Jeremy's POV I storm into my lair, bellowing at the top of my lungs. “Odessa! Where’s that woman when you need her? ODESSA!” The echo of my voice ricochets around the cavernous space, bouncing off the ornate columns and marble floors, before finally fading into silence. Odessa's screw-up is going to get me killed. I hired her to cast a spell on my brother, not to let him stay lucid enough to keep haunting me. What's the point of having a witch on the payroll if she can't even get the job done? She better bring her A-game, or she's out. I don't tolerate dead weight. Andrei's on a warpath, and I need pros who can keep up. Like a blind man suddenly gifted sight, my gaze lands on the gleaming glass orbs of the CCTV cameras, their little black bodies poking out from every corner like curious meerkats. One's above the door, another's near the water cooler, and a third's hiding behind a potted plant. Well, this is a fine mess. I'm not a patient man, and I don't like surprises. That's
Brielle's POV French Polynesia was a slice of paradise straight out of a travel brochure, with the kind of crystal-clear waters that'll make you want to chuck your phone into the ocean and never look back. Like all good things, our little island escape had to come to an end, leaving me with a serious case of wanderlust. I'm still wrapped in the warmth of tropical sunsets, the sweetness of frangipani, and the gentle lap of crystal-clear waters. We're back to our typical lives as the Monroes “Brielle, darling, breakfast's on! And by 'on,' I mean it's a masterpiece that'll make your taste buds sing!” I swear, Mom's like a big kid sometimes. I love her for it, though. Post-vacation life is all about prioritizing. And, right now, my priorities are twofold: Taming this mane, which has morphed into a wild, wavy beast during our travels, and Satisfying my rumbling tummy with a hearty breakfast. The suitcase, filled with the remnants of our adventure, will just have to wait patie
Brielle's POV “Brielle, we've got a story to tell, and it's a wild one. We were kidnapped in Hawaii. It was scary, but we're safe, and that's what counts.” I'm in a state of shock. All I can muster is a faint, disbelieving “What?” “Unfortunately, yes… We were held hostage.” Mom affirms. Basic human decency. It's not that hard. If your life is in danger, tell your children. “Why didn't you report it to the authorities?” I ask, unable to fathom why my parents would have kept this ordeal to themselves. “You were held captive, potentially in danger—that's not something you simply move past.” Mom's eyes fog with uncertainty, and she hesitates before speaking, “We couldn’t say anything, Brielle. Not if we wanted to remain safe. Andrei, however, guaranteed our protection. He vowed to take care of everything, and we believed him. After treating us to that incredible getaway in French Polynesia, I thought he was just being generous. Perhaps it was his way of making sure we had a gr
Brielle's POV “We could have a lovely tea party, Ms. Monroe… that is, if you're still reigning supreme as the monarch of Scotland, of course.” I dead pan, “I'm… I'm not Scotland royalty, Andrei. I'm just a normal person. Whatever gave you that idea?” “Are you sure? You sounded pretty convincing back there. I believed you were.” “I was being facetious. It didn't mean anything.” “Oh, I was convinced it was genuine. I thought you were finally confessing your royal roots.” My lips compress into a thin line. “Now, now, Your Majesty, that scowl is not very regal. I’m just an innocent bystander, trying to bask in the radiance of your presence.” I manage a small, ironic laugh. It's a momentary distraction from the uncomfortable truth that still hung in the air. My face falls. I fumble for words like a blind person searching for a light switch. “I… I was hurt. Really hurt, you're seeing someone else. Seeing you with her… it feels like you've moved on without even looking bac
Brielle's POV “I'm not saying you were dating the devil himself, Bri, but Jeremy's got some serious 'bad boy' credentials. How did you manage to overlook all that?” “Oh no… He seemed so genuine. I mean, he won my mother's heart over, which is no easy feat. And now I'm finding out that all of your assets are in his name?” “Including The two companies that secured your freedom… Jeremy's got them in his back pocket.” “That can only mean one thing: He's the architect of this entire debacle.” “My brother still won't own up to it, keeps denying any wrongdoing. I've done everything in my power to bring him down, scoured every inch of his operation… Jeremy's always slippery, always one step ahead.” “Why does he hate you so much?” Andrei looks all introspective, his eyes shadowed by some deep thoughts as he raises his glass to his lips. “I've got zero patience for Jeremy's entitled BS. We clashed as kids, but when Dad passed away, Jeremy's sense of ownership went into overdrive.
Brielle “You’re my wife,” he insisted, his words tinged with a sense of ownership that made me shudder. “You signed the contract, remember? It’s binding.” I tried to protest, but every denial was met with the same adamant response: “You’re my wife now.”***Three Months Earlier…I groaned, struggling to wake up as my mom called my name for the tenth time, shouting it like there was no end to her chorus of “Brielle! Brielle!”Christ, Mom. Gimme a break.And before I could even open my eyes, she'd already yanked the covers off my bed, leaving me shivering and cursing in the chilly air. I groaned again, rubbing my eyes to clear the sleep away. “Seriously, Mom? Can’t a girl get some rest on a Saturday morning?”With a resigned sigh, I forced myself out of bed, brushed my teeth, and took a shower. After that, I joined Mom and Dad downstairs for breakfast.As Mom slid a plate of fluffy omelette in front of me, and she pinned me with a maternal gaze. “Hunny, did you write down that list I
Brielle's POV Graduation day had come and gone. Mom, Dad and I had celebrated, done the whole 'picture with the diploma' bit, and now I was ready to party. Ivy and I had hit up the local bar, and were letting loose, celebrating our newfound freedom from school. Mom, bless her heart, was unaware of this particular part of the celebration, also the fact that her goody two shoes daughter was pounding down the drinks like there was no tomorrow. “Hey, bartender, what's that drink called again? You know, the one with the little umbrella?” I slurred my words, barely holding it together. The bartender, a patient-looking woman in her forties, smiled kindly at me. “You mean Mai Tai, hon?” “That’s the one,” I said, giving her a thumbs-up. “I'll have another one of those,” I was having the time of my life. Ariana Grande’s 'Thank U, Next' blasted through the speakers, my head swaying from side to side, nodding to the beat. For the first time in my life, I was in a bar, getting tipsy_
Brielle's POV ”Oh my goodness, she's absolutely stunning!” I opened my eyes, and the first thing that struck me was the enormous size of the room bathed in natural light. The Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a breathtaking view of the city. The walls seemed to stretch on forever, adorned with exquisite artwork and sleek mirrors. The bed beneath me was… impossibly soft. “Drey’s picked a beauty this time,” a voice drawled from a distance “He’s got good taste, that one. I just hope she’s not as trigger-happy as the last one.” “Shhh, Edna. We don’t want to wake her. Let her rest. She’ll need all her strength.” “It’s her wedding day, Helen. If she doesn’t wake up in time, she’ll keep Drey and the priest waiting. You know we can’t have that.” Wedding day? Drey? I felt as if I were in some twisted dream, nothing making sense. But the fear coursing through my veins told me that this was all too real. I blinked my eyes wide open, hoping to clear the haze that clouded my mind, and fou
Brielle's POV “I'm not saying you were dating the devil himself, Bri, but Jeremy's got some serious 'bad boy' credentials. How did you manage to overlook all that?” “Oh no… He seemed so genuine. I mean, he won my mother's heart over, which is no easy feat. And now I'm finding out that all of your assets are in his name?” “Including The two companies that secured your freedom… Jeremy's got them in his back pocket.” “That can only mean one thing: He's the architect of this entire debacle.” “My brother still won't own up to it, keeps denying any wrongdoing. I've done everything in my power to bring him down, scoured every inch of his operation… Jeremy's always slippery, always one step ahead.” “Why does he hate you so much?” Andrei looks all introspective, his eyes shadowed by some deep thoughts as he raises his glass to his lips. “I've got zero patience for Jeremy's entitled BS. We clashed as kids, but when Dad passed away, Jeremy's sense of ownership went into overdrive.
Brielle's POV “We could have a lovely tea party, Ms. Monroe… that is, if you're still reigning supreme as the monarch of Scotland, of course.” I dead pan, “I'm… I'm not Scotland royalty, Andrei. I'm just a normal person. Whatever gave you that idea?” “Are you sure? You sounded pretty convincing back there. I believed you were.” “I was being facetious. It didn't mean anything.” “Oh, I was convinced it was genuine. I thought you were finally confessing your royal roots.” My lips compress into a thin line. “Now, now, Your Majesty, that scowl is not very regal. I’m just an innocent bystander, trying to bask in the radiance of your presence.” I manage a small, ironic laugh. It's a momentary distraction from the uncomfortable truth that still hung in the air. My face falls. I fumble for words like a blind person searching for a light switch. “I… I was hurt. Really hurt, you're seeing someone else. Seeing you with her… it feels like you've moved on without even looking bac
Brielle's POV “Brielle, we've got a story to tell, and it's a wild one. We were kidnapped in Hawaii. It was scary, but we're safe, and that's what counts.” I'm in a state of shock. All I can muster is a faint, disbelieving “What?” “Unfortunately, yes… We were held hostage.” Mom affirms. Basic human decency. It's not that hard. If your life is in danger, tell your children. “Why didn't you report it to the authorities?” I ask, unable to fathom why my parents would have kept this ordeal to themselves. “You were held captive, potentially in danger—that's not something you simply move past.” Mom's eyes fog with uncertainty, and she hesitates before speaking, “We couldn’t say anything, Brielle. Not if we wanted to remain safe. Andrei, however, guaranteed our protection. He vowed to take care of everything, and we believed him. After treating us to that incredible getaway in French Polynesia, I thought he was just being generous. Perhaps it was his way of making sure we had a gr
Brielle's POV French Polynesia was a slice of paradise straight out of a travel brochure, with the kind of crystal-clear waters that'll make you want to chuck your phone into the ocean and never look back. Like all good things, our little island escape had to come to an end, leaving me with a serious case of wanderlust. I'm still wrapped in the warmth of tropical sunsets, the sweetness of frangipani, and the gentle lap of crystal-clear waters. We're back to our typical lives as the Monroes “Brielle, darling, breakfast's on! And by 'on,' I mean it's a masterpiece that'll make your taste buds sing!” I swear, Mom's like a big kid sometimes. I love her for it, though. Post-vacation life is all about prioritizing. And, right now, my priorities are twofold: Taming this mane, which has morphed into a wild, wavy beast during our travels, and Satisfying my rumbling tummy with a hearty breakfast. The suitcase, filled with the remnants of our adventure, will just have to wait patie
Jeremy's POV I storm into my lair, bellowing at the top of my lungs. “Odessa! Where’s that woman when you need her? ODESSA!” The echo of my voice ricochets around the cavernous space, bouncing off the ornate columns and marble floors, before finally fading into silence. Odessa's screw-up is going to get me killed. I hired her to cast a spell on my brother, not to let him stay lucid enough to keep haunting me. What's the point of having a witch on the payroll if she can't even get the job done? She better bring her A-game, or she's out. I don't tolerate dead weight. Andrei's on a warpath, and I need pros who can keep up. Like a blind man suddenly gifted sight, my gaze lands on the gleaming glass orbs of the CCTV cameras, their little black bodies poking out from every corner like curious meerkats. One's above the door, another's near the water cooler, and a third's hiding behind a potted plant. Well, this is a fine mess. I'm not a patient man, and I don't like surprises. That's
Jeremy's POV Andrei's still got fight in him, I'll give him that. But it's a futile effort, really. It's like watching a toddler throw a tantrum – entertaining, ultimately pointless. I'd almost admire his tenacity if it wasn't so pathetic. Warning signs are flashing: he's regrouping, rearming, and preparing to unleash hell. He's summoned me to the Thunder dome of Corporate America: a high-octane meeting with the suits who called the shots. Board members with bottom-line mentalities, shareholders with a demanding expectation of returns, investors with itchy trigger fingers, and lawyers with razor-sharp instincts — all gathered to scrutinize me. “Gentlemen, ladies,” I address the audience, meeting the skeptical eyes of the gathered dignitaries. “You know me as a man of integrity, of honor. I’ve never done a shady deal in my life. And I certainly don’t have the time or inclination to stoop to Andrei Carter’s level of scumbaggery. I’ve got more than words to back me up. I’ve got proo
Andrei's POV. I glare at Odessa, expecting her to get with the program, but she looks at me like I'm crazy. Her eyes are blank, her expression unreadable. I'm starting to feel like I'm talking to a wall—a very attractive wall, but still, a wall. I curse under my breath, feeling like a world-class jackass. “Yes… I think we have to try. Expose Jeremy's truth, I mean. We'll… we'll do everything we can.” her gaze wavers, and I see the fear lurking beneath. It's a fleeting moment, but it's there. “Come on, Odessa, put some heart into it. I need to believe you, even if you don't.” She nods. “So, where do we start? You're the expert, right? I'm all ears. My fiancée thinks we're together, and that's like pulling the wrong block. Everything starts to unravel. I'm trying to find a way to put it all back together without making a mess. And then there's Jeremy's case, which is like… well, that's like someone pouring gasoline on the whole thing and lighting a match. Time to douse Jeremy’s f
Andrei's POV Boardroom meetings, presentations, pitching ideas to the suits—all that business crap feels like sand in my shoes these days. I built this company from nothing. Now, all I see is how empty it’s become. The Carter building stands like a cold, dead heart, pumping out emptiness and despair. And I'm not much better off. Time to blow this popsicle stand. I knock back the last dregs of coffee, feeling the caffeine jolt my system. Hit the stairs, step out of the building, into the bright, unforgiving light. The sounds of the city – car horns, chatter, wailing sirens – they're all fading into the distance as I fire up my car and hit the road, heading north. Maybe I’ve got a touch of psychosomatic something-or-other. You know, where your mind takes your fears and spits them out in the worst possible way. These dreams feel so real. I see Brielle slipping away from me. Not exactly the most alpha feeling. Trust me. And I’ll be damned if Odessa doesn’t give me some answers. Did
Brielle's POV “I-I don't think that's something I'd ever consider…" I admit. Hopefully, Ivy doesn't notice me turning into a human tomato, complete with the bright red face, or if she does, she'll never let me live it down, and I don't need her poking at this particular hornet's nest. “Bri, we all have our little fantasies, our little moments of weakness when our hearts start racing and our minds start wandering. It could be the sexy, sweaty mailman, delivering your packages. It could be the charming barista at your local coffee shop, serving up more than just lattes and cappuccinos. There's no shame in having a little crush, even if it's on someone you shouldn't be crushing on.” “You may as well be confessing to a crime with that sassy little act.” I tease. Ivy nibbles on her lip like, her face a maelstrom of emotions. It’s pretty clear she’s got something juicy cooking in her head, something that’s about to blow the roof off this little chat...“Lane? He’s like… catnip for my