Page 40 of Tempting My Nemesis

I finally arrive at my building, my clothes soaked through as I dash from the car to the entrance. Water drips from my hair, leaving a trail behind me as I trudge up the stairs, each step dragging from the intensity of everything that’s happened.

The door to my apartment clicks shut behind me, the sound echoing through the quiet space. I drop my keys on the table,the clatter loud in the stillness. The familiar surroundings feel foreign, cold. My cozy sanctuary now feels like a prison, each corner echoing with memories of my old life.

I slog into the kitchen, making my way to the kettle sitting on the stove. I need a simple task to focus on. I fill it with water, my movements mechanical. I watch as the water heats, steam rising in delicate tendrils. The routine should be comforting, but today it feels hollow.

I need to pull myself together. I can’t let this destroy me… I can’t let him destroy me. But why does it hurt so much?

As I walk to my bedroom, shivering in my damp clothes, a memory washes over me. The last time I was this soaked, Caleb had been there. We'd been caught in a sudden downpour during a yoga session on the beach.

He'd rushed me back to his beach house, concern etched on his face.

"You'll catch a chill," he'd muttered, wrapping me in a plush towel.

His hands had been so gentle as he'd dried my hair, his touch igniting a warmth that had nothing to do with the thick fabric around me.

Later, wrapped in his arms, our bodies entwined, he'd made sure I was thoroughly warmed up in the most delicious way possible. The memory fades, leaving me colder than before.

I force myself to change into dry clothes, each movement an effort. The kettle whistles, pulling me from my thoughts. I pour the hot water into a mug, watching as the tea bag swirls and colors the water.

The mundane task offers little solace, my mind still a tempest. I carry the mug to the living room and curl up on the couch, clutching it like a lifeline.

I thought I could trust him… I thought we could be something more. But maybe I was just fooling myself. Maybe I was never meant to have something real.

I sip the tea, its warmth doing little to ease the coldness inside me. My thoughts keep circling back to Caleb.

The loneliness is crushing. The apartment feels too quiet, too empty. I fold into myself, tears spilling over despite my efforts to hold them back.

The thought of losing Caleb completely tears at me in ways I can’t even begin to describe. But if we can’t trust each other, he’s just going to hurt me again. I sip more tea, hoping for some semblance of comfort that never comes.

What if this is all there ever was for me? What if real love is just an illusion?

I clutch my mug and stare into space, gripped by the panic of my thoughts. The battle between my heart and my mind rages on, leaving me drained and unsure of how to move forward.

The apartment remains silent around me as if holding its breath for an answer that won’t come.

I arriveat Archer Innovations the next morning, my eyes gritty and swollen from crying. The familiar scent of the office—coffee, paper, and a faint hint of the lavender air freshener Maddie loves—does nothing to calm my nerves. My desk is cluttered with financial documents, a disheveled mess that mirrors my state of mind.

Focus, Zoe. You need to save this company. You can’t let everything fall apart just because your personal life is a mess.

I sit down, scanning the numbers in front of me. My eyes dart across the page, but nothing sticks. All I think of are Caleb’s coldeyes, the accusation in his voice. My heart aches, and I bite my lower lip to keep from crying again.

Focus.

The projections used to give me a sense of control, a clear path forward. Now they blur into meaningless figures. I can barely breathe under the crushing weight of my responsibilities. I can’t stop thinking about about how everything crumbled so quickly.

My phone buzzes on the desk, jolting me out of my thoughts. I pick it up, heart pounding as I read the email from one of our key investors. The words blur together, but the message is unmistakable—they’re pulling out.

"This can’t be happening… not now," I mutter to myself, unable to stop the tremble of my voice.

I set the phone down, my hands shaking. The reasons cited are a slap in the face—concerns about the company’s stability and lack of confidence in my leadership. It feels like everything is slipping through my fingers.

I thought I could do this on my own. But now… I don’t know if I’m strong enough. I don’t know if I can save the company or my heart.

The pressure mounts as reality sinks in. Without Caleb’s support, saving Archer Innovations seems impossible. Panic rises within me; I've relied too much on his power rather than finding strength within myself.

I lean back in my chair, staring up at the ceiling as everything presses down on me—my failing relationship with Caleb, the company's precarious state, and my overwhelming sense of isolation.

The uncertainty of what comes next is paralyzing.

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