Caesar sat at his desk, his fingers drumming impatiently against the polished wood. His sharp gaze flicked to his secretary, Sarah, who stood by the door, iPad in hand."Get Nathan from IT here. Now," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.Without hesitation, Sarah nodded. "Right away, Mr. Masterson."Within ten minutes, Nathan entered, adjusting his glasses as he took in Caesar’s serious expression."You wanted to see me, sir?" he asked.Caesar gestured to the chair across from him. "Have you identified who sabotaged Amaliah’s report?"Nathan exhaled, setting a folder on the desk. "Yes. It was Mark from the digital marketing department. But he didn’t act alone. Someone from IT helped him override system restrictions." Nathan responded.Caesar’s jaw clenched. "Who?""A junior technician named Alex," Nathan replied. "We reviewed the system logs and traced unauthorized modifications back to his credentials. He and Mark worked together to alter Amaliah’s data before the deadl
Amaliah knew it was wrong. Her husband hadn’t even been dead a year, yet here she was, locked in a kiss with his greatest rival. But no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t summon the will to stop.When Caesar’s arms slid around her waist, drawing her closer, she didn’t resist. When he grazed her bottom lip with his teeth, asking for more, she yielded, parting her lips for him. Their tongues met in a slow, intoxicating dance, each stroke deepening the hunger between them. Her fingers wove through his hair, holding him to her as if letting go would shatter the moment.Caesar finally pulled away, his breaths ragged, as though he’d just run a marathon. He couldn’t believe what had just happened. For weeks, he had imagined this—fantasized about it—but the reality was beyond anything his mind had conjured. He wanted to speak, to say something, anything, but the kiss had left his mind utterly blank.Just when she thought it was over, Caesar tilted his head and captured her lips once more
A week later Amaliah nestled into a quiet corner of the Chinese restaurant, absently tracing the menu’s edge with her fingers as she browsed the options. She rarely dined alone, but with Caesar tied up in meetings, she was left to fend for herself for lunch.The restaurant was warm and inviting, filled with the rich aromas of stir-fried vegetables, soy sauce, and freshly steamed dumplings. Around her, the soft hum of conversation mingled with the rhythmic clinking of chopsticks and ceramic bowls, forming an atmosphere that should have been comforting.Yet, something felt off.She had just settled on ordering kung pao chicken with a side of vegetable spring rolls when, on impulse, she glanced toward the window.Her breath caught.Across the street, near the curb, stood a man—partially obscured by passing cars, his dark hair slightly tousled, his posture hauntingly familiar. Even from this distance, the resemblance was striking.Rafael Rivers.Her husband.Her dead husband.A sharp jol
Amaliah had no clue how Francine had managed to persuade Caesar to bring in a new hire for the digital marketing team. But when she returned to work on Monday—following the mandatory day off Caesar had insisted she take on Friday—she was startled to find a woman occupying Mark’s former desk.The newcomer’s high ponytail bounced with every movement as she swayed to the rhythm of whatever music played through her headphones, completely lost in her own world.Curious but not eager to engage, Amaliah held back, choosing to observe for now. She could only hope this new hire knew how to mind her own business. Just as she reached for her phone to text Caesar—wanting to avoid dealing with Francine as well—a high-pitched voice nearly made her jump."Hello!" The woman greeted her with an infectious enthusiasm. "I'm Minerva. Just joined the company today."Amaliah forced a polite smile. "Nice to meet you, Minerva. I'm—""I know who you are," Minerva interrupted before she could finish. "You're A
Caesar stood by the office window, the phone pressed tightly to his ear. His jaw tensed with each unanswered ring. This was the fifth call. He’d already tried four times, but Sofia hadn’t picked up once. She’d made it painfully clear she was upset—still, he couldn’t stop trying.“Come on, Sofia,” he muttered under his breath. “Just pick up.”Finally, the call connected.“Sofia,” he breathed, relief softening his voice.There was a long pause before her cold response cut through the line. “What do you want, Caesar?”“I’ve been trying to reach you. Can we talk? Please.”“What’s there to talk about?” Her voice was sharp. “Are you still seeing Amaliah?”The directness of her question knocked the wind out of him. He hesitated, but only for a second. “Yes… I am.”“Then we have nothing to talk about.”“Sofia, wait—please,” he pleaded, voice gentler now. “You’re my sister. I know you don’t approve, but Amaliah isn’t the villain in this story. She’s not who you think—”“You made your choice,”
“Girls, look!” Amaliah pointed out the window as their car wound through the rolling hills of Tuscany. The late afternoon sun bathed the landscape in hues of gold and green, with vineyards stretching endlessly across the countryside.“Wow,” Amaliah breathed, her eyes wide as a picturesque resort came into view, its vines sprawling across the distant hills.Madisyn and Micaela pressed their faces to the windows, captivated.“Mommy, it looks like a castle!” Madisyn gasped. “Is this where we’re staying?”“With princess gardens! It’s like a fairy tale,” Micaela added in awe.Caesar glanced at them through the rearview mirror, a smile tugging at his lips. “That’s right. This is where you’ll be pretending to be royalty for the next few days.”Micaela giggled. “Can we have pizza for dinner?”“Only if you ask in Italian,” Caesar teased, casting a playful glance at Amaliah, who sat beside him, her hand gently resting on her slightly rounded belly.She chuckled softly. “You’re enjoying this, ar
“Are you okay?” Bryan murmured softly beside her.“No,” she said on a soft breath, a faint laugh escaping her lips. “But it felt damn good.”From the stage, Caesar’s eyes never wavered from Amaliah. His smile shifted—no longer playful, but reverent, awestruck. He looked at her like a man who had just been handed the moon.As he stepped down and began walking toward her table, the crowd instinctively made way. He moved with purpose, never hesitating. When he reached her, he leaned in, took her hand gently, and pressed a lingering kiss to her knuckles.“I didn’t know you had that in you,” he said, voice low, just for her ears.“Neither did I,” she whispered back. “But there was no way I was letting her win.”Their eyes locked. Then, without warning, he pulled her into a kiss—brief but breath-stealing, bold and unapologetic in front of everyone.“I’ll pay you back,” he teased, his smile wicked and warm.“You better,” she replied with a smirk.Across the room, Anastasia stood frozen, her
Caesar lay stretched out on the living room couch, cradling a sleepy Amaliah against his chest as soft jazz filled the quiet space. The girls had already gone to bed after giggling their way through a movie, leaving the night to wind down in a rare, peaceful stillness.“You look tense,” Amaliah murmured, sensing the weight in his silence.He hesitated for a moment before responding. “I ran into Anastasia earlier. She seemed… unsettled. But someone like her doesn’t back down easily.”Amaliah sat up slightly, concern flickering in her eyes as her brows drew together. “Do you think she’ll try something?”“I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice low. “But I’m not taking any chances. When we leave tomorrow, I want you and the girls with me—in the same car. No splitting up.”She nodded, resting her hand gently over his. “Okay. I trust you.”His voice was low, steady. “I’ll keep you safe, Amaliah. No matter what.”Later that night, when the house had gone still and the world outside lay quiet
Amaliah’s unease deepened as the car wound its way through the increasingly narrow and secluded roads. Something felt off. Too isolated. Too far from the resort. They’d been driving for hours, and there was still no sign of the helipad Marco had claimed they were heading toward.“Marco?” she called out, her voice tight, laced with suspicion. “Where exactly is this helipad?”Silence.Her heart kicked up a notch. She glanced at the girls beside her—both lightly dozing—and reached for her phone again.No signal. Still nothing.“Marco, stop the car,” she said, this time with more urgency. “Right now.”He didn’t respond.She leaned forward, gently nudging the girls awake, her instincts screaming.Then she caught it—his eyes in the rearview mirror. Cold. Distant. Unfamiliar.“Stop the damn car!” she snapped, panic lacing her voice.When he still didn’t, she unbuckled her seatbelt, lunged forward, and yanked the gear out of drive.The vehicle jolted violently, skidding to a halt.“Out—get ou
Caesar lay stretched out on the living room couch, cradling a sleepy Amaliah against his chest as soft jazz filled the quiet space. The girls had already gone to bed after giggling their way through a movie, leaving the night to wind down in a rare, peaceful stillness.“You look tense,” Amaliah murmured, sensing the weight in his silence.He hesitated for a moment before responding. “I ran into Anastasia earlier. She seemed… unsettled. But someone like her doesn’t back down easily.”Amaliah sat up slightly, concern flickering in her eyes as her brows drew together. “Do you think she’ll try something?”“I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice low. “But I’m not taking any chances. When we leave tomorrow, I want you and the girls with me—in the same car. No splitting up.”She nodded, resting her hand gently over his. “Okay. I trust you.”His voice was low, steady. “I’ll keep you safe, Amaliah. No matter what.”Later that night, when the house had gone still and the world outside lay quiet
“Are you okay?” Bryan murmured softly beside her.“No,” she said on a soft breath, a faint laugh escaping her lips. “But it felt damn good.”From the stage, Caesar’s eyes never wavered from Amaliah. His smile shifted—no longer playful, but reverent, awestruck. He looked at her like a man who had just been handed the moon.As he stepped down and began walking toward her table, the crowd instinctively made way. He moved with purpose, never hesitating. When he reached her, he leaned in, took her hand gently, and pressed a lingering kiss to her knuckles.“I didn’t know you had that in you,” he said, voice low, just for her ears.“Neither did I,” she whispered back. “But there was no way I was letting her win.”Their eyes locked. Then, without warning, he pulled her into a kiss—brief but breath-stealing, bold and unapologetic in front of everyone.“I’ll pay you back,” he teased, his smile wicked and warm.“You better,” she replied with a smirk.Across the room, Anastasia stood frozen, her
“Girls, look!” Amaliah pointed out the window as their car wound through the rolling hills of Tuscany. The late afternoon sun bathed the landscape in hues of gold and green, with vineyards stretching endlessly across the countryside.“Wow,” Amaliah breathed, her eyes wide as a picturesque resort came into view, its vines sprawling across the distant hills.Madisyn and Micaela pressed their faces to the windows, captivated.“Mommy, it looks like a castle!” Madisyn gasped. “Is this where we’re staying?”“With princess gardens! It’s like a fairy tale,” Micaela added in awe.Caesar glanced at them through the rearview mirror, a smile tugging at his lips. “That’s right. This is where you’ll be pretending to be royalty for the next few days.”Micaela giggled. “Can we have pizza for dinner?”“Only if you ask in Italian,” Caesar teased, casting a playful glance at Amaliah, who sat beside him, her hand gently resting on her slightly rounded belly.She chuckled softly. “You’re enjoying this, ar
Caesar stood by the office window, the phone pressed tightly to his ear. His jaw tensed with each unanswered ring. This was the fifth call. He’d already tried four times, but Sofia hadn’t picked up once. She’d made it painfully clear she was upset—still, he couldn’t stop trying.“Come on, Sofia,” he muttered under his breath. “Just pick up.”Finally, the call connected.“Sofia,” he breathed, relief softening his voice.There was a long pause before her cold response cut through the line. “What do you want, Caesar?”“I’ve been trying to reach you. Can we talk? Please.”“What’s there to talk about?” Her voice was sharp. “Are you still seeing Amaliah?”The directness of her question knocked the wind out of him. He hesitated, but only for a second. “Yes… I am.”“Then we have nothing to talk about.”“Sofia, wait—please,” he pleaded, voice gentler now. “You’re my sister. I know you don’t approve, but Amaliah isn’t the villain in this story. She’s not who you think—”“You made your choice,”
Amaliah had no clue how Francine had managed to persuade Caesar to bring in a new hire for the digital marketing team. But when she returned to work on Monday—following the mandatory day off Caesar had insisted she take on Friday—she was startled to find a woman occupying Mark’s former desk.The newcomer’s high ponytail bounced with every movement as she swayed to the rhythm of whatever music played through her headphones, completely lost in her own world.Curious but not eager to engage, Amaliah held back, choosing to observe for now. She could only hope this new hire knew how to mind her own business. Just as she reached for her phone to text Caesar—wanting to avoid dealing with Francine as well—a high-pitched voice nearly made her jump."Hello!" The woman greeted her with an infectious enthusiasm. "I'm Minerva. Just joined the company today."Amaliah forced a polite smile. "Nice to meet you, Minerva. I'm—""I know who you are," Minerva interrupted before she could finish. "You're A
A week later Amaliah nestled into a quiet corner of the Chinese restaurant, absently tracing the menu’s edge with her fingers as she browsed the options. She rarely dined alone, but with Caesar tied up in meetings, she was left to fend for herself for lunch.The restaurant was warm and inviting, filled with the rich aromas of stir-fried vegetables, soy sauce, and freshly steamed dumplings. Around her, the soft hum of conversation mingled with the rhythmic clinking of chopsticks and ceramic bowls, forming an atmosphere that should have been comforting.Yet, something felt off.She had just settled on ordering kung pao chicken with a side of vegetable spring rolls when, on impulse, she glanced toward the window.Her breath caught.Across the street, near the curb, stood a man—partially obscured by passing cars, his dark hair slightly tousled, his posture hauntingly familiar. Even from this distance, the resemblance was striking.Rafael Rivers.Her husband.Her dead husband.A sharp jol
Amaliah knew it was wrong. Her husband hadn’t even been dead a year, yet here she was, locked in a kiss with his greatest rival. But no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t summon the will to stop.When Caesar’s arms slid around her waist, drawing her closer, she didn’t resist. When he grazed her bottom lip with his teeth, asking for more, she yielded, parting her lips for him. Their tongues met in a slow, intoxicating dance, each stroke deepening the hunger between them. Her fingers wove through his hair, holding him to her as if letting go would shatter the moment.Caesar finally pulled away, his breaths ragged, as though he’d just run a marathon. He couldn’t believe what had just happened. For weeks, he had imagined this—fantasized about it—but the reality was beyond anything his mind had conjured. He wanted to speak, to say something, anything, but the kiss had left his mind utterly blank.Just when she thought it was over, Caesar tilted his head and captured her lips once more
Caesar sat at his desk, his fingers drumming impatiently against the polished wood. His sharp gaze flicked to his secretary, Sarah, who stood by the door, iPad in hand."Get Nathan from IT here. Now," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.Without hesitation, Sarah nodded. "Right away, Mr. Masterson."Within ten minutes, Nathan entered, adjusting his glasses as he took in Caesar’s serious expression."You wanted to see me, sir?" he asked.Caesar gestured to the chair across from him. "Have you identified who sabotaged Amaliah’s report?"Nathan exhaled, setting a folder on the desk. "Yes. It was Mark from the digital marketing department. But he didn’t act alone. Someone from IT helped him override system restrictions." Nathan responded.Caesar’s jaw clenched. "Who?""A junior technician named Alex," Nathan replied. "We reviewed the system logs and traced unauthorized modifications back to his credentials. He and Mark worked together to alter Amaliah’s data before the deadl