MY ANCHOR.~LAUREN POV~The sea breeze tangled through my hair as I brushed a few strands away from my face, trying to focus on anything but the chaos around me. My gaze drifted toward Alexandro, who stood talking to the captain with his typical air of authority. But my attention snapped back to Rosette and Patrick. She was leaning into him, her lips dangerously close to his, the two of them putting on a show as if they were in some private moment rather than on the deck of a yacht. A sick feeling churned in my stomach. How had today twisted so quickly from promising to unbearable? I should’ve stayed in my room, I thought bitterly. Alone and away from this soap opera. “You two,” Lilac said, her voice dripping with mock irritation, “get a room.” She rolled her eyes dramatically, though her smirk betrayed her amusement. It was obvious what they were doing. They were trying to get under my skin, and worse, it was working. I clenched my jaw, refusing to give them the satisfact
HIS PRESENCE.~LAUREN’S POV~The rest of the ride was quiet and uncomfortable, broken only by Rosette’s angry looks and Fatimah’s occasional laughter. Lilac sat quietly, avoiding eye contact, but her presence still added to my stress.I turned my attention to the water, leaning forward against the railing. The sea stretched out endlessly before me, shimmering under the golden sunlight. Despite the day spiraling from bad to worse, the view was stunning. The salty breeze kissed my skin, and for a moment, the anxiety in my chest eased. “You should be careful.” A voice startled me, deep and close, pulling me out of my brief reprieve. I turned to find Alexandro standing behind me. His phone, the obvious source of his earlier distraction, was nowhere in sight. He looked at me with a casual, unreadable expression that I was beginning to hate. Right. Him. I’d almost forgotten he was here, which was saying something, considering how impossible it usually was to ignore him. I should h
GIVING HIM A SHOW.~ALEXANDRO’S POV~As soon as the boat docked, Rosette tried to seize control, her voice cutting through the air like nails on a chalkboard. “We should all stick together while we explore the city,” she suggested, glancing around as if waiting for unanimous agreement. The others murmured in halfhearted approval, but I wasn’t about to let her dictate my plans. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible,” I said smoothly, drawing everyone’s attention. “Lauren and I already have plans.” Rosette froze, her lips parting slightly as if she couldn’t quite process my words. “What plans?” she demanded, her tone sharper than she intended. I smiled. “Dinner. Just the two of us.” For a moment, silence reigned. Fatimah raised an eyebrow, clearly amused, while Rosette’s cheeks flushed red. Patrick, however, was the most satisfying to watch. His frown deepened, his jaw tightening. The subtle clench of his fists at his sides didn’t escape my notice. Good. It was too easy
SCARED OF FEELING ~LAUREN’S POV~I could practically hear my heartbeat as I forced my gaze to stay fixed on the plate of food sitting in front of me. The mashed potatoes sat untouched, a smudge of gravy trailing down the side, but the rest of the dish looked foreign. Some kind of meat—roast, maybe?—and vegetables I couldn’t quite place. Was this even what I ordered?My brow furrowed as I poked at the food with my fork, lifting my eyes just slightly to catch Alexandro staring at me. He didn’t bother looking away when I met his gaze. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, suddenly too aware of the low murmurs floating around the restaurant. The hushed whispers, the stolen glances—especially from the women seated nearby. I cleared my throat and lifted my glass of wine, pretending not to notice. “Seems like you’re pretty well-known around here,” I said, letting the words roll off casually. Alexandro leaned back in his chair, that ever-present smirk tugging at the corner of his li
FLICK OF PAIN.~LAUREN’S POV~The night began with warm moments but soon turned into confusion and frustration. As we left the restaurant, Alexandro lightly placed his hand on my back.I could feel the heat of it through the thin fabric of my dress, and it was unnervingly distracting. When he leaned closer to whisper in my ear, his breath brushing against my skin, it sent shivers down my spine. “You’ll have to get used to my touch,” he murmured, his voice low and edged with amusement. “I can’t have you flinching every time I lay a hand on you.” “It’s cold,” I lied, hoping to cover up the growing embarrassment from how acutely aware I was of his presence. Alexandro only smirked, pulling off his blazer without a word and draping it over my shoulders. The unexpected gesture left me stunned, my protest caught in my throat. “You… you didn’t have to,” I finally managed, my fingers clutching the lapels of the blazer. He didn’t listen to me. Instead, he looked at the street, as if
UNEXPECTED WARM.~ALEXANDRO’S POV~ Lauren pulled away from me the moment we boarded the boat. She didn’t say a word, just wrapped her arms around herself and found a seat near the edge. Her gaze fixed on the dark waters, avoiding me entirely. She was angry. “You’re angry,” I said, keeping my voice low so the others wouldn’t hear. “Well, congratulations for noticing that,” she shot back, her tone sharp, her eyes still refusing to meet mine. A smirk tugged at the corner of my lips. Her frustration amused me more than I cared to admit. She reminded me of a child whose candy had been taken away—adorable, despite her clear annoyance. Before I could say more, my phone buzzed in my pocket, dragging my attention away. I pulled it out and glanced at the name flashing on the screen. Antonio. This late? It had better be important. I walked to the other side of the boat, away from the others, and answered. “This better be important for you to call me at this hour.” My tone was cal
A PUZZLE OF FEELINGS.~LAUREN’S POV~ The days at the resort passed in a blur, each one feeling more exhausting than the last. Alexandro made it his mission to drag me to every event and occasion requiring his presence, while all I wanted was to stay indoors and avoid everyone—especially him. After my last encounter with Rosette, her venomous words still stayed in my mind. I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that she might be right about some things. I was beginning to have expectations about this fake relationship, and I hated myself for it. The idea of Alexandro using me just to pass the time filled me with anger I couldn’t quite understand. And now, here I sat at yet another social gathering, glaring at the women surrounding Alexandro. “Get a grip, Lauren,” I muttered to myself, gripping the stem of my champagne glass tightly. “Remember, this isn’t real.” But no matter how much I told myself that, it felt like a lie. If I truly believed it, why couldn’t I look away from
A LONG RIDE.~LAUREN’S POV~I stood in the resort lobby, gripping my luggage tightly. Finally, this nightmare of a vacation was over. I was going home. Home to my cozy bed and, most importantly, away from people. No offense, but this trip had been far from enjoyable. It wouldn’t have been so bad if I hadn’t been forced to watch my ex and his fiancée flaunting their so-called love every chance they got. And Alexandro... well, he almost had me fooled. For a second, I thought love might be possible again, but clearly, I was wrong. My heart had been broken too many times to believe in such things anymore. “Too bad we’re leaving,” Lilac sighed, her eyes lingering on one of the resort staff. The guy grinned sheepishly at her, clearly charmed. We all knew why he was smiling, and it wasn’t because he was just doing his job. “Christmas is coming,” one of my coworkers added. “Time to spend with friends and family.” Christmas. The holiday I was supposed to spend with someone specia
THE WHISPERS~LAUREN’S POV~I pretend I don’t hear them. Pretend I don’t see the way they stare, their eyes sharp enough to cut through bone. But the thing about pretending? It doesn’t make anything less real. The whispers crawl beneath my skin, burrowing into the spaces I don’t have the energy to protect. The group chat is worse. Every message is a tiny stab, shallow but precise. "I still can’t believe she’s dating Alexandro.""She acts so innocent like she’s better than everyone.""I felt bad when Patrick dumped her, but what if she was the one who dumped him first?"I squeeze my phone, my fingers pressing into the edges. For a second, I consider typing back. Maybe telling them they have it all wrong. They don’t know me, don’t know my side of the story. But what’s the point? I glance over my shoulder. More eyes. Always watching, always assuming. Some were filled with curiosity, others with something colder. This. This is exactly why I wanted to end things with Alexandr
CHECKMATE.~ALEXANDRO’S POV~I chuckled, dragging a hand through my hair as I tossed my phone onto the desk. Stubborn little thing. She was learning—fast. I thought the press would crush her, thought she’d cave under the weight of the headlines. But no, she held her ground. A little shaken, maybe, but not broken. I underestimated her. A mistake I wouldn’t make again. “I can’t decide if you’re still just playing with her or if you’re starting to believe your bullshit.” Mario’s voice dragged me out of my thoughts. He was sprawled across my couch, a glass of scotch in one hand, a cigar in the other. Casually watching. Always watching. He set his drink down, picked up a magazine, and skimmed through it like it was the morning paper. “What happened to keep her at arm’s length?” he asked, not even bothering to lift his gaze. I smirked, making my way to the bar in the corner of my office. The half-empty bottle of aged Scotch stared back at me, a gift from an old associate i
STRANGER IN THE ELEVATOR.~LAUREN’S POV~I tossed my phone onto my desk and leaned back in my chair. Rubbing my temples.Alexandro was infuriated.Smug, arrogant, and too damn aware of the effect he had on people—on me. He knew exactly how to push my buttons, and worse, he enjoyed it.And now, thanks to last night, I had the media turning my life into some soap opera.Just perfect.A sharp knock on my desk pulled me from my thoughts. But before I could respond. Rosette closed my laptop, causing me to look up from where I sat.Beside her stood the same man who had pulled me from the reporters earlier. I stiffened slightly, my brows drawing together.“Morning, Rosette,” I greeted flatly.Rosette folded her arms, clearly not liking my tone, but she knew too well than to cause a scene or accuse me of anything in front of everyone.“Deal with him,” she said, not even leaving room for more explanation as she turned on her heels and left. I stared at her, confused, before turning to look at
NEWEST OBSESSION.~LAUREN’S POV~My table clock alarm blared, pulling me out of sleep as I groaned. The morning sunlight found its way through a small gap in the curtains, casting a glow over my bedroom. I rolled onto my back, staring blankly at the ceiling. Last night… well, it was intense. My mind drifted to Alexandro—his kiss, his touch. Every moment with him replayed in my head like a broken record. Did I hate it? No. It felt different. Those feelings. I had dated Patrick long enough to know that whatever I was experiencing with Alexandro wasn’t the same. Around him, I didn’t have to try. He always knew the right words, and the right actions, making me feel like a lovesick fool. And last night had been undeniable proof. I didn’t need this. My breakup with Patrick—or rather, me getting dumped by Patrick—hadn’t even been a few months ago. I wasn’t ready to be dragged back into love, especially not into something this complicated. Sighing, I reached for my phone on the n
MIXED FEELINGS.~LAUREN’S POV~I should have stepped back. But I didn’t. The night air felt heavy with an energy I couldn't describe. The space between us was gone, and now he was just there—his presence was strong, and his scent wrapped around me like a powerful spell.I hated that my body responded before my mind could catch up. Alexandro didn’t touch me, not completely. His hands remained braced against the railing on either side of me, caging me in, but his body heat seeped into mine, and his breath was maddeningly close. Waiting. Daring. A slow smirk tugged at his lips as if he could feel my hesitation as if he knew exactly what was happening inside my head. “Tell me something, mi amor,” he murmured, his voice a quiet rasp against the night air. “Are you shaking because of him?” His dark gaze flickered to my parted lips. “Or because of me?” Damn him. I sucked in a sharp breath, forcing my spine to straighten. “You’re full of yourself, Señor Castillo,” I said co
A RECKONING~LAUREN’S POV~ "Tell me, amor… what scares you more? That you hate me? Or that you don’t?"His words wouldn’t leave my head. They clung to my thoughts like a whispered curse, threading through my veins, tightening around my ribs. I wanted to tell him he was wrong. That I wasn’t scared. That I despised him. That I felt nothing. But that would be a lie. And Alexandro Castello? He thrived on the truth beneath the lies. His fingers brushed against my cheek, the warmth of his touch bringing down the cold wind that bit at my skin. My pulse betrayed me, hammering against my ribs, loud enough that I was sure he could hear it. I hated this. Hated that he knew exactly how to intimidate me, how to crack me with just a look. But before I could step back, before I could regain even a shred of composure— “Sir.” A sharp voice cut through the tension, breaking the moment like a shattered pane of glass. Hilda. Alexandro’s ever-efficient assistant. She stood just beh
A GAME OF CONTROL ~ALEXANDRO’S POV~I knew exactly what I was doing.The moment my lips touched hers, the room ceased to exist.It was reckless. A dangerous move. But I didn’t care.Lauren stiffened for a second, caught off guard, but then I felt it—that slight, almost imperceptible hesitation before she melted into the kiss.That was all I needed.My hand pressed against the small of her back, pulling her closer. Her scent filled my senses, a perfect mix of something soft and intoxicating. I could feel the irregular beat of her heart beneath my fingertips, betraying her.She could lie all she wanted. She could pretend to hate me.But her body told the truth.And I owned every single reaction.The room was silent, eyes wide, mouths hanging open.Rosette stood frozen, her grip on Patrick’s arm tightening until her nails dug into his skin.Patrick—well, his expression was unreadable, but the way his jaw clenched told me everything I needed to know.I felt her fingers trembling against
THE GAME WE PLAY~LAUREN’S POV~The moment I walked into the ballroom, I felt it. People are watching closely. They whisper. There is a mix of curiosity and judgment in the air.I tried not to let it show. I had stepped into an entirely different world—one of power, influence, and carefully crafted illusions. I had no business being here, yet here I was. Dressed in red. A statement in itself. My heart pounded as I forced myself to move forward, chin high, shoulders squared. But deep inside, a small voice whispered— “run.”I ignored it. But then, my eyes landed on him. Patrick. He stood near the bar, his gaze locked onto me with an admiration that made my breath hitch. For a split second, the past flooded forward, threatening to pull me under. The feelings I thought had died came rushing back. I wanted to move toward him, but then— “her.”Rosette. Her arm was coiled through Patrick’s, her grip possessive, her eyes sharp as they met mine. A silent warning. That witch.
BLOOD & DESIRES ~ALEXANDRO’S POV~The look in Lauren’s eyes when she walked into that room. I had seen it before. Fear. Disgust. A silent accusation. It was the same look my mother used to give me whenever I came home covered in blood. My mother, the woman who gave me life, had looked at me as though I were something monstrous. Something unworthy. And now, Lauren had seen it too. How the hell had she even found that room? It was hidden, far from the public eye. A place meant for business, not for innocent eyes like hers. I never wanted her to see ‘this’ part of me. Not yet. This life—this world—I was proud of it. It was mine. I had built it from the ground up and earned my place through blood and power. But Lauren didn’t belong in this world. She wasn’t ready. Mario would lose his mind if he found out she’d seen what she shouldn’t have. But I wasn’t going to let one mistake ruin my fun. She would remember ‘nothing’ after tonight. The sharp chime of the doorbel