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"We talked. Things are at an impasse between us," Knox begins. "She read the first draft of Genesis's article for Mr. January, and let's just say, she wasn't too pleased. That conversation will probably cause Genesis more work with rewrites over the next week before the article's release."
"What's wrong with the article?" I ask, my curiosity piqued. "I was hoping to spend more time with Genesis before she has to work on McAllen's February piece. Now she has to fixyourmess?" I ask, pointing accusingly at Knox.
"Whoa, calm down, brother. All I did was tell my truth. Genesis just put it in writing," Knox defends himself. "Robyn's the one who has a problem with it."
At that moment, Robyn hears Knox's words, turns abruptly, and glares in our direction. Genesis stands frozen, looking like a deer caught in headlights, her eyes darting from her boss to us and back again.
"Uh-oh," Talon mutters as Robyn starts stalking toward us.
"You're damn right I don't like it, Mr. Forrester," Robyn snaps. She marches right up to Knox, her eyes blazing with fury, pointing a finger at him. "You told way too muchtruth. That's not for public consumption. How dare you!?"
"Robyn, please—" Knox tries to plead, but she's not having any of it.
"You think you can just spill everyone's secrets for your own gain!?" she seethes, her voice trembling with anger. "Well, guess what? We are not your little charity case so that you can get back in society's good graces, Knox Forrester."
Knox takes a step back, visibly taken aback by Robyn's outburst. He looks like a lost puppy, unsure how to handle the situation he's gotten into. Talon and I exchange worried glances, not anticipating the magnitude of Robyn's reaction.
Genesis stands beside Robyn, her facial expression filled with concern. She reaches out a hand, gently touching Robyn's arm as if trying to calm her down. "Robyn, please," she says softly, "let's talk about this calmly."
"No! This is not going to work—absolutely not. I don't care what we discussed last night, Knox. After reading that... I can't believe you shared details of my life. Bad enough that your mom, dad, and brothers think of me that way, but now, everyone else will too!"
“No one will view you differently, I promise you that,” I try to interject to calm my editor-in-chief.
"No, just leave me alone. I need a minute, Reece!” Robyn pulls away from Genesis, shaking her head in disbelief. “You shouldn't have written that stuff, Genesis, not without asking me first."
"Robyn, it's not published yet. It went to you for approval. If you want anything rewritten, I can do it. I swear I didn't mean to hurt you," Genesis pleads.
Robyn scoffs incredulously, her voice dripping with bitterness. "Oh, now you're offering to rewrite it? How convenient. But it's too late for that, Genesis. It should have never been written in the first place. Now, it is on Forrester International servers, their mother can read that anytime she wants. The damage is already done."
Talon takes a step forward, his voice laced with concern. "Robyn, please calm down. We're all family here. Let's find a way to work this out."
Robyn's eyes narrow at Talon, as her eyes well with tears. "Family? Is that what you call this dysfunctional mess? You may be used to displaying your private life for everyone to see, but I am not!"
I watch as the tension escalates, realizing the gravity of the situation. Genesis, visibly shaken by Robyn's anger, attempts to diffuse the situation once more. "Robyn, I understand you're upset, and I genuinely apologize for any distress I've caused you. Let's find a way to fix this together."
But Robyn turns without another word and walks to her car, unlocks it with a press of a button, flings the door open, and jumps in. Before we can react, she's speeding down the driveway, leaving the Hampton Estates.
"What in the holy hell is in that Mr. January story?" I ask, turning to Knox and Genesis. They both look at me, equally dumbfounded.
* * *
Genesis
I stand outside Reece's office, hesitating momentarily before I tap softly on the door. It's January 2nd, and Forrester International’s offices are filled with employees returning from their holiday break. There's a solemn, almost quiet atmosphere as everyone struggles to shake off the festive mood and refocus on work in the new year.
But my mind is elsewhere, on the man behind this door with whom I shared two unforgettable nights over the holidays. As the door opens, our eyes meet, and a jolt of recognition flashes between us—that unmistakable mix of lust and longing we both feel but haven't yet defined. He greets me with a slow, knowing smile, closing his laptop and beckoning me inside.
As I enter Reece's office, I glance at Kylie, his assistant. She pretends to be preoccupied, but I know she's watching us. I close the door with a soft click, sealing us in for privacy.
Walking toward his desk, I feel his eyes follow my every move. There's an electric tension in the air, a mix of nervousness and excitement. "Hello, Miss Jones," he greets me, his voice deep and slightly wistful. It's like we're sharing a secret, which, in a way, we are.
I muster a small smile, my heart racing. "Hello, Mr. Forrester," I reply, trying to sound casual, but a tremor in my voice betrays my nervousness. Our shared experience hangs in the air, unspoken yet palpable, adding a layer of intensity to every word and every glance.
The room feels familiar, more intimate, with just the two of us. I'm keenly aware of every breath he takes, every subtle shift in his expression. It's a dance of hesitation and flirtation, and I'm unsure of our next move. But one thing is clear—this moment, this connection, it's something neither of us can easily forget or ignore.
But we've agreed to keep whatever is brewing between us away from the office. It's a line we've drawn firmly—our private life stays private. Who knows, maybe tonight, after hours, we might revisit those electrifying moments we shared over the holidays. But for now, it's strictly business.
"You said you wanted to see me," I mention, recalling the interoffice message he sent, requesting my presence as soon as possible.
