Karen’s POVI couldn’t help but laugh more thinking about what happened a few minutes ago as I fell flatly on the couch once again. I felt satisfied talking back at him and making him believe that I ain’t the same person I used to be. For once I laughed like never before making him feel like the fool he is.Thankfully I eavesdropped on their conversation seeing how she talked to him and I couldn’t believe that I gave him some respect but Laura didn’t make me wonder if he is still the same ruthless mafia people know him as.I was still engrossed in my thoughts that I forgot I was watching a movie. Just then, Sofia entered the room making me jolt out of my thoughts, her brows lifted in surprise wondering why I was giggling and laughing at the same time. “Well, well, look who’s beaming and giggling at the same time. Did something good happen?” She gave a little grin, taking a seat beside me while placing her both hands on her cheeks waiting patiently for my answers.“Oh, Sofia, you wou
Karen’s POVMonday morning came quickly like it was running, and as the sunlight penetrated through my window, I sat up, feeling a kind of excitement and peace within. Sofia had helped me during the weekends to secure a job online and I would be attending the interview for them to see if I am compatible for the job and I hope I crush it. Can't wait to be finally free from this toxic marriage and have a fresh of breath air leaving this house in the morning and coming back only at night, there won't be any room for drama from those two anymore. I rushed to the bathroom allowing the warm water to drip on my body I quickly wash up and came out of the bathroom staring at my neatly ordered dress that Sofia brought from me. Thankfully I still have some cash in my account, I would get a new phone and order some office fits. Devon did a good job of ruining my other phone because of the nasty lie he believed. I put on the corporate fit, a professional outfit, nothing flashy but enough to l
Karen's Pov.The sun hung low above my head as I confidently walked out of the chaotic mansion that had trapped me for months. With my head held high, I didn't bother looking back. I already knew he was watching me. His eyes burned with rage and intensity but I didn't care again, not ever again.For months I had been trying to win him over, bring back the love I thought we used to have…prove my innocence to him but nothing. No matter what I did or how much I tried it still wasn't enough, he hated me so much that even my mere existence was like a stinging pain to his senses.Tears threatened to spill out of my eyelids but I tried my best to hold them back. I couldn't let him see me break, those times were long dead and now I was a new woman and not someone he could just play around with. Reaching my hands to my face I wipe the tear drops that had slipped out of my eyelids. I hailed a cab and when it stopped right in front of me, I couldn't help but look back at the hell gates I once c
Lauren's Pov.“Where do you think you're going Lauren?” Devon's voice stopped me as I was about to make my way out of the door. I didn't bother answering him. I threw my hair back disregarding his questions and continued my stroll outside the house.He cursed from under his breath. “I asked you a question Lauren.” I could already feel his rage from where I stood but I didn't falter. “Where do you think you're going dressed like that?” I paused, looking back at him. “I hope you realize that now that your beloved wife is gone you can't boss me around.” I shot back at him.Maybe Karen could take his bullshit behavior but there was a difference between being a wife and a mistress and he couldn't treat me the way he liked.I was glad to have Karen finally out of the house but I was not about to be her replacement.I could see his muscles tighten as his face blazed with rage. “Everyone already knows you're my mistress. So having you go out like that would also taint my reputation.” He gr
Karen's Pov The ceiling stood looming above my head as I opened my eyes, a throbbing headache instant coursing through my head.My hands wiped my sleepy eyes trying to shake off the fatigue. Finally opening my eyes I took a brief glance at my surroundings; King-size mattress, White room, sofa and luxurious furnishings.My eyes widened in realization. Where was I? Last thing I could remember was the club, music and … Stephan. Everything happened so fast but one thing I was sure of was that he drugged me. But how? He wasn't there when I ordered the drink, everything else was given by the bartender. Could it be that he somehow has some connections? My chest tightened in anger, my blood boiling. That freaking bastard.As if adding more flames to my marriage wasn't enough wound he still wanted to destroy my life even more. If it hadn't been for that stranger or whoever it was that stopped God knows what would have happened.Immediately standing up from the large mattress, I looked around
Karen's Pov The brisk air hit my face as I stepped outside the apartment door, a welcome to the confusion began swirling in my mind. I took a deep breath, trying to center myself. The sky stood high casting its usual glow but this time it only felt like it was mocking me. I had escaped one nightmare, but my real battle lay ahead.I couldn’t shake the feeling of vulnerability that lingered after my encounter with Liam and Conrad. They had helped me, yes, but who were they really? My instincts screamed caution and trust was a luxury I couldn’t afford at the moment.As I walked down the street, my heart raced at the thought of facing Devon again. I had to confront him, to reclaim my sense of self and dismantle the twisted hold he had over me. The last thing I wanted was to fall back into his manipulative web. Not ever again.I pulled out my phone, hesitating over the contact list. My fingers trailed stopping at his name, the very sight of it sending a cold shiver down my spine. Memories
Karen's Pov.I opened the door slightly revealing a man who stood tall with his back to me looking through the glass of the skyscraper. “Good morning.” I started, closing the door behind me.“I wasn't expecting any more-” He paused as our eyes crashed, realization dawning on my face. “Liam?”His shocked expression soon melted into a smile. “Oh Karen, what a coincidence!” He chuckled, stepping away from the window and to his desk.“I didn't expect to see you so soon.” “Neither did I,” I replied, stepping into the room, trying to shake off the flutter of emotions that his presence stirred in me.I didn't expect Liam to be financially unstable but neither did I expect him to be the CEO of Lex Operate. I tried to hold up my strained smile, printing it plastered on my face. My legs shaked as I moved closer to his work desk standing just a few inches away from the chair.“Take a seat.” At his command I made my way into the child slipping into delicately while trying to mask my nervousnes
Karen's Pov.I took in a deep breath stepping into the restaurant. Liam had somehow managed to email me the address. Probably getting my address from the receptionist. The restaurant was a reach furnishings and the aroma strong with luxurious meals. Stepped into the restaurant immediately spotting Liam at the far end of the restaurant his eyes positioned directly on the phone screen. He wore his usual black suit that hugged tightly on his body.Clearing my throat to get his attention, his head suddenly shot up meeting my eyes. My heart raced feeling the weight of his gaze. “Oh, Karen.” He stood, extending his arm for a handshake.”I almost thought you'd make it.” He chuckled.I took his hand, shaking back.” Why wouldn't I? Strictly business isn't it.” “Of course.” His smile deepenedI took my seat opposite him dropping my file back on the table. He positioned his tie properly before taking the file again but in less than two minutes he placed it back on the table.“Well, I think the
Devon's Pov.The moment I pushed open the door to the president's office, my throat went dry. She was there, seated behind a massive desk exuding the same aura she had the yesterday at the auction.My heart thudded inside my chest. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I heard her say icily, her gaze slicing through me as if I were nothing more than an inconvenience. After the brief encounter yesterday, I didn't think it was possible to see her again, I thought that was going to be the last time or at least it'd take a longer while.She looked over at me before returning her gaze back to her system. It was like she didn’t even know me. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. My mind reeled. How could she sit there, looking at me, and act like I wasn’t the man she once called her husband? “I’m here for the interview,” I managed to say, forcing my voice to stay even. Her gaze lingered on me for a brief moment before looking back at her system. “I wasn’t aware we were still condu
Devon’s POV It was a threat, his words didn't hold empty warmings, he meant it and I didn't even understand why? What did I have to do with it?O'Hara looked at me, his gaze piercing through me like a knife ready to slice me at any time. “Also, I'd need you to infiltrate GlassHouse Inc., Devon,” he said, pacing back to his desk. “They’ve been too secretive, too calculated. It still doesn't sit well with me. I need someone on the inside. Someone who can uncover what makes them tick and bring that information back to me.”His gaze focused on me, this time with a boring intensity. “And that person is you, Devon.” I frowned, my stomach twisting. “You want me to infiltrate the company? As what—a spy?” He arched a brow. “Call it whatever you like, but yes. There’s a job opening for a personal assistant to the president. You’ll apply, ace the interview, and secure the position. From there, you’ll learn their business secrets—every negotiation, every partnership, every weakness.” I
Devon's Pov The evening air was cool and carried a faint scent of rain as I exited the auction house. My steps were heavy, every echo against the pavement a stark reminder of my failure. Karen was alive—alive and thriving. I should have felt relief, joy even, but the cold indifference in her eyes, the sheer lack of emotion in her voice, had turned my victory into ashes. I hailed a cab and gave the driver my address, leaning my head against the window as the city blurred into streaks of light and shadow. My mind churned with memories of Karen, her sudden reappearance, and the venom dripping from Liam’s words. “She doesn’t want you, Devon. She never did.” Her words had cut deep but not as deeply as the icy gaze on her fame and the cold demeanor she carried. I spent five dreadful years looking for her, sacrificing pieces of myself along the way, just for her but all that was gone because the woman I loved was now a stranger. The cab pulled up in front of the auction building an
Devon's POVThe entire room was frozen and in complete silence as all eyes turned. The silence was so deafening that one could almost hear a pin drop.Karen's voice was clear and deliberate and pierced through the tension of the room. My breath caught in my throat and my throat ran cold as I saw her.“Thirty million dollars. “ She repeated, her voice echoing in my ears.The auctioneer blinked, visibly taken aback by the huge amount gap but he was quick to recover.“Thirty million dollars! Do I hear thirty-five million?” But the room had gone still. No one dared to challenge her bid.Who would, it was an insane price for just a mere artifact despite its value. I couldn’t move. My gaze was locked on Karen as she lowered her sunglasses, revealing the same piercing eyes I’d thought about every night for the past five years. Her expression was calm, almost emotionless, as if she hadn’t just dropped a fortune without hesitation. “Going once…going twice…” The auctioneer’s voice filled
Devon's Pov. The evening arrived faster than I expected. I spent most of the day pacing my apartment, nerves twisting in my stomach like a coiled spring. Every second that ticked by was a reminder of the stakes. I couldn’t fail—not this time.My eyes met the wall clock and as it an alarm rang in my head. I had an hour left before midnight and that was all the time I had to get the artifacts. I quickly bolted into the bathroom, I showered quickly, the water was cold on my skin beating at my back as if preparing me for what I was about to face. I finished up in the next ten minutes and was out. I fished out a suit from my wardrobe. The suit was an old one, slightly outdated but the only one I had left with me and still it was a little oversized. I brushed off the faint hint of dust from the shoulders and threw it on it the next minute. It wasn't glamorous but it was the most expensive looking I had. The auction was going to be filled with a lot of fancy men and women of high standin
Devon's Pov. 5 YEARS LATER…The air in the upscale restaurant buzzed with muted conversations from the people already seated. I could hear the clicking of the glasses from the happy couples and friends in the background and faint jazz music. I sat at the private both, holding a glass of water that had long gotten warm. Across from me was Mr O'Hara, he sat, his gaze piercing through me as though he could see my insides. The silence between us was deafening.Mr O'Hara, one of the wealthiest and most influential investors in the industry. His suit was perfectly tailored. He was a very important man, his demeanor was cold and his eyes made it clear that he didn't tolerate mediocrity.The meeting was my very first in over five years, each before that was always rejected as soon as the investor knew who they were going to address. I'd also let Gemini go a few months later, I couldn't pay her so there was no use keeping her around. I'd had to leave San Francisco and move to Los Angeles j
Devon's Pov.“I’m her neighbor, Lena,” she said when her panting finally stopped, her hands resting on her knees as she caught her breath.She straightened up and gestured for me to follow her. And the next moment, we were walking back into the neighborhood. The woman led me to her apartment at the far end of the house. It was just a mini apartment, it was tidy, with a warm, lived-in feel. She gestured toward the couch, but I shook my head. Sitting felt too passive for the storm brewing inside me. I needed answers.“Come on.” She repeated, and this time I took my seat on the plush grey sofa.Lena disappeared into the kitchen and returned back to the room with a steaming mug of coffee in her right hand, placing it on the table before sitting across from me. “So..?” She rubbed her hands against each other while pulling a strained smile that didn't reach her eyes. Her eyes scanned my entire future from head to toes as if investigating me. Her eyes held a quiet curiosity as she waited
Devon's pov. “I'm sorry sir but I don't think I can work here anymore,” Philip, a member of the tech team said. He stood at the front of them, a group of people who had once trembled under my gaze. Some kept their expressions neutral, while others couldn’t hide the way their hands shook or the way they avoided looking me in the eye. Still, they were here, together, facing me like they never had before. My jaw tightened as I met Philip’s gaze. “What are you saying, Philip?”“We…” He paused, exchanging glances with the others before continuing. “We’ve all decided to leave. With everything happening, we’re not sure if you’ll be able to pay us anymore. And… there are no more investors willing to back the company.”My fists clenched at my sides. I stayed silent for a minute thinking of the right words to say. They were wrong, I didn't know how I was going to pay them off and even the ones I had in my account had been mostly invested in the resources during the partnership with Lex Oper
Devon's povMy car pulled up in front of the house, and I stepped out before the engine fully died down. There was still a lot to be door but with each passing second I felt like the ground should have just consumed me. My eyes narrowed at the sight of a man lingering near the edge of the driveway caught my attention. He was tall, dressed in a worn-out suit that seemed to struggle against the December wind. “Can I help you?” I called out, my voice sharp as I approached. The man immediately turned, his face slipping into a practiced professionalism expression.“Mr. Grey, I presume?” “Yeah. Who’s asking?” i responded back almost immediately. “Alan Greaves,” he said, holding up a clipboard. “I’m here on behalf of Mr. Liam Falcon.” My jaw clenched, Liam. Of course, it would be him. Who else. The man didn’t just want to win—he wanted to completely strip everything that was in my name. I kept my face blank, though my fists clenched at my sides. “Whoever sent you has no business