Chapter 3
PERCY'S POV
My phone buzzes again as I round off my morning jog. A bead of sweat rolls down my temple, and I wipe it away with the hem of my shirt. I try to ignore my phone but it keeps on ringing.
I glance at the screen, and there it is: "The Devil."
I groan. Brittany.
For a second, I stand there, hands on my hips, staring at the screen like it might disappear. The call ends, and then the buzzing starts again. I let it ring out this time too. She'll leave a voicemail if it's actually important—though with Brittany, it's rarely about anything that truly matters.
I shake my head, slipping the phone into my pocket. It's amazing how someone you once thought you couldn't live without can morph into the exact reason you value peace. Brittany had been dazzling when I met her. She was an A-list movie star with a killer smile and a body that could bring a man to his knees. I was drawn in by her beauty and her charm. She was intoxicating.
But then the shine wore off. The woman behind the screen persona? She was worse than a witch. Manipulative, cold, always plotting her next move. The chemistry we had in bed—that strong spark didn't last long. She made my life hell and soon enough, the love disappeared. I doubt it was even love in the first place.
I push open the front gate and jog the last few steps up the driveway. I push open the entrance door and enter the house. The maids inside pause their cleaning to greet me with polite smiles and murmured "Good morning, sir."
I nod and give them a polite smile, heading straight for the stairs.
The cold water hits me as I step into the shower. I let the water roll over my body.
And then, the flashback hits me again.
Her.
Her face flashes in my mind, clear as day, as though it was just yesterday. The woman from that winter—when I'd been stupid enough to take a solo ski trip during a snowstorm. The slope had been steep. The ice was slick and before I knew it, I'd been tumbling, cartwheeling down the mountain until everything went black.
When I woke up, she was there. Her face was the first thing I saw—soft, angelic. Strands of her long black hair escaped her knit cap. Her eyes were ocean blue. Looking at them, it felt like I was staring into the ocean itself.
I remember how she stroked my head, telling me I'd be fine. She carried me, somehow, dragging my half-conscious body back to safety. It wasn't just her beauty that stuck with me, though that was impossible to forget—it was her character. the way she cared so selflessly for a stranger.
I never even got her name.
By the time I was fully conscious, she was gone. I tried asking around the lodge, but no one seemed to know who she was. She disappeared like a ghostly saviour. She left me with nothing but the haunting memory of her face.
I lean against the cool tiles of the shower wall, letting the water trail down my back as I close my eyes. Why am I thinking about her now? It's been years. Life has moved on, and she's probably somewhere far away, living a life I'll never be a part of.
But damn if she isn't unforgettable.
The water chills me to the bone, but it doesn't wash away the memory of her. A small, ridiculous part of me wonders if I'll ever see her again.
I run my hands through my hair, frustrated. This is ridiculous. I haven't seen her in years. I don't even know her name. Why now?
I force myself to focus. I've got a site inspection later—a multi-million-dollar project that demands my full attention. But my brain is already filled with thoughts of her. She's haunted my dreams for years and I don't know why. The more I try to push thoughts of her away, the harder they push back.
I get out of the shower and glance at the clock. If I don't leave now, I'm going to be late. I grab a fresh shirt and slacks, sliding into them quickly.
"Just another day, Percy," I mutter to myself, grabbing my watch off the dresser.
I head downstairs. When I get outside, my driver is already waiting by the car.
"Going somewhere, Mr. Hamilton?" he asks, straightening up when he sees me.
I wave him off. "Not yet. I think I'll take a walk."
His eyebrows lift slightly, but he nods without comment. He's probably used to my erratic decisions by now.
As I walk, the city is waking up around me—cars honking, people rushing by, the scent of coffee coming from the café across the street. I decide to head there. Maybe a strong cup of coffee will clear my head.
I cross the street with my hands in my pockets, trying to ignore the nagging pull in my chest that's still dragging me back to her. The café isn't too busy, and I can already see my favorite spot by the window is open. I'm halfway to the door when something catches my eye.
A woman steps onto the road without looking. Her focus seems to be somewhere far away. A car comes speeding down the street, and everything slows down.
I react before I can think.
"Hey!" I shout, my feet moving on instinct.
I sprint forward, reaching her just as the car gets dangerously close. My arm hooks around her waist, pulling her back onto the sidewalk with me. The driver honks angrily as the car speeds past, but all I can hear is the pounding of my own heartbeat.
"Are you okay?" I ask.
She's in my arms now with her body pressed against mine. She looks up at me with wide, startled eyes. My breath catches in my throat as soon as I recognize her.
It's her.
The woman from the ski accident.