Brielle's POV Desperation twisted Ivy’s face, her eyes pleading, “Liam’s life is hanging by a thread, Brielle. Every minute we argue is another minute we lose. If you’re scared of seeing Sanjay again because of some ancient history between you two, you need to get over it. Fast." Jeez. I thought I got over him. Why the hell am I so worked up at the thought of seeing Sanjay again? Sanjay's this adorable, Indian guy I used to have a major crush on. I mean, I tried everything—cards, letters—to get his attention. And nothing. I’m still kicking myself for being so stupid. I’d tried so damn hard to get over him, to put those feelings to bed once and for all. What if seeing Sanjay again stirs up those old feelings? What if I start liking him all over again? I’d already tied the knot with someone else, and the last thing I needed was any more complications. In a nervous tic, I began twisting the ring on my finger, a gesture that caught Ivy’s eye. She gave me a questioning look, an
Brielle's POV Entering the grand living room, of the Carter estate, I was greeted by a familiar sight: Andrei, seated in his wheelchair, a slight, almost knowing smile playing across his features, visible even in the soft, subdued lighting that cast a gentle glow across the room. “I'm glad you made it back safely. Ms. Monroe.” My smile was subtle. But then, a sweet, divine scent captured my attention: the roses in Andrei's grasp. Those flowers were a sight to behold—all delicate and fragrant. With a gentle, almost courtly gesture, he presented me with the bouquet. I gratefully accepted them. But a nagging thought gnawed at the back of my mind. It wasn't my birthday, and it was far too early for Valentine’s Day. Curiosity getting the better of me, I inquired, "What’s the occasion?” “Not everything needs to be tied to a specific occasion, When you share your life with someone special, every day is something to be cherished. And that, Ms. Monroe, is what I wanted to do
Brielle's POV It was as if I were being bombarded with all this contract talk from Andrei Carter. He was talking a mile a minute about what it entailed and all that, but I was lost. Still, he kept throwing out questions, asking if I agreed completely, if I was okay with it. How could I possibly say yes or no, when I didn't have a clue what I agreed to? I had made it abundantly clear that I hadn’t signed any marriage contract with him, yet he continued to push the issue. By the time dinner rolled around, I was completely drained. Two days as a married woman, and already I was up to my eyeballs in chaos. I needed sleep like a drowning man needs air. *** I awoke to find Andrei calmly seated in his wheelchair, his distinctive smile greeting me as it always did. As my vision adjusted to the light, I noticed a tray resting on his lap, carrying a warm cup of tea and several freshly baked cookies, whose tantalizing scent wafted through the air. “Edna was just outside with
“Brielle. It's quite a surprise what… What are you doing here?” Sanjay's question mirrors my own thoughts. “I'm interning at Centurion Medical Center under the supervision of Eva Adams. That, that explains why I'm here.” Right. He's working with Dr. Eva, the ice queen herself. That woman had some serious nerve, dismissing me like that. I understand she's a high-profile doctor and all, but a little common courtesy won't kill her. “What about you, Brielle? What brings you to Centurion Medical Center today?” “I, uh…” My eyes darted away. Sanjay's brow creased, concern flashing in his eyes as he looked at me. “Are you sick? Is that why you’re here?” “No, no. Sanjay, I'm not sick. Can we… can we talk outside?” I shot a quick glance at the partitioning curtain, the hushed voices of Eva and Andrei still echoing behind it. We exited the office and entered the hospital's sterile corridor. Sanjay stated, “I've been trying to reach you, Brielle, to inform you that Liam has been
“A patient needs our attention, not idle chatter about romance,” Eva's footsteps announced her arrival behind me. She directed a stern look that was all business to Sanjay, “You should go check if the patient in the operating room is ready for his pre-anesthesia evaluation. I’ll handle things here.” I glanced over at Ivy, —she was waving her hand, a grin on her face as she bared her pearly whites at Sanjay. In response Sanjay offered a subtle wink. And I couldn’t help but wonder if these two were up to something fishy. With Sanjay’s departure Eva turned to Ivy and me “If you wouldn’t mind giving us some space, we need to avoid overwhelming the patient.” “Brielle should wait behind” Drey said without looking at me, his tone—which usually held warmth—growing chilly. What the hell was that about? Was he mad at me for leaving him behind? Jeez, it's not like I had a choice. After all It's his bossy, know-it-all doctor who thinks I'm crazy. 'Buying her an Audi won't make her an
“I thought you two had discussed it, Helen. That’s why you’ve been holed up in your room, right? You seemed so upset.” Edna said. “What do you mean ‘discussed it' Edna? You think I would be okay with her moving in if I knew about it?” Helen retorted.As if on cue, Andrei wheeled himself into the living room, his voice level as he replied, “I did mention it in passing, Helen. I didn’t think it would be such a big deal.”Somehow, I was angry at him. I mean, here he was putting his doctor before his ‘pretend wife’. Didn’t matter we were in a contract marriage; I deserved to know. ‘Moving in’ meant Dr. Bossypants was coming to stay.Whoa, hold on a sec. Maybe this whole thing's about Eva and Andrei not trusting me.They both might be looking at me and thinking I'm the crazy one. Seriously, are they really out here believing I'm unstable?I let out a big, exasperated huff, flabbergasted by the whole mess.The back-and-forth between Andrei and Helen only got heated, “No, no Andrei. You to
I could feel Andrei's body restless, fidgeting and turning. His sleep was fitful, and his mumbles were filled with confusion. Among the garbled words, one name stood out clearly — Anna. I turned towards him. I gently placed my hand on his arm, attempting to soothe him in his slumber, but the intensity of his body heat startled me and I pulled my hand back. He seemed to be displaying symptoms of fever. I dropped off the mattress, a silent battle raging within me. Should I call his doctor? But was she even helping him? I just wasn't sure. Once again, I softly called his name. His brown eyes, fluttered open, darker and heavier than normal. His breathing was rapid and shallow. My heart was going a mile a minute, and Before I could catch my breath, the door swung and then, in comes Eva, “I'm here to give Andrei his medication,” she stated matter-of-factly. “In the future, have the decency to knock before barging into someone's bedroom.” I snapped. The nerve of her acting li
“Jamie's been spotted, huh?” Eva scoffed, her eyes dancing with a mocking light. “You guys are starting to sound like a bunch of ghost hunters, honestly.”Edna glared at her, her lips thinning into a defiant line. “Don't you dare brush this off like I'm seeing things.”Paul stood stoically beside Andrei as he directed the course of action. ”I need the CCTV footage ensure that's on my desk within 24 hours. And while you're at it, ramp up security around the property. We can't have any more surprises." Paul nods silently, then exited the living room where we all gathered. “I'm telling you, I saw her.” Edna's certainty was almost… tangible, “It was Jamie. That champagne blonde hair and those piercing gray eyes—I'd know her anywhere.”The image of that blonde, gray-eyed woman from the hospital flashed through my mind. Could she be Jamie?“I believe you, Edna,” Helen stated, “Andrei needs to get a handle on this Jamie situation. One maniac is more than enough to deal with; we don't need
Andrei's POV. I'm heading towards my car at a rapid pace, my mind consumed by thoughts of what could be happening. But when I try to call Paul, I'm met with an annoying busy signal. I hear Helen's frantic voice behind me, but I don't have time to reassure her. I rip open the driver's door and dive into the seat. My key jams into the ignition, and I crank the engine to life. Taking a moment to collect myself, I turn to Helen… “Keep Alexis indoors, lock every door, every window. Don't open them for anyone. Not a neighbor, not a delivery guy, not even a cop. No one. You're the only one I trust to keep him safe. I'll be back as soon as I can." Helen's subtle nod is enough. I floor it, racing away from the Carter estate. It's Jeremy. I'm certain of it. He's the only one twisted enough to pull a stunt like this. I slam the pedal to the floor, racing towards Brielle's apartment with a gut full of rage. What's his twisted motive for snatching her because I know it's him – the sick
Andrei's POV “I need you to wrap things up, Paul. Adjourn the meeting until tomorrow evening. I'm slammed right now. Get out of the office and go pick up Brielle — it's almost 7 pm,” I tell him over the phone, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice. This guy can be a bit of a space cadet sometimes. I swear, I told him to leave the office early and pick Brielle up on time. What's going through that head of his? He's still rambling on, saying something about how he thought I was going to pick up Brielle myself. But honestly, I don't have time for this conversation. I'm not in the mood to argue, and even on a normal day, I wouldn't hesitate to debate him until I proved my point. I suck in a deep breath, feeling the cool night air fill my lungs. The scent of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers is nice and all, but I'm not exactly here to stop and smell the roses. My mind's preoccupied with one person: Brielle. The woman who's been on my mind 24/7, and who I'm about to put
Brielle's POV I take a deep breath, my heart still racing, but he looks more concerned than angry. He calmly rolls up his sleeves, slip off his shoes and pads silently over to the window. He pushes it open, and a rush of cool air sweeps in, carrying the scent of the night with it. I breathe deeply, feeling the freshness fill my lungs, and suddenly, I'm alive again. Returning, he takes my hand gently, his fingers locking into place with a tender yet thrilling pressure. My heart begins to flutter, and a wave of excitement washes over me as he escorts me to the bathroom. He towers over me, his eyes locked on mine, and carefully begins to unbutton my T-shirt. He slips the shirt off my body, his fingers grazing my skin, and tosses it aside, Warmth spread through my core, settling in the sensitive area between my legs. My heartbeat quickens, and my veins thrum with anticipation, He selects a plush towel from the heated rail, dips it in warm water, and gently wrings it out. The sof
Brielle's POV Just as I'm about to toss back another shot, he swoops in and snatches the glass right out of my hand. I'm caught off guard, and my eyes widen in surprise. I'm left standing there, feeling a little silly and a lot relieved… “I believe we've concluded our meeting. Now, how about I make sure you get home safely?” I wave my hand dramatically, nearly losing my balance. “Oh no, no, no! The meeting's just getting to the good part.” I declare, my words slurring slightly. I point a wobbly finger at him. He's still gazing at me with an infuriatingly calm expression. Meanwhile, I'm over here, dying from embarrassment and struggling to stay upright as the room spins like a crazy top., I'm pretty sure I'm going to need a map to find my dignity tomorrow morning… I push myself up from the bar stool, but my legs have other plans. I stumble, and my face heats up with embarrassment. Note to self: being bold and fearless is way easier in theory. Right now, my main priority is no
Brielle's POV. Aurum - where the rich and powerful come to eat like kings and queens while pretending to discuss business. I've heard the food is divine, the service impeccable, and the ambiance… well, let's just say it's the perfect place to make a statement. Or, in my case, to lure out a certain elusive CEO. The exterior is sleek and modern, all glass and steel, while the interior is warm and inviting, with rich wood accents and crisp white linens. My heart's racing, and I'm obsessively checking the clock. II've been flirting with a staff employee to get a rise out of my boss don't judge me, it was a desperate plan and now the moment of truth is finally here. Will my mystery boss step out of the shadows and reveal his face? And, more importantly, will he be the ridiculously handsome and infuriating Andrei Carter? I'm 99.9% sure it's him… Only Andrei could throw me under the bus like that, and I just can't fathom why he's been hiding. I'm bursting to see him, to fi
Brielle's POV I'm deep in thought, pondering the mystery that is Jeremy, when the speakers starts blaring and scares the daylights out of me, “Aren't you going to get down to work? Or are you just going to continue perfecting the art of doing nothing.” Okay, Mr. Carter, I think it's time to level up from 'Mysterious Voice' to 'Actual Human Being'. With renewed interest, I sit up straight. “Sir, I'd appreciate the opportunity to meet you face-to-face. Is that something we could arrange?” “A meeting in person is… not possible, Brielle. At least, not at this time. Let's just say that my… situation requires a certain level of discretion. But I assure you, our working relationship will continue to be… productive." “Of course, I can respect your desire for anonymity. But, if you don't mind me asking, what's the harm in a simple introduction? I'm curious to see if the rest of you lives up to the charm of your voice.” “Really?” he says, his tone as neutral, but with a hint of mischi
Brielle's POV Ivy rubs her fingers on her temple, “I swear, Brielle, you're going to give me gray hairs. What were you thinking, not telling me about… Not telling me about everything?!” I shoot her a frantic glance, willing her to keep quiet. But it's too late. Mom's already descending the staircase, a curious expression on her face. “What's going on? You two look like you're sharing a state secret,” Seriously, Mom? Now? “It's really nothing. Ivy and I were just talking about, you know, stuff.” I wave my hands dismissively, hoping Mom will drop it, but she's not buying it." “Stuff?” she echoes, arching an eyebrow skeptically, “Well, 'stuff' seems to have gotten you two pretty worked up. Care to share what's got you so whisper-happy? Wait a minute, Brielle,” Mom eyes narrow as she notices my outfit. “Aren't those the clothes you wore to work today? What have you two been up to that you haven't even had time to change?” I shift uncomfortably, trying to find a way to explain wi
Brielle's POV It's another Monday, and time seems to have gone into overdrive. It's as if someone hit the fast-forward button on my life, and I'm racing through days at breakneck speed. I step out of the car, my eyes adjusting to the bright morning light, when suddenly, I'm met with a sight so surreal that I rub my eyes, convinced I'm still dreaming. There, emblazoned across the glass walls of CCI, is a vivid, technicolor rendition of the portrait of me. It's me, frozen in time, my features heightened by the vivid pigments splashed across the canvas. My jaw drops in shock as I stare, mesmerized, at the larger-than-life image of myself. Stunned, I take a few hesitant steps towards the building, my heart thudding against my chest. It's like déjà vu all over again, except this time, the portrait is staring back at me with an intensity that makes me want to shrink back into the shadows. Once inside the lobby of the office building I find myself scrutinizing the faces of those
Brielle's POV The doorbell's shrill ring cuts through the silence of the house, and Mom pops her head out of the kitchen. “Brielle, can you get the door please?” I'm right in the middle of crushing this project. My fingers grip the mouse like it's a lifeline, but I know I'm beat. Mom's expectant gaze is practically burning a hole through the wall. With a dramatic sigh, I push my chair back, and trudge towards the door. Whoever is on the other side better be worth it. The doorbell rings again, and I'm already halfway to the door. “Brielle!” “Got it, Mom!” I holler back, trying to save her the trouble of wiping her flour-covered hands on her apron. She's been cooking up a storm in the kitchen all morning, and I've been busy with work. I swing open the door, and my eyes land on a gentle-looking man standing on our porch. He's dressed in a crisp white shirt and dark jeans, and his warm smile puts me at ease. But what really catches my attention is the bouquet of sunflowers in hi