“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
“You're the one bright spot in this whole mess, Brielle. The only good thing Eva has done is bringing you into our lives. That's the one thing she's managed to get right, and I've got to give her props for that, even if everything else she does is a straight-up train wreck.” Edna’s dropping some serious cliffhangers, and I’m dying to know more. But that woman's's busier than a squirrel in October, so I haven’t had a chance to pick her brain about Eva," I think to myself. How did Eva even manage to bring me into the picture? *** “Talk about a vibe shift,” I mutter, watching Liam’s return instantly change the atmosphere. The Carter brothers are acting like there's an invisible wall between them, no jokes or nothing, Andrei's all serious, looking at Liam like he's a last-minute tax bill. I’m in Andrei’s room, but I feel like I’m at the wrong family reunion. It’s like a wrestling match of nerves in here, and I’m just trying to dodge the flying elbows and make it out alive. I’d rat
The sight of Edna, with tears streaming down her face and a paper towel held to her eyes, was truly heartbreaking. Clearly, Helen's departure affected her the most out of everyone present. “Why worry now? Brielle's got it all under control,” Helen coolly proclaimed, “Andrei's in good hands. No reason for anyone to fret. No need at all. My girl's got the situation handled.” “I thought you weren't leaving until Jane has her baby.” “Now, Edna, don’t get yourself worked up. My daughter is about to deliver, you know that. She needs me by her side." “I thought we still had about three more months until Jane's due date.” "A pregnancy lasts nine months, Edna, not twelve." Edna gave a small, embarrassed laugh, “I know that, of course.” Helen smiles sweetly at me; “You’re a godsend, Brielle. Who would’ve thought Eva’s selfishness would bring someone like you into our lives? I would’ve laughed in their face. But here you are. It’s amazing how life can throw you a curveball and still l
My mind's working overtime, replaying Eva’s words on a loop. Baby? Hurt the baby?Is this woman seriously pregnant?***After tossing and turning for the tenth time in the last half-hour. I spotted a silhouette of Andrei seated in his wheelchair.“Nightmares again?” I asked him, concerned. “Not sure having your ex-girlfriend as your doctor’s gonna do much to calm those down.”Sliding off the bed, I reached for my slippers. “You get comfy in bed, and I’ll whip up some tea. Edna swears it’ll do the trick. And who knows? Maybe it’ll calm you down. You could use it."“Have you dug through those company files yet?” Andrei asks.“It’s a lot to process. I haven’t cracked the code yet.” With his nightmares keeping him up, the least he could do was take a break from that business brain of his.I headed out to make the tea, the night’s darkness enveloping me. And despite the lack of evidence, I felt eyes on me, the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. I remembered the last time I’d had
Andrei's face softens, and he cracks open his mouth, like he's on the verge of jumping on my offer. It's clear as day that he's tempted.And just like that, the door bursts open. In strolls Eva, tray of meds in hand, looking at her watch “It’s time, Andrei. Time for your meds.” “Andrei will not be taking any of those.” Andrei looks at me like he can’t believe I’m standing up to his doctor like this. But I keep my eyes locked on Eva, letting her know I'm dead serious.She lets out a haughty scoff, like I'm some kind of clown trying to pull a fast one on her. “You? Really? Who the hell are you to tell me what to do with my patient?”“It don't matter what you're trying to sell me. Drey isn't swallowing those pills, period.”“He needs his medications.”“You can all 'em 'meds', 'medications', or even 'candy' for all I care, Eva. So save yourself the trouble and walk away.”Eva gives me a cold, assessing glance before turning her attention to Andrei. “Drey, kindly dispatch this contract
Brielle's POV “So, you've faced down worse than some mystery man in a balaclava. Let's see how you like the tables turned.” His back turned to me, he deftly pours a glass of wine, the rich ruby liquid swirling against the crystal. “How about you strip for me? Think you can handle that?” His eyes harden as they travel over my body. With an audacious tilt of his head, and a devilish smirk, He raises his glass with flair, “To a night of revelation.” His eyes pin me in place as he stands over me, sipping his wine with an air of quiet confidence. My eyes dart down to the floor, and I feel a blush rising to my cheeks. “I'm taken, sorry.” “Andrei ever asked you to undress for him?” The cadence of his words holds a mesmerizing quality and For a split second, I see a flash of hunger in his eyes, and it makes my breath catch. It's like he's craving something — and I'm not sure if it's the wine or me. I look away again, not wanting to get sucked into the vortex of his charisma – it's just
Brielle's POV. “How long are you gonna keep me here?” I demand, chasing after my captor, determined to get some answers before he vanishes again, “Show yourself, you coward! What else do you want from me?” He doesn't slow his stride, his silence only heightening my agitation. “Damn it, answer me!” He pivots to face me, features obscured by a black, balaclava erasing any hint of humanity. “You think you're in a position to demand answers, Monroe?” “Yes, I am!” I fire back, “You got what you wanted from Andrei. He held up his end of the deal. Now let me go!” “You're not going anywhere. Not until I'm finished with you.” “Think again, hotshot I’m not some damsel in distress, waiting to be saved. You can shove your twisted game straight up your…" I bite back profanity. He tilts his head, his balaclava doing little to conceal the malicious mirth that dances in his eyes. “Spunk like that is why Andrei picked you.” "Enough of this sick game! If you're going to take my life, then
Andrei's POV. My leather jacket is all that's keeping me from freezing my ass off. I glare down at my phone—10:00 PM. With time to kill, I decide to grab a coffee while I wait for my meeting with a key business associate. I've got to keep the wheels turning, no matter the chaos. Lucas Rossini, He's a major player in the oil world and is scheduled to arrive soon. This meeting could be the turning point we need. So I'll bide my time with a cup of black gold, watching the clock tick… My thoughts are a jumbled mess, with Brielle's face the only clear picture amidst the coffee shop's bustle. “Last call, sir. We're closing in 15.” I blink, my eyes adjusting to the dim light that permeates the café, revealing empty tables, chairs neatly stacked, and the quiet stillness of the nearly deserted establishment. The waitress is standing there, looking pretty patient, but I can tell she's getting a little annoyed. I glance at my watch and, sure enough, an hour's gone by. I pay up and
Andrei's POV Those piercing blue eyes, like sapphires shining bright, visible behind the ornate red Venetian mask, ring a bell deep within me. They're eyes I've gazed into countless times, eyes that have sparkled with laughter, shone with tears, and burned with passion. They're Brielle's eyes. In them, I see fear, but I also see fire, the spark that tells me she's still fighting, still holding on. And that's all I need to see. That's all I need to know. She's no coward, something's got her spooked and I won't let her down. My hand falls away from her arm, and gently hand her the papers. “Here, take it.” She looks up at me, her eyes wide, as she takes the papers. I want to reach out, wrap my arms around her, and shield her from all this. I can't. And it's torture unlike any other. She slips away. I pray to whatever gods are out there that she comes back to me, holding on to the thought that as soon as she hands over those papers, she'll be free — free to come back to me, to lea
Brielle's POV. “My shooter's just waiting for the green light. Don't make me give the order. It’s that simple.” I swallow hard, realizing that this is no idle threat—this man means business, and he’s playing a game I don’t know the rules to. As much as it terrifies me, I force myself to nod. “Go. Take the papers from Andrei. Don't speak. Don't hesitate. Just bring them back to me.” Our eyes meet, and I nod, signaling my understanding. He accepts my silent assent and resumes his instructions. “Get the papers, then head to exit five. I'll be there, waiting for you. We'll leave together, nice and quiet. Eyes on you, don't mess this up.” The music stops. The party freezes. He releases my arm, and in an instant, he's gone, swallowed up by the crowd. Masks glint, jewels flash, and the murmur of conversations assaults my senses. The room tilts, and I stumble, my senses reeling. The sound of my name, or rather, the term 'beautiful', startles me. I spin around, and my gaze m
Brielle's POV The bathroom's lavish decor is truly fit for royalty, brimming with lavish details that dazzle the senses. My gaze is darting everywhere, drinking in the luxurious marble floors, gold fixtures, and the crazy exotic scents too. I inhale deeply, the scent of vanilla bean Noel and caramelized amber envelops me, transporting me to a world of tranquility. It's like my worries are dissolving in a warm bubble bath. But, just as I'm about to surrender to the bliss, my conscience decides to stage an intervention. 'Hey, snap out of it! This isn't a five-star hotel – it's a hostage situation!' I blink back to reality. That’s me, standing there like a deer in the headlights, trying to process the cognitive dissonance of being held hostage in a palace of caramel-scented luxury. As if the situation couldn’t get any more lavish, I spot freaking sauna – a real-life, steam-emitting temple of zen – nestled in the corner of this already-insane bathroom. It's weird how the
Andrei's POV “You've got a lot of nerve showing up here, Jeremy. You're not forgiven. Not by a long shot. So don't think for a second that you can just waltz in here and expect everything to be okay. You better leave.” “Can't you see I'm trying to make amends? I've changed, and I want to prove it to you. All I'm asking is for a chance to meet my nephew, Alexis. Is that too much to ask?” I meet Jeremy's gaze, my expression cold and unyielding. There's no sympathy, no weakness in my eyes. He may think he's found a way back into the family's good graces, but he's mistaken. “Whatever delusions you have of redemption, of second chances, they don't matter here. Get back in your car, leave.” He glances back at his car, and for a moment, I see a glimmer of his true self: a smug, self-assured individual who thinks he can charm his way out of anything. “No worries, brother, Next time I'll make sure to let you know I'm coming. You know so you can barricade yourself inside and hide. Wouldn'
Andrei's POV I've known Paul for what feels like an eternity — through thick and thin, ups and downs. He's been more than just a friend or colleague; he's been my rock, my confidant, my partner in every sense. But lately, I've been plagued by doubts, serious doubts. Now, I'm faced with the unsettling possibility that Paul might be involved in all this chaos. The thought alone makes my stomach turn. Could the one person I've trusted with my life be the very one betraying me? It's a question I never thought I'd have to ask, but here I am, wondering if our years of friendship and loyalty have been nothing more than a clever ruse. It's a real pain in the neck dealing with him and his issues. If only he could get his act together and start behaving like a decent human being, maybe things would run more smoothly. But no, he's vanished into thin air. I'm talking zero trace, zero communication. It's like he never existed. And the worst part? He was the last person I sent to fet
Brielle's POV. It's incredibly quiet – the kind of silence that makes you acutely aware of your heartbeat and every breath you take. My mind foggy, Every thought feels like it's slogging through knee-deep mud. I try to move, but my wrists are bound tightly behind me, the rope digging into my skin with a dull ache that's become all too familiar. I've been drifting in and out of consciousness, One minute I'm up, the next I'm face-planting into dreamland. Time has lost all meaning. The silence and darkness are absolute. The chair is hard and cold beneath me. The blindfold cinched around my head shuts out all light, forcing me to rely on my hearing. Footsteps echo. One, two, three, four, five… deliberate, unhurried. The creaking sound that follows signals the door slowly opening and chilly gust sweeps in, reviving my senses. It's him. A chair scrapes against the floor, the sound grating and loud. Then, silence. A moment later, the wooden frame creaks. I sense a presence acr