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 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 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
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
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 Hands laid firmly on Jeremy's chest, a hard shove follows, “Don't you dare try to deny it, you son of a bitch! You're the one who did it. Dirty bastard, you killed Jamie and left her body here, What's your game, huh? Trying to set me up?!” “You're pointing fingers awful fast, Andrei. Maybe you should take a hard look at your alibi before accusing me. Timing's not on your side, is it? I'm sure you saw me pull in. How could I have possibly committed the crime in the last two minutes?” “Don't think I'm oblivious to your checkered past, Jeremy. You've been around the block a few times.” “Listen, I've paid my dues and changed my ways. I don't know what you're insinuating, but I've never seen that woman before. She means nothing to me.” “Cut the act. No one's gonna believe that you were just taking a midnight stroll through my office building for no reason.” Jeremy throws his hands up, looking all innocent. “I have no clue what you're on about. I'm telling you, m
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
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 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
Andrei's POV Hands laid firmly on Jeremy's chest, a hard shove follows, “Don't you dare try to deny it, you son of a bitch! You're the one who did it. Dirty bastard, you killed Jamie and left her body here, What's your game, huh? Trying to set me up?!” “You're pointing fingers awful fast, Andrei. Maybe you should take a hard look at your alibi before accusing me. Timing's not on your side, is it? I'm sure you saw me pull in. How could I have possibly committed the crime in the last two minutes?” “Don't think I'm oblivious to your checkered past, Jeremy. You've been around the block a few times.” “Listen, I've paid my dues and changed my ways. I don't know what you're insinuating, but I've never seen that woman before. She means nothing to me.” “Cut the act. No one's gonna believe that you were just taking a midnight stroll through my office building for no reason.” Jeremy throws his hands up, looking all innocent. “I have no clue what you're on about. I'm telling you, m
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