Chapter 3
For what felt like forever, Izzy stood frozen on the terrace, barely daring to breathe as Calen’s voice drifted through the small crack in the door. “Yeah, I told you I’d handle it,” he said, li tone casual. “No, he won’t be a problem. I’m sure Isabella can take care of him. You know her, she’s better than me when it comes to negotiations. Do you even remember any negotiations she wasn’t able to close?”
Izzy’s blood ran cold. He was talking about her. He was talking af she’s a tool that he could use. The realization hit her like. a punch to the gut, but she forced herself to stay calm, to focus. A part of her wanted to hear everything while the other wanted to walk in there and slap him in the face.
“Look… I know what you’re worried about, but Isabella can handle it, alright?” Calen continued. “The Horvath Industries would never find anyone as good as her”
There was a pause as he listened to whoever was on the other end of the call. His father. It had to be.
Then, Calen spoke again. “Yeah, send the bonus to my account. l take care of the rest.”
Izzy’s mind raced as she pieced together the conversation. He was talking about some deal she’s about to close, something she had been working on, thinking it was for their future. But it wasn’t. It was all for him.
Izzy slowly turned, peeking through the small opening. Just as she did, Monica entered the room, draped in red lingerie. The sharp click of her heels echoed through the office, and Izzy knew her time was up.
“Don’t tell me she’s getting another promotion?“Monica asked, her tone as sickly as it was earlier as she handed him a glass
of wine
“Do I have a choice?” Calen said. Calen accepted the wine glass from Monica. “Father wanted me to give her something.”
“A bonus would be enough,” Monica said.
“You won’t understand,” Calen answered.
“She’s been being haughty lately, you know? My mother said she’s been acting like a little princess. Mom cooks her food and prepares it before she even wakes up.How could she let a fifty year old woman who helped her when she was orphaned do all the work?” Monica said, pouring Calen another glass of wine. You sure your mother would like a woman like that?”
“Can we not talk about this?” Calen accepted the glass again and downed it in one go. Calen didn’t give Monica a chance to react before he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her close. She squealed, the sound sharp and playful as wine splashed onto her red lingerie. A drop trickled down her chest, but neither of them seemed to care.
With a sudden movement, he spun her around and pinned her against the glass door of the terrace. The bang reverberated through the small space, sending a jolt of panic through Izzy, who was just on the other side of that door. Her body stiffened. as she pressed herself tighter against the terrace wall, her heart hammering in her chest.
Panic surged through her. She had to find a way out–now.
Her eyes darted around the small terrace, scanning for any possible escape. The terrace next door was too far to jump to, it was impossible. She stepped closer to the railing, peering over the edge. The drop was dizzying. There was no way she could. climb down all the way to the ground, but then she saw it–a terrace below, about one floor down.
It was her only chance.
Her heart raced as she measured the distance. It wasn’t too far, but one wrong move, and she could fall. She swallowed hard, her palms sweating as she gripped the railing. There wasn’t time to think. If Monica stepped out onto the terrace, it was over.
And Izzy would rather die than let that happen.
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13.10 Wed, Jan
Chapter 3
Izzy swung one leg over the tailing, her body trembling with fear and adrenaline, She felt the rough metal under her hands as she carefully pulled her other leg over, balancing on the edge of the terrace. Below, the small platforrn of the lower terrace seemed farther than it had before.
She glanced back toward the door. They didn’t seem to notice her. Not yet.
Taking a deep breaths, Izzy steeled herself. This was it. All those gymnastics in middle school are finally going to pay off. She tightened her grip on the railing and let herself drop
The wind rushed past her as she fell, her heart leaping into her throat. Her feet hit the terrace below with a thud, and for at terrifying moment, she wobbled, almost losing her balance. But he caught herself, clutching the railing tightly, her knees shaking from the impact.
She didn’t have time to recover. She crouched low, hiding behind the railing of the lower terrace, hoping and praying that neither Calen nor Monica had seen or heard anything. Her body trembled with fear and adrenaline, but she forced herself
to stay still
Izzy crouched low behind the railing, her pulse thundering in her ears as she tried to control her breathing. She was sure she had gotten away with it. No one had seemed to notice her desperate escape to the terrace below.
But just as she started to believe she was in the clear, she heard the sound of a door creaking open. Her body tensed instantly. She turned her head slowly, her breath catching in her throat. A man stepped out onto the terrace.
Her heart dropped.
Their eyes met, and she felt the blood drain from her face. She knew him. Of all the people it could have been, it was him- someone she had hoped she would never have to see again. Her ex fiance, her nemesis- Liam Horvath
He didn’t say anything at first. He just stood there, looking at her, his lips curling into a cruel smile. The kind that made her stomach twist in knots. Her body froze in place, her mind scrambling for an explanation, anything to diffuse the situation.
“This isn’t what it looks like,” she said quickly. She tried to sound convincing, but she knew it was pointless. His expression didn’t change as his eyes lazily trailed down her body, taking in the disheveled state of her clothes.
He took a slow step toward her, his smirk widening as he closed the distance between them. “Oh, I’m sure it’s not,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Izzy’s heart pounded harder. She stood up slowly, keeping her back against the railing. She had to think of a way out of this, But before she could think of anything, he reached for the door, pulling it open with deliberate ease.
He didn’t say another word. Instead, he stepped aside, gesturing toward the open door with a mocking tilt of his head, inviting her inside. His smirk never faltered.
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宙
