Novels by Argon Joshua

Gio’s POVThe morning started like any other—calm, calculated, and immersed in the usual rhythm of work. The sleek interior of my office reflected the precise control I maintained over my business life, even as my personal world teetered on the edge of chaos.The only thing grounding me these days was Kei. Her unwavering belief in me had been both a comfort and a weight, reminding me of how much was at stake. And today, that weight felt heavier than usual, the air carrying an unspoken tension that I couldn’t shake.I was poring over a set of financial reports when the sharp buzz of the intercom broke through my focus. My assistant’s voice followed, tentative.“Mr. Moretti, there’s someone here to see you. She... uh... insisted on not being turned away.”I frowned, already knowing who it was. “Vanessa?”“Yes, sir,” she confirmed, her tone uneasy.I pinched the bridge of my nose, frustration flaring. Vanessa didn’t do polite visits or subtle discussions. Her arrival meant she was ready

Gio’s POVThe morning sunlight poured through the windows, casting a golden glow across the penthouse. Everything felt quieter now, as though the city itself had slowed its relentless pace, giving me a rare moment to breathe. Yet beneath the calm exterior of the morning, I could feel the undercurrent of tension—unspoken, simmering, and waiting to resurface.Kei stood at the kitchen counter, cradling a mug of coffee in her hands. Her hair was still mussed from sleep, her cheeks tinged with a soft flush, and she wore one of my oversized shirts, the hem brushing against her thighs. She looked at peace, and for a moment, I let myself savor the sight of her like this—unburdened, even if only for a moment.She glanced up, catching my gaze, and a small smile curved her lips. “Good morning,” she said softly, her voice still laced with the remnants of sleep.“Morning,” I replied, my tone softer than I intended. Crossing the room, I leaned down to press a lingering kiss to her forehead.Her han

Gio’s POV – FlashbackThe ballroom was filled with the murmur of polite conversations, the clinking of glasses, and the soft strains of a string quartet playing in the corner. Crystal chandeliers bathed the room in golden light, casting reflections off the glittering jewelry and polished smiles of the guests. It was the kind of event I had grown up attending—a room full of people pretending to care about each other while calculating who could benefit their ambitions the most.I stood near the edge of the room, my tie feeling like a noose around my neck, the glass of scotch in my hand doing little to dull the growing unease in my chest. Across the room, my mother moved through the crowd with practiced ease, her smile sharp and calculated, her words always perfectly chosen. Next to her, Vanessa stood, a vision of poise and elegance, her every movement designed to project control.She caught my eye and offered a small, knowing smile that made my stomach turn.“Don’t look so miserable, Gi

Gio’s POVThe note had been shredded, but its meaning was as clear as ever. “We will be there soon.” It wasn’t a threat from some faceless shadow or a rival in business—it was something far more personal. I knew exactly who had sent it, and the thought alone made my chest tighten.Vanessa.I leaned back in my office chair, staring out at the city skyline. Paris, with all its beauty and distractions, hadn’t been enough to keep my past at bay. Vanessa’s arrival wasn’t just inconvenient—it was dangerous. She wasn’t the only one who would come. My mother would be there too, armed with her disapproving looks and cutting remarks, ready to insert herself into my life once again.The quiet knock on my office door made my heart skip, but it was only Kei. She stepped inside, her eyes filled with concern.“You’ve been quiet,” she said softly, crossing the room to stand by my desk.I looked up at her, my chest tightening. She was the one thing I wanted to protect in all this chaos, but I could fe

KeiLeaving Paris felt bittersweet. The city had become a place of new memories, of quiet moments and promises whispered under the night sky. Gio and I had found something real here—something neither of us had anticipated. But as the plane cut through the clouds, I couldn’t shake the worry that back home, our delicate balance might shift, that the demands of his world would pull us back into a rhythm that was all too familiar and distant.When we landed, Gio was immediately pulled into work calls, his focused expression a reminder of the responsibilities waiting for him. His world was demanding, relentless, and for all that we had shared, a part of me worried that it might take over again.We exchanged a soft smile as we gathered our things. “I’ll see you tonight?” he asked, his gaze softer than the words.I nodded, squeezing his hand. “I’ll meet you at your place.”With

KeiThe next morning felt lighter, as if the air itself had softened with the promise that last night had left between us. Gio had shown a side of himself that I’d always believed was there but hadn’t quite seen until now. As we entered the sleek, bustling conference hall where today’s business was set to unfold, the warmth from the night before lingered, even as Gio slipped back into his composed, professional demeanor.The presentation was a success. Gio’s control over the room was magnetic; he had this natural authority, a confidence that turned every word he spoke into something important. I watched him, captivated by how easily he shifted from the affectionate man he’d been last night to the focused leader standing in front of a crowd. Occasionally, his eyes would meet mine, and in those brief moments, I saw a flicker of softness beneath his composed exterior—a private reminder of the man who had h

KylieThe grand estate loomed ahead, a reminder of a world I’d stepped away from years ago. As the car pulled up the sweeping drive, I took in the scene before me. The Montez estate was more than just impressive; it was intimidating in its grandeur, with its high columns, sweeping balconies, and vast gardens that stretched out in every direction. I couldn’t help but feel the weight of my surroundings, as though I were walking into a space where secrets had been kept for generations.Tonight, I was here for a business dinner with Rage and several influential associates tied to the upcoming collection. I was nervous, yes, but something else lingered beneath the surface—memories that had begun to resurface since my return. I felt them now, stronger than ever, lingering in the darkened windows and familiar hallways of this grand estate.As we entered the foyer, Rage’s hand brushed my elbow to guide me forward, a c

KylieThe morning air in the office felt thick with anticipation as I made my way to my desk, feeling more than a little unsteady. After last night’s conversation, where Rage had nearly admitted his haunting memories of our night together, the tension was undeniable. I’d spent half the night replaying his words, wondering how he could remember something so vividly and yet not connect that woman to me.When I arrived, the office was eerily quiet, only the hum of distant conversations and the soft whir of the air conditioning breaking the silence. My fingers traced the edges of my sketchbook, feeling the weight of the day settle over me as I prepared for yet another session with Rage. Just as I was about to immerse myself in a sketch, a shadow passed over my desk, and I looked up to find Rage standing there, watching me with that same unreadable expression he’d worn the night before.“Kylie,” he

KylieThe silence in the room lingered, thick and heavy, as we continued working on the final touches for the new collection. Rage sat across from me at the long table, his gaze focused on the sketches laid out in front of him, but I could sense his distraction. His earlier comment about Isabelle had shifted something between us, a crack in the perfect façade he had carefully maintained.As much as I tried to focus on the work, the weight of everything—the past, the present, his engagement—pressed down on me. The longer we stayed in this room together, the more the tension grew, coiling tight like a spring ready to snap.I glanced at Rage, watching him from the corner of my eye as he examined one of the designs. His sharp profile, the set of his jaw, the way his fingers tapped lightly against the edge of the table—everything about him radiated control. But there was something beneath that calm exterior, som

KylieThe city was quiet that night, and for the first time in days, I felt like I could finally breathe. After hours spent sketching in my apartment, with the weight of Gabriel’s words still heavy on my mind, I had taken a break and stepped outside onto the balcony for some fresh air. The cool breeze kissed my skin, and I welcomed the silence that stretched out before me, a welcome reprieve from the whirlwind of emotions I had been grappling with since arriving back home.I leaned against the railing, closing my eyes for a moment and letting the calmness of the night wash over me. But as I opened my eyes and glanced toward the building next door, I froze.There, on the balcony of the penthouse opposite mine, stood Rage.He was facing the city, his broad shoulders outlined by the soft glow of the streetlights below. His posture was tense, as though he was lost in thought, and t

Kylie The next few days passed in a blur, and I threw myself into my work as a distraction from the turmoil bubbling inside me. The discovery that Rage was engaged to Isabelle had shaken me more than I wanted to admit. He had seemed so genuine during our dinner, so attentive when we talked. Yet the whole time, he had kept something this important hidden from me.I could still feel the shock from that conversation with his parents, how casually they had mentioned Isabelle as if she were already part of the family. And Rage’s reaction when I brought her up—it was as if he had deliberately avoided the topic. I couldn’t help but wonder why. Was Isabelle’s role in his life more complicated than his parents had let on? Or was Rage simply a man who compartmentalized, keeping his personal and professional lives as separate as possible?Either way, I had to focus. I had a job to do, and i

KylieI let out a sigh of relief the moment I stepped through the door of the apartment, the comforting warmth of home settling over me. The evening with Rage had been… more than I’d expected. Between the dinner, his immaculate closet, and the unexpected appearance of his cousin, Gabriel, my mind was spinning.As I kicked off my heels, I found Tessa sitting on the couch, a glass of wine in hand, a mischievous smile already spreading across her face. She’d been waiting for me."So?" she said, raising an eyebrow as I made my way over to her. "How did it go?"I flopped down beside her, rubbing my temples in an attempt to ease the tension that had settled in my head. "It was… intense."Tessa handed me a glass of wine, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Come on, Kylie. Don’t leave me hanging. What happened? Did he remember anything?"