As I head home, I decide to make a detour to Drax Industries. I know they have a branch in this state, and from my past life memories, I recall that Alaric Sinclair gets murdered here, so it’s likely he is currently in this state, planning the merger at the local branch.I walk into the building, unsure of what I’m getting myself into. Even if I manage to get through to him, what would I say? Hi, you don’t know me, but I know you’re going to be killed in a few days. I can help you avert it, but you have to save my father’s company, alright? I’d probably be thrown out and admitted to a psych ward. I groan at the thought and mutter to myself, “There’s no going back now,” as I approach the lobby.At the reception desk stands a stunningly beautiful girl with blonde hair, flawless makeup, and warm brown eyes."Hi," she says brightly as I walk up."Hi," I reply, trying to keep my voice steady. "I’d like to speak to Alaric Sinclair, please." I inject as much confidence into my words as possi
I take a deep breath and push open the restaurant door, stepping into a world of bright lights and laughter. The place had been transformed for the occasion; it was obvious the planner had spared no expense. They had rented out the entire place; every table gleamed with polished silverware, and fairy lights hung delicately from the ceiling, casting a warm glow across the room. My gaze sweeps the space, searching for a particular duo, and there they are—Lisa and Josh.Through the glass partition, I see them surrounded by our classmates, laughing and chatting as if they don’t care in the world. Lisa’s head tilts back as she giggles at something Josh says, her expression radiant. It ignites a fire inside me. My nervousness evaporates, replaced by a fury so intense it makes my hands tremble.Every step I take toward the restaurant strengthens my resolve. Memories flood my mind—every instance of pain, betrayal, and loneliness they caused in my past life. The humiliation, the isolation, the
Josh reaches out, trying to grab my arm, desperation etched into his face. "Anna, please, listen to me!" he pleads. "I swear, she seduced me! I didn’t know what I was doing! She came onto me, and I just... I’m a man, Anna. I love you so much—you have to believe me!"I turn to him slowly, my expression blank, disbelief swirling in my chest. What does being a man have to do with this? My voice is low but sharp, cutting through his pathetic excuses. "So what if she came onto you? How does being a man somehow justify sleeping with my best friend?"Josh falters, unable to form more words. i guess its a good thing though, he can keep his lies to himself.I shift my gaze to Lisa, who is now standing stiffly, arms crossed. Her eyes narrow as she senses the endgame approaching. She doesn't even try to fake innocence anymore."And you," I start, my voice steady but cold.But before I can say more, Lisa interrupts with a sneer, tilting her head mockingly. "And me what? So what if I slept with yo
Alaric’s POVI slowly opened my eyes, groggily taking in my surroundings. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled my nostrils, and a dull ache throbbed in my shoulder. Dammit, I thought, piecing together fragments of memory.I’d been jumped right outside the café after visiting my cousin on campus. I had walked to the back to take a call when two guys came out of nowhere and attacked me. They caught me off guard, but I managed to fight back. Unfortunately, one of them got a lucky hit, stabbing me in the shoulder. The knife must’ve hit an artery because the blood wouldn’t stop.As I struggled to keep pressure on the wound, a girl had appeared. She’d helped me reach my phone and called for help, but everything after that was a blur. I must’ve passed out before anyone arrived.Groaning, I tried to sit up, only for pain to shoot through my shoulder. Before I could move further, Tristan, my personal assistant, rushed to my side. "Easy now, sir," he said, gently pressing me back onto the bed
As I rode to the Drax Industries building, I mentally rehearse my plan for the day. Inspired by heist movies, I feel confident in my approach. First, I’ll scope out the building, observing it from every angle to get a sense of the layout and security. Then, I’ll wait and see if Alaric, the CEO, shows up at the building himself, making it easier for me to spot him.If that doesn’t happen, I have a backup plan: find a way to sneak inside, maybe through a delivery entrance or a back door. Regardless of the method, I am committed to entering the building today.As I arrive at the building, I decide to ditch the nose mask, realising it might draw more attention than it deflects. With my plan set, I step out of the car and begin scoping out the building. I walk around it, observing the architecture and security features from every angle.After my reconnaissance, I settle into a low-profile spot to wait, hoping to catch sight of Alaric. I wait for about an hour, keeping my movements casual a
I hesitated, weighing the enormity of the decision. Could I commit to working for someone like Alaric for two years? The man oozed power and control—qualities that both intrigued and unnerved me. Yet, the thought of saving my father’s company overshadowed every reservation. This might be the only chance to rescue our business from the brink of disaster. "I need more details," I finally said, meeting Alaric's gaze with a firm resolve. He gave a small nod, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Pressing the intercom on his desk, he spoke in a commanding tone. "Tristan, please come in." My curiosity was piqued as I wondered who Tristan was and how he would help me understand more. Moments later, the door opened, and in walked a man I recognized instantly. He was one of the people who had helped Alaric in the alleyway—and, as soon as he spoke, I placed his voice as the one who had answered my call for help yesterday. Tristan approached the desk with practiced efficiency, d
I sank into my bed, the soft embrace of the mattress pulling me into its comforting hold. The evening’s events replayed in my mind as I stared at the ceiling, the glow of the bedside lamp casting soft shadows on the walls. Today had been a monumental, life-altering event. Just yesterday, I was struggling with the weight of my father’s failing company, the looming threat of debt, and the sense that everything was slipping through my fingers. Now, I had a deal—a path forward, even if it meant tethering myself to Alaric for the next two years.How drastically different my life feels now. It wasn’t perfect, but for the first time in a long while, I felt like I had some control. Yet, a part of me was scared. What if this deal changed me in ways I couldn’t foresee? Would I still recognise myself in two years? I sighed, brushing those thoughts aside. One step at a time, Anna.The soft ping of my phone startled me. Reaching for it, I saw a new message.Ciara: Hey, Anna! 😊 Want to grab coffee
I felt a strange mix of nerves and determination as I smoothed down the tailored blazer I’d picked out with Mom over the weekend. Paired with a skirt and my favourite heels, it felt like I was stepping into a whole new version of myself. My wardrobe, once a chaotic mix of casuals and forgotten trends, was now stocked with elegant, professional pieces. I felt confident, more like someone ready to take on the corporate world.Alaric had kept his word. By Friday, Dad’s company had received a string of new contracts, and for the first time in years, I’d seen him truly relaxed. The furrow in his brow had softened, and there was an ease to his laugh that I hadn’t heard in ages. It reminded me why I’d made this deal in the first place.Now it was my turn to keep up my end.As I stepped out of the cab and stared up at the sleek, towering glass building that housed Drax Enterprises, a chill ran down my spine. Was it the air conditioning spilling out from the revolving doors, or was it just the
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