~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~"Why are you here?" Adrian asked, his tone flat, and I stared at him for a long moment, feeling a flicker of something dark and bitter before I caught myself. I let out a slow breath, forcing myself to keep it together.I should have known he was Mr. Voss. How could I have missed that? It seemed so obvious now, looking at him—every detail exactly as I remembered, but somehow worse. Standing there with that same face that had once felt like home to me. Stupidly handsome, still. Cruel in the way that beauty could be cruel.It had been, what, five years? A pang tightened in my chest. Five years since he broke me. He was getting married, while I was still here, quietly picking up the pieces of my shattered heart."Considering I’m the event planner, that question seems a bit ridiculous, don’t you think?" I replied, keeping my voice light and professional. I felt oddly proud of myself for staying so composed, for keeping the bitterness and hurt buried beneath the surface.He didn’t
AdrianI stared at her retreating back as she shut the door behind her.“Fuck!” I kicked the empty can next to my foot. The day was already ruined.I had been the one who specifically asked Martha to book her as the event planner for the party. I wanted to see her again, to prove to her—and maybe to myself—that I’d moved on.But seeing her again, looking just as beautiful as she had five years ago, with her blue eyes still as mesmerizing and her lips still as tempting… it hit me like a brick. I hadn’t moved on. Not even close.It took every ounce of self-control not to push her against the wall and kiss her senseless. But I couldn’t. Not after what she had done. Not after what I’d seen with my own eyes.And now Nova had bailed on me, knowing full well her dad’s company was on the line.I had helped Xavier a few years ago, never planning to call in the favor. But Aaron, God help him, had twisted my hand.Aaron, with his perfect fiancée and his annoying insistence that all of us needed
Astrid I returned to the party, my muscles coiled with tension. It’s not every day you meet an ex who was once your entire world.“What did he say?” my assistant asked. I shrugged, gripping the hem of my dress a little too tightly.“We’re sending the guests away. I’ll make a quick announcement, and then you’ll handle the rest,” I muttered, already moving toward the front of the room.“What? What about the bride?” she asked, her voice laced with confusion. I glanced at her over my shoulder, my expression dry and enough to pass a message.“Just do as you’re told, Nora.” My voice was clipped, and she stopped in her tracks, watching as I climbed onto the podium—the very spot where the groom should have introduced his bride.“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” I began, gripping the microphone as every head turned toward me. Murmurs and whispers rippled through the crowd, I could taste their curiosities in my mouth. Bitter and sour. “Thank you all for gracing this occasion. I trust you’
AstridI stared at myself in the floor-length mirror, admiring the white dress I’d bought at the last minute.The dress was beautiful, ending at my knees with a silver lining at the neckline and delicate pearls hanging from it.It felt ironic how a dress so pretty could be for an occasion so… fake. I wasn’t just the event planner anymore. Now, I was the bride.I had pinned my hair into a bun and done my makeup myself. This wasn’t a grand affair. Adrian had decided we’d go to a small chapel to get married, and I couldn’t have been happier.If I was lucky, I’d walk away from this sham of a marriage with a clean slate and someday marry someone who deserved me.I turned away, grabbed the bouquet, and slipped my shoes on. Adrian would arrive any second.Two days ago, at the engagement party, we had exchanged contact information.I opened the door just in time to see an SUV pull up. The chauffeur, who I assumed worked for Adrian, rolled the window down and nodded at me. I quickly crossed th
Astrid“Get her things from her home,” Adrian said to the chauffeur once we'd arrived at his house. It was obvious Adrian was doing quite well, a huge contrast to the man I’d known five years ago.His house was massive, the kind that felt too big for one person. Knowing Adrian, though, he probably lived alone.“Should I be surprised you know where I live?” I asked, crossing my arms. My tone was dry, but I was genuinely curious. His brown eyes narrowed on me.“No, you shouldn't,” he replied curtly, turning away and heading up the wide front steps. The driver pulled out of the garage, leaving me alone to follow.I took in the sight of the house as I trailed after him. Well, if I’d be staying here for a couple of months, I might as well start familiarizing myself with the place.Adrian walked ahead, his strides confident and unhurried. My gaze drifted to his frame. His shoulders were broader than I remembered, his legs stronger. And his biceps? Hard to say, considering he was always in a
~Astrid~“Okay. I saw the news, and it’s ridiculous,” Freya chuckled awkwardly as I dried my hair. I already knew what she was about to say but kept quiet, letting her speak.“Your doppelganger got announced as Adrian’s fiancée. It’s sickening that he’s actually getting married to someone who looks like you. Screw that, I think they’re already married,” she continued as I dressed quickly, my thoughts racing.“Are you listening to me, Ash?” she asked, her voice curious. I nodded, knowing fully well she couldn’t see me.“I can hear you,” I said, glancing around my room. I’d spent most of the night arranging everything while waiting for my things to arrive, so everything was already in place.“I knew he never got over you. I always knew it,” Freya giggled, oblivious to the tension building inside me. I let out a steady breath. It was now or never.“I’m his wife, Fre. I got married to Adrian,” I said, my voice calm but firm. She chuckled at first, thinking it was some kind of joke. Then s
~Adrian~ Aaron watched as his fiancè led Astrid away before turning his attention to me.“You're married, funny,” he said dryly, shoving his hands into his pockets.“Doesn't seem funny to me,” I took a step closer to him. “Don't speak to her like that again...ever,”Aaron didn't look even bothered, he just stared at me like I was some kind of annoying pest.“Considering the fact that you never spoke about a woman in the years since I've known you and then, you get yourself a random lady as your wife because you're about losing your job,” he said and I felt slightly irritated, because he knew nothing about me absolutely nothing.“You know nothing, okay? So don't judge,” he remained silent, just watching me. I stared back just as both women returned.Astrid returned to my side, holding my arm. I tensed almost immediately but forced myself to relax knowing fully well Aaron could pick on it. Aaron’s gaze flickered to Astrid, like he was trying to piece something together. Joan smiled w
~Astrid~It was warm everywhere. I wondered why their pillows felt this good, I could literally stay in bed all day.Except this pillow was breathing. I peeled my eyes open, staring at nothing for the first few seconds.And then it dawned on me. I'd shared a bed with Adrian and that explained why I could feel warmth everywhere.Because he was right behind me with his erection nestled in the crack of my ass. I shut my eyes tightly.If it was back then, I'd have been happy to cuddle with him and when we woke up to situations like this, we just well.. you know.But now? It was goddamn mortifying making me wonder why the hell he wasn't out of bed yet. Adrian wasn't a deep sleeper neither was he a rough sleeper.Making me wonder how he crossed the pillow I'd sacrificed and left in the middle to keep our distance.“God, you crossed the boundaries we set, fucker.” I hissed, shoving him lightly. He groaned and then tensed for a second, pulling back a bit.That was what I thought.“Can you eve
♡Astrid♡When I woke up the next morning, I was alone in bed — in my room. It felt a little too quiet.I sat up slowly and rubbed my forehead. My head was pounding. I looked around the room. Where was Freya?“Fre?” I called out. My voice was raspy. Maybe she was in the bathroom? But there was no answer.I pushed the blanket off and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. Please don’t tell me she left and went to the living room. If she did, she might’ve run into… fuck!I quickly left the room, not bothering to close the door. As I went downstairs, I tried not to move too fast because of my headache.When I reached the bottom and looked into the living room, I saw her. Freya was sitting on the couch with her legs crossed. I let out a breath, feeling relieved — until I saw who was sitting across from her.Adrian.What the hell?Back when Adrian and I were dating, he and Freya were always at each other's neck.Now? Freya was glaring at him, and Adrian just stared at her like he didn’t ca
♤Adrian♤She still had her arms around me. To say I momentarily froze was an understatement. Hell, I had no idea what the fuck was going on."Astrid," I called quietly, my arms stiff at my sides, unsure of what to do. She sniffled and tightened her grip, holding on like I was the only thing keeping her from falling apart."One second, Voss," she muttered, voice small, almost pleading. I let her.I couldn’t push her away, not when she was like this. I couldn’t even ask why—because, well, it was none of my fucking business.But I knew. It had something to do with why her sister was here. She dodged my question earlier, right before we hit the road, and that told me all I needed to know—she didn’t want to talk about it.I had my own things I didn’t want to talk about either.Her grip loosened, and she took a step back. The loss of her warmth hit immediately, like stepping outside on a cold night.She brushed her hair out of her face, but in the darkness, I couldn’t see her expression. I
♡Astrid♡We arrived at the compound within minutes. Freya was still curled up at my side, and I stroked her hair absentmindedly, my mind racing with what to do next.Derrick wouldn’t be put on trial without solid evidence. Just Freya and me testifying wouldn’t be enough either. Hell, I even doubted if Mom would believe us.She trusted that man—loved him, even. That scumbag.There was no way I was letting Freya go back to that house while Derrick was still there.Adrian killed the ignition and adjusted the rearview mirror, his eyes meeting mine. He raised a brow but stayed silent.I pressed my lips together and rubbed Freya’s shoulder gently."Hey," I whispered. She lifted her head slightly. "We need to go in now, yeah?"She nodded and sat up. Adrian stepped out of the car, and she glanced at him before turning back to me."You really married him, huh?" she murmured.I gave a small smile before opening the door and stepping out. She followed.Adrian stood outside, waiting. Once we we
♡Astrid♡ My phone rang the moment we got home. Freya's name flashed on the screen. I glanced at Adrian, who was already heading toward the cellar where he kept his drinks. He grabbed a bottle and took a long swig straight from it. Oh well, that was my cue to disappear. We’d done enough socializing for the day. Swiping at the green button, I brought the phone to my ear as I climbed the stairs. "Hey, Fre," I muttered. Silence. "Hey," she finally said, her voice quiet. I frowned as I reached my bedroom door, unlocked it, and stepped inside. Yeah, I always locked my door before leaving. The last thing I wanted was someone going through my things. "What's wrong?" I asked. Freya was never this quiet. She was always bubbly, always ready to yell into my ear the second I picked up. I tossed my bag onto the bed and sat down, undoing my shoes while waiting for her to answer. A sniff on the other end made me pause. "Freya?" My body tensed. "What's going on?" "It's nothing… Mum isn't
♤ Adrian ♤Her lips were soft and warm—just as I remembered.The moment they met mine, a flood of old memories crashed through me, ones I hadn’t dared revisit in years. I brushed my thumb over her cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my touch. She parted her lips slightly, just enough to make my heart do a ridiculous, foolish skip.My heart did a silly skip, and I pulled away, stopping the kiss before it went… well, over the top. My eyes met hers just as my father stopped at our table.There was lingering heat and confusion swirling in her blue irises. There was something unreadable in her gaze—something that made me wonder if she felt the same pull I did.I ignored the man glaring down at me. How the fuck was he here? And no, this wasn’t a coincidence. Nothing ever happened by chance where Gary Voss was involved.I leaned back in my seat as she glanced at the towering figure beside us, her face flushing a slight shade of red.She was blushing.I sighed and checked my wri
♡Astrid♡A warm hand slid around my waist, pulling me into his chest as we made our way toward a table facing the entrance.There were only a handful of people scattered around, but all eyes were on us as we settled into our seats. Conversations slowly dulled out to whispers.Adrian sat opposite me, his gaze flickered to the door while I had my back to it. A waiter approached, clutching a menu.“Welcome to Glamour. What may I get you?” he asked, and Adrian’s eyes shifted to me. He tilted his head slightly, silently urging me to order first.I cleared my throat, glancing up at the waiter.“Can I take a look at the menu?” I asked, and he gave me a polite smile before handing it over. I skimmed through it, pressing my lips together.Finally, I handed it back to him.“Pan- seared salmon with lemon butter sauce and yeah, asparagus. I'd love to have a glass of bourbon too,” I muttered, and he nodded, turning to Adrian, who gave a small nod.“A bottle of classic martini for me,” Adrian said,
♡Astrid♡We left the house together by noon. Well, I had to get to work, and he... I don’t know. Whatever Adrian Voss did to keep himself busy.What I didn’t expect was to see a group of paparazzi in front of my office.Adrian slowed down as I stared through the tinted glass windows. Nora and Sloane were outside, trying to curtail the group, who kept shoving microphones and flashing cameras in their faces.I shuddered lightly. How the fuck did they find my office?I swallowed hard and unbuckled my seatbelt. It was me they wanted, right? No need for them to harass my PA and secretary.I made to step out of the car when Adrian’s hand stopped me, firm on my thigh. I turned to stare at him, and he just cocked his head to the side.“What are you doing?” he asked, and I glanced down at where his hand rested on me. He slowly removed it, placing it on the steering wheel.“I’m going out. They’re harassing my employees,” I said, and he looked at me like I’d suddenly lost my mind.“They’re out t
♡Astrid♡The news was everywhere by the morning, splashed across every platform I could think of. No wonder my phone wouldn’t stop buzzing with calls and messages.Oh, and of course, my social media was no exception. Adrian was right—if this exploded, both our reputations would take a hit. And here we are.Don’t get me started on the comments. Cruel, biting, and downright nasty. Apparently, a good number of women weren’t thrilled that I married Adrian—and in secret, no less.I groaned, shutting off my phone and rolling onto my back, staring blankly at the ceiling. Fantastic. My life was just about to become a circus.Silly of me to think I could get out of this sham of a marriage without consequences. Really laughable.I stayed in bed for a few more minutes, delaying the inevitable. The reality outside my door—and a certain brown-eyed man—weren’t things I was eager to face.And speaking of him, we were going to have to put on a whole show until the news died down. Touching, smiling,
♤Adrian♤I was in the sitting room, going through some random files. Something that I rarely did.I had a study, but I need a change of scene. It was at that moment she walked in. Head hung low, shoulders hunched and eyes dull.She walked past me and up the staircase without acknowledging my presence. No greetings, no glare, nothing.And that...well, it made me feel uneasy. I was slowly getting used to rousing a reaction from her. Never good, always bad.I glanced at her retreating form as she walked into her room, quietly closing the door behind her. I knew something was wrong.Even though she hated me right now, Astrid had always been full of light. The only time I'd seen her look that sad was when she didn't get into the college she was prying to get into.Other than that, she's always been cheerful until well, our breakup. I turned back to the files I was going through but I wasn't able to concentrate, battling with my inner conscience to either go to her or just let it be.She w