He didn’t feel like doing anything. Not even talking. Everything that had been happening had drained him completely. His mind was in chaos. Too many issues to solve, too many problems demanding immediate answers. The board meeting that had dragged on for nearly the entire damn day, Delclaux’s removal, the romantic relationship with his assistant—one the Board now knew about—the silent judgment, as if he had committed some kind of crime… feeling miserable, hurt, frustrated, wounded… betrayed.It had all been too much, and the day wasn’t even over yet. There were still countless matters waiting for him before he could go home, and at home, more awaited him. His head felt like it was about to explode; his body was heavy, and he feared he might fall apart at any moment. He was almost certain he was going to get sick. He could feel it deep in his gut.“Sir, are you all right? Do you need anything? Water, coffee, painkillers, something to eat?” his assistant asked as she followed him into t

He would be a downright liar if he claimed he had slept well. If he managed to get three hours of sleep, that was already a lot. He didn’t look his best: dark circles were pronounced beneath his eyes, a two-day stubble covered his jaw, and his hair looked unruly and unkempt, improperly styled, just like when he was younger. He didn’t even bother to dress neatly. At least he looked “presentable.”The first thing he did, after completing his morning routine and everything that came with it, was call his office. It didn’t surprise him that his assistant was already at the company. Something had changed during their brief exchange of good morning greetings. The subdued, fragile tone in Johari’s voice did not go unnoticed. She didn’t mention or complain about him leaving the office without taking the painkillers. There were no witty remarks either. There was nothing at all. It reminded him of Johari during her first days at work—the young woman who was just beginning to familiarize herself

Slipping off his professional mask, he began to walk, his brother at his side."Good morning, Johari," he greeted, his voice stern and indifferent. "Any news?""Good morning, sir," she replied, and then he noticed the tired, dull, and sad expression on his assistant's face, which sent a pang through his chest. "I've scheduled the meeting for three in the afternoon. The executives have already been informed. I organized your agenda and adjusted the times and days for your upcoming meetings and business lunches. Today's meeting with Roger Petrov, head of the engine department, has been rescheduled for next Tuesday at the same time. The other updates are already loaded into your agenda with the corresponding reminders.""Very well. I’ll be in the office. I don’t want anyone to bother me," he demanded, walking toward his office. He was about to open the door when he heard him."Finally, we meet again, Johari," Francis said with a big, friendly smile. "No need for formalities. Just call me

It wasn’t easy to relive everything that had happened. It wasn’t simple to recall how things unfolded, nor was it pleasant to revisit such humiliating moments. Even so, he managed to tell Francis everything. From his one-night stands to the brief affair with Alessandra Ortiz. He was as explicit as he could be, sparing only the intimate details.The fleeting “romance.”The breakup for the sake of “peace.”The email with its message of blackmail and threats.The video.He told him everything.When he finished, he let out a long breath and looked away from his brother. He didn’t want to see either the shock or the anger in Francis’s eyes.“Well… I’m not entirely sure what to say right now,” Francis admitted. He shook his head, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes. “I don’t understand, Andrew. I really don’t. I’m trying to—”“I made a mistake. I know that,” Andrew said, opening his eyes. “I was desperate. I thought it would ruin my life, but—”“Your assistant saved you. That’s wh

If someone had told him a year ago that he would end up falling in love with a woman nearly two decades younger than him—and that she would be his assistant… he would have laughed at the idea. It wasn’t funny, however; today, it was a reality, an undeniable truth.A lot can happen in a year, and he knew that better than anyone. It only took twelve damn months for his whole life to change, and he was still processing it. It wasn’t easy to accept—not with so much confusion gnawing at his mind. He had made many mistakes over the past year, and the consequences were clear. And, damn it, his brother was right: he would have to learn to separate his personal life from his professional one. But it wasn’t that simple. In theory, it sounded fine; now he had to start putting it into practice. But how? He still felt frustrated and hurt over everything that had happened. He still felt betrayed, and that kept him trapped in a loop of confusion.Honestly, he wanted to understand why his assistant h