“A million dollars,” he said, his voice flat, like he was negotiating over a car, not a person. Astrid shook her head, opening her mouth to protest, but he cut her off. “Let’s make it two then,” he offered. She stared at him, stunned, wondering if he’d lost his mind. “Mr. Voss…” “Final offer. Five million,” he said, his gaze steady, unyielding. Astrid took a deep breath, her heart pounding. “Fine. I’ll be your wife.” *** When Astrid Blythe, a rising event planner, runs into her ex, Adrian Voss, at his engagement party, she’s shocked to discover that his fiancée is missing. What starts as a strange encounter quickly spirals into something even more surreal when Adrian offers Astrid a proposal of his own: marry him in a cold, calculated, no-strings-attached arrangement. Despite her better judgment, Astrid agrees to the deal. But as the line between business and desire blurs, she finds herself drawn back into Adrian’s dangerous orbit—and realizes, to her horror, that she’s falling again for the man she once loved…the man who had a hand in the death of their child.
View More~Astrid~
I moved around the room as the guests chatted and the engagement party went on. Organizing this engagement party for one of the biggest names in the tech industry was my proudest achievement this year. The lights were dimmed just right, casting a warm glow over the elegant centerpieces and spotless glassware. Each table had delicate arrangements of ivory roses, just as the bride had requested in her very specific notes. It was flawless. After working as an event planner for the last two years, I knew this party could finally put my name on the map. I’d been on the grind, taking small gigs, dealing with difficult clients, and working late nights just to prove myself. And now, here I was, overseeing an engagement party that every guest seemed to be talking about. The compliments from the guests filled me with pride—this was exactly the kind of buzz I needed. I glanced around, making sure everything was in place. Everything looked perfect. “Ash,” a voice snapped me out of my thoughts. My assistant, Nora, was approaching me in quick strides. Her usually calm expression was twisted with worry, her brows furrowed as she wrung her hands. I had hired Nora because she was unshakable under pressure, so seeing her like this instantly set off alarm bells in my mind. “What’s it?” I asked, surprised at how steady my voice sounded, even as dread began to stir in my chest. I’d worked tirelessly over the past three months to make sure this party was perfect. “The bride is missing,” she whispered, glancing over her shoulder to make sure no one could hear. I stared at her, feeling a cold wave of shock rippled through me. My heart skipped a beat, and my stomach twisted. “What do you mean, the bride is missing? This is her engagement party,” I hissed, keeping my voice low but sharp. Nora shook her head, her face pale as she looked back at me, clearly at a loss. “We’ve been trying to reach her for the last two hours, but her phone isn’t connecting. The groom is getting worried,” she said, biting her lip. The thought of a panicked groom sent another shiver of anxiety through me. This was supposed to be the night they celebrated their future together—how could the bride not be here? I forced a smile at a few guests who passed by, offering polite nods and murmuring greetings as if everything was under control. “Where’s the groom?” I asked Nora, gripping the skirt of my dress so I could walk faster, my mind racing through possible explanations. Maybe she’d had some kind of emergency. Maybe she was just running late. “He’s in the second hall,” Nora said, her voice tinged with uncertainty. She sped up to keep pace with me as we made our way through the main ballroom and toward the secondary, smaller hall we hadn’t used tonight. I hadn’t even met the groom. The whole arrangement had been unusual from the start. A blonde woman named Martha had contacted me, introducing herself as the groom’s secretary. She wanted a lavish engagement party for her boss and his fiancée, but she’d been oddly tight-lipped about the details. I didn’t know anything about the bride or groom except that the groom was a high-profile executive for Zenith Crypt, one of the biggest tech and security companies in the country. The secrecy around it had made planning even harder, but the paycheck was good, and the opportunity was even better. We reached the door to the smaller, unused hall, and Nora hesitated, fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. “Mr. Voss asked to be alone,” she said, a note of reluctance in her voice. I could see the conflict in her eyes. “Nora, I need to talk to him. He might know where his fiancée is,” I replied. I wasn’t about to walk away without getting some answers. She bit her lip again, her usual calm facade cracking under the pressure, and I felt my own nerves brimming. I took a deep breath, nodded, and turned the knob. The door creaked as it opened, and I stepped inside. The room was dim, hazy, and smelled faintly of dust and fresh paint—a far cry from the polished elegance of the main hall. “Mr. Voss?” I called softly, my voice barely more than a whisper. Every instinct told me that I shouldn’t be here, that I was trespassing into something private, something dangerous. But I had to see him; I had to understand what was going on. I took another cautious step forward, my heels sinking slightly into the thin layer of dust coating the floor. A low, angry voice came from my left, stopping me in my tracks. “What do you mean, you don’t know where she is?” The voice was oddly familiar, sending a chill down my spine. I felt my pulse quicken, prickling the hair at the back of my neck. I stayed still, listening. He continued, his tone cold and deadly calm. “If your daughter isn’t here in twenty minutes, you know exactly what will happen to your company.” There was a dark edge to his words, an unspoken threat that made my skin crawl. What kind of man was he to speak like that, especially on a night that was supposed to be a celebration? There was silence, then he spoke again, his voice even softer, but somehow sharper. “What we had, Xavier, was a deal. Deals aren’t supposed to be canceled at the last minute.” His words were laced with malice, the kind of malice that leaves a bitter taste in the air. A deal? Was this engagement nothing more than a business arrangement? A sickening realization began to dawn on me. The guests, the decorations, the band—all of it was just a facade. This wasn’t a celebration of love; it was a transaction, a merger, a deal made under false pretenses. My stomach twisted at the thought, and I took a shaky step back, trying to process what I’d just overheard. I was a romantic by heart and derived joy in organizing events like this and seeing the couples so in love. But this? As I moved, my foot hit something hard—a plastic container left on the floor. It toppled over with a loud clatter, and I froze, my eyes widening in horror. “Who’s there?” he demanded, his voice sharp. Panic flooded through me as I considered my options. I could run, but that would only draw attention. Or I could stay here, hoping he’d believe I hadn’t heard anything important. My mind raced, but before I could decide, the door in front of me creaked open. I forced a polite smile, every muscle in my body tense, as I looked up. And then, my breath caught in my throat. It was Adrian. My heart dropped, and for a moment, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. His jaw was set, his brown eyes narrowed as he took me in, recognizing me just as quickly as I recognized him. Memories flashed through my mind—the late-night arguments, the whispered promises, the painful end that had left us both broken. “Adrian?” I whispered, barely able to believe what I was seeing. There was no mistaking it. The groom, the man I’d been planning this entire engagement party for, was my ex.♡Astrid♡I slid my fingers into his hair, and just like that, he kissed me back. His arm tightened around my waist, shaky and desperate, pulling me closer.And, well—it didn’t feel fake. Not even with a pair of eyes on us.His tongue brushed mine, and I pressed a hand to his chest to stop him before things went too far.Because if we didn’t, this wouldn’t end well. We might as well start acting out a porn scene.He must’ve caught the signal because his hand swept along my back before he pulled away. I gave a tight smile and looked off to the side.“I’m surprised you’re back this early,” I muttered, finally meeting his eyes again. They looked like a lighter shade of brown—my favorite kind.That color made him look easygoing, warm, and even funny. But when his eyes went cold, he turned into someone else completely. Detached. Unreachable.“Yeah?” he murmured, running his fingers through my hair. God, that felt so calming. His gaze flicked past me, and I knew—he’d seen her.He raised a br
♤Unknown♤Turning the knob, I walked into the study where Nox was waiting for me.The thick scent of cigarette smoke hit me, and I wrinkled my nose."How many times do I have to tell you not to fucking smoke in my house?" I snapped, shutting the door behind me. He just bared his teeth, plucked the cigarette from his lips, and crushed it into the ashtray.I walked over and sat down across from him. He crossed his legs and leaned back in his seat, moving with an ease that didn’t match his bulk.He was a massive man—dangerous because of it—and that's exactly why I kept him close."It's been a long time, Gary. So why am I here? You don’t just call for nothing," he muttered. I pressed my lips together and leaned forward, grabbing a photo from under one of the files.I pushed it across the table. His eyes stayed on mine for a second before he looked down.His brows pulled together as he stared at the image."She's still alive," I said. He looked up, his gaze meeting mine."It’s been five ye
♤Adrian♤I called Axel the moment I drove out of the compound."Where is he?" I asked as soon as he picked up. There was a pause."My sources say he left the house last night and hasn’t been back. No sign of travel or anything," he said. My jaw tightened."And?""He didn’t look like he was running. Nothing suspicious," Axel added. My brain scrambled trying to piece one and two together. “There’s a good chance he either played us… or he was taken,” Axel muttered. I pressed my lips together.Derrick was smart—but not smart enough to know I had men watching him, close enough to track his every move.So maybe he was abducted. But by who? And why?"How’s the search?" I asked."We’re doing what we can. Nothing solid yet. Tracking his last movements. I’ll update you if anything turns up," he said, sounding frustrated."Even if it’s just a guess, tell me right away," I said and ended the call.I turned the wheel, changing course. I wasn’t heading to the office anymore.I drove to Maya’s.It
♡Astrid♡Hands. Fingers. They were everywhere all over my body, grabbing me roughly.I tried to fight it, but it was stronger than me. Screaming didn't help either, and it felt like I was drowning.And then it felt like the life was being snuffed out of me. I woke up with a gasp, drenched in sweat. I leaned forward and switched on the bed light.Light flooded the room, but it did nothing to help me relax. I was in my room, all alone, and God, it was a little frightening.Moments like this made me wish Freya was still here and hadn't gone on that school trip. But who was I to stop her? She needed to clear her head too, and that trip was a great distraction while I sorted things out.Sliding out of bed, I grabbed my phone and walked barefoot towards the door. I needed a glass of water—it’d calm me down.Once I was outside my room, I knew I didn't need water. I glanced at Adrian's door.Should I go there? Wouldn't it be weird? Yeah, he'd told me two days ago to come in whenever I wante
♡Astrid♡I mumbled something gibberish and snuggled further into the pillow, burying my face in it and taking a long sniff.Smells like Adrian. And it smells so fucking good.Wait... why does my bed smell like Adrian?That’s when I realized—I wasn’t in my bed at all.I opened one eye and was greeted by the sight of dark walls.I opened the other to be sure of what I was seeing. Yup, the walls were dark, radiating masculine energy, and definitely not mine.I sat up, brushing my hair out of my face before looking around the room. Adrian was nowhere to be found.He didn’t return last night? Well, it didn’t matter. I swung my legs off the bed and stood up, quickly smoothing out my wrinkled clothes.It was better to leave now before he popped out of nowhere.Scurrying toward the door, I turned the knob and opened it—only to run headfirst into someone.Judging from how sweaty the person was—I knew it was Adrian.I stumbled back, heart in my mouth, and looked up.He just stood there, straigh
♤Adrian♤Once Astrid and Joan finished whatever it was they were all about — the wedding — Astrid and I got home and went our separate ways.I walked into my bedroom, shut the door, and undressed quickly. Grabbing my laptop from the nightstand, I sat on the bed and opened it.I still had some digging to do on Derrick before meeting with him.I’d had one of my men fix a fake meeting with him to discuss “goods.”Obviously, after he disappeared from Astrid's life nine or ten years ago, he went into drug trafficking. Now, suddenly, he reappears — needing a new place to stay after being on the wanted list in California. He moves back to Brooklyn, and well… Maya lets him in.Unknown to her, she’s harboring a hard-core criminal. And not just that. He tried abusing his own daughter. There are records of him sexually abusing girls in California. Turns out he's not only a drug trafficker — he's a pedophile and a rapist.And that brings me to why I'm invested in this case.He touched Astrid.
♤Adrian♤Astrid stepped in front of me as we walked into the restaurant. I watched her dominate the space.She probably didn't know it, but whenever she walked into a room, she owned it. The air shifted—and then it was all about her. I liked it then. I still do now.Her hips swayed in the black dress she wore, drawing my attention to it. Her dress ended mid-thigh. And, well, it turns out she was the hottest woman I’d seen in a while. And it did something to my insides that she had my ring on her finger—whether real or fake.Tucking both hands into my pockets, I followed at a steady pace as she sashayed to the table where Aaron and his fiancée sat.The smile on Aaron’s face dropped the second he saw her. Then his expression hardened when he saw me.I just raised a brow."Hey. Sorry, we’re late," Astrid said, and I pulled her chair out. She glanced at me, her eyes softening."Thank you," she muttered, brushing her fingers over my arm. I nodded and sat down next to her."No, no, we ju
♡Astrid♡After washing my face and brushing my teeth, I sauntered out to go find Adrian. If I was lucky, he would still be at home, but if not, I'd have to call him.I walked up to his door and knocked. Once. Twice. There was no response.I turned away and walked toward the gym. He’d left. A little earlier than usual.Pushing the door open, I walked into the cold space. I should burn a few calories and get off some tension before seeing Joan and Aaron.And there I paused. He was there.His body glistened with sweat as he hit the punching bag like it didn’t hurt. Every punch echoed in the room. The muscles in his back flexed with every move, and those pants?He really needed to stop wearing them. It should’ve been illegal to look that good in sweatpants.“Enjoying the view?” His voice came out raspy and in quick breaths. I quickly cleared my throat and walked farther into the room.“What are you talking about?” I asked, glancing at the treadmill. I walked toward it.He stopped hitting
♡Astrid♡"What? Why?" he asked and I sucked in a breath and leaned slightly into the couch."He tried to abuse Freya," I whispered and his brows furrowed. "What?""I know it's hard to believe, but... that's why she's here. Lucky for her, she got away before it got worse."He shook his head slowly. "That's... horrible."I nodded. At least one person agreed."Do you have proof? Anything? Freya’s word probably won't be enough."He didn’t know I was once a victim too. Nobody knew and neither did Adrian.I never told him when we were dating. I thought I was healed. But seeing it happen to my sister—by that same man—showed me I’d only buried it."There are two witnesses. And a text."He raised a brow. "A witness aside from Freya?"I nodded and met his eyes. He looked at me for a long second, before they narrowed slightly."Who's the other witness?"I gave a small casual shrug. "Some girl..."But it seemed like he'd picked up on my body language. "Did he touch you too?" His voice was cold,
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