CHAPTER1
1308 Words
Rebecca had mastered the art of pretending.
Pretending that the way Dominic’s voice wrapped around her name didn’t make her heart skip. Pretending that every time he smiled at her, something inside her didn’t melt completely. Pretending that being just his best friend was enough.
It had to be enough.
“Dominic…”
Her voice came out soft, breathless, almost like a whisper carried by the night.
He was close—closer than he had ever been before.
Closer than she had ever allowed herself to imagine.
His hands found her waist, firm yet gentle, pulling her toward him as though there was no space left between them. The warmth of his touch sent a rush through her body, unfamiliar yet deeply desired.
For a moment, nothing else existed.
Not the world.
Not reality.
Just him.
The way his eyes locked onto hers—intense, searching, like he was finally seeing her. Not as the girl who had always been there. Not as the dependable best friend.
But as a woman.
As someone he wanted.
“Do you like that?” he murmured, his voice low, sending a shiver down her spine.
Rebecca could barely think.
“Yes…” she breathed, her fingers tightening slightly against him as everything around her blurred into a haze of feeling.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
She had told herself that a thousand times.
She had built walls around her heart, carefully placing boundaries so she wouldn’t cross that line—the one that would change everything between them.
But now…
Those walls were gone.
And so was her control.
“I love you…” the words slipped out before she could stop them.
The moment the words left her lips, everything froze.
Time.
Breath.
Even the look in his eyes.
“I love—”
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Rebecca’s eyes flew open.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she stared at the ceiling, her heart still racing as if she hadn’t left that moment behind.
The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
Except for—
Ring! Ring! Ring!
She groaned softly, turning onto her side as she reached blindly for her phone.
“What… where is that coming from…”
Her fingers brushed against nothing but sheets.
The ringing continued.
Loud.
Persistent.
Annoying.
Before she could find it, the duvet was suddenly yanked off her.
“You’re finally awake!”
Rebecca blinked, squinting against the sudden light as she turned her head.
Anne stood over her, arms folded, a teasing smile playing on her lips.
Rebecca frowned slightly, still trying to process what had just happened.
The dream.
Dominic.
The way it had felt so real.
“Who were you dreaming about?” Anne asked, raising an eyebrow. “Because I could practically hear you from my room.”
Rebecca froze.
Her heart skipped.
Her face flushed instantly.
“Wait…” she mumbled, dropping back onto the bed and covering her face with both hands. “It was just a dream?”
Anne burst into laughter.
“A very interesting one, apparently,” she teased. “You should hear yourself.”
Rebecca groaned, pulling the pillow over her face this time.
“Please tell me I didn’t say anything embarrassing.”
Anne smirked.
“Oh, you said enough,” she replied. “But don’t worry, I’ll keep your secrets… for now.”
“Anne!”
“Relax,” she laughed, stepping back. “Now get up—you’re almost late for work.”
With one last tug, she pulled the duvet away completely and walked out, her laughter trailing behind her.
Rebecca lay there for a moment, staring up at the ceiling again.
Dominic.
Even in her dreams, he found a way to blur the lines she had spent years trying to keep clear.
She closed her eyes briefly, replaying the moment.
The way he had looked at her.
The way he had said her name.
The way it felt like, just for once… she wasn’t invisible to him.
Her chest tightened.
Because she knew the truth.
That version of Dominic didn’t exist.
Not in her world.
Not in reality.
Her phone rang again, snapping her out of her thoughts.
She reached for it this time, finally finding it on the bedside table.
“You didn’t even let me hear him say it…” she muttered under her breath before answering.
Secretary Jones.
Rebecca sat up immediately.
“Hello, good morning,” she said, her voice still slightly rough from sleep.
“Assistant Moore, where are you?” Secretary Jones’ voice rushed through the phone, filled with urgency. “The boss is here earlier than usual, and he’s already asking for his coffee. Please, you need to come quickly—you know his temper.”
Rebecca sighed, already pushing herself out of bed.
“I’m on my way,” she replied.
She hung up and quickly moved around her room, grabbing clothes, shoes, anything she needed to get ready as fast as possible.
Dominic King.
CEO of Kings Enterprise.
Her boss.
Her best friend.
And the man she had been in love with for years.
They had known each other for what felt like a lifetime.
Back then, he had been everything she wasn’t.
Confidence.
Admired.
Untouchable.
He was the student council president—the one everyone looked up to, the one everyone wanted to impress.
And somehow…
She had ended up beside him.
Working with him.
Laughing with him.
Becoming someone he trusted.
Someone he relied on.
Years passed, and their bond only grew stronger.
Through late-night conversations.
Through shared secrets.
Through every moment that mattered.
Somewhere along the way, her feelings changed.
What started as admiration slowly turned into something deeper.
Something she couldn’t control.
Something she couldn’t undo.
Because Dominic had never changed the way he saw her.
To him, Rebecca was safe.
Reliable.
Constant.
His best friend.
Nothing more.
And the hardest part?
Watching him give pieces of himself to other women.
Rebecca paused for a moment as she slipped on her shoes, her thoughts drifting back.
Clara.
The only woman he had ever truly loved.
Their relationship had been complicated—full of passion, arguments, breakups, and reconciliations. But despite everything, he had chosen her.
Over and over again.
Until the day everything fell apart.
Rebecca still remembered it clearly.
His birthday.
The day he had planned to walk away from everything for her.
To choose love over legacy.
To choose her over his family’s expectations.
And she had walked away.
Because it wasn't the love she wanted.
It was his money.
Rebecca clenched her jaw slightly.
That day had changed him.
Completely.
The Dominic she knew—the one who believed in love, who gave his heart fully—disappeared.
In his place was someone colder.
More guarded.
Someone who no longer believed in forever.
Now, relationships were simple to him.
Temporary.
Meaningless.
Safe.
And Rebecca…
She was still standing in the same place she had always been.
Loving him.
Silently.
Hopelessly.
She grabbed her bag and headed for the door, pausing just for a second.
Sometimes she wondered if things would have been different.
If she had told him how she felt back then.
If she had taken the risk.
If she had been brave enough.
But it was too late for that now.
Because the Dominic she loved no longer believed in love.
And she didn’t know what hurt more—
That he had once loved someone else so deeply…
Or that he might never love anyone like that again.
Especially not her.
Rebecca exhaled slowly and stepped out.
Today would be like every other day.
She would see him
.
Work with him.
Laugh with him.
Pretend.
Because that was what she did best.
And no matter how much it hurts…
She wasn’t ready to lose him.
Not even for the truth.
- Writer
