The clink of crystal glasses was too loud. The sharp, hollow sound grated against my nerves as Vivian raised hers high, her smile radiant under the chandelier's soft glow.
"A toast," she declared, her voice carrying over the murmur of our gathering in the estate's grand dining room. "To fresh starts, family unity, and... the charity gala!"
The room broke into polite applause, but I couldn't join in. My fingers clenched around the stem of my glass. A fresh start? The words felt like a cruel joke.
Vivian turned to me, her expression warm but expectant. "Riley, darling, you'll help organize it, won't you? And Miles, you'll assist her."
My breath caught, and I shot a glance at Miles across the table. His smirk was subtle but unmistakable—a sharp contrast to the storm brewing in his eyes.
"You've got to be kidding," I muttered, barely loud enough for Vivian to hear.
She tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Of course not. You two make an excellent team, and this is for a good cause. Besides," she added, her tone gentler now, "you'll have plenty of time to… resolve your differences."
Resolve our differences? My heart hammered.
Miles leaned back in his chair, his voice smooth and biting. "It's settled then. We'll be working together."
The words dripped with irony, and my stomach twisted. I could already feel the tension tightening around me like a noose.
The study was quiet except for the ticking clock and the rustle of papers. Miles and I sat across from each other, the massive oak desk between us.
"I'll handle the guest list," I said, not looking up.
"No," he replied, his voice calm but firm. "I'll do it."
I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to stay composed. "Fine. Then I'll oversee the venue."
"Already booked."
I slammed my pen down, glaring at him. "What exactly do you expect me to do, Miles?"
He leaned forward, the edge of his lips curving into a smug grin. "Stay out of my way."
The words were like gasoline to a fire. I shot to my feet, my chair scraping against the hardwood floor. "You're impossible!"
"And you're predictable," he countered, his tone cool as ever.
The restraint I'd clung to snapped. "Why are you doing this? Why can't you just… let me breathe?"
His smirk vanished, replaced by something darker, rawer. He stood, towering over me. "Because you drive me insane, Riley. You always have."
I froze, my pulse pounding in my ears. The air between us felt electric, charged with something I didn't dare name.
"You think you're so righteous," he continued, his voice low and sharp. "But you're just as messed up as I am."
"Don't you dare," I whispered, my voice trembling.
He stepped closer, his face inches from mine. "Dare what? Tell the truth? Say what no one else will?"
"You don't know anything about me."
"Don't I?" His eyes bore into mine, unrelenting.
For a moment, the world fell away—the study, the clock, the weight of every unresolved emotion between us. It was just him, his breath mingling with mine, his gaze searching for something I wasn't ready to give.
His hand rose, hesitating before brushing against my cheek. My breath hitched as his thumb grazed my skin, sending shivers down my spine.
"Miles…" His name was barely a whisper.
He leaned in, his lips hovering so close that I could feel their warmth. My heart screamed for him to close the distance, to erase the space between us.
But he didn't. His jaw tightened, and he pulled back, his hand dropping to his side.
"This is a mistake," he said, his voice rough. Then he turned and walked out, leaving me alone and unraveling.
Later that night, I paced the study, the weight of our earlier exchange pressing down on me. I needed to focus, to distract myself, so I started sorting through the stack of papers Miles had left behind.
But then I found it.
A photograph, tucked beneath a pile of invoices.
My breath caught as I stared at it—a younger Miles, his arm wrapped around a woman with striking green eyes and a smile that could rival the sun. They looked… happy. Intimately so.
Who was she? And why did the sight of her ignite a knot of jealousy in my chest?
The photo slipped from my fingers as a new thought took hold.
What was Miles hiding?