Raymond was in the kitchen. He opened the cab where he kept his stash of supplements and roses, thinking, "Mr. Reid definitely needs a boost afterst


    #night


    repen, inil the bed was a


    as aplete disaster.


    Meanwhile, Vespera wain''t about nei k talong the elevator pod only knew who might being up or down at that bour


    Lit some random neighbor from the 20th floor suddenly decided to crash there


    too


    her head. Metter to believe in bad back than non straight interi


    she made the recitive decision to take the stairs.


    Thunkfully.i


    cor she reached her foot, she punched in the eu code to the emergency stairwell and finally made it back into her apartment safely.


    In the bathroom, she dropped her robe.


    The moment she caught sight of herself in the mines, coveted in hockeys and bruised warmth, she stood there in silence, her body radiating heat.


    she scrubbed off everything sticky and letter from the night before


    Once dressed and ready for work, she pulled the infamous shopping bag out from under her bed. One nce at it was enough.


    The matched in straight to her wardrobe and showed it into the very back of the bottom dower.


    Just as she was about to head out, she realized something terrifying Her phone was still upstairs.


    A wave of inner conflict washed over bet. There was no way she was going back up there right now. But then again, this was a workday. If anyone tried to call her.


    checked the time it was not even 7:00 am.


    Dominic probably wasn''t awake vet. 11 she moved fast, she could sneak into the guest room, grab her phone, and get out before anyone evennoticed.


    Heart racing, she headed back upstairs.


    She walked into the penthouse, trying to look calm and collected. Then, the moment she stepped into the living room, she locked eyes with Raymond.


    Hammond was startled and nearly jumped.


    "Vespria," Rastond gireted her with a warm, grandfatherly smile


    "Good moming, Mr. Chandler Vespera nodded calmly, doing her best to sound casual. “I just came by to check on the kitten."


    oom when he called out again, pulling sqmething from his pocket. "Vespera, did you maybe drop thisst night while


    She had just taken a few steps toward the foon). helping our with the ten*


    There it was her phone, in his hund


    Hercalm,pound expression instantly tumed red.


    by 9.00am, Vesperalued alteady been at her desk for an basur


    The moment she left the penthouse, she drove straight out of theplex like her


    life depended on it. Now, she sat stiftly higher chair, wrapped in a ball of


    emotions. Complicated, taogled stume


    Soon after, Dominic and Gerard arrived at the office


    Vespera pulled herself together, put on her best "everything is perfectly normal" face, and walked over to greet them.


    Duisanic looked at her for a second, then nodded "Mun You''re up pretty early"


    Thru, beschiled faintly and walked into his office


    Vespertatione irios abrat, i back as straight as a miet.


    wasaportly undeirading "gooding from Mi Reid "Gerard chuckled.


    He leaned in sigbaly, lowering His voice like he was shatting a pory secret.


    "You didnot bear it fromme, but My chandler went nuts has moning Loaded Mr. Reid up with every male vitality supplement Invexistence,"


    Vesperament silent again.


    Gerard was priming from the,wever, could pretend to uimale.


    eta ralled!


    migh not from makingi


    "Vespere was arting wrind today for


    at was going on with heph


    made barn mary forward ber desk, only to catch herbert on the edge of the carpet.


    She stumbled and flopped andmandly into her chair, fes gaze undorsed as she slumped back.


    in her heat. "Mr. Qunder gar Mr. Teid all kinds of vinlity supplements this moming.


    ""


    the let herself fall back into her chair like a woman tutterly detrated the shaped that way for mu?tie 15 minutes before


    espera formed bemself upright. "Come in


    She was expecting


    centrom the secretary department. She sat up slowly, rubbing her face like she was trying to bring herself bark to life.


    Only to look up and see


    From rxed to petrified in one second t. Her mind instantly fomed to static


    (cally and closed the door behind him


    hat''s wrong with your face?")


    esked, tone light, posture may-cocopletely at peace with the world.


    "Nothing," Vespere replied quickly, putting her hands away from her face and standing