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Watch Lethal Love Series on Dailymotion (2026).
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07:40Les heures à la maison, j'ai parlé de l'hôpital ou de l'hôpital, mais en fait, on le
07:44téléphone avec moi, il commence à s'éteindre.
07:46Je parle de petites petites choses, ce que j'ai acheté, ce qui s'est passé encore,
07:52si c'est à l'étoile, il y a un petit peu en fait, et il s'est arrêté à
07:53la fin de la délée.
07:55Et il s'est passé, chaque fois et maintenant, un petit peu de voix,
07:59puis je laai de l'étoile dans le téléphone, comme un animal à la fin de l'étoile.
08:05Now, as the only new intern left down here, I caught everything nobody else wanted.
08:10Outside, the sky went dark and Manhattan lit up one building at a time.
08:14By the time I finished, I was just packing up my things when a voice suddenly sounded directly above me.
08:20It's late. Why are you still here?
08:23I shot up out of my chair and grabbed the paperweight off my desk before I even thought about it.
08:27Whoa, whoa! Easy!
08:29Short, stocky, round black glasses, one hand pressed to his stomach.
08:35Our supervisor had introduced him that afternoon. Dante's other assistant, Ethan.
08:45Sorry, I thought the floor was empty, just got backed up. I was heading out.
08:49He was gritting his teeth.
08:51Wait, wait. Do you have a license? Can you drive?
08:55Um, yes, but...
08:57Oh, thank God. Look, I physically can't do this. My stomach is wrecking me.
09:04Morelli's car is down in the private bay. Just take it back for me tonight, yeah? I'll owe you big
09:09time.
09:10Wait, no, I can't...
09:13I'll text you the address! Just expense the Uber back! Please, Nora, you're saving my life!
09:19I stood there a while, waiting for him to come back out. He didn't.
09:26So I took the keys and went downstairs.
09:28In the private garage, a black Rolls Royce sat waiting.
09:31The kind of car I'd only seen in movies.
09:34I made myself open the driver's door and got in.
09:37The second the door shut, every sound from outside disappeared.
09:40I buckled my seatbelt and reached up to adjust the rearview mirror.
09:44And in the mirror, I saw Dante sitting in the back seat.
09:51Now, as the only new intern left down here, I caught everything nobody else wanted.
09:56Outside, the sky went dark and Manhattan lit up one building at a time.
10:01By the time I finished, I was just packing up my things when a voice suddenly sounded directly above me.
10:07It's late. Why are you still here?
10:09I shot up out of my chair and grabbed the paperweight off my desk before I even thought about it.
10:13Whoa, whoa! Easy!
10:15Short, stocky, round black glasses.
10:18One hand pressed to his stomach.
10:21Our supervisor had introduced him that afternoon.
10:24Dante's other assistant, Ethan.
10:31Sorry, I thought the floor was empty, just got backed up.
10:34I was heading out.
10:35He was gritting his teeth.
10:37Wait, wait. Do you have a license? Can you drive?
10:41Um, yes, but...
10:44Oh, thank God.
10:46Look, I physically can't do this. My stomach is wrecking me.
10:50Morelli's car is down in the private bay.
10:53Just take it back for me tonight, yeah?
10:55I'll owe you big time.
10:57Wait, no, I can't...
10:59I'll text you the address!
11:01Just expense the Uber back!
11:02Please, Nora, you're saving my life!
11:05I stood there a while, waiting for him to come back out.
11:09He didn't.
11:12So I took the keys and went downstairs.
11:14In the private garage, a black Rolls Royce sat waiting.
11:18The kind of car I'd only seen in movies.
11:20I made myself open the driver's door and got in.
11:23The second the door shut, every sound from outside disappeared.
11:27I buckled my seatbelt and reached up to adjust the rearview mirror.
11:30And in the mirror, I saw Dante sitting in the back seat.
11:37I couldn't look away from his reflection.
11:40Closed eyes.
11:41A sharply defined nose.
11:43Lips pressed lightly together.
11:44A face almost too beautiful to be real.
11:47Two buttons at his collar were undone,
11:49showing a strip of collarbone and skin that looked slightly flushed.
11:53Like he'd been drinking,
11:54my brain made this loud, silent, buzzing sound.
11:57On pure instinct,
11:58I slapped my hand over the rearview mirror.
12:01Nora V.O.
12:02No.
12:03Nope.
12:03I was seeing things.
12:05I had to be.
12:06Why would Dante be in the back seat?
12:07And why the hell didn't Ethan tell me there was a whole person in the car?
12:11I scraped together every last drop of courage I had
12:14and peeked through my fingers.
12:15In the mirror,
12:16a pair of deep blue eyes was staring right at me.
12:19The second our eyes locked,
12:21his entire body went rigid.
12:23Mine did too.
12:24Except mine was in full,
12:26oh fuck, I'm about to die mode.
12:28Too late to jump out and run, genius.
12:32Mr. Moretti!
12:33Hi, hello.
12:35Ethan isn't feeling well,
12:36so he asked me to drive you home
12:38and I definitely didn't know you were in the car.
12:41Like, at all.
12:42Surprise!
12:44Nothing.
12:44He didn't move.
12:45So my mouth kept going without me.
12:48You, you had Chloe called up to 34 today, right?
12:51She's probably still in the building.
12:53I could go get her.
12:54She'd be way better at this than me.
12:56She's, um,
12:57she's really good at everything.
13:01I just offered to fetch my own fake identity.
13:04Somebody take my mouth away from me.
13:06Dante closed his eyes and frowned slightly.
13:08Like talking was already too much effort.
13:11I let out a tiny breath of relief.
13:13Nora V.O.
13:14Thank God he doesn't recognize me.
13:16Wait, where the hell is the start button?
13:18I stared at the dashboard
13:20like it was written in alien language.
13:22Sweating.
13:23Panicking.
13:24I can drive, Mr. Moretti.
13:26I swear I can drive.
13:27I just, I've never driven a black luxury car before.
13:31My hands started their usual nervous dance,
13:33twisting together in my lap.
13:35Brain completely empty.
13:36I discreetly pulled out my phone and typed,
13:38How to start a black luxury car.
13:40A shadow fell across me.
13:42As Dante leaned forward from the back seat,
13:44the rich scent of bergamot and cedar washed over me.
13:48I know your voice.
13:50Nora dreaming.
13:52The rain outside the car window suddenly got louder,
13:54drumming hard against the glass.
13:56That cold, woodsy scent on him mixed with the smell of leather.
14:00His chest almost pressed against my shoulder,
14:02filling the whole car.
14:04His lips drifted toward mine.
14:05His voice was low.
14:06Right here.
14:07Half command, half coaxing.
14:09As he said it,
14:10his thumb dragged softly across my lower lip.
14:13I jolted awake.
14:14It was already morning.
14:16I stared at the ceiling for half a minute.
14:18Then I washed my face half asleep,
14:20dragged myself out of bed with two dark circles under my eyes,
14:24and went to work.
14:26The second I walked into the office,
14:29I saw Chloe.
14:30The girl who was supposed to be up on the 34th floor
14:32was sitting right in the middle of the crowd.
14:34Her makeup was perfect today.
14:36Chloe?
14:37Yeah, yeah.
14:38Mr. Morelli sent me back down for now.
14:40Said I should get to know the team first
14:41before I'm up on 34 full time.
14:46Plus,
14:47I get to kind of lonely up there.
14:49That's actually kind of sweet of him.
14:51Chloe lowered her head and smiled,
14:53looking shy.
14:54No, seriously,
14:55it's not like that.
14:56He just wants me to get settled in with the team first.
14:58I stood in the doorway.
15:00My fingers tightened around my bag strap
15:02without me even realizing it.
15:03Chloe spotted me.
15:04Her eyes lit up,
15:06and she immediately walked over.
15:07Nora!
15:08And reached for my arm.
15:10I'm back, baby.
15:11I missed you so much.
15:13The second she said it,
15:14I knew Chloe was about to screw me over again.
15:16I jerked my arm back.
15:18Chloe's hand closed around empty air.
15:20For a beat,
15:21the entire office went dead silent.
15:23Even the laughter around us cut off.
15:25The vibe got weird fast.
15:27Then our supervisor walked in,
15:29thank God,
15:29and broke the tension.
15:31All right, guys,
15:32listen up.
15:33The supervisor clapped his hands.
15:35We're doing drinks tonight.
15:37Call it team bonding.
15:38And more importantly,
15:39let's make Nora and Chloe
15:40feel officially part of the crew.
15:42Team bonding?
15:43Where are we going?
15:45New karaoke lounge in Koreatown.
15:47I booked a private room.
15:49Important question.
15:51Are we drinking?
15:52Of course we're drinking.
15:53Company's covering part of it,
15:54and I'll cover the rest.
15:56The office instantly broke into cheers.
15:59Is Morelli going to be there?
16:01The second that question came out,
16:02everyone subconsciously looked at Chloe.
16:05Chloe lowered her head
16:06and pressed her lips together.
16:07He's buried every day.
16:09You really think he's showing up
16:10for karaoke with us?
16:11No chance.
16:12You're safe.
16:13Go have fun.
16:14Everyone laughed.
16:15The tension finally eased a little.
16:18Before I knew it,
16:20work was over.
16:21I'd spilled something on my skirt at lunch,
16:23so I had to swing home and change first.
16:25By the time I got there,
16:27they'd already been singing for over an hour.
16:29I pushed the door open.
16:30Inside the private room,
16:32the lights kept flashing on and off,
16:34bright enough to make me squint.
16:36When my eyes adjusted,
16:37I saw Dante.
16:38He sat on the long couch
16:39all the way in the back.
16:41The light slid across his face,
16:42beautiful, dangerous.
16:44A glass sat in his hand.
16:45The drink barely touched.
16:47His long fingers circled the rim.
16:49He wasn't supposed to be here.
16:50They had said he wasn't coming.
16:52I took two steps back
16:53before I even realized I'd moved.
16:56Nora?
16:57Get in here.
16:57We were about to send a search party.
16:59Come on, late girl.
17:00You're drinking later.
17:03Yeah, yeah.
17:04I'm here.
17:05Out of the corner of my eye,
17:06I caught Dante turn his head slightly.
17:08His gaze swept over,
17:10casual and brief,
17:11but the supervisor gave me
17:13a little push from behind.
17:14Come on.
17:15You're late.
17:16That's the only spot left.
17:17I followed where he was pointing,
17:18and I froze.
17:19The empty seat was right next to Dante.
17:22I choked down the panic
17:23and made myself walk over.
17:24Dante was talking low to a man beside him,
17:27some executive,
17:28by the look of him,
17:29cold, focused,
17:30like he hadn't noticed me at all.
17:32I sat down stiffly beside him.
17:34The couch was softer than I expected,
17:36and the second I sank in,
17:38I tipped a little toward him.
17:39I straightened my back on instinct,
17:41pressed my knees together,
17:43tried to take up as little space as I could,
17:45but the moment I settled,
17:46he moved.
17:47Dante shifted,
17:48casual about it.
17:49The dark fabric of his pants
17:51brushed my calf.
17:52I went rigid and pulled my leg back,
17:55putting some space between us.
17:57For half a minute,
17:58everything was fine.
17:59Then it came again.
18:00He shifted,
18:01and the cool fabric
18:02grazed my calf a second time.
18:04A strange little jolt
18:05running up my leg.
18:06My fingers clenched around
18:07the hem of my skirt.
18:08Even my breathing went uneven.
18:10I held it in.
18:11Then finally,
18:12I couldn't take it.
18:13I turned and looked at him.
18:15He didn't so much as glance at me.
18:17Nora V. Oh.
18:18Damn.
18:19Maybe he really wasn't doing it on purpose.
18:21I lowered my head again,
18:23pressed my legs even tighter,
18:24and prayed,
18:25Please,
18:26just let tonight be over.
18:28But the next second,
18:29his knee pressed into mine.
18:31The crease of his pants
18:32met the edge of my skirt.
18:34Through two layers of fabric,
18:35the heat of his leg almost burned.
18:37I had nowhere left to go.
18:39Dante still didn't look at me.
18:40He lifted his glass
18:41and took a small sip.
18:43Then his arm brushed my shoulder.
18:45Before I knew it,
18:47work was over.
18:47I'd spilled something on my skirt at lunch,
18:50so I had to swing home and change first.
18:52By the time I got there,
18:53they'd already been singing for over an hour.
18:56I pushed the door open.
18:57Inside the private room,
18:59the lights kept flashing on and off,
19:01bright enough to make me squint.
19:02When my eyes adjusted,
19:04I saw Dante.
19:05He sat on the long couch
19:06all the way in the back.
19:07The light slid across his face,
19:09beautiful, dangerous.
19:11A glass sat in his hand.
19:12The drink barely touched.
19:14His long fingers circled the rim.
19:16He wasn't supposed to be here.
19:17They had said he wasn't coming.
19:19I took two steps back
19:20before I even realized I'd moved.
19:23Nora?
19:23Get in here.
19:24We were about to send a search party.
19:26Come on, late girl.
19:27You're drinking later.
19:30Yeah, yeah, I'm here.
19:32Out of the corner of my eye,
19:33I caught Dante turn his head slightly.
19:35His gaze swept over,
19:37casual and brief,
19:38but the supervisor gave me
19:40a little push from behind.
19:41Come on, you're late.
19:43That's the only spot left.
19:44I followed where he was pointing,
19:45and I froze.
19:46The empty seat was right next to Dante.
19:48I choked down the panic
19:50and made myself walk over.
19:51Dante was talking low to a man beside him,
19:54some executive,
19:55by the look of him,
19:56cold, focused,
19:57like he hadn't noticed me at all.
19:59I sat down stiffly beside him.
20:01The couch was softer than I expected,
20:03and the second I sank in,
20:04I tipped a little toward him.
20:06I straightened my back on instinct,
20:08pressed my knees together,
20:09tried to take up as little space as I could,
20:12but the moment I settled,
20:13he moved.
20:14Dante shifted,
20:15casual about it.
20:16The dark fabric of his pants
20:18brushed my calf.
20:19I went rigid and pulled my leg back,
20:21putting some space between us.
20:23For half a minute,
20:24everything was fine.
20:26Then it came again.
20:27He shifted,
20:28and the cool fabric
20:29grazed my calf a second time.
20:31A strange little jolt
20:32running up my leg.
20:33My fingers clenched
20:34around the hem of my skirt.
20:35Even my breathing went uneven.
20:37I held it in.
20:38Then finally,
20:39I couldn't take it.
20:40I turned and looked at him.
20:42He didn't so much as glance at me.
20:44Nora V.O.
20:45Damn.
20:46Maybe he really wasn't doing it on purpose.
20:48I lowered my head again,
20:50pressed my legs even tighter,
20:51and prayed,
20:52please,
20:53just let tonight be over.
20:54But the next second,
20:56his knee pressed into mine.
20:58The crease of his pants
20:59met the edge of my skirt.
21:00Through two layers of fabric,
21:02the heat of his leg almost burned.
21:04I had nowhere left to go.
21:06Dante still didn't look at me.
21:07He lifted his glass
21:08and took a small sip.
21:09Then his arm brushed my shoulder.
21:12I, uh,
21:13I'm gonna pee.
21:14You guys keep going.
21:17At the end of the karaoke lounge hallway,
21:20there was a single all-gender restroom.
21:22I slipped inside and closed the door.
21:24It was quiet in there.
21:25So quiet,
21:26it felt like another world
21:27from the music pounding
21:28through the private room.
21:30I braced my hands on the sink
21:31and turned on the faucet.
21:33My heartbeat still wouldn't slow down.
21:35Those few accidental touches
21:36back in the room
21:37still felt like they were on my skin.
21:39He hadn't even looked at me.
21:41Get it together, Nora.
21:43Water rushed from the faucet.
21:44I bent down
21:45and cupped some in my hands,
21:47about to splash my face.
21:48Then the door opened.
21:50I looked up.
21:51In the mirror,
21:51I saw him.
21:52Dante stepped inside.
21:54Then he locked the door behind him.
21:55Mr. Moretti,
21:58you need the bathroom?
22:01No.
22:04Oh, okay.
22:05For a second,
22:06my brain just stalled,
22:07but he was already moving toward me.
22:09Too close.
22:10My back hit the edge of the sink.
22:12Why are you running from me, Nora?
22:16I'm not.
22:17I just...
22:18After everything you've seen,
22:19you're shy now.
22:22What?
22:22I don't know what you're talking about.
22:24You're still gonna lie to my face.
22:26Whatever amusement had been on his face
22:28was gone.
22:28He stared down at me,
22:30his eyes dark enough
22:31to make my stomach drop.
22:32Even colder.
22:34He took one more step.
22:35I had nowhere to go.
22:36Something felt off
22:38the second I bumped Chloe
22:39up to the top floor.
22:40I mean,
22:41she had absolutely no clue
22:42I can't stand mint
22:43or where I disappeared to
22:45on my mom's anniversary.
22:47She didn't even know
22:48about the insomnia,
22:49the therapy,
22:50any of it.
22:52Then I caught you
22:53in the car that night,
22:56picking on your cuticles,
22:57just like you always do
22:58when you're stressed out.
22:59My gut was screaming at me.
23:02And tonight just sealed it.
23:03That little heart-shaped mark
23:05right under your collarbone?
23:06I'd recognize it anywhere.
23:09Makes sense why you blocked me now,
23:11why you just ghosted.
23:12You've been playing me
23:13this whole damn time.
23:14Jesus.
23:15It was you?
23:17No, it's not...
23:18Fake name.
23:20Fake everything.
23:21You played me this whole time.
23:23Dante, please.
23:24I can explain...
23:24Explain what?
23:25How you used Chloe as a shield
23:27while I made a complete ass of myself?
23:29Three years, Nora.
23:31Did a single true word
23:32ever come out of your mouth?
23:33I was scared of this version of Dante.
23:35My body backed up on its own.
23:37Heat burned across my face
23:39and I went quiet.
23:40Dante paused.
23:41His throat moved
23:42like he was forcing something down.
23:44Noah, come on.
23:45I've said enough.
23:45What do you have to say?
23:47I'm sorry, Dante.
23:49All of it was my fault.
23:51Whatever you want to do to me,
23:52I'll take it.
23:52I used Chloe's name.
23:54I lied to you.
23:54I knew exactly what I was doing.
23:57I'm sorry.
23:58I really am.
23:59He was holding himself back
24:00and I figured a man like him
24:02played by someone like me,
24:04yeah, that look probably meant
24:06he wanted to hit me.
24:07That's it?
24:08Just sorry?
24:10After everything I just laid out,
24:12you're not even going to try
24:12to defend yourself?
24:14Right.
24:15The money.
24:16I spent it all on tuition,
24:17but I'll pay you back.
24:18Every last cent.
24:19It's going to take time,
24:20but I will...
24:20Nora!
24:21Nora!
24:21His voice cracked through the room.
24:23I flinched.
24:24He caught himself,
24:25then forced his voice back down.
24:26You really think I give a damn
24:28about the money?
24:29Then what do you want from me?
24:30Dante, I'm not making excuses here.
24:32I'm sorry.
24:33I know it's all my...
24:34So the name was a lie?
24:36The money was a setup?
24:38Was any of it real, Nora?
24:41What?
24:41What was I to you?
24:44Just some rich fool you could play?
24:49Did you feel anything for me at all?
24:51Or was it all just an act?
24:54I froze.
24:55I heard the words,
24:57but they just didn't compute.
24:58I'd played out getting caught
24:59a thousand times in my head.
25:01He was supposed to be furious,
25:03disgusted.
25:04I expected him to ruin me
25:06or coldly order me out of his sight.
25:08I was ready for anything.
25:09Anything but this.
25:11Anything but Dante Moretti
25:12looking at me like a kicked puppy,
25:14asking if I ever actually cared.
25:16But my silence was cutting him deeper
25:18than any confession could.
25:20He squeezed his eyes shut
25:21and let go of my wrist.
25:23Fine.
25:24I get it.
25:26Dante, I...
25:27I reached for his sleeve
25:29and caught nothing.
25:30Dante pulled away
25:31and walked out without looking back.
25:32I stood there,
25:33watching him disappear down the hallway.
25:36The warmth he'd left around my wrist
25:37slowly went cold.
25:39My mom used to clean houses
25:40for the Valentine family.
25:42Chloe lost a bet to some girls.
25:44So she talked my mom
25:45into stealing my diary.
25:46The one where I had written down
25:48every stupid secret crush
25:49I was too scared to say out loud.
25:52Chloe copied the pages
25:53and taped them to the bulletin board
25:55by the lockers.
25:56Then they photographed them,
25:57posted them on the school forum,
25:59and dumped the screenshots
26:01into a group chat.
26:02By lunch,
26:03my diary was on every phone in school.
26:05People zoomed in,
26:07circled lines,
26:08added laughing emojis.
26:11Wait, Nora wrote this?
26:13She has a crush on Mike?
26:14Seriously?
26:15Like, she even has a chance.
26:17Isn't Mike into Chloe?
26:18Oh my god,
26:19check the school forum.
26:20This is so embarrassing.
26:20I became the punchline
26:22the whole campus was in on.
26:23I hated that bitch,
26:25so I stole her name
26:26and used it to fuck
26:27with her life online.
26:28One night,
26:29I got completely wrecked in a game.
26:31Zero kills,
26:3228 deaths.
26:33So I slammed open my mic
26:35and yelled in the most innocent voice
26:37I could fake.
26:38Hi guys,
26:39my name is Chloe Valentin.
26:41After that,
26:41it became my thing.
26:43Every time I was feeding
26:44or dying like an idiot,
26:46the second someone asked
26:47who is this bot,
26:48I'd sweetly open my mic.
26:50Yeah, sorry,
26:51it's Chloe Valentin again.
26:52After that night,
26:53Dante never stepped foot
26:54in the office again.
26:56It took me days
26:56to finally work up the nerve
26:58to reach out.
26:59But when I did,
27:00radio silence,
27:02message after message,
27:03swallowed by the void,
27:04he was completely shutting me out.
27:07I just sat there
27:08staring at my phone,
27:09watching the screen light up,
27:10go dark,
27:11and light up again.
27:12It was never him.
27:14I was running out of ways
27:15to fix this
27:16when my mom's name
27:16flashed on the screen.
27:18I shoved my laptop aside
27:19and ducked into the stairwell.
27:24Hey mom,
27:25what's up?
27:26Nothing, sweetie.
27:27Just checking in.
27:28How's work?
27:29Everyone playing nice?
27:31A beat of silence.
27:32I didn't answer right away.
27:34You're quiet.
27:35Is someone giving you
27:36a hard time?
27:38Listen,
27:38if they are,
27:39just buy them lunch,
27:40pick up some donuts.
27:41People can't be mean
27:42to the girl handing out pastries.
27:44That's just a fact.
27:45Mom,
27:45I'm really swamped right now.
27:47I've got to get back.
27:47I'll call you tonight.
27:49The motion light clicked off,
27:51plunging the stairwell
27:52into darkness.
27:53I took a breath,
27:55pushed the heavy door open,
27:56and headed back out.
27:58The smell hit me
27:59before I even reached my desk,
28:01sickeningly sweet.
28:02Dark liquid was bleeding
28:04down my laptop screen,
28:05pooling into the keys.
28:06The machine was already dead.
28:08The folders next to it
28:10were completely soaked.
28:11Days of all-nighters.
28:12The files I hadn't even
28:14backed up yet,
28:15ruined in seconds,
28:16just like that.
28:18And standing right there,
28:19empty cup dangling
28:20from her hand,
28:21was Chloe,
28:22wearing a mask
28:23of perfect,
28:24wide-eyed innocence.
28:28Oh, God.
28:30Nora,
28:30I'm so sorry.
28:31I knocked my coffee over
28:33and it got all over
28:33your laptop.
28:35That's not like
28:36a huge deal, right?
28:38I didn't have time for her.
28:40I grabbed a stack of napkins
28:41off my desk
28:42and started wiping like crazy.
28:44I swear I didn't mean to.
28:45But it was useless.
28:47We're good, right?
28:48She actually laughed.
28:51You can totally just redo it.
28:54Probably won't even
28:55take you a sec anyway.
28:56A cold numbness
28:58spread over my scalp.
28:59The second that
29:00smug little voice
29:01hit my ears,
29:02something buried deep inside me
29:03clawed its way out.
29:05Senior year.
29:06The guidance counselor's office.
29:08The first time
29:09I ever forced myself
29:10to speak up,
29:11word by agonizing word,
29:12I finally called it
29:13what it was,
29:14bullying.
29:15I laid out everything
29:16she had done to me.
29:17My voice shook
29:18the entire time
29:19while a desperate mantra
29:21played on loop in my head.
29:23Don't be scared, Nora.
29:25And what are you
29:26going to do about it?
29:28Nothing.
29:29That was the truth.
29:31There was nothing
29:31I could do to her.
29:33Because when my dad
29:34got called in,
29:35the first thing
29:35out of his mouth
29:36wasn't whether I was okay.
29:38He shoved me
29:39hard in front of everyone.
29:42Bullying?
29:43Come on.
29:44They're kids.
29:45Kids mess around.
29:46Nora's always been
29:47a little sensitive.
29:48Don't read into it.
29:51Oh, God.
29:52Nora,
29:53I'm so sorry.
29:54I knocked my coffee over
29:55and it got all over
29:56your laptop.
29:58That's not like
29:59a huge deal, right?
30:01I didn't have time for her.
30:02I grabbed a stack of napkins
30:04off my desk
30:05and started wiping
30:05like crazy.
30:06I swear I didn't mean to.
30:08But it was useless.
30:10We're good, right?
30:11She actually laughed.
30:14You can totally
30:15just redo it.
30:16Probably won't even
30:17take you a sec anyway.
30:19A cold numbness
30:20spread over my scalp.
30:22The second that
30:22smug little voice
30:23hit my ears,
30:24something buried
30:25deep inside me
30:26clawed its way out.
30:27Senior year,
30:28the guidance counselor's office.
30:30The first time
30:31I ever forced myself
30:32to speak up,
30:33word by agonizing word,
30:35I finally called it
30:36what it was,
30:37bullying.
30:38I laid out
30:38everything she had done to me.
30:40My voice shook
30:41the entire time
30:42while a desperate mantra
30:43played on loop
30:44in my head.
30:45Don't be scared, Nora.
30:47And what are you
30:48going to do about it?
30:51Nothing.
30:52That was the truth.
30:53There was nothing
30:54I could do to her.
30:55Because when my dad
30:56got called in,
30:57the first thing
30:58out of his mouth
30:59wasn't whether
30:59I was okay.
31:00He shoved me,
31:02hard,
31:02in front of everyone.
31:05Bullying?
31:05Come on.
31:06They're kids.
31:07Kids mess around.
31:09Nora's always been
31:10a little sensitive.
31:11Don't read into it.
31:12She had been right
31:13about one thing.
31:14Growing up,
31:15doing the heavy lifting
31:16with my mom
31:17meant I was a hell of
31:18a lot tougher
31:19than I looked.
31:20Chloe let out
31:21a shrill scream.
31:22In all her life,
31:23she never expected
31:24me to fight back,
31:25let alone like this.
31:26I yanked her down
31:27to the floor.
31:28Her knee slammed
31:29into a desk leg
31:30with a loud thud
31:31and she completely
31:32lost it.
31:33You crazy bitch!
31:34Are you out of your mind?
31:36I didn't say a word.
31:37I just gritted my teeth
31:39and kicked her hard.
31:40Then I threw myself
31:41on top of her,
31:42pinned her down,
31:43and absolutely went farrow.
31:45A chair went crashing
31:46to the floor.
31:47Folders exploded everywhere,
31:49papers flying
31:50across the room.
31:52What the hell
31:53are you standing
31:54around for?
31:55Break it up!
31:56That bark snapped
31:57the guys out
31:57of their trance.
31:58Hands grabbed my arms,
32:00hauling me backward.
32:01Someone pried my fingers
32:02off Chloe.
32:03Leo,
32:04the asshole
32:05who shoved past me
32:06the other day.
32:07I glared at him,
32:08wrenched my arm free,
32:09and backhanded him
32:10across the face.
32:11His glasses went flying.
32:13They finally forced me
32:15down into a chair.
32:16My hair was a wreck.
32:17My sleeve was torn
32:18at the shoulder,
32:19and my fist
32:20still clamped tight
32:22around a clump
32:22of Chloe's hair.
32:24Across the room,
32:25Chloe was hyperventilating,
32:26one side of her face
32:27already swelling,
32:28glaring at me
32:29with pure,
32:30murderous hatred.
32:31The supervisor was livid.
32:33She took a deep breath,
32:35gearing up to rip us
32:36both a new one.
32:37And then,
32:38the room just died.
32:39Coworker,
32:40Mr. Moretti.
32:43The crowd parted.
32:45Dante stood in the doorway,
32:46his gaze freezing the room.
32:48His suit was razor sharp,
32:50immaculate,
32:51completely untouched
32:52by the wreckage around us.
32:53The adrenaline
32:54was finally crashing.
32:56I stayed silent,
32:57sinking back into my chair
32:58and clamping a hand
32:59over a bleeding scratch
33:00on my arm.
33:01Chloe was the office darling.
33:03Naturally,
33:04the jury reached
33:05a verdict in seconds.
33:06Jesus, Nora.
33:07You just attacked her?
33:11Mr. Moretti,
33:12we all saw it.
33:13Nora went at her
33:14completely out of nowhere.
33:15I thought she was
33:16the quiet one.
33:17What the hell was that?
33:18Down on the floor,
33:19Chloe's eyes welled up.
33:21Right on cue,
33:22the tears spilled over.
33:24Silent,
33:25tragic,
33:25a total masterclass
33:27in playing the helpless victim.
33:29Trembling,
33:29she reached out,
33:30her fingers barely grazing
33:32the hem of his pristine trousers.
33:34Mr. Morelli?
33:36She just attacked me.
33:37I don't even know
33:38what I did wrong.
33:38I was terrified.
33:40Dante didn't blink.
33:41His face was stone.
33:42He just lifted his foot
33:44and nudged her wrist away
33:45with the polished toe
33:46of his shoe,
33:47like brushing aside
33:48a piece of trash.
33:49Chloe froze.
33:50Her hand dropped dead
33:51to the floor.
33:52Dante stepped right past her.
33:54He strode through the crowd,
33:56stepping over the scattered files,
33:58until he stopped
33:58directly in front of my chair.
34:00He stared down at me.
34:02Then,
34:02his large hand covered mine.
34:04Slowly,
34:05gently,
34:05he pried my tense fingers
34:07away from my bleeding arm.
34:08The touch was startlingly careful,
34:11but his voice was a jagged growl.
34:14Let go.
34:15Let me see.
34:17The crowd parted.
34:18Dante stood in the doorway,
34:20his gaze freezing the room.
34:21His suit was razor sharp,
34:23immaculate,
34:24completely untouched
34:25by the wreckage around us.
34:27The adrenaline was finally crashing.
34:29I stayed silent,
34:31sinking back into my chair
34:32and clamping a hand
34:33over a bleeding scratch
34:34on my arm.
34:35Chloe was the office darling.
34:36Naturally,
34:37the jury reached a verdict
34:38in seconds.
34:39Jesus,
34:40Nora.
34:41You just attacked her?
34:45Mr. Moretti,
34:45we all saw it.
34:46Nora went at her
34:47completely out of nowhere.
34:48I thought she was the quiet one.
34:50What the hell was that?
34:52Down on the floor,
34:53Chloe's eyes welled up.
34:54Right on cue,
34:55the tears spilled over.
34:57Silent,
34:58tragic,
34:59a total master class
35:00in playing the helpless victim.
35:02Trembling,
35:03she reached out,
35:04her fingers barely grazing
35:05the hem of his pristine
35:06trousers.
35:08Mr. Morelli,
35:09she just attacked me.
35:11I don't even know
35:11what I did wrong.
35:12I was terrified.
35:14Dante didn't blink.
35:15His face was stone.
35:16He just lifted his foot
35:17and nudged her wrist away
35:19with the polished toe
35:19of his shoe,
35:20like brushing aside
35:21a piece of trash.
35:23Chloe froze.
35:24Her hand dropped dead
35:25to the floor.
35:26Dante stepped right past her.
35:28He strode through the crowd,
35:30stepping over the scattered files
35:31until he stopped
35:32directly in front of my chair.
35:33He stared down at me.
35:35Then,
35:36his large hand covered mine.
35:37Slowly,
35:38gently,
35:39he pried my tense fingers
35:40away from my bleeding arm.
35:42The touch was startlingly careful,
35:44but his voice was a jagged growl.
35:47Let go.
35:49Let me see.
35:50He pulled my fingers back.
35:52Air hit the cut.
35:53It burned like hell.
35:55But my head was worse,
35:56just static.
35:57I almost said I was fine
35:58out of pure reflex.
35:59Then,
36:00his hand closed firmly around mine.
36:03Come with me.
36:04That familiar edge of citrus
36:06washed over me,
36:07and the no died in my throat.
36:09Behind us,
36:10the entire office
36:11practically gasped in unison.
36:13Dante didn't care.
36:15He didn't even look back.
36:16Right in front of everyone,
36:18he kept his grip on my hand
36:19and strode toward his office.
36:20I stumbled after him.
36:22Maybe the fight
36:23had actually knocked
36:24a screw loose in my head.
36:26Because,
36:26as I stared at his back,
36:28my nose started to sting.
36:29and I started babbling
36:31like an idiot.
36:33Dante, listen.
36:34Whatever else was a lie,
36:36my feelings for you weren't.
36:37I knew I was crossing a line.
36:39I knew it the whole time.
36:41I never should have used
36:42Chloe's name
36:43or her photos.
36:44I just wanted to hurt her,
36:46but never like this.
36:47And I ended up breaking you.
36:49I'm so sorry.
36:50The day I cut you off,
36:52it killed me too.
36:54I know I'm completely messed up.
36:57I know I'm a coward
36:58who makes everything worse
36:59than it has to be.
37:02But breaking your heart
37:03was the last thing
37:04I ever wanted.
37:06I like you, Dante.
37:08I really, really do.
37:11Dante gave me nothing.
37:12Not a word.
37:13Not a glance.
37:14He didn't even break his stride.
37:16The hallway felt endless.
37:18With every step,
37:19my stomach dropped
37:20a little more.
37:21He didn't want to hear it.
37:22He was done.
37:23Heat rushed to my eyes.
37:25I bit my lip hard,
37:27swallowing down the sob.
37:28My fingers started
37:29to slip from his.
37:31Instantly,
37:31his hand clamped down,
37:33hard enough to bruise.
37:34Before I could process it,
37:36he shoved his office door open
37:38and yanked me inside.
37:39I stumbled forward.
37:41Click.
37:41The door shut behind us.
37:43Before I could even
37:44catch my breath,
37:45he spun me.
37:46My back slammed
37:47against the solid wood.
37:52Dan,
37:53he kissed me.
37:55It was punishment.
37:57Years of restraint
37:58snapping all at once.
38:00His tongue forced its way
38:01past my teeth,
38:02claiming every inch.
38:03He tasted like heat
38:05and danger.
38:05My hands fisted
38:07in his shirt,
38:08holding on for dear life.
38:09He dragged his mouth away,
38:11only to return,
38:12softly sucking
38:13my lower lip.
38:13Again and again.
38:15The hand braced
38:16beside my head
38:17slid slowly down my spine.
38:18He gripped my waist
38:20and hoisted me
38:20flush against him.
38:21I could feel
38:22every hard line
38:23of his body
38:24through our clothes.
38:25The heat between us
38:26was suffocating.
38:27When he finally
38:28broke the kiss,
38:29we were both gasping.
38:31He dropped his forehead
38:32against mine.
38:33His chest heaved.
38:34Finally.
38:35His breath fanned
38:36over my swollen lips.
38:37Exactly how I pictured it.
38:41Don't.
38:41I ducked my head,
38:43my cheeks burning
38:44under his gaze.
38:47Wait.
38:47He pulled back
38:48just enough to look at me,
38:50a deep crease
38:51between his brows.
38:52When exactly
38:52did you send me
38:53Chloe's photos?
38:55Are you sure
38:56you're remembering that right?
38:57He unlocked his phone
38:58and handed it to me.
39:00My fingers trembled
39:01against the glass.
39:02I started scrolling.
39:04Instantly,
39:05my face burned.
39:06His old texts
39:07were right there.
39:08Blunt.
39:09Filthy.
39:10Completely shameless.
39:11Every single voice note
39:13I had ever sent him
39:14saved.
39:14I swallowed hard
39:16and forced my thumb
39:17to keep swiping.
39:18Then came the photos.
39:20Tangled sheets.
39:21A slip strap.
39:22Flashes of bare skin.
39:24But no faces.
39:25Not a single one.
39:26Dante crowded in behind me,
39:28looking down at the screen.
39:30The heat of his chest
39:31radiated against my back.
39:33His breathing grew heavy,
39:34rough and unsteady.
39:36I didn't dare look at him.
39:37I just kept scrolling,
39:39swiping past the ghosts
39:40of everything we used to be,
39:41all the way to the very beginning.
39:43Then,
39:44I hit the top of the chat.
39:46Nothing.
39:47There were no pictures of Chloe.
39:49He never got them.
39:50My blood ran cold.
39:51I went completely still.
39:55But,
39:56if you'd never actually
39:57seen her face,
39:58how did you know
39:59who she was
40:00on the first day?
40:02You told me you were
40:03starting an internship here.
40:04The timeline fit.
40:06The name matched.
40:07There was only one
40:08Chloe Valentin
40:09in the building.
40:11Did you honestly think
40:12I only fell for a face?
40:14He stepped back
40:15just enough
40:15to cut my face
40:16in both hands.
40:17He made me look at him.
40:21You believe two people
40:22are just
40:23hardwired for each other?
40:24Like they don't even
40:25get a say in it?
40:26His thumbs brushed
40:27lightly over my cheeks.
40:29That night,
40:30you slid into my car.
40:31I didn't even have
40:32my eyes open.
40:33But the air shifted.
40:35I felt it in my chest.
40:37I live in a world
40:38where I'm always suffocating.
40:40But hearing you,
40:42it's the only thing
40:43that lets me breathe.
40:44I smiled
40:45and buried my face
40:46against his chest.
40:47But you didn't even know
40:48what I looked like.
40:50What if I wasn't
40:51your type at all?
40:53I didn't care.
40:55Then his arms
40:55tightened around me.
40:57I would have been
40:58obsessed with you
40:58either way.
41:00Fucked up, isn't it?
41:02I'm used to calling the shots.
41:05But with you,
41:06I never had a damn choice.
41:08With the truth
41:09finally out,
41:10the invisible wall
41:11between us shattered.
41:12What was left behind
41:13wasn't just heat.
41:14It was something deeper,
41:16unbreakable.
41:17Six months later,
41:19Chloe's past
41:19caught up with her.
41:21It didn't just leak,
41:22it exploded.
41:24Chat logs,
41:25photos,
41:26videos of what she did
41:27to her college roommate.
41:28A perfectly packaged
41:30digital bomb.
41:31It was brutal
41:32and entirely airtight.
41:34For three days,
41:35Dante's legal team
41:36practically lived
41:37in his office.
41:38I watched him
41:39from the doorway suit
41:40perfectly tailored,
41:41expression ruthlessly calm.
41:43By the time the scandal
41:45hit the company floor,
41:46Chloe's desk
41:47was already empty.
41:48A few whispers,
41:50a few fake gasps
41:51of shock.
41:52She was just
41:53gone.