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
Karen's Pov I twisted and turned, feeling restless in my bed. The night was cold and lonely and I still couldn't get any rest. Images of Devon kept appearing in my mind. From how loving he used to be up until how he became after our marriage. Tears welled up in my eyes, falling to the mattress. I clutched my body hugging them as the tears continued streaming down my eyes. Where it all went wrong.My thoughts wandered to Liam. The offer... It was so tempting. But the more I thought about it the more I realized how little I knew about Liam. He was kind, yes, but I still barely knew him despite the fact that he saved me. My mind still didn't want to fully relax with him.I groaned, massaging my temples. I couldn’t think straight. The anxiety was too suffocating.Deciding to get out of bed, I walked to the window and stared out at the city lights wondering what I would do. My mind racing. I didn't know if I was prepared for the kind of change I was stepping into.The sound of my phone vi
Devon's Pov.The office environment was filled with it's usual silence as I walked in. Employees shaking abd trembling in fear while others shielding from my gaze afraid of what I could do or what would come next. Grey Tech was facing it's down day and things needed to be done to get it back to it's former glory. I paused in front of my day looking above my shoulders as the low murmurs stop noticing my sudden movement.“I didn't receive yesterday's folder.” I started my voice laced with distant.”Why?”The entire workers froze at my voice before a middle-aged man from the tech department came forward.“Y-yes sir. It still needed so corrections so I was hoping to deliver it today.” His voice shook and I could already see his body giving in to the fear he felt.“Incompetent” He shot back, irritation clear in my tone. They could never do anything right and it only made me pissed.I turned to back facing my office oak door. “You're fired.” I didn't need to look back I could already fee
Devon's Pov.The heels of my shoe clicked to the gray marble floor as I casually strolled into the Lex Operate building. The office environment was silent but not the kind that was built on fear or emptiness but the whole workspace was organized and the workers in a coordinated union doing their work with ease and accuracy, something that Grey Tech once had but now, it was a shadow of its former self.Liam Falcon and I were the worst of enemies even business rivals weren't at each other's neck like we both were. We had so much in common when it came to the business industry but yet we were still polar opposite. Ever since our alliance together as a partner with Europe's biggest tech industry, things had taken a drastic turn for the worst. Liam was too power hungry and fuelled by greed and the luxury from the money that came from it. He wanted to overtake and pull through the Europeans taking over their entire division right under their noses. If there was one thing he knew how to
Devon's Pov.“The deal has been sealed.” I told Gemini as she lowered her head down awaiting a response. She didn't dare to meet my eyes, she rarely did.“His team will be here tomorrow morning so make sure everything is intact and ready. I don't want any shortcomings, if anything goes wrong every worker in this company's life wouldn't be far behind.” This time talking to every one of my employees.Gasp from the crowd followed but as I sent a deadly glare towards them they became silent immediately.“And if you think I'll let these leaking details and corruption slip by just because all is well, then you're a joke. Whoever the culprit is, I'll find you and make sure you regret setting a foot on the face on earth.” Healing the company was the main priority but that didn't mean that afterwards I'd let things slide. Someone had to be behind it all and I was going to make hell sure that I made them regret their forsaking life.I immediately set my heels straight into the elevator door an
Karen's Pov I settled on the black oak desk of fine furnishings, my bag was situated just a few inches away from me. The office was massive, the entire room had the smell of luxury. There were two book shelves and cushions seated at the corner and side respectively.I took a deep breath, inhaling the new work environment. This was my life from here on out. Working with Liam had its advantages.I wasn't even aware of. As his P.A I needed to be closer to him working on urgent hours when he needed me. In order to ensure that everything was without a flaw he got an apartment not so far from his estate. It was a coincidental life saver. The pay was good and the work hours were flexible. A typical 9 to 5pm daily.A knock from the door abruptly brought me out of my stream of thoughts. A lady with blonde straight hair and dressed in a corporate blouse walked in.“Miss Karen?” She asked and I immediately nodded.“Yes.”“Okay.” she said moving closer. “I'm Fiona, the head of the IT coordinator.
Karen’s POVThe café was quiet with a soft jazzy melody drifting smoothly through the air. It was different from the usual work tension as it was providing an unexpected sense of calm compared to the usual buzz and business of the office environment.I sat across from Liam, our table seemingly too small but the space between us feeling awkwardly wide. For the first time since I’d started working with him, we weren’t discussing business. Instead the conversation had somehow shifted to something… more personal.Liam leaned back in his chair, his dark green eyes fixed on his coffee cup as he gently swirled the contents. The motion was deliberate and for a moment, I forgot to breathe as the tension kept rising. This was the second time I was having a supposed meeting with him and yet each tension was worse than the last. There was something about the way he carried himself in that moment that looked so relaxed and composed that made me wonder how well I really knew him. "So," he started
Karen's Pov The quiet hum of conversation around us seemed to fade away as I absorbed Liam’s words. His gaze was intense and steady, and I felt the weight of it settle on my chest making it a little hard for me to breathe. There was something in his voice, something that was unspoken and that hinted at more than just professional admiration."I hope you understand what I'm saying." He said summarizing it all up."I’m starting to think I do," I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. It was a statement that held more than it actually let out but it felt true in the moment. I had always believed in my own abilities, but there was something about Liam’s confidence that made me feel pulled and pushed forward daring me to take control of my lifeSomething that made me see myself in a new light. The potential he spoke of—it felt like a doorway opening. But where would it lead?Liam’s lips twitched upward, but it was only a slight curve. It wasn’t the full, confident smile I was used to
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