Chapter 1
Alice’s POV
The city skyline blinked beneath the soft gray haze of morning. Washington was always loud—horns, heels, ambition. But from the 35th floor of theBellarose Hotel, everything felt quiet. Still. Like Alice had finally risen above the noise.
She stood in front of her floor-to-ceiling windows, sipping coffee from her signature white mug—the one her staff had gifted her last year:Boss In Heels. She wasn’t wearing heels now—just a robe, loosely tied, hair still damp from the shower.
Behind her, the morning briefing was beginning.
“Ma’am,” said Dana, her assistant, “Your Seattle investor confirmed the January meeting. I’ve forwarded the details.”
Alice turned. “Good. What about the Los Angeles branch?”
“All set. Grand opening on the 22nd. You’ll be in California just in time.”
California. The word made her stomach tighten.
Dana added, “And the front desk manager wanted you to know the lobby orchids arrived. They look amazing. Purple. Just like you wanted.”
Alice smiled faintly. “Thank you, Dana. Tell them good work. And take the rest of the afternoon off.”
Dana blinked. “You sure?”
“You’ve earned it.”
Moments later, the suite was quiet again.
Alice walked into her bedroom, where her suitcase was half-packed. Designer dresses, sleek heels, perfectly matched lipsticks. Everything planned. Everything neat. Everything… predictable.
The door opened.
Bryce walked in, his suit jacket over his arm, black shirt crisp, not a hair out of place. Everything about him was curated. From his expensive cologne to the way he kissed her—like a performance.
“There’s my queen,” he said, leaning in to kiss her.
His lips met hers. Gentle at first, then demanding. Alice kissed back, because that’s what he expected. Because she’d forgotten what real chemistry felt like.
They ended up in bed. Clothes discarded. The act began—his hands on her hips, lips on her neck, words whispered like promises. She lay there, body moving, mind elsewhere. She tried to feel something. Anything.
But when he came, she faked it. Again.
Later, when he was in the shower, she turned to her side of the bed. Still bare, she slid her hand beneath the sheets and touched herself quietly. Not because she wanted to. But because she needed to feel something that washers.
And when she came—it was alone.
Her phone buzzed just as she slipped into her robe.
Mom.
Alice picked up. “Hi, Mom.”
Her voice was warm as ever. “Alice, darling! Are you packed? Oh, I can’t wait to hear about that new hotel of yours. So proud of you.”
Alice smiled softly. “Thanks, Mom. Yeah, I’m mostly packed. Bryce and I are flying out tomorrow.”
“Oh good,” her mom said, chipper as always. “Make sure to bring him with you, okay? It’s the holidays! Adam, Tyler, and Anderson are already home. The house feels so full again. But your father and I—we’re off to Greece, remember?”
Alice’s heart paused.
Adam. Tyler. Anderson.
The ghosts of her past.
“Oh,” she managed, “Right. You guys leave tomorrow, right?”
“Tonight, actually. So you’ll have the house to yourself—well, with the boys, of course. Be good, darling. Don’t let those handsome men get to your head again.”
She laughed like it was a joke. Alice forced a polite smile.
“Love you, sweetie. Take care. Bye!”
The call ended.
Alice stared at her reflection in the mirror.
Her success, her hotels, her luxury—none of it could protect her from what waited in California. From what sheranfrom.
And now, she had to go back. With Bryce.
Back to the boys who broke her.
