I rode the elevator up,
humming something to myself.
“Miss.”
“Hi, Daphne.”
I pointed toward the office and raised an eyebrow.
“No, miss. Mr. Caleb is in a meeting.”
I made a face — like of course that important ass is in a meeting,
and Daphne burst out laughing.
I smiled.
For a second, a thought flashed through my mind.
Is she fucking Caleb behind my back?
I froze.
Nah…
Ah, whatever. Forget Daphne.
But Caleb wouldn’t do that…
No. Probably not.
I swallowed.
Caleb is clever.
He knows exactly where and how to push.
Maybe he’s fooling me.
I shook my head.
No. That’s nonsense.
He said he loves me.
“Are you alright?” Daphne brought me back down to earth.
“Huh? Me? Yes, yes. How are you?”
Daphne smiled.
“Mr. Caleb helps me a lot.”
Hades narrowed his eyes.
“Relax, friend. I doubt she means that.”
He let out a breath.
I walked into the office.
Good Lord.
The office was practically its own apartment.
Why the hell does he need an office this huge?
“So there’s an echo when he yells,” Mushu said.
“Exactly,” I said.
And we fist-bumped.
I dropped into the huge chair and started fooling around.
Then suddenly I jumped up.
“Hey! Everybody out!
Everybody oooout!”
Hades and Mushu started laughing.
I stood by the window.
Looking out at the world.
“I’m Caleb, such an important ass, looking down at all of you poor miserable people from my 179th floor so you pathetic creatures know what I’ve achieved.”
“Go ahead, scratch your ass too,” Hades said.
And we burst out laughing again.
I sat back down behind the desk.
“You’re fired.”
Hades, playing the clerk:
“But why, Mr. Caleb?”
“Because you’re a woman and you have a vagina. What if you suddenly decide to have a baby? Then I’d have to pay you.”
“But Mr. Caleb—”
“No, no. Get out of here. I can’t write a check — it’ll kill me if I have to share money.”
The clerk starts to cry.
I stand by the window.
Hades again as the clerk.
“S-s-sir… you called?”
“Yes! Why the hell are you breathing my expensive air?
Go breathe your own!”
“But s-sir—”
“And don’t you dare sniffle in here!”
“Go warm yourself in the basement with the cats. That’s plenty for you.”
“Of course, sir.”
We burst out laughing.
I practically doubled over, holding my stomach.
And then I suddenly noticed Caleb in the doorway.
He was standing there with his arms crossed, leaning against the doorframe.
“Oops,” Hades said — and bolted.
Traitor.
Caleb raised an eyebrow.
“Finished playing around?”
I cleared my throat.
“Damn… how long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough.”
I awkwardly tugged at my hair.
Seduce him, Mushu whispered.
Right.
I stepped closer.
“Mr. Caleb?”
“Not now! I’m busy.”
Caleb marched to the desk like he was on a military parade.
“Damn, he’s offended,” Mushu muttered.
“I can see that!”
“Caleb…”
I crawled toward him like a little kitten.
“Darling… don’t be rude.”
He softened.
I spun the chair around and climbed onto it.
There was a knock, and someone walked in.
And there I was — sitting on Caleb with the most innocent face I could possibly make.
“Not now, damn it!” he shouted angrily.
Then he seemed to remember my little theatrics, pulled himself together, and lifted me off his lap.
“I’m busy.”
I purred again.
“Don’t sulk.”
Caleb turned away.
“Damn, he’s really offended,” Hades said.
I kicked him.
“I see that, I see that!”
“Caleb, darling…”
I crouched down beside him.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
I meant it sincerely, and Caleb visibly softened.
I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“My dear, please don’t be upset.”
I purred softly and brushed against his neck.
“Not now, I’m busy!” Hades roared.
I almost burst out laughing.
“Caleb, darling…”
I kissed him — deep, with promise.
Caleb doesn’t need to be told twice.
He swept everything off the desk and pulled me onto it in one sharp motion.
I bit my lip.
He irritably yanked off his tie
and unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt.
I swallowed.
Damn.
Even through the shirt you could see how much muscle he’d put on.
Good Lord.
“There should be a law forcing men to stay shirtless.”

“Exactly,” Ursula agreed.

Caleb slid his fingers into my hair and tightened his grip.

I gasped.

He unbuckled his belt.

God… Caleb is always so impatient when he’s at work.

He pulled me closer.

“Caleb — careful!”

He bit my neck.

Oh my God…

My head started to spin.
23:18

“Hi.”

“Hi.” I nervously crossed my arms over my chest.

“Want a cigarette?” the Devil said.

“Yeah.”

I lit one.

Damn.
Damn.
Damn.

“So?”

“Well… I’m so naive, so kind… what if Caleb is playing me?”

“Then check the cameras.”

“I’m scared.”

“Oh come on. If it turns out he’s fooling you, you’ll break up with him.”

“That’s true.”

“Or just ask him directly.”

“I’m scared.”

“Why?”

“Caleb moves through manipulation and dirty games like a fish in water. I’m sure he’s pulled things like this before. Cheating is probably routine for him.”

“Damn… but you’re different. He loves you.”

“I don’t know, guys.
I really don’t know.”

“If someone can lie like that while looking a woman straight in the eyes…”

Everyone went quiet.

We kept walking, smoking.

I thought about his exes.
He probably cheated on all of them.

“Why the hell did you get involved with him?”

“I don’t know.”

And I started crying.

Mushu, Hades, Jafar, and the Devil all hugged me.

“Damn, that Caleb brings a lot of trouble.”

“But you care about that guy a lot,” Hades said quietly.

“I think they cared about him too.”

“And that didn’t stop him from using them,” Mushu finished the sentence — and stabbed me with it too.

I broke down completely.

“Damn it, guys…”

“No kidding.”

“If you weren’t so damn horny, we could’ve found you a calmer guy.”

I lowered my eyes.

“Guys… I don’t know. This really isn’t funny to me anymore.”

I lit another cigarette.

The guys got a fire going.

The fire cast a soft glow over the forest.

I kept thinking and thinking.

For someone like Caleb, I’m easy prey.

Trusting. Caring. Kind.

It would cost Caleb nothing to cheat on me.

Drip.
Drip.

My tears kept falling.

“But he swears he loves me.”

“Yeah, he probably fed them the same line,” Hades said.

I nodded.

It makes sense.
When you’re lying, the words don’t matter.
You’ll say anything.

My heart clenched.

Damn.
We sat by the fire a little longer.

I lay down on the ground.
The stars.
Hmm.
Yeah… the stars don’t have problems.
And here I am dealing with this shit.
“So what are you going to do?” Hades asked.
“I’ll corner Daphne.
She’ll give herself away easily.
Caleb can’t be trusted.”
“You won’t ask him?”
I shook my head.
“If I ask him, he’ll prepare her immediately.
He’ll tell her exactly what to lie about and how.
I’ll ask her before he knows about it.”
“Excellent plan.”
“Yeah.”
Tears started falling again.
“But what if it’s true?” Mushu gently placed a hand on my shoulder.
I took a deep breath and dragged on the cigarette.
“Then I made a mistake.”
Mushu patted my shoulder.
“Alright, guys… see you.”
“See you.”
I wandered back toward the house.
AirPods.
Vance Joy — Riptide.
I started slowly spinning,
jumping lightly to the rhythm of the song,
tapping my heels against the damp ground.
Cheating?
Then cheating it is.
I’ll survive.

7:31
I fixed my lipstick.
My eyes were slightly wet.
All my spirits are here.
All supporting me.
I swallowed.
“Come on, guys… we’ll survive.”
The door flew open.
I stepped out.
Daphne — that same smile as always.
I froze.
“Go on. Find out and end this,” Hades said.
“Right.”
“Daphne.”
“Miss?”
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
“Daphne…”
I stepped closer.
“Are you sleeping with Caleb?”
Her face changed.
The smile disappeared.
Her lips started trembling.
Mind:
Slight tremor in the right hand.
Unnatural rubbing of the ear.
Tremor in the left eye.
Nervousness.
Sweating.
Attempt to start talking too fast.
Nervous twitch in the corners of the mouth
and a slight shift in her cheek muscles.
Clear.
“M-m-miss, I-I-I—”
“Shut up.”
I walked into Caleb’s office.

Caleb smiled.

“Darling—”

I stopped him with a gesture.

“Caleb, I asked Daphne if she’s sleeping with you.”

Caleb froze.

“Darling…”

I stood there waiting to see what he would come up with,
how he would talk his way out of it.

“Darling, that’s not true. I’m not sleeping with her. Darling, I… I’m not sleeping with her.”

“Really? Want me to pull up the cameras?”

Caleb jumped up immediately.

“No, you don’t need to.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Why not?”

“Darling, please. I didn’t cheat, I—”

“Then why can’t I check the cameras?”

Caleb took a deep breath.

I got it.

I turned and headed for the door.

Then I remembered something.

“Caleb… listen. I don’t want this to turn ugly. Please find the decency to say goodbye to the kids properly. First their father, and now this… I don’t want them to lose respect for both of you.”

Caleb rubbed his forehead.

“Darling, I… I didn’t sleep with Daphne.”

“Mm-hm.”

I turned and opened the door.

“Darling.”

Caleb pulled me back.

“Wait.”

I stood there calmly.

Caleb grabbed his phone.

“Come on.”

We went to the security office.

“Sir?”

“Show the recordings.”

“Sir—”

Caleb started getting nervous.

“Damn it, the recordings from the last two evenings. My office!”

The guard started fumbling with the controls.

I just stood there like someone whose fate was already decided,
someone who didn’t see the point anymore.

While the guard was rewinding and zooming in on the footage,
I felt completely exhausted.

“Caleb… I’m tired.”

“Please, darling. Just a little longer.”

“There.”

Finally, the guard found the right clips.

I stared at the screen.

Caleb.

And Daphne.

She walks into his office.

And heads toward the desk.
Then suddenly — Daphne’s on top of him.
My jaw almost dropped.
I turned away.
“Got it. Thanks for showing me the details, Caleb.”
He pleaded.
“Wait.”
I started getting angry.
“Leave me alone.”
“Just one second, darling.”
“There! Look, darling!”
I turned back.
Caleb grabbed Daphne.
He was shouting something.
She didn’t react.
“Oh hell…”
Caleb grimaced.
“See? She just felt dizzy.”
I froze.
Then it hit me.
Oops.
I made an innocent face.
Caleb exploded with rage.
I slowly started backing toward the wall.
“Ooooh… so that’s how it is. Well, who could have known?”
I fidgeted with my fingers.
Caleb clenched his fists.
I hesitated for a second, then turned and ran for my life, my heels clicking on the floor.
“Ahhh! Help!”
“Mike! Miiiiike!”
He and a group of guys blocked the way.
I stuck my tongue out.
“Bleh! Bleh-bleh! You can’t catch me, important ass! You can’t catch me!”
Caleb let out a growl.
I swallowed.
“Guys… I’m going to get in trouble anyway.”
Mike raised an eyebrow.
I nodded.
“Let him through.”
Caleb walked up, grabbed me by the elbow, and dragged me back to the office.
“Michael, stay close,” I mouthed.
He nodded.
Caleb started pacing from one corner of the room to the other,
his hand pressed to his lips.
“I… no, you… you… I…”
I swallowed.
“I mean… you… I… and then…”
I started looking at the little figurine on his desk.
What is that… a boat?
For some reason I got completely carried away imagining things.
There’s a sailor living inside the boat.
His wife is a shrimp.
And he himself is a pineapple.
And it’s so sad they can never be together…
That tears started rolling down my face.
Caleb blinked in confusion.
He stood there for a few seconds, not understanding what was happening.
Meanwhile I completely burst into tears.
My hands dropped.
Big brown eyes filling with tears.
My nose turning red.
Even my curls stopped shining like gold.
Caleb rushed toward me.
“Darling, darling…”
“My dear, what happened?”
“Angel…”
I thought maybe it was just a stress reaction —
my brain throwing me straight into vulnerability mode.
First, to save me, because Caleb in anger is terrifying.
And second, because my psyche was overheating.
Caleb hugged me.
But I pulled away.
“Idiot.”
I headed for the door.
Caleb started getting angry again.
He clearly had no idea how women even worked.
He looked completely lost — whatever he did, it was wrong.
In frustration he smashed the desk and the computer on it.
I started crying even harder.
“You’re such an idiot, Caleb!”
Caleb punched the wall
and swore.
I walked out with the security guards.
“Sebastian.”

“Miss.”

“Bring Alpha around. Now.”

...

“Miss.”

“Yes?”

“Alpha is at the entrance.”

I almost sighed with relief.

I love when things get done exactly the way I said.

I kissed Sebastian on the cheek.

“Thank you.”

Alpha immediately switched into sport mode.

I pushed Alpha to 175.

I’m going to kill that bastard.

Mr. Connor.

What an asshole.

Poor Philip.

My heart clenched.

Poor Philip.
15:03
Mr. Connor’s Office
I stormed in like a fury.
“Where is that bastard?”
“Miss?”
Ahem. I cleared my throat.
Pull yourself together, Nazokat. Calm down. Calm down.
“May I see Mr. Connor, please?”
“I’m sorry, miss. He’s busy.”
I bit my lip in anger.
“I see. I see.”
“But I still—”
“Miss.”
“Move.”
I pushed the secretary aside a little.
The door opened.
Behind it stood Mr. Bastard Connor and a whole pack of rats working for that swine.
I smiled sweetly.
“Mr. Connor.”
He clenched his fists.
“I’m in a meeting. I’m busy.”
“Oh really? Strange that I didn’t notice.”
Anyway.
“But I did notice that Philip isn’t at the nursery today.”
“I’m busy. I’m in a meeting.”
I slammed my hand on the table.
“Then move it.”
He started to lose his temper.
“Get out! I’m busy!”
“Oh really?”
I turned.
“Excuse me, could you help me?”
“Of course.”
Some clerk offered his hand and helped me climb onto the table.
I adjusted my trousers — standing on high heels on a smooth table is damn uncomfortable.
“What the hell are you doing?!” Mr. Connor shouted like a madman.
I started stretching the neckline of my blouse.
“Mr. Connor, if you don’t give me your attention, I’m going to embarrass you so badly you’ll regret it.”
He barked an order and everyone left the room.
I exhaled and buttoned my blouse again.
“Mr. Connor. Why isn’t Philip in the nursery?”
“That place isn’t suitable for him.”
“Good Lord… even a pit bull barks quieter than him,” Hades muttered.
“No idea.”
Ahem.
I cleared my throat again.
“Why?”
Mr. Connor began gesturing even more aggressively.
“He keeps talking nonsense about becoming a musician or some artist.”
My eyes filled with tears.
“But what’s wrong with that?”
He looked at me as if he had expected me not to be this stupid.
Apparently, he was mistaken.
“Philip has a future.
He’s the heir.
He will run the business.”
“What? But… but… he doesn’t want that!”
He smirked.
Clearly he thought I lived in the clouds.
Men like this bastard Connor always see me as a little dumb.
Come down to earth, girl — their favorite line.
“Sweetheart, that’s how the world works.”
I understood the message.
Women like me wouldn’t understand.
Women like me play at business their husbands built.
We’re not capable of anything ourselves.
I forced myself to breathe.
What a bastard. What a bastard.
“Mr. Connor… Philip isn’t like that. He’s… he’s sensitive.”
Connor exploded and slammed his fist on the table.
“Exactly!
He cries all the time!
He’s growing up weak!
His idiot mother shoved him into your ridiculous nursery.
I should’ve interfered earlier!”
I swallowed.
God… how do I convince this bastard…
“Mr. Connor,” the secretary interrupted, “they’re waiting for you.”
I glanced after her.
Then my eyes widened.
Philip was standing in the corridor.
“Oh my God… Philip, sweetheart.”
I ran to him.
“Philip! Philip!”
He saw me.
Poor thing. His eyes were full of tears.
I pulled him into my arms immediately.
“Nazokat…” he sobbed.
I was shaking with anger.
Everything inside me trembled with rage.
What a monster.
What a disgusting monster his father is.
A pig.
A filthy, vile bastard.
Mr. Connor leaned back in his chair, thinking.

And suddenly I understood.

This bastard was bargaining.

Using his own son — and my desperation — to squeeze better terms out of me.

While we were vulnerable.

And he knew I would agree to anything if it meant protecting the boy.
“You’re a bastard.
You’re a monster.”
At that moment the door flew open.
Caleb stormed in, full of fury and determination.
Oh shit.
He glanced at me for a split second —
though it felt less like a glance and more like he was trying to burn a hole through me.
Caleb sat down across from Mr. Connor.
I straightened up.
Then Caleb stood, helped Philip and me up from the floor,
and led us out into the corridor.
“Philip,” I whispered, stroking his hair.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. Caleb will figure something out.
I’ll take you back to the nursery, alright?”
Philip calmed down a little.
I, however, went rigid with tension.
A child’s faith in the world depends on two adults.
On whether they keep their word.
“Oh please,” Hades snorted.
“Caleb is a copy of Mr. Connor. They’ll understand each other perfectly.”
I swallowed.
Time stretched like an endless torture.
Finally the door opened.
Caleb stepped out.
“Darling,” he said, pretending he wasn’t furious.
I understood immediately.
We had to play along.
“What?”
“Mr. Connor will allow Philip to return to the nursery.”
I exhaled in relief.
“But he will also attend a business academy.”
“What?!”
Caleb fixed me with a hard stare.
“Yes, darling. Now let’s go.”
Philip and I left the office.
Grinding my teeth the entire way, we drove back to the estate.
I kissed Philip and sent him back to the children in the nursery.
The moment he disappeared from sight, I spun around to Caleb.
“What the hell, Caleb?!
What business academy?!”
He kept walking.
“There were no other options.”
“Well maybe there would have been,” I snapped,
“if you were sleeping with the secretary.
But apparently not everyone is like that.”
“AAAAAH!”
I started stomping my foot in rage.
“You bastard!”
Caleb kept walking while I stood there fuming.
“You… you… you bastard!”
Caleb suddenly turned around.
“I’m the bastard?
I’m the bastard?!”
“You accused me without knowing a single fact.
You made it all up in your head and then blamed me for it.”
I burst into tears.
“I’m tired.
I’m so tired of fighting.”
I wiped my face.
“Caleb… I’m not a man.
I’m a woman.
I’m exhausted from you not understanding that!”
I suddenly shouted:
“Mike!”
Mike ran over immediately.
“Will you carry me? I’m so tired.”
Mike swallowed hard.
I was crying openly now.
“Please, Mike…
Is there at least one man here who can protect me?”
Jonathan appeared.
Without a word he stepped forward and lifted me into his arms.
I exhaled in relief.
“Thank you, darling.”
For a moment everything went completely silent.
Then Caleb lost it.
I waved it off.
Idiot. All he ever does is lose his temper.
Jonathan carried me upstairs and laid me down on the bed.
“Please don’t go,” I said quietly. “Just hold my hand.”
The bedroom door burst open.
Caleb stormed in.
“What the hell is this?!”
“Shut up, Caleb!”
“Darling,” he hissed through his teeth.
I got angry all over again.
“You idiot! You’re supposed to treat a woman like a woman, not like a damn soldier!”
Caleb rubbed the bridge of his nose.
I asked Jonathan to bring all my boys.
Josh came. Logan came. Philip. Matty.
Then Cody and Aaron came in.
Sophie too.
I pulled them all onto the bed and we turned on Hotel Transylvania.
Then I looked at Caleb.
“Family, Caleb, means support.
Not attacking each other.
And you, you idiot, only know how to fight.
Go to hell with your endless war, you bastard.”

Later I went downstairs to the bathroom and then to get some water.
Caleb was in the dining room.
His hands covered his face.
Damn.
For a moment I wanted to feel sorry for him.
But I was still so angry that I walked past.
Caleb heard my footsteps.
“Darling… darling…”
“What?”
Caleb dropped to his knees.
“My angel… please forgive me.”
I narrowed my eyes.
Don’t believe him, Hades said.
Right.
“Leave me alone.”
Tears started running down Caleb’s face.
“My angel, I’m begging you… please…”
Don’t believe him. He’s a master manipulator, Hades warned.
But I was tired.
Tired of playing the who’s-on-top game.
If I’m such a fool that he can easily trick me, then so be it.
I’m exhausted from being on guard all the time.
I knelt down beside him.
Caleb pulled me into his arms.
And then I realized…
he was shaking.
The poor thing was trembling all over from crying.
“He’s having a breakdown,” my mind said calmly.
I nodded.
This wasn’t funny anymore.
Caleb was shaking badly.
He needed sleep.
Or at least to lie down.
His nervous system was overloaded and starting to crash.
Soon he’d need an IV drip.
Sedatives, vitamins… something to calm his body down.
Damn.
I suddenly felt ashamed.
“What do we have to do with it?” Mushu grumbled.
I got angry again.
“Oh please, like you don’t know!”
I sighed.
Caleb works like a madman.
He spares neither himself nor his strength nor his resources.
That man tries so hard for me.
He’s changing.
He’s doing everything he can to become worthy of me.
And I…
Damn.
The ghosts of the past caught up with me and used Caleb.
I projected my fears onto him — the fear of being fooled, of being made a fool.
Damn it.
And this is the result.
Caleb in hysterics.
Overloaded. Exhausted. Almost broken.
Damn. Damn. Damn.
“So what are you going to do?” Hades asked.
“I’ll call Sam. He’ll pull Caleb out of this mess.
Without medicine we won’t get through this.”
“Maybe coke?” Mushu suggested.
“He’s always so lively when he’s high.”
I burst out laughing.
“You pig. How can you be such a pig?”
I tried to help Caleb up.
But there was no way.
He’s enormous.
The guards helped Caleb upstairs, half carrying him.
I swallowed.
Deja vu.
Wasn’t Nate carried upstairs like that too…