Jeremy stood in the heart of the biggest amusement park in the city, “Starprize Gardens” his heart racing with excitement and nervous anticipation.He had saved every spare penny for months, meticulously planning and scrimping to make today perfect for his beloved Hailey. The whole park was his for the day, a surprise he couldn't wait to unveil.He told Hailey that he would meet her at 9:00, but Hailey never showed up."D-Did she forget?" Jeremy whispered to himself, trying to shake off the creeping doubt.With a heavy heart, he decided to take a stroll in the garden, his legs heavy with each step he took.Being a resident of the building himself, the sight of the luxurious cars in the parking lot was always confusing for Jeremy, who wondered how they managed to maintain such expensive vehicles. He couldn't help but admire their fancy wheels, even if they were a bit out of his league.His mode of transportation was quite different from his neighbors', as he only had a motorcycle to ge
Jeremy let out a frustrated breath, throwing himself back onto the bed, his hands resting behind his head. "Seems like it," he muttered, his voice tinged with irritation. "Perfect timing, right?" Hope crossed her arms, pacing slightly in the small space, her thoughts running in circles. "Great. Just great," she muttered to herself, still trying to shake off the discomfort she’d felt from their earlier conversation. The unexpected turn of events—getting stuck in this room, alone with Jeremy—wasn't exactly how she’d envisioned this night going. "You know, I’m starting to think the universe is against us," Hope said, trying to lighten the mood but failing miserably. Jeremy chuckled, the sound low and almost resigned. "Yeah, well, when it rains, it pours.” Hope shot him a sideways glance, realizing that this situation was somehow bringing them closer. Whether she liked it or not, they were stuck together, and there was nowhere to hide from the rawness of their conversation or the
Jeremy let out a frustrated breath, throwing himself back onto the bed, his hands resting behind his head. "Seems like it," he muttered, his voice tinged with irritation. "Perfect timing, right?" Hope crossed her arms, pacing slightly in the small space, her thoughts running in circles. "Great. Just great," she muttered to herself, still trying to shake off the discomfort she’d felt from their earlier conversation. The unexpected turn of events—getting stuck in this room, alone with Jeremy—wasn't exactly how she’d envisioned this night going. "You know, I’m starting to think the universe is against us," Hope said, trying to lighten the mood but failing miserably. Jeremy chuckled, the sound low and almost resigned. "Yeah, well, when it rains, it pours.” Hope shot him a sideways glance, realizing that this situation was somehow bringing them closer. Whether she liked it or not, they were stuck together, and there was nowhere to hide from the rawness of their conversation or the
Hope woke to the faint smell of coffee and the sound of shuffling papers. She blinked groggily, realizing the pillow barrier was still firmly in place between her and Jeremy, who was sitting cross-legged at the edge of the bed, engrossed in a folder. A steaming cup sat precariously on the nightstand beside him.“Morning, Sleeping Beauty,” Jeremy said without looking up, a smirk already forming on his lips.“Morning,” she mumbled, sitting up and running a hand through her hair. Then her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Wait—where did you get the coffee?” She asked in surprise “What do you mean? Do I need your permission to get myself a coffee?” JEREMY said as he sipped more coffee from his cup.“Don’t play dumb with me, Jeremy. Have you got the hotel door sorted? I mean, it broke last night.Jeremy raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “Relax, Sherlock. I called the front desk early this morning. Maintenance fixed it while you were busy snoring.”Hope's jaw dropped. "I do not snore!"Jer
Jeremy let out a frustrated breath, throwing himself back onto the bed, his hands resting behind his head. "Seems like it," he muttered, his voice tinged with irritation. "Perfect timing, right?" Hope crossed her arms, pacing slightly in the small space, her thoughts running in circles. "Great. Just great," she muttered to herself, still trying to shake off the discomfort she’d felt from their earlier conversation. The unexpected turn of events—getting stuck in this room, alone with Jeremy—wasn't exactly how she’d envisioned this night going. "You know, I’m starting to think the universe is against us," Hope said, trying to lighten the mood but failing miserably. Jeremy chuckled, the sound low and almost resigned. "Yeah, well, when it rains, it pours.” Hope shot him a sideways glance, realizing that this situation was somehow bringing them closer. Whether she liked it or not, they were stuck together, and there was nowhere to hide from the rawness of their conversation or the t
Hope cleared her throat, shaking her head to dispel the sudden heat creeping up her neck. "Don’t flatter yourself," she shot back, though her tone lacked it's usual sharpness. Jeremy chuckled as she pushed her off the door and crossed the room toward the window. "Relax, Hope. You’re the one who said I should open up. I figured this would be a good start. Just us—no distractions, no interruptions. And maybe I might open something else-your legs” Hope's jaw dropped, and she stared at Jeremy, half-shocked and half-amused by his audacity. "Excuse me?" she managed, her voice a mix of incredulity and disbelief. Jeremy turned back to her, leaning casually against the window frame with a smirk that was equal parts teasing and infuriating. "What? Too bold? Thought you liked honesty, Hope." She narrowed her eyes at him, crossing her arms as she approached. "There's honesty, Jeremy, and then there's that. If this is your idea of opening up, you're seriously missing the mark." His smirk soft
Hope noticed the shift in Jeremy’s expression, the faint hint of a smile breaking through his brooding demeanor. She leaned her chin on her hand, watching him closely. “You know, Jeremy, for someone who claims to want space, you’re not exactly pushing me away right now.”Jeremy rolled his eyes, though the corner of his mouth twitched upward. “Maybe you’re just too stubborn to leave.”“Or maybe,” she countered, her tone light but her eyes serious, “you’re not as tough as you think. You let people in more than you realize—you just don’t want to admit it.”Jeremy shook his head, chuckling softly. “You’ve got me all figured out, huh?”“Not entirely,” Hope admitted, swirling her own drink. “But I know enough to see you’re not as closed off as you pretend to be. It’s okay to let someone help, you know.”Jeremy’s smile faded slightly, replaced by a flicker of vulnerability. He glanced down at his glass, his fingers tracing the rim. “It’s not that simple, Hope. People are bad. I don't want pe
18.Hope leaned in slightly, her gaze unwavering. "Start with Ethan. What exactly went down between you two?"Jeremy hesitated for a moment, the weight of the memory clearly making him uncomfortable. He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he recalled the events. "I was at the office. Just taking a break, trying to get some air. Then I saw Ethan... he was harrasing one of the younger girls in the company, some kid who probably just started. Jeremy's voice grew tight as he continued. "Ethan was practically cornering her, making her feel small, like she didn't belong. He was saying stuff about how she wasn’t cut out for the job, pushing her around like she was some kind of punching bag. I couldn’t stand it." His eyes darkened, the anger still fresh in his mind. "So, I stepped in."Hope leaned forward slightly, her gaze fixed on him, sensing the deeper layers to his actions. "What did you do?"Jeremy's jaw clenched. "I told him to back off, that the kid was just trying to do her job
Vivan leaned back in her chair, staring at Hope with a mix of admiration and gratitude. "Fate has a strange way of weaving our lives together, doesn’t it?"Hope shrugged lightly, a playful smirk on her face. "Or maybe Jeremy just has a knack for finding trouble, and I have a knack for being in the wrong place at the right time."Vivan chuckled, the sound filled with a warmth that seemed to ease the tension in the room. "Regardless of how it happened, I’m grateful. You may not realize it, but you’ve already made an impact on him. Even if he doesn’t acknowledge it yet."Hope tilted her head, considering Vivan's words. "He’s a complex person, that’s for sure. But I can’t help wondering... does he even want my help? Or yours, for that matter?"Vivan's smile faded slightly, and a shadow of sorrow crossed her face. "Jeremy's pride is his armor. He’s built it up over the years to protect himself from pain. But beneath that armor is a young man desperate for connection, even if he doesn’t kno
After a few moments of awkward silence, Bonnie excused herself. She had been invited by Vivan, and it was clear that the meeting was over. She smiled before walking away, leaving Hope and Jeremy alone. Jeremy continued brooding at the desk, while Hope, sensing the tension, decided it was better to give him space. She walked out and was about to get a cup of coffee when she suddenly bumped into Vivan in the hallway. She heaved in surprise as soon as she sighted Vivan. "Miss Vivan!" Hope exclaimed, taking a step back. Her expression shifted from surprise to mild embarrassment. "I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you there." Vivan chuckled softly, her presence exuding the calm authority that always seemed to surround her. "No need to apologize, Hope. I was actually coming to see you." Hope raised an eyebrow. "Me? Is there something wrong?" “Miss Sinclair,” Hope began cautiously, “is everything alright?” “Please,” Vivan said with a faint smile, “call me Vivan. And yes, everything is fine.