One week had passed since Victoria's collapse at James's doorstep, and she had effectively moved into his life with the persistence of someone who had absolutely nothing left to lose. She attached herself to him like a koala to a tree, refusing to acknowledge any boundaries or accept any form of separation, no matter how temporary or necessary.
The day she had reappeared in his life, James had managed only three hours at his office before admitting defeat. The weight of her presence, combined with the emotional turmoil her return had unleashed, made concentration impossible. Every document blurred before his eyes, every phone call felt like background noise, and every decision seemed monumental and overwhelming.
"We're going to your place," James had finally announced, hoping that familiar surroundings would help Victoria regain some sense of normalcy and independence.
But when they arrived at her penthouse, Victoria had simply stared at the building with an expression of such profound distress that James felt his resolve wavering.
"I can't go in there," she had whispered. "Please don't make me go back to that empty place."
"Victoria, you have to go home eventually. You can't just live in my apartment."
"I can," she had replied with quiet determination. "And I will."
Their argument had continued for twenty minutes, Victoria's refusal absolute and unwavering. James found himself in the impossible position of either physically forcing her from his car or accepting that she had no intention of leaving his side. The latter option won out, though it left him feeling manipulated and frustrated in equal measure.
Returning to his apartment had introduced an entirely new set of challenges that James hadn't anticipated. Victoria's attachment to him was so complete, so overwhelming, that he found himself unable to move freely within his own space.
When he went to the bathroom, she followed. When he tried to shower, she positioned herself just outside the door, her presence a constant reminder that his privacy had been completely eliminated. The breaking point came when James found himself literally dragging Victoria out of the bathroom so he could use the toilet in peace.
The sound of the door slamming echoed through his apartment, followed immediately by Victoria's soft sobs from the other side. James stood there, breathing heavily, guilt and anger warring within him as he realized how roughly he had handled someone who was still recovering from illness.
She's sick, he reminded himself, hating the way his protective instincts kicked in despite everything. But does she consider me at all? Does she think about what this constant surveillance is doing to my sanity?
The sleeping arrangements proved to be another battleground entirely. James had assumed Victoria would use his guest bedroom, but she had looked at him with such genuine confusion at the suggestion that he realized she had never intended to sleep anywhere but beside him.
"I'll take the other room," James had said, gathering his pillow with forced practicality.
Victoria had simply followed him, climbing into the guest bed as if it were the most natural thing in the world. But she hadn't stopped there. She had positioned herself on top of him, her arms wrapping around his torso with desperate strength, her face buried against his neck.
"I can only sleep well with you here," she had murmured, and within minutes, she was breathing deeply in genuine sleep.
James had lain awake for hours, inhaling the familiar scent of her hair, feeling the warmth of her body pressed against his, and wondering how his carefully ordered life had become so thoroughly derailed. Every night followed the same pattern, Victoria claiming him as her personal security blanket while James struggled with feelings he didn't want to acknowledge.
The days blurred together in a routine of reluctant caregiving. Victoria's recovery was hampered by her stubborn refusal to take her prescribed medications properly, turning every dose into a negotiation that left James exhausted and frustrated.
"We're not together anymore," James reminded her one morning as she curled against his side while he tried to read emails. "You shouldn't be so comfortable touching me like this."
Victoria had looked up at him with innocent eyes that didn't match the calculating look beneath. "It's my body," she had replied simply. "I'm free to touch whoever I want."
James had refused to engage in the pointless circular argument, recognizing it as a trap that would only leave him more frustrated than before.
The real crisis came when Victoria refused to return to Sharp Innovations, claiming that being apart from James made her physically ill. The thought of bringing her to his office filled James with dread, but the alternative seemed to be letting her condition deteriorate further.
"I don't want you involved in my business," James had said bluntly. "I don't trust you not to interfere or try to manipulate things to your advantage."
Victoria's face had crumpled at his harsh honesty, but she had nodded with surprising acceptance. "I understand," she had whispered. "I know I destroyed your trust, and I know I have to earn it back. But James, I've changed. I've learned my lesson. I promise I won't interfere with your work. I'll be good, I'll listen to everything you say. Just... please don't make me stay away from you."
Her plea had worn down his resistance, though James hated himself for giving in. The compromise felt like another small defeat in a war he was steadily losing.
Victoria's presence at his office created exactly the complications James had feared. His small staff recognized her immediately, whispers following in her wake as employees tried to piece together why the CEO of Sharp Innovations was spending her days curled in a chair beside their boss.
Alex had cornered James in the break room, his confusion evident. "Boss, I don't mean to pry, but isn't that Victoria Sharp? What's she doing here?"
"It's complicated," James had replied, which was perhaps the understatement of the century.
The situation became exponentially more complex with the arrival of Gaia Morrison, a temporary assistant Alex had hired to replace him during his absence caring for his sick mother. Gaia was young, beautiful, and possessed of the kind of natural warmth that made everyone around her feel special and valued.
From the moment Victoria laid eyes on the newcomer, her entire demeanor shifted. The vulnerable, clinging woman was replaced by someone territorial and calculating, watching Gaia's every interaction with James with the intensity of a predator guarding its territory.
Gaia had developed what could only be described as a crush on her temporary boss. Every morning, she arrived early to prepare James's coffee exactly as he liked it, greeting him with a smile that was perhaps a little too bright, a little too personal for a professional relationship.