-Athenaïs Gauthier

"Are you okay?" he asked me with a blank gaze. The question made my blood boil. The nerve!

How am I supposed to be okay when I saw you kissing her, not resisting? It broke me, I could almost literally hear my heart crack.

The trip has made me realize that I might be in love with my boss; nice going Athenaïs, way to chase your dreams as an architect. Fall in love with your boss and get your heart broken, that should do it.

He's just seated there like nothing happened yesterday, how does he do it?

Puts on a face that says "I have it all figured out in life." And his brother is right beside him like they have the best relationship.

I wonder what happened between them that makes them hate each other so much. These meetings are so boring, when is it ending?

Looking at him... why don't I hate him? I should hate him for making me fall for him only to find him in the arms of someone else. And he hasn't said a word about it, not one word.

Anne doesn't know what she's talking about, if only she knew he didn't feel sorry about anything. We flew back to California as if nothing happened.

I've never felt so invisible. Heaven forbid I mention it to him, if it takes stewing forever, then so shall I. He hurt me and he's not apologetic about it.

Is this him? The real him? The fantasies I had about being his woman thrashed in the mud. I should've known Anne was talking nonsense; she's also a victim of his wicked games, why hasn't he called or texted me since to talk about recent events?

About being his assistant, I don't think I want to do that anymore; I should tell him I changed my mind. What if he agrees? I won't be close to him anymore.

Being around him exposes me to his treacherous charms. I never knew I could feel safe and in danger at the same time. How do I break out of this? What did you do to me, Keith? This wasn't the plan.

I should focus on being an architect right? He's a distraction but a sweet distraction. I'm in trouble, aren't I?

So many questions... How did I get here? I'm in this dangerous web I spun myself with Keith holding my hands. He made it this way, and now he's just going to play coy?

I've been lured so far away, now I can't find my way back.

He looks at me like he's staring into my soul, his voice so alluring; I'll follow that voice to the ends of the earth if it wanted.

His touch... Don't even get me started there; I don't stand a chance opposing it.

I never thought I'd fall this hard for anyone; let alone my boss. I'm ready to go wherever he wants me to.

I've drank from the poisoned wine; sweet nectar from a scorpion's tail. It's killing me but I want more. At least I know I'll die happy.

Congratulations Athenaïs, on your first heartbreak and it's all thanks to you. You knew very well, that it wasn't going to end well, yet you leaped like a fool. Like Elvis Presley said, "Only fools rush in." I rushed in hard.

Now it's time to face the music; this feeling... will never get compensated. You know that right?

Now I have to face each day with him; being in his presence. Will I survive this?

Maybe his brother was right, I should've made a run for it. But who would run away from that face? That enchanting face and Adonis body can charm Aphrodite herself.

What if his brother was saying the truth, am I just the latest model? Many have come and gone. Is my heart the next to be broken?

Why am I even asking? I mean look at him!

But... what if I'm wrong? What if Anne was right? What if he's also as confused as I am right now?

What if he loves me too?

What if everything I've hoped and imagined come through?

What if I wake up next to him each day?

Where is it written that a boss can't fall in love with his employee or the other way around?

Love can't be boxed into a corner, it comes in various ways, most of the time, in ways you least expected.

Maybe I shouldn't lose hope... this might just be the beginning of our love story. After all, he said I've been on his mind from the first day he saw me.

When we make love, I can feel not just our bodies but our souls connect.

The way he defends me, saved me from thugs, got rid of Hye-Na, I don't know how but he did.

The way he ran after me when he saw me walk away; that's a good sign, right? Or am I overthinking it?

It's the little things that make up the big ones.

Was he doing all of that just to bed me? I don't want to believe that. It'll be shattering to discover that I was only a pound cake.

If he doesn't feel anything for me, he wouldn't commit himself by making me his assistant.

He wants me around him all the time; that should count for something. I can't have enough of him. He's everything I want in a man.

There's this flickering little light in my heart, telling me "There is hope."

I am going to hold on to it as though my life depends on it. I'll nurture this light till it grows so big that the whole world can see it.

Love, they say is the strongest force of all, I'm counting on it, I'll never let go. Nothing good comes easy, right?

Or is this just an obsession? I don't know... but whatever this is; I'm going to fight for it until it's mine.

I want to sleep and wake up next to him, be in his arms, and breathe his air, for the rest of my life.

Am I being too ahead of myself? Love, they say, makes you do crazy things.

Then I am crazy, crazy in love.

- Keith Levinson

There's no way in hell I'm giving in to this insanity. It's illogical and meaningless to me.

Those days died a long time ago when I loved sincerely and purely; only to be made a fool out of.

I found the perfect girl, beautiful, sweet, smart... she was my everything.

Our families were close, and I felt like the luckiest guy ever, for a man of my status falling in love with a girl your family approved is a rare blessing.

The day I met her, she felt unreal; we hit it off so quick, like a moth to the flame. I was the moth, she was the flame.

I asked her to be mine and she said yes, my essence felt whole. She was my whole world.

We aimed at attending the same college and we succeeded; I wasn't ready to take any chances of losing her to long distance.

Everything was alright with the world until sophomore year.

My younger brother joined us at the same university as a freshman. Father took ill and thought he had to teach me the family business early.

I took a gap year from school to learn the family business. I called her every day. Reminded her that I was always thinking about her, that I loved her.

If I could split myself in two I would've, I felt guilty for leaving her but I had no choice.

I had an obligation as the first son and firstborn. If I'm going to succeed my father, I had to start early.

I do not regret my decisions, they made me who I am today, my father will be proud of me where he is right now, may his soul Rest In Peace.

Things became tedious, I couldn't keep in touch as much as I would've loved. Her missed calls were so hurtful to my soul.

When I called back, she wouldn't answer or respond with a text saying she was in class.

That was probably the only time I'll have to talk to her in the next 3 days. I see several missed calls from her.

I couldn't wait for my gap year to end so I can be with my dearest again. I was halfway through.

Six more months and she'll be in my arms again. I told my father about my intentions toward her and he was overjoyed.

He said it'll be his greatest joy to see me marry her. Her father and my father were best of friends and business partners, that was how we met.

Because of this, my father permitted me to pay her a surprise visit and take her on a short romantic vacation, all expenses paid.

There were no words to describe my joy, I was going to see my sweetheart again. My father flew me first thing the next morning.

I bought her favorite things, she loves peonies and Reese's chocolates and a beautiful gold locket with our favorite picture on it, for her to wear close to her heart— To remind her I'll always be for her and no one else.

I got to her dorm to find a tie on the doorknob; my heart sank. It couldn't be, not her. Not my Flynn.

I opened the door without knocking and saw even a far worse sight.

Her... in bed with my brother... MY BLOOD BROTHER!

The pain I felt can't be described with mere words, she started crying. I couldn't even bring myself to cry— This is a girl I could give my life for.

My brother, I told him to help me look after her; he took my request too seriously.

I couldn't look at her, she begged that I hit her and say hurtful things to her.

Even the flowers in my hand withered at the sight of her.

I never imagined she'll do this to me; especially not with my brother.

"How long?" I asked her, I couldn't even find my voice.

She just kept crying. My brother was on her bed staring at us; that was the moment I knew what happens in a murderer's head before they commit murder.

I wanted to kill him! He just sat there looking satisfied. I was scared of what I was going to do next.

I looked at her and she wasn't the same anymore. My perfect world shattered like shards of glass to the ground. Nothing made sense.

She fell to my feet, I gave her the vacation tickets to share with my brother. She held on to my leg, begging me to forgive her; that she felt lonely and neglected.

Was she trying to blame me for this? The worst thing was I felt guilty but why my brother?

I couldn't stand her any longer, I pushed her off of me. My brother had the guts to challenge me because I pushed her.

I didn't hesitate to punch him in the face, not once, not twice.

He stopped being my brother from that moment onwards. I never had a brother.

With his bloody face and mouth, he laughed, I wanted to hit him this time with the hope that he dies.

He said what was on his mind— In his words.

"You've always gotten what you want!

You're father's favorite, I walked in your shadow for years!!! Everything I've wanted always seemed to fall on your lap,

The girl I liked, came to our summer house and you swooped in on her,

I saw a chance to make you feel how I've felt all these years and I took it!!!

How does it feel, brother?"

I couldn't believe those words came out of someone that called himself my brother.

He has resented me for years; if he had the chance, he'll poison me in my sleep.

Two betrayals from the people I loved so much; I prayed for death— that would've been more merciful.

The agony I felt was so unbearable I just wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole.

Without hesitance, I took the next available flight back to California; from that day forward, my work has been my only concern.

A few months later my parents got divorced, nothing could surprise me anymore; I didn't give two fucks.

After all, Love is not a real thing.

The moment I ran after Athenaïs at the mixer... I was reminded of that deep-seated feeling that I thought had died years ago, I can't have that, not now... Not ever.