Brielle's POV. “Were Edna and Helen already planning to come?” I mutter to Andrei. “Informed them I was back on my feet again. I didn't think they'd take it as an invitation.” “I'm not sure what's more embarrassing, my outfit or my hair…. I'll go change into something more suitable." I turn to walk away, but not before catching Andrei's gaze. His nod was brief, but that smirk and spark in his eye? Totally unexpected. What's he amused about? My cheeks heat up as I dart into my bedroom, feeling a surprising wave of nostalgia. Who knew I'd miss this space? I slip into a sunny yellow floral dress that falls just above my knees, towel-dry my hair, and pull it back into a neat bun. I feel refreshed and renewed. *** As the stars begin to twinkle above, the Carter estate transforms into a hub of laughter and reminiscence. A reunion party of sorts has taken over the grounds, with Edna, Helen, and Mom at its epicenter… I watch, fascinated, as they laughed and chatted like old
Andrei's POV. My fingers drum a staccato rhythm on the desk, irritated by the distraction. Focus, Andrei. Work, not family mysteries. I shake my head, dismissing the thought. Coincidence, that's all. No way our mothers are related. I don't need this hassle, this confusion…. Who cares about distant cousins when I've got a gorgeous woman to pursue? Her smile, her laugh, those captivating eyes and that sassy spark that sets my blood on fire..... Making her mine, securing her heart and soul, that's the only mission that matters. Deals need closing, a business needs running, and a legacy needs securing… But it all pales in comparison to the magnetic pull of the woman who's taken up residence in my thoughts. At first, I only saw her as a means to an end, a way to fix my reputation. But as time passed, and I held her close, bathed her tenderly, and heard those sultry moans of pleasure escape her lips, my feelings transformed into something more, a complex tapestry of desire, af
Andrei's POV. “When exactly did you receive this news about Jeremy being out of prison?” “Today Sir. At 10Am we were informed.” “And what's the status of our security measures?” “We've increased security around the estate and at the office, sir. All entrances are being closely monitored.” “That bastard was locked up for a reason. Find out how he managed to wriggle free. I need answers, Paul and I need them now.” “About Liam, sir…” “What about him? Tell me that scumbag's been tracked down, no matter where he's hiding.” “We've uncovered evidence that Liam has founded a new entity, leveraging your shares without authorization. Appears that this new company is a front for their nefarious dealings, enabling them to siphon off resources and profits from Carter Industries for their own personal gain.” “Paul, move now, assess the market situation. If feasible, acquire Liam's company outright. Simultaneously, alert the authorities and file a report. But for now, our priority is to a
Brielle's POV Biting my lip, I stave off a grin. Andrei's at it again – teasing, tantalizing. “What's with the sneak attack?” I ask tongue in cheek. His lips graze my neck “Just testing your reflexes, Ms. Monroe. You pass with flying colors.” “You're driving me crazy with anticipation – and tickling me silly…. Stop it.” But my words lack conviction, and Andrei knows it. He chuckles, “You're not very convincing, Brielle. Your laughter is already escaping.” I giggle, despite myself. “You're so responsive I love that.” His fingers brush against my spine, sending sparks as he lowers the zipper. His husky breathing against my ear makes my pulse stutter. My core throbs, and my skin tingles with sensation. Every slow, deliberate movement heightens my anticipation. He gently slides the strap off my shoulder, his fingers grazing my skin. His lips follow, placing a tender kiss that sends shivers down my spine. “You mean everything to me, Brielle; I don't want to lose that.” De
THIRD PERSON. Eva grinned slyly, twirling her wine “Faking my father's death? Simple. But faking a pregnancy? That's where the real skill comes in.” Liam leans back in his chair, steepling his fingers "Andrei connected the dots, isn't he? I mean your lies about the death of your father.” “Thats Because The old man crawled out of his rock, seeking attention. I made it clear: I don't want him in my life. Still, he had the audacity to show up at Drey's office seeking me out. One careless move and he's jeopardized my entire operation. Unbelievable.” “Why fake it? He's a liability. Remove him. Dead men don't talk would have saved you the trouble.” Eva lets out a dry laugh, “You're insane Liam. Killing my father would make me no better than him.” Liam leans back, his eyes critical, “Sentimentality, Eva. Now that's a weakness. Let's not forget your actions drove an innocent woman to the brink and ultimately cost a patient their life.” “Collateral damage: one patient dead, one witness
Brielle's POV. Fancy parties aren't my thing, but for Andrei, I dress up and play as he works the room. It's one of those fancy schmooze-fests, where he meets with clients and business partners. His introductions are always a pleasant surprise: “My better half, Brielle…”, “The love of my life…”, or simply “My wife.” I take cues from his tone, exchanging warm hellos, handshakes, and effortless small talk. The names blur together — Ryan from Goldman Sachs, Maria from Madrid, Tom from Tokyo… My gaze drifts to Andrei, and suddenly, I'm tuned in to his frequency. Worried energy radiating from him. He's got that worried look, no matter how hard he tries to hide it. Constantly on calls, whispering into his earpiece. Something's brewing in his business, but I'm not entirely sure what. He introduces me to Reginald Thornton, a middle-aged man with a receding hairline and with deep green eyes. "Mrs. Carter, it's a pleasure to meet you," Reginald says, his handshake confident, his eyes c
Ivy's POV "Three days unconscious?" I echo, stunned. I'm staring at this middle-aged woman in a nurse's uniform, thinking, 'Is she for real?' She's got the bedside manner of a brick wall. Just slapping up the IV and saying, "Hey, you're lucky you made it." What did that psycho Liam do to me? Three whole days, gone. What happened? Did he... did he hurt me? Leave me for dead? my head's spinning. I remember arguing, then nothing. I attempt to jerk my arm free, but a sharp, metallic bite stops me. 'Aww' Pain radiates from my wrist, and I glance down to see the glint of steel handcuffs securing me. How did I fucking end up here? Trapped, handcuffed, and clueless. This can't be real. I turn to the woman, hoping she'll help, "Please, nurse... whoever you are... You have to get me out of here. Seriously, I'm begging you. I don't know what's happening or why I'm here, but I need to go home. Now." The nurse leans in, her hand planted on her knee, and unleashes a creepy grin. "Trust me
Ivy's POV Liam flashes a wicked grin, the gun's muzzle pressed against my forehead. “Cómputo a la baja, Conejito.” I scrunch up. In response, Liam tilts his head to the side, a half-smile playing on his lips. “Means I'm counting down, bunny. Five seconds..." My mind's doing the 100 meter dash right about now, trying to find a way out of this mess. “You still thinking? There's only one way out.” Inches from my face, he holds up my cellphone." Contact Brielle. Have her meet you at the corner of Main and Elm at midnight. That's all." “No. I won't do it.” I shake my head fiercely. “No way I'm calling her.” One thing's for sure: Liam's a master manipulator. Can't trust him as far as I can throw him. What if calling Brielle seals her fate? If he goes and hurts Brielle, or worse, kills her? I have no clue what their sick plan is. I already failed her once, and the guilt's eating me alive. But maybe, just maybe, this is my chance to make it right. Liam lowers the gun, his
Jeremy's POV Enter Jones. Don't let his age fool you – the man's a certified brainiac. He settles in, and We get down to brass tacks, discussing the details. “I'm cutting ties with Andrei for good and taking full control of the two companies I snatched from him. I'm consolidating my ownership with a vertical integration strategy, aiming for a 100% stake with zero ties to the Carter empire. I'm expecting Andrei to try rallying his allies or attempting a hostile takeover, but I'm ready. I've got my lawyer drafting a bulletproof shareholder agreement and setting up a poison pill strategy to block any takeover attempts.” The old man listens intently, demonstrating a clear grasp of the situation. He takes meticulous notes as I outline my plan. “I'll be darned, Jeremy. You're one of those 'new-fangled' thinkers, aren't ya? I swear, you're so smart, you make me feel like I just fell off the turnip truck.” A lopsided grin spreads across my face, oozing self-assurance. I've got all th
Jeremy's POV All nonsense put aside, I slam the map onto the table, “Eyes on me,” I bark, “I don’t have time for screw-ups. “ My hand jabs into the tabletop, each thrust an exclamation point to punctuate the severity of the situation. These morons can be as dumb as a box of rocks sometimes, and the effort it takes to get through to them has my temper running hotter than a desert sun. '“At 0200 hours, the target will land at the Kahului Airport, Maui. The airport is primarily a regional hub, with limited security, which should make our operation smoother than a freshly ironed aloha shirt." I inform my crew, their faces intent as they listen to my debriefing. “Our scouts will monitor the flight’s arrival, keeping a constant line of sight on the target as they exit the plane and enter their transportation. We’ll have an unmarked SUV parked nearby, with the windows blacked out to prevent recognition. The driver will be wear a chauffeur's uniform, his ID on display for anyone wh
Brielle's POV Marcus brings the car to a smooth halt, his courtesy never faltering even in the dark of night. With a gentle gesture, he opens the door, his eyes following my every step as I emerge from the car. The night air is cool and still, with only the stars and the moon to light my way. The darkness seems to swallow the surroundings, obscuring the path ahead. But I know this is an outdoor venue, a garden maybe Because it's like a perfume bomb went off — roses, jasmine, lavender… it's heavenly. My eyes are glued to this one spot in the distance, where a warm light is shining softly. There's something about it that's just so inviting… I feel myself being pulled towards it, Just as I'm transfixed, I sense someone behind me. I don't need to turn around to know it's him — Andrei. His cologne is unmistakable, it's just… him. It's familiar, comforting, exciting all at once. I'm anticipating a sweet, gentle gesture, but Andrei throws me a curveball. He wraps a blindfold arou
Brielle's POV Ivy shoots me a curious glance as we wait for the traffic light to turn green. “Where are you off to, all dressed up?” she asks, her voice competing with the sounds of the morning commute – car engines, chatter, and the wail of sirens in the distance. I chuckle and say, “Just a meeting.” Ivy gives me a skeptical look. Luckily, the traffic light changes, and I drop her off, cutting our conversation short. Today is a whirlwind of meetings. After dropping Ivy off, I kick things off with my accountant, who somehow makes finance fascinating, I know, I'm surprised too. Next, I meet with a business buddy to brainstorm, bounce ideas, and possibly create a few new ones. Post-meeting, I need a caffeine intervention, so I grab a coffee on my way to collect Ivy. We arrive home, and she's having a major stare-down with her reflection, analyzing every strand. Girl's checked herself out so many times, I'm starting to think she's trying to set a new record. Been there, done
Brielle's POV The countdown to our family trip to paradise is on… Mom and Dad flit about the house like over-caffeinated hummingbirds, filling suitcases with swim trunks, sunscreen, and flip-flops. Me? I'm trapped in a vortex of second-guessing. With their anticipation bubbling over, this conversation's going to be a pit of lava. The truth is, it's not that I don't want to go—it's just…well, Ivy. She's like the world's most unexpected surprise party. You're not sure if you're going to love it or hate it. Mom’s descent down the stairs takes on a new intensity as she catches sight of me at the staircase’s midpoint, “Brielle, What’s the holdup? You should’ve been packing hours ago.” Dads glued to his watch like a limpet on a rock, his gaze fixed on the relentless march of time as he hustles after Mom. Meanwhile, I’m standing at the end of the stairs, frozen with indecision. My smile is more of a grimace, a thin line of discomfort stretching across my face as I scramble for an e
Andrei's POV. My fingers hover over the keyboard, ready to dish out another serving of banter, when a sixth sense alerts me to Paul’s presence. Instinctively, my face shifts from its usual mask of irreverent charm into a serious, professional veneer. Shutting my laptop, I gaze at Paul with interest, “New York… did you conquer the city, or did it conquer you?” Paul chuckles, “I think the city won this round. I got lost in Times Square for an hour, but, it… It was worth it.” “Don't worry. Getting lost in Times Square is just the city's way of saying, 'You're welcome to come back anytime'.” Paul's laughter trails off, and I swiftly shift gears, my expression transforming from amusement to intensity. “Brief me,” “It's not good, boss. Ms. McCarthy's has somehow managed to get on Valtor's radar, and now she's facing some very real and very serious threats.” “They're on her tail?” “More like they're closing in. We're running out of time.” What was she thinking? Getting mixed up wit
Brielle's POV Coffee in hand, I glance out the window, checking out the morning view… and my gaze lands on that super creepy spot. I could've sworn I saw someone watching me from there last night. It's just so unsettling. I keep replaying it in my head, trying to make sense of it, but it just leaves me with this creepy, crawly feeling that refuses to go away. I shudder, shaking off the uneasy feeling. I set my coffee down, refocus on my screen, and begin typing out my email, “Dear Mr. Carter, congratulations. You've managed to turn me into a millionaire with no idea how to spend it. I've dreamt of this day my whole life, and now that it's here, I'm just… stuck. My bank account is overflowing, and I'm starting to feel like Scrooge McDuck, swimming in vaults of gold coins. Help?" I hit send and wait, my eyes fixed on the screen. Minutes later, my email pings. Andrei's response has arrived. "Spending money is an art form, Ms Monroe. I recommend starting with something clas
Brielle's POV Marcus's gaze meets mine as I step out of the vehicle, his head inclining slightly in a formal nod. “Ms. Monroe.” “Marcus,” I say, deadpan, and he nods solemnly. It's a ridiculous game we play, but I've grown fond of this little dance, this familiar back-and-forth that never gets old. A realization strikes me, a sudden epiphany that halts my journey to the front door. “Well, isn't this a pickle in a jam jar?” I mutter to myself. “This morning, I strode out of this house on a mission—to become a free woman by sundown. Instead, I’m returning, engaged.” The diamond ring on my finger sparkles. I glance at it, feeling a flutter in my chest. No, I won't take it off. It's a symbol of belonging – to someone who's stolen my heart. I spin around, and there's Marcus, waiting. I don't want to keep him hanging around, so I head inside, trying to be all graceful and stuff. Let's just say I'm feeling delightfully… rumpled. As I swing open the front door, a symphony of sizzles
Brielle's POV “She said you'd betray me,” Andrei responds, and feel the tension rolling off him. He's clearly got some pent-up emotions brewing beneath the surface. “You believed her.” The words slice out of my mouth, my tone more accusatory than I meant it to be. “Somewhat…" He shakes his head as if to dispel the memory. “I don't want to believe her. I don't want to think that you'd ever do that to me.” He rips off the black pants he'd put on just moments ago and strides over to his wardrobe. He yanks out a fresh pair of distressed denims and slides them on. The jeans are perfectly faded, with ripped knees and frayed hems that give Andrei a rough-around-the-edges vibe. “Oh, Andrei, I’m not surprised. Those accusations didn’t come from thin air, did they? Someone put them in your head, someone gave them life. Someone twisted your faith in me.” My stare falls, settling on the knotted sheets tangled around my legs. “Enough of this nonsense. We've got business to attend to. Mr