Emma's Point Of View The doctor’s words kept echoing in my head non stop like a haunting melody I couldn’t shut out. “If treatment doesn’t commence in a few days time, your brothers condition might get worse of perhaps he might lose his life.” The phrase played on repeat, each word cutting deeper than the last. I stared blankly at my laptop screen, the spreadsheets and deadlines a blur. My chest tightened as I grabbed my phone to check my bank account for what felt like the hundredth time today. My savings were laughable, a cruel joke in the face of the mounting medical bills. I had a good paying job but the bills that followed the pay was way more than I can handle, every cent I had managed to save wasn’t enough to scrape the surface of what they needed to save Brandon. The helplessness clawed at me, my throat dry, my hands trembling. I didn’t even hear the elevator chime at first. The sharp ding only registered when the doors slid open, snapping me back to reality. My eyes d
Emma's Point Of View The elevator doors slid shut with a soft ding, sealing me inside as the floor numbers ticked upward. My heart pounded against my ribs, a relentless rhythm of worry. Adrian Steele’s reaction to yesterday was anyone’s guess, and I wasn’t naive enough to think he’d just let it slide. The man wasn’t known for his mercy, especially not when it came to his staff. Rumors had it that I am the longest assistant he had ever had. The rest would one to work for him with the intentions of seducing him, it did work, they seduced him but the hot fired immediately after the fun. I on the other hand despises him and nothing would ever happen between us that's why I still have my job!I leaned against the cold metal wall, I took my mind off the consequences of my actions yesterday and the doctor's words began slicing through my thoughts like shards of glass. "Miss Carter, you are running out of time, If he has an episode like this one more time, we might not be able to save him."
Adrian’s Point Of ViewThe steady hum of my office filled the silence, broken only by the faint ticking of the clock on the far wall. Outside, the city stirred with life, but here, within these four walls, I was locked in thought. My chair creaked as I leaned back, fingers steepled under my chin, staring at the faint reflection of myself in the dark monitor.Emma Carter.Her response still echoed in my mind, crisp and defiant, though her voice held a strong uncertainty which made me believe I could crack her if I pushed harder "With all due respect, sir, I cannot marry you. You are my boss"The corner of my lips curled upward, a wry smile forming despite myself. She actually thinks she is better than me? She thinks she could just walk away from the deal I’d laid on the table?"Two years, No emotions, No intimacy" She had indirectly turned it down but she’d learn soon enough.I’d offered her salvation, an escape from her desperate reality, any girl would jump on my lap at such opportun
Emma's Point Of View The air in the hospital wing was cold and sterile. The faint scent of disinfectant clung to everything, making my stomach churn. I sat on one of the hard, wooden benches near the nurse’s station, the creak of my shifting weight echoing faintly in the quiet. In my right hand, I clutched a file.. the infamous contract Adrian Steele had handed me. In my left, a cheque with enough zeroes to save my brother’s life. I stared at them one at a time, my thoughts a chaotic mess of fear, anger, and desperation. How had it come to this? How had I ended up here, forced to decide between my dignity and my brother’s life? A bitter laugh bubbled in my throat, though I swallowed it back before it could escape. Adrian Steele. Just thinking about him made my blood boil. His smooth, infuriating voice echoed in my head: "Marry me… or get the fuck out of my Office. And if you choose to get fired, I’ll make sure you never work in this city again. I mean every word of it." I belie
Emma's Point Of View The air in the luxury suite was thick with the hum of activity. I sat in the center of the room, surrounded by a swarm of stylists, makeup artists, and hairdressers who seemed determined to reinvent me. Brushes swished across my cheeks, hot tools hissed in my hair, and a steady stream of orders filled the air."More volume on the crown.""Darken her eyeliner. She needs to look bold.""That dress has to be steamed again, every wrinkle must disappear!"Their chatter blurred into white noise as I stared at myself in the mirror. Was that even me anymore?It wasn’t the first time I had prepped for one of Steele Enterprises grand events. For three years, I’d been in the background at every company anniversary and gala, efficiently managing guest lists, sorting out seating arrangements, and ensuring everything ran smoothly. I was always the effective assistant. The invisible one.But tonight was different.Tonight, I wasn’t Emma Carter, the assistant. I was Emma Steele,
Emma’s Point Of ViewThe murmurs of conversations and the faint clinking of glasses echoed in the grand hall, blending with the low hum of classical music in the background. My fingers fidgeted with the fabric of my dress, its luxurious silk far too extravagant for someone like me. Standing beside Adrian, I could feel the weight of the evening bearing down on me. He looked completely in his element, exuding confidence as he discussed business with a client. Meanwhile, I was struggling to breathe normally under the scrutinizing gazes of Evelyn Steele and Celia, the blonde woman who seemed all too comfortable in Adrian’s world.I forced myself to keep my shoulders straight, though my palms were sweaty, betraying my nerves. Evelyn's icy eyes scanned me with such intensity I almost squirmed. Celia, with her model-like elegance, stood poised and graceful, her sharp gaze darting to me with subtle disdain. My thoughts wandered, questioning yet again why I had agreed to this charade. Then I
Adrian’s Point Of ViewThe sun broke through the curtains in soft golden rays, the only hint of calm in a house that felt unsettlingly quiet. My sneakers scuffed the hardwood floor as I entered, sweat dampening the back of my tee from my morning run. The silence was jarring, and for reasons I couldn’t quite place, it made me uneasy.Normally, for the few days Emma had been here, I’d usually hear her bustling around the kitchen and with house work, her faint humming betraying her nervousness in my presence. I had told her severally to let the house staffs do their work but for some reason she returns from work and still goes on to make food, but today, though, there was nothing but the hum of the air conditioner.I made my way to the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water and leaning against the counter, a disguise to see if she was there but she wasn't. Maybe she’s upstairs, I thought, though the nagging feeling in my chest said otherwise. She was always so punctual, so predictable. That
Emma's Point Of View “Sleeping Beauty,” a voice teased gently, tugging me out of the comforting void of sleep. My brother Brandon’s hand was on my shoulder, lightly shaking me. His faint smile, so rare these past few years of constant pain and struggle, was like a ray of sunlight breaking through a stormy sky.I rubbed my face with my palm, smiling back at him. “Morning, lazybones,” I teased, though my voice came out groggy. “How was your night?”“Not bad,” he replied with a casual shrug that quickly turned into a wince as he shifted his weight.I shot up, instantly alert. “Are you in pain? Should I call the nurse?”Brandon chuckled softly. “Calm down, Em. It’s nothing serious.”Just then, the door opened, and the doctor walked in with the nurse trailing behind him. “Good morning, Ms. Carter,” he greeted with professional warmth.“Good morning, Doctor,” I replied, smoothing my hair as if it mattered.The nurse handed him a file, and he flipped through it briefly before handing it bac
Emma's Point of ViewThe Prison lights buzzed faintly above me, a dull hum that had become all too familiar in the past weeks. I sat on the edge of the cold, metal cot, twisting my fingers together, my heart racing with an unsettling mix of hope and dread. Today was my hearing, the day that would determine whether my life spiraled deeper into chaos or finally clawed its way back to normal.I glanced at the rusted clock on the wall in the hallway. Its slow, dragging ticks only heightened my anxiety. Every second felt like it was mocking me.The sharp jingle of keys snapped me out of my thoughts. A guard appeared at the cell gate, his eyes scanning the clipboard in his hands before calling out, "Emma Carter, you have a visitor."I blinked, surprised. "A visitor?" I echoed under my breath. My heart thumped painfully hard against my ribs as I stood, wiping my clammy palms against my jeans.“Let’s go,” the guard said gruffly.I followed him through the echoing corridors until we reached th
Adrian’s Point of ViewOne week in and I feel like I'm losing it, the weight of the world seemed to be crashing down on me, my fingers drumming impatiently on the glossy surface. Tomorrow was the damn court hearing, and I hadn’t heard a single word from Pedro since he walked out of the cell with Emma’s staff records. Days of silence... nothing.The tension was driving me insane.Papers were scattered all over my desk from financial reports to legal documents, you name it. But my mind wasn’t on any of them. Instead, it was stuck on the thought of Emma sitting behind those cold bars, waiting for me to pull off a miracle. And Lily... God, Lily. She kept asking when her mom would be home, and each time, it felt like a knife to the chest.My phone vibrated sharply against the wood. I snatched it up without even looking, but when I did, I frozePedro.“Finally,” I muttered before answering, “Pedro. Please tell me you’ve got something.”“Turns out,” Pedro’s gravelly voice echoed through the
Adrian’s Point of ViewMy mind ran wild as I drove out of the house, the only sound interfering with my thoughts were just the sound of the car engine. My hands gripped the steering wheels tightly as my knuckles turned as white as sheet. Lily sat in the backseat, her tiny hands clutching her backpack, while Paul, Naomi’s Son, gazed out the window, unaware of the storm that was brewing in my mind.“Daddy,” Lily’s soft voice broke through my thoughts.I glanced into the rearview mirror, locking eyes with her big, innocent ones. “Yes, princess?”She hesitated, her fingers playing with the strap of her bag. “When’s Mommy and Aunty Naomi coming home?”My chest tightened. God, how was I supposed to answer that? I forced a smile, even though my heart was heavy. “Very soon, baby. Mommy’s just… handling a little business. She and Aunty Naomi will be back before you know it.”Lily’s small head nodded, but her eyes told me she didn’t buy it. Kids... they always seem to know when you’re lying. I
Emma’s Point of ViewFor the first time in what felt like forever, I woke up feeling completely at peace. The warm weight of Adrian’s arm draped over my waist, his steady breathing against the back of my neck.. it was everything I had once thought I’d never have.Who would have thought we’d end up like this? After everything we’d been through, all the battles we had fought, all the pain, all the betrayals... yet, here we were. Together.I let out a contented sigh, shifting slightly under his hold. He tightened his grip around me, pulling me even closer to him."You're not trying to escape, are you?" he murmured against my ear, his voice thick with sleep.I chuckled, tilting my head back to look at him. "Escape? I must be crazy if I ever think of running from this."His lips curved into a smirk, and he trailed his fingers lazily along my bare shoulder, sending shivers down my spine. "Good. Because I have no plans of letting you go, Emma."I turned in his arms, looking up at him with pl
Adrian’s Point of ViewThe moment I pulled into the driveway, I felt it. That suffocating weight pressing against my chest. My hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. Celia’s car was still parked outside, sitting there like a goddamn reminder that I wasn’t free... not yet.I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my fury in check, but the anger was already flaring up inside me like an uncontrollable fire. I had given her and my mother clear instructions to be gone before I got back. My mother had obeyed, but of course, Celia never listened. She was too stubborn, too manipulative, too damn convinced that she could somehow still control me.Slamming the car door shut, I strode toward the house, my steps heavy with purpose. This needed to end. No more games. No more power struggles. No more Celia.As soon as I stepped inside, I spotted her in the living room, standing there like she owned the damn place. She was dressed in a silk robe, her hair perfectly styled as
Emma's Point Of ViewI woke up to the memory of Adrian’s touch still burning on my skin. His hands, his lips, the way he whispered my name like it was the only word that ever mattered. “I love you, Emma. Nothing can make me stop loving you.”And, God help me, I had believed him.I rolled over, expecting to find him there, still asleep, his strong arm draped over me, his face softened in the morning light. But the bed was empty. Cold. My heart sank, and my mind spiraled into a mess of regret. Had I been too stupid, too easy? Had I let myself fall back into his arms just to be left alone again?I buried my face in my palms. "Damn it, Emma. You should have known better." I murmuredJust then, the door creaked open. My head snapped up, half-expecting Lily to waltz in like she usually did. But instead, there he was.. Adrian... standing in the doorway with a tray of food.And shirtless.My eyes drifted from the tray to his abs... defined, strong, everything I used to trace my fingers over f
Adrian’s Point of ViewThe pain of Betrayal.It sat heavy on my chest like a fucking boulder, making it hard to breathe. My hands gripped the steering wheel so tight that my knuckles turned white, but I didn’t care. The more I thought about it, the harder my foot pressed against the gas pedal. My mind was spinning, my heart hammering against my ribs. Ryan. That son of a bitch.To think Emma had trusted him, let him into their life, my daughter around him and this whole fucking time, he had been playing them like a goddamn fool. My mother’s words echoed in my head, each sentence slicing through me like a jagged blade:"Oh, Ryan? He was the man Celia set Emma up with at the club five years ago. The man who drugged her, had sex with her, took pictures, and sent them to you. We had no idea he turned up in Emma’s life again until Celia told me she saw him and feared he’d tell Emma the truth. But unfortunately for her, the bastard had his own plans. He wanted Emma. Maybe one night with her
Adrian’s Point of ViewFor minutes I sat glued to my seat at the cafe, the envelop still sat on its spot. I was suddenly scared of touching it, the truth that meant all I had believed from my mother and Celia could have been a lie all these while, then it clicked "I had to go home! Celia couldn't get away with this! Not now! Not ever" I called for the Barista to get the check and she did, I paid and left. The ride home was a blur of fury and disbelief. My grip tightened on the steering wheel, my knuckles white as rage pulsed through my veins. The city lights streaked past, but I hardly noticed. My mind replayed everything over and over intensifying my anger the more. Emma’s unwavering expression, Ryan’s smug threats, and the damning papers now clenched in my hand.Celia.I had given her my life even when it wasn't willingly, married her against my own wishes and desires. And all along, she had been the one responsible for the attack on my mother?This was the last fucking straw.As
Emma's Point Of ViewThe car ride was cold, silent, and suffocating. The tension between Ryan and me was thick enough to slice through with a knife. He was fuming, his grip tight on the steering wheel as he maneuvered through the busy New York streets. I could still hear his angry voice from earlier, the arguments that put us at slight odds still echoing in my head like a song on repeat."You make it look like you're trying so damn hard to be proven innocent for Adrian!"That had been the final straw. I had slapped him across the face so fast, my palm still tingled from the impact."I will not stand here and let you speak to me like that! If you won't come with me, then I'll go alone!"Ryan, as stubborn as ever, had eventually caved and followed. Now, here we were, nearing the café where I was about to meet Adrian. I folded my arms across my chest, staring blankly out the window, but my mind was a storm of emotions. Anxiety, frustration, even a hint of relief. I wanted answers. I need