Alaric's POVThe week had been strange, to say the least. Alaric leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped together as he stared blankly at the documents in front of him. His thoughts weren’t on work, though—they were on Anna. It wasn’t difficult to notice that she’d been avoiding him. She barely spent any time in his office, only coming in when absolutely necessary, and even then, she kept her interactions strictly professional. Gone were the small conversations or moments of shared silence that he had come to value. At first, he thought he was imagining it, but as the days passed, it became undeniable. Anna didn’t want anything to do with him. She’d even started leaving the office early, which was strange. For weeks, Alaric had been urging her to go home earlier and not overwork herself, but she’d always stubbornly stayed until he left. Now, she was gone before him everyday this week. The change in her behavior gnawed at him, leaving him restless and unable to focus. Alaric sig
Anna's pov The crisp morning air did little to cool my nerves as I approached the school building. I hated coming here on weekends. It felt wrong—like invading a graveyard in broad daylight. The empty halls, the faint hum of the fluorescent lights, the echo of my own footsteps—it all felt too loud and too lonely at once. I tightened my grip on the folder of documents I needed to submit. They were my sole purpose for being here today. No lingering, no small talk. I just wanted to get in and out before I ran into anyone I knew. But luck, as always, seemed to abandon me. As I stepped out of the registration office, feeling lighter now that the task was done, I froze mid-step. Standing a few feet away in the corridor, laughing like they didn’t have a care in the world, were Lisa and Josh. Lisa’s hand was looped possessively through his arm, her head tilted toward him as she giggled at something he said. Josh, for his part, looked...well, Josh. His boyish charm, his lazy smi
The café smelled of fresh coffee and baked goods, its cozy atmosphere a welcome change from the tension of the morning. Ciara led the way to a corner table by the window, her excitement practically radiating from her as she chatted about the café’s signature lattes. Jason followed, his earlier irritation seemingly softened, though he still cast the occasional glance my way. We ordered our drinks, and once we were settled at the table, Ciara turned to me with a wide grin. “So, Anna, how’s it been working with Alaric? I’ve been dying to ask!” I blinked at the sudden shift in conversation but smiled. “It’s been… really fun, actually. He’s not as intimidating as I thought he’d be at first. He’s very professional but surprisingly patient, and I’ve learned a lot in just a few months.” Ciara’s grin widened as if she’d just confirmed something she already suspected. “I knew you’d enjoy working with him! He’s tough but fair—Jason says the same thing.” she gives him a loaded smile and
The past few weeks have settled into a strange kind of normalcy. Finals are just around the corner, and I’ve made the conscious decision not to let my feelings for Alaric get in the way of my work. Strangely enough, that decision makes everything a little easier.Sam is still around—I spot him in the hallways occasionally—but every time he sees me, he practically bolts in the opposite direction. I’m not sure why, and honestly, I’m not curious enough to ask.Jason, on the other hand, has been harder to make friends with since I hunted him down in the cyber department. I’ve forced him to join Mia and me in the cafeteria a couple of times, and while he started off stiff and distant, he’s slowly begun to open up. Ciara has been her usual bubbly self, dragging all of us out a few times for what she calls "mandatory fun." I’m surprised by how much I enjoy it. For the first time in a long while, I feel like I’m surrounded by genuine friends—people who want to spend time with me and not becau
A few weeks laterExams are finally over, and I can’t help but let out a long, relieved sigh as I step out of the exam hall for the last time. The tension that’s been coiled in my chest for weeks starts to unwind, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I let myself breathe easy. It wasn’t a complete walk in the park—some of the questions were tricky, and I had to rack my brain a few times—but overall, I managed to breeze through most of them. The recycled questions helped a lot. I could almost laugh at how predictable some of the exams were. Familiar phrases and scenarios jumped off the pages, and I couldn’t help but smile each time I realised I knew exactly what to do. My late nights of preparation weren’t in vain, and for once, all that cramming paid off. As I walk out into the crisp afternoon air, I take a moment to soak it all in. The freedom, the weight lifting off my shoulders, the knowledge that I don’t have to stress about exams anymore—it feels surreal. And than
As Alaric shifts in his chair, I sense there's more he wants to say. The weight in the air is palpable, and I can't help but ask, “Is there something else we need to discuss?" He tilts his head slightly, studying me for a moment. “Have you considered where you’ll live once we’re in the capital?" The question hits me like a cold splash of water. My face falls as the realisation dawns—I haven’t given that any real thought. I’ll need a place to stay until my family relocates, and they won’t be there for a few months. My stomach twists at the reminder. It must have been written all over my face because Alaric chuckles softly. “Well,” he says, leaning back in his chair, “you could always stay with me until you find something more permanent." Stay with Alaric? My brain short-circuits for a moment. My mind races through all the implications of living under the same roof with him, sharing the same space, and seeing him outside of work. Could I even handle that? He continues, completely u
In another part of the bustling capital, a luxurious dressing room buzzes with activity. A famous actress sits regally in front of an ornate vanity, the soft glow of the surrounding lights casting a golden hue on her flawless skin. Sophia Marcley, a name synonymous with beauty and elegance, gazes into the mirror, her deep amber eyes lined with a perfect wing of black eyeliner. Her lips, painted in a shade of subtle pink, curve into a satisfied smirk as she tilts her head to admire her reflection.Her assistant, a young woman with a meek demeanour and wide, nervous eyes, stands beside her, clasping a makeup brush. “You look just perfect, ma’am,” the assistant says, her voice almost reverent.“Of course I do,” Sophia replies, her tone dripping with confidence. She adjusts a strand of her glossy chestnut hair, styled into voluminous waves cascading down her back. Her smirk widens as she leans closer to the mirror, the diamond earrings adorning her ears catching the light.“Guess what, ma
I stretch as I step off the private jet, my muscles stiff but pleasantly relaxed after the six-hour flight to the capital. The warm breeze on the tarmac feels invigorating, a stark contrast to the whirlwind of the past few weeks. My mind drifts back to all that’s happened—packing up my life, finalising the merger just four days ago, and celebrating my graduation yesterday.A smile tugs at my lips as I recall the feast my family put together for me. It was the kind of graduation celebration I never thought I’d experience. My exams were a nerve-wracking blur, but thankfully the school’s automation meant I got my results quickly. I passed every single one of it and the credits were enough to finally secure my diploma.The memory of my past life flashes in my mind, unbidden. Graduation back then had been a lonely, hollow affair. Lisa and Josh had ditched me—probably to celebrate Lisa’s graduation together, now that I think about it. Back then, I had no one. This time, though, I was surrou
3rd Person POVCeleste smiled as she traced a finger down Alaric’s arm, relishing the way he tensed beneath her touch. He was always so rigid, so composed—but that was what made him perfect. Powerful, untouchable. And now, he was hers.Of course, that little slut was always lurking around, but it didn’t matter. Alaric belonged to her. He just didn’t realize it yet.She had loved him from the moment she first saw him, standing tall in the middle of a lavish gala, looking as if he ruled the world. And maybe he did. He had that presence, that quiet dominance that made everyone take notice. Celeste had been drawn to him instantly. Love at first sight, they called it.But for her, she just didn't love him, she wanted to own him, and all she needed was an opportunity.And one man had given her exactly that.She hadn’t expected him—the stranger who had approached her one evening, speaking in riddles but making promises she couldn’t ignore. He had known things about her, her desperation, and
After that sleepover, my friends’ words refused to leave me. They kept repeating in my mind at every quiet moment, forcing me to confront something I had been too hurt to even consider. What if Alaric was being coerced? My own heartbreak had consumed me, and I so sure of my betrayal that I never once stopped to question the way it all happened. I had taken his cold, detached words at face value—because believing them was easier than searching for a truth that might just be my mind trying to rationalise the whole thing. But now, I decide to look. Really look.At first, the signs are subtle. Celeste is always the one reaching for him, her hands constantly finding his arm, his shoulder, his chest. She talks endlessly, filling silences he doesn’t seem interested in breaking. And then there’s Alaric—rigid, detached. His responses are clipped, his eyes never quite meeting hers. And then I see it—the barely-there tick of his jaw, the quiet tension in his shoulders, the way his fingers cu
Its been a few days since the party, and I plan on telling the girls what happened with Alaric. I feel warm as laughter echoes through the space. Blankets and pillows are strewn across the floor, abandoned snacks littering the coffee table while we lounge in various positions ready for the sleepover I had planned.Ellie wipes tears from her eyes, still giggling. “I can’t believe Damian actually thought he could stay.”Ciara snorts. “The man really thought he was going to crash our sleepover just because he dropped you off.”I shake my head, still trying to catch my breath from laughing. “He even gave me that serious ‘I’m an exception to the rule’ look.”Ellie sighs dramatically. “It’s the delusion. But I will say, he gave it a good effort.”Ciara grins. “At least he made himself useful before leaving. I’ve never seen Brian warm up to a guy so fast.”I huff. “That’s because they bonded over their collective trauma with sisters.”Ellie rolls onto her stomach, propping her chin in her ha
That night, I lie in bed staring at the ceiling, the events of the day replaying again and again in my head like a broken record. Every sharp word, every dismissive glance, every moment I felt like I was being pushed aside.I let myself wallow in it just for a little while, until something inside me shifts.I don’t want to keep feeling like this.I don’t want to spend another day letting Alaric and Celeste affect me, waiting for their actions to dictate my mood. I’ve been stuck in this cycle of frustration and hurt for weeks and I’m done.It’s time to take back my control.Tomorrow, there’s nothing scheduled until the evening. A society ball, one of those extravagant, high-profile events Alaric has to attend as CEO. And, of course, Celeste would be there as his partner, glued to his side like she belonged there.The thought should make me feel miserable. But tonight, it doesn’t.Because tomorrow, I choose how I feel.And I choose not to let them ruin my night.I sit up and reach for m
Anna's POVI take a steadying breath before walking fully into the office, the tablet in my hand cool against my palm. I’ve barely crossed the threshold when Celeste’s sharp gaze lands on me, her lips already curling in irritation.Alaric is at his desk, flipping through some documents, his attention only half on us.“Sir, you have a board meeting in—” I start, but Celeste cuts me off with a dismissive wave of her manicured hand.“He doesn’t need to hear that from you,” she says coolly. “I’ll be handling his schedule from now on.”My fingers tighten around the tablet. “That’s my job.”Celeste tilts her head, amusement flickering in her ice-blue eyes. “Not anymore. Surely, you don’t think you’ll be sticking around for long?”My jaw clenches. “I wasn’t aware my position was up for discussion.”“It isn’t,” Alaric says, not looking up from his paperwork. For a brief moment, relief floods me. At least he isn’t entertaining her games.But Celeste isn’t finished, her eyes flamed with disgust
Anna’s POV "Good morning, sweetheart. You need to get up now, or you'll be late for work." My mom's voice drifted through the door, gentle but insistent. I groaned, burying my face deeper into the pillow. My body protested as I forced my eyes open, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on me. A quick glance at the time had my stomach dropping—I had overslept. Damn it. I had spent the night tossing and turning, my thoughts replaying everything that had happened, every moment leading up to the betrayal that still haunted me. I had gone to bed late, and at some point, I must have slept through my alarm. "Thanks mom," I call out as I hear her leave. Now, I had barely any time to get ready. For a moment, I debated just staying in bed. Calling in sick. Pretending the world outside didn’t exist. But that wasn’t an option. With another groan, I threw the blankets off and forced myself up. Time to face another day. The moment I stepped into the office, the air around me
3 months later I wiped the sweat from my forehead and let out a dramatic sigh. “Alright, whose idea was it to have so much stuff?” “I believe that would be yours, sweetheart,” Dad called from across the living room to my mom, grinning as he struggled to push a particularly heavy box toward the hallway. “If I remember correctly, you’re the one who kept saying, ‘Oh, we’ll need this! We can’t leave this behind!’” she huffes, plopping onto the nearest couch cushion. “Okay, but in my defense, we do need all of it.” “Really?” Brian arched a skeptical brow as he held up a box labeled Kitchen Stuff #5. “Explain to me why we need five whole boxes of just kitchen stuff.” Mom ruffled his hair as he passed by. “Because we actually cook, Brian. Unlike you, who seems to survive solely on energy drinks and microwave meals.” He groaned, batting her hand away. “I do not.....” Dad snorted. “Son, you literally texted us last week asking how to boil an egg.” Laughter filled the room as he
Anna's POV The adrenaline lasted just long enough to get me through the press conference, but the moment I stepped out of that suffocating room full of reporters, everything hit me all at once. it was a little overwhelming to be honest.p I barely remembered the drive back to Sinclair Enterprises, only that the moment I walked into the building, the weight of everything I had just done settled on my shoulders. Exposing the Drummonds, standing in front of the press, defending Alaric and his family—it was a lot. And yet, I had done it. I still couldn't believe it. That I was strong enough to do that on my own, and like a bad bitch too. The realization filled me with something warm, something almost foreign. Confidence. I didn’t want to dwell on it too much, though. There was still work to do. So instead of collapsing into a chair and letting the exhaustion swallow me whole like I wanted, I kept moving. I buried myself in paperwork, answering emails, reviewing reports, g
Alaric's povI watched as their mouths hung open, struggling to process what had just happened. Some looked downright terrified, probably recalling the treacherous words they had uttered moments ago. Others appeared relieved, sensing a shift in the tide and being happy they had kept their mouths shut.Not that I cared for their reactions. I had already marked every single one of them. Their actions during this crisis would not be forgotten. Drax Industries was long overdue for a complete overhaul, and this only solidified my decision.I turned my attention to Vincent Crowe. Unlike the others, his expression remained neutral, a small, almost amused smile tugging at his lips.“Well,” he said, his tone light, almost mocking. “That was a rollercoaster of emotions. Congratulations on clearing your name, Mr. Sinclair.”He might not have been the true mastermind, but it was clear he wasn’t someone to be taken lightly. He had walked into this room with absolute confidence, which meant he beli