Chapter 2
Rosie's POV
I kept on glancing at the cars ahead of the taxi I was riding while calling Mrs. Parker. She was the owner of the apartment I was renting and she loved taking care of my daughter whenever I was at work. My daughter loved her too because she was kind and caring.
[Hello, Rosie? Where are you? I knocked on your unit and Thraia said you didn't come home last night. Thraia, here's your mom.]
I bit my bottom lip and took a deep sigh. I saw Mrs. Parker's countless missed calls when I got in the taxi, and I felt guilty.
Thraia was alone last night. I couldn't imagine what would've happened to me if something happened to her.
[Hello, mommy? Are you coming home now? I was scared, mommy. I thought you disappeared.] Her innocent voice touched my heart, but there was pain and guilt.
"Baby..." I whispered. "I'm sorry. And no, I will never disappear."
[It's okay, mommy. I'm a big girl now. I bathed and dressed on my own. I also braided my hair like you always do, but Mrs. Parker said it was messy, so she fixed it for me.]
I smiled as I looked at my hands. "Yes, you're a big girl now and mommy is so proud of you. But mommy shouldn't have left you alone. I love you, baby."
[I love you too, mommy.] She responded happily before I heard Mrs. Parker's voice again.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Parker. I'm on my way home now. Can you look after Thraia until I come?"
[Of course. She's finishing her breakfast. Just get home safe.]
I nodded as I glanced outside again. "Yes. Thank you, Mrs. Parker."
The road was busy. Cars honking, engines humming. The noises were too loud even when I was inside the taxi and it was making my head hurt more.
I swallowed hard as I massaged my temple, trying to ease the pain. I shut my eyes tight and was relieved when the taxi started moving again.
It took me almost ten minutes before I arrived at the apartment. I panicked when I saw the school bus coming, so I quickly paid my fare and ran out of the taxi despite my aching body.
"Mommy!" My sweet daughter ran to me when she saw me. Behind her was Mrs. Parker who's carrying her tumbler.
Her face was a bit blurry in my vision because I'm not wearing my eyeglasses, but I kneeled in front of Thraia and caressed her hair. "Baby, I'm sorry. Mommy's late."
Her small hands caressed my cheeks as I saw her sweet smile.
"It's okay, Mommy. I know you work hard for me. I wish I wasn't sick..."
"No..." I shook my head, cupping her face. "Don't ever think that. Mommy loves you so much, and that's why I work hard. I want you to have everything you need, so please don't worry, okay?"
She smiled again and nodded. "Okay, mommy."
I smiled as I stood and looked at her. My little sunshine had always been positive.
Mrs. Parker handed me the tumbler. I sent Thraia to the waiting school bus. I waved at her as the bus left. Then I felt Mrs. Parker's presence beside me.
"Where have you been, Rosie?" She looked worried. "I thought something happened to you. I reported to the police early in the morning, but they said they couldn't consider you missing because it hadn't been twenty-four hours."
"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Parker," I said, offering an apologetic smile. "Something came up last night, but I promise it won't happen again."
She nodded slowly. "It better not."
I yawned and sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. The soreness hadn't faded at all.
Was I getting older, or had it just been that long since I...? Did sex usually leave you feeling like you'd been through a marathon?*
Lost in thought, I didn't notice my collar slipping until Mrs. Parker's eyes narrowed.
"Rosie," she said quietly, her gaze fixed just below my jaw. "What... is that?"
I followed her stare and froze. A faint but unmistakable mark stood out against my skin—a hickey. That bastard actually left a mark.
Quickly pulling my collar up, I forced a light laugh. "I'm running late for work—gotta get ready! Thank you again for everything!"
I hurried back to my apartment, straight into the bathroom, and unbuttoned my blouse. Leaning close to the mirror, my stomach dropped. It wasn't just my neck. Bruises and faint red marks scattered across my collarbone, my hips, and the inside of my thighs.
'Was he part vampire? Who does this?'
He was definitely unhinged. Thank God I'd already blocked him.
'Please let us never meet again.'
I took a quick shower, then spent extra time layering concealer over every trace he'd left behind. The last thing I needed was to become office gossip.
By the time I stepped out, Mrs. Parker was waiting by my door.
"I thought you might not have time for breakfast," she said, handing me a wrapped sandwich still warm from the toaster.
The gesture sent a wave of warmth through me. Mrs. Parker never said it outright, but she'd come to treat Thraia and me like family. Over the years, her quiet support had been the reason we'd managed to stay afloat.
"Thank you, Mrs. Parker," I said, meeting her eyes. "I'll enjoy every bite."
As I turned toward the elevator, she called after me, "Rosie..." Her voice held a note of hesitation. "I know it's not my place, but... have you ever considered reaching out to Thraia's father?"
My spine stiffened. My hand trembled slightly as I reached for the elevator button. It wasn't that I hadn't thought about it. It was that...
"It's alright," I said, forcing a smile. "I can handle things on my own."
Mrs. Parker hesitated, then stepped closer and took my hand. "I know you're strong and capable, Rosie. But... if there's another way, you don't have to carry everything alone."
My lips trembled. I wanted to argue, to tell her I had no other choice. But she just gave my hand a gentle squeeze. "I'm not judging you. I just... hate seeing you work yourself to the bone. You're still so young. You could have..."
"This is enough for me," I said softly, fighting to keep my voice steady. "But I appreciate your concern. I promise—if there ever comes a day when I can't be the mother Thraia needs, I'll tell you."
She studied me, conflict still flickering in her eyes. Finally, she sighed and nodded. "Alright. I understand."
The elevator doors slid open just then. "I should go, Mrs. Parker."
"Go on. Take care."
I took an hour off in the morning to swing by the optometrist for new glasses. Without them, I couldn't work efficiently. By the time I reached the company, it was almost ten.
As soon as I stepped into the elevator, I caught pieces of hushed conversation from a small group of colleagues gathered inside.
"Did you hear about the new CEO? My friend in HR said he's a hottie, but brutal."
"I heard. God, they say he's unreal."
I listened with a slight frown as the two women in front of me kept talking.
The previous CEO had fallen ill, and rumors had been swirling that his godson would be taking over. I guessed this was him.
"I heard he scolded someone in HR this morning. Though honestly, they said he looks even hotter when he's angry."
"I bet he's just as intense in bed." One of them giggled, lowering her voice. "Imagine that stare fixed on you in the dark..."
They both laughed softly, while I let out a quiet sigh.
I didn't care about the new CEO. I just hoped my workload wouldn't increase too much—otherwise, I had no idea how I'd manage my side jobs.
The two women stepped out before the elevator reached the executive floors. When the doors slid open again, I saw Claire pacing nearby, phone pressed to her ear.
Claire was my friend. My only friend in this company.
"Rosie, thank God you're here," she breathed out when she saw me. "I couldn't reach you." I quickly checked my phone—dead.
"Battery died," I said. "Am I late for something?"
She shook her head. "Not late, but the new CEO is in. He asked for his senior executive assistant. Now."
I nodded and put my bag on my table before I walked towards the CEO office. Smoothing down my blouse and pencil skirt, I took a deep breath and knocked.
I was calm. At work, I was always calm, always poised. But when I saw the man seated behind the desk, my body froze.
The room seemed to shrink. His gaze pinned me in place like a physical force. My heart hammered, and a feeling I'd tried so hard to bury deep inside rushed back—raw and immediate.
The man I'd run from six years ago.
Thorn Rockwell.
My ex-boyfriend—and now, my new boss.
