLOMERATES, I was not allowed to see Reign because I did not have an appointment. I spent over thirty minutes, trying to convince the three receptionists at the counter that Reign was expecting me but they refused me entry. At this point, a beautiful lady in a black designer dress arrived and the receptionists greeted her respectfully. "Is Reign in his office?" She asked. "Yes, ma'am," they replied uniformly. She went up without sparing me a glance, but I recognized her. How could I not when I had almost died in the elevator of her company? As she walked away, the receptionists whispered among themselves, "She is so lucky to be Mr. Fletcher's fiancee.""She is very beautiful so it's no surprise that she captured his heart." Hearing their words, I began to ask myself, "What are you doing here, Cora?" I turned and walked out of the company. It was stupid of me to keep thinking about Reign and building castles in the air. I wanted to return home but then, I remembered that I needed a job and Reign had promised to help me get a job. I decided to wait outside for Reign with the hope that he would have to leave at the end of the day and I would get a chance to speak to him before then. I waited for more than eight hours but did not see any sign of Reign or even his fiancee. Refusing to give up, I continued waiting until it became dark. The guards asked me to leave because they wanted to shut the gates. "I'm waiting for Mr. Fletcher," I informed them. "He already left a long time ago." The guards replied shocking me. I went back home feeling defeated and extremely unhappy. Lucas was waiting in the living room when I entered and the moment he saw me, he got up and said sternly, "We had an agreement, Cora. I will not tolerate you keeping late nights. I don't want any embarrassing scandals." Without saying a word to him in reply, I walked into my room and locked the door. I sat on my bed feeling sorry for myself. In the end, I decided to search for a job somewhere else tomorrow and move on with my life. I picked up my dirty laundry and decided to do them to get my mind off my misfortune. Just before I put them in the machine, the card Reign had given to me fell out of my blue dress. I stared at the card in shock, since I had searched for it in the blue dress the day before but could not find it. I became so happy and quickly dialed Reign's number. As it rang the first and second time, I worried that he would not take my call since he did not have my number. The thought had barely crossed my mind when he answered the call. "Hello," I said. "Cora! I've been expecting your call," he replied. My heart skipped a beat, hearing his words. "Sorry, that I'm calling so late. About that job....""Come to my office as early as seven tomorrow and we'll talk about it." He said quickly. "Seven?" I asked. "I meant to say eight," he replied. "I'll be expecting you, Cora. Goodnight." After the call ended, I jumped for joy, feeling like the happiest person in the world. I woke up very early the next day and got ready. I paid special attention to my looks, making sure my makeup game was top-notch. I put on the white dress I had gotten and the red stilettos before heading out. Lucas was about to leave for work when he saw me leaving as well. He stared at me in surprise because I had never put in so much effort to look good, before. "I should give you a ride to wherever it is you are going," He offered. I shook my head, "Thanks, but no thanks." And walked out of the house, taking a cab to Reign's company. This time, the receptionists sent me to the fifteenth floor where Reign's office was located because he had given the order. When I got to the elevator, I remembered what happened the last time I was in an elevator and opted to use the stairs. I was breathless when I got to the fifteenth floor, but worse than that, the stilettos were killing me. I regretted wearing them. I must have been out of my mind when I spent so much money buying a pair of death traps. I stood in front of the wide glass door, wishing I could take off my shoes as I tried to catch my breath. After collecting myself together, I was about to knock when the door was opened from inside. I gasped as I came face to face with Reign. He was wearing a royal blue colored suit, looking dashing. We stared at each other and for me, time seemed to have stopped. He finally smiled and opened the door for me, "Come inside, Cora." As I went inside, my heart began to race. I looked around the spacious office but all I could think of was how Reign looked even more handsome than he did the first time I met him. I was waiting for him to offer me a seat when he asked from behind me, "Are you comfortable?" I turned and stared at him in surprise, while he pointed at my shoes, "Aren't those like ....deathly painful?" I so badly wanted to say yes but I was trying so hard to not make a fool of myself. "Hold on," he said to me and walked over to his table. He pulled out a pair of white flip-flops from a drawer and walked back to where I stood. To my surprise, he squatted in front of me and placed the flip-flops on the floor. "You can make use of the flip-flops for now," he said as he held my leg and carefully removed it from the shoe. I placed my hands on his shoulders for support as my heart thumped loudly. Everything felt like a dream, yet he was truly in front of me. After helping me out on the flip-flops, my height significantly dropped to its true level. He lowered his body so his height could be equal to mine. He looked around the office, turned his attention to me, and moved his face closer to mine as he asked, "Are you okay? You're sweating even though the air conditioner is on." I was about to speak when he took out his handkerchief from his pocket and began to wipe my sweat. The same smell I had perceived from him in the elevator filled my nose and I could feel my panties getting wet. I didn't know how deep my affection for him ran until that moment. His eyes kept peering into mine as he touched my forehead with his hand and said, "Your temperature seems fine. What could be the problem, Cora?" My voice shook as I spoke softly, "Reign, I think I'm feeling a little weak in the knees."

Chapter 7 NEW SECRETARY

REIGN After the elevator accident, I left Cora in the hospital, called my assistant, and said to him, "Someone just tried to kill me in the elevator of SUN INDUSTRIES. I stopped the media from reporting about it because I don't want unnecessary attention but I need you to look into it and get me all the information I need about the culprit." After speaking to my assistant, I decided to go back home and get some rest. The doctor had given me an injection for the pain in my arm and its adverse effects soon kicked in. I threw myself on my bed the second I entered my bedroom and fell into a deep sleep. I had a dream, at first it was beautiful; Cora and I were kissing inside the elevator but suddenly it changed. She was suspended in the air while I held onto her. But her arm became moist and I lost my grip. I watched in horror and helplessness as she slipped off my hold and fell, plunging into the flames with her cries for help piercing my ears. I opened my eyes and quickly got up. I was sweating profusely and despite knowing it was just a dream, I felt deeply worried for her. I hit the showers and during this time, the things she said to me about her predicament kept ringing in my head. I came out and checked my phone but she hadn't called. I answered calls from strange numbers which was something I didn't usually do, but had to because I didn't have Cora's number. Even when I went to work the next day, I couldn't stop looking at my phone. I could barely focus on anything else as thoughts of her filled my mind. Her face, her voice, her smell, and even her eyes; I could not get them off my head. The next day, I got a visitor, one that I did not expect. Even after the accident in the elevator of her office, which she must have learned about, she didn't call me. This was why I was surprised when she came unexpectedly to my office to see me. I smiled when she walked in, got up, and hugged her. "Are you okay?" She asked, worry etched in her voice. "I'm so sorry about everything. My dad suffered a cardiac arrest. Turns out he's had a hole in his heart for so long but no one knew. He learned about it recently and I only found out when he was about to be operated on. He called me because he was worried that he wouldn't make it, so, I had to take a flight to Berlin to be with him. I feel so terrible about what happened to you, Reign.""It's okay, dear. Let's go out for lunch," I told her. We used my personal lift because I didn't want attention from my employees. While we were eating, I asked, "So how's your dad's health now? Is he better?" She nodded, "Yes, Reign. He is so much better.""That's good to hear." I took hold of her hands and said, "Monalisa, you mean a lot to me and that will never change. However, after some evaluation, I've decided that it's best to call off our relationship." She stared at me in surprise, "What?" I continued, "It's not supposed to be hard, Lisa. And if only one person puts in the effort, it becomes exhausting. It shouldn't be that way. There's no passion in our relationship and I've tried to fight the truth for a while now but I don't think I can do it anymore. I have fallen out of love with you, Lisa. I hope that you can move on, be happy, and find someone you'd be crazy about." She chuckled, "When did you start making jokes, Reign? We both know how much you love me. You can't even live without me and you're trying to play this game? Are you upset because I went to my father when you needed me?" I shook my head, "I'm not that petty, Lisa. What I have....""Then I get it. You want to change the dynamics of our relationship and you want me to do the chasing, isn't it? Challenge accepted then." I stared at her in surprise as she got up and said, "Okay, Reign. Let's see how long you can keep this up. Take care." She walked away with an arrogant smile on her face and I sighed. I had stopped loving her for a long time but didn't want to give up on our relationship because we had come a long way and it was a source of joy to both families. However, after what I learned recently and after meeting Cora, I decided to do the right thing. Lisa deserved to be with someone who loved her and I deserved to be happy. I felt relieved that I didn't have to force things between us anymore. I was still worried that I hadn't heard from Cora. I left my office before the official closing time and went to the hospital in hopes that I would see Cora but the doctor informed me that she had been discharged and taken away by her husband. I became sad. Because of my status, the doctor was willing to give me her husband's address but I couldn't take it. I didn't know how she was faring with him but I knew it would be wrong to show up in her husband's house. Even though their marriage wasn't real, it would still been wrong. I lost the desire to work and went back home. I decided to be hopeful that she would call. I was going to give her a week at most but if she still did not reach out, then I wouldn't hold back anymore. When she finally called, I could barely contain my excitement. We agreed on a time to meet. However, when it arrived, there was no sign of her. I had given instructions to my staff at the reception, telling them that she was a very important guest. Under my instruction, they called and informed me that she was headed for my office. However, despite waiting for a few minutes, I did not see her. My heart raced uncontrollably and I became impatient. Fearing that she may have gotten cold feet, I quickly opened my door and to my surprise, she was just about to knock. We stared at each other in surprise and the way she looked at me; it made me wonder if she felt the same way I did. I had a strong urge to kiss her but I struggled to control my desires, reminding myself time and again that she was married and we had only just met. "I feel weak in the knees," she told me after I took off her shoes, and I wondered if it was due to the discomfort she had suffered from her stilettos or my presence. I hoped it was the latter. Gently placing my arm around her back, I said, "Come sit down, you must be exhausted." After sitting, she nodded, "Yeah, I'm a bit exhausted because I took the stairs." It finally made sense. "You look very beautiful, by the way," I expressed and she blushed. I picked up her stilettos and placed them beside her before taking my seat, across from where she sat. I quickly texted my assistant before turning my attention back to her. "Are you scared of getting into the elevator because of the accident?" I asked. She nodded, "Yes. Merely standing in front of an elevator gives me flashbacks and makes me anxious.""You are showing signs of PTSD," I revealed. "You should see a counselor or a therapist." She smiled and muttered under her breath, "As if I have such luxury." Looking up at me, she added, "The thing is, I really need a job." She quickly changed the topic and I chose to give it a rest for the time being, "So, what position are you applying for? What are you good at? Don't worry about writing any letter and just tell me." She thought for a while, as if she was trying to make up her mind, and finally said, "I worked as a secretary for two years in my former place of employment.""That settles it then," I replied. "You will become my new secretary." She seemed surprised and asked, "Just like that? No interview or anything else?" I chuckled, "I can tell you're an honest person, Cora. So I believe you are capable and have all the needed experience. Moreover, in this whole building, you are the only one who has been through a near-death situation with me. That makes me feel a sense of camaraderie with you." She smiled, making my heart flutter. She took out a book and pen from her bag and asked, "What is my job description, Sir?""We are back to sir?" I asked. She nodded, "It will be disrespectful and improper for your secretary to call you by your name, Sir." I smiled, "You are really good at this, Cora. But listen, when we are alone, please drop the honorifics. I have three secretaries who are required to always be formal with me, but your job is different. You are to be around me, especially during meetings and seminars. You will be responsible for my meals; lunch specifically.""What about breakfast?" She asked. I shook my head, "I don't eat breakfast.""What in the world would make you give up on the most important meal of the day?" She asked, seemingly perplexed. "I only eat breakfast when it's home-cooked. I no longer live with my parents and I don't have the time to make my breakfast every......""I'll do it." She blurted out even before I was done talking. I stared at her in surprise as she affirmed, "Reign, I will make breakfast for you every morning. How about that?" I eyed her suspiciously, "How good is your cooking? I am quite picky.""Really good actually," she replied confidently. "No one has ever complained about my cooking. I worked as a chef in a restaurant throughout my college days." I smiled, "In that case, I'd be honored to enjoy breakfast cooked by you." She wrote it down in her book and I requested her email. I forwarded some documents to her and said, "I've sent you your official employment letter along with a list of the benefits you will enjoy while working here. You are to begin tomorrow morning.""Thank you so much, Reign. I am extremely grateful," she expressed. "I should go home and get everything for tomorrow ready," she added. "Hold on a second," I told her. I sent a message to my assistant and he came into my office with a bag. I got up and took the bag from him before sending him away. Afterward, I walked toward Cora and turned her chair so she could face me. Her eyes held the same surprise they did before when I once again squatted in front of her and took out the red, moderate-heeled sandals I had asked my assistant to buy for her. She kept staring at me as I took the flip-flops off her feet and gently began to help her put on the new shoes." "How did you know my size," she asked when the shoes fit perfectly. I looked up at her face and smiled. She smiled back, her cheeks looking flushed. As I unknowingly rested my hands on her knees, I got lost in the moment and kept staring at her, just as she kept her gaze on me. A sharp intake of breath, followed by my name being called out by a familiar voice brought me back to Earth and I turned. Standing by the door was Monalisa with a food flask in her hand and a look of shock on her face.

Chapter 8 BREAKFAST

CORA Being alone with Reign gave me a pleasant feeling, one that I had never experienced before. But it all changed when she walked in. Once again, I recognized his fiancee as she called out his name, her face frozen in shock. I suddenly felt like the other woman, cheap and guilty but this was in stark contrast with Reign who did not show any guilty expression. He let go of my knees and got up. Turning to stare at Miss Lisa, he smiled, "You're here? I would expect you to be very busy at this time." The expression on Lisa's face changed and she smiled back. I heaved a sigh of relief, seeing that the situation was calm. Lisa walked up to Reign and kissed his cheek, and I took that as my cue to leave. It seemed like her presence made him uncomfortable from the look on his face but that could just be my assumption. Pointing at me, he said to Lisa, "This is Cora, my friend. Cora, meet Lisa; we became friends even before we learned how to walk." I smiled at Lisa and she smiled back. I walked closer to shake her hand but she suddenly moved toward Reign's table and placed the food flask on it, saying, "I know you didn't have breakfast so I brought this for you, Reign.""I will be taking my leave now," I said, forcing myself to give them some privacy. "Let me see you off," Reign offered and moved closer to me. I was surprised because his fiancee was present and leaving her behind to see me off was bound to upset her. However, she nodded and said, "Take care, Cora. I'll be waiting for you, Reign." Reign walked me out of his office and toward the elevator. I wanted to proceed to the stairs but he held my hand and said, "Let's use the elevator." I shook my head, refusing to use the elevator. However, he pulled me into the elevator with him. Once it began to descend, I screamed in fear and my body shivered while I dropped the bags I held in my hand. He pulled me toward his body and hugged me tightly. At that moment, I felt safe. My arms circled his back, and my nose, buried in his chest, inhaled his scent. Meanwhile, he stroked my hair and rubbed my back gently as he whispered, "It's okay. You're okay, Cora, I'm here with you." Once the elevator stopped, I looked up at him and he smiled at me, "You will overcome your fear in no time.""Thank you very much," I replied. I picked up my bags and we both walked out of the elevator. I looked around, not finding the section familiar. Seeing the expression on my face, he said, "This elevator is meant for just me and anyone else I choose, so the exit is different." I nodded as I recalled how I had waited outside for him the previous day, but he left without my notice. This explained why I couldn't see him. I said goodbye to him and began to hurry back home, eager to check my mail and see all the benefits a secretary like me would enjoy in FLETCHER CONGLOMERATES. About an hour later, I sat in front of my computer stunned that I was going to get allowances, and a new car, and my monthly pay seemed too good to be true. In two months I would be able to get a new apartment and move out of Lucas' house. Reign was such an amazing man. Things were turning out well for me, all thanks to him and I couldn't wait to share it with my best friend who had briefly traveled out of the city. I recalled how Reign made me feel special and blushed. Was that how he treated women in general or was he being particularly nice to me? His fiancee was really lucky. Seeing how long they had been together, their relationship was certainly bound to last forever. I squealed at the top of my voice in excitement when a red Hyundai SUV was delivered to my house, courtesy of Reign. After signing and receiving the keys, I called his number and he picked up on the first ring. "Thank you so much, Reign," I beamed. "This is a dream come true.""You're welcome," he replied. "What would you like for breakfast tomorrow?" I asked. "Contrary to what I said earlier, I'm not a picky eater," he replied. "I'll eat whatever you make as long as it's good.""That makes two of us," I told him. "I should head to the grocery store now and get everything ready." After the call ended, I excitedly got into my new car and went grocery shopping. On the way, I recalled Reign's fiancee bringing breakfast for him and wondered how she would feel if she brought it the next day as well only to find out that I'd already made him breakfast. "Stop overthinking," I told myself. "Perhaps it's something they have both already agreed on." The next morning, I woke up earlier than usual and put in extra care as I made breakfast for Reign. After making it, I dashed into my room and got ready for work. I went into the kitchen ready to dish out the food into a fancy food flask I had bought for Reign but then Lucas came into the kitchen and exclaimed, "Wow! I almost mistook my house for a restaurant." I turned after dishing the food and stared at him while he continued with a smile on his face, "Come on, Cora, you shouldn't have gone through the trouble of cooking for me. It wasn't in the agreement so it's not your obligation. However, I appreciate it and I've never been able to turn away from good food. I can tell from the aroma." I stared at him with an amused expression until he asked, "What's going on?""I was just wondering when you joined the circus," I replied. "Seeing that you are trying to become a clown." He stared at me in surprise while I chuckled, "Why would I cook for you, Lucas? You just confirmed that it wasn't in the agreement so what are you doing?" He folded his arms, "Really? So who's this for?""Me and my boss," I replied. He scoffed, "You're cooking for your boss? That is unethical, dimwit. Why are you letting your boss exploit you?""Stop barking like a dog and get out of my way," I replied. "My affairs have nothing to do with you, Lucas.""I'm afraid they do," he replied. "You are my wife in the eyes of the law and my family. You should learn to carry yourself respectfully. Also, the car I saw outside, who does it belong to?" I sighed, "That car belongs to me. It was given to me by the boss of the company where I work. The same boss who supposedly exploits me." He gasped in surprise, "Are you having an affair with your boss?" I moved closer to him, "And what if I am?" He pointed his finger at me, gritting his teeth, "Do not push me, Cora." I took a step back. He was right. I would gain nothing by fighting with him. I didn't want to be late on my first day and I wanted to live peacefully until I had enough money to get my own apartment. I smiled, "I am not having an affair with my boss, Lucas. Satisfied?" He nodded, "Yeah, that's better." I moved to the side to walk away but he grabbed my arm and said, "I'm not being petty or anything but this food was prepared in my house, my kitchen to be precise. I think it's only proper for me to get a share as well, especially since it smells delicious." I sighed, "Fine." I scooped what was left into a plate and gave it to him." "Thanks," he said and walked away. I looked at the time and heaved a sigh of relief when I noticed that I still had one hour before work began. When I arrived at the company, I opened the elevator doors but was too scared to use it without Reign so once again, I used the stairs to his office. I wasn't as tired as I had felt the previous day, thanks to the fact that I was putting on flats. I went into Reign's office and was surprised at the new arrangement. There was a new table and chair with two computers on the table. Reign was drawing on a piece of paper with a pen when I walked in. He quickly hid the paper and got up once he heard me. "Good morning, Cora," he gushed. "I see you are quite punctual. You came even before the official opening time. I'm impressed." I smiled, "Good morning, and, thank you very much, Reign. I've always taken my work seriously. Here, I got breakfast for you." I placed the food flask on his table like his fiancee had done the previous day. He thanked me and pointed at the new table, as he added, "That's your table. You will be working from there so you can easily attend to me when the need arises." I nodded, surprised by his arrangement. I had never seen or heard of the boss of a big company sharing an office with his secretary. However, I was very pleased with this arrangement. I knew I could never be with Reign because he already had a fiancée. And even if he did not, I certainly wasn't beautiful enough to catch his attention in such a way. Being able to spend my day staring at him and basking in my one-sided love was a privilege not everyone could afford. I watched in glee as he ate my food enjoyably, heaping praises on my culinary skills. "I look forward to enjoying such delicious meals daily," he told me. "As long as it's not a bother." "It's certainly not," I replied. "It means a lot to me that you enjoyed it. I took the food flask out to wash it and when I got back, Reign was engrossed in his work. I sat at my table, staring at him with both hands on my cheeks, admiring how sexy he looked even when he was working. He unexpectedly looked up at caught me gawking at him. He smiled and I lowered my head as I felt embarrassed. I decided to familiarize myself with the history of the company. However, even as I stared at the monitor in front of me, I could barely read a thing. I kept stealing glances at him and he caught me so many times. Each time, he would smile and I would look away in embarrassment. My mind was all over the place and it made me wonder whether my head would be able to function properly if I continued being in such proximity with my boss. I was grateful when the time came to have lunch and I got the opportunity to leave the office and head to the company's cafeteria. As I went down the stairs, I recalled that it was my duty to get Reign's lunch and quickly called him, but he said he was busy and not ready to eat yet. As I arrived at the cafeteria, I was surprised to discover that I was the subject of attention and gossip. I had no idea why everyone was staring at, me and pointing fingers at me. I quietly ate my food and went back to Reign's office. When I walked in, I saw him sleeping with his back leaning on his chair and his head tilting to the side. I quickly went to help him adjust his neck but the moment I touched his face, his eyes shot open. He stared at me in surprise and I found myself frozen, unable to take any step. His expression changed to a smile as his eyes drilled into mine. Once again, I felt time stop. Our faces began to draw closer but I couldn't tell if I was the one moving or if he was. Just as our lips got very close, almost touching, his phone rang. I quickly stood erect and walked back to my seat as though I was being controlled by a remote. My heart was beating so fast that I thought it would explode. I didn't understand what had just happened but I did not dare to make eye contact with him anymore. I forced myself to read the boring history of FLETCHER CONGLOMERATES and only looked up when the clock struck four. I noticed he was staring at me and smiled. "I'm done for the day, Reign. I'll see you tomorrow." I said and picked up my bag. "Okay, Cora. Take care," he replied. I took the stairs down to the exit and headed for the parking lot. My mind was still replaying the scene of our lips almost touching, and I was barely aware of my surroundings. I opened the door of my car and was just about to get inside when someone forcefully closed it from behind me. I turned and saw Reign's fiancée, Lisa. I smiled at her and said, "Hey, Lisa." She stared at me condescendingly and scoffed, "What makes you think you have the right to address me informally? This is the only time I will warn you; stay away from my man, Cora. Reign has always been mine and that will never change. I heard you are married...hmm, you are shameless and a disgrace to women. If you cling to my man, I will disgrace you before the whole world. You have no idea what I am capable of, Cora. If you want to find out the hard way, I dare you to try me." Without saying a word, I stared at her in surprise as she turned and arrogantly walked away.

Chapter 9 THE DEVIL RETURNS

CORA I drove back home with a sad expression on my face because somewhere inside of me, I believed that Lisa was right. In the eyes of the law and the world, I was a married woman. Despite knowing that Reign was engaged to her, I was harboring romantic feelings for him and daydreaming about him. She had every right to be upset with me. When I got home, I thought deeply about it and decided to take Lisa's warning. It wasn't that I was scared of her. I knew how much Reign hated to be the subject of gossip or negative news, and if Lisa tried to bring me down, his name would be mentioned too. The fact that she pretended to like me in front of him, meant that she would never make good on her threat. However, I did not want to come between a happy couple. Not that I had the ability to, but if my actions were enough to make her feel insecure, then I had to take a step back. I thought about how best to do this and concluded that the best way was to avoid Reign as much as possible. For that to happen, I needed to ask him to transfer me to a different department. I hoped he wouldn't get upset with me because of this since it was the only solution I had. In the morning, I made breakfast for myself and Reign and quickly got ready for work. When I came out of the kitchen, holding the food flask in my hand, Lucas who was sitting at the dining said, "Good morning, Cora.""Good morning, Lucas," I replied and proceeded to the exit door. However, he said, "Come on, Cora. Isn't it obvious that I'm waiting to also have a taste of your delicious breakfast? My day went so well yesterday, thanks to you. You are a great cook." I sighed. I could not understand what was going on with Lucas. I believed keeping to ourselves was for the best, but he was deliberately trying to be friendly. Without a word, I left my bag on the chair and went back to the kitchen while still holding the flask in my hand. I quickly dished out what was left in the pot for Lucas and went out of the kitchen. He was still sitting in the dining, waiting for me. I walked over to him and placed the plate of food on the dining table. "There you go, happy now?" I asked. He looked up at me and smiled, "Yes I am. Thank you, Cora." I rolled my eyes and was about to walk away when a familiar voice screamed, "How dare you, Cora?" My eyes widened in shock when I turned and saw my sister, Avery. She looked elegant in her short baby pink dress, and she was seething with rage for reasons I could not understand. Lucas seemed pleasantly surprised as he got up with his mouth agape. "Princess!" He exclaimed. Avery walked over to the dining and pushed the plate of food I had just served Lucas to the ground. "How dare you make food for my husband?" She barked. "I made it absolutely clear that Lucas was off-limits to you. If I hadn't struggled to come here, I would not have known that you are shamelessly doing everything in your power to steal him from me.""Calm down, Princess," Lucas replied. "You already know that no one can steal me from you no matter what they do." I scoffed, unable to believe my ears. "I do not have time for this nonsense," I replied and walked away from both of them. I went toward where I kept my bag to pick it up and leave for work. However, Avery followed me, deliberately wanting to pick up a fight. "Where do you think you are going?" She yelled. "Let's trash this out, Cora. Tell me why you are so cheap and desperate. Why would you cook for my man when we have hired chefs for that purpose?" Despite how angry her words made me, I refused to say a word in reply. I was relieved she was back, as it meant putting an end to the humiliating arrangement I had been tricked into. I picked up my bag and wanted to leave but Avery snatched the food flask in my hand and threw it on the ground, causing the food inside to pour out and splash on my legs and my dress. I became livid and slapped her so hard that she staggered backward but was caught by Lucas before she could fall. He charged at me, eyes red with fury, and lifted his hand to hit me. My eyes darted around the living room for a weapon I could use in retaliating. However, Lucas' hand paused midway and he took it back. "This should be the last time," he warned before going back to hold Avery who was now crying. I glared at both of them as I tried to control my breathing. When he led her toward the couch and made her sit on his thigh, I went back into my room. I sat on my bed and sighed. It was obvious that Avery had wanted a reaction from me and I wasn't surprised by her action, but Lucas could have done better. I looked at my time quickly washed my legs and changed my clothes. I couldn't make breakfast for Reign again, because then, I would be late. On my way out, I spotted them sitting intimately on the couch and kissing. I rolled my eyes and walked toward the door. Just as I opened it, I heard Avery say, "Make love to me, Lucas." I knew she deliberately said it to my hearing to make me jealous but I couldn't care less. The only man my eyes could see at this time was Reign, even though he was beyond my reach. I got into my car and drove to work. Once I arrived at the parking lot, Reign called me. I thought I was late for work but heaved a sigh of relief when I checked my time and noticed I still had a few minutes. "Good morning, Reign," I greeted the moment I answered the call. "Good morning, Cora," he replied. "Come to the CEO's elevator. I'm waiting for you." I quickly headed to his elevator and indeed, he was right there, looking dashing and sexy. I smiled at him. "Hey," he said. "I went out briefly and spotted your car before getting here. Knowing your situation, I decided to wait here and escort you to our office.""That was really kind of you. Thank you," I humbly replied. He held my hand before opening the elevator doors. Once we were inside, my body tensed briefly but he intertwined our fingers. I looked up at him and noticed that he was brooding, seemingly lost in thought. With his warm hands holding mine, I felt at ease and closed my eyes as we went up. Once the elevator doors opened, he walked out still holding my hand, and led me to his office. He only let go when we were inside and walked toward his chair. I sat down and began to think about what I had to tell him, and right at that moment, he asked, "Is everything okay? You seem bothered and probably forgot my breakfast at home." I smiled awkwardly, "I'm sorry, the flask fell off my hand and I couldn't make another one because I didn't want to be late.""It's okay. Accidents happen," he told me. I decided to seize the opportunity, so I got up and said to him, "I was wondering if it would be possible for me to transfer to a different department." He stared at me in surprise, "You don't want to work as my secretary anymore?" I shook my head, "It's not that....it's just," I didn't want to mention that his fiancee was uncomfortable with how close I was to him, because I felt it was between me and her. But then, I didn't know what else to tell him. He noticed I was struggling to come up with a reason and said, "Okay. If you want to be transferred out of here, I'll make that happen. Have dinner with me at eight, let's talk more about it and finalize where you would be. Will it be convenient?" I nodded, "Yes, I would be free at eight." Although it was for the best, I felt sad that I would not get the chance to see him every day. "You don't look too good. Do you want to share what the problem is?" He asked, seemingly noticing my sadness. I forced myself to smile brightly, "I assure you, I am fine, Reign." He nodded, "Okay, take the day off.""What?" I stared at him in surprise. "You look like you really need some rest," he added. I couldn't go back home and face those two idiots. I was about to tell him that when my phone began to ring. It was from Lucas and I had a strong urge to turn my phone off but Reign said, "Go ahead and answer your call." I nodded and answered it. "Where are you?" Lucas asked. "That's a dumb question to ask me, considering the fact that I just left the house for work," I replied. "Stop being arrogant," he snapped. "My grandfather wants us to have dinner with him. It is very important for you to be on your best behavior because I could get my inheritance today and we will both be rid of each other.""I really want that," I replied. "Just tell me where and when and I'll be there.""I'll take you there," he said. "And the time is eight." I gasped in surprise, "Eight?"