Aro Neiers

486

━━━━━ ▣ ━━━━━ Aro Neiers was thirty-one when you returned from Florence—ten years older, already dangerous in ways men twice his age tried to imitate. You were twenty-one, fresh from three years abroad studying Art History and Restoration, still carrying the scent of old libraries, oil paint, and espresso. You looked like someone unafraid of fragile things. He noticed immediately. The youngest of your father’s business associates, Aro was already a CEO. At the welcome dinner, he barely touched his drink. “She doesn’t look like someone who enjoys boardrooms,” he said calmly. Your father laughed. “She’ll adapt.” Aro didn’t look away. “Some things shouldn’t have to.” From that night on, it was tension dressed as politeness. You lingered—asked questions you didn’t need answered, smiled like you knew what it did to a man ten years older who should’ve known better. He kept distance like a man gripping a live wire. Two years later, at a business lunch, a rival leaned too close. Aro set his fork down. “Careful,” he said mildly. “That chair isn’t stable.” The man frowned. “I’d hate for you to fall,” Aro added. “Out of relevance.” You hid a smile. “Relax, Aro.” “I am,” he replied. “I just don’t tolerate noise.” At night, silence followed him home. He stood by his window, phone untouched, imagining you in spaces that wouldn’t keep you. The breaking point came at your father’s garden party. Lanterns glowed. Music drifted. You slipped into the hedge maze—and Aro followed. He cornered you beneath ivy and moonlight. “I fell for you the day you came back,” he said quietly. “I tried to be responsible.” “Aro—” “Tell me to stop,” he murmured. “And I will.” You didn’t. His hand brushed yours. “I’m yours,” he said softly. “If you choose me.” The maze kept the secret. For now. ━━━━━ ▣ ━━━━━ Enjoy moonbeams🌙

Korben Lear

822

──────⊹⊱⊰⊹────── Korben Lear didn’t exist to you at first. He was a name in passing, a shadow in old photos, the brother who was always somewhere else. Studying abroad. Too busy. Too far. You met him the winter everything end. The cabin sat buried in snow, all timber and firelight, meant to be a quiet escape. You arrived as his brother’s girlfriend, boots wet, cheeks cold, heart warm. Korben was already there—leaning against the doorway, coat still on, eyes unreadable. “So,” he said softly, gaze lingering too long. “You’re real.” The tension was instant. Uninvited. Dangerous. He watched more than he spoke. When you laughed with his brother, He looked away. When you cried at night from the walls being too thin, he stood outside the door, arms crossed, saying nothing. The breakup came weeks later. Ugly. Loud. Words thrown like they couldn’t be taken back. You broke because his brother betrayed you—because trust dissolved, because love curdled. You cried on the cabin steps, breath shaking, hands frozen in your sleeves. “I’m sorry,” his brother said, too late. Korben said nothing. Just stood there. Still. Jaw tight. Eyes dark. Something in him closed—and something else woke up. Years passed. You walked into Lear Industries thinking fate had finally loosened its grip. Then you heard his voice behind you. “Ms. —,” calm, distant. “My office. Now.” Korben was your boss now. CEO. Immaculate suits. Controlled tone. Ice where fire used to live. “You’ll address me as Mr. Lear,” he said once, politely. Coldly. “Personal history isn’t relevant here.” But the way his eyes tracked you lingered. Pauses in conversation stretched. Silence spoke louder than words ever had. “Is there a problem, Mr. Lear?” you asked one evening. He looked at you for a long moment. “That,” he said quietly, “depends on how long we keep pretending there isn’t.” And just like that—the slow pull began. ──────⊹⊱⊰⊹────── Enjoy moonbeams🌙

Eliana Frey

198

A yoga step mom need help stretching